──★ Chapter nine

The group's two days on the Amtrak train were filled with tension. Despite no direct attacks, an ominous feeling of being watched from above or below pervaded the journey.

The train headed west, passing through rolling hills, over rivers, and past amber waves of grain. Adira watched the scenery with a touch of excitement, having not ventured into the mortal world for a very long time.

Percy kept a low profile, knowing his name and picture were splashed across the front pages of several East Coast newspapers. However, the Trenton Register-News featured a photo taken by a tourist of Percy and Adira disembarking a Greyhound bus, their weapons a metallic blur in their hands. The Mist obscured the details, but the caption read:

"Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother two weeks ago, is shown here fleeing from the bus, accompanied by a mystery girl. Witnesses say the girl injured one of the passengers gravely. The bus exploded on an east New Jersey roadside shortly after, and police believe the pair may be traveling with two teenage accomplices. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture."

"Don't worry," Annabeth reassured Percy. "Mortal police could never find us." But she didn't sound so sure.

Percy spent the rest of the day pacing the length of the train, much to Adira's irritation, or staring out the windows.

The reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. They couldn't get berths in the sleeper car, so they dozed in their seats.

Percy was particularly mindful of his behavior, trying not to drool or snore since Adira was seated next to him.

Only because he didn't want to give her any more reasons to make fun of him.

Grover's snoring and bleating continuously woke Percy up. Annabeth, on the other hand, slept peacefully. Adira was on the verge of falling asleep herself when Grover shifted again, causing his fake foot to fall off.

With a silent agreement, Adira and Percy quickly reattached Grover's fake foot before any of the other passengers could notice.

Once Grover's trainer was readjusted, Adira turned to Percy and asked, "So... who's the idiot asking for your help?" Adira actually didn't know why she asked.

Percy was taken aback by her sudden question and her candid tone. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, I just assumed you were dreaming because you mumbled, 'I won't help you,' and I thought, 'Who would be dumb enough to ask Jackson for help?'" Adira replied, not missing the chance to poke fun at Percy.

To her surprise, he let out a weak chuckle,

instead of the scoff, eye roll, or sarcastic comeback she had expected.

Percy seemed reluctant at first, but then began to tell her everything.

She didn't expect him to confide in her, and she wasn't sure if she would have done the same. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they shared familiar dreams, that made him feel comfortable enough to open up. Maybe he thought she'd understand.

The silence stretched between them like a taut string, each moment laden with unspoken tension. Adira meticulously replayed Percy's words in her mind, her brow furrowing as she strained to extract any shred of insight.

"It doesn't sound like Hades," she finally ventured, her voice carrying a mix of contemplation and disbelief. "I always imagined him on a black throne, looking as emo as ever and never laughing."

"He offered my mother in trade. Who else could do that?" Percy countered.

Adira shook her head. "It doesn't make sense. If he has the master bolt and wants to start a war with the Olympians, why ask you to bring it to him?" She turned to Percy, finding his gaze already fixed on her. His head shook in frustration.

Grover's sudden snort broke the heavy atmosphere, startling Adira. The satyr muttered something about vegetables in his sleep and turned his head. She quickly readjusted his cap to cover his horns. Percy seemed lost in his thoughts.

Before Adira could voice her thoughts, Percy interjected with a question that caught her off guard. "Would you consider us friends?"

"...No?" She replied cautiously. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Had she given him any signs of friendship? If so, it wasn't intentional. "Why?"

"No reason..." he trailed off. She knew he had a reason but didn't want to say it.

"Jackson, if you're thinking about bartering with Hades, you must have a death wish. He's one of the cruelest gods—deceitful, heartless, greedy whatever u wanna call it. His little workers weren't as aggressive this time, but if you—"

It took Percy a moment to actually grasp what she was saying. 'This time'

Percy interrupted her, his tone heavy with realization. "'This time'? You mean, they've attacked you before?"

Adira remained silent, her fingers instinctively fiddling with the rings she wore—a habit whenever she felt nervous or uncomfortable.

One ring held particular significance: a cherished gift from her father. It adorned the middle finger of her left hand and at its center is an oval-shaped amethyst stone, its deep violet hue catching the moonlight beautifully. The amethyst is securely set in a finely crafted bezel, blending the warm gold and rich purple for a regal, timeless charm.

Every time she caught herself doing this, she immediately stopped, hoping no one noticed.

But he noticed.

"They've attacked me multiple times when I was trying to find Camp Half-Blood," she confessed softly, avoiding his gaze. "But Jackson, as much as it hurts, you can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom."

"What would you do if it was your dad?"

Adira wasn't sure how she should answer. Thoughts of her father threatened to bring tears to her eyes, a vulnerability she refused to show in front of Percy fucking Jackson.

The brunette girl hesitated, wrestling with the painful memories she kept buried deep within. "I don't know," she admitted.

"You'd seriously leave him to rot if you had the chance to get him back?" he pressed the issue further.

"I already told you, I don't know," she stated firmly, meeting his gaze with a fierce intensity. "I don't like talking about my father to friends. Besides, it's all a weird story." Blinking, she directed her gaze downward, allowing the weight of her words to settle in the silent air.

After a while, he spoke up. "You told me we weren't friends." Percy reminded her.

Adira turned to look at him again, her eyes meeting his.

"So?"

"So, then tell me."

She squinted her eyes at him. "What?"

"If you don't like talking about this stuff to your friends, then talk to me. You told me I wasn't your friend."

Adira didn't know what to say. Why was he so nice to her? Why wouldn't he leave her alone? And why was he so goddamn stubborn?

She had never been one to open up easily, especially about something as painful and personal as her life before camp. Yet, there was something in Percy's earnest gaze that tugged at her defenses, urging her to share a part of herself she had long guarded.

"Nice try, Jackson. I'm not gonna tell you that easily," she said, her voice laced with a biting edge. Her eyes bore into his, the teasing glint barely masking the sadness that lay beneath. Her tone was serious, almost harsh, but there was an undeniable hint of vulnerability, as if daring him to push just a little further to uncover the truth she so desperately wanted to hide.

"How old were you when you arrived at camp?"

"I was seven."

"Seven?! But...you couldn't have gotten all the way to Half-Blood Hill by yourself."

"I wasn't alone. I met Kian, Luke, Annabeth, and Thalia on the way, and we took care of each other." Adira told him, her voice colder now, as if the memories were a bittersweet balm on an old wound. She hoped he'd finally drop the subject and just try to sleep.

He studied her for a moment longer, as if weighing his options. Then, with a resigned sigh, he turned his head. The tension eased slightly, and they both settled down, the weight of their unspoken words hanging in the cool night air.

So they fell asleep with the sound of Grover's gentle snoring filled the silence under the silver glow of the moonlight.

․ ⁺ ⊹ 🏹 ⁀₊➷ ⋄⚜️

When the train passed through some golden hills and over the Mississippi River into St. Louis, Adira knew that Annabeth was about to freak out.

Annabeth was the biggest architecture nerd Adira has ever met. But she loved to hear the random facts her best friend would spill about certain well-built monuments.

"Can't we work together a little?" Percy pleaded. "I mean, didn't Athena and Poseidon ever cooperate?"

Annabeth had to think about it. "I guess...the chariot," she said, turning to Adira for confirmation. Adira shrugged her shoulders and Annabeth continued. "My mom invented it, but Poseidon created horses out of the crests of waves. So they had to work together to make it complete."

"Then we can cooperate, too. Right?" Percy asked.

They rode into the city, Annabeth watching as the Arch disappeared behind a hotel.

"I suppose," she said at last."

Percy turned to face Adira. "What about our parents? Did they ever have to work together?" he asked.

Adira shook her head. "Not really. But I'm not my mother, and you're not your father,"

"So, you'll cooperate with me?" he pressed, his tone hopeful yet cautious.

"If I'm close to dying, and you're my only hope, yes," she said, her tone tinged with a hint of dry humor.

Percy nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Okay, I'll take that," he said.

They pulled into the Amtrak station downtown. The intercom told them they'd have a three-hour stopover before departing for Denver.

Grover stretched. Before he was even fully awake, he said, "Food."

"Come on, goat boy," Adira said. "We're going sightseeing, yay!"

"Sightseeing?"

"Yup, the Gateaway Arch," Annabeth told him. "This may be my only chance to ride to the top. Are you coming or not?"

Grover exchanged looks with Percy and Adira. "There may be food." Adira tried to convince him.

"Food? I'm in. As long as there's a snack bar without monsters." Grover said, immediately standing up, making Adira chuckle.

Percy looked like he didn't want to be there. Adira grabbed his wrist, yanked him forward and said, "Come on, Jackson. Maybe you'll find some friends in the Mississippi River."

──★

The Arch was about a mile from the train station. Late in the day, the lines to get in weren't that long. The group threaded their way through the underground museum, looking at covered wagons and other junk from the 1800s. It wasn't all that thrilling, but Annabeth kept spilling interesting facts about how the Arch was built, and Grover kept asking if anyone wanted jelly beans.

Oddly, Adira noticed that Percy only took the blue ones. Curiosity piqued, she matched his stride and asked, "So what's up with you and blue food?"

Percy turned to her with a playful smirk. "Why are you noticing what I eat? Are you stalking me, Santoro?" he teased.

Adira rolled her eyes, immediately regretting her question. "Ew, no, you wish. But a weirdo who only eats blue food doesn't go unnoticed."

"I just like it," Percy replied with a shrug. "My mom used to make me blue food all the time when I was younger."

Adira understood Percy a little bit better now. If she were in Percy's place, with a mom like that, she'd try to bring her back too. His mother seemed like the sweetest person ever. "That's really nice of her," she said, her tone carrying a hint of wistfulness.

"Grover, do you smell anything?" Annabeth's voice cut through the air, pulling Grover's attention away from his jelly bean bag.

Grover lifted his nose and sniffed, his expression turning sour. "Underground," he said with distaste. "Underground air always smells like monsters. Probably doesn't mean anything." But a shiver ran down Adira's spine. Something felt off.

"Guys," Percy said. "You know the gods' symbols of power?"

Annabeth had been in the middle of reading about the construction equipment used to build the Arch, but she looked over. "Yeah?"

"Well, Hade—" Percy began, but Grover cleared his throat loudly, cutting him off.

"We're in a public place..." Grover mumbled, glancing around warily.

"You mean, our friend downstairs?" Adira asked, catching on quickly.

"Um, right." Percy said. "Our friend way downstairs. Doesn't he have a hat like Annabeth's?"

"He calls it the Helm of Darkness," Adira said, "Real corny if you ask me." She looked at Annabeth and continued, "But yeah, that's his symbol of power. We saw it next to his seat during the winter solstice council meeting."

"He was there?" Percy asked, his eyes widening.

Adira nodded. "It's the only time he's allowed to visit Olympus – the darkest day of the year."

"But his helmet is a lot more powerful than my invisibility hat, if what I've heard is true..." Annabeth trailed off, her brow furrowing.

"It allowed him to become darkness," Grover confirmed. "He can melt into shadow or pass through walls. He can't be touched, or seen, or heard. And he can radiate fear so intense it can drive you insane or stop your heart. Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?"

"But then...how do we know he's not here right now, watching us?" Percy asked. The room seemed to grow colder, the tension thickening the air.

Annabeth, Adira and Grover exchanged looks. "We don't," Adira answered.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," Percy said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He forced a smile and added, "Got any blue jelly beans left?"

They moved to the elevator, which was uncomfortably small. They were shoehorned into the car with a large lady and her Chihuahua, a little dog with a rhinestone collar. The sight reminded Adira of a movie Silena had shown her once, Legally Blonde.

The elevator started going up inside the Arch.

"No parents?" the lady asked them. She had beady eyes; pointy, coffee stained teeth; a floppy denim hat, and a denim dress that bulged.

"They're scared of heights, so they didn't want to come," Adira answered, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Oh, the poor darlings."

The Chihuahua growled, and the woman scolded, "Now, now, sonny. Behave." The dog's eyes, sharp and intelligent, mirrored its owner's.

Percy said, "Sonny. Is that his name?"

"No," the lady replied with a smile that did nothing to clarify. Percy and Adira exchanged a wary look, each silently questioning what they had just stepped into.

At the summit of the Arch, the observation deck greeted Adira like a tin can adorned with carpeting. Rows of miniature windows framed views of the sprawling cityscape on one side and the meandering river on the other.

Annabeth, ever the architect, continued to chatter about structural supports and her ideas for larger windows and a transparent floor. It was clear she could have lingered there for hours, lost in her thoughts and designs. However, their reverie was cut short by the park ranger's announcement that the observation deck would be closing in a few minutes.

Percy steered the group towards the exit, loaded them into the elevator, and he was about to get in himself when he realized that there were already two other tourists inside and that there was no room for him.

The park ranger said, "Next car, sir."

"We'll get out," Annabeth said. "We'll wait with you."

Percy said that it was going to mess everybody up and take even more time. Adira rolled her eyes, exasperated by his stubbornness. "You're really dumb if you think we're leaving you alone, Jackson."

"Really, Santoro, it's fine—" Percy began, but the fierce look Adira shot him made him fall silent. Arguing with her was pointless.

Without another word, she stepped out of the elevator, her expression brooking no further discussion.

Annabeth and Grover exchanged a glance, and Annabeth said, "Just don't kill each other, please." then let the elevator doors slide shut, leaving the two of them behind.

Adira didn't bother promising anything. She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms as the elevator descended.

"You didn't have to get out," Percy mumbled.

"And leave you and your head full of kelp alone? Yeah, no," Adira retorted.

She looked around and saw that the only people left on the observation deck were her and Percy, a little boy with his parents, the park ranger and the Chihuahua lady.

Adira tried her best to be polite and faked a smile at the lady. She smiled back, her forked tongue flickering between her teeth.

Adira's heart skipped a beat. Wait, what?

She quickly grabbed Percy's wrist, her eyes wide with alarm. "Did you see what—" she began, but Percy cut her off, his own eyes wide with shock.

"Yup, I saw," he confirmed, his voice hushed and tense. The two of them stood frozen for a moment, the realization sinking in.

Before they could do anything, the lady's Chihuahua jumped down and started yapping at them.

"Now, now, sonny," the lady said. "Does this look like a good time? We have all these nice people here."

"What the fu-"

"Doggie!" a little boy excitedly said as he pointed to the Chihuahua. "Look, a doggie!" but his parents pulled him back.

The Chihuahua bared his teeth at the two demigods, foam dripping from his black lips.

"Well, son," the lady sighed. "If you insist."

A cold feeling started to wash over Adira.

Percy took a step forward, standing in front of the brunette-haired girl. "Um, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?"

"Chimera, dear," the lady corrected. "Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make."

She rolled up her denim sleeves, revealing that the skin of her arms was scaly and green. When she smiled, you could see that her teeth were fangs. The pupils of her eyes were sideways slits, like a reptile's.

"Fuck," Adira whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mind raced, trying to formulate a plan to get out alive while keeping the mortals safe. She scanned the observation deck, searching for an escape route or anything she could use to defend them.

The Chihuahua barked louder, and with each bark, it grew. First to the size of a Doberman, then to a lion, its size reaching the roof. The bark became a roar.

The boy and his parents screamed and headed towards the exit, straight into the park ranger, who stood, paralyzed, gaping at the monster.

The Chimera had the head of a lion with a blood-caked mane, the body and hooves of a giant goat, and a serpent for a tail, a three-meter-long diamondback growing right out of its behind.

The rhinestone dog collar still hung around its neck, and the plate sized dog tag was easy to read now:
CHIMERA – RABID, FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS – IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS – EXT. 954

Adira's hand slowly moved to her bangle, fingers trembling slightly as she prepared to twist it into her spear. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Percy's unease, realizing he hadn't even uncapped his sword yet.

A Chimera wouldn't be so bad, she tried to reassure herself. Just a big cat with a snake tail, right?

The snake lady made a hissing noise that might've been laughter. "Be honored, Percy Jackson. Lord Zeus rarely allows me to test a hero with one of my brood. And you Daughter of Nike, prepare yourself for your first defeat. For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!"

Percy and Adira exchanged a look, then turned back to her, unimpressed. Adira thought that her speech was a little silly.

Percy, being Percy, simply asked, "Isn't that a kind of anteater?"

"From Australia?" Adira added.

The lady howled, her reptilian face turning brown and green with rage. "I hate it when people say that! I hate Australia! Naming that ridiculous animal after me. For that, Percy Jackson and Adira Santoro, my son shall destroy you!"

The Chimera charged, its lion teeth gashing. Adira and Percy managed to leap aside and dodge the bite. They ended up next to the family and the park ranger, who were all screaming now, trying to pry open the emergency exit doors.

Adira and Percy both uncapped their weapons and ran opposite ways to the other side of the deck. Percy yelled, "Hey, Chihuahua!"

The Chimera spun with a speed that defied Percy's expectations. Before Percy could swing his sword, it opened its mouth, emitting into a stench like the world's largest barbecue pit, and shot a column of flame straight at Percy.

He dived through the explosion. The carpet burst into flames; the heat was so intense, it ragged a hole in the side of the Arch, with melted metal steaming around the edges.

Great, they just blow torched a national monument.

Now it was Adira's turn to yell.

"Hey, little bitch!"

The Chimera turned away from Percy and growled at Adira. Its massive jaws lunged toward her, she reacted swiftly, hurling her spear upward. The spear flew straight into the creature's gaping mouth, slicing through flesh and emerging just above the monster's nose. The Chimera howled in pain, thrashing its head violently. The force of its movements dislodged the spear, sending it hurtling across the room and clattering against the far wall.

Shit.

Her swift actions bought her a precious moment to chase after her weapon. She was fortunate; the spear hadn't fallen out of the observation deck but lay tantalizingly close to the hole. Just as she reached for it, the Chimera's tail lunged, and she felt its fangs sink deep into her side. A scream of pain tore from her lips as the venomous bite sent her stumbling towards the gaping hole in the deck.

Desperately, she grabbed onto a metal bar, her fingers gripping it with all her strength. But the poison coursing through her veins was relentless, spreading a burning sensation that made her muscles weaken and her grip falter. She clung on, her body trembling, fighting against the encroaching numbness as the Chimera's roar echoed around her.

"Adira!" Percy yelled as he tried to run to her, but the Chimera attacked him and Percy slashed his sword at its neck. The blade sparked harmlessly off the dog collar.

Adira believed they were doomed. Her spear lay tantalizingly ahead, just out of reach. Despite the hopelessness of the situation, she stretched out her hand, willing herself to grasp the weapon.

For a second, she saw a golden mist shimmered into existence around the spear, causing it to lift slightly off the ground as if responding to her desperate plea.

...What?

She couldn't even begin to collect her thoughts amidst the chaos when Percy's sword slipped from his grasp and tumbled down into the depths, disappearing towards the Mississippi River below.

Adira felt her strength ebbing with every passing second. She cast a desperate glance at Percy, who stood helplessly without a weapon, slowly retreating towards her. He understood all too well that time was running out, and soon Adira wouldn't have the physical strength to hold on any longer.

The Chimera advanced, growling, smoke curling from its lips. The snake lady, Echidna, cackled. "They don't make heroes like they used to, eh, son?"

The monster growled. It seemed in no hurry to finish them off now that they were both beaten.

"If you are the son of Poseidon," Echidna hissed, "you would not fear water, Percy Jackson. The girl over here will die, whether you take her with you or not. The poison will stop her heart within moments. Poseidon would never intervene to save her."

Adira's breaths came in shallow gasps, her strength waning rapidly. Percy locked eyes with her, watching helplessly as her blinks grew slower, her grip on life slipping away. Panic surged within him; he wouldn't let her die. He had to find a way to save her.

Echidna's challenge hung heavy in the air. "But you," she continued, turning her gaze to Percy, "show me that water will not harm you. Jump and retrieve your sword. Prove your bloodline."

Adira summoned all her strength to ask Percy, "What are you doing?" as she noticed him drawing nearer to her.

Then, the Chimera's mouth glowed red, heating up for another blast.

"You have no faith," Echidna told them. "You do not trust the gods. I cannot blame you. Better you both die now. The gods are faithless. The poison is already in your heart."

Percy could notice his breath slowing down, she was right.

He stepped back further, gaze shifting between the churning waters below and Adira. "Jackson, what are you doing?" Her voice was cautious.

"Do you trust me?" Percy's question hung in the air, urgent yet tinged with uncertainty.

"What?!" Adira's response came quickly.

"For the gods sake, Santoro," Percy pressed, his tone strained. "Do you trust me?"

"Not when you're asking like that!" Adira shot back.

He turned to face the Chimera once more. "Die, faithless ones," Echidna rasped.

Adira's mind spun as Percy sprang into action. In a blur of motion, Percy grabbed her spear and ran towards the hole. He enveloped her in his arms, her weakening grip on the edge slipping away.

A cry tore from her lips, a desperate echo in the tumultuous air, as she felt herself plummeting into the abyss, her face buried against Percy's neck. Her arms were wrapped around his neck while his embrace was steadfast, his arms a lifeline ensuring she wouldn't slip from his grasp.

Amidst the rushing wind and her own piercing screams, she strained to hear Percy's prayer. His voice trembled with urgency and fear, pleading to his father for salvation.  'Father, save Adira.' she heard him murmur through the chaos.

Together, they plummeted through the sky, spinning and twisting in a dizzying descent.

──★ ˙ ̟🎀 !! author's note!

I know I said I was excited about this scene, but I feel like it's shit. HAPPY 2K READS EVERYONE OMG I'M SO HAPPY AND GRATEFUL I LOVE U GUYS!!!

Also, do you guys have any idea what Dira's fatal flaw could be? I want to know your thoughts 🤭

SIKE, y'all thought you would get Adira's backstory?? NO. She's not opening up that easily, i'm sorry y'all pls stay patient. It will be in tlt tho!

Not Percy turning into Aladdin there at the end.
I hope you guys caught that little scene about the shimmering mist around her spear...

That's all, thank you for reading and don't forget to vote 🤍

Kisses, Keke 💋