The Titan's Curse [Book Three]

Reagan Becomes Forceful.

"You're leaving?!"

"Shut it!" A sigh left her lips. "I am," she said softly so that no one could hear their conversation. "Just don't come looking for me, Nico. Please?"

     Young Nico was staring up at Reagan solemnly. He had his Mythomagic deck in his hands, absently shuffling the cards as he considered her plea. He sighed and looked away sadly.

"I...I guess," he muttered, eventually putting the cards away. When he looked back up at her, there was a glint of determination in his eyes. "Be careful," he ordered. "And watch over Bianca."

She frowned. "Nico, that's a tall order you're telling me."

"Promise me you'll watch her for me," he pressed.

Reagan's will broke. "Okay, I will." He stared at her expectantly. "Okay, yeah, I promise."

He grinned. "Good."

     Reagan nodded and turned to leave. The sun was about to rise, and she refused to miss this chance to get out with the others going on the quest. She needed to find Annabeth. But Nico did something that surprised her. Before she could fully turn, his body collided into hers. Nico's arms were wrapped tightly around her waist as he hugged her. Reagan stood there stiffly, eyes wide. Then she hugged him back just as tightly, revealing a lot of affection she wouldn't usually do for anybody.

"Hey, forget about it," Reagan said casually as they pulled back. She grinned over at him, trying to downplay the mushy moment to quickly get back to their normal dynamic of a sister and brother relationship. A relationship that they had built surprisingly quick. "Bianca and I will return before you even miss us."

     Nico tried to smile, but it fell as she turned her back and jogged to Half-Blood Hill. As her silhouette disappeared over the hilltop, his loneliness already settled in. Reagan didn't really have a plan on how she'd piggy back onto this quest without permission. She just thought she'd wing it like she's done in the past. But as the van they'd be taking came into view at the road, a plan formulated. Reagan quickly climbed into the back of the van and curled up into a tight ball and sighed softly, her eyes closing tiredly. She had been up since three in the morning trying to decide what she'd do, and now she could finally rest for an hour or two.

     When her eyes snapped open hours later, Reagan bolted upright and looked out the rearview window and saw that she was no longer on the road beside Half-Blood Hill. They had stopped in a city. She saw a glimpse of Grover turning a corner. Scrambling to climb out of the van, Reagan gave chase to the group of quest takers. She wasn't going to directly get involved with them, just follow discretely and give them a hand without getting caught. When she also turned the corner and watched as they entered a building called the "National Air and Space Museum."

"D.C.," Reagan said aloud to herself, eyes scanning the Washington Monument in awe. She wondered if Annabeth had been here to see the monument

     Reagan licked her lips and tightened the leather jacket around her body to fight off the biting wind. Her pace quickened to catch up with the others and sped walked into the Smithsonian after them. Except her plans derailed as soon as she walked inside. Reagan hadn't been paying attention to where she was going, and crashed right into Thalia's back. The daughter of Zeus whirled around and Reagan stumbled back in surprise. A spear was pointed at her neck in a moment, along with a pair of arrows honing in on her.

"Reagan--!" Thalia gasped in astonishment, pulling her sword back and sheathing it.

"What are you doing here?" Zoe demanded, her's and Bianca's arrows still pointed at her chest.

Reagan stood there stiffly. "I came here to help."

"We do not need thy help!" the Hunter spat angrily.

     They were at a stalemate. Reagan's eyes were narrowed, however she hasn't taken out her weapon yet. Thalia and Grover looked between the two parties, insure on how to react just yet.

"You are here because you think we will lead you to Annabeth. But now that you are here you must leave. Go search for Annabeth on your own," Zoe growled. "If she's even alive at this point."

     Reagan lunged at the Hunter. Grover and Bianca held Zoe back while Thalia grabbed Reagan by the back of her jacket and yanked her backward so hard that the Italian half-blood teetered back and almost fell against Thalia.

Grover yelped, his attention going elsewhere. "Percy!"

Zoe's angry gaze landed on its newest victim. "You are not supposed to be here either!"

Percy was panting like he had just run a marathon. "Luke," he said between breaths. "He's here."

Thalia let go of the back of Reagan's jacket, her fingers grazing over a silver bracelet. "Where?"

Once Percy got his breath back, he went into the story. About Dr. Thorn, this manticore that they had encountered in the past. Luke was here apparently, and so was this large man called the General, and how he grew these skeletons to hunt them down. Zoe stiffened up when Percy mentioned the General, but Reagan was personally rearing for a fight at the moment.

"Percy, you can take Luke. We can all handle this General guy-" Reagan began, but Zoe cut her off.

"No. He must have seen an Iris message- some illusion."

"Illusions don't crack marble floors," said Percy.

Zoe's eyes flickered here and there as she contemplated everything being said. "These skeletons, if Percy is telling the truth, are dangerous," she said slowly. "We need to leave. Now."

Percy nodded. "Good idea."

"I am not talking to thee boy!" Zoe shot quickly. "This is not your quest."

"I was just trying to save your lives!"

Reagan backed up slightly. "Well, I'm heading west," she said.

"No, you both are coming. You two are apart of this quest now," Thalia said grimly.

"That is not thy decision!"

"You're not in charge here!" Thalia growled. "I don't care how old you are! You're still a conceited little brat!"

The Hunter's eyes narrowed. "You never knew when to let a boy go."

     Thalia was about to get in Zoe's face, but a low and deep growl made them all pause. An excited kid somewhere on the other side of the museum whispered loudly, "kitty!" And then it came into view. The size of a truck, the Nemean Lion bounded in their direction. That was a million of tons of fur, teeth, and monster.

"That's one big cat," Reagan muttered.