AN: Thank you for checking out my story, this is the first story I have produced in quite some time. Although over time I have developed as a writer, I still have major issues with writing inspiration. I apologize in advance, but updates will most likely be slow. Im sorry, but please leave reviews, all criticism is welcome.
The Hero of the Flame, Chapter 1
Rain pattered onto the asphalt as the storm began to brew. Thunder clapped overhead as gloomy and grey clouds seized control of the sky above New York. Yet as the thunder died down, the sound of a screaming sportbike echoed through the streets of Long Island. The rain began to beat down with a furiosity that would cause most to seek cover. But the rider of the bike showed no signs of being bothered by the rain. There were worse things to be worried about right now than rain.
He had just recently been "unofficially" expelled as he, for the fifth time this year, burned down half of his high school. Thinking about the incident caused the teenager to snarl under his helmet. His hand rotated back, the bike increasing speed and sound in response.
No one had believed him when he told them that there were….monsters, trying to kill him. Nope, he was just Percy Jackson, the crazy, juvenile head-case. He knew what he had seen, and he still couldnt understand it himself. Winged creatures and giant….well, giants, had morphed from human bodies and began attacking him. His clothes were still torn and charred from the claws of the winged creatures and the fire.
The fire. He still could not explain it. Yet incident after incident, it had saved his life. Seemingly coming from nowhere to disintegrate the hostile forces trying to end his life. Although he feared the flames, they never seemed to harm him. It mystified the sixteen year-old, and he had spent many hours trying to figure out his special "powers".
A vicious flash of lightning illuminated the wooded road, making it midday for a second. Another crack of thunder hurriedly followed the strike. Yet it was the sound after that chilled Percy to his bones.
A sickening screech was heard behind the speeding teenager. He gulped and increased his speed even further. He had no clue where he was going, but he was out of options. He didnt dare look at the speedometer, as the three digit number would most likely make him even more nervous.
Another screech pierced the night. Percys mind was racing, and he didnt even ponder how the screech was heard over his motorcycle.
He knew what was tailing him, one of the flying creatures from the school. It had followed him from the ruined school in Manhattan. He had no clue how many there were, but it didnt matter. He had no weapons, and very little equipment. He had traveled light, wearing only his tattered jeans, Adidas trainers, a shirt and a charred hoodie. On his back he wore a small black bag. In it he had very few things; a few miscellaneous extra clothes, a lighter, some granola bars, a small pocket knife and a bottle of water.
The flying demon screech flooded Percys ears once again, and as lightning flashed he looked over his shoulder to attempt to see it.
As soon as his eyes saw it they went wide. The lightning had illuminated the outline of the creature, a winged demon with long and sharp claws extended, ready to tear him apart piece by piece. It was moving at an incredibly fast pace and Percy instantly regretted turning around.
Although as he turned his body back to face the road, his feeling of regret deepend.
He barely had time to say, "fuck" as his bike rammed into what seemed to be a giant mound of fur.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion, as the front tire of the bike instantly slammed to a stop once hitting the object. Percy was flung from the bike and sailed through the air. Death was imminent, and he only hoped it to be quick. After abruptly being stopped going over 100 miles per hour, Percy was roughly launched twenty feet before slamming into the ground.
A painful scream was muffled by the echo of thunder overhead. He couldnt move, he felt broken, dead even. His eyes were droopy, and blood began to dribble out of the corners of his mouth.
This is it, he thought, It ends here. But he wouldnt get the satisfaction of a simple death, no, his life was way to hard for that. As his eyes began to close, a giant hand wrapped around his mangled neck.
He wanted to scream, but the iron grip on his throat wouldnt allow it. He began to choke on his blood as his eyes shot open, he finally viewed his assailant.
A giant bull-looking creature met his gaze. The beast huffed angrily, causing his large golden nose ring to swing lightly. He was covered in hair, and Percy had no doubt in his mind that this was the obstacle he had previously rain into.
Please, someone. Help me.
He silently prayed. To whom? He wasnt sure, he never was religious, but this was kind of a "balls to the wall" situation.
As his face began to turn purple from lack of oxygen the bull loosened his grip slightly. A hint of amusement was visible in the creature's eyes as it watched the teen struggle for breath.
A disgusting cackle was heard as the winged demon began to descend upon the bull-man and the human in its grasp.
"Thought you could run from us, huh, Sweetie?". Percy inwardly cringed as the oversized bat laughed again. It hovered closer to him as he finally regained his breath. It was mere inches away from his face when she spoke again.
"Mmm", she stated in delight, "so many wonderful scents". She dragged her nail down his chest as she continued, "so much power, but such a waste."
Embrace the hearth.
A strong female voice spoke in Percys head, startling him. Yet he was thankful that someone had actually answered his desperate plea for help. The hearth? What does that even mean? He thought to himself. Thats when he felt it, warmth. He focused on that feeling. It felt like...home, it felt safe.
He closed his eyes and began focusing on that feeling. The bull huffed angrily again as he felt the boy begin to heat up in his grasp. He tightened the grip around the boys throat once again, but the boy didnt falter.
Percy felt the bulls hand tighten around his throat, but he refused to open his eyes. Keeping his focus on the warmth he felt. He could feel himself begin to heat up rapidly. His brow scrunched in concentration.
The bull squealed loudly before quickly dropping the boy, as his heat began too much to handle.
"What is happening", the demon screeched in fear. Although she was not awarded an answer.
The rain kept coming down, but it simply hit percy and instantly evaporated. He now lay in a deformed heap on the wet asphalt, his temperature rapidly climbing.
Percys concentration was unmatched as he focused on the warmth. Although his eyes were closed, he saw fire everywhere he looked. The flames seemed to reach out to him, calling upon him.
Burn them. They begged, burn them all.
It started as a whisper but the volume steadily increased, the flames screaming for him. Begging him to let them free. He concentrated as hard as he could, but he was no match for the unruly flames. He began to feel pain, he felt as if he was burning from the inside out. He couldnt take it anymore, the pain was too much.
A horrible scream escaped his throat as he instantly felt all of the heat escape his body. His eyes stayed closed, but the voices in his head subsided. Replaced by a calming voice. The last thing he heard before darkness consumed him was a motherly voice.
Im so proud of you, my little hero.
Piper Mclean wasnt easily bored with many tasks, but guard duty was definitely one of the exceptions. She huffed indignantly, kicking at over-grown tufts of grass as she bitterly accepted the task that was given to her. "Nothing ever even happens here, right Peleus?" the annoyed girl asked, but received no answer. The upper left side of her lip quirked upwards as she jealously gazed upon the sleeping guard dragon, waiting on an answer.
When she was awarded nothing but silence she sighed deeply, and plopped down on the ground. Leaning against a tree for support, she thought dreamily about her pillow and bed.
Before she knew it, her eyelids became ever so heavy, and she began to succumb to a sleepy state. Yet just as soon as she was gifted with the sweet release of slumber, a sickening scream echoed through the night.
Piper rocketed to her feet, pulling her dagger, and stumbling slightly as she stood. Ignoring the wooziness of standing up too fast, she became dead quiet. Her eyes moving like a hunter, slowly scanning the eerie woods.
As the silence resumed, even her steady breathing sounded too loud. Waiting for a second conformational screech, her heart rate began to return to normal as she ruled that it must have been her imagination.
She let out a smooth breath that she didnt realize she was holding in. Yet as she turned around to sit back down, an explosion rang in her ears and she was thrown from her feet.
Once on the ground, Piper felt extremely hot, and not the kind of hot that normal Aphrodite girls think of. No, this was middle of the day wearing four layers of black sweatsuits in the desert kind of hot.
Although after a few seconds, the heat began to die down. And the young half blood spared a glance. Her eyes went wide at the scene before her. A miniature mushroom cloud was rising, nearly a football field away. And everything between Piper and the cloud was burnt to a crisp. The trees looked as if a forest fire had been burning away at them for the past week. Charred and smoking, they stood ominously, explicitly showing the destruction that was caused.
Piper stood on shaky feet as Peleus stirred and eyed the destruction. Although they, along with the wildlife behind the shield of Camp Half-Blood, were safe, they both had the same thought. Yet dragons cant speak, so Piper spoke for the both of them…."not good".