-Shattered-
Hey guys! Second chapter done editing! Gonna keep this note short and just get on with the chapter. This is one of my longer chapters cause I jsut wanted to get a bunch of stuff out of the way before we get into the neal bulk of the story.
Hope you enjoy!
BAI!
The oak doors of the medieval castle-looking compound groaned open, and the three demigods stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow.
The inside of the boarding school was just as terrifying as Percy remembered, The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff. Thalia was rubbing her silver bracelet apprehensively, her favorite magic item, she fully expected a fight. Annabeth started to say,
"I wonder where—" The doors slammed shut behind us. "Oo-kay," Percy mumbled, sticking to character, entirely unsure of what he was to make of his situation. He decided that sticking with how events had gone down in the past would be the most logically sound decision.
"Guess we'll stay awhile."
They could hear music echoing from the other end of the hall. It sounded like dance music. Of course, Percy already knew where the di Angelo kids would be located...
Percy's breath hitched...
Bianca and Zoe were still alive!
Percy's mind began to swirl with emotions, thoughts and plans. He mignt not have had clear idea of what was happening to him, but he had a clear resolution in mind. Bianca Di Angelo and Zoe Nightshade were not going to die. Not when he planned to do something about it.
The demigods stashed their overnight bags behind a pillar and started down the hall. They hadn't gone very far when Percy heard footsteps on the stone floor, and a man and woman marched out of the shadows to intercept them.
They both had short gray hair and black military-style uniforms with a red trim. The woman had a wispy mustache, and the guy was clean-shaven, just like last time. They both walked stiffly, like they had broomsticks taped to their spines. "Well?" the woman demanded. "What are you doing here?"
Percy smirked as a pretty cool idea hit him. Taking a step forward, he snapped his fingers. Percy could feel a gust of wind ripple from his hand, washing over all of them, making the banners rustle on the walls
"Oh, but we're not visitors, sir," Percy said, using the same words Thalia would've had he not stepped up and show off a little. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Percy. And this is Annabeth and Thalia. We're in the eighth grade."
The male teacher narrowed his heterochromic eyes. Of course Percy knew that the manticore could see through the ripple in the mist he had created, but it had worked the last time and besides... Manipulating the mist was pretty badass. He could remember how surprised he was when Thalia had done the same thing the last time he had experienced these events
He looked at his colleague. "Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?"
Percy had to bite back his laughter, he had completely forgotten about Ms. Got Chalk.
The woman blinked, like someone had just woken her up from a trance. "I… yes. I believe I do, sir." She frowned at us. "Annabeth. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"
Before they could answer, Percy heard more footsteps, and Grover ran up, breathless. "You made it! You—"
He stopped short when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh—"
"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" said the man. His tone made it clear that he detested Grover. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."
Percy chuckled under his breath, he had almost forgotten that Grover was a total klutz before he was burdened with the responsibilities if the lord of the wild, not that the satyr was much different in
Grover swallowed. "Yes, sir. Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I'm so glad they made… the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!"
Percy almost facepalmed at how lame the excuse was.
Mrs. Gottschalk interjected dreamily, "Yes, the punch is excellent. Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!"
They didn't wait to be told twice. They left with a lot of "Yes, ma'ams" and "Yes, sirs" and a couple of salutes, just because it seemed like the fun thing to do.
Grover hustled us down the hall in the direction of the music.
As we walked further away from the teachers, Annabeth leaned in and asked in a low voice, "How did you do that finger-snap thing?"
"You mean the Mist? Hasn't Chiron shown you how to do that yet?"
Percy almost burst out laughing at Annabeth's sour expression. He missed Thalia's narrowed eyes aimed at him. Probably mad that he stole her spotlight...
"That was close!" Grover said. "Thank the gods you got here!"
Annabeth and Thalia both hugged Grover. Percy gave him a big high five.
"So what's this big emergency?" Percy asked, knowing full well, but still putting up the charade.
Grover took a deep breath. "I found two."
"Two half-bloods?" Thalia asked, amazed. "Here?"
Grover nodded.
"A brother and a sister," he said. "They're ten and twelve. I don't know their parentage, but they're strong. We're running out of time, though. I need help."
"Monsters?"
One." Grover looked nervous. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!"
Right," Thalia said, taking command over the situation. "These half-bloods are at the dance?"
Grover nodded.
"Then let's dance," Thalia said. "Who's the monster?"
"Oh," Grover said, and looked around nervously. "You just met him. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn."
There were black and red balloons all over the gym floor, and guys were kicking them in each others faces, or trying to strangle each other with the crepe-paper streamers taped to the walls. Girls moved around in football huddles, the way they always do, wearing lots of makeup and spaghetti-strap tops and brightly colored pants and shoes that looked like torture devices. Every once in a while they'd surround some poor guy like a pack of piranhas, shrieking and giggling, and when they finally moved on, the guy would have ribbons in his hair and a bunch of lipstick graffiti all over his face. Some of the older guys looked more like me—uncomfortable, hanging out at the edges of the gym and trying to hide, like any minute they might have to fight for their lives.
But something was out of place, off to the side were three old... Ancient looking women, Percy could recognize them instantly.
Time began to slow down to a crawl giving Percy an insane sense of deja vu. His fight with Kronos still firmly imprinted into his memory.
Percy approached the three deities. Bowing low, but not breaking eye-contact, he spoke, "Lady Fates"
"Rise hero" they spoke in unison. Before he could ask them about what was going on, they cut him off,
"It seems you have been given a second chance hero" came the crooked voice of Clotho.
"Use it wisely" continued Lachesis.
"Or suffer the consequences" finished Atropos, as the three of them faded out of existence, leaving Percy staring at an empty bench.
Percy began to contemplate what the three dieties had told him. Had he been sent back in time, given a second chance as they had said. Regardless, he was going to try his best to not lost the war again this time.
"There they are." Grover nodded toward a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico di Angelo"
Percy couldn't help but smile at the two... His expression turned grim, he was going to save Bianca... Damn the consequences.
Bianca wore a floppy green cap, like she was trying to hide her face. They both had dark silky hair and olive skin, and they used their hands a lot as they was shuffling his Mythomagic cards. His sister seemed to be scolding him about something. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong. She was right of course...
Annabeth said, "Do they… I mean, have you told them?"
Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger."
"So let's grab them and get out of here," Percy said.
He started forward, but Thalia put her hand on his shoulder. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn, had slipped out of a doorway near the bleachers and was standing near the di Angelo siblings. He nodded coldly in our direction. His blue eye seemed to glow.
Of course, he hadn't been fooled by the mist...
Don't look at the kids," Thalia ordered. "We have to wait for a chance to get them. We need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."
"How?"
"We're three powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids."
"Dancing?" Annabeth asked.
Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music and made a face. "Ugh. Who chose the Jesse McCartney?"
Grover looked hurt. "I did."
"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Can't you play, like, Green Day or something?"
"Green who?"
"Never mind. Let's dance."
"But I can't dance!"
"You can if I'm leading," Annabeth said. "Come on, Grover."
Grover yelped as Annabeth grabbed his hand and led him onto the dance floor. This confused Percy, Thalia was supposed to be the one who dragged Percy away, leaving him awkwardly standing next to his crush at the time... But with time, his crush on the blonde daughter if Athena had dimmed down considerably. Now he only thought of Annabeth as a very close friend. One of his best friends.
Thalia narrowed her eyes, glaring slightly at the son of Poseidon.
"What?" Percy asked.
"The trick with the mist... Chiron didn't teach it to you." It wasn't a question.
Percy gulped, he hadn't thought of what would've happened if he hadn't gone and showed off. Now he had to think of something, and fast.
"Umm.. My mom taught me?" It sounded lame even to himself.
Thalia raised her eyebrow, not believing a word that spluttered out of his mouth.
"My- uhh- dad taught her the trick and she taught me" he was lying through his teeth but he hoped that she didn't catch his bluff.
Fortunately the lie seemed to work and Thalia's hard expression dissipated.
"So..." Percy needed an ice breaker, "How's that all girls school treating you"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Meh.. Its okay I guess..." Percy could remember how much Annabeth was fishing about the school the last time around, glancing at the girl and the satyr, it was obvious that Annabeth was telling Grover about her school at the very moment.
Glancing at Nico and Bianca, Percy noticed Dr. Thorn stalking away from the dance, the two if them in tow.
Determined to not make the same mistake again, instead of going after them alone, he notified Thalia. They frantically looked around, but Annabeth and Grover were nowhere to be seen.
He knew where the Manticore was going to take the kids so, grabbing Thalia by the wrist, he sprinted out back, he wouldn't be alone with the Manticore, even with his two years of extra training, the beast was still a formidable foe.
Percy finally stopped sprinting when they reached where he knew the Manticore would take the children. He had to make a plan... He knew he wouldn't have to take the Manticore down, he only had to stall the beast until the hunters arrive.
Percy could see a dark silhouette of Dr. Thorn ad the two children of Hades in the shadows.
Taking in a gulp of breath, Percy uncapped riptide and expanded his shield. Thalia, also noticing the three, expanded Aegis and her electric spear, which Percy had affectionately dubbed 'Shock Therapy"... Not that he'd ever tell her that...
Percy activated his emphatic link with Grover, sending out a S.O.S.
He knew the satyr would arrive with Annabeth any moment.
Just as the manticore was within range, Percy and Thalia charged, their teamwork was flawless, as though they were fighting together for years.. Which was true in Percy's case.
Percy flanked the beast from the left while Thalia charged from the right, her spear arced with pale blue electricity. The daughter of Zeus initiated the fight, sending a bolt of lightening at the Manticore, causing him to yelp in pain.
"Nico! Bianca!" Percy yelled out at them, causing them to widen their eyes, "Run!"
The two ran away from the Manticore, towards the back gate of Westover Hall. They almost ran into Annabeth and Grover.
"Fools!" The Manticore growled, dropping his guise as a human, turning into his true form.
He shot two spikes at Percy, both of which he easily dodged. Percy sliced with Riptide, only for the Manticore to swerve out of the way.
It swung its tail at the half blood, catching him off guard, knocking his sword from his hand.
Percy cursed under his breath and slammed the Manticore with Tyson's shield as he rolled out of the way if another tail strike.
Suddenly a tune began to fill the air, Grover was playing his reed pipes. Thick vines arose from the ground, causing the beast to stumble.
Growling in frustration, the Manticore began to frantically shoot spikes in all directions.
"A manticore!" Annabeth said, now visible. Her magical New York Yankees cap had come off when she'd plowed into us.
"Who are you people?" Bianca di Angelo demanded. "And what is that?"
"A manticore?" Nico gasped. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"
The manticore clawed Grover's magic weeds to shreds then turned toward the half-bloods with a snarl.
"Get down!" Annabeth pushed the di Angelos flat into the snow.
Thalia yelled from across the field. She charged the monster, and for a second, Percy thought she would run him through. But then there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind them. The helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets.
The searchlights blinded Thalia, and the manticore swatted her away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear flew in the other direction.
Dr. Thorn growled,"do you see hopeless it is? Yield, little heroes."
We were trapped between a monster and a fully armed helicopter.
"We have no chance." Is what Percy would have thought if he didn't know what was about to happen.
A clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn blows in the woods. Percy tried his best to hide the smirk that was threatening to break out.
Right on time...
The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.
"No," Dr. Thorn said. "It cannot be—"
His sentence was cut short when something shot past Percy like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's shoulder.
He staggered backward, wailing in agony.
"Curse you!" Thorn cried. He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. The arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two. The two halves uselessly clattering to the ground.
The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. His breathing was heavy and labored.
Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about sixteen, like Percy would have been. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.
The Hunters of Artemis had arrived...
There you have it! That's the second chapter of this story. Do keep in mind that while things seem pretty similar to canon at this point, minor changes will begin to happen. They might seem trivial at first, but you all know how the butterfly effect works right?
Maybe a small change here and there can lead to something bigger.
:D
BAI!