8 A desperate visit

How do you imagine coming home in the middle of summer vacation? Everyone has been through this at least once.

First, you realize that your vacation has just ended.

For a second, you keep imagining your mother's face when she sees you.

Finally ... I think it's just me to get through this. Most people expect a boring car or bus ride on the way back. And I ... I don't have much choice but to join Léo and Alabaster's newest joint invention. Apparently only these guys became best friends and were locked in the bunker all this time Alabaster helped Léo to finish the "beautiful" and Léo finished this thing that Alabaster calls "Ultra speed transportation ... something". Well, he was building all these machines since the beginning of the summer vacation. And you have no idea how much this guy can build in a few weeks.

Both have not yet been tested and since my experience with the first machine was not that thing. I would love to refuse the trip at the second junction of the crazy mind with the reckless. Unfortunately, either I get into this thing and I'm done with it or I risk becoming an immortal anytime.

I don't even know if I can call this thing a machine. It looks more like a jet blackboard that was scrawled by a child who likes supernatural things.

- Very well! Tuva can only handle one at a time and can only be used twenty times a day ...

- Tuva? Does this also have a name? And it's even worse than beautiful! "Grover can't stand to be silent. And ended up interrupting Leo. Which wasn't too bad since everyone in the room barely could handle holding on to laughter. Good thing Grover said that first, otherwise, I couldn't stand holding on to a good joke I just thought of with the name Tuva.

- There is! I don't know if today is a good day or a bad day! my belly is hurting so much with laughing. - Will be completed with a sarcastic tone.

- Welcome to the Will team, we will soon be laughing at Léo's jokes while being chased by angry gods. - Nico has become less and less "gloomy" Will is a great influence on him, didn't I think about that before? what déjà vu! Wait a minute ... Isn't it that Will and Nico are taking Jason and Pipper's place in the group? Somehow it ended my mood back. It's not like I don't like them back on time. But every time

- Seaweed head, are you okay? I feel that his mood Estelle are getting stronger and stronger. - I come back to reality with Annabeth's voice calling my name. Tyson and Alabaster were already being teleported, now Léo was trying to convince the frightened Grover to climb on the blackboard. Annabeth was now beside me watching me closely and waiting for my answer.

And as always, Annabeth was right. His gray eyes seemed to predict the coming storm. I don't want to worry you, but I find it difficult to do it now without lying.

- Let's just go, I have a feeling that something bad will happen if I continue like this. - I answer honestly. No, if I were, to be honest, I would say that I feel like a time bomb whose wick is getting shorter and shorter.

- Okay. - She responds understanding how I felt, no one knows me better than Annabeth besides my mother.

Speaking of mom, it looks like I'm pretty close to finding mine. Grover finally climbs onto the blackboard. Now he put on houses and shoes and carried his crutches under his arms. I have seen him in pants for some time. My mom would never let Grover in without pants, especially with my stepfather at home.

- For Pan, For Pan, For Pan. - He whispered.

- I changed my mind! Take me out of here! - He shouted asking for mercy. Unfortunately, it seems that Leo is not going to waste all the effort he had to put the satyr on the board.

- Too late. - Leo says dryly as he pulls a lever.

The moment the lever is pulled, the satyr's panicked face vanishes in front of me. Spooky.

- I believe someone has asked this question but is this thing really safe? - I ask trying to avoid my imminent disappearance.

- Hmm! It depends, there may be some side effects, but I'm sure it works! The lab rat survived so you will too. Now go up! - Leo answers me with the tone of voice that I expect from a real mad scientist. Why doesn't it calm me down at all?

- Come on Percy! The way you shouted this one can't hurt more than the first! - Nico shouts in a playful tone.

- I wanted to be here to see you go up. - I answer in the same tone. Nico hesitates, even he is not at all excited to test the non-lethal side effects.

- Don't worry the seaweed head. We have the blessing of Hecate remember? The side effects can't be that strong, go up soon. Then I'll tell you how much Nico screamed. - Complete Annabeth to Nico's chagrin. These moments make me forget that we are demigods who go to war against monster gods and titans every year. Wow, my mood is really bipolar.

I climb onto the platform laughing and then look at Leo's face. He smiles and says.

- Hasta luego guinea pig! - While pulling the lever. I just had time to look at him strangely and ask myself: who by Zeus' rays told him about the guinea pig incident? And it is moments like this that I remember I'm living in an extremely dangerous magical world.

Everything was spinning, I don't feel my legs or my arms. It is as if my whole body has turned into baby food and I have been being beaten in a blender. Slowly I feel my body rebuild and I breathe again. I'm in the living room at Paul's house. I let myself fall on the rug and put my hands on my head to try to make it stop spinning.

- An experience that I never want to repeat in my life. - Complains Grover huddled beside me. I just nod slightly, I'm still too dizzy to answer. I think some of my organs are in the wrong place ...

- I personally would repeat, you will not get anything from this on any roller coaster! - Contests Alabaster sitting on the couch.

- And can someone tell me when people stop showing up in my living room? - I look up and find two of the people I love the most. My mother held little Estelle in her arms. By Gods, She was so cute! I could look at it all day.

- So Perseus, not even a welcome kiss? Lucky for you that Paul isn't here, he would have a heart attack if he saw his friends appearing literally out of nowhere. - I look at her astonished. I still haven't recovered from teleportation.

- AAAH! - Someone materializes on my side.

- AAAH! I scream too. It was just Nico. My mom laughs at me, Estelle laughs too. I'm glad my little sister has a sense of humor!

- Don't worry Percy, Mrs. Jackson screamed a lot more when I showed up! - Alabaster says snitching my mom.

- Oh! No hot chocolate cookies for you little boy! - Renews my mother as a great actress.

- Hot chocolate cookies? And I think that teleportation was the latest news! - I feel sorry for Alabaster for never having eaten hot chocolate cookies.

- Mrs. Jackson, can I use the bathroom? - Certifies Nico with an extremely pale face. It seems that the side effects were stronger on him, hopefully, he didn't have much breakfast.

- Sure dear, first door on the right. If you need something just call ok? - Attends my mother a little worried about Nico's situation. He doesn't even have time to answer, runs in the direction indicated, and slams the door behind him.

I get up and slowly sit on the couch next to Grover. My mom turns to me, but before she can say anything Will materializes next to her. She jumps and almost drops Estelle. I get up without thinking and support her before she falls.

- By the Gods Percy! How many more? - Asks my mother really furious. I look around and respond as quickly as possible.

-Hum ... Annabeth and Leo are still missing.

Will tries to get up but falls again. He curses some gods in Greek and then looks at me.

- I'm sorry Mrs. Jackson, Beautiful daughter, by the way ... Would you mind telling me where Nico is? - Will asks, still dizzy and confused.

- In the bathroom, first door on the right. - Responds to my mother already tired. I help her sit on the couch and Will runs to Will's rescue. She doesn't ask me any more questions. A few seconds later Annabeth materializes in front of us. Unlike us who collapses on the floor, Annabeth sits down slowly while cursing in seven different languages.

Even before she recovers, Leo materializes right on top of her. Annabeth just has time to look up. I don't know how, but I managed to hold Leo like a princess before he fell on Annabeth.

Everyone looks at me confused, I look confused. Léo pats my arm and says.

- Apparently being transformed into a god has its advantages, now can you put me down? I have a huge headache and I don't think I can stand on my own. - From time to time I still wonder how Leo has this ability to make bad situations even worse.

- What are you being transformed into? - My frightened mother asks.

I take a deep breath as I sit Leo on the couch. This will be a long conversation.

- So mom ...

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