A/N: I do not own Percy Jackson
Annabeth pulled her invisibility cap from the back pocket of her jeans, and quickly put it on Alicia's head. Then, with surprising strength for one as petite looking as her, threw Alicia into the sea, where she knew that Alicia would be safe, for the moment.
Alicia felt something shoved onto her head as she hit the waves. Immediately a sense of calm surged through her, blanketing her other feelings, that of fear, terror, hopelessness, and anxiety for her mother.
Not surprisingly, she didn't feel wet. This had been an unexplained phenomenon that her mother had attributed to her over-active imagination. At this juncture, she could even see through the waves, as though she were looking through a sheet of clear glass instead of churning water. She saw the golden flash of her mother's hair and the grotesque that was attacking her. Her mother was surprisingly quick on her feet, dodging and slashing at the monster with a wickedly sharp bronze knife that she had conjured out of thin air.
She stretched her hand out, reaching out to her mother. To her astonishment, her hand was not visible in the rippling water. Then, she remembered the cap that her mother had pushed onto her head. What was this all about?
Annabeth dodged another vicious swipe from the Manticore that would have taken her head off, and retaliated by jabbing at the long, lethal paw of the beast. It roared in pain as the enchanted bronze blade buried itself into flesh.
Annabeth knew that she could not continue like this. Sooner or later, she would tire. She just prayed that Alicia was safe somewhere.
A volley of bristles cut through the air. Annabeth managed to dodge them, but one grazed her waist, drawing blood. She gasped in pain as she felt her side burn. Blood began to soak into her blouse.
"Where isss the daughter of The Tidal Lord?" The Manticore hissed. "I ssshall rip her apart. Rip him apart for slaying my Lord Kronos. You, Daughter of Athena, shall be first!"
The situation was hopeless and Annabeth knew it. She could already feel the venom spreading in her veins. Soon, she would not be able to move. Before she lost consciousness, she turned to the Sea, and prayed.
O Tidal Lord of the Sea Perseus, Spare your daughter.
A/N: Hey guys, I'm really sorry that I haven't been updating this story. But I'm pleased to say that I now have some free time. So the good news is that I'll be continuing this story! This is just a short re-intro, to show that I am going to continue for real this time. I promise at least a thousand word Chapter the next time I update, which shouldn't take too long. Again, sorry to those who have been kept on the line.
