Song For This Chapter: All I Want - Kodaline

Ch. 24: The Chases

    The sun was slowly beginning to set already, it had to be around three, and by the looks of things, we were not going to make it to Zoë's island in time. 

    Zoë sighed, voicing my opinions. "We are moving too slow, but, we cannot leave the Ophiotaurus."

    Percy kept up the pace, sparing Bessie a small glance of concern, "I don't get it, why do we have to get there specifically at sunset?" 

    "The Hesperides are nymphs of the sunset," Zoë murmured, sparing me a small glance of concern - no doubt considering what Mr. D could have been talking about in the Iris message, "We can only enter the garden as day changes to night."

    "And, if we miss it?" 

    "Tomorrow is the winter solstice," I muttered, piecing everything out for Percy, Grover, and Thalia as we rushed across the pier. I could tell by their faces that they were beginning to feel winded, but, we couldn't slow down now. "If we miss the sunset tonight, we would not be able to get in until tomorrow evening,"

    Zoë nodded, sparing them a cold eye, "And, by then, the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight."

    Thalia let a thick silence settle between the five of us before interjecting, "We need a car."

    "But, what about Bessie?" Percy rose a brow while Grover's face stretched into a bright-eyed epiphany.

    "I've got an idea! Bessie can appear in different bodies of water, right?" He nudged Percy, eyes flickering with a low light. "So, maybe we can coax him to Long Island Sound," Grover continued as Percy nodded, "Then, Chiron would be able to help us get him to Olympus."

    Percy frowned a little, glancing towards the sea-cow with concern. "But, he was following me, I can't just leave now."

    "I... I can show him," Grover responded, I could sense how unconfident the satyr was about the idea. But, we didn't really have any other choice. "I'm the only one who can talk to him, so, it makes sense."

        I felt an uneasy pull against my navel as I watched Grover step to the plate, "Perhaps Percy could pray to Poseidon and see if he will grant you both safe passage," I suggested, hoping it would ease some of the bitter emotions surging through the group.

    Nodding, we slowed our pace and stood at the water's edge. Percy took a deep breath, sparing me a small smile before slipping his eyes shut and letting out a nervous prayer, "Dad, help us. Get the Ophiotaurus and Grover safely to camp. Protect them at sea." 

    "A prayer like that needs a sacrifice," Thalia commented, her electrifying blue eyes piercing Percy, "Something big."

    Percy considered it for a short while, trying to think of something worthy enough to produce a sure connection of safe passage. A small, icy wind cut through the air and caused his windbreaker to flap against it. 

    Pausing, he slid his hands down the front of his coat, shedding it with a somber look in his sea-green eyes, much to my surprise.

    "Percy," Grover voiced the same thoughts going through my own mind, "Are you sure? That lion skin... it belonged to Hercules!"

    Biting my bottom lip, I glanced towards Zoë as she stood, stone-faced, beside me, watching Percy with intent curiosity. We both we wondering if he really was going to do it.

    Peering directly into Zoë's careful eyes, Percy gave her a knowing nod, "If I'm going to survive, it won't be because I've got a lion-skin coat," he lowered his eyes towards the ripping waves, "I'm not Hercules." Then, he tossed the shimmering fur into the water, the gold causing the heavy material to sink quickly, dissolving as it did.

    Watching, I felt my heart churn with pure terror. We were going to face the General with only the bare strength of two demigods, a hunter, and a weak goddess with a golden pomegranate.

     After a moment of silence, Grover nodded towards us lightly, "Well, no time to lose," as he jumped into the water, grabbing on to Bessie and heading east not even sparing us a single 'good luck' before he disappeared under the waves.

    "Well, that is one addressed problem," Zoë tucked some loos strands of dark hair behind her ear, sparing the rest of us a calculating glance, "But, how shall we get to my sister's garden?"

    "Thalia's right," I blurted out, thinking back to when she mentioned needing a car, "We need a car."

    "We could always, uh," Percy spared me a suggestive brow, hinting towards the painfully obvious, "Borrow one." Nodding, I remembered back to the first mission, it wouldn't be too difficult, however, Thalia quickly shot that idea down.

    "Wait," She called our attentions, rummaging through her own backpack until she found what she was looking for, "There is someone in San Francisco who can help us. They are not too far from us. I've got the address here..."

    "Who?" I asked, raising a brow.

    Thalia 'ah-ha'ed as she found the item she was digging for and showed it to Percy, Zoë, and I. "Professor Chase. Annabeth's dad."

    It was not the way I imagined I would meet Annabeth's father, but, after a small voting from the group, it was eventually decided. We were going to meet the Chases.

    He was exactly how I'd pictured him to be, honestly. While I could tell that Percy was taken aback by the older man wearing an old-fashioned aviator's cap and goggles, I couldn't help but try to suppress the giggles building up inside myself. He looked rather odd, with his eyes bugging out through the goggles, but the way he carried himself with an aspect of knowledge mirrored Annabeth's.

    "Hello there," he called towards us as he addressed the four teenagers standing awkwardly on his front doorstep, "Are you delivering my airplane models?" 

    We each spared one another a weary glance, not sure what to make of him, "Uuh, no sir," Percy scratched the back of his neck. "We're.. friends of Annabeth."

    Mr. Chase straightened out, pulling his goggles quickly from his eyes to peer down at us seriously, "Annabeth? Is... is she all right? Has something happened?" 

    Slipping my mouth shut, no one dared answer him. However, our somber faces probably told him all he needed to know. Slowly reaching up, he slid off his cap as well, eyes landing on each of us in worry. Annabeth had taken after her father a lot, the same nose and sandy blonde hair. 

    "You'd better come in, then," he cracked the front door open wider, stepping aside.

    The house was nice, lived in, but it added to the homey atmosphere. There were toys scattered on the tables and the floor, magazines of all kinda were stacked around, and a little kid's winter coat was spread on the floor. Jazz music was playing from the kitchen and the whole house smelled like freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.  It was a messy, happy kind of home - a kind of home that felt as if it had been lived in forever.

    Mr. Chase looked around at the house, and turned to us, "We'll go upstairs to my study. This way," he motioned towards the stairs when a light voice called from around the corner. 

    "Honey?" the woman called. She was a petite, pretty Asian woman with red highlighted hair and wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Who are our guests?"

    "Oh," Annabeth's father turned to glance at us, realizing he never even asked our names, "Uhm, this is..."

    We quickly introduced ourselves, a little uneasily, but after some small conversation, we realized that Mrs. Chase seemed rather nice, despite the light that Annabeth had described her in to us all. When she asked us if we were hungry, we admitted we were and she settled on bringing us some sandwiches and sodas.

    Annabeth's father led us up to his study, while Mrs. Chase brought the sandwiches and sodas for us. "I'll leave you to it then," she nodded, setting the tray down on the table, turning to Percy and I, "It was a pleasure meeting you both. I've heard a lot about you."

    Percy spared me a small look, and I spared him the same. I hoped Annabeth was alright. 

    Mr. Chase's study was covered in books and shelves of war toys. Against the far wall, there was a large table modeling a large battle with miniature tanks, soldiers, hills, and fake trees. Old-fashioned biplanes hung on strings from the ceiling, tilted at odd angles to mirror a real dogfight.

    "It is The Third Battle of Ypres, I believe it played a greater role in the war than they are giving it credit for. So, I'm writing a paper, you see," he twitched about nervously, adjusting himself and pacing - no doubt thinking about Annabeth and the trouble she may be in.

    Zoë eyed the battlefield, seeming slightly impressed with the detail of the whole map, but she pinpointed a small area, adjusting the soldiers back a little, "The German lines were a small portion farther from the river."

    "How do you know that?"

    "I was there," Zoë replied to Mr. Chase nonchalantly, waving the fact off, "Lady Artemis wanted to show us how horrid the war was, mortal men slaughtering each other by the thousands."

    Mr. Chase was taken aback, not that it was an unusual reaction for people, "You -"

    "She's a Hunter," I interrupted him, wanting to get to the main reason of why we had come here in the first place, "That's not why we're here. We need -"

    "You saw the Sopwith Camels?" Dr. Chase mused, excitement overwhelming him, "How many were there? What formations did they fly?"

    Thalia growled, stepping forward, "Sir,"

    "Annabeth is in danger," I reminded him, getting his attention and causing him to set the biplane down.

    "Of course. Tell me everything."

    The story was not mine to tell, so I sat back while Percy and Thalia tried to debrief him on everything that had happened. It was tough to watch his face as he heard about the mysterious disappearance of his daughter.

    Lacing his fingers together, Mr. Chase sighed, "My poor, brave Annabeth. We must hurry."

    Zoë nodded in agreement, stepping forward, "Sir, we need transportation to Mount Tamalpais, and, we need it immediately."

    "I'll drive you," he jumped up, grabbing his car keys from the top drawer in his desk. 

    Thalia smiled softly at him, "Just a car would be great; it might be better if we went without you," she muttered towards him bluntly, causing me to try to cushion the blow.

    "It's probably too dangerous for a mortal."

    Instead of softening the blow, my words seemed to throw him off, "Now, wait just a minute, young ladies. Annabeth is my daughter. Dangerous of not, I - I can't just -"

    Zoë laid a reassuring hand on Mr. Chase's shoulder and peered into his eyes, "Sir, I can drive. I am not nearly as young as I appear. I shall not destroy thoust's car."

    Mrs. Chase walked in, offering a round of sandwiches and drinks, knitting her brow together. "What's this about?"

    "Annabeth is in danger," he mourned, eyes flickering around, "On Mount Tam. I would drive them, but... apparently it is no place for... mortals." The way he dwelt on the last part made me feel bad for even opening my mouth in the first place.

    Watching Mrs. Chase, I rose a brow, waiting for her to object letting teenagers take their car for a joyride. Shockingly, Mrs. Chase quickly nodded, stepping away from in front of the door, "Then, they had better get going." 

    Confused, I contemplated the kindness of Mrs. Chase and thought about how drastically different she was compared to the way Annabeth had always described her in her tales. Was this possibly the same woman who was so cruel to the young Anna? It didn't seem to make sense.

    Zoë grabbed a sandwich off the table and took the keys that Mr. Chase was offering her. "Thank thou very much. We should go. Now." She sent each member of the group a sharp eye, nodding towards the front door.

    Hustling down the stairs, Percy and I were about to follow the others out when Mrs. Chase called towards us, "Olive, Percy, tell Annabeth..." She paused, lowering her eyes, "Tell her that she still has a home here, won't you? Please, please remind her of that."

    "I'll tell her," I promised, smiling softly at her.

    As we all hoped into the car, I watched the sun begin to sink lower in the sky. It wasn't long now. Calculating the time we took with the Chases, I would bet we had only a little over an hour to save Artemis and Annabeth. 

    "Can't this thing go any faster?" Thalia cursed, Zoë shot her a silencing glare.

    "I cannot control traffic!" 

    Flooring the gas pedal, Zoë weaved in and out of the thick traffic of the Golden Gate Bridge. There was a few times I flinched away from the window in fear that she was about to break it by smashing into someone's side mirror. The sun was sinking low when we finally reached the Main County, exiting the highway at more than legal speed.

    Zoë swerved us onto an intensely narrow, rural road that was all twists and turns with thick, menacing trees on all side of us - never once lifting her foot from the pedal.

    Sniffing the air, I caught a strong whiff of something unfamiliar, "What is that smell?" 

    "Eucalyptus," Zoë tossed her head towards the side, motioning at the trees surrounding us.

    Percy perked up at this while Thalia ignored the conversation from the sidelines, "The stuff koala bears eat?"

    "And monsters," Zoë smirked a little sadistically, "They love chewing the leaves. Especially dragons." 

    "Dragons?" I questioned, raising a brow at the fact that dragons were still in existence. Sure, I didn't think they were purely myth, but it was hard to believe they were still around in modern times. 

    Zoë nodded, swerving the car sharply around a turn. 

    "So," Percy pointed out the windshield, in the direction of the looming mountain that kept getting larger the closer we got to it, "That's the Mountain of Despair?" 

    "Yes."

    "Why do they call it that?"

    Zoë remained quiet for a while, it took so long for her to respond that if she wasn't a Hunter of Artemis, I would have passed it off as if she didn't even hear him. I was curious about the name, but I wasn't going to push it if she did not want to tell.

    Sighing, she decided to answer him after all, "After the war between the Olympian gods and the Titans, many of the Titians were imprisoned, or punished, perhaps both. Kronos was torn asunder and thrown down into Tartarus. However, Kronos's right-hand man was imprisoned up there," she nodded towards the mountain, "On the summit, just beyond the Garden of the Hesperides."

    "The General," I spat out angrily. Glancing up at the sky, I watched the thick clouds churn and bubble wickedly.

    "We have to concentrate," Thalia frowned, looking at me with a shrug, "The Mist is really strong here."

    "The magical kind or the natural kind?" Percy questioned, hoping for the easiest solution.

    Thalia shot him down with, "Both."

    Leaning back against the backseat, I sighed, letting myself relax before the fight I knew was just around the corner. 

    "Olive," Percy turned his head to me as Zoë continued to rocket down the road. 

    "Yeah?"

    "What was Mr. D talking about during the Iris message?" Percy rose a brow, "When he said that you don't want 'that' life?"

    My eyes darted from his face to the outside of the car, clutching my backpack closer to myself as he did. Damned Mr. D - the douche nozzle. I can't believe he called me out like this. "I - I have," I swallowed some bile rising in my throat as I glared down at my hands in my lap. "I have something to tell you, but... Not now."

    "What is it, Olive?" He questioned, searching my eyes for some answer as to why I seemed so distraught. "You can tell me. You don't have to be vulnerable - we are a team."

    Thalia piped up from the passenger seat, glaring out the window and muttering under her breath, "To love at all is to be vulnerable," she sent me a sharp glance, comunicating between the both of us that she knew. She had pieced it together. 

    And, I was vulerable. Because, I was in love.

~~~

yikes - the 'l' word o.o