CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
—stupid sea-cow

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  —MISSING out on a fight, especially one where Percy was completely submerged in his element was really disheartening. Judith would never, never admit this to his face, but he was a serious force when he wanted to be. And to miss one of those times? Gods, that sucked.

  The tussle underneath the water lasted only a few minutes with one of Percy's limbs or Nereus' fins popping out every once in a while. The group had to avoid the splash zone as the fight came to a rambunctious end.

  "You got him!" Zoë said.

  "You don't have to sound so amazed," Percy said, completely out of breath. But it only took a moment in the water for him to get his energy back and he climbed up the pier's ladder to kneel next to the soaking god.

  "It wasn't amazement, it was impatience. Took you long enough," Judith teased. The boy looked up at her in bewilderment at her rude statement, but noticed the small little smirk that she tried to hide from him and grinned.

  Nereus moaned. "Oh, wonderful. An audience for my humiliation! The normal deal, I suppose? You'll let me go if I answer your question?"

  "I've got more than one question," Percy said.

  "Only one question per capture! That's the rule."

  Percy looked helplessly at his friends. There were too many questions that they had to ask. Judith pulled him to his feet by the back of his shirt, not surprised to find it completely dry. "You know what Annabeth would say if you asked about her over Artemis or the monster. We'll find Annabeth where we find Artemis."

  The boy sighed as she whispered these things. "Alright, Nereus. Tell me where to find this terrible monster that could bring an end to the gods. The one Artemis was hunting."

  The Old Man of the Sea smiled, showing off his mossy green teeth.

  "Oh, that's too easy," he said evilly. "He's right there." Nereus pointed to the deck below them.

  "Where?" Percy said.

  "The deal is complete!" Nereus gloated. With a pop, he turned into a goldfish and did a backflip into the sea.

  "You tricked me!" Percy yelled.

  "Ugh," Judith pinched the bridge of her nose, all positive thoughts of Percy drowning in the water, "you should have let Zoë or Thalia ask, you absolute numbskull."

  Percy straightened out his shirt stubbornly from where her hand had scrunched it up. "It was a lot of pressure! You try fighting a killer whale and an electric eel for ten minutes before asking a profound question!"

  "I would have known not to rush the question, Jackson," Judith spat.

  "I'm sorry for not thinking of everything before it happens," he said, though he sounded anything but apologetic. "How was I supposed to know he would answer like a stupid genie?"

  "Because nothing is ever cut-and-dry in our lives?"

  "You're fighting the sea god next time," Percy grumbled.

  "Gladly," she concluded, crossing her arms and looking away.

  "Wait." Thalia's eyes widened. "What is that?"

  The distinct sound of a cow reached Judith's ears and her immediate instinct was to turn inland, but Thalia was pointing out into the water. Walking closer to the edge, the daughter of Ares could see why. Beneath the surface, a sea-cow — no, not a manatee, an actual sea-cow — was treading the water and twirling in little circles. Its top half was full black and white cow with gills and its bottom half was a scaly mermaid-like tail. And Percy seemed to be on first name basis with it.

  "Ah, Bessie," he sighed. "Not now."

  'Bessie' mooed again, this time stilling in the water so as to look straight up at the boy with massive blue eyes.

  Grover gasped. "He says his name isn't Bessie."

  "You can understand her ... er, him?"

  Grover nodded. "It's a very old form of animal speech. But he says his name is the Ophiotaurus."

  "The Ophi-what?"

  "It means serpent bull in Greek," Thalia said. "But what's it doing here?"

  The Ophiotaurus answered with another moo and the satyr listened patiently, nodding his head along with it.

  "He says Percy is his protector," he announced. "And he's running from the bad people. He says they are close."

  "Wait," Zoë said, looking at Percy. "You know this cow?"

  Percy shuffled on his feet, looking pretty uncomfortable with the staring. "Well, I saved him back at camp and I guess he's been following us since then?"

  Thalia shook her head in disbelief. "And you just forgot to mention this before?"

  "Well ... yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It didn't really seem important to the quest."

  Judith smacked him upside the head and he winced. "Like I said, Barnacle Breath. No cut and dry, no coincidences. You should know this by now." He rubbed at his head absentmindedly and stuck his tongue out at her.

  "I am a fool," Zoë said suddenly. "I know this story!"

  "What story?"

  "From the War of the Titans," she said. "My ... my father told me this tale, thousands of years ago. This is the beast we are looking for."

  "A literal sea-cow that is literally doing loop de loops under our feet?" Judith crossed her arms. "Wow, I'm so scared."

  "No, that is how we were wrong," Zoë corrected. "We've been anticipating a huge dangerous monster, but the Ophiotaurus does not bring down the gods that way. He must be sacrificed."

  The sound that came out was low and somber, like it knew its fate.

  "I don't think he likes the S-word," Grover said.

  Judith rolled her eyes as Percy started petting the cow-serpent like it was a dog. "How could anyone hurt him?" Percy said. "He's harmless."

  Zoë nodded. "But there is power in killing innocence. Terrible power. The Fates ordained a prophecy eons ago, when this creature was born. They said that whoever killed the Ophiotaurus and sacrificed its entrails to fire would have the power to destroy the gods."

  Again, the cow was rumbling.

  "Um," Grover said. "Maybe we could avoid talking about entrails, too."

  Thalia stared at the cow-serpent with wonder. "The power to destroy the gods ... how? I mean, what would happen?"

  "No one knows," Zoë said. "The first time, during the Titan war, the Ophiotaurus was in fact slain by a giant ally of the Titans, but thy father, Zeus, sent an eagle to snatch the entrails away before they could be tossed into the fire. It was a close call. Now, after three thousand years, the Ophiotaurus is reborn."

  "So we protect this ... thing?" Judith asked, not quite sure what to call it. Percy obviously had a personal connection to it.

  "Luke wouldn't hesitate if he got ahold of him," Thalia muttered. "The power to overthrow Olympus. That's ... that's huge."

  "Yes, it is, my dear," said a man's voice in a heavy French accent. "And it is a power you shall unleash."

  The Ophiotaurus made a whimpering sound and submerged.

  Judith's hand settled on her hip where she could bring out her sword at a second's notice. Standing behind them, his two-colored eyes gleaming wickedly, was Dr. Thorn, the manticore himself.

  "This is just pairrr-fect," the manticore gloated, accent mangling his words.

  Judith's eyes narrowed. "You know, I'm really tired of you."

  His gross lion face snarled at her and she held her face steady. "Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia," the manticore monologued. "I was forced to scrounge for food on the edges of the world, hiding in forests, devouring insignificant human farmers for my meals. I never got to fight any great heroes. I was not feared and admired in the old stories! But now that will change. The Titans shall honor me, and I shall feast on the flesh of half-bloods!"

  There were armed security guys standing on either side of him and more stood on the next dock over.

  "Boohoo," Judith hissed, mainly to herself and Zoë Nightshade who stood next to her. "Too bad, so sad." The Hunter only nudged her to keep quiet.

  "Where ... where are the skeletons?" Percy asked the manticore.

  He sneered. "I do not need those foolish undead! The General thinks I am worthless? He will change his mind when I defeat you myself!"

  "We beat you once before," Percy pointed out.

  "Ha! You could barely fight me with a goddess on your side. And, alas ... that goddess is preoccupied at the moment. There will be no help for you now."

  Zoë notched an arrow and aimed it straight at the manticore's head, not about to have her patron goddess insulted by a dumb monster. The guards on either side of him raised their guns.

  "Wait!" Percy said. "Zoë, don't!"

  The manticore smiled. "The boy is right, Zoë Nightshade. Put away your bow. It would be a shame to kill you before you witnessed Thalia's great victory."

  "What are you talking about?" Thalia growled. She had her shield and spear ready.

  "Surely it is clear," the manticore said. "This is your moment. This is why Lord Kronos brought you back to life. You will sacrifice the Ophiotaurus. You will bring its entrails to the sacred fire on the mountain. You will gain unlimited power. And for your sixteenth birthday, you will overthrow Olympus."

  Judith frowned. She knew Thalia, knew she could resist the temptation, but the look on the girl's face right then was unsettling. The daughter of Ares gripped the handle of her sword a little tighter, ready to stop her friend if she suddenly gave in.

  "You know it is the right choice," the manticore told her. "Your friend Luke recognized it. You shall be reunited with him. You shall rule this world together under the auspices of the Titans. Your father abandoned you, Thalia. He cares nothing for you. And now you shall gain power over him. Crush the Olympians underfoot, as they deserve. Call the beast! It will come to you. Use your spear."

  "You," Judith pointed her sword right at the manticore's snout, "shut up right now!" He only grinned evilly as Thalia put a hand to her temple.

  "Thalia," Percy hissed, "snap out of it!"

  The daughter of Zeus looked up at the boy, her eyes glossy and hazy as her voice cracked. "I ... I don't —"

  "Your father helped you," Percy said. "He sent the metal angels. He turned you into a tree to preserve you."

  Her hand tightened on the shaft of her spear making Judith do the same in turn, ready to fight her if need be. Grover slowly pulled his pipes up to his mouth and played a quick riff.

  The manticore yelled, "Stop him!"

  The guards had originally targeted Zoë and Judith, and before they could figure out that the kid with the pipes was the bigger problem, the wooden planks at their feet sprouted new branches and tangled their legs. Zoë let loose two quick arrows that exploded at their feet in clouds of sulfurous yellow smoke. Judith groaned at the smell and stepped closer to Thalia, keeping a keen eye on her.

  The guards started coughing through the smoke. The manticore shot spines in retaliation in their direction, but they ricocheted off the Nemean Lion coat Judith still had on as she protected Thalia's woozy form.

  "Grover," Percy said, "tell Bessie to dive deep and stay down!"

  "The cow ..." Thalia muttered, still in a daze.

  Judith pinched the girl as hard as she could and dragged her to her feet, running over to Percy and following him up the stairs to the shopping center on the pier. They all chose different kiosks to hide in with souvenirs.

  "Go over the side!" Zoë told Percy. "You can escape in the sea, Percy. Call on thy father for help. Maybe you can save the Ophiotaurus."

  Judith thought it was a great plan, but Percy shook his head. "I won't leave you guys," Percy said. "We fight together."

  "Ugh, now's really not the time to be heroic!" Judith shouted at him.

  "You have to get word to camp!" Grover said. "At least let them know what's going on!"

  Suddenly, Percy swiped his sword against a water fountain near him and a misty sheen was spraying into the air. Thalia gasped as the water hit her. The fog seemed to clear from her eyes. "Are you crazy?" she asked.

  Judith thought for a moment. "Definitely crazy. But a little smart." She threw a drachma into the rainbow. "O goddess, accept my offering!"

  The mist rippled. "Camp Half-Blood!" Percy said.

  And there, shimmering in the Mist right next to them, was Mr. D, wearing his leopard-skin jogging suit and rummaging through the refrigerator. He looked up lazily. "Do you mind?"

  "Where's Chiron!" Percy shouted.

  "How rude." Mr. D took a swig from a jug of grape juice. "Is that how you say hello?"

  "Hello," Percy amended. "We're about to die! Where's Chiron?"

  Mr. D considered that question. Behind them, footsteps and shouting invaded their ears — the manticore's troops were closing in.

  "About to die," Mr. D mused. "How exciting. I'm afraid Chiron isn't here. Would you like me to take a message?"

  Percy looked at Judith with blank eyes. "We're dead."

  Thalia gripped her spear. She looked like her old angry self again. "Then we'll die fighting."

  "How noble," Mr. D said, stifling a yawn. "So what is the problem, exactly?"

  Percy sighed. "We found the Ophiotaurus. And Luke's goons have found us."

  "Mmm." He studied the contents of the fridge. "So that's it. I see."

  "You don't even care!" Percy screamed. "You'd just as soon watch us die!"

  "Let's see. I think I'm in the mood for pizza tonight."

  Judith rolled her eyes and stepped forward with Zoë and Thalia to defend themselves while Percy still argued with Mr. D.

  "Excellent," the manticore said as he stalked closer. He glanced at the apparition in the mist and snorted. "Alone, without any real help. Wonderful." The manticore grinned. "Spare the daughter of Zeus. She will join us soon enough. Kill the others."

  The men raised their guns and Judith took a deep breath. She had so much she wanted to do. Her mom probably didn't even know she wasn't at home. She wouldn't miss her step-dad, but she would miss Clarisse. She never gave a proper goodbye to her before she went off on her own quest. Silena and Charles were in her thoughts too as she let out her deep breath.

  But things were put on halt as the sunlight tinged with purple. The scent of fermented grapes filled the salty air and Judith cringed.

  SNAP!

  It was the sound of many minds breaking at the same time. The sound of madness. One guard put his pistol between his teeth like it was a bone and ran around on all fours. Two others dropped their guns and started waltzing with each other. The fourth began doing what looked like an Irish clogging dance. Judith immediately knew it was the work of Dionysus.

  "No!" screamed the manticore. "I will deal with you myself!"

  His tail bristled, but the planks under his paws erupted into grape vines, which immediately began wrapping around the monster's body, sprouting new leaves and clusters of green baby grapes that ripened in seconds as the manticore shrieked, until he was engulfed in a huge mass of vines, leaves, and full clusters of purple grapes. Finally, the grapes stopped shivering and Judith could sense no more threat.

  "Well," said Dionysus, closing his refrigerator. "That was fun."

  Percy stared at him, horrified. "How could you ... How did you —"

  "Such gratitude," he muttered. "The mortals will come out of it. Too much explaining to do if I made their condition permanent. I hate writing reports to Father."

  He stared resentfully at Thalia. "I hope you learned your lesson, girl. It isn't easy to resist power, is it?"

  Thalia blushed as if she were ashamed.

  "Mr. D," Grover said in amazement. "You... you saved us."

  Barely, Judith thought to herself. He could have been a little more timely.

  "Mmm. Don't make me regret it, satyr. Now get going, Percy Jackson. I've bought you a few hours at most."

  "The Ophiotaurus," Percy said. "Can you get it to camp?"

  Mr. D sniffed. "I do not transport livestock. That's your problem."

  "But where do we go?"

  Dionysus looked at Zoë. "Oh, I think the Huntress knows. You must enter at sunset today, you know, or all is lost. Now good-bye. My pizza is waiting."

  "Mr. D," Percy said. He raised his eyebrow. "You called me by my right name," Percy said. "You called me Percy Jackson."

  "I most certainly did not, Peter Johnson. Now off with you!"

  He waved his hand, and his image disappeared in the mist.

  Judith hooked her sword back through her belt loops and turned to Zoë. "So, where do we go now?"

  Her face was the color of the fog. She pointed across the bay, past the Golden Gate. In the distance, a single mountain rose up above the cloud layer.

  "The garden of my sisters," she said. "I must go home."

NOTES;

I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE THIS CHAPTER. I HATE IT, IT SUCKS. THERE'S NOTHING GOOD ABOUT IT. IT'S JUST LIKE AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE ACTUAL BOOK. I'M SO SORRY

edited : 07 / 23 / 2020