Percy Jackson and the Department of Mysteries

14) I Get Chased by Traffic Cones

If you'd asked me what I thought I'd be doing with my life when I was still living in the Muggle world, I would tell you that I'd be doing exactly what I was doing now.

Spray painting the side of Gringotts bank was a big deal. I'd painted a bunch of other buildings, and it was all over the news — both the Muggle and wizarding news — that there was a serial spray painter running around that went by the name Riptide.

I was particularly trying to hide my identity. The Ministry knew it was me, but they didn't have the evidence. The wizarding news suspected me, considering all the stuff that I'd spout about Voldemort's rising and the sudden appearance of paintings depicting terrors and such on the walls of magical buildings.

I looked down at the poison green paint in my hand, pulled my bandana over my nose, and went at it. First was the coiling snake shooting out of the mouth of a skull. Then was the attacking, vibrant phoenix swooping down at it.

In blue paint, I started writing beside the painting, the Dark Lord rises again, but we will rise from the ash and defeat him. Nice and not insulting to the Ministry, but still getting the message out. Lastly, I signed my signature. Riptide.

Then I heard yelling.

Dumbledore had tried to keep people away to the best of his ability, but shop owners were always a problem. There was no guarantee when they would leave for the night. As it turned out, one of them had called the Ministry, and they had sent the Aurors.

"Oh," I turned back, looking at the group of five wizards pointing their wands at me. "Hello. How are you all on this fine evening?"

"Hands on your head, Jackson!" The Auror in the middle, a tall, burly guy ordered. I kept my hands to my side, fiddling with the can of orange paint I'd been holding. "Jackson! Hands, or we will fire!"

I glanced around, then turned back to the Aurors, "Are you guys talking to me?"

"Yes! Hands on your head!" The Auror on the far left shouted, her brown hair pulled back so tightly, it almost looked as if she were bald.

"But my name isn't Jackson," I said.

"We're not stupid, kid," another Auror called, his blonde hair sticking to his forehead from sweat.

"My name isn't kid, either," I said, holding up the can of paint, pressing against the top. They all jumped back in terror as paint splattered against their shoes, and when they looked up, I was already running.

I heard yells and ducked under a spell as it flew over my head. I threw the can of paint behind me as hard as I could, and heard indignant sputtering as they were coated in neon orange. I grinned. They had just became traffic cones.

A burst of flame caught me off guard, and I stumbled, patting out the flames on my sleeve.

"McNully! What are you doing? Our orders are to incapacitate, not to kill!" The lead Auror shouted, and I glanced back. Four of the five Aurors were staring at their coworker, looking horrified. The nearly bald woman didn't seem to care, she just kept chasing after me, the others following dutifully.

I swallowed thickly, and shouted back, "She's with Him! She's working for —"

A wall of rock erupted before me, and I turned back, looking at the woman. Her eyes were dark as she stared at me, her wand held high.

"You're coming with me, Perseus Jackson," the woman said, her voice silky and cold.

"No, I don't think I am," I said, backing up towards the wall behind me.

"I'll correct myself," McNully said. "You're coming with me, or you're not leaving here alive."

"I'll take door number three, thanks," I said.

"McNully, stand down!" The lead Auror said, looking confused and concerned.

"Bombarda!" McNully turned to her associates, casting the spell at their feet. They were all thrown backwards, and groaned on the ground, looking dazed.

"That wasn't nice," I said.

"I will take you by force, if necessary," McNully said. "The Dark Lord wishes to speak with you."

"You can tell him to fuck off," I said.

McNully's eyes narrowed in anger, and she pointed her wand at the wall behind me, "Bombarda Maxima!" The wall exploded, and I was knocked down by a bunch of rubble.

"Ouch," I said, rubbing my back as I stumbled back up to my feet, only to promptly duck under a jet of fire. "Not cool, McBully. Not cool."

I reached into my pocket for Riptide, but McNully made a deadly mistake.

"Aqua Eructo!" Water blasted out of the tip of her wand, and it probably would have hurt a lot if I weren't a son of Poseidon. I let the water hit me square in the chest, then held my hands out, the water curling into whips around my arms.

"How?" McNully demanded.

"I'm guessing Voldy didn't tell you about me," I shrugged, glancing behind McNully. The lead Auror was struggling to climb to his feet, and we made eye contact, understanding finally dawning on his face, "but I've got an affinity for water."

I flung the water out at her, and it smacked her upside the head. McNully roared in anger, a sure sign of a crazy Voldemort follower. She held up her wand and blocked my next swing with a puff of fire.

I ducked down and swung my water at her, and as I was coming back up, I heard a terrifying call, "Avada —" I didn't have enough time to stop standing up, I was moving too quickly. The water wouldn't be enough to absorb that powerful of a spell. " — Kedav —" I shut my eyes, preparing myself for death.

It never came. Instead, the sound of a thud filled my ears, and I opened my eyes. The lead Auror was standing over McNully with a rock in his hands, his eyes wide.

We made eye contact, and I started speaking quickly, "Don't tell anyone what happened here. They won't believe you. They won't believe that Voldemort is back. They never do." I turned and ran, none of the Aurors following me.

Still no news from Ben, probably will never be. Sad. Went to Walmart, though, got some presents for people. Got a llama sweater. Started watching Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I've got a soft spot for Bucky, have ever since I met him. WandaVision was good. Ready for Loki. Uhhh. I've hopefully just got two days of school left before break, which will be awesome. Emblem's pizza fell off. Like, the toppings fell off. I also almost wrote her real name. Nothing bad would've happened, but I still wouldn't want to, especially not without her permission. Also, do you guys know any good Hawaiian surnames? A character I've made for a story, his name is Ollie, is Hawaiian. I'm thinking Ollie Kalani, cause I like the similar sounds, but I'm very open for other ideas.

Anyway, I hope you guys have had a spunky Sunday, and I'll see you on Tuesday CT. Love ya!