Against the world

Beta read by monstrouscrow. Spell-check by LadyofSomething. Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. All credit goes to R. Riordan.

Chapter 1: Reyna

So humans really can get used to absolutely anything, I thought after not losing my balance after shadow travelling; it was the first time I hadn't since Epirus.

More than once during my journey with Nico and the Athena Parthenos, I'd cursed my inability to remain on my feet. It had cost me several scars and three fingers of my left hand. Of course, I knew that, rationally speaking, three missing fingers were a small price to pay for my triumphs over countless monsters I had slain. And yes, battle wounds were supposed to be a soldier's decorations. Still, I tried to avoid looking at the shriveled stumps as much as possible.

Enough with the self-pity, Reyna, I thought sharply, calling myself to order. I had more important things to do than feel sorry for myself, for example; finding out where the hell we'd landed this time and whether or not anything was trying to kill us.

The area looked disturbingly peaceful, I noted as I observed our surroundings. We were standing in the middle of a sort of sandy circle enclosed by trees and brushwood. Nico was still securely strapped to my back and the Athena Parthenos lay on its side next to us. Good so far. I could smell the strong scent of the sea nearby, which could only mean that we were, once again, stranded on an island or somewhere near the coast. I felt my heart beat slightly faster at that realization: the smell, the vegetation… it felt like North America.

"Reyna…"

I could barely hear Nico's warning, even though his mouth was just inches away from my left ear. His brittle voice worried me, but we didn't have the time to eat ambrosia at the moment. I would take care of him... after I finished vaporizing the two empousai running towards us.

"Oh! Yummy, yummy demigods!" the taller—and faster—empousa exclaimed, her long tongue flicking over chapped lips.

Her saliva flew left and right as she jumped over several boulders. She was fast, fast enough that I was able to hear her tattered dress rip as she sprinted the last hundred yards or so. At a closer angle, the dress was green with tiny purple flowers and not long enough to cover either of her hideous legs. I tried not to focus too much on the enormous sweat stains under the empousa's armpits, but the smell was hard to ignore. An enormous, smoldering sombrero covered her flaming hair. I might be able to pull it down to cover her eyes in order to distract her.

The second empousa was smaller and seemed almost bored as she strolled up behind the first. I needed only a quick glance to understand the reason for her disinterest: her long, deep-cut blouse and flowing skirt (both in a nauseating shade of pink) were soaked in fresh blood, presumably the blood of some unfortunate man who'd recently satisfied her 'hunger'. Involuntarily, I shivered.

Worse, this second empousa was apparently very skilled with the Mist. Even though I knew full well that she was a monster approaching us, her lower half flickered between the bronze leg and donkey hoof to stunning legs and dainty feet clad in black stilettos. I tried to concentrate, to see her true form, but somehow she managed to make the flames on her head appear as a luxurious red mane. The way her wide hips swayed was distracting. I'd overcome many monsters since leaving Circe's island, many much more lethal than these empousai, but the way they could manipulate the Mist unnerved me.

Well, offense is the best defense, I thought and shouted, "I am Reyna, daughter of Bellona, praetor of the Roman legion! Turn around and go back to whence you came!"

It was worth a shot and maybe, just maybe, the monsters would really leave us alone.

Or maybe not.

The taller empousa just gave a shrill laugh and moved even closer. "You're funny, daughter of Bellona. I'll eat you after your delicious companion. You can be my dessert!"

Oh, well.

Sending a silent prayer to my mom, I charged. The first jab of my javelin was good but not good enough, missing the advancing empousa by half an inch.

"Is that all you've got? How pathetic!" the empousa sneered, screaming with laughter as she began to circle. "Not much meat on the boy, more's the pity. But he'll still be tasty. I really love Underworld meat, it's so rare—it has that special ghostly flavor!"

I stepped to the side and charged again, but missed by quite a bit.

"Oh, honey. You're just not your mum's favorite child, huh?" she taunted, voice dripping with false sympathy.

I clenched my teeth so hard it hurt. Yes, I had learned to use Nico's additional weight on my back to add momentum to my attack, but it still slowed me down. Fortunately for us, the other empousa seemed to be disinterested in what her companion was doing, content to observe from a distance.

Suddenly, the tall empousa feinted left but moved right. I attempted a desperate third stab, but lost my balance, stumbling. My heart stopped at a ripping sound as the monster tore through the rope securing Nico to my back. I managed to force her back a few steps with my Imperial gold dagger, keeping her at a distance as Nico fell to the ground with a loud thump.

At the back of my mind, I registered his pained groan, but just then I had to concentrate on my opponent. Or rather, my opponents, I corrected myself as I saw the smaller empousa now moving to join the first.

Her eyes glowed cruelly as she hissed at me in disdain. "You are a disgrace, child of Bellona. Even my sister will defeat you. Praetor or no, a demigod that loses her fingers deserves no respect from us."

Then they attacked in earnest.

I'd spent many hours practicing two-on-one combat scenarios, but I still found it difficult to both concentrate on the monsters and make sure that Nico, on the ground at my feet, was out of reach. While I thrust my javelin towards the smaller and seemingly more dangerous empousa, her taller companion attacked from behind and tried to rake her talons through my back as I just barely managed to duck.

The smaller empousa laughed grimly. "If you surrender, we will kill you quickly. That's the most honorable death you can hope for anyway."

"Oh yes! Crippled but yummy demigod!" the other one giggled as she tried to slice open my side.

She was careless, and I saw the opening I needed.

"A cripple that's gonna send you back to Tartarus where you belong!" I hissed and thrust my spear forward.

The Imperial gold glittered in the afternoon sun and hit the empousa square in the chest with a satisfying oomph.

"NOO!" the monster shrieked as she quickly crumbled to dust. "My sisters will…"

The familiar rush of victory surged through me but I didn't have time to enjoy it because just then Nico cried out in pain.

Shock made me feel as though I was moving in slow motion as I turned.

Just for a split second, I had lost sight of the other empousa, but it had been enough time for the monster to bury her fangs in his throat.

Not Nico! I screamed inside my head and slashed down at the monster crouching at my feet. But she was too quick and sprang backwards, evading the strike.

"You kill my sister, I kill your friend. It's as simple as that," she said matter-of-factly.

Adrenaline rushed through my body as I attacked. I felt like a machine, slicing at her repeatedly in movements so fast they blurred. But the empousa was even quicker. I prayed that Nico was still alive; that my mom would help me vaporize the monster... but the empousa just kept dodging my attacks like it was a warm-up session.

"You don't know me, daughter of Bellona. I am not just another empousa. I am Empousa, first daughter of Hecate and Mormo. For centuries, I was confined to the deepest depths of Tartarus until Gaia set me on a mission to destroy all demigods. I prefer male victims, but I will gladly rip you to pieces. Prepare to die, unworthy daughter of Bell—" she shouted but was cut short.

Somehow, a rift in the ground had appeared beneath her feet. She stumbled and flailed her arms wildly, cursing as she tried to keep her balance.

It was an obvious opportunity, and I seized it. I buried my weapon in her skull, and with a small explosion a whirlwind of monster dust momentarily blinded me.

Then, finally, I ran to Nico.

He was unconscious. His face, totally devoid of color, stood in stark contrast to the crimson blood that pulsed sluggishly out of the fang wounds in his throat.

I cursed under my breath as I struggled to open the vial of nectar with my remaining fingers.

A soldier focuses on the task ahead. A soldier focuses on the task ahead, I thought furiously, repeating one of the many mantras I had been taught in my earlier years in Camp Jupiter.

Finally, the tiny stopper gave way and I poured nectar on the wounds. For a moment, I feared I was too late, but slowly, ever so slowly, the wounds closed.

"Nico," I addressed him, gently shaking his shoulders. "Talk to me, alright?"

No response.

Dread rushed through me as I shook him again—his lips had an unhealthy blue hue to them. Nico di Angelo had stopped breathing a while ago.