The Staff of Serapis(16)

Annabeth’s lower lip trembled. She pulled out something she hadn’t carried with her in a long time: her battered blue New York Yankees cap.

She glanced up at the darkening sky. ‘Mom?’

No reply, but Annabeth couldn’t think of any other explanation. Her mother had sent her help. The realization both encouraged and terrified her. If Athena was taking a personal interest in this situation, Serapis truly was a monumental threat – not just to Annabeth but to the gods.

‘It’s a baseball cap,’ Sadie noted. ‘Is that good?’

‘I – I think so,’ Annabeth said. ‘The last time I wore it, the magic didn’t work. But if it does … I might have a plan. It’ll be your turn to keep Serapis distracted.’

Sadie frowned. ‘Did I mention I’m out of magic?’

‘That’s okay,’ Annabeth said. ‘How are you at bluffing, lying and trash-talking?’

Sadie raised an eyebrow. ‘I’ve been told those are my most attractive qualities.’

‘Excellent,’ Annabeth said. ‘Then it’s time I taught you some Greek.’

They didn’t have long.

Annabeth had barely finished coaching Sadie when the ruined building shook, debris exploded outward, and Serapis emerged, roaring and cursing.

Startled emergency workers scattered from the scene, but they didn’t seem to notice the fifteen-foot-tall god marching away from the wreckage, his three-headed staff spewing steam and red beams of magic into the sky.

Serapis headed straight in Sadie and Annabeth’s direction.

‘Ready?’ Annabeth asked.

Sadie exhaled. ‘Do I have a choice?’

‘Here.’ Annabeth gave her the square of ambrosia. ‘Demigod food. It might restore your strength.’

‘Might, eh?’

‘If I can use your healing potion, you should be able to eat ambrosia.’

‘Cheers, then.’ Sadie took a bite. Colour returned to her cheeks. Her eyes brightened. ‘Tastes like my gran’s scones.’

Annabeth smiled. ‘Ambrosia always tastes like your favourite comfort food.’

‘That’s a shame.’ Sadie took another bite and swallowed. ‘Gran’s scones are always burnt and rather horrid. Ah – here comes our friend.’

Serapis kicked a fire engine out of his way and lumbered towards the train tracks. He didn’t seem to have spotted Sadie and Annabeth yet, but Annabeth guessed he could sense them. He scanned the horizon, his expression full of murderous rage.

‘Here we go.’ Annabeth donned her Yankees cap.

Sadie’s eyes widened. ‘Well done. You’re quite invisible. You won’t start shooting sparks, will you?’

‘Why would I do that?’

‘Oh … my brother cast an invisibility spell once. Didn’t work out so well. Anyway, good luck.’

‘You, too.’

Annabeth dashed to one side as Sadie waved her arms and yelled, ‘Oi, Serapis!’

‘DEATH TO YOU!’ the god bellowed.

He barrelled forward, his massive feet making craters in the tarmac.

As they’d planned, Sadie backed towards the beach. Annabeth crouched behind an abandoned car and waited for Serapis to pass. Invisible or not, she wasn’t going to take any chances.

‘Come on!’ Sadie taunted the god. ‘Is that the fastest you can run, you overgrown village idiot?’

‘RAR!’ The god charged past Annabeth’s position.

She ran after Serapis, who caught up with Sadie at the edge of the surf.

The god raised his glowing staff, all three monstrous heads belching steam. ‘Any last words, magician?’

‘For you? Yes!’ Sadie whirled her arms in movements that could’ve been magic – or possibly kung fu.

‘Meana aedei thea!’ She chanted the lines Annabeth had taught her. ‘En … ponte pathen algae!’

Annabeth winced. Sadie’s pronunciation was pretty bad. She’d got the first line right, more or less: Sing of rage, O goddess. But the second line should’ve been: In the sea, suffer misery. Instead, Sadie had said something like: In the sea, suffer moss!

Fortunately, the sound of Ancient Greek was enough to shock Serapis. The god wavered, his three-headed staff still raised. ‘What are you –’

‘Isis, hear me!’ Sadie continued. ‘Athena, to my aid!’ She rattled off some more phrases – some Greek, some Ancient Egyptian.

Meanwhile, Annabeth sneaked up behind the god, her eyes on the dagger still impaled in the monster’s shell. If Serapis would just lower his staff …

‘Alpha, beta, gamma!’ Sadie cried. ‘Gyros, spanakopita. Presto!’ She beamed in triumph. ‘There. You’re done for!’