Renegade

Chapter One

Another Part of the Prophecy is Revealed

ANDREA POV

Oh Styx, oh Styx, oh Styx! My family tended to use that phrase a lot. How the Hades did this happen to me? All three gorgons were trying to kill me. Medusa, Euralye, and Stheno. I'd run into them as a kid, before I even really understood what they were. I knew now: Bloodthirsty, killing, monsters. Dad told me one time that he's run into them all before. In fact, we never really seemed to run into different monsters. It was always the same ones over and over. I ran for Camp Half-Blood's borders. Why the Hades did I have to go wander so far? I asked myself. Stheno swooped down and blocked my path. Her sister Euarlye hit me from behind. I yelped, falling forward, face first on the grass. My instincts told me to move, so I rolled to the right. Talons barely missed me. I groaned. Why were they so hard to beat? I had played dead the first time but somehow, I didn't think that would work here. I pulled Twilight from my pocket, uncapped it, and slashed at Euarlye. I wish I had paid attention to how I swung, because the flat of the blade bounced right off her neck. She gave an evil grin, along with a hiss, and lunged at me again. I rolled onto my feet. Stheno advance upon me.

"I've never been able to eat Poseidon's blood before, Euralye," Stheno licked her lips, "have you?"

"I don't believe I have. They always seem to slip away."

I whistled, hoping the wind carried it far enough for listening ears.

"First taste is mine!" A third voice said.

Styx, I had forgotten about Medusa. She had snuck up behind me. I knew I was about to die. Then, a white Pegasus dove down, picking me up by my collar.

"Snowball! Thank the gods!" I said.

Nff pwoflmb she replied, her mouth full of 100% cotton-polyester blend. I translated as 'no problem.' I reached up, and pulled myself around onto her back. Unfortunately, I had also forgotten about the gorgon's wings.

"Hold on, girl," I patted Snowball, "evasive maneuvers. Get back to camp."

Snowball tucked her wings in, heading into a dive. She turned herself around, and headed in the right direction

"Good girl. Just out fly the bastards."

Andrea language! I don't like it.

"Sorry, Snowball."

Have you ever been told off by your pet not to curse? It's weird. Although I knew I probably shouldn't use it. Snowball made it to the pier. She set down.

"Thanks, Snow, you can go now" I said. She flew off again. I turned and watched the gorgons. They came right through camp's, very much unexpectedly. My vision blurred as two monsters slammed into my gut. I was off guard.

"Help!" I squeaked out, losing my breath after that. I stabbed my sword into Stheno, and she took to the air again. I held onto my swords hilt, trying to catch my breath to call for help again. We were a good sixty feet up when Stheno tried to shake me loose. I used both hands to keep a tight grip. My knuckles turned white. I was slipping.

"Fall, child!"

Below, I saw Andrew running for me, a sword in hand. His new friend, Elizabeth stood a distance away, trying to signal more help. I couldn't hold on any more. My fingers uncurled, and I slipped from the sword, plummeting towards my doom.

ANNABETH POV

How do you deal with a six-year-old husband? I didn't know, but I was being forced to find out. Kronos' scythe hadn't killed Percy, it severed his soul from his body. His soul was somewhere, but his body was still here. It's like he was someone different entirely. I figured he was back to about the six-year-old mark.

"Hey, everyone! We're married! She kissed me, so it's official!" Percy cried for the hundredth time. All the Romans were ignoring him at this point, as was I.

"Hey, Annabeth..." he paused, "wife?" He giggled

I bit my cheek to avoid any rude comments.

"Yes, Percy." I managed.

"Why did we get married?"

He had finally accepted the fact we were married for real and not pretending, so that was a start.

"Because we love each other, Percy. We wanted to start a family."

He leaned off his rocking horse we had given him and tried to kiss me. I pulled away. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't. It just felt wrong right now. I also would have laughed in a different situation. I was watching a grown man on a rocking horse.

"Let's start right now. How do we make a family?" He asked.

"We already have one! Can you not remember anything at all, Percy!"

It is impossible to get rid of, or even steal memories. Even if his soul was reaped, the memories were there. I knew Kronos buried them deep or pressed them out of Percy's typical brain functions. But they were in there.

"We have Andrea, William, Kate, Andrew. Those are our kids. And then your sister Matilda who's at college right now."

"Uh-huh. And why haven't I met any of them before? Are they not mine? You didn't want me to know about them? They slipped from your mouth just now. You've been cheating on me!" He accused.

"Percy, you HAVE seen them! They are yours! They look just like you and me!"

Percy pursed his lips. He clearly didn't believe me. "Hmm."

We continued the trek to Camp Half-Blood in mostly silence. Like I said, I wasn't sure how to handle Percy. Then I thought of something. If Percy was acting like a child, then it was most likely form of himself as a child. His mother would know what to do.

"Hey, Percy, want to check out the war elephant and see how it's doing?"

Percy leaped from his horse.

"Yeah! You coming with me?"

"No, you're a big boy, you can go yourself."

"Awesome!"

He bounded off. I wanted to cry, if I'm being honest. Everything was so stressful. I dialed Sally's number. She answered, and I told her everything.

"Oh gods!" She exclaimed. "You'll do everything you can to help him, right?"

"Yes, Sally," I said exasperatedly, "I love him as much ss you do, but I need to know the tricks of handling a six-year-old Percy."

"Blue chocolate chip cookies, and swimming." Sally replied.

Of course! I cursed myself for not remembering that. His favorite things.

"Okay, thank you, Sally."

"Wait! Annabeth, can I talk to him?"

"One minute. I'll see if he comes. Percy!"

As much influence for his life's memories to return would be great. He ran back up.

"Yes?"

"Your mom is on the phone."

I handed it to him. He stared quizzically.

"Hello?"

"Percy!" I heard.

"Yeah, hey...uh, mom? I guess."

"Yes, yes. I asked Annabeth to make you some of those blue chocolate chip cookies you love so much."

His eyes lit up. I think he was remembering something.

"Cookies?"

"Yes, Honey. I've got to go now, but I love you."

"Okay!"

He hung up and turned towards me.

"Where are my cookies?"

I held out my hand. He took it.

"Come on, I'll take you to the bakery and they can make them for you fresh."

That was another great thing about Romans. On the go food. They literally baked the cookies while we walked. I ordered three cookies for Percy, and one for myself. When they were finished, Percy snatched his and shoved an entire cookie in his mouth. Despite the situation, I laughed. His cheeks bulged. He chewed steadily and made a dreamy face.

"Mmm! Just like mom used to make..."

I choked.

"What did you just say?"

He frowned, trying to think.

"Just like...mom...used to make...oh my gosh! I remember Mom!"

I smiled broadly.

"Great, Percy!" I said, genuinely pleased.

"But I still don't know who you are."

Progress, Annabeth, I told myself. Progress.

"Five minutes out!" A voice called. "Get with your cohorts for Camp Half-Blood entrance!"

Percy and I reached our group with Reyna right as we arrived, to see a sickening sight. Andrea lay on her back, motionless. Andrew leaned on his knees on the grass, a sword through his gut, and Lucas was leaning over Andrea's body, his right arm with a huge bloody gash. Campers just now seemed to be arriving to check out the scene.

"ANDREW! ANDREA!" I screamed, running for them. I had lost a husband recently, I wasn't about to lose my kids with him.

ANDREA POV

"The lake, Andie! The lake!"

Oh, yeah! I tried to summon some water to catch me, but I couldn't concentrate. I was vaguely aware of Stheno flying back to the ground. The win was rushing in my ears. I was panicking. Andrew made it to the docks and brought up a huge pillar of water. It caught me, but Andrew suddenly doubled over with a cry of pain. Stheno had ripped my sword from her body and stabbed it into my brother's.

"A-Andrew!"

His concentration broke, and I free fell another fifteen feet, landing hard on my back. I didn't move. I couldn't move. Gods, my back felt ruined. I turned my head and watched, struggling to stand. I gasped and fell down again. Lucas grew furious. I saw him scream Andrew's name as well but didn't hear anything for a moment. My ears were ringing. Then he noticed me. My ears stopped ringing.

"Andrea!"

He picked up Andrew's fallen sword, along with his own. Oh, he's so strong...Concentrate, Andrea! With a loud battle cry, lightning struck the tip of both swords, launching out and striking Medusa and Euralye. They screeched and disintegrated into yellow dust. Next, he plunged the tips into the earth. Skeleton Warriors erupted from a small fissure. I wanted to scream and tell him that skeletons were a bad idea, but these seemed under his control. Stheno hissed and took to the skies for retreat. Lucas dropped one sword, ran, and leaped up. His skeletons caught his foot and sent him straight up. He grabbed Stheno's ankle, and with a mighty cut, Stheno was no more. He dropped from a small six feet and rolled safely with no harm. He looked around for any more danger. None. The anger in his eyes subsided a little, and he ran for Andrew.

"A-Andrea," my brother gasped out, pointing at me.

"She'll just tell me to take care of you first."

I smiled. He knew me so well. He reminded me a lot of my dad.

"I-I d-don't c-care. Andrea!"

I watched Lucas continue tending to Andrew, then I slowly closed my eyes, inviting darkness to take over.