𐌙/𐌍 Ᏽ𐌵𐌀𐌋𐌄 & 𐌕𐋅𐌄 Ᏽ𐌐𐌄𐌀𐌕 𐌌𐌙𐌕𐋅𐌔 ¹

Chapter 11

Eleven
𖧷

Driving Again, Still No License

  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. I tried, but I couldn't contain the ADHD in my brain to stop the thoughts, I wondered how the people around were feeling about a pair of kids in the driver and passenger seats, looking out the windows like they were about to get airstriked by a heli.

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

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

  "Mercenaries," Zoe 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?" I asked. "Don't they notice all the monsters around them?"

  Zoe 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," Zoe said.

  "Trust me," Bianca said.

  Zoe 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 safely 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."

  Grover 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.