Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians
65
65
I wanted to scream at her that this wasn ' t the time for taking supplements ! She had to draw the sword !
She popped a lemon chewable in her mouth just as the door flew open and Circe came back in , flanked by two of her business-suited attendants . " Well ," Circe sighed , " how fast a minute passes . What is your answer , my dear ?" " This ," Annabeth said , and she drew her bronze knife . The sorceress stepped back , but her surprise quickly passed . She sneered . " Really , little girl , a knife against my magic ? Is that wise ?" Circe looked back at her attendants , who smiled . They raised their hands as if preparing to cast a spell .
Run ! I wanted to tell Annabeth , but all I could make were rodent noises . The other guinea pigs squealed in terror and scuttled around the cage . I had the urge to panic and hide , too , but I had to think of something ! I couldn ' t stand to lose Annabeth the way I ' d lost Tyson .
" What will Annabeth ' s makeover be ?" Circe mused . " Something small and ill-tempered . I know ... a shrew !" Blue fire coiled from her fingers curling like serpents around Annabeth . I watched , horror-struck , but nothing happened . Annabeth was still Annabeth , only angrier . She leaped forward and stuck the point of her knife against Circe ' s neck . " How about turning me into a panther instead ? One that has her claws at your throat !" " How !" Circe yelped . Annabeth held up my bottle of vitamins for the sorceress to see . Circe howled in frustration . " Curse Hermes and his multivitamins ! Those are such a fad !
They do nothing for you ." " Turn Percy back to a human or else !" Annabeth said . " I can ' t !" " Then you asked for it ." Circe ' s attendants stepped forward , but their mistress said , " Get back ! She ' s immune to magic until that cursed vitamin wears off ." Annabeth dragged Circe over to the guinea pig cage , knocked the top off , and poured the rest of the vitamins inside . " No !" Circe screamed . I was the first to get a vitamin , but all the other guinea pigs scuttled out , too , and checked out this new food .
The first nibble , and I felt all fiery inside . I gnawed at the vitamin until it stopped looking so huge , and the cage got smaller , and then suddenly , bang ! The cage exploded . I was sitting on the floor , a human again — somehow back in my regular clothes , thank the gods — with six other guys who all looked disoriented , blinking and shaking wood shavings out of their hair . " No !" Circe screamed . " You don ' t understand ! Those are the worst !" One of the men stood up — a huge guy with a long tangled pitch-black beard and teeth the same color . He wore mismatched clothes of wool and leather , knee-length boots , and a floppy felt hat . The other men were dressed more simply — in breeches and stained white shirts . All of them were barefoot . " Argggh !" bellowed the big man . " What ' s the witch done t ' me !" " No !" Circe moaned . Annabeth gasped . " I recognize you ! Edward Teach , son of Ares ?" " Aye , lass ," the big man growled . " Though most call me Blackbeard ! And there ' s the sorceress what captured us , lads . Run her through , and then I mean to find me a big bowl of celery ! Arggggh !" Circe screamed . She and her attendants ran from the room , chased by the pirates . Annabeth sheathed her knife and glared at me . " Thanks ..." I faltered . " I ' m really sorry —" Before I could figure out how to apologize for being such an idiot , she tackled me with a hug , then pulled away just as quickly . " I ' m glad you ' re not a guinea pig ." " Me , too ." I hoped my face wasn ' t as red as it felt . She undid the golden braids in her hair .