Hello Percy Jackson fans! So I think I'm going to TRY(keyword is try) to get into this schedule of writing up a chapter of this little thing each time I have a study hall in school. Which, is two days out of a four day schedule. If I'm late, try and keep in mind I do sometimes do my homework in the study halls. Hmm. Anyways, here's the next chapter! We're still on Percy and Annabeth here. Don't worry, I'm thinking like one or maybe two more chapters describing these two and the big reunion coming up. Then we'll get onto Leo and all that. And then back to Camp Jupiter. Wow I've got a lot to cover! XD Hopefully this one is a bit longer of a chapter. I also incorporated an idea I had into it that might not really make sense in Greek myths, but it just kinda occurred to me and I really like the idea so ROLLING WITH IT! Lol, okay, just remember to review!
The train was the worst.
Yes, they had gotten permission to leave Camp Half-Blood. Yes, their travels had been relatively easy in comparison to other trips they had recently taken. Yes, the company of her boyfriend was nice. Yes, she felt healthy. Yes, she really enjoyed alone time with said boyfriend. Yes, she was excited to see Sally Jackson.
But Annabeth still felt uncomfortable. She'd taken these very same trips weekly over the winter and spring-each time feeling sicker with worry.
Outside, the subway slowed to a halt at a specific stop that gave Annabeth Chase the chills.
She could literally see the map where Athena-no, Minerva-had practically disowned her and shoved the Mark of Athena into her care from the window. Basically setting her up fall into...
"Annabeth?"
He broke her trance. He rested his warm hand over hers, which was curled in a tight fist on her lap. She stared at his tan hand, which squeezed worriedly, the muscles flexing.
She shook her head. "Sorry." She said, suddenly breathless. "Memories." Her eyes went back to the window. She could no longer see the map. A tall man was blocking it. Annabeth met his eyes.
He looked as if he belonged in a Sherlock Homes movie. What with his long black trench coat and matching fedora. He wore sunglasses. His skin was pale and filled with visible veins. Annabeth had a feeling he was looking right at her for a reason. None of the people milling around him gave him a second glance.
Of course not.
They were mortals.
They couldn't see the red glint behind those sunglasses.
"Percy." Annabeth's voice turned hard.
He looked at her, then followed her gaze. At first, he had little to no reaction. Then he sucked in a breath. "Do you think it's a ghost? Or Ares? He's got that red-eyed look..."
Annabeth was skeptical. "No. Ghosts don't look that real. And I imagine Ares is a little too busy right now to be paying us a visit."
Just then, the doors of the train slammed shut. With a loud screech, the wheels began to turn. Annabeth was pushed forward a little. She didn't bother leaning back until the station was out of sight and the window now showed them the dark walls of a tunnel. It was too early for departure already, wasn't it? Then, she found herself looking at Percy.
They were close. Noses only five inches away.
Annabeth became uncomfortably aware of how far forward she had actually been leaning because of the train.
Neither moved.
Annabeth cursed Aphrodite at times like this. This was becoming more and more of a daily occurrence.
Sometimes Percy and herself found themselves caught up in each other. It was like Aphrodite had grabbed them by the back of the head and was forcing them to stare at each other.
Her breath caught in her throat. She thought she could hear his as well.
They had removed an inch of space between them.
Annabeth had the urge to touch his hair. The black strands were parted in the wrong direction. She wanted to flip them to the correct side of his roots.
Another inch was gone.
Percy's breath smelled like those Cheez-its he'd bought back at the snack shop right before they had gotten on the subway. His eyes were more than just green. Tints of blue rushed to the pupils, honestly the green was most concentrated around the rims of his eyes. If Annabeth stared long enough, she swore she could see ripples move outwards-like actual water.
Three inches left.
Percy smelled like the sea, as always. The pendent against her neck settled against her collar bone.
Two inches.
And that's when the train suddenly stopped.
Percy was flung against Annabeth, his head falling in her lap as she was forced to lean back. His butt lifted off the seat-as it was, he was already partly off the cracked blue material.
The Daughter of Athena did her best to stifle a laugh and steadied herself as the train shifted into a full stop in the middle of the dark tunnel.
Percy was lifted off Annabeth's lap and onto the floor. He looked around as if just woken up and grabbed the seats. "What was that?"
Annabeth forced herself to tense. She was trying to shake off whatever spell Aphrodite had put her under-the thing that made her muscles jelly and forced her to relax. Also, the one that made her lips tingle and her eyes stare at the son of Poseidon as he looked around near her feet.
A large boom rattled the train. The handles hanging from the ceiling jiggled wildly.
"Whoa." Percy peered out from their seat. "No one else is on the train."
Annabeth finally snapped out of it, though it felt like her heart was being cuffed by disappointment. She clutched her bag and unzipped it as she heard the KA-zing of Percy's sword being drawn-or, rather, uncapped.
Whatever.
She sifted through her clothes. She'd packed enough for two weeks, even though she knew Percy would probably want to stay longer. But she restricted herself to two weeks. Camp Half-Blood needed her. There was still alot to be done and repaired. They needed her skills.
Her hand finally found her sword hilt. She ripped it free, managing to take about half her clothes with it. She winced as a lacy pink bra fell to the ground right next to Percy's feet. He picked it up and gave it back to her without taking his eyes away from the aisle.
Annabeth muttered a curse and shoved her clothes back into the bag, trying not to blush or not to notice the small, slightly amused twitch of Percy's mouth.
The train was silent. They were still in the tunnel, so it's white lights gave it an eerie feeling. The car should have been filled, otherwise the silence pressed over Annabeth. Trying to keep her mind off that factor, she peered up and over the seat.
A massive bulge slammed into the car's door just as she did. Years of watching horror movies with her father and personal experiences kept her from jumping. The window was blocked by a dark shape, but she couldn't make anything out of it. Percy rolled to the booth across from theirs and pressed his back against the seat. He met Annabeth's eyes.
Hide. Then attack. She tried to convey.
A sneak attack.
Another budge of silver metal jutted out next to the first one.
Annabeth slipped from her sitting position and crouched, low and waiting. She held at her sword at the ready.
Then, with a horribly loud noise, the door was sent flying. It crashed into Annabeth's seat and she just managed not to flinch. The door had been hit so hard it was curled in on itself.
A clacking noise hit the ground, then the sound of a...hoof?
Percy looked at Annabeth for answers, but then a smooth, seductive voice neatly whispered into the hard air.
"Demigods." It was a greeting.
Annabeth's heart pumped madly in her chest. She couldn't breathe for some reason.
Percy was looking at her, concerned.
She shook her head. She mouthed, ready?
Percy nodded.
She started to time the rhythm of the unnatural sounding steps, and she locked her gaze on the bright white flooring of the train.
She saw a coat.
The son of Poseidon and Daughter of Athena lunged.
There swords ripped the coat in two places-Annabeth's had slashed across what would have been a chest. Percy'd slashed downwards, a blow that would've taken off an arm and possibly a chuck of leg.
If there had actually been something in the coat.
The demigods didn't even wait for the coat to fall to the ground.
Annabeth spun around, slashing her sword at the air to repel a possible monster behind her. Percy slashed outwards, leaning on Annabeth's back once both had finished their strikes.
Both hit nothing.
Annabeth found herself facing a devilishly handsome man.
No doubt, he was the man back at the station. The same build proved it. Now that he'd shed his coat, it was revealed he was wearing no shirt(which Annabeth found very distracting), and a pair of tight black pants that left little to the imagination. Annabeth forced her gaze down to his feet. He had no shoes. On one foot=well, it was simply a bronze foot. Toes and all-all bronze. She could pick out the screws by following the lines of the separate parts. Next to it, a hoof. Annabeth looked back up. His chest was broad and muscular. The monster had a rockin' sick pack, but the color ruined the image. Chalk white, with veins pulsing all over it. Lifting her gaze even higher was when her sword lowered.
His sunglasses were off. Yes, his eyes blazed red, but he had the smoothest skin she'd ever seen. She felt the urge to touch his cheek. He flashed a brilliant grin, showing off perfectly white teeth. As she watched, he removed his hat and dipped his head in a mock bow. "It's a pleasure." His hair ripped with fire-controlled to look alot like Percy's.
"Em-empousai?" She managed. Not purposely, it came out as a question.
Percy rolled off her back and stood next to her, shoulder to shoulder. He had his sword pointed to the monster's chest. "No way. He's male." Percy frowned, looking the monster up and over.
The man did a pout that made Annabeth's head spin. "And my sisters never forgive me for it. Neither, does Hecate." His eyes burned with rage for a moment-along with the embers suddenly spitting from his hair-but then he regained control. "So, I no longer serve the goddess of magic."
"Is that right?" Percy stalled. He nudged Annabeth.
She shook her head and cleared her throat, lifting her sword again. His voice was sad and slow, reminding Annabeth of a begging puppy.
The monster's eyebrows lifted. "Ah! I see Athena's child has fallen for me already. How honoring." He lowered his tone and Annabeth's arms shook.
Percy glared at the Empousai.
"Jealous, son of the sea?" The Empousai taunted, his eyes never leaving Annabeth.
Her legs shook. "I have not!" She barked, but her voice broke.
Percy put her arm around her shoulders. "It's okay." She took a deep breath as his voice ticked her ear. Somehow, having the weight of his arm around her was clearing her head. "Kelli had me the same way at first. Just focus on his feet. They're pretty gross."
Annabeth's mouth twitched at the disgust in her boyfriend's voice. She lowered her gaze and thought about the fur behind those tight pants. She thought about the clashing bronze right next to it.
And suddenly she thought about Percy.
The son of Poseidon lunged at the Empousai. He slashed his sword downwards in a deadly arc-aiming to slice the monster in half, but the Empousai was quick. Percy's sword was caught between two hands-now complete with claws instead of nails.
The Empousai snarled, revealing suddenly sharp, blunted teeth. "A good try, but I am not easily defeated. I've survived for over a thousand years, demigod."
"Yeah? Prove it." Percy used his sword as a weight to swing off of and slammed both of his sneakers into the shins of the Empousai.
The clang sent Annabeth's nerves alight. She tightened her grip on her sword and charged. Percy hadn't managed to knock the Empousai off his feet completely. Donkey legs were quick to regain a foothold, and the bronze leg was too heavy to actually move.
Annabeth cursed.
She didn't want to focus on anything but the legs. However, for her to strike, she had to actually see her enemy.
Steeling her nerves, she looked up.
He saw her coming and closed his mouth to hide his teeth. Percy pulled his sword free and ducked as Annabeth swung.
It was a sloppy one that swiped over Percy's head and slashed at the Empousai's left breast. A thin line appeared across his nipple and to his side, sand spilling from the small wound.
Not a killing blow, but the cut slowed him down enough so that Percy had an opening. The demigod swung up, but just then the train lurched into motion.
The sudden shift was enough to knock Percy over. He barely managed to avoid impaling himself. He shot his head up and the empousai flipped away and out of range with the grace of a gymnast.
Annabeth hissed in annoyance and grabbed a seat to keep from falling. She watched as Percy stood back up.
The empousai was leaning against the back wall, almost casually. He sneered. "Stand aside, Jackson. I want the girl's blood."
Percy shifted his sword to prepare for another strike. "I've really had enough of monsters after our blood. It gets annoying real fast."
The Empousai laughed. His hair blazed, spitting embers into the air.
The tunnel sped by again. Annabeth felt motion sick.
Percy and the empousai waited for the train to stop accelerating before they lunged.
Claws met sword.
Percy was mostly on defense-as the empousai was attempting to bite him as well. But every now and then Percy had an opening and managed to nick an ear or slash at the empousai to send him reeling. A shield would have been helpful, but Percy unfortunately didn't have one. He had to rely on his single sword.
Annabeth had to help Percy. But every time she tried to raised her sword the empousai would give her a glance and her limbs would turn to jelly. It was utterly humiliating.
Annabeth took a deep breath and looked at Percy.
Piper McLean had taught Annabeth many things. One of them, being to rely not only on plans but emotions.
And that's exactly what she did.
She recalled the bliss of leaning against Percy. She remembered the sheer comfort when she curled against Percy as he slept(against Buford's wishes-for at least a few hours before the table would burst into Percy's room shrieking "PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!" and she'd be chased out and back into her own cabin). She nearly lifted off the ground when she remembered the elated feeling of him suddenly dancing with her around a small fire only two days ago.
The warmth erupted in her chest.
She lunged.
"Anna-" Percy was cut off as she thrust her blade between the two of them. Percy leaned his head back instinctively, and Annabeth flicked her sword with a twist of the wrist. The empousai practically bit the sword blade, and the power made Annabeth's arm shake. Percy had been in the midst of a swing towards the vampire's waist, so it was surprising how he caught the blade with a strong hand while taking a few steps backwards and lifting his other hand to his mouth. A few sharp, white teeth clattered on the ground, and Annabeth felt a little pleased. She pulled her sword back and stood next to Percy. His hair was a mess, he was breathing heavy, his underarms sweaty.
And he owed her a kiss.
The Empousai's eyebrows started to go morph into a V shape, but suddenly he howled. Percy had twisted his blade firmly and basically scratched off the skin of the monster's palm. The monster let go, and Percy swirled his sword around once, sending little sand grains flying in a circle, and pulled it up so it was level with the vampire's heart.
Annabeth's heart pounded and the warmth tingled in her toes.
It was not, the empousai's charm that had her heart pounding.
Nor was it the empousai's charm that sent the warmth through her muscles.
She marched right up and swung before the monster could even bat his eyelashes at her.
The dust swirled around her, then vanished with a final red sparkle.
The couple was silent.
Then Annabeth turned and threw her arms around the son of Poseidon. Something her heart had been screaming at her to do ever since they had gotten on the train. He laughed and stumbled, but eventually leaned against her.
The couple hopped off at the next station and began the walk to Percy's mother's apartment. They held hands.
And each had threaded a sharp fang into their necklaces.
