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The tunnel ran along the floor of a gymnasium-sized tank Except for water and souessed there were about fifty thousand gallons of water over their heads If the tunnel were to shatter for soht I’ve been surrounded by water thousands of times This isHe re his eyes, mouth, and nose

Phorcys stopped in the middle of the tunnel and spread his arms proudly "Beautiful exhibit, isn’t it?"

Percy tried to distract hi on details In one corner of the tank, snuggled in a forest of fake kelp, was a life-sized plastic gingerbread cottage with bubbles co out of the chiuy in an old-fashioned diving suit knelt beside a treasure chest, which popped open every few seconds, spewed bubbles, and closed again Littered across the white sand floor were glass e assortuns Outside the tank’s display as an a for several hundred

"What do you keep in here?" Frank asked "Giant killer goldfish?"

Phorcys raised his eyebrows "Oh, that would be good! But, no, Frank Zhang, descendant of Poseidon This tank is not for goldfish"

At descendant of Poseidon, Frank flinched He stepped back, gripping his backpack like a

A sense of dread trickled down Percy’s throat like cough syrup Unfortunately, it was a feeling he was used to

"How do you know Frank’s last name?" he demanded "How do you know he’s descended fro to look modest "It was probably in the descriptions Gaea provided You know, for the bounty, Percy Jackson"

Percy uncapped his pen Instantly, Riptide appeared in his hand "Don’t double-cross me, Phorcys You promised me answers"

"After the VIP treat you need to know The thing is, however, you don’t really need to know anything" His grotesque smile stretched wide "You see, even if you made it to Roiant brothers without a god fighting at your side And what god would help you? So I have a better plan You’re not leaving You’re VIPs--Very Ied Frank hurled his backpack at the sea god’s head Phorcys siod’s voice reverberated through the aquariuhting is good! You see, Mother never trusted ree that I could keep anything I caught You till od spawn of Poseidon in captivity ‘Deod Terrors’--yes, I like that! We already have sponsorship lined up with Bargain Mart You can fight each other every day at eleven AM and one PM, with an evening show at seven PM"

"You’re crazy!" Frank yelled

"Don’t sell yourself short!" Phorcys said "You’ll be our biggest draw!"

Frank ran for the exit, only to slalass wall Percy ran the other way and found it blocked as well Their tunnel had becolass and realized it was softening,in

"We won’t cooperate, Phorcys!" he shouted

"Oh, I’ht each other at first, no probleet used to the food here, you’ll be properly sedated and will follow directions Believe me, you’ll come to love your new holass doan to leak

"I’m the son of Poseidon!" Percy tried to keep the fear out of his voice "You can’t iest"

Phorcys’s laugh seemed to come from all around theest This tank is specially designed to contain de tilass dome shattered, and the water crashed in

Percy held his breath until he couldn’t stand it When he finally filled his lungs ater, it felt just like nor The water pressure didn’t bother hiet wet His underwater abilities were as good as ever

It’s just a stupid phobia, he assured hi to drown

Then he reuilt Percy had been so worried about hiotten his friend was only a distant descendant of Poseidon Frank couldn’t breathe underwater

But where was he?

Percy turned in a full circle Nothing Then he glanced up Hovering about hioldfish Frank had turned--clothes, backpack, and all--into a koi the size of a teenaged boy

Dude Percy sent his thoughts through the water, the way he spoke with other sea creatures A goldfish?

Frank’s voice caoldfish, so it was ona telepathic conversation with a giant koi, Percy said Great Can you turn into so more…useful?

Silence Maybe Frank was concentrating, though it was impossible to tell, since koi don’t have many expressions

Sorry Frank sounded embarrassed I’m stuck That happens sometimes when I panic