Kurayami and his group were in the main part of the museum. It was one huge room with rockets and airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Three levels of balconies curled around, so people could look at the exhibits from all different heights. The place wasn’t crowded, just a few families and a couple of tour groups of kids, probably doing one of those holiday school trips.

As Percy was running from his meeting with Atlas and the 12 skeletons he ran into Thalia—literally. He was barreling up the ramp to the top-floor balcony and slammed into her, knocking her into an Apollo space capsule. Grover yelped in surprise and Kurayami sighed.

Before Percy could regain his balance, Zoe and Bianca had arrows notched, aimed at his chest. Their bows had just appeared out of nowhere. When Zoe realized who it was, she didn’t seem anxious to lower her bow. “You! How dare you show thy face here?”

“Percy!” Grover said. “Thank goodness..” Zoe glared at him, and he blushed. “I mean, um, gosh. You’re not supposed to be here!” Kurayami agreed. “So you must have a good reason for breaking the rules of a quest.

“Luke,” Percy said, trying to catch his breath. “He’s here.” Kurayami grinned. “Oh goodie. I can finally drive my sword through his skull.” The anger in Thalia’s eyes immediately melted. She put her hand on her silver bracelet. “Where?” Percy told them about the Natural History Museum, Luke, and the General.

“The General is here?” Zoe looked stunned. “That is impossible! You lie.” Percy shook his head. “Why would I lie? Look, there’s no time. Skeleton warriors—” When Thalia heard him she grabbed him. “What?” Thalia demanded. “How many?”

“Twelve,” He said. “And that’s not all. That guy, the General, said he was sending something, a ‘playmate,’ to distract you over here. A monster.” Thalia and Grover exchanged looks. Kurayami had a thoughtful look. “Depending on the type I could charm it, but why would Artemis come here?”

“We were following Artemis’s trail,” Grover said. “I was pretty sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent… She must’ve stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven’t found anything yet.”

“Zoe,” Bianca said nervously, “if it is the General—” Zoe did not want to believe her father was free. “It cannot be!” Zoe snapped. “Percy must have seen an Iris message or some other illusion.” However this time Percy did not lie. “Illusions don’t crack marble floors,”

Annabeth just thought about Luke and looked down. She didn’t even think about the hat that Percy had in his hands. Zoe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “If Percy is telling the truth about the skeleton warriors,” she said, “we have no time to argue. They are the worst, the most horrible… We must leave now.”

“Good idea,” Percy agreed. “I was not including thee, boy,” Zoe said. “You are not part of this quest.” Percy got mad. “Hey, I’m trying to save your lives!” Kurayami shook his head. “You might just have fucked us over by coming. Phrophyses are that for a reason.” Thalia spoke grimly.

“You shouldn’t have come, Percy, but you’re here now. Come on. Let’s get back to the S.U.V.” However, seems that Zoe was still not happy about a hero going with them. “That is not thy decision!” Zoe snapped. Thalia scowled at her. “You’re not the boss here, Zoe. I don’t care how old you are! You’re still a conceited little brat!”

Kurayami sighed. “Both of you be quiet. I am the leader and I say just bring him with us. While water magic is not my forte I can still make it rain by making storm clouds. That should be enough.” They both shut up and yet Zoe blinked a few times and blushed. ‘I just took an order from a man.’

Thalia was going to apologize, but then everyone froze, they heard a growl so loud they thought one of the rocket engines was starting up. Kurayami knew that growl from anywhere. “We got a Nemean lion on us. Seems way weaker than Aurora or the original so we are good.” Thalia looked shocked. “I thought there only were a few.” He shook his head.

“There are many all weaker than the original.” Below, a few adults screamed and a little kid’s voice screeched with delight: “Kitty!” The creature bounded up the ramp. This one was the size of a pick-up truck, with silver claws and golden glittering fur. They saw Kurayami was right. However, it still looked terrifying.

“A Nemean Lion,” Thalia said. “Don’t move.” Kurayami approached it and whistled. “HEY!” It looked at him and the lion roared so loud it parted their hair. Its fangs gleamed like stainless steel. He looked it right in the eyes “Down, boy.” The Lion charged at him and yet he just charged and locked his arms around its neck and pinned it down. “HEEL!’ It struggled and seeing how he effortlessly subdued a Nemean Lion was quite a shock.

It gave up struggling and Kurayami brought out Aurora. When the lion saw Aurora it was paralyzed as she was bigger, stronger, and only a young cub. She looked like she was about to eat him and it just kept its head down. Percy, Thalia, Grover, Annabeth, and Bianca all saw how Aurora looked much stronger. She laid down waiting or attention.

Kurayami waved them over and they walked over. He looked at them and shocked them. “In the next ten seconds choose who wants this big boy.” He pet the lion which gave up and they all were shocked and Grover did not want it. Zoe was not one to keep pets and she shook her head. Bianca was terrified of it and the lucky one was Annabeth.

She walked forward and he told her what to do. “Put your hand on his forehead.” She placed her palm on the lion’s forehead and he helped her sign a pact with it. “Congratulations. You just got a legendary pet.” Annabeth looked really happy and the lion shrunk down to the size of a small kitten. Kurayami sent a huge mindwipe spell and that was the end of this fight.

He hugged Aurora who licked his face and he scratched her neck. “How is my good girl.” She fliped on her back and they all saw how happy she looked. Zoe saw that his pets really loved him and it seemed that was why Artemis respected him.

Zoe looked at Kurayami who was just playing with his pet and felt impressed. “It did not take thee much to do that.” He nodded and got up while Aurora laid down.

“Beasts need a gentle, but firm touch. That lion just followed orders and I just overrode what gave it orders. I assume if you used your bloodline you would do it.” She was shocked and grabbed his arm and pulled him away. He followed and she looked pissed and afraid.

“What does thee know?” He looked at her and sighed and told her what he thought. “The General is Atlas and I know you are his daughter. I assume you had Artemis seal away his power and it is the reason you can’t grow stronger.” She slumped and was going to deny it, but what’s the point. “My mother was the goddess Hesperis. and my father was Atlas, I believe I am the one who shall die on this quest.” He sat down on the railing and sighed.

“You know tell me how was your time in the garden?” Zoe slumped and sighed. “It was peaceful. My sisters and I tended to the garden. I was especially the caretaker of Hera’s golden apple tree and I was also close with Ladon enough to feed him by hand.” Kurayami just about called her a liar. “Ladon? The Insomniac Dragon? An evil dragon?” Zoe nodded.

“One day I helped Hercules to get the Golden Apples by giving him Riptide. The same sword Percy has. When my sisters found out they blotted me out like I never existed. I was alone in the world until Artemis found me.” Kurayami sighed. “Is that why you dislike Percy? That he has the same weapons like the one you helped?” Zoe nodded.

Kurayami got up and flicked her forehead. She glared at him and yet he just smiled. “Well get over it. Being salty over that for 2000 years you will get a full head of white hair. Let’s go back.” Zoe and Kurayami walked back to the group where Annabeth was still focused on her new pet that looked terrified of Aurora.

She kept licking her lips as she wanted to eat him. Thalia was a little worried and walked up to him. “Hey, what did she do? Did she curse you, did she turn into medusa and try to turn you to stone?” Thalia could barely keep a straight face while Zoe scoffed.

Zoe frowned. “We just talked.” They all felt as if the sky was falling and how right they were. Zoe looked at Percy and sighed. “Now, what do to with thee” Percy looked down as he did not feel useful. “Go, I will go back to camp.” However, Zoe sighed as he was here already.

“No,” Zoe said. “We go together.” Everyone stared at her with shock. Kurayami thought that maybe getting that off her chest might let her mellow out. Percy was confused. “But, you said—”

“You are part of this quest now,” Zoe said grudgingly. “I do not like it, but there is no changing fate. You are the 7th quest member. And we are not leaving anyone behind.” Kurayami and the rest went to the S.U.V and they all got in. As they were crossing the Potomac when they spotted the helicopter. It was a sleek, black military model just like the one Raynare destroyed in Westover Hall.

Percy was freaked out. “They know the S.U.V, we have to ditch it.” Kurayamu just about smacked him. “No need.” Kurayami raised his hand and storm clouds formed over the city and had a lightning bolt destroy it. People were shocked as it was falling right into the city and crashed with an explosion into a building.

The group looked at the building that caught fire and how easy it was for him to make lightning clouds. Kurayami sighed as they were quite foolish. “Stop complicating things. I can destroy a city, what is a small helicopter.” Percy shivered. “Your joking right?” He shook his head. “Nope, at my full power I can probably destroy a small country.” They all decided to not piss him off if it was true.

As they drove they were in better spirits because of Annabeth as she played with her new pet. Kurayami had Aurora on his lap who shrunk down and he followed Shin’s once. The dog had them go toward south Alexandria as it seemed Artemis had passed by here. Binaca needed to know. “How can you kill so easily?” Kurayamu sighed.

“I have killed more than I can count. You are now immortal like me meaning if you live long your kill count will be just as high.” Bianca froze. “No. I refuse to kill.” He scoffed. “That is what they all say. It never lasts.” Zoe patted Bianca on the back and looked at him as she understood. “Please, she will learn in time.” Kurayami saw that Zoe was not being as bitchy.

“So we got a few options. We fly on Tyrant, or we just keep driving.” Zoe thought about it. “How fast can thy dragon, fly?” Kurayami thought about it. “At his best speed Mach 6.”(4603 miles per hour.) They all froze as they would be thrown off. “Not to worry. He can make sure we will not be affected by the wind.” Thalia shivered in terror and yet Zoe agreed as it was a better mode of transport.

“We shall do it. Where can we take off?” He thought about it and focused on the surroundings. “There is a clearing out In the slums.” He drove them there and summoned Tyrant while using magic to keep people away. Bianca saw the dragon glared at her and she shivered. It growled and Grover translated. “He said he hates you as you hurt his friend Nico. Wow.”

Bianca finally broke down crying as even the dragon hated her and Annabeth looked at Kurayami. They locked eyes and talked without talking. ‘Help her.’ He shook his head. ‘Nothing I can do.’ She frowned. ‘This is messed up. Even the dragon hates her.’ Zoe frowned. “Dragon, apologize.” Tyrant took a deep breath and spit on her covering her in hot dragon drool.

Zoe looked ready to kill Tyrant as that was like searing wax. Lucky for her it was just a little hot spit and she was in no way a normal person. She was actually in the late stages of the high class and it would be higher if she used her titan heritage, so she could get stronger. However, it was sealed by her request. Kurayami felt it was a waste.

Grover once again translated. “He said that is what you get. He can always drop you when we fly.” Thalia passed out and Kurayami sighed and picked her up. “How bad is it that a daughter of the lord of the sky fears heights.” Percy shivered. “Hey, Kurayami. I can’t fly. Zeus will blast me out of the sky.” Kurayami shook his head. “He won’t as if he cares for Thalia or his own life he won’t.”

Tyrant laid down and Kurayami got on his head while Shin got on his nose. “Everyone get on Tyrant.” They all got on the dragon while Zoe was covered in steaming dragon drool. Grover covered his nose as it stunk. Poor Zoe looked so pissed and yet there was nothing she could do. Kurayami snapped his fingers and she got cleaned off. “Sorry about that, dragons are proud and rarely apologize.” Tyrant growled in agreement.

Zoe looked down and whispered. “Thank you.” Kurayami thought that when she was quiet she was actually pretty. Tyrant spread his giant wings and took flight toward the place that Shin told him as Shin was leading. The speed he was moving out made their past speed seem like a snail’s pace. Zoe suddenly thought of something.

“Why didn’t thee do this before?” Kurayami looked back. “Because I didn’t know if Tyrant was protected by the mist. I don’t know what the mortals are seeing, but they may just as well see a huge bomber plane.” Percy hoped he was wrong. Lucky for them it seemed dragons had the means to travel undisturbed. Tyrant still could not use a dragon gate as he was too weak.

They had no idea how many miles they covered, but the cities faded into the distance and were replaced by miles of flat, dry land. The grass and scrub brush got sparser until Tyrant was gliding over the desert. It was night and he landed at a creek. Tyrant looked up and roared. Kurayami brought out a red jewel and threw it in his mouth.

Grover shivered, “That was dragon’s blood. You feed a dragon, dragon’s blood.” Kurayami nodded. “Makes him strong.” Tyrant licked his fangs while looking at Grover. “I DON’T TASTE GOOD!” Thalia was still out on Kurayami’s shoulder and didn’t seem close to waking up. Zoe looked at that and frowned. “We are here. Wake her up.” Annabeth did something odd.

Her hand was covered in golden touki and she pulled her hand back and spanked the daylights out of Thalia. She shrieked and jumped off Kurayami while holding her ass. They all heard that spank and Thalia was rolling on the ground holding her ass. Kurayami looked at Annabeth weirdly.

She looked at him and shrugged. “Hey, it worked.” Thalia glared at Annabeth. “We’re not friends anymore.” Annabeth helped her up and smiled. “It was not so bad.” They all heard how hard it was, so it was bad. Thalia glared at her. “Watch yourself Annabeth.” They looked ahead at where they landed.

Ahead was a two-lane road half covered with sand. On the other side of the road was a cluster of buildings too small to be a town: a boarded-up house, a taco shop that looked like it hadn’t been open since before Zoe Nightshade was born, and a white stucco post office with a sign that said GILA CLAW, ARIZONA hanging crooked above the door.

Beyond that was a range of hills… but then they noticed they weren’t regular hills. The countryside was way too flat for that. The hills were enormous mounds of old cars, appliances, and other scrap metal. It was a junkyard that seemed to go on forever.

“Whoa,” Said Kurayami as he did not like junk. Sometimes Kurayami wished to cull humans so they would do less damage to the environment. “Something tells me we’re not going to find a car rental here,” Thalia said as she looked at Tyrant. “Will we fly again? Do you have a land pet we can ride?” She said hopefully.

Kurayami nodded. “I do, but they are young and not big enough for all of us and they are all uncomfortable to ride. I do not recommend it.” She sighed as she did not want to fly again. Luckily she was out cold, but she did not want to do it awake.

Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He fished out his acorns and threw them into the sand, then played his pipes. They rearranged themselves in a pattern that made no sense to anyone, but Grover looked concerned. Shin and Tyrant did the same and sniffed the air. It seemed this place was not normal. “That’s us,” he said. “Those seven nuts right there.”

“Which one is me?”Asked Percy. “The little deformed one,” Zoe suggested. Kurayami smiled. “What about me?” Grover pointed at a black one. “That one.” Kurayami looked at it and shrugged. “I guess as I am a dark person.” They knew he meant figurative as he was quite pale.

“That cluster right there,” Grover said, pointing to the left, “that’s trouble.”

“A monster?” Thalia asked. Grover looked uneasy. “I don’t smell anything, which doesn’t make sense. But the acorns don’t lie. Our next challenge…” He pointed straight toward the junkyard. With the sunlight almost gone now, the hills of metal looked like a hill of trash.

They decided to camp for the night and try the junkyard in the morning. None of them wanted to go Dumpster-diving in the dark. Kurayami just didn’t want to deal with the smell, so he decided to rest on top of Tyrant. Tomorrow he will torch that landfill.

Zoe and Bianca produced five sleeping bags and foam mattresses out of their backpacks. as they were magic items that hold more space than you think. Kurayami had a ring on his right hand that was the same. Azazel was on a roll with his invention with the sheer amount of sacred gears he has to study. In this year his progress on his Down Fall Dragon spear was in the late stages. A few more years and it might just be perfected.

The night got chilly fast, but Kurayami had a heater so they didn’t need a campfire. However, they made one anyway as it was just a way to have some fun. Grover and Percy collected old boards from the ruined house and used Tyrant’s burning skin to light them. They started a campfire and soon they were about as comfy as you can get in a rundown ghost town in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a 35-meter long dragon.

“The stars are out,” Zoe said. She was right. There were millions of them, with no city lights to turn the sky orange. “Amazing,” Bianca said. “I’ve never actually seen the Milky Way.” Tyrant was looking up and the girls thought he looked quite majestic in the night with his glow. As his skin glowed in the dark he looked quite beautiful in a horrifying way.

“This is nothing,” Zoe said while Tyrant looked at her. She tried to pet his snout and the dragon allowed it as he got his fun spitting on her. “In the old days, there were more. Whole constellations have disappeared because of human light pollution.”

Kurayami jumped of Tyrant and nodded. “That may be one of the few things we agree on. Humans are a plague on the planet honestly.”

Percy looked down. “You two talk like you’re not human.” Zoe and Kuraymu looked at each other and had to agree. Kurayami was part human, but he was almost entirely a Fallen Angel. Zoe was a Hesperide; not human in any way. Kurayami sat on Tyrant’s claw and nodded. “I told you I was a fallen angel.” Zoe didn’t say what she was, but she agreed that she was not human.

Grover sat down sadly. “I got to agree with you two. So many things humans have done that hurt the planet. They even caused the god Pan to disappear.” They all had to agree that humans caused a lot of harm. They just slept with a Tyrant, Aurora, Zhang, Castiel, and Blitz keeping guard. Kurayami let them out as he didn’t like to keep them cooped up in his pact.