σɾɳιƚԋαʂ (ρʝσ x ɱαʅҽ σƈ)

I Tussle for Donuts

Theo's POV

As we raced over the sea, Annabeth, Percy, and I tried to send an Iris message to Chiron. We figured it was important we let somebody know what Luke was doing, and we didn't know who else to trust.

The wind from the thermos stirred up a nice sea spray that made a rainbow in the sunlight—perfect for an Iris message—but our connection was still poor. When Annabeth threw a gold drachma into the mist and prayed for the rainbow goddess to show us Chiron, his face appeared all right, but there was some kind of weird strobe light flashing in the background and rock music blaring, like he was at a dance club.

We told him about sneaking away from camp, Luke and the Princess Andromeda, and the golden box for Kronos's remains, but between the noise on his end and the rushing wind and water on our end, I'm not sure how much he heard.

Chiron: Percy, you have to watch out for—

His voice was drowned out by loud shouting behind him-a bunch of voices whooping it up like Comanche warriors.

Percy: What?

Chiron: Curse my relatives.

Chiron ducked as a plate flew over his head and shattered somewhere out of sight.

Chiron: Annabeth, Theo, you shouldn't have let Percy leave camp! But if you do get the Fleece—

???: YEAH, BABY! WOOOHOOOO!

The music got cranked up, subwoofers so loud it made our boat vibrate.

Chiron: -Miami! I'll try to keep watch—

Our misty screen smashed apart like someone on the other side had thrown a bottle at it, and Chiron was gone.

Theo: Why's Chiron in Miami of all places?

Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson shrugged. They had no idea.

Timeskip

An hour later we spotted land--a long stretch of beach lined with high-rise hotels. The water became crowded with fishing boats and tankers. A Coast Guard cruiser passed on our starboard side, then turned like it wanted a second look. I guess it isn't every day they see a yellow lifeboat with no engine going a hundred knots an hour, manned by three kids.

Annabeth: That's Virginia Beach! Oh my gods, how did the Princess Andromeda travel so far overnight? That's like—

Percy: 530 nautical miles.

Annabeth: How did you know that?

Percy: I-I'm not sure.

Theo: What's our current position?

Percy: 36 degrees, 44 minutes north, 76 degrees, 2 minutes west. (shakes his head) Whoa. How did I know that?

Theo: (chuckles) Son of Poseidon. You're basically a human GPS when you're in the ocean, dude. That's pretty cool.

Tyson: Other boat is coming.

The coast guard vessel was definitely on our tail now. Its lights were flashing and it was gaining speed.

Percy: We can't let them catch us. They'll ask too many questions.

Annabeth: Keep going into Chesapeake Bay. I know a place we can hide.

I don't know what she was talking about or how she knew the area, but I figured I shouldn't ask any questions when it comes to Annabeth Chase.

Percy loosened the thermos cap a little more, and a fresh burst of wind sent us rocketing around the northern tip of Virginia Beach into Chesapeake Bay. The Coast Guard boat fell farther and farther behind. We didn't slow down until the shores of the bay narrowed on either side, and I realized we'd entered the mouth of a river.