This is the longest chapter I've written till now. I've decided to split the second task into two parts.
An unexpected character has been introduced here!
Thanks to people reviewing me! (Not many, I know, but thanks to you all anyway!)
So, enjoy!
On feeling someone sprinkling water on him, Percy opened his eyes. He found himself lying on his back in front of the park bench, where Lady Athena was sitting. A naiad was holding a jar of water and was looking concerned.
"Aargh!" Percy exclaimed as he tried to sit up. He felt sore all over his back. He glared at Athena.
"Sorry", she said unrepentantly, "Seems I pulled you out too fast."
Percy grumbled something under his breath.
"Your ratings were good in Hephaestus T.V.", she said conversationally.
"I- what?", Percy spluttered indignantly. "You guys were watching me? Am I a plaything to you all?" He felt angry.
"Not my idea." The Goddess raised her hands up, "It was Aphrodite. According to her, these tasks which I'm giving you to test your worthiness could somehow be seen as a great quest to get your lover back." She sighed in disgust. "You and Annabeth are apparently the most exciting pair since Helen and Troy. For this reason, she has also been adding personal touches to the second task."
Percy paled. Goddess of love taking a special interest was not good at all. It always lead to death and heartbreak.
"I must confess," She said, "that I lost some money in betting. I never expected you to figure out "mybook".
Percy balled his fists. "You tricked me. It was an e-book. You said it was a book. You lied."
"Don't dare impugn my honor, boy!" Athena shouted. Then she said, "I never said it was a book. I always said that you have to find "mybook". It was a name of an e-book, so there!"
Before Percy could retort, she interrupted "Do you want to know the second task or not? You have only 6 hours remaining!" He nodded angrily.
"For your second task," she said, "you have to find…the legendary bow of Orion!" she finished dramatically.
Percy gasped, "You mean the bow of the sea?"
"Exactly!", Athena confirmed, eyes gleaming, "That bow has been borne by many sons of Poseidon, the latest being Orion. When he died, his lover Lady Artemis took his bow for safekeeping, so as to give it to the next worthy candidate. In order to show her appreciation for saving her from Atlas and defeating Kronos, she has decided to give the bow to you."
Percy was stunned. The bow of Orion was one of the best weapons ever made in the history. It had the element of water in it, so that wielding it would elevate any son of Poseidon to the skills of Gods themselves. Nowadays, the story was dismissed as myth. However, it seemed the bow existed!
Percy struggled to control his breathing, "Okay, where will I find it?"
The Goddess waved her hands. Within a second, they were surrounded by huge trees extending endlessly in all directions.
"You will find the bow here," she said, pointing her hand towards the forest. Percy nodded, it made perfect sense. If it was Lady Artemis who was giving the gift, then she would want him to hunt the bow. The time was sunset, which meant enough darkness for hiding, and also enough light to see the prey. Perfect for hunting.
"Also, you'll find the second part of the riddle here, engraved on a big golden board beside the bow."
Percy started, "I'm sorry, what riddle?"
"Didn't you read the e-book?" Athena demanded. When Percy shook his head, she sighed and said, "Ah well, it contained a part of the riddle for the third task. You can read it when you come back. Don't forget to bring the second part of the riddle back with you. And whatever you do, don't forget that Aphrodite is going to play with you. Guard your heart!" so saying, the Goddess disappeared.
The silence was almost deafening. This, Percy decided, was not a normal forest. Had it been normal, there would have been the sounds of birds chirping, animals in the bushes. This, was a forest of monsters.
He trudged along silently in the forest, searching for a bow or a flash of gold. He started feeling frustrated. Where would he find a bow in a huge forest?
"Calm down," said a voice in his mind. "the water is inside you Percy, so let the bow call you,". Obeying, Percy relaxed. Immediately, he felt a tugging at the back of his mind, which pointed towards…east. Directing himself in that direction, he started moving in an almost trans-like state when he heard it.
Click click.
Percy froze. And then slowly, turned around. There, clicking its pincers, were two pit scorpions.
"All right, buddy," Percy said slowly. "Let's settle this diplomatically."
Suddenly from behind he again heard the clicking sound. To his horror, he saw four more scorpions behind him. Two remained behind him, while the other two went to his right and left respectively. Percy was now effectively surrounded.
Percy knew he was defeated. There was no way he could defend himself against 6 scorpions together. He swung his sword at the first when it jumped at him, and it disintegrated. But the scorpions weren't waiting for chances. Even as he swung his sword at two more, he knew that the rest were attacking from behind.
Suddenly, a body slammed him from behind, just saving him from the back scorpions. Startled, he quickly killed the two scorpions in front of him, and then hit his sword backward. Another sword, golden in color, stopped his attack. Percy quickly jumped to the front to gain more space to swing, then turned back to face the attacker.
The new person killed off the remaining scorpions with apparent ease, and the turned back. He noticed that the person was wearing a mask, but long hair tumbled from it. A female. As he rushed at her, she backed off to a tree, and started defending herself easily. She then placed her foot at the trunk of the tree for support, and launched herself at him. As they tumbled to the ground, Percy knew he was hopelessly outmatched. She was playing with him. He could smell her moonlace perfume-
Wait a moment, moonlace?
"It can't be!" he shouted, and in a rush of energy, pushed the woman away and ripped off her mask.
It was Calypso.
