For all of those on Fanfiction, I accidentally forgot to post a chapter so if any of you were confused about what happened after the sea monster showed its ugly face, go read the chapter “Fish Food” (I’m so sorry I don’t know what I was thinking… I obviously wasn’t).  All right, now go read :) 

Chapter Quote:

“I’ve always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be.”

~Dita Von Teese

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Chapter 18: I Get Punched

On one hand, riding a hippocampus for over three hundred miles in the freezing ocean for hours and hours is not fun.

On the other hand, riding a hippocampus for over three hundred miles in the freezing ocean for hours and hours because you are chasing a girl you’re in love with is totally worth it.

It took three hours for me to reach Virginia Beach.  I was soaking wet and shivering from the cold and Shiloh’s boat was nowhere to be seen because I had no idea what it looked like and there were boats everywhere.

“Rainbow, do you know which one is Shiloh’s?” I queried, looking around.  The hippocampus snorted, and I didn’t need to speak sea animal to know that answer was ‘no.’ I glanced around, trying to find the ship that was most likely the daughter of Poseidon’s.  Hell, I didn’t even know the name of her boat.  That probably would’ve been a good thing to have asked Tyson about come to think of it, but it was too late now.

“All right Rainbow, think you could swim around a bit so I can try and find the boat?” I asked politely, even though it felt weird talking to a hippocampus that could understand me but I couldn’t understand him.  However, Rainbow conceded and started swimming slowly around the bay, in between boats and such.  I wondered what I looked like to anyone who saw me, or if anyone saw me in general.  After thirty minutes of searching, I was just about to give up hope when a massive, two hundred foot, white yacht sailed into view.  People came out onto their decks to ogle it.  Even though it stayed on the outskirt of where the rest of the boats were located, it was still hard to miss.  The name of the boat was painted in silver and outlined in dark blue and read: Neptune.

“Found it,” I said to myself. “Rainbow, take me to that boat please.”

The hippocampus obeyed, almost as if he was anxious to get there.  Whether it was to see Shiloh or because that meant I’d be getting off of him, I wasn’t sure.  Nonetheless, Rainbow pulled up alongside the back of the yacht at a level that I could disembark onto.  I quickly got off him and pulled the sugar cubes out, letting him eat out of my hand.

“Thanks Rainbow.  You’re the best.” The hippocampus whinnied at me, obviously agreeing that he knew he was the best, before diving underneath the waves.  I turned around and looked up at the yacht.  It was strangely quiet for such a big boat.  I mean there was literally no sound being made on it, not even from the engines, even though it was still moving.  Strange.

I started walking on the outside of the ship, looking inside through the windows.  The boat, while definitely luxurious, had a quite cozy feel to it.  Maybe it’s because I saw a ton of cushy-looking furniture inside, or maybe because it wasn’t perfectly clean.  I made my way to the bow of the yacht.  There was still no sound.  Now it was downright eerie.  I turned around to head upstairs but my face was greeted with a fist.  Not having time to duck away, it hit me square in the face, knocking me onto my back.

“What in Poseidon’s name are you doing here?”  a feminine voice snapped.

I looked up while holding my nose.  It’d taken the brunt of the punch and I was surprised it wasn’t broken. “Searching for you.”

Shiloh crinkled her face up in annoyance. “And you thought I would want you here… why?”

“I didn’t.  But I needed to talk to you,” I groaned, sitting up.

“Well I don’t want to talk to you.  And why couldn’t you Iris-Message me or something?”

“Because it had to be in person.”

“How the hell did you get out here?”

“Hippocampus named Rainbow.”

“Tyson helped you?”

“Actually I prayed to your dad and then Tyson showed up, so I think I got helped out by your dad.  Where did you learn to punch like that?” I inquired, rubbing my nose.

“I’m going to have a little talk with my father soon.  Get up.  We’re heading back to camp.”

“What?  I thought you wanted to go to Cozumel?” I remarked, standing up,

She stopped in her tracks and turned around. “How did you know about that?”

“I found your maps in the cave at camp and figured out the places you were going.”

“Why are you so adamant about talking with me?  There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Yes, there is Shiloh, there’s a lot to talk about.  And if you’d just listen-”

“So you can accuse me of more things I didn’t do?  No thanks, I’ll pass.”

“I’m not going to let you stop your trip because of me.”

“Well I’m not going to go on a trip with you.”

“I’ll sleep outside.”

“It’s the beginning of November, and no matter how much I’d love to, I won’t let you sleep out there because Annabeth and Thalia would kill me.  Besides, it’s freezing outside.  Get inside.  The water better not have given you frostbite.” Shiloh opened a door leading inside the yacht to what appeared to be the living room.  It had a flat screen TV, a shelf full of books (it was a locked cabinet), a cushiony sofa, and a recliner.

“There’s a bathroom right there,” she said, pointing to a door. “Go change into dry clothes.  I don’t want you dripping water everywhere.”

I did as she said, not wanting to piss her off more than she already was.  It took me two minutes to switch into different attire.  When I walked out of the bathroom, Shiloh was pacing back and forth around the living room.

“Shi... loh? I corrected myself quickly, knowing she wouldn’t like her nickname coming from my mouth.

“What?” She didn’t look at me.

“How about you still take your trip and I just stay out of your way the entire time?” I suggested.

“What about the talk?  Because the sooner that happens, the sooner you can leave,” she retorted.

“Because while I’m ready for it, I’m not so sure you are in the manner that you don’t want to talk about it or to me in general, so when you are ready, just let me know.  Deal?” I offered, holding out my hand.

Shiloh eyed me cautiously. “Deal… but I’m not shaking your hand.”

“I didn’t expect you to.  And thank you, for letting me stay.”

“I don’t really have a choice.  If you annoy me enough though, I’ll throw you off this ship even if we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“I believe you.”

“Good.  You’ll sleep down here on the couch.  It’s the only other place I have for you to sleep that’s not outside.  There’s some blankets in the trunk at the end of the couch; I’m going to bed, it’s ten o’clock and I’m exhausted.”

“Thank you.”

“If you need anything, figure it out yourself.”

“I will.”

“Good.” Shiloh stormed away, muttering to herself about the whole situation.  I yelled ‘good night’ to her but she didn’t reply.  I hadn’t expected her to.  I turned around and pulled a blanket out of the trunk she’d told me about.  There were about six blankets in there, something I found amusing just because the piece of furniture looked really small on the outside but it could hold a ton.

I plopped down on the couch and closed my eyes, smiling at the fact that at least she hadn’t killed me.

Yet.

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Hope you guys enjoyed! :)