❀

Was the thought kept replaying in her head.

Percy and Grover wrapped her arms in bandages and force-feed her ambrosia. She had gotten a thorough scolding from them for being reckless and crass while they worried over her.

(Y/N) hadn't really expected to be mauled by a massive beast. Now she was simply pouting in defeat, bummed out and exhausted from her injuries. The burns on her hands had melted away, her rib at been put back into place after some rather painful nature magic Grover cast, and all was well.

"I'll keep the pearl in my backpack," Annabeth said as she sealed it in a ziplock container and stuffed it into her bag. Her blonde hair was held back in a ponytail, but the once lively curls were now filled with dirt and grime, and her face was covered in ash.

"The next pearl is at the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art. Which is right out of Wilshire Boulevard," Grover said as he passed the map.

(Y/N) groaned as Percy lifted up her arm and slathered it in a weird-smelling ointment. A plump man sitting ahead of them glanced back but made nothing of it.

"S-Sorry," Percy mumbled bashfully as he inspected her arm. (Y/N) was limp in her bus seat and every time he moved, her nose would brush his neck and her warm breath would make him shiver.

"Where's the last pearl then?" Grover queried.

Percy laid her arm back down and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. (Y/N) murmured a small moan of pain and shifted her head a little, lips brushing his adam's apple and eyes crinkling.

Percy's breath hitched and Annabeth eyed him suspiciously, anger growing in her flushed cheeks. Percy cautiously placed his hand on the small of her back to keep her from falling off the seat and she groaned in response and snuggled closer into his neck.

"The Olympian Hotel," Annabeth responded through gritted teeth.

Grover looked down at his hands and felt his neck heat up in embarrassment.

"Everybody get some rest. Next stop, Los Angeles," Percy said and his friends nodded in agreement.

Annabeth flushed slightly and turned away, cheeks red and teeth gritted in anger.

"Sorry, Percy." (Y/N) suddenly muttered and he blinked down at her, her golden eyes lidded with fatigue.

"For what?"

"Being a deadweight," she muttered.

Percy's eyebrows furrowed.

"You're not a deadweight."

"But I—"

"—Shhh, you need to sleep," He muttered, gathering up enough courage to press a kiss to her forehead. (Y/N)'s eyes widened a fraction and her mouth formed a cute little 'o'. She nodded bashfully and snuggled shamelessly into his side.

Percy wouldn't admit it aloud, but at that very moment. He felt completely content.

♡

When they got into Los Angeles they passed the busy streets of workers and normal mortals. The bus drove them right through the University of Southern California and past the STAPLES centre.

They took a sharp right turn at Mac-Arther Park and rode down near Dodger Stadium and into Hollywood. They passed the famous Hollywood sign and drove into the highlights of Beverly Hills until the bus stopped three blocks away from the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art.

People shuffled off as well, followed by the four sleepy heroes and they stumbled their way across the street with morning hair and tired eyes. Grover went over to an open coffee booth from the on campus park and bought them breakfast which consisted of apple jacks and hot chocolate.

(Y/N) spotted a public toilet stand and used her fake magical ID to get through the entrance so they could change into fresh clothes and wash their faces. After that, they finished their breakfast and sorted the rest of their rations.

The place was so huge that they had taken a bit to stop and admire the vast infrastructure and pick places to start searching for the pearl. Annabeth suggested that they split up and look for the pearls instead of flocking in a group, that way they could cover more ground and look less conspicuous to incognito monsters.

Annabeth forced herself to pair up with (Y/N) which left Grover and Percy to their own devices. For whatever reason.

They started at the American and Latin art section and despite the daughter of Athena claiming that all her awe filled gazes were for the good of the mission, (Y/N) couldn't help but wonder why the blonde was so fascinated by it all.

That was until they made it to the Contemporary and Modern art section where a massive sculpture of a foot sat in the middle of a glass cage. (Y/N) knew it was rude to laugh so she bit her lip and looked down as they passed the strange exhibit. Annabeth suggested that if they wanted to get through the museum in a day that she stopped getting distracted.

She was hypocritical but also very right.

They were thorough in their search as they sailed through the Asian Art complex, many statues of warriors and samurai were displayed through glass windows. Grover and Percy were scanning the Greek, Roman and Etruscan art section as well as Islamic Art. A couple of freshmen kids were eating ice-creams in there and got kicked out by security.

When (Y/N) and Annabeth got to decorative arts and design, that was when the blonde lost all interest in the mission. Annabeth was running around asking mentors and tours guides millions and millions of questions to do with architecture and designing buildings.

(Y/N) was forced to drag the stormy eyed girl through the photography section without a second glance. She cursed under her breath for wasting so much time in this dumb museum and she prayed the others were having more luck then herself and Annabeth.

By noon, they had no luck so they found a place to meet up and have lunch. There was an entire extension added to the building for a food court, where you could eat anything you imagined. Ramen or Tempura. They had it. Strudel and sauerkraut. Cheeseburgers and cola. They had it.

They had to take an elevator up to the cafeteria because it had its own floor it was that massive.

There was a vegetarian restaurant that was booming with business which Grover happily skipped over to. Percy, Annabeth and (Y/N) choose to get to Betty's Grill-House and Pint Club. Although they couldn't drink alcohol they still ordered three deluxe cheese and bacon burgers with large fires and chocolate thick shakes. They all met up at a small table and chowed down on their food.

"We found one of the gems! Right on Tom Cruise's nose. Who would have thought they'd have a wax model of him in the film section?" Grover explained as he slurped down a vanilla expresso.

"Any luck?" Percy asked and he chomped down on a defenceless potato chip.

"Nutta," (Y/N) stated pointedly as she sucked the life out of her thick-shake and pushed her mutilated scraps away.

"Chase here was too engrossed in the architecture of ancient China to pay attention to the task at hand,"

(Y/N) jerked her thumb sideways and pointed at Annabeth who was mid-bite into her burger. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment and shame as Percy gave her a sideways grin.

(Y/N) felt her lips thin into a line and she turned and glanced at something in her peripheral vision. The hairs on her neck and arms stood up and Grover's ears twitched.

A large burp founds way past her lips.

"Excuse me..." (Y/N) muttered, covering her mouth.

Percy smiled and Grover laughed, a light coming back to his eyes. It seemed as though the heroes were all hanging out for a decent feed.

The looming feeling didn't go away and she shook her head, confused.

"Maybe if we re-trace your steps we'll find it," Percy said.

The feeling came back again and her heart squeezed painfully. (Y/N) chewed on her lip, darkness quelled her again and she snapped her head to the side and her eyes locked with a fat ladies.

Percy and Annabeth just kept happily chatting while

(Y/N) felt herself being consumed in dread.

She was wearing a skin-tight navy dress, that did not look good on her. Her teeth were mossy, sharp and yellow. She could use the same adjectives to describe the woman's eyes, but they were a sharp mercury colour. She also had a small Chihuahua sitting at her feet eyeing (Y/N) hungrily with beady black eyes.

(Y/N) looked away nervously.

"Monster," Grover murmured and Percy and Annabeth stopped talking and turned to him.

Annabeth was clearly annoyed and they started looking around. "Where?"

"—Right there." (Y/N) pointed to the fat woman with scrawny black hair. Only now did (Y/N) notice that she was incredibly tall for an old lady. At the sight of the woman Percy froze up.

"Not her again," Percy groaned as he reached into his jacket pocket for his ballpoint pen.

"Who?" (Y/N) said confused.

"That lady," Grover said and (Y/N)'s eyes narrowed.

"Echidna." Annabeth glowered, she spoke like the mere thought was giving her a headache.

"Echidna? Like the animal?"

"No. The daughter of a titan," Annabeth said as they got to their feet.

"A titan? What the hell are those?" (Y/N) asked exasperatedly as she grabbed their trays of food and threw them in the trash.

"The spawns of gods. Kronos, you know? The maker of gods," Annabeth tried jogging her memory as she placed the trays on top of the rubbish bin.

A tingle jolted through her body at the name. It was fiercely familiar. But not a nice familiarity, like a bad dream, or an embarrassing childhood memory.

"The dude who ate his immortal kids?" (Y/N) asked, her throat suddenly dry.

"'Kids' being Percy's dad," Grover coughed awkwardly.

"Man, she's uber creepy," Annabeth murmured.

"How do you know? She could've been born creepy, it isn't nice to discriminate." (Y/N) said as she chewed on her lip.

"I was forced to wait for a second elevator down at the Getaway Arch when we were searching for the lightning bolt and I found out that the fat lady really is Echidna,."

"And the dog?"

"Chimera."

The woman closed the gap between them and her skin and features started to change colour as she spoke.

"Be honoured, (Y/N) Fiora. For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!"

(Y/N) blinked at the plump woman, unimpressed.

"Terrible ."

"Curse you!" The woman snapped as she ran her forked tongue over her cracked lips.

People sitting close to her started to scream and wail horrifically as the dog at her feet started to buck and morph just like Hydra had.

"She's got a snake tongue," (Y/N) pointed out dumbly as Percy drew his sword and Annabeth grasped her dagger. "That's kinda weird,"

Grover pulled out his reed pipes and (Y/N) rolled her eyes.

"We don't need a musical number, Grover. It's goat-lion-snake-thing!"

"Well, that really puts a damper on the self-esteem," Grover said helplessly.

(Y/N) snickered seeing the resemblance.

"—Shut up!" Percy and Annabeth both yelled.

The human and the Satyr flinched and put their hands up. The little dog started to grow as they argued.

By the time (Y/N) settled down and pulled out her sword, the once small dog was now a massive blob of three different scary looking animals.

It had a scaled tail pierced into matted lion fur. The lion's face was punctually in the middle, its mane was sticky with blood and its teeth were jagged and cutting into its black lips. A demon goat with a scaled face nudged it from the right. It's sharp-clawed feet stamped the ground, scratching the marbled surface. The snake hung from the back and just barely grazed over the lion's horns. Its sharpened teeth were snapping at nearby innocent people as they screamed and ran for their lives.

"That's nightmare material," Annabeth muttered as the monster advanced. It ran like a fast dwarf, almost hobbling across the floor and skating on its hind hooves.

"Watch out for the snake's poison!" Percy yelled as they darted left and flanked the monster, (Y/N) and Grover went right and distracted the snake.

"And the lion's fire," Annabeth added.

"Great," (Y/N) grunted. "More fire,"

"What does the goat do?" Grover wailed, dodging a stream of fire.

"I'm not sure..." Percy yelled back. "Hopefully nothing!"

Chimera's fangs were long and small but could easily puncture the skin. The snake hissed violently, eyes glowing as it lunged at Grover.

Grover was forced sideways and the goat rammed into his chest and butted him over. (Y/N) blurred past its snapping head and barrelled out of the way as it swung around and snapped its dislocated jaw at her.

Grover was yanked by the goats horns as it snagged his shirt. His eyes widened as the goat tossed him over his head and reared, sending him flying across the food court and right into the opened elevator door.

(Y/N) would have yelled something witty but unfortunately, she was too busy dodging the lion who had pounced on her.

Rolling underneath its body Percy took the high ground and seized Riptide over its head and sent it clattering down agaisnt Chimera's horns. To everyone's surprise, they seemed to cut straight through the horns like melted wax. The lion roared in anguish and turned, his jaw opening and latching onto Percy's arm, sinking its fiery teeth into his elbow.

The son of Poseidon backed off a little and clutched his arm as blood started to trickle through his fingers.

Annabeth tossed her dagger and pegged the goat right in the shoulder. It screeched and bucked up, kicking and roaring in pain.

"Get back Percy!" Annabeth yelled.

Percy staggered a bit and nodded as he dodged the snake's fangs with an inch of it's breath, clutching his sword with one hand.

(Y/N) took this as an opportunity and darted forward with all her strength and leapt at the snake. Her fingers grazed its scales, it's venomous eyes widening. (Y/N) coiled her hand around its narrow neck and sunk her fingernails into his scales. The snake gasped, trying to snap at her, but she was just out of reach.

Chimera was thrown into disarray and the snakes head snapped sideways and she heard a little crack from inside its neck. The reptilian part screeched in agony as (Y/N) brought her sword down onto the snake's head and decapitated it. The knife pierced its scaled flesh and green blood splatter across her face like a broken sprinkler.

Annabeth and Percy stared in disbelief at her accomplishment. Grover stumbled on his feet and wobbled a bit as he clambered out of the elevator and bumped into the fat woman. He bounced off her like a trampoline and fell to the ground again.

"No!" Echidna roared and her red eyes flashing hungrily.

"First my daughter and now my son! You shall pay!"

"Yeah...I'm good," (Y/N) yelled as she jumped from the Chimera's back, dodging a wave of fire from the lion.

"Get it!" Annabeth yelled as she dashed for the Lion who was careening sideways, blood showering over his eyes.

The goats' hooves were bucking and he was whimpering and neighing in disbelief. It was tipping itself over and running in circles, in complete chaos. The goat's tongue was lounging from the side of its mouth and the lions' paws were stamping and patting the ground.

"Grover run!" Annabeth yelled as the monster got closer to him, but he was too petrified to move.

The half-goat roared in his face his maw covered in sickly green blood. Grover shielded his eyes from the horrific sight

"Kill them!" Echidna shrieked.

The monsters wailed in response, entranced by her seemingly eery voice. Its cries of despair suddenly turned to grunts and growls of bloodlust. A savage snarl came from the back of its throat as it turned back to Annabeth and pounced on her, barreling her over.

The dagger that was hanging loosely in the goat's shoulder was her only weapon and she flinched as she reached forward and desperately yanked at the handle. The goat squealed in pain and that gave Percy the edge to sloppily bring the tip of his sword down and slice the goats head from its shoulders.

The lion roared in disbelief and its head start to shrivel up like a deflated balloon. Its ears turned small and fluffy and its bloody, puckered lips shrunk. Its sharp, grimy teeth disappeared into its gums. The blood that splattered his mane started to dissolve and his entire body recoiled. His skin turned papery and weary and he let out a small mewl of pain as his skin suddenly burst open and a throng of black gas consumed the three heroes.

(Y/N) eyes and mouth immediately sealed shut and she staggered in the mist and bumped into Percy, knocking them both over.

"You okay?" She managed to squeak out as the foul stench of rotten flesh and coppery blood filled their noses. Annabeth felt bile rise in her throat and she gagged, projectile vomiting across the food court floor.

The gas started to dissolve once it hit carbon dioxide and dispersed the runoff. (Y/N) scrambled to her knees as Percy coughed and gagged, blood soaking his clothes and trickling through his fingers.

"Percy are you alright? Can you hear me?" (Y/N) mumbled as she yanked her backpack from her back and started fishing through. Percy rested his head on her thighs and stared up at her, he thought she looked cute when she was worried. But then he noticed something very peculiar.

(Y/N) pulled out the remaining bags of ambrosia and opened them.

"What's wrong?" (Y/N) muttered, giving him a once over, deeming that nothing major had happened. His arm had just been torn open, and probably needed stitches.

"You're eyes,"

"What about my eyes?" (Y/N) snapped as she unsealed the bag and fished around in its contents for a spoon.

"They're green."

❀