Chapter 2

Today I am going to the dentist. Sam offered to take me, but I told her I'd be fine, the dentist office was only a block away. My appointment was at 1:00 p.m. I left camp ridiculously early, 12:00. Sam told me I didn't need to leave so early, but she was bothering me, there's nothing worse then having a girl your age--younger by a few months-- telling you what to do and how to behave. Plus, she's only been in the hunt for a year, and she has much less experience then me, once again I must do what I can to keep the other hunters in line. That includes going to the dentist a hour early to avoid being down talked.

I arrived at the plain three story building at 12:30, I would have arrived sooner if I hadn't had to go ten blocks out of the way to avoid groups of boys walking where I was suppose to be walking. Having to cross the street to avoid boys is irritable, they ought to just disappear and then all the girls in the world can become hunters and we can travel the earth with out running into any men or boys. Although unfortunately Apollo would still be a problem, I simply do not understand how Artemis has managed put up with him since they were born, all those millennia ago.

As soon as I walked in the smell of cloves hit my nostrils. The room was white and looked like it was cleaned hourly, not a speck of dust could be seen anywhere. I walked over to the counter, Sam said I needed to tell the receptionist my name,

" Zoë Nightshade," I told the lady at the desk.
She gave me the weirdest smile and I noticed pointed teeth. I blinked, the teeth were gone, I moved to turn around and they flashed back into existence. The counter women looked at me coldly and went back to her paperwork. The teeth remand dangerously sharp and pointed, as I sat down a chill went up my spine. She was a monster all right.

"Uh-Oh," I muttered under my breath, I had left my bow and knife at camp thinking I would be safe. I made a quick mental note to never to that again; a hunter should be armed at all times. I stared at the dull white walls as I thought about my situation. I hadn't realized how much time had passed, but soon enough it was 1:00.

"Zoë," said the window lady, if she was even human, "Dr. Winthrop is ready to see you now." Her raspy voice was twisted with a sharp edge that reminded me of a knife blade, she must be really bored.

I got up and walked to the door, just as I was going through the door some boy ran into me. He had messy, black hair and deep sea green eyes.

"What the heck," I snapped at him, using a phrase Sam uses when she is annoyed, "Watch where thee is going!"

"S-sorry," the boy spluttered.

I glared angrily at him. I despised boys after what he did to me. Although there was one exception I had made, one I had allowed my friendship, one that would never betray me, one that would never leave me to die, as he had done. Just then the boy tried taking my hand to help me up.

I recoiled, eyes flashing murderously, " I do not need thy help."

His eyes widened, "Zoë," he exclaimed.

That's when I realized this boy was Percy Jackson, the only boy ever allowed to be my friend after he had hurt me.

"Wow," he said, " I never thought I'd see you again, especially at the dentist. Dr. Winthrop is really nice, wait 'til you meet him."

"Zoë," The dentist called, "I'm ready to see you now."

"That doesn't sound like Dr. Winthrop," Percy remarked nervously, "probably just my ears, but be careful anyway."

"I have to go," I tell him, " Maybe I will see thee around," another expression Sam lent me.

"I can wait, I have nowhere else to go, unless you want me to leave."

I shrugged, " I do not care, it is up to thee."

"I'll stay a filling shouldn't take too long." Percy seemed in no great hurry, he had already plopped down on a chair and started to look through a magazine when I turned and walked into the dentist's room.

There was a green leather chair with plastic over it, Dr. Winthrop, and a sword. Wait, a sword? I spun around and looked at Dr. Winthrop closely, he now had big orange paws and a tail with poisonous spikes ready to fire.

"Your a manticore!" I screamed, dodging his first volley of spikes, why or
why hadn't I brought any weapons with me?