[1] something new | pjo

xliv. forty four

DISTANCE WAS SHORTER IN THE LABYRINTH.

Still, by the time Rachel got them back to Times Square, Daphne felt like they'd pretty much run all the way from New Mexico. They climbed out of the Marriott basement and stood on the sidewalk in the bright summer daylight, squinting at the traffic and crowds.

Daphne couldn't decide which seemed less real—New York or the crystal cave where she'd watched a god die. 

Percy led the way into an alley, where he could get a nice echo. Then he whistled as loud as he could, five times.

A minute later, Rachel gasped. "They're beautiful!"

A flock of pegasi descended from the sky, swooping between the skyscrapers. Blackjack was in the lead, followed by four of his white friends.

"Yeah," Percy told him. "I'm lucky that way. Listen, we need a ride to camp quick."

"Perce, you can talk with animal?" Daphne said in the tone of surprise.

"Not any animal, just horse, because yeah, Poseidon son's,"

Daphne looked at him and gave him a teasing smile, "That's real creepy Jackson, I think we both are creepy in our own way,"

Percy let out a small laugh. Everybody started saddling up—except Rachel.

"Well," she told Percy, "I guess this is it."

Percy nodded uncomfortably. They both knew she couldn't go to camp. Percy glanced at Daphne, who was pretending to be very busy with her Pegasus.

"Thanks, Rachel," Percy said. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"I wouldn't have missed it. I mean, except for almost dying, and Pan..." her voice faltered.

"Look, Rachel, you did awesome. You led us through the maze. You were so brave. That's the only thing I'm going to judge you on. I don't care what your dad does." Percy said.

Rachel looked at him gratefully. "Well...if you ever feel like hanging out with a mortal again...you could call me or something."

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

"I mean...I'd like that," Percy said.

"My number's not in the book," she said.

"I've got it."

"Still on your hand? No way."

"No. I kinda...memorized it."

Her smile came back slowly, but a lot happier. "See you later, Percy Jackson. Go save the world for me, okay?"

She walked off down Seventh Avenue and disappeared into the crowds.

When Percy got back to the horses. Nico was having trouble. His Pegasus kept shying away from him, reluctant to let him mount.

"Go without me!" Nico said. "I don't want to go back to that camp anyway."

"Nico," Percy said, "we need your help."

He folded his arms and scowled. Then Daphne put her hand on his shoulder.

"Nico," she said. "Please."

Slowly, his expression softened. "All right," he said reluctantly. "For you. but I'm not staying."

Percy raised an eyebrow at Daphne, like, How come all of a sudden Nico listens to you? She stuck her tongue out at him. At last they got everybody on a Pegasus. They shot into the air, and soon they were over the East river with Long Island spread out before them. They landed in the middle of the cabin area and were immediately met by Chiron, the potbellied satyr Silenus, and a couple of Apollo cabin archers.