Jim wiggled about on his cushion and glanced at his watch. 0100 hours. His gaze then turned to Medusa, who was curled up like a tidy, coiled wicker basket. She was on a cushion, breathing evenly, and her face was turned away from him.

  I hope she's able to sleep well. The past few days had been a whirlwind—from her dark, secluded cave, to Fort Bogart, and now back again to a fourteenth-century BCE city, preparing to battle a giant sea monster.

  Then, a sound—soft, deliberate footsteps approaching. Light, uneven. Barefoot. Not the solid thump of boots. Not the scuff of sandals against stone. Someone was sneaking through the dimness, and Jim doubted it was for anything good.

  A shadowy figure emerged, gripping a glowing sword with a distinctive hook in the middle. The eerie light cast jagged reflections against the walls as the figure moved with silent intent.

  Jim remained motionless. Slowly, he inched his hand along his pant leg, pressing the retention release on his holster and drawing his pistol. His left hand moved the slide back a bit to confirm a round was in the chamber. Like most soldiers, he never relied on the loaded chamber indicator—especially not in the dark.

  Satisfied his weapon was ready, he turned his focus back to the intruder. The figure advanced toward Medusa, halting on the opposite side of her. Jim's grip tightened as he saw the blade rise, both of the figure's hands steadying for a deliberate strike.

  Pointing his pistol at the figure and switching off the safety, Jim said coldly, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." "Lift that sword any higher, and it will be the last thing you'll ever do."

  Perseus sighed. He lowered his sword and shifted his eyes.

  "Good. Now drop the sword. On that cushion—unless you want to wake the entire palace."

  Perseus hesitated for a moment before gently placing the glowing sword onto the cushion. The weapon landed with a soft thud.

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  Jim kept his pistol trained on him. "What was your plan after killing her?"

  Perseus said nothing.

  Jim's voice remained calm yet firm. "You really think all the guards and soldiers here would just let you walk away after this?"

  Perseus shook his head as Jim stood up.

  "No, you're smarter than that," Jim said, studying him closely. "You were planning to run tonight, weren't you? Where were you heading?"

  "...Seriphos," Perseus replied.

  "Seriphos... Why, what's there?"

  Perseus's breath came in short bursts, his jaw clenched tight. "My mother..." The words barely escaped his throat. "She's being held captive by King Polydectes."

  Jim's eyes went cold, deadly focused. "And you needed Medusa's head to free her." His gaze flicked to where Medusa lay in peaceful slumber, then back to Perseus. "Didn't you?"

  A sharp nod. "He offered me a trade. Her head for my mother's freedom."

  Jim's mouth twisted into a silent, bitter smile. "I see it now. You figured this was your moment—couldn't pull it off back at Bogart, and you figured we'd leave after the battle tomorrow." His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "So you waited for an opportunity to do your dirty work."

  "That's right." Perseus murmured.

  Jim's eyes burned with an icy, silent rage. "Lucky for her, I was awake, or you might've actually pulled it off." He shook his head slowly, disgust written across his face. "Christ, what a fine hero you're turning into, Percy."

  Perseus's composure cracked, his voice straining to stay quiet. "Look, I just want to free my mother!" The words hissed from him, raw with desperation.

  Jim didn't flinch. "Yeah? Well, you can explain that sob story in the morning. Right now, I'm locking your ass up before you try anything else."

  The pistol never wavered as Jim walked over to Veronica's pack and carefully reached into it with his free hand, metal cuffs sliding together with the faintest whisper. "Hug that column over there."

  Perseus stared at him. "What?"

  "You heard me." Jim's voice was barely audible, sharp as a blade. "Arms around the column. Now."

  With a reluctant sigh, Perseus stepped over to the column and wrapped his arms around it. Jim moved in quickly, snapping the cuffs around his wrists on the opposite side, securing them.

  "There. Now keep quiet. Got it?"

  Perseus nodded stiffly.

  Satisfied, Jim tiptoed back to his cushion and sat down. He could try to sleep now, but he didn't. Instead, he stared into the dim room, mind alert, his fingers resting near his pistol.

  What else could happen tonight?