A/N: First of all, many thanks for all the suggestions for my new story. If you're interested, I'll have the first chapter of my other story up in around 3 days. I plan on posting 2 chapters by the end of this month and see how it goes from there. If you're not, you shouldn't have read that. Oh, could I also trouble you for a bit of constructive criticism? 1 New chapter, coming up:
Disclaimer: I don't own anything which is not mine.
'Why can't I find the dratted entrance?' Zöe muttered in frustration. The warehouse frowned down at her in a gloomy yet majestic way, as if saying -'That's your problem.' Zöe moved away a few more crates but to no avail. There was no sign of the structure she was looking for her. It worried her, it was almost sunset and she was no closer to Artemis than she had been for the last 3 hours. The bow felt heavy in her hands.
'Hands up!' A voice came from behind. Zöe cursed herself for letting down her guard. Slowly, she turned around and noticed a gun pointed at her. There were two men in a blue uniform. Sighing, she snapped her fingers.
'There was nobody here, this place is empty and you have nothing to report. Now go.' She said.
The two mortals slowly blinked and walked out of the warehouse. That should have been the end of her troubles, but no. She continued her search peacefully before sitting down on a crate, exhausted. Her solitude was interrupted by a huge shadow looming over her. She turned back in shock but it was too late.
Two huge Lastrygonian Giants were onto her. 'Capture her!' A chilling voice came from behind.
'The mist leaves its traces, did you know that, girl?' A little chuckle followed, the voice reeked evil.
Zöe could do nothing to resist.
'I'm sorry, Artemis. I failed you.' Were her last thoughts before everything went dark.
Percy POV
I hate rocks. I've literally looked over at least all the big rocks in the forest but I still can't find that glowing triangle thing on any of them. The Quest would leave any minute now and I had to follow Bianca. I simply had to find that rock before going. Why? Just a gut feeling, I guess. Not to mention all the dreams I'd been having about a fist shaped rock with a glowing triangle. And no, I've already checked Zeus's fist. There was nothing there. Then I noticed Rachel walking towards me. Why was she even here? She looked as if she was about to give me a hug, then stopped herself.
'No, I guess I can't do that now.' She said.
I looked at her curiously.
'Why not?' I asked, not that I'm complaining.
'I'm a hunter, aren't I? They've got this huge anti-male thing going on.' She bit her nails.
'You're what?' I asked in astonishment.
'A hunter.' She said simply.
'Why?'
'I… well… Artemis herself asked me. Imagine that, a goddess… Something to do with me being clear-sighted. And they've also got all these immortality benefits. Ummm… I didn't consider the whole boy hating thing, to be honest. Oh, well.' She shrugged,' I'll have to get used to it now.'
I gazed at her stupidly.
'Congrats, I guess.' I said. 'So why are you here, then?'
Rachel suddenly took on a panicked look.
'Oh my God… oh my gods!' She corrected herself. 'I completely forgot about it. I'm looking for Zöe, she's missing. Have you seen her?'
'No.' I replied slowly, wondering if I could trust her with something else.
'Listen,' I said, ' I was looking for a big fist-shaped rock with a glowing triangle thing on it. But I'll have to go now. So, could do that for me and tell me when I'm back. Please.' I added.
Rachel looked at me as if I was crazy.
'Big rock… glowing triangle thingy… right…' She repeated slowly.
'Yeah, that's it. Thanks awfully!' I replied in a hurry. I had seen the Questers boarding the camp van. I started retreating from the still motionless figure with red hair.
'But when will you be back?' She shouted after me.
I didn't reply. Truth is, I didn't know that myself.
3rd Person POV
A demigod with an eyepatch on one eye slowly creeped into a dark, quiet room.
'What news do you bring?' A deep, majestic voice boomed out.
'Good news, my… milord.' The demigod stuttered.
'Well, what is it then?! Tell me, you foolish mortal! Don't just stand there.' The voice was laced with annoyance.
'Ye… yes milord. She has been captured. She is being escorted to the arena as we speak.'
There was silence for a minute, and then two. After 5 minutes the demigod's eyebrows started to sweat. The powerful being gave no indication of his thoughts. Just as he was about to leave the voice spoke again,
'This is indeed news. You may leave now; and go to the ship. You will be confined to the ship for a week. I will know if you do not do as I command.'
'The… the ship? But its full of monsters and hardly anybody else.'
'Precisely.' The voice had an unfeeling quality which did not at all appeal to the demigod.
'But… but I brought you good news.' The demigod protested in disbelief. Normally he would not have dared questioned his supeior's orders. But this was desperate.
There was no reply, as if he was wondering how a lowly half-blood dared to speak back.
'You brought me news.' Was the slightly irritated, deep reply at last. 'Now go!'
The demigod retreated to the door with renewed haste and dared not look back even once.
Percy POV
Hovering above the Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. on Blackjack was going fine until the Neaman Lion showed up. Darn it, I thought to myself and crashed through the doors with what I thought was a pretty heroic entrance. That was when the Neaman Lion decided I was a better meal than Bianca and charged at me. [Yeah! Poseidon always over Hades, haters!]
Sadly, I almost died.
Luckily, a C-29 Dolphin aircraft saved me. All the fighting seemed to have unsettled it due to which it crashed onto the Lion from its stand. The momentary distraction allowed to me escape to safer territory, namely behind Annabeth. Yeah, its pretty humbling when a useless piece of metal saves you from certain death.
'Percy!? What are you doing here?' Annabeth hissed.
I rolled my eyes,
'Looking at the exhibtions and all the lovely rocket engines. What else did you think?' I answered in a droll voice.
The Neaman lion crashed our lovely conversation. Stupid kitty, I thought. I looked angrily at Thesues, he should help us! He was busy bending over his knee and dabbing it with something. Coward, I thought.
Annabeth and I split as Annabeth shouted something to Bianca.
Bianca nodded and stopped shooting arrows.
'I'll distract it.' I shouted. Great idea. I started edging closer and drenched it with water from the nearby dispenser. It angrily shook its wet fur and turned towards me with unrestrained hatred. Looks like it doesn't like water. I slashed at its iron fur with Riptide. It didn't even seem to notice the contact, but gazed at me with renewed anger. I slowly backed away towards the corner of the building. I was trapped. The Neaman lion opened its jaws wide as if to… devour me whole, maybe?
It didn't get a chance. Three arrows flew into its mouth from above with pinpoint accuracy and it disintegrated into golden dust.
I was barely realizing that I wasn't going to die before the ground opened beneath my feet and I got a sudden feeling of weightlessness.
'Percy, where are you?! We did it!' A voice shouted. For the second time that day, I didn't have an answer. I was busy falling into the darkness.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Until next time.