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chapter five ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
005. Killing a Snake Lady

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CASSIE WANTED TO POINT HER MIDDLE FINGERS TO THE SKY. At least she had someone to blame for everything going horribly wrong.

She walked behind Annabeth, next to Percy. Grover was in front of him.

They followed the river through the woods 'to get to grandmother's house' she joked to herself.

Grover was shaking with fear. "Three Kindly Ones. All three at once."

Percy was shocked too, but Cassie found a response.

"I know right, but what a weird name. 'Kindly Ones', I don't think they feel very 'kindly'. Ancient Greeks are weird."

Annabeth ignored any of her delirious comments and kept dragging them along, repeating: "Come on! The farther away we get, the better."

"All our money was back there. Our food and clothes. Everything. The only things saved were a flannel and polaroid." Percy prompted, elbowing Cassie.

Cassie would've replied, but she knew Annabeth was all fired up now. Being enemies for so long really lets you get to know the person. It was gross.

"Well, maybe if you hadn't decided to jump into the fight—" Annabeth was interrupted.

"What did you want me to do? Let you get killed?" Percy retorted.

"Would've put me out of my misery if she was gone." Cassie spoke. Percy shot her a 'not right now look' and Annabeth glared.

"You didn't need to protect me, Percy. I would've been fine." Annabeth replied.

"Slice like a sandwich bread, but fine." Grover added. Cassie pointed at him, nodding in agreement.

"Shut up, goat boy." Annabeth answered.

"Don't talk to him like that. Not everything's about you Chase. Maybe Percy wanted to save Grover. Ever think about that?" Cassie snarked.

Grover bleated sadly. "Tin cans . . . a perfectly good bag of tin cans."

They trudged along the muddy ground, weaving through the trees. Cassie was definitely gonna need new converses after this.

Annabeth glanced back and yanked Cassie next to her. She sent the brunette a look and fell back to walk with Percy. 

"Look, I . . ." Her voice wavered as she thought of what to say. "I appreciate your coming back for us, okay? That was really brave." She finally got out.

"We're a team right?" Percy said.

Annabeth spaced out for a few seconds. "It's just that if you died. . . aside from the fact that it would really suck for you, it would mean the quest was over. This may be my only chance to see the real world." She admitted.

Cassie glance back at the two seeing Percy staring at Annabeth. It made her feel weird but she shook it off.

She turned back to her conversation with Grover.

"So who's worth more?" Cassie inquired.

"What do you mean?" Grover said.

"You heard me. Who's worth more? Me or Chase?"

Grover sighed, but he knew there was no way out of this.

Anyone who knew Cassie, knew she was very persistent. She never gave up if her heart was set on something.

"Your both worth a lot. Your powers and skills are really useful. Annabeth's smart and that's good too."

Cassie smirked at his wording, waiting for a good time to tell Annabeth.

"You're pretty good with that knife."
Percy complimented.

"You think so?" Annabeth was surprised by the praise.

"Anybody who can piggyback-ride a Fury is okay by me." Percy confirmed.

Cassie watched as a small smile grew on the blonde's face. Cassie's smirk dropped but she quickly slapped herself.

'What the heck Cassie! What's wrong with you?!'

Annabeth looked up at her with concern before realizing her thoughts and also shaking them away. She turned back to Percy.

"You know, maybe I should tell you . . . Something funny back on the bus—"

Cassie found the right time to interrupt.

"Hey, Chase! Did you hear what Grover said."

Annabeth looked at her bored.

"He said that I'm 'really useful' and you are just 'good too'. I knew I was better." Cassie teased.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, idiot."

"Wow, she actually agreed with me." Cassie mocked surprised.

Percy laughed while Grover tooted his reed pipes.

"Hey, my reed pipes still work! If I could just remember a 'find path' song we could get out of these woods!"

It didn't work and next thing they knew, Percy smacked right into a tree.

Cassie burst out laughing as he rubbed his head. He glared at her and shoved her into a tree. Then Percy started laughing.

Cassie scowled and flipped her middle finger at him. Percy stuck his tongue out at her. Annabeth shook her head at the two.

They kept on going, following the light of a neon sign.

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Eventually, the group came out of the woods and stood in front of a deserted road. Across the street was a closed gas station, a random billboard, and one open building.

A delicious scent came from the open window as the group stared. Surrounding the shop was a bunch of statues.

Percy couldn't read the sign. The neon red cursive letters didn't help his dyslexia. To him it looked like a scrabble of letters.

"What the heck does that say?" Percy questioned.

"I don't know." Annabeth replied.

Cassie shrugged. She could read but it was very slow. Five paragraphs a day slow.

"All I can make out is Me's or is that Em's. Maybe Se'm?" She said.

Percy had forgotten they had dyslexia too. He knew Annabeth loved to read and he had seen Cassie with her strategy book.

"Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium." Grover read for the group.

The statues at the entrance proved the name to be true. Percy started forward.

"Hey . . ." Grover warned.

"The lights are on inside. Maybe it's open." Annabeth suggested.

Cassie was wary. She was surprised Annabeth was just willing to go in. Percy would definitely do that, but Annabeth?

"Snack bar." Percy almost drooled, dazed.

"Snack bar," Annabeth repeated.

"Are you two crazy? This place is weird." Grover protested.

Cassie agreed with him but her stomach was changing her mind.

"Just a quick stop?" Cassie said to Grover as the other two kept walking.

Cassie and Grover followed them, walking past statues. Tons of them.

Grover looked a satyr one who was blowing his reed pipes.

"Bla-ha-ha! Looks like my Uncle Ferdinand!"

They stopped at the door of the warehouse.

"Don't knock. I smell monsters." Grover tried.

"Your nose is clogged up from the Furies. All I smell is burgers." Annabeth spoke.

"Really good burgers." Cassie nodded. "And aren't you hungry?"

"Meat! I'm a vegetarian." Grover informed.

"You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans." Percy contracted.

"Those are vegetables. Come on. Let's leave. These statues are . . . looking at me."

Before anyone could reply, the door swung open.
Standing behind it was an old lady. Her body was covered in a black robe and a gauze covered her eyes. Her nails were freshly manicured too.

"Children it's too late to be out all alone. Where are your parents?" The women asked.

"They're . . . um . . . "Annabeth stammered.

"Abandoned us like we were trash." Cassie mumbled studying the ground. Luckily only the blonde girl had heard her.

"We're orphans." Percy lied.

"Orphans?" The lady repeated as if it was very shocking. "But, my dears! Surely not!"

Cassie cringed at the pet name. 'Egh.'

"We got separated from our caravan. Our circus caravan. The ringmaster told us to meet him at the gas station if we got lost, but he may have forgotten, or maybe he meant a different gas station. Anyway, we're lost. Is that food I smell?" Percy explained.

Cassie sent him a weird look.

"Oh, my dears. You must come in, poor children. I am Aunty Em. Go straight through to the back of the warehouse, please. There is a dining area." The lady directed.

Annabeth and Percy thanked her. The former dragged the brunette inside as she was still suspiciously glaring at Aunty Em. Grover trotted behind tensely.

"Really? Circus caravan? That's what you came up with?" Cassie spoke to Percy.

"Always have a strategy right?" Percy answered, mocking Annabeth's common phrase.

"This is why you're a kelp head." The daughter of Ares sighed.

Annabeth was watching with slightly sad eyes, not that anyone noticed.

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They made it to the warehouse, passing rows and rows of statues. None of them except Grover noticed the eyes of all the statues watching them.

"Please sit down." Aunty Em offered.

They obliged and sat at one of the steel picnic tables. Percy next to Grover across from Cassie and Annabeth.

"Awesome." Percy smiled.

"Um, we don't have any money, ma'am." Grover pipped up.

"No, no, children. No money. This is a special case, yes? It is my treat, for such nice orphans." Aunty Em reassured.

"Thank you ma'am." Annabeth said politely.

Cassie study the women's reaction. She froze like Annabeth had offended her, but quickly calmed.

Cassie's hand started glowing red under the table, as she was subconsciously summoning her sword. Annabeth grabbed her wrist in a comforting way that neither had expected.

"Quite alright, Annabeth. You have such beautiful gray eyes, child."

Cassie was too busy calming down and shaking away to feeling of Annabeth's hand, to notice that Aunty Em knew the blonde's name.

The lady left to the kitchen and soon came back with hamburgers, shakes, and fries

Percy and Cassie dug in, already half way through their burgers while Annabeth sipped her shake. Grover inspected the wax paper underneath the food but didn't eat anything.

"What's that hissing sound?" the satyr asked.

The others ears couldn't pick up on the sound.

"Hissing? Perhaps you hear the deep-fryer oil. You have keen ears, Grover." Aunty Em complimented.

"I take vitamins. For my ears."

"That's admirable. But please, relax."

Cassie stopped eating as Aunty Em watched them. She felt self conscious and drank her shake, keeping an eye on the lady. For some reason, she was feeling sleepy.

"So you sell gnomes?" Percy attempted to make small talk.

"Oh, yes. And animals. And people. Anything for the garden. Custom orders. Statuary is very popular, you know." Aunty Em enlightened him.

"A lot of business on this road?"

Cassie didn't pay attention after that. Her mind drifted off from the sleepiness and boredom.

Her attention was caught when Aunty Em told her backstory. She talked about her two dead sisters, her old boyfriend, and a bad woman who tried breaking them up.

It clicked for Cassie. Aunty Em! 'M' for Medusa! Annabeth seemed to catch on too.

"Percy, maybe we should go." The daughter of Athena suggested.

"Yeah, I mean the ringmaster will be waiting." Cassie agreed with Annabeth. The two had been agreeing and civil, way too much for her liking lately.

Grover was munching on the wax paper now.

"Such beautiful gray eyes. My, yes, it has been a long time since I've seen gray eyes like those." Aunty Em told them.

She reached to stroke Annabeth's cheek, but the blonde stood up and backed away quickly. Cassie's hand was now purposefully glowing red, finally out of Annabeth's grip. Neither realized they were still in contact.

"We really should go."

"Yeah."

"Yes! The ringmaster is waiting! Right!"

Annabeth, Cassie, and Grover said. Percy didn't budge.

"Please dears, I do rarely get to be with children. Before you go, won't you at least sit for a pose?"

Cassie scoffed. 'Rarely my ass. It's not like you're surrounded by their frozen corpses.'

"A pose?" Annabeth asked cautiously.

"A photograph. I will use it to model a new statue set. Children are so popular, you see. Everyone loves children." The disguised gorgon elucidated.

"I don't think we can, ma'am. Come on, Percy—"

"Sure we can," Percy was annoyed that Annabeth was being so bossy and rude.

Normally Cassie would agree, but right now the blonde's bossiness and rudeness was needed. They had to leave.

"It's just a photo, Annabeth. What's the harm?"

'Famous last words.' Cassie thought.

"Yes, Annabeth. No harm." The lady insisted.

Annabeth let her lead the group to take a photo and Cassie's hand kept flickering. She tried to get behind the old woman to stab her, but Annabeth glared and yanked her forward. They weren't 100% sure she was Medusa.

They got to a bench near the satyr statue.

"Now, I'll just position you correctly. The young girls in the middle, I think, and the two young gentlemen on either side."

"Not much light for a photo." Percy observed. Cassie could help but roll her eyes.

'This idiot.'

"Oh, enough. Enough for us to see each other, yes?" The lady brushed off his comment.

"Where's your camera?" Grover spoke but he was ignored.

"Now, the face is the most difficult. Can you smile for me please, everyone. A large smile."

Cassie didn't break her scowl as Grover stared at the satyr statue again.

"That sure does look like Uncle Ferdinand."

"Grover look this way, dear. Cassandra please smile."

The latter didn't listen.

"Percy—" Annabeth attempted.

"I will be just a moment. You know, I can't see you very well in this cursed veil . . ."

"Kelp head, we're going to die. Something's wrong." Cassie warned bluntly. Annabeth wanted to slap her head for the honesty.

"Wrong? Not at all, dear. I have such noble company tonight. What could be wrong?" Aunty Em unwound her head wrap.

"That is Uncle Ferdinand!" Grover blurted in realization.

"Look away from her!" Annabeth ordered as she placed the Yankees cap on. She shoved a Percy and Grover knowing Cassie was fine on her own.

They separated. Cassie weaved through the statues, conjuring her sword and pressing the electricity button. It glowed red.

She watched as Percy was on the ground avoiding Medusa's gaze. Cassie rolled her eyes.

'Of course. This kelp head is always about to die.'

The son of Poseidon almost looked up before Annabeth shouted at him. He was struggling and suddenly Annabeth appeared next to him in an attempt to help. It wasn't going to work.

Medusa charged in spite of Athena, to attack the blonde. Cassie ran out from behind the statues.

She pushed Annabeth behind her and stood in front with her sword crackling red, ready to defend.

"Back off lady. Touch her, and you're dead!"

Cassie didn't know where the protectiveness came from, but she didn't like it. Her nose scrunched in disgust.

"A daughter of Ares. Fine man, your father, but he had a bit of a tongue. Seems like you inherited it. That will be the death of you Cassandra Carter."

"And your great observation skills with be yours." Cassie quipped with her eyes still tightly shut. She had trained to fight blind, but now that it was actually happening, Cassie wasn't as sure.

"Ugh! Open your eyes, daughter of Ares. Let me see the pretty green."

"Aww you think my eyes are pretty?" Cassie faked blushing.

Annabeth whack her shoulder from behind.

"Calm down blondie. No need to be jealous. I am saving your ass right now."

"More like getting us killed faster." Annabeth muttered as she rolled her eyes.

Luckily, the gorgon focused on Percy as she tried to convince him to join her. Cassie was ready to just slice her head off then and there but Grover had it covered.

"Percy! Duck!"

Cassie and Annabeth ran. The latter disappearing again.

Grover came flying down with a tree branch ready to strike. He was shaking as he flew blind.

Percy jumped out of the way. Thwack!

Grover probably hit a tree but Medusa growled.

"You miserable satyr! I'll add you to my collection!"

"That was for Uncle Ferdinand!"

Percy hid in the statues as Grover went for another hit. Ker-whack!

Medusa cried out, "Arrgh!"

"Percy!" Annabeth called.

Percy leapt up in fear.

"Jeez! Don't do that!"

Annabeth became visible, now separated from Cassie.

"You have to cut her head off."

"What? Are you crazy? Let's get out of here!"

Cassie's head popped up from nearby.

"Yes, let's leave the crazy snake lady, who is terrorizing mortals, alone to live while we run away." She nodded, fluent sarcasm dripping from her lips.

"We have to kill her. I'd do it myself, but . . . But you've got the better weapon. Besides, I'll never get close to her again. She'll slice me to bits because of my mother. You—you've got a chance." Annabeth confessed.

"What I can't—"

"Yes you can. Stop doubting yourself kelp head. Do that after you fail. And look at all the poor people."

She saw a statue of two women about to kiss and smiled fondly. Annabeth followed her gaze and her eyes widened, but she didn't say anything.

The blonde grabbed a reflective green ball from nearby.

"A polished shield would be better. The convexity will cause some distortion. The reflection's size should be off by a factor of—"

Cassie saw Percy's utterly confused face and sighed.

"Okay. Nerd, nerd, nerd. Yada, yada, yada. To dumb it down for the English speakers here. Look at Medusa in the glass, never directly unless you want to be a cement block the rest of your life. Probably better than being here though." Cassie translated.

Percy nodded in thanks and Annabeth rolled her eyes. She threw the ball to Percy.

"Hey guys! I think she's unconscious." Grover shouted.

Cassie's hopes dropped wishing to get slicing, before a 'roarrrr,' came from said unconscious lady.

"Maybe be not!" Grover fixed.

"Hurry. Grover's got a great nose, but he'll eventually crash." Annabeth said.

Percy uncapped his pen and Riptide appeared. He made his way toward the gorgon, looking through the green ball.

Grover had flown too close to the ground and was flung into a statue by Medusa. She went to lunge when Percy yelled.

"Hey!"

It caught the monster's attention as she whipped around. She remained in her place, allowing Percy to advance.

He got closer as Cassie observed. Medusa was trying to sway Percy but Grover had interrupted.

Percy was awfully close and Medusa went to attack when, shlock! Her head fell to the ground as a hiss rang from her throat. Percy had chopped her head clean off.

"Oh, yuck." Grover said, cringing in disgust. His eyes still shut tight. "Mega-yuck."

Cassie joined them, looking to the side at a statue. "Yeah, that's nasty."

Annabeth was last to join as she stared toward the sky. She held Medusa's veil.

"Don't move." She commanded as she bent down and wrapped the head in the veil. She lift it up as the green liquid drilled onto the ground.

"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked. Her voice was shaky and Cassie rolled her eyes, before taking the head from her.

"Yeah," Percy reassured, but to Cassie he seemed about ready to hurl. "Why didn't . . . why'd didn't the head evaporate?"

"Once you detach it from her body it becomes a spoil of war. Like your minotaur horn." Cassie explained.

The Stolls had ranted to her about wanting that horn. She just nodded her head and continued reading or practicing whenever they did.

"But don't unwrap it. It can't still petrify you." Annabeth cautioned.

Grover groaned as he broke free from the statue. He looked all out of place.

"The Red Baron. Good job, man." Percy pat the satyr's back.

Grover smiled shyly. "That really was not fun, though. Well the hitting-her-with-a-stick part, that was fun. But crashing into a concrete bear? Not fun."

"One would only imagine." Cassie said.

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The group grabbed the head and went in the warehouse. They found some grocery bags and double wrapped it for safety.

They slumped on the picnic table tiredly. Cassie laid her head on her hands as she thought.

"So it was Athena's fault for the lovely fight that just took place?" Cassie spoke her thoughts.

Percy nodded in agreement. "I'd say so."

Cassie flashed him a grin but Annabeth sent an irritated look at her, turning her head to Percy.

"Your dad actually." The blonde informed before
shifting to the brunette. "Don't you remember anything, Carter."

Cassie made a face of mock offense.

"Medusa was Poseidon's girlfriend. They decided to meet in my mother's temple. That's why Athena turned her into a monster. Medusa and her two sisters who had helped her get into the temple, they became three gorgons. That's why Medusa wanted to slice me up, but she wanted to preserve you as a nice statue. She's still sweet on your dad. You probably reminded her of him."

"Didn't mean you had to kill her. I'm pretty sure she was gonna be my next girlfriend. She liked my eyes." Cassie batted her eyelashes in a joking flirtatious manner.

"You didn't help either." Annabeth retorted.

"Oh, so that wasn't me saving you ten minutes ago."

"You could've prevented it all along."

"You could've too!"

"That doesn't matter."

"Oh, so now it's my fault we met Medusa?!"

"Well you didn't do anything to help get Percy away before she attacked!"

"It's not my fault he was all, 'Its just a photo, Annabeth. What's the harm?'." Cassie mimicked the boy's voice.

"But you didn't do much against it."

"Forget it, you're impossible."

"You're insufferable."

"You're—"

"Hey!" Percy interrupted.

"You two are giving me a migraine, and satyrs don't even get migraines." Grover added. "What are we gonna do with the head?"

The girls stopped arguing to glare at each other heatedly.

Percy was annoyed with both of them. Annabeth especially for partially blaming him. He was also annoyed at the Gods.

"I'll be back." Percy stood.

"Percy. What are you—" Annabeth didn't get to finish as he disappeared.

Cassie got up and paced around to think of a plan. She was also kicking the ground, irritated with a certain know it all blondie.

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Percy came back and packaged the head up. He had written Mount Olympus' address on the delivery slip.

"They're not going to like that. They'll think you're impertinent." Grover said.

"He is impertinent." Cassie joked and Percy didn't take it offensively.

He poured in the golden drachmas and sealed the box. It floated into the air, disappearing with a pop.

"I am impertinent." Percy agreed.

Seeing Cassie joking about it, he knew she didn't care. He turned to Annabeth allowing her to criticize.

She didn't, getting over the fact that Percy could infuriate the gods as much as Cassie was able to infuriate her.

"Come on. We need a new plan."