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“Annabeth, you’ve got a letter,” Percy said as he brought the entirety of their mailbox to the table. It wasn’t much, really, mostly bills and flyers, so the literal letter stood out.
“Really?” Annabeth asked, looking curious. “Weird. I don’t really know anyone who’d send a letter.” She took it from Percy’s hands, staring at it with a raised eyebrow, even as she pushed away her plate of half-eaten breakfast.
Percy automatically pushed it back in her direction as he walked to the counter to start making their lunches. “What’s it say?”
“I don’t know,” Annabeth said. “I’m still opening it.”
“Slowpoke.”
“Seaweed Brain.”
“But that’s a compliment!”
She stuck out her tongue in reply and turned back to the letter, quickly opening it to pull out a card, and then inhaled sharply, something which made Percy instantly rush to her side, both of them watching with sharp, careful eyes as magic etched glowing words into the paper, both foreboding and exhilarating.
You have been selected
to interview for a
prestigious position with the
Metropolitan Public Library
Percy stared. “The Metropolitan Library is magical?” He asked incredulously.
“Apparently,” Annabeth said. “Chiron never told me anything about it, and it’s technically Greek territory, so if anyone should know–”
Percy hummed. “Maybe they’re finally ready to tell us? They did invite you to apply for a job.”
“As a Librarian?” Annabeth asked, eyebrows arched. “I highly doubt they’d invite me to a higher position without any experience, and I’ve only begun applying for jobs, anyway.” She sighed. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem… me.”
Percy leaned over to kiss her forehead, then returned to putting together sandwiches again. “It’s up to you,” He said. “You could decide not to, but what’s the harm? We could always just go to see what they have to say about not having told Chiron about starting a magical library section.”
“True,” Annabeth agreed. “When did you get so practical?”
“When you started to take on some of my recklessness, I decided I had to take on some of your wisdom, or we’d get into more scrapes than we get out of.”
She snorted. “Don’t kid yourself. I was reckless way before I met you.”
He smirked. “I know. I was trying to save your face.”
She rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully in the side. “I’d judo-flip you again, but I’d rather not waste food that I could eat instead.”
“My only defense,” Percy agreed. “And also, Grover would kill.”
“And also, Grover would kill me,” She echoed. “You’re right, though. You’re free today?”
“Always free for you, Wise Girl,” He teased. “But yeah, no classes today. Want me to come along?”
“Mmm,” She said. “I think I’d prefer having backup for if this turns out to be a trap.”
“Got it,” He said. “We don’t have to refresh the wards today, do we?”
Annabeth pursed her lips and spared a look for the calendar hanging on the wall under the clock. “No,” She said. “Sadie said it’d last longer this time. They were experimenting with new magic.”
“Glad this one didn’t explode,” Percy muttered.
“Hey,” Annabeth said. “They aren’t that bad.”
“I know,” He replied, sounding playfully long-suffering. “I just know that Sadie likes explosions.”
She snorted.
The Library was filled with people, which Annabeth could see made Percy jumpy - even years later, they hadn’t gotten a handle on their dyslexia, and traumas ran long, which meant libraries were a big no-no for Percy, at least - so they immediately hurried to one of the desks to ask about the letter.
The first person who saw it frowned in confusion. “We haven’t sent out any letters,” He said slowly. “But this is the official letter paper and seal…” He looked up and flagged down an older woman, who reached the desk and took the proffered card.
She frowned as well. “None that I remember,” She said as well. “But I can call HR and ask.”
Annabeth and Percy exchanged further bemused glances and followed.
Some few needlessly annoying calls later, the woman brightened. “Perfect!” She said into the phone. “Of course, I’ll let them know. When did you say you’ll get here?” She nodded, then looked up at the pair. “One of our sister branches sent the letter,” She explained. “They’ll be sending an employee here to clarify everything.”
Annabeth nodded slowly. “Right,” She said. “Thanks.”
As soon as the woman left them to what little privacy they had left, Percy turned to her. “That was weird, right? I’m not the only one weirded out?”
Annabeth nodded. “The secrecy, I’d assume,” She said. “Why we don’t know of it either.”
“Huh,” Percy said. “Still odd they’d mark it ‘Metropolitan Library’, though, if it isn’t happening here.”
Annabeth hummed. “Maybe they changed it recently,” She said, but she didn’t believe it herself.
They were left to wait for ten minutes, Percy fidgeting constantly, even having started pacing.
Annabeth tapped her knee, reciting architectural facts about the Metropolitan Library in her mind to pace herself.
The door opened, and a woman stepped inside, her blonde hair pulled back into a severe bun. She held herself like a soldier, which was yet another suspicious point about the whole business.
“Annabeth Chase?” She asked.
Annabeth stood. “Yes,” She said.
“You got a letter?” The woman continued.
“Yes,” Annabeth said but didn’t hand it over just yet. “And you are?”
“Colonel Eve Baird,” The woman introduced. “NATO– well, formerly NATO. I currently work for the Library.”
Percy narrowed his eyes, obviously as suspicious as Annabeth. “You left NATO to work at a Library?” He asked.
Eve smiled, and it was as savage as it was satisfied. “I did. Better dental plan.”
“Huh,” He said. “Fair enough.” He could appreciate a good joke as any.
Annabeth sighed and offered Eve the letter.
She stared at it with slowly pursing lips and glittering eyes, then back up, hesitating as she stared at Percy.
“I didn’t get one,” He said easily.
“He’s with me,” Annabeth added without room for rejection.
Eve hesitated again but stared at the letter again and nodded. “You better come with me,” She said.
They only had to exchange a glance with each other to know they were on the same boat - Annabeth and Percy followed.
Eve led them to a corner of the Library to what was obviously an electrician’s closet. But when she pulled it open, there was a faint glow, and the other side was glowing.
“Well,” Percy murmured. “You only live once, am I right?” And then he leaped through first because of course he did, leaving Annabeth to follow.
They landed on solid ground without even needing to jump, and when they opened their eyes, they were in an entirely different room with a staircase in the corner leading up to a small mezzanine with bookcases. In front of them was a large table covered with books and gadgets and artifacts and in front of that stood five people. One was obviously Colonel Eve, but the others included one old man and three others who seemed relatively younger, one of them around Annabeth and Percy’s age.
“Two?” The old man asked, looking the slightest bit frazzled. “I was told it was only one letter.”
“I wasn’t coming without him,” Annabeth said.
“Where are we?” Percy asked in lieu of answering. “Because I’m pretty sure we’re not in the Metropolitan Library anymore.”
“About that–” Eve began.
The unnamed woman cleared her throat. “Introductions?” She asked.
“Right,” The old man sighed. “Of course. I am Jenkins, the caretaker of this… Annex.”
The woman who’d asked waved exuberantly. “Hi! I’m Cassandra. Cassandra Killian!”
“Jacob Stone,” One of the men said.
The last one, who seemed the closest in age, inclined his head, his eyes gleaming with interest. “Ezekiel Jones. Sure you’ve heard of me.”
Percy blinked. “No, actually,” He admitted. “I’m Percy, by the way.”
Ezekiel looked at him and tilted his head. “You look really familiar, mate. Where do I know you from?”
“Annabeth Chase,” Annabeth interjected. “While we’re still doing intros.”
Ezekiel kept staring but silently.
“Great,” Eve said. “Now that we’re all caught up, can we focus on the letter?”
“Yeah,” Jacob said. “Why send out another one? Aren’t we already four?”
“What’s wrong with five?” Ezekiel asked.
“It’s a perfectly nice number,” Cassandra agreed. “But it is weird. If it was going to be sent, shouldn’t it have been sent earlier? Like before Dulaque?”
Eve closed her eyes and groaned lightly.
Annabeth inhaled sharply, and realization flashed through her. “You don’t send the letters,” She deduced. “The Library does.”
“Sentient building?” Percy asked. “That’s a new one.”
“Wait, you know about magic?” Eve demanded.
Jenkins narrowed his eyes. “How do you…?”
Annabeth shrugged. “Kind of obvious,” She said. “We literally teleported from the Library in New York to… wherever we are right now, which I would have guessed even if the room Colonel Eve brought us through didn’t say ‘Electrician’ because of the glowing light that we passed through and the fact that that door is currently cracked open to a broom closet.”
Eve nodded in appreciation. “Nice observation,” She said.
“But people don’t immediately go to magic,” Cassandra said. “Unless…”
“The ley lines!” Ezekiel exclaimed.
“That would explain it,” Jacob agreed.
Eve shot them a look. “Or we could let Annabeth take the floor.”
“Well,” Percy said. “Not what I saw coming.”
Annabeth bit the side of her cheek and turned to Percy. “Do you think…?”
“If they don’t–”
“But the card–”
Percy pursed his lips, then leaned back. “I follow your lead,” He said sincerely. “Your call.”
Annabeth tugged on one stray lock of hair. “Right,” She said softly, and it looked like her mind was computing rapidly.
“We’re still waiting,” Eve said pointedly.
“Right,” Annabeth said again, taking a long breath.
“Wait!” Ezekiel shouted, looking up from his phone. “You’re older, but I just remembered where I know you from!”
Percy tilted his head.
“I was looking stuff up about the St. Louis Arch for–” He coughed. “Anyway, your picture popped up with the whole crazy deal about the manhunt across America. You’re Percy Jackson, aren’t you?”
Percy began to smile. “Wow, that’s been– what, ten, twelve years? I’d almost forgotten.”
“I haven’t,” Annabeth grumbled.
Percy laughed.
Jenkins, though, had paled. “Percy… Jackson?” He asked slowly. “Perseus Jackson?”
Percy stopped laughing. “How do you know that name?” He asked coldly, hand pulling out his pen from his pocket.
Annabeth stepped back to give him room, her own hand inching to her dagger.
“Woah,” Eve said, raising her hands, recognizing the danger even without weapons in sight. “What the hell’s going on?”
“Your full name’s Perseus?” Jacob asked. “Like the Greek hero?”
Cassandra’s eyes widened. “Are you the Greek hero?”
“Perseus was immortal?” Ezekiel asked.
“No!” Jacob yelped.
“No,” Percy replied.
“Please do not point that at me,” Jenkins said. “I mean no harm.”
“Sure,” Percy said. “And neither does any other monster that comes after us.”
Eve opened her mouth in horror.
Jenkins sighed and raised his hands. “I’m immortal,” He said.
Annabeth blinked. “... Minor god?”
“Flattered, but no.”
“Gods?!” Jacob squeaked.
“Well, Santa,” Ezekiel reasoned.
“Santa?” Percy asked, confused.
“I’d assumed,” Annabeth said. “Mythology and all, but in reality? Interesting.”
Jenkins cleared his throat. “Regardless,” He said. “I am not a monster.”
Annabeth nodded at Percy, and he pulled back the pen, still unsheathed.
“What was a pen even going to do?” Jacob muttered in confusion.
Eve, though, was measuring the two newcomers. “That’s not a pen, is it?” She asked. “It’s an artifact.”
Percy inclined his head. “It is,” He agreed. He didn’t explain.
“I believe I’ve heard of it,” Jenkins said. “Only one sword is so famed and so well-hidden. So cherished. Anaklumos.”
Percy did unsheathe it this time, but only because Riptide was worth squealing over. “Jack’s pretty cool, too, but Riptide’s the best.”
Jacob seemed speechless, pointing at the sword, at Jenkins, and then gesturing to Ezekiel, Cassandra, and Eve.
“... What if you lose it?” Ezekiel asked.
“Don’t get ideas,” Annabeth said because the look in his eyes was so similar to when the Hermes cabin started planning that her internal alarm was going off. “It’s enchanted.”
Jacob recovered in time to laugh. “She’s sure got you pegged,” He said.
Eve narrowed her eyes. “You use magic,” She said, and there was a mild forced neutrality in her tone.
Annabeth didn’t reply.
“They are magic,” Jenkins said.
Cassandra stared. “Living artifacts?”
Percy shrugged. “Demigods,” He said.
“Woah,” Ezekiel said.
“Like Odysseus and Perseus–” Jacob’s mouth fell open. “Are you the son of Zeus?”
“What?” Percy asked. “No! Ew–”
Annabeth couldn’t help the snort. “I’ll be telling Jason that.”
Percy smacked his face. “At least it’s not Thalia.”
“I was being nice,” She agreed.
“So there are more?” Eve asked. “This Jason and Thalia are the children of the King of the gods?” She turned to Jenkins. “How did we not know about this?”
“Because the Pantheons are separated,” Annabeth said. “Until recently, they didn’t even mix.”
“Pantheons…? No,” Jacob said. “We have artifacts from most pantheons. Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Sumerian–”
“Sumerian?” Annabeth asked. “That’s new.”
“Artifacts like Riptide?” Percy asked, cradling his weapon close.
“We keep magic from falling into the wrong hands,” Cassandra said. “That’s what the Library is for.”
“It’s a sentient force that works tethered to a force of good,” Jenkins explained. “But no, you did not know because Librarians generally do not. These worlds are kept separate by the gods, the Mist, and the Library.” He frowned. “Which makes it so odd that the Library sent you the letter.”
“Maybe it decided the veil was enough,” Percy said. “Honestly, these days, every mythology’s coming out of the woodwork, it seems.” He shook his head. “I’m dam glad Sadie and Carter managed to cook up the cloaking spell, though, so I’m good with the situation.”
“Spells,” Jacob said. “There ain’t nothing about spells– Circe?”
Percy made a face. “No.”
Annabeth giggled. “No,” She agreed. “That’s one’s a different story.”
“You’ve met Circe?” Jacob asked.
“Okay!” Eve announced. “Focus, please. We still don’t know your godly parentage, and we don’t know why the Library sent you the letter. The Librarian is supposed to be an expert, someone who the Library knows will have enough knowledge and wisdom to protect the Library from forces of evil–”
“Well, that’s okay, then,” Percy said. “It made the best decision. Annabeth’s the wisest person I know.”
“You’re biased,” Annabeth told him but kissed his cheek anyway. “I’m the daughter of Athena,” She explained. “Goddess of Wisdom and War.”
“Ah,” Eve said. “Now I get it.”
“Yes, well,” Jenkins said grimly. “It seems there is a danger far beyond what we can manage alone, then, because the Library would not have involved two powerful demigods otherwise.”
“Powerful?” Ezekiel asked. “I get Annabeth - daughter of the war goddess. Sure. What about Percy?”
“Poseidon,” He offered easily, lightly.
“God of the sea,” Jenkins clarified. “Earthshaker. Stormbringer. Creator of the Horses.”
“Eh,” Percy said. “I’ve only ever made one Earthquake, you know.”
“Yeah,” Annabeth said just as lightly. “And that one caused St. Helens to erupt, so I think we can count your quota filled for the rest of your life.”
Eve gaped.
“That was you?” Jacob asked. “Holy shit!”
“Huh,” Ezekiel said. “We’re doomed.”
“What?” Cassandra asked.
“He’s right,” Eve said, recovering. “If these are our allies, who’s the villain?”
Annabeth’s heart sank. “Oh, Hades,” She swore. “I really wish I hadn’t come for this job now.”
Percy nodded. “Bad idea. We should never listen to my ideas again.”
“We always say that!” She said. “And never listen.”
He shrugged. “Oh well, what’s another dam war?”
“Annoying,” She shot back. “You know Leo’s gonna kill you, right? He just went on his honeymoon.”
“Eh, Calypso could probably use the break,” Percy said.
Annabeth shook her head exasperatedly.
“Calypso?” Jacob asked blankly. “I hate to assume, but that sword–”
“You’re right,” Percy cut him off.
He pumped a fist in the air.
“You’re very well-read,” Annabeth noted. “Have you tried translating the original Greek?”
“Of course,” Jacob said.
Annabeth’s eyes gleamed, and she stepped forward, launching into a discussion in rapid-fire Greek that Jacob, grinning, started replying.
“Well,” Percy said. “We’ve lost them for a good half hour.”
“Just?” Ezekiel asked. “Stone could do ten.”
“ADHD,” Percy said. “She’s got it better than me, but not by much.”
Cassandra winced. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” He said. “It’s technically an evolutionary thing. Helps us sharpen our senses on the battlefield.”
Eve brightened. “Well, even if we’re going down the rabbit hole of monsters, at least we’ve finally got a dedicated fighter. Up for a spar?”
“Sure,” Percy agreed. “We’ll keep it weaponless for the fun of it.”
“Done,” Eve said. “Follow me.”
“... And I shall see what I can understand about what is to come,” Jenkins said. “And pray it is not the apocalypse.”
“Another one?” Percy called over his shoulder. “So it’s a Friday, then?”
Jenkins didn’t answer, letting his stare do the talking.
“Hey,” Ezekiel whispered to Cassandra as everyone dispersed. “They mentioned gods - you think they know Hermes? You know, the god of thieves? I wanna see if I’m better.”
Cassandra rolled her eyes, turning to follow Jenkins.