Third POV
After what felt like days, the truck finally jerked to a stop. Everyone perked up when they heard the doors open. Annabeth looked at Percy.
"We need to hide." She whispered. Percy looked at her and shook his head. "People that treat animals, that are so vital to the worlds ecosystem like this, don't deserve to live." I said. "Percy, we don't know where we are. How are you going to kill them when there's so many people around?" She asked. Percy clenched his jaw, but nodded and hid behind the lion cage. The doors swung open and apparently, they didn't notice that the chains were no longer there.
One went to open the Zebra's cage, saying something about a magician cutting him in half while the other opened the lion's cage. Bastards lucky they fed the big cat. The zebra knocked the man into the wall and the lion pretty much mauled the other. Grover and Annabeth looked disgusted and scared. Percy? He's mauled a few people. This was nothing new to him.
Once they were out of the truck, Grover blessed them with his 'Saytr's Sanctuary' as he called it. He said it would grant them protection on their way back to their natural habitats. Percy looked around and saw that they were in Las Vegas. They were in front of a giant building with flashing led lights that read 'Lotus Hotel & Casino'. Annabeth and Grover also saw it and got big smiles in their faces. Percy didn't like the place. It just seemed. Off. The others didn't feel the same.
"Let's go." Annabeth declared. Percy looked at her. "No." He said. She turned on him. "What? Why not?" She asked. "This place doesn't feel right. I don't trust it." He replied. "Are you really denying a girl a nice, hot shower? You should know how dangerous that is." She said. "You're not one of my girlfriends and this is a very important quest. From what I understand, if my dad and Zeus goes to war, the world is fucked. I'm not taking any risks. You can take a shower when we get back to camp." Percy said. "Come on man. Not all of us can go for days without sleep. A few hours inside and we'll be out. We've got a few days." Grover offered. Percy licked his teeth.
Something he normally did when in a difficult situation. Percy has learned that his gut is never wrong. However, he decided to at least try it. So he nodded. The trio walked in and was immediately met with a door man/clerk thing. His happy go lucky attitude was extremely overwhelming to the three. Inside the hotel and casino was extremely bright and loud. Percy could hear games, music and people having the times of their lives. It seemed perfect.
Too perfect.
There was one thing that confused Percy though. Everything seemed... slow. Sluggish. He felt like he was moving through sand. Dry sand. He frowned and looked around. Trying to figure out why his senses seemed so... off when he realized something.
He couldn't tell time.
Percy couldn't tell time. Which wasn't normal or good, because he could always tell time. Percy looked at the card in his hand. The card that he didn't even realize that he had taken from the man. The demigod shook his head. He refused to stay here.
"No." He said shaking his head. "What, Percy...." Grover didn't get to finish his sentence. Annabeth didn't even get to speak. He grabbed their arms and dragged them back out of the door. "Wha... hey! Wait!" Annabeth protested. He only stopped when they were at the end of the entrance. "What's your problem?!" Annabeth demanded angrily. Percy stared up at the sign. "I don't know. The feel of that place was just... off. I felt slow, sluggish. Like everything was slowing down. Like it was all about to just stop." He said. Annabeth looked up at the sign too, gears working overtime to figure out what was wrong with Percy. Then it clicked.
"Di immortales." She muttered. "What?" Percy asked. "Annabeth?" Grover questioned. "Percy. Your senses have to be the strongest in the world." She said. Percy raised an eyebrow. "Guys, this isn't just a hotel and casino with a bunch of games. This is the land of the Lotus Eaters!" She exclaimed. "The what?" Percy asked and Grover's eyes widened. "What's that?" Percy asked. "It's basically if you mix the Fields of Asphodel and Elysium together and let living people go there." Grover explained.
"It's not just that. Percy, the land of the lotus eaters stop time for you once you go into their domain." Annabeth said. "You managed to sense time stopping around you. I don't think even gods can do that." She said. Percy ignored this though. "That's nice and all, but we need to go." He said. "Do you know where the entrance of the underworld is?" Percy asked. "I talked to Chiron before we left. He said it was in a place called DOA Recording Studios." Annabeth said. Percy nodded.
"Dead on Arrival? Huh, that's fun." I said. "What? How'd you figure that out?" Grover asked. "Just seems like it made sense." Percy shrugged. "So, how're we getting there?" Annabeth hailed a taxi. They all clambered into the back of the taxi. "We need to get to DOA Recording Studios, Los Angeles as fast as possible." Annabeth said. "That's gonna cost ya. Can you pay?" Percy went to give him some money, but Annabeth handed him her hotel card. He looked back at her with a funny expression.
"Just swipe it." She said. He did so and the infinity symbol popped up. His jaw dropped and the cigar fell from his mouth. "Step on it and you can keep it." Annabeth. "Uh, of course your highness." He said. Percy snorted. Annabeth glared at him. If she was much cleaner and had a shower, he'd buy her being royalty. In this state though? Not a chance.
Percy's glad his vampire powers kept him looking unnaturally beautiful and good looking. Yes, his hair has stayed perfect and his skin flawless. The only dirty thing on him was his clothes. He didn't even stink since he always smelled exactly like everyone's favorite scent. Isn't being a vampire great?
