A/N: Afte reading back every single review for this story up from the first page to the last, that motivated me to write again. So, thanks guys! I don't know if you know this, but I really do read every single review. What you write in your review helps me out a lot. I really like reading what you guys think about the story. It's good when you write simple reviews like 'Good chapter!' or 'That was awesome!', but I find it more helpful when you write about what your thoughts on the story or what you think might happen. It's always awesome to read those kinds of reviews.
Anyway, I'm back. So, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 6
"Remind me again, what are we doing in-," Annabeth's eyes squinted at the signboard. "I can't even read it."
"Of course you can't," Artemis rolled her eyes. "You're dyslexic. We're in a Grecian Cemetery,"
"Yep, that place," Annabeth said. "What are we doing here?
"Ask Percy," Hestia pointed at Percy. "He's the one who dragged us here,"
He wasn't really comfortable with three girls (plus another one in his head) following him in this mini quest. His initial plan was to go alone, but when they insisted that they wanted to tag along, Percy couldn't say no.
"First of all, I didn't drag you all here. You were the ones who insisted on coming along." Percy insisted. "To answer your question, we're going to wake up the dead,"
Artemis frowned. "You must respect the laws of death, Percy. You can't revive the dead,"
Percy grinned. "Waking up the dead and reviving the dead are two different things," Then, they followed him deeper into the graveyard. It was night time, so the graveyard isn't one of the places he'd like to visit. Creepy things happen here, whether it's mythical or logical. When a twig snapped right next to them, Annabeth screamed, which made Percy jump and scream. "Geez! Don't do that."
"Well, I can't help it!" Annabeth argued. "This place gives me the chills,"
"Says the girl who fought Tartarus," Artemis smirked. But when she heard the sound of an owl, she flinched back.
Annabeth smirked. "Scared of an owl, Artemis?"
"Owls are creatures of the night," Artemis defended herself. "There's no way I would be scared of them,"
"Percy," Hestia hugged Percy's arm closer. "It's dark in here,"
Percy chuckled and ruffled Hestia's hair. "Don't worry. We'll only be here for a few minutes," Even in the dark, Percy could feel the sharpness of Annabeth's and Artemis's glare, which sent shivers down his spine. "Anyway, let's find what we're here for and go home,"
"What are we here for?" Annabeth huffed.
Then, Percy's senses stretched out to a tombstone to their left. From the way it was tilted slightly to the left and a missing segment in the corner of it, Percy figured it must've been in here for quite some time. Leaves and bushes surrounded the grave and there was a huge dead tree right next to it with wicked branches, just to make it more dramatic.
"Here's our guy," Percy said.
Artemis knelt down and read the name on it. "Ivan Drogostovich," She read. "I thought we were in a Grecian cemetary? Either that's really this person's name or my dyslexia's acting up."
"Trust me, he's our guy," Percy said.
"Well, we found him," Artemis said. "How do we wake him up?"
I'm impressed you know all this, Nyx said, the ancient art of talking to the dead.
I watched Nico did it a few years ago using Happy Meals. How hard can it be?
Percy knelt next to the gravestone. He placed his hand on it and muttered some words that mysteriously popped into his head. He had no idea where those words came from, but it felt natural. After he had finished chanting, nothing happened. They all waited in anticipation.
"Well, what now?" Hestia asked.
"Just wait," Percy answered. On cue, a skeletal hand sprouted out of the ground. It made the exact same sound you'd think a zombie would make, only more throatier. All of the girls jumped back while Percy just grinned. "See, I told you this was our guy," He said as the hand tried to dig itself out.
"Uh huh," Annabeth said. "How are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
Annabeth pointed at the hand which was now rising to its shoulder. "That waking up the dead thing,"
Percy shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. Remember how I still hold the Diocletian scepter after the war?"
"Maybe,"
"Yeah, it sort of vanished when they locked me in Tartarus. I don't know where it went. Nyx told me that I'd probably absorbed it into my essence."
"So you're practically a walking stick of the dead?" Artemis asked.
Percy frowned. "Well it doesn't sound very cool when you say it like that, but yeah."
"I thought only children of the Underworld could use it," Annabeth asked.
"Nyx was something older than the Underworld. Maybe that has to do with it? I don't really know."
By the time they stopped their conversation, the dude the woke up had already dug himself up to the waist. He was nothing more thant skeletons being joined together, something that Annabeth found highly illogical.
"Hey there Ivan," Percy knelt down next to the skeleton. "How are you doing?"
The skeleton said something back in Russian. The girls didn't know what was more surprising: The fact that the skeleton was speaking without a vocal chord or the fact that it was speaking Russian in a Greek cemetary.
"What's he saying?" Hestia asked.
"Oh, sorry," Percy said. He turned towards the skeleton. "Can you speak Greek?"
"Of course I can," the Russian skeleton spoke in Ancient Greek. "I may be Russian by my soul belongs to Greece,"
"Good to know," Percy smiled. "Now, I need to ask you something since you've been dead for quite some time," Hestia hit Percy on the head.
"Don't be rude,"
"Sorry," He grinned. "Anyway, from what I've been told, you guys came the closest to calling out Chaos, isn't that so?" Artemis, Hestia and Annabeth were taken aback by this.
"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.
"Russians do crazy stuff sometimes," Percy explained. "When I was at Tartarus, I talked to a ghost. It told me things about how Greek demigods are actually everywhere. All over the place, there's a group of demigod heroes made to keep all demigods safe. Kind of like Camp Half-Blood."
"How come we don't know about this?" Artemis asked.
Percy chuckled. "You might not know this, but you gods are blinder than you deny to be."
Thunder rumbled in the distance, but Percy ignored it. "Can you tell us a bit or two of what you found?" Percy asked Ivan.
"The Russian branch thought we could send something other than demigods to look into the realm further than the Mansion of Night. Just like when Russian send robots to space." Ivan explained.
"You Russians really like robots huh," Annabeth muttered.
"We sent robots down Tartarus. Believe it or not, we found something,"
"What did you found?" Percy asked.
"I don't remember." Ivan shrugged. "Something about another realm or dimension. Look, it's been a while since the incident. And the dead can't remember well,"
Percy sighed. "Well, thanks anyway." Percy snapped his fingers before Ivan crumbled to dust.
"Will his corpse be alright?" Annabeth asked.
"Maybe. Come on, let's get back to the house. At least we got a lead."
Line Break
"So, what did you found out?" Piper asked as the group gathered in the living room for a minor meeting. As usual, Artemis and Annabeth opted to sit next to Percy, making Percy the rope in a tug-of-war game. Hestia sat next to Reyna and Thalia, the goddess finding herself comfortable in the company of teenage demigods.
The group decided to have a meeting and ordered some pizzas, which was more than okay with Percy. "Well, we found out that demigods existed all around the world and they have their own camps in their own countries,"
"Oh," Jason managed. "So there's probably a demigod camp somewhere in India?"
"Most likely," Percy agreed as he took a bite out of his slice of pizza. "We met a Russian demigod, Ivan. Well, he was a Russian demigod,"
"What happened? Did he get the US citizenship?" Nico joked.
"Nah, he's dead." Percy said. The others that weren't there with him stared at him as if to wait for the joke to be over. "We found him in a Grecian cemetary."
"You're not serious, are you?" Reyna asked. "You spoke with the dead? Isn't that like Nico's thing?"
Percy explained how the Diocletian scepter had merged with him and how Percy is able to utilize its powers. Added with Nyx's powers, his influence over the dead is powerful enough that it rivals the powers of the children of Hades.
Jason whistled. "So you can control the dead?"
Percy shook his head. "I can manipulate the souls of the dead to do my bidding. Unlike Nico, I can't summon undead zombies and stuff. I can scare the crap out of people though,"
"Oh really?" Thalia challenged with a raised eyebrow.
Percy grinned mischeivously. "Look behind you, Airhead,"
Thalia grinned smugly as she turned around to see a horrifying skeletal face staring at her. As soon as Thalia made eye contact with it, the skull screamed, making everyone jump except for Percy and Nico. After that, it disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
"What the heck was that?" Thalia demanded.
"I got you didn't I?" Percy laughed. Thalia's cheek flushed with red as she glared at Percy, which Annabeth found odd. Usually, Thalia would glare like she'll kill Percy. Now, she's glaring at Percy as if he's an annoying boy. Annabeth had spent most of her time learning to read people. And while she can't really read Thalia that good because of her unpredictablity (is that a word?), she knew one thing.
Thalia had strong feelings for Percy.
Annabeth found herself glaring at Thalia with jealousy flaring in her heart. It wasn't until Piper poked her in the cheek before she jarred back to reality.
"You okay?" Piper asked. "You kinda spaced out."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just remembered something," Annabeth sighed. "Well, it's getting late and I'm off to bed," She announced. Truth be told, it wasn't late at all. It was seven in the night, but she didn't feel like doing anything. So she opted to go to sleep. But not before she have some fun with Percy.
"Same here. I have an early shift tomorrow." Jason said. "Goodnight guys," He said as he went to bed, followed by Piper. Nico, Reyna, Hestia and Artemis all said goodnight, which left Percy, Annabeth and Thalia in the living room with a couple of leftover pizzas.
"Percy, I'm heading to bed," Annabeth whispered in Percy's ear. It sent chills down his spine as he smirked.
"I'll join you later. I need to talk to Nyx first," Percy said. Annabeth smiled seductively at him before heading off to bed. Thalia just sighed heavily.
"That's just natural. They just know how to eat but not clean up." Thalia complained as she cleaned up everything. Percy felt bad, so he stood up and helped Thalia. "I never knew you were such a gentleman,"
"Believe it or not, Tartarus changed me." Percy grinned.
"They taught you how to be a gentleman? I should've sent you there earlier I guess,"
Percy picked up the empty pizza boxes and stuffed them into the trash bin. "I will let you know that I know how to properly handle a lady,"
"Oh really?" Thalia put the rest of the pizza slices into the fridge. "Well then show me, Mr. Jackson." She offered her hand like a noblewoman.
Percy smirked as he gently accepts her hand. "How do I start?"
"You can start by being a real gentleman and lift me to the couch,"
"Um, no."
"Wuss,"
"Okay, fine," Percy grumbled. Percy pulled Thalia into his arms which made her yelp because he took her by surprise. Percy had one hand slung across her back and another at her waist. Thalia blushed furiously, but she tried to hide it. He turned her and carried her bridal style. Thalia was so close to Percy that she could feel his warmth.
Okay, she'll admit.
Thalia had a huge crush on Percy ever since they get to know each other. Come on, he was the first face she saw after turning from a tree to a human. Thalia's feelings got stronger the more she knew Percy. Thalia knew about Annabeth having a huge crush on Percy also, since they were best friends. Seeing how close they were together, Thalia knew she didn't have a chance against Annabeth. She didn't want her best friend getting hurt.
So, she decided to join the Hunt. She didn't want to torture herself by being close to something she knew she wouldn't get. She did this for herself and for Annabeth. When Percy was in trouble during the Titan War in Manhattan, Thalia made no hesitation in preparing to help them.
And when he went missing for six years, Thalia was devastated. She and Annabeth shared the same pain of losing him and it was hard for both of them.
Now, she couldn't believe how close she was to Percy.
No, this is your best friend's boyfriend. Thalia scolded herself. You will be a good friend and go to sleep.
Percy set her down gently onto the couch. When Thalia looked him in the eyes, she was nervous at how close they were. If Thalia just leaned forward just a little bit, their lips would be touching.
"Is that gentleman enough for you?" Percy smirked, knowing how hard she was blushing. Percy had that seducing effect on women, making him charming as fuck when he wanted to be.
"Fine, you win," Thalia grumbled, hoping her face wasn't as red as it felt.
"Two wins in one night," Percy grinned smugly. To her surprise, he pecked her nose lightly before pulling away. "I'm heading to bed now. Don't stay up too late." Percy head towards his bedroom with Annabeth. "Goodnight Thals,"
"Goodnight," Thalia replied timidly. She couldn't believe it. Did that just happen? Did that really just happen? Thalia had to pinch herself before she knew she wasn't dreaming.
She was going to have a good sleep tonight.
Line Break
After a wonderful making-love session with Annabeth, Percy found himself waking up in the middle of the night. He sat up on the bed with the moonlight dimly lighting up their room.
Annabeth stirred in her sleep. "Percy?" She mumbled.
Percy smiled. "Didn't mean to wake you up," Percy said softly. "Go back to sleep. I'm just gonna get a drink," He kissed her on the forehead before Annabeth slowly descends back to sleep. Percy got out of bed and did exactly just that: getting a drink. He went to the kitchen and made himself a glass of milk before sitting down on the living room.
Aside from your wonderful night, is something on your mind? Nyx asked in his head.
"You're such a stalker," Percy rolled his eyes. "And no, nothing's really on my mind,"
Should've known. Men have a tendencies to be empty headed.
"Is that what Erebus was like?"
Meh. He comes and goes. I have no idea where he's been to or where he's going, but it's not like I care.
"Must be hard,"
After a few centuries, I kinda get used to it. If he's not around, I'd either roam Tartarus or stay in my mansion. I mean, who wouldn't? With a game room and a home theatre system. Plus I just had the new Final Fantasy 7 game.
"You're so weird," Percy said as he sipped a bit from his glass. "Tell me, what other powers do I have from the Diocletian Scepter aside from talking to the dead?"
You can use their souls to do your bidding. Either you want to ask them to fight for you, work for you, order you a take out Chinese food or even scare the shit out of some people. You can do all of that.
"Why does the scepter is so lame before I absorbed it?"
Because it's limited to its physical form. If you can harness it's powers, then you can use its full potential. Nyx said. You're the first demigod I know to merge a magical item with your soul.
"I'm also the first to walk out of your mansion alive," Percy grinned.
Well, you closed your eyes. So it doesn't count.
"What's in your mansion anyway?"
You know, the usual house decor. Wicked torches, speakers that plays the wailing of the tortured and some gruesome pictures of people getting turned inside out. I got the HD version of the tapestry. I have to say, Arachne has magnificent imagination. You should stop over some time.
"I think I'll pass," Percy shuddered. "How's it going at Chaos's realm?"
Not sure really. I could barely sense if there's anything wrong under there. It's like trying to know what's happening in your basement when you're five stories up.
"I see," I said. "You heard the Russian, didn't you? Is there any interconnection between Chaos's realm and an alternate dimension?"
Do you want me to lie or tell the truth?
Percy rolled his eyes. "What kind of question is that? The truth of course,"
I have no idea.
Percy sighed. "I wonder what your answer would be if I asked for the lie,"
I'd say the same thing.
"You're impossible," Percy finshed his milk and headed for the balcony. Ever since recieving Nyx's blessing, Percy felt at peace whenever he's under the night sky. He flew upwards from the balcony with his newfound powers. He headed to a tall building, at least fifty stories high, where he could see the view of the city under the night sky. He sat down at the edge of the rooftop with his legs dangling. Percy started to relive the memories of his life before he was trapped in Tartarus.
"Hey Nyx,"
Nyx yawned. Yeah?
"Do immortals get sleepy?"
Of course we do. Why do you think there's a God of Sleep?
"Good point. Anyway, I wanted to ask,"
What is it?
"Why did you save me? Six years ago, when I was fighting Gaia. You saved me. Why?"
Nyx was silent for a while before she answered. I've taken an interest in you, which is actually saying much. Gaia is like the only primordial who socialize among you demigods, and even that was rare. So be glad I decided to take notice of you.
"Doesn't really answer my question, but I'll take it," Percy said with a smile. Then, he heard the sound of something whooshing above him, like something massive had flown past above him in high speed. He turned around to see nothing but the midnight sky. "Did you hear that?"
Hear what?
He heard it again behind him, but it sounded closer. He spund around again to see nothing. He was on the rooftop of a fifty storey building, so he knew it wasn't something mortal. Instinctively, he drew his sword. The sword looked darker in midnight.
"Who's there?" Percy called out. He heard something that sounded like a ghastly whisper. Percy closed his eyes. The whispers got louder and louder.
One . . . Two. . . Three!
He turned just in time for his blade to meet with something else that looked suspicously like a crab's claw, only much thinner. It was like red skeletal bones were used to make such a thing. Percy scanned his enemy to found that the claw-like thing was actually a tail, linking up to a head that looks like a woodpecker's head with diamond musquito's eyes. Around its neck was a ghostly black cloth that draped about halfway over its whole body.
"Hello there," Percy smirked. He pushed the monster back. It let out something that sounded like a mixture of a dying screech and a gas leak before zipping away, disappearing again. Percy heard that whooshing sound again behind him, but he was too late as he was struck from behind. Percy cursed as he turned around to find nothing was there.
He felt his shirt getting wet on his back, meaning he was bleeding.
"Nyx, any help?" Percy grunted. The thing struck him again from behind, making Percy buckle down to his knees. This thing was fast.
The night is my realm. It's under your power. Use it to your advantage. Think of the night as your sixth sense.
That wasn't very clear, but Percy had barely any time to think because the thing came at Percy again, this time slicing Percy across the cheek. All Percy could see of the monster was its diamond eyes and black cloth before it disappears again, moving at the speed of light.
The night as my sixth sense, Percy thought of Nyx's advice.
He close his eyes. He blocked out everything, the noises and the coldness of the night on his skin. He couldn't hear anything but the beating of his heart.
Then, it happened.
It was hard to explain. It was like his sense expanded beyond what he could imagine. Like his eyesight just stretched for miles and miles and miles at all direction. It was as if the night sky had become his third eye. He could see everything under the night, but it wasn't normal sight. Everything through the Night Sight looked like it had been painted in a dark grey colour with the edges being outline with white lines. Its like watching an animated chalkboard drawing.
Through this, Percy could see the creature moving around him. It definitely moved fast, but with this Percy could anticipate its movement. It moved past behind him, then to his left, then to his right. It had no particular pattern other than whizzing everywhere around him.
He waited for the creature to come straight at him. It was hard to keep the Night Sight open because of the throbbing pain on his back and his cheek, but he managed. Then, it went straight for Percy.
Percy reverted back to his normal sight and turned around just in time to catch the claw-shaped tail of the monster with his sword. Percy opted to go on the offensive this time as he pushed the monster. He spun around with a slice aimed for the head, but the monster backed off. Percy didn't waste any time as he lunged at the monster, trying to stab it in the body but only managed to pierce its cloth.
It tried to fly away, but its cloth was stuck. Percy grinned as he grabbed the monster by the head and started to punch it repeatedly for several times. After dozens of punches, Percy took his sword and ran it straight through its head. The monster let out a shriek before dissolving into dust.
Percy didn't realize how tired he was until he got back at the house. He sat on the couch and finally let his body rest. The tiredness washed over him like a wave. His joints were sore and everything. "That was one heck of a night,"
You pulled it off though. I'm impressed. I've never seen that monster in my life, but you beat it. Plus, you managed to use your powers that I gave.
"Yeah, you could've been more straight to the . . . point." Everything turned black as Percy passed out.
Line Break
Percy woke up with the sun blazing straight at his face. He was on his bed and his head hurts like hell. When he tried moving, his body felt like it was stabbed by flaming spears.
"Easy there, Percy," A soft voice said next to him. Percy turned to see Hestia in her brown robe and eighteen year old form. Percy groaned as he tried to move more carefully.
"Good god, the sun is killing me," Percy said. Hestia merely chuckled as she waved his hand and the curtains closed the windows, making the room dimly lit. "Thanks," Percy grunted as he sat up. He examined his body to find out he was bandage from waist up to his chest. His cheek got a small bandage while his right hand was wrapped with another set of bandage. Aside from that, everything seems to be in one piece."
"You gave us quite the scare," Hestia said. "Annabeth freaked out when Jason found you bleeding on the floor with your body being feverishly hot. You lost a lot of blood,"
"I had a run in with something last night," Percy said. "Didn't go really well,"
"I can tell. I've patched you up and healed you the most I could. After a few days of rest, you should be fine again," Hestia smiled.
"Thank you, Hestia," Percy grinned. Hestia smiled back as she walked out of the room. There were some murmurings outside the room that Percy couldn't hear before he heard footsteps running towards the room.
The door burst open with Annabeth leading the charge followed by Artemis and Thalia. Annabeth looked at Percy and hugged him tightly. Percy gasped in pain. "My back. Still hurts."
"Sorry," Annabeth pulled away. She looked like she had been crying. After Annabeth backed off, Artemis wasted no time in sitting next to Percy.
"Are you okay, Percy?" Artemis asked softly.
"I'm okay," Percy said. Annabeth was glaring daggers at her, but she can kill her later.
"What happened, Percy?" Thalia asked. "Jason found you half dead earlier in the morning. You were bleeding to death,"
"Long story," Percy said. "Can you help me up?"
Thalia got there first as she slung Percy's arm across her shoulder and helped him stand. Artemis and Annabeth glared at Thalia for getting suspiciously close with Percy.
By the time they were at the living room, the others were waiting for him apparently. Piper and Reyna looked mostly relieved while Jason and Nico grinned and just gave him a thumbs up.
They let Percy sit down before he told them what happened. "What happened last night?" Nico asked.
Percy told them everything that happened. The weird monster, its unusual power and Percy's newfound awesome power. Percy found it weird that Annabeth, Artemis and Thalia looked like they were having a silent three way tug-of-war match since they kept glaring at each other.
"Do you think Chaos sent the monster after you?" Reyna asked.
"If I had to guess, I'd say yes. I haven't seen anything like it and I'm not sure anyone ele has either. That meant only one thing,"
"It came from Chaos's realm," Jason said. "What do we do now? We need to assume that everyone else can go through the same attack like Percy did,"
"Just don't go anywhere alone. Make sure someone else is with you." Piper suggested. "If we go one on one with something like that, I doubt that we would stand a chance."
Reyna nodded at that. "I think going outside in pairs or groups would be nice."
"I'm going with Percy," Annabeth said out loud. Artemis and Thalia looked like they wanted to argue, but they knew that Percy was going to choose her anyway. Annabeth smiled sweetly at him and gave him a peck at the cheek while Percy smiled back at her.
"Are you feeling okay, Percy?" Jason asked.
Percy grinned in slight pain. "Some back pain and headache, but I'll live,"
"Then you should be fine in coming with me today,"
"Where are we going?"
"There's a kid nearby. Chiron messaged me at dawn telling me to get him,"
"Shouldn't we all go?" Piper asked.
Jason smiled. "Percy and I would be more than enough. Besides, there's something I need to talk to him about. So I need you to stay safe without me for the day, okay?"
"I'm more than capable of defending myself," Piper rolled her eyes but smiled as she gave Jason a quick kiss.
"Percy, we'll leave in an hour,"
"Sounds good,"
Line Break
Jason and Percy left a bit early with the sky not being favourable on their side. The supposedly sunny sky was covered by dark clouds.
"Gonna rain soon," Percy stated out.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Jason said.
Percy waved it off. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Jason took a deep breath. "Percy, I know this isn't the right time, but I want to ask you something,"
"What's wrong?"
"I want you to be my-" They got interrupted when something flew past between them. They spotted an arrow sprouting from the pavement. Jason and Percy turned to see dozens of girls in silver hooded parkas, all positioned in different areas. Several were looking at them from the windows of buildings, some from behind trees or on them and one hunter was hiding behind a newspaper bin. "What the hell?" They noticed that not a single civilian was around.
"Aren't those Artemis's hunters?" Percy asked. Another arrow flew towards them. Percy saw it going straight to his head, but he leaned out of the way.
"Give us back our mistress!" The lieutenant, Phoebe, shouted out. Percy noticed that every single hunter had their arrows notched and were all aimed at them.
"Um, look, there's been a misunderstanding. Your mistress-" Another arrow flew, interrupting Percy mid-speech, but he caught the arrow an inch from his face. "That was rude."
"Look, we didn't take her. Zeus took away her godhood, so she resides with us on her own choice," Jason tried.
"Liars!" A hunter shouted and let her arrow loose. Jason deflected it with his sword.
"Jason," Percy muttered. "Get the kid and get out of here,"
"Percy, what are you planning?"
"Something stupid," Percy said. "Don't wait up for me,"
Jason grinned. He trusted Percy. He survived Tartarus by himself for six years. A couple of Hunters wouldn't be a problem. "Don't be home too late. Annabeth and Artemis are going to kill each other," Jason then ran off to get the kid that Chiron had told him to.
"So, the infamous Percy Jackson," Phoebe strolled towards him with a smug grin. "You don't look that much after all the rumours I've heard about you,"
"Yeah, after fighting Kronos, saving Gaia, killing a few Giants and surviving six years in Tartarus, I kinda skipped a few leg days and went off my normal diet," Percy said. "I swear I'm taller than I'm supposed to be,"
"Keep running your big mouth and I'll run you over like a ragdoll," Phoebe growled.
"That's the most overused line in video games. And here I thought you were from the 60s." Percy smirked.
"Fire!" Phoebe shouted. A dozen arrows flew towards him. He used his upgraded senses and blocked and doged every incoming arrow. It would've been impossible for Percy six years ago, before everything. Now with Nyx's blessing and all, he could do things that he didn't even know was even possible.
You really have a knack of pissing of women, don't your Percy? Nyx said inside his head.
"Hey, can you blame me?"
Actually, I can and do blame you Percy Jackson. Nyx said. Duck and look out for the arrow to the right.
Percy did as Nyx told and ducked as an arrow whizzed past him and rolled to the left as an incoming arrow from the right imbedded itself on the pavement where Percy had been a second ago.
"Looks like you're not all talk, Percy Jackson," Phoebe said.
"And you are doing the most classical bad guy mistake," Percy grinned. "Talking insteading of killing," Percy dashed forward with amazing speed, his sword already drawn. Phoebe's eyes widened in surprise, but her reflexes were quick as she took out both of her hunting knives and blocked Percy's incoming strike.
Percy cleaved downwards on her as she used both of her blades to block his sword. The strike was so powerful, that Phoebe's knees nearly buckled from the sheer force of it. Phoebe pushed him away and stepped back to take a breather. Percy grinned at her.
"You know, if I don't really hate males, I might actually like you," Phoebe said as she readied herself.
"Thank you for that compliment," Percy mocked a bow.
"Unfortunately, I hate males," Phoebe growled. "Fire at will!"
Aren't you in trouble? Nyx muttered.
It started raining arrows onto Percy. He dodged and blocked any arrows he could, but he could only do so much with a sword and a wounded back. An arrow lodged itself onto Percy's thigh while another scraped his other cheek. Percy took cover behind a hotdog cart. "All this fighting is going to ruin my beautiful face," Percy muttered to himself.
Oh, do you even have a face? Nyx mused.
"Now's not the time," Percy said as an arrow pierced the cart and landed next to Percy. "Any help?"
Well, you can't keep a barrier up without moving,
"That's not helping," Percy grumbled. Percy heard an arrow sticking into the cart with a beeping noise. It wasn't until it exploded that Percy realized it was an explosive arrow. The explosion sent him flying and landed onto a tree. His back shot up in pain. "Yep, definitely not helping," Percy grunted.
The arrows were still coming towards him and Percy tried his best to block some of them with his sword while dodging the others. "Give up now, Percy!" Phoebe shouted.
"If I do, would you give me a kiss on the cheek?" Percy shouted back in surprising amusement. He got back another dozen arrows in response which he managed to avoid by hiding behind a car. "Aw, come on! That was a fair deal!"
"I'll kiss you on the mouth if you can put your sword on me," Phoebe laughed.
"Challenge accepted," Percy whispered to himself. "Nyx, I need to be faster,"
Percy, there's only so much I could do, but your body is at its max potential. To develop more, you just need to develop your physical ability. To do that, you need to- Nyx was interrupted by another beeping arrow. Percy rolled out of the way just in time to duck under another car.
"Now's not the time for a power lesson," Percy said. "Just help me to deflect the arrows faster so I can get close to them,"
Can't help you unless you know what you want,
"I want to get faster,"
Too generic. Be more specific please,
"You're impossible." Percy grumbled. The throbbing pain in his thigh wasn't helping as he pulled the arrow out. Percy got out of his cover and was swarmed with another rain of arrows.
Seriously, don't they ever run out of ammo? The Hunters are extremely using video game cliches.
Percy dodged the first few and deflected a few more. Some just missed Percy by luck.
"Game over, Percy," Phoebe said with an evil grin. Dozens of arrows flew at him simultaneously. There was no way Percy was going to escape this.
"Fuck it," Percy said. He surged forward and moved faster than he thought he could. He dodged arrows and deflected them every step of the way, but some managed to wound him. Just scrapes and scratches, but nothing piereced his skin yet. Then an arrow lodged itself into his shoulder.
Talk about a salty mouth.
"I need help Nyx!" Percy shouted as another arrow lodged onto the same shoulder. He tried to deflect as many as he could, but there was just too many.
Maybe this'll help,
In his hand free hand, something shimmered into existence. Another sword similar to the one he already had, only with contrast colours. Instead of dark, this sword had bright light colours outlined with dark lines. The sword seemed to give him newfound strength. His hands moved on their own as he deflects every arrow flying his way. His motions were fluid as if he's been doing this for years. Nothing seemed to touch him as he was in his own arrow-deflecting hurricane of swords.
It went on for a minute before he lunged at Phoebe and all shooting went to a halt. Percy was on top of Phoebe with Phoebe struggling to escape.
"Let go of me! Percy Jackson you insolent boy!"
"Hey Phoebe," Percy grinned.
"What?!" Phoebe growled.
"Ready to fulfill your side of the bargain?" Percy said as he put his sword onto Phoebe's forehead. Phoebe flushed red with both anger and embarassment. Percy could feel the other hunters feeling nervous, seeing their lieutenant being defeated and done like this.
"Fine," Phoebe grumbled. "But only because you win and I am simply honouring my stupid deal. Not because I liked your or anything,"
Truth be told, Percy was only joking about all that. Of course he wouldn't kiss a Hunter of Artemis. Primarily because he has a girlfriend.
But, without warning, Phoebe slipped her hand away from his grip, pulled him close and smashed her lips onto his. It took Percy by surprise that he didn't know what to do. The kiss felt warm and gentle, but it wasn't as good as when he kissed Annabeth. Not by a long shot.
Their little moment was interrupted by Jason. "Um, Percy?"
Percy pulled away and stood up with difficulty. A few arrows were lodged here and there in his body, but nothing major. "Hey, Jason,"
"Looks like you've had quite a rough time here," Jason said nervously.
"You have no idea," Percy chuckled. "What are you doing here? I thought I told you to head back,"
"Well, about that," Jason nudged behind him. Percy looked to see the rest of the gang already here. Aside from Hestia who was busy at Olympus, three women were glaring at him with the trio ready to kill him.
Their names were Annabeth, Artemis and Thalia.
Oh, don't forget, I'm here too, Nyx said with disdain.
A/N: How bout that? Hahahaha. Poor Percy. Someone challenged me a while back to put Thalia in. So here ya go. Let's all rejoice the frustration Percy has to go through while the rest of us sadistic jerks watch him being miserable. Hahaha.
