My love for you has Stood the test of Time

Chasing After the Quest

Percy's POV:

          While in flight I changed into my Night Owl outfit for Zoe's sake. Okay for my sake if I am going to help save Artemis, I didn't want to worry about her figuring me out just yet. I landed Blackjack on the Chrysler Building and watched the white camp van, Thinking it would pull into the bus station, but it kept just driving.

          "Where's Argus taking them?" I muttered.

          'Oh, Argus ain't driving, boss,' Blackjack told me. 'That girl is.'

          "Which girl?" I asked him. 

          'The Hunter girl. With the silvery crown thing in her hair.' he said. 

          "Zoe?" 

          'That's the one. Hey look! There's a donut shop. Can we get something to go?' He asked me.

          I tried explaining to him that taking a flying horse into a donut shop would give every cop in there a heart attack, but he didn't seem to get it. Meanwhile, the van kept snaking its way to the Lincoln Tunnel. It never occurred to me that Zoe could drive, though I suppose she has been alive for far longer than they've existed. "Well," I said. "Let's get after them." 

          We were about to leap off the Chrysler Building when Blackjack whinnied in alarm and almost threw me. Something was curling around his and my leg like a snake. I reached for my sword, but when I looked down there was no snake. Vines-grape vines-had sprouted from the cracks between the stones of the building. They were wrapping around Blackjack's legs, lashing down my ankles so we couldn't move. 

          "Hm look who I have caught in my vine stealing something which belongs in my camp," Mr. D said. "If it isn't the mysterious Night Owl." He was leaning against the building with his feet levitating in the air, his leopard-skin warm-up suit and black hair whipping around in the wind. 

          'God alert!' Blackjack yelled. 'It's the wine dude!' 

          Mr. D sighed in exasperation. "The next person, or horse, who calls me the 'wine dude' will end up in a bottle of merlot!" he shouted. "Now care to explain what your doing Jackson?" 

          "You know its me?" I asked him as I stopped struggling against the vines. 

          "It isn't hard to figure out when I know this horse only allows you to ride him," he said. "if you don't want those at camp finding out you should disguise him as well. Now why are you leaving camp without permission?" 

          "Well I made a promise to Nico, he overheard the Stoll brothers talking about the prank they played on phoebe." I began explaining, "Either I go and do everything in my power to protect his sister on this quest or he would have tried going on the quest himself. You and I both know that at this point whether she likes it or not I am apart of Zoe's quest." 

          "Have I ever told you about Ariadne?" Mr. D asked. "Beautiful young princess of Crete? She liked helping her friends, too. In fact, she helped a young hero named Theseus, also a son of Poseidon. She gave him a ball of magical yarn that let him find his way out of the Labyrinth. Do you know how Theseus rewarded her?" 

          "Yeah, if I recall correctly." I began, "He said he would marry her and took her aboard his ship bound for Athens. About half way there he ditched her on a small island called Naxos." 

          "Indeed he did," he said. "I found her there. Alone. Crying. Heartbroken. She had given up everything, left behind everything she knew, to help a dashing young hero who tossed her away like an old sandal." 

          "Yes and you fell in love with her," I said. "You healed her broken heart, and when she died you made her your immortal wife on Olympus where she waits for your punishment to be over, I imagine." 

          "You see Jackson, you are a rare case among your kind." Mr. D said, "You are the only hero I have met since that day that I genuinely like. Go then If you insist so much go on this silly quest." With that he waved his hand and the vines released us. 

          I made to launch, "You know Mr. D I wish I had been there that day, I would have made sure she at least got back on the boat." I said trying to offer him some comfort. In truth I was nearly there that day but my 16 birthday had passed just before that and I was struck down on the boat by one of Theseus' men. "Come on Blackjack I'll get you some donuts in New Jersey," That got him ready to go. 

          As it turned out I didn't end up buy him donuts in New Jersey. Zoe drove south like a crazy person, we were in Maryland before she finally pulled over at a rest stop. Blackjack darn near fell out of the sky, he was so tired. 

          'It's okay, boss,' he panted. 'Just ... just catching my breath.' 

          "Stay here I'll be back with some donuts," I told him leaving to go scout. I though I would go inside the only person who would recognize me for me was Zoe and maybe Grover but he was trustworthy enough to not need to worry about it. 

          "And your sure you did this with acorns?" Bianca asked as they were coming out like she couldn't believe it. 

          Grover scoffed as if he was offended "It is a time-honored tracking spell. I mean, I'm pretty sure id did it right." 

          "D.C. is about sixty miles away from here," Bianca said. "Nico and I ..." she frowned. "We used to live there. That's ... strange. I'd forgotten." 

          "I dislike this," Zoe said. "We should go straight west. The prophecy said west." 

          "Oh like your tracking skills are better?" Thalia teased. 

          "Don't disrespect her." I interrupted "You know nothing of her skills as a hunter." Zoe looked at me with a face that said what are you doing here. "A little birdie told me you lost your main tracker?" was all I told her at this time. "And sorry in advance they made me promise to help you all out which means I am apart of this prophecy now whether you like it or not."

          "I'm sorry but who are you?" Thalia asked me. 

          "I would also like to know?" Bianca piped in. 

          "He is a demigod that goes around brining girls to the hunt," Zoe explained for me. "He has added many hunters to the hunt over the years, he goes by the Night Owl." 

          "Thank you Zoe," I said "Now where does the spell have you going?" 

          "Th-The Smithsonian," Grover answered me. 

          "I think for now we should go to the Smithsonian and see what is drawing the magic there." I said. "If it is all right with you Zoe you are leading this quest." 

          "It is fine with me I suppose," she said.

          "Great well before we get back on the road I need to take care of something," with that I walked into the Connivence store they came out of and bought 2 donuts for Blackjack and 2 for myself, I had skipped breakfast after all.