𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬'𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 • 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯

Grover Gets A Lamborghini

Percy's Pov:

We were crossing the Potomac when we spotted the helicopter. It was a sleek, black military model just like the one we'd seen at Westover Hall. And it was coming straight toward us. 

"They know the van," I said. "We have to ditch it." 

Zoë swerved into the fast lane. The helicopter was gaining. 

"Maybe the military will shoot it down," Grover said hopefully. 

"The military probably thinks it's one of theirs," Grayson said. 

"How can the General use mortals, anyway?" I asked.

"Mercenaries," Zoë said bitterly. "It is distasteful, but many mortals will fight for any cause as long as they are paid." 

"But don't these mortals see who they're working for? Don't they notice all the monsters around them?" 

Zoë shook her head. "I do not know how much they see through the Mist. I doubt it would matter to them if they knew the truth. Sometimes mortals can be more horrible than monsters." 

The helicopter kept coming, making a lot better time than we were through D.C. traffic. 

Thalia closed her eyes and prayed hard. "Hey, Dad. A lightning bolt would be nice about now. Please?" 

But the sky stayed gray and snowy. No sign of a helpful thunderstorm. 

"There!" Bianca said. "That parking lot!" 

"We'll be trapped," Zoë said. 

"Trust me," Bianca said. 

Zoë shot across two lanes of traffic and into a mall parking lot on the south bank of the river. We left the van and followed Bianca down some steps. 

"Subway entrance," Bianca said. "Let's go south. Alexandria." 

"Anything," Thalia agreed. 

We bought tickets and got through the turnstiles, looking behind us for any signs of pursuit. A few minutes later we were safe aboard a southbound train, riding away from D.C. As our train came above ground, we could see the helicopter circling the parking lot, but it didn't come after us. 

Grover let out a sigh. "Nice job, Bianca, thinking of the subway." 

Bianca looked pleased. "Yeah, well. I saw that station when Nico and I came through last summer. I remember being really surprised to see it because it wasn't here when we used to live in D.C." 

Grayson frowned. "New? But that station looked really old." 

"I guess," Bianca said. "But trust me, when we lived here as little kids, there was no subway." 

Thalia sat forward. "Wait a minute. No subway at all?" 

Bianca nodded. Now, I knew nothing about D.C., but I didn't see how their whole subway system could be less than twelve years old. I guess everyone else was thinking the same thing because they looked pretty confused. 

"Bianca," Zoë said. "How long ago..." Her voice faltered. The sound of the helicopter was getting louder again. 

"We need to change trains," Grayson said. "Next station." 

Over the next half hour, all we thought about was getting away safely. We changed trains twice. I had no idea where we were going, but after a while, we lost the helicopter. 

Unfortunately, when we finally got off the train we found ourselves at the end of the line, in an industrial area with nothing but warehouses and railway tracks. And snow. Lots of snow. It seemed much colder here. I was glad for my new lion's fur coat.