Cyrus honestly thought a simple supply run would be... well, simple. But then again, nothing was ever "simple" when you were a demigod and had a mini genius tagging along who treated every bookstore like a sacred temple.
They'd barely made it into town when Annabeth pointed at a dusty old brick building with wide glass windows and a crooked "Books & Beyond" sign. "That's the one," she said with such excitement that Cyrus half expected her to sprint.
"Annie," Cyrus said with a sigh and rubbing his temple, "we're supposed to get camp supplies. You promised—just one book."
"I did," she replied sweetly. "And I will. Just one... shelf."
Ten minutes later, Cyrus was holding a tottering stack of fifteen books on architecture, ancient temples, and one extremely thick encyclopedia of Greek Mythology that nearly knocked out a passing cat.
"This is robbery," he muttered, adjusting the stack. "We're gonna need a second backpack."
Annabeth gave him an innocent smile. "Consider it an investment in camp morale."
"You mean your morale."
"That too."
Once they escaped the bookstore without Cyrus collapsing under the weight of knowledge, they stopped by a pharmacy for healing supplies, grabbed some packaged ambrosia bars, and finally made it to McDonald's. Cyrus bought himself a cheeseburger with fries and a mint milkshake, while Annabeth insisted on a Happy Meal "for the toy," she claimed, but Cyrus caught her sneaking fries the whole time.
She was just about to ask if she could steal a sip of his milkshake when he froze.
"Annabeth... don't panic."
Her hand stopped midway to the shake. "Why?"
"Because Echidna's walking out of the frozen yogurt place with her 'lovely' son trailing behind her."
"What?" she hissed. "How is she always around frozen things?"
Cyrus dropped his tray, grabbed her wrist, and they bolted, slipping around a hot dog cart.
"Cyrus Ceallaigh," she cooed. "Oh, my lord will be pleased."
Cyrus and Annabeth stiffened
"You know my name?"
"Of course I do. The favorite of the sun god and the bloodthirsty one. A prize, truly. I was tasked to deliver you to my lord... to show I still have value."
"Pass," Cyrus said, grabbing Annabeth's arm. "We're good."
"You won't get far."
That proved true. Echidna's son, the monstrous Chimera, burst from behind the restaurant, snarling, fire curling from its lion's mouth. They ran. They didn't look back.
They ducked into a subway station, but no sooner had they reached the platform than the wind started howling unnaturally. A pack of wind spirits swept toward them, followed by snarling hellhounds and—of all things—giant baboon-like monsters with elongated jaws and twitchy, grabbing fingers shouting "I wanna taste those Half bloods!"
"Monkey monsters?" Cyrus shouted, yanking Annabeth back as one lunged. "Really?"
Annabeth snatched a spear from Cyrus's pack and jabbed at a wind spirit. "Don't question it—just stab them!"
Fighting in a subway tunnel wasn't ideal. They had to dodge live tracks, not fall off the edge, and keep monsters from literally biting their limbs off. Annabeth tripped, and a baboon demon lunged for her, its jaws wide.
"No!" Cyrus tackled her aside, scooped her up, and ran, weaving between pillars and dodging fangs and claws. Then, as if fate were being ironic, Echidna reappeared near the entrance.
"Leave me alone, you yogurt-obsessed and child trafficking Monster!" Cyrus roared
Her voice was full of mocking rage as she shouted at him, right before headlights blinded them—and the truck slammed into her full force.
She vanished alongside the truck, but Cyrus knew better. She'd be back.
Cyrus didn't stop running. He half-carried, half-dragged Annabeth into the woods.
"I think I broke my toe," she wheezed.
"I think I lost three years off my life."
Then, a voice yelled, "GET AWAY FROM ME, blahhhh....I'm not tasty!"
They turned a corner just in time to see Grover Underwood pelting through the forest, pursued by a very angry cyclops swinging a tree trunk.
"Oh come on!" Cyrus groaned.
"Help first, complain later," Annabeth called, limping toward Grover.
Cyrus darted in, his axe gleaming in the moonlight. With a perfectly timed swing, he knocked the makeshift club away from the cyclops and managed to distract it long enough for Annabeth to jab it in the thigh with a celestial bronze spear. Grover bleated in appreciation, tossing a pinecone bomb that exploded in the cyclops's face with a puff of smoke and pine needles.
After the smoke cleared and the monster dissolved into golden dust, the trio collapsed onto the grass.
"What are you two doing out here?" Grover wheezed.
"Book shopping," Cyrus said dryly. "Apparently that's code for monster magnet."
Annabeth elbowed him. "I'll have you know the books were very important."
Night had fallen, and the forest around them was thick and quiet. As they tried to regain their bearings, Cyrus realized they were not far from a familiar road. He squinted at the mailbox.
"Wait… this is Adam's place. My brother's house."
"You mean the previous head counselor of your cabin.. whom you said is now taking arts in University?" Grover asked.
"Yup. If we're lucky, he's still awake."
Sure enough, ten minutes later, Adam Broyce opened the door in pajamas with music notes on them. "Cyrus?" he blinked. "What—did you bring a party?"
"Long story," Cyrus said with a tired grin. "We need a couch, some hot cocoa, and maybe some ambrosia and nector too"
Adam laughed and ushered them in. "Come on. Tell me everything."
And they did — sprawled across a too-small couch with blankets, cocoa, and the comfort of a warm home that wasn't always under attack