CHAPTER FOUR

*I AM GOING TO IGNORE THE RULE ABOUT THREE DEMIGODS ON A QUEST FOR THE SAKE OF THIS STORY*

Percy was moved to Cabin Three the following day. She pitied him having to live alone, it can't have been pleasant. The only other person she knew who would have lived alone was Thalia, but, she was gone.

Helena noticed people started avoiding Percy, just because he was a child of one of the Big Three, and because a child of the Big Three meant he attracted more monsters than other demigods. Other than Helena, the only other person who tried to spend time with Percy was his friend Mateo, and sometimes Grover was around.

Helena showed up to help with sword-fighting few times, and she noticed Mateo's eyes on her. But she ignored it, and just continued with her day.

Then one day, there was a storm. Storms weren't normally a thing, but they didn't affect the campers because they merely passed around the camp. Helena and her brothers did their rounds in the strawberry fields, helping the plants grow with some Demeter kids, who really got on Helena's nerves but she kept her mouth shut.

A while later, it started to rain. In camp. Through the barrier. Helena dropped her hands to her sides in shock as she slowly got soaked from the rain. "Rain?"

"Why is rain such a shocker? You guys never seen it before?" Someone sidled up to her. She looked over to see Mateo there, his brown curls plastered to his forehead.

"Rain happens. But it doesn't go through the barrier." She explained. "Nothing does. Not snow, not rain, nothing. Zeus must be really angry."

"Zeus is doing this? What a little – "

Helena's eyes widened and she slapped her hand over his mouth. "Are you out of your mind? We do not insult gods. They could kill you with a snap of their fingers!" When he nodded, she removed her hand.

"Sorry. My bad."

She shook her head in exasperation. Annabeth later came to her and Mateo with her Yankee's hat in her hand. "Beth." Helena greeted.

"Hi, Lena. There's a quest."

"A quest?" Helena straightened. "After all this time?"

"Yeah. Jackson is leading it. Grover will naturally be going with. I volunteered us. Are you up for it?" Annabeth explained.

"You brilliant girl, Annabeth Chase. Of course I'm up for it!" Helena exclaimed.

"Hold on. My best friend is going on a quest? And you expect me not to come along?" Mateo crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well, no. I am the daughter of Athena after all. I volunteered you too." Annabeth shrugged.

"Awesome! When do we leave?"

"I suppose we need to see Chiron first."

"Let's go. He's at the Big House."

And they followed the blonde girl to the Big House and arrived just in time to hear the leader of their quest. "Gee. Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"

"That's not very nice, is it, Kelphead?" Helena cocked her head to the side.

"You didn't really think you could go on a magical adventure without me, did you?" Mateo wrapped his arm around Percy's shoulder.

Annabeth spoke up. "I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain. Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

"If you do say so yourself. I suppose you have a plan, Wise Girl?" Percy raised his eyebrows and Annabeth's cheeks went slightly red. Helena exchanged a surprised look with Grover.

"Do you want my help or not?"

"This'll work." Percy nodded. "I need all the help I can get."

"Excellent." Chiron look pleased. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own. No time to waste. I think you should all get packing."

Helena hadn't gone on a quest in a long time but she remembered what she needed to pack. As soon as Chiron dismissed them, she headed back to the Dionysus cabin and grabbed her backpack from under the bed.

In went a change of clothes, a toothbrush, a canteen of nectar and some ambrosia squares in a small airtight back. She added some mortal dollars and some drachmas. Then, she strapped her swords on and threw a hoodie on over it to cover them up. She was almost out when she doubled back and stuck a small dagger into her bag as well. Just in case.

She met up with the rest of their group and then after goodbyes to her brothers, they marched up the Hill to Thalia's tree. There, Chiron waited for them in his armchair and beside him was Argus, the camp's head of security. "This is Argus. He will drive you into the city, and er, well, keep an eye on things."

Just as they were about to leave, Luke appeared with some basketball shoes in his hands. "Hey! Glad I caught you. Just wanted to say good luck, and I thought… um, maybe you could use these." He handed Percy the sneakers. "Maia!"

They suddenly sprouted wings from the heels. Percy dropped the shoes and they flapped around on the ground until the winds folded up and disappeared. "Sick!" Mateo whispered.

"Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days…" His expression went sad.

"Hey, man. Thanks."

"Listen, Percy… a lot of hopes are riding on you. So just.. kill some monsters for me, okay?" They shook hands, then he hugged Helena and Annabeth and patted Grover's head before he left. Helena saw Percy turn to Annabeth and she snorted, walking towards the SUV, sitting inside right at the back and pulling her dagger out.

She waited inside for everyone and eventually Annabeth joined her and sat beside her, her cheeks flushed. "Excited?"

Annabeth nodded. "If only we didn't have to go with the idiots who appeared literally a week ago."

Helena shrugged. "They seem like they can handle themselves. And honestly, Beth, everyone is an idiot compared to you Athena kids." She paused. "Well, except me."

Annabeth laughed. As the van began to fill up with everyone else, Helena flipped her dagger out, practicing her grip. Argus drove them out of the countryside and into western Long Island. Mateo and Grover were on either side of Percy and they sat opposite the two girls.

"So far so good." Percy commented. "Ten miles and not a single monster."

"It's bad luck to talk that way, seaweed brain." Annabeth shot him an irritated look and Helena's lips curled up in a smirk.

"Remind me again – why do you hate me so much?"

"I don't hate you."

"Could've fooled me."

"Have you never read the myths?" Helena asked him. "Athena and Poseidon are ancient rivals. Nothing personal."

"Why?" Mateo asked.

"They don't need a reason." She retorted, flipping her dagger once more.

"But they have one." Annabeth nudged her friend. "How many reasons do you want. One time my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athena. You dad created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her."

"They must really like olives." Percy said.

"Oh, forget it."

"Now, if she'd invented pizza – that I could understand."

"I said, forget it!"

The rest of the ride continued in silence as they slowed down in Queens because of traffic. It was sunset by the time they arrived in Manhattan, and it was raining. Helena glared at the sky as they got out at Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side.

Argus unloaded the bags and gave them the bus tickets before he drove away. As they waited for the bus, they played hacky Sack with one of the apples in Grover's bag. Helena opted to sit on the bench and watch, shaking her head when someone missed their shot.

Then, the bus got here. And as they stood in line, Grover started looking around and sniffing. Helena narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. Once they boarded, they found seats at the back of the bus and stowed their backpacks.

The last few people got on and Helena's eyes widened. "Guys." She whispered. An old woman had just boarded, dressed in a velvet dress, lace gloves and carried a purse. After her came two more ladies, all of them identical. They sat at the front. "Furies."

"She didn't stay dead long." Percy commented. "I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime." He said to Annabeth.

"I said if you're lucky." Annabeth replied. "You're obviously not."

"All three of them. Di immortales." Grover looked panicked.

"The worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem." Helena breathed out.

"No problem?" Mateo shot her an incredulous look.

"We'll just slip out the window." Annabeth said.

"They don't open." Grover shook his head, looking sick.

"A back exit?"

"They won't attack us with witnesses around, will they?" Percy asked.

"Mist." Helena shook her head.

"Mortals don't have good eyes. Their brains can only process what they see through the Mist." Annabeth explained.

"They'll see three old ladies killing us, won't they?" Mateo asked.

"Hard to say. But we can't count on mortals for help." Annabeth sighed.

"Emergency exit on the roof?" Helena suggested. Just then, they passed the Lincoln Tunnel and the bus went dark and quiet.

One of the women got up. "I need to use the restroom."

"So do I."

"So do I."

And they started coming down the aisle. Helena's hand went up to her neck, near where the hilts of her swords were. "I've got it." She said.

"Percy, take my hat." Annabeth said.

"What?"

"You're the one they want. Turn invisible and go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you can get to the front and get away."

Helena reached up for her bag and opened it, taking her dagger out. She handed it to Mateo. "You need a weapon if you want a chance of survival."

"Right. Thanks." He looked nervous as he took the dagger out.

"But you guys – " Percy denied.

"There's an outside chance they might not notice us. You're a son of one of the Big Three. Your smell might be overpowering."

"I can't just leave you."

"Just leave, Jackson. Seriously." Helena hissed. His hands trembled as he took the hat and put it on. He disappeared. One of the women stopped and sniffed, turning around. Helena held her breath but the woman continued along with her sisters.

Then, they transformed. Their faces stayed the same but their bodies turned into leathery brown hag bodies with bat wings and their hands and feet were like gargoyle claws. Their handbags turned into fiery whips.

Helena stood and whipped her swords out, holding them in front of her defensively. People on the bus were screaming and cowering. The Furies surrounded them. "Where is it? Where?"

"He's not here! He's gone!" Annabeth yelled. The three women raised their whips and Helena raised her swords in return. She saw Annabeth draw her knife and Grover take a tin can from his bag. On her other side, Mateo held his dagger out.

But before Helena could strike, the bus jerked and everyone was thrown to the right. Helena's eyes widened and she barely caught herself. The bus kept jerking until they finally emerged from the Tunnel and the sound of the storm reappeared around them.

They shot off the highway and onto a rural road. There were woods to the left and the Hudson River to the right. Then, the bus braked and the doors opened. Everyone except the demigods and the Furies filed off.

The Furies lashed their whips. Helena swore at them in Ancient Greek, slicing the space in front of her with her swords so they couldn't get closer.

"HEY!"

Helena would have face-palmed if she could. The idiot Jackson took his hat off and showed himself to the Furies. The Furies turned and headed towards him, but Helena followed, staying alert and looking for an opening to strike.

"Perseus Jackson." The Fury in the middle hissed. "You have offended the gods. You shall die."

"I liked you better as a math teacher."

Then, he took something from his pocket and it enlarged into a shimmering double-edged sword. Helena looked surprised for a second before she schooled her face back into its emotionless mask and focused on the task at hand.

"Submit now and you will not suffer eternal torment."

"Nice try."

"Percy, look out!" Annabeth yelled as the Fury whipped his hand while the other two lunged. Percy struck the Fury on the left, sending her back. Helena jumped for the one on the left and with a swift slice of one sword, she turned her into dust.

Annabeth yanked the main Fury back and Grover ripped the whip out of her hands. "Ow! Ow! Hot! Hot!"

The Fury that Percy knocked back went to attack him once more but Mateo moved so quickly, Helena didn't even notice he did until a scream came from the Fury and it exploded into dust, leaving a heavily breathing son of Hermes behind it.

"Looks like you got a new power." Helena commented, while Annabeth and Grover wrestled with the Fury left. They shoved her back and she couldn't get up because of the lack of space to flap her wings.

"Zeus will destroy you! Hades will have your soul!"

"Braccas meas vescimini!" Percy yelled back. Then, thunder boomed around them.

"Get out! Now!" Annabeth yelled and they ran off the bus. The other passengers were running around, dazed.

"Our bags! We left our – " Grover began.

But before he could continue, there was a loud sound as the windows of the bus exploded and lightning shredded a whole in the roof.

"Run! She's calling for reinforcements! We have to get out of here!" Annabeth told them. And run they did. They ran into the woods, leaving chaos and a flaming bus behind them as they threw themselves into the darkness of the trees.