Chapter Nine
The talk with Orpheus took my mind off of Annabeth for a while. It was already nine forty-five. I needed to find my mom and quick. It would be too dangerous to wander the streets of New York alone. Monsters can smell you from miles away like sharks being able to smell blood. I knew my way to my apartment. I've lived in New York ever since I was an infant. I know the streets on the back of my mind like I know my ABCs.
I walk down fifth street. No one is there. Just silence. I knew that monsters are lurking everywhere. I've learned that somethings are never what they seen. In sixth grade, I knew that my pre-algebra teacher was evil, but I didn't think that she would be a live fury! She was Alecto, one of Hades's servants. He sent her to me because Hades has thought that I had Zeus's master bolt. Well, that is another story.
I hear foot steps behind me, but when I turn, I see no one. I was confused, but kept walking, with my hand around Riptide in my pocket. I heard it again. This time, I turned a lot faster and I was able to see a shadow. Someone is creeping up from behind me. I ran instead of walking. The footsteps begin again, faster and faster. Then, they disappear. Slowly turning my head, I look behind me. Nothing. Oh my gods! They not only ran, but they are probably flying! I look up, but still nothing. Oh. I guess I was wrong. When I turned, I ran into something.
"Hello, Perseus Jackson. Nice to finally meet you." A girl, no older than seventeen. She had flaming red hair and when I say flaming, I mean on fire. Literally. She had bright blue eyes. She would've been pretty, but her voice and her legs made shivers go down my back. One of her legs are of a donkey's but the other is a celestial bronze prosthetic leg. She was an empousa. As quick as I can, I tried to unsheathe Riptide, but she was quicker. Just as I pulled out Riptide and held out my other hand to pull of the cap, the teenager grabbed my left hand and threw Riptide down the street. I tried to punch her with the other hand, but she grabbed that hand as well. "Hasn't anyone told you to never hit a girl?" Her evil smile made my eyes grow wide. I jumped back.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I yelled at the creature. She just snarled.
"I want you, Percy Jackson. And I now where they are. I will find them." Me? What does she want with me? And who are 'they'? Before I could ask, she burned, but slashed her hands into my skin, leaving a deep scar. She literally burned. She erupted into flames and left nothing but ash in front of me and left behind an evil laugh that somehow echoed into the night. I could feel Riptide in my pocket again. My whole body felt cold. I couldn't move for a few minutes. I just stood there, eyes wide. It's not unusual to be attacked by a monster, but it is unusual to have a monster not attack you. Why didn't she attack my? I was pretty weak already. I'm freezing cold, wet, and almost knocked out. My black t-shirt and Bermuda shorts didn't do me any justice either.
I found my apartment building. While I went up to my apartment, I thought about the attack. Was there someone trying to hurt me? Was there something evil lurking in New York? I know that I am a child of the Big Three, but so is Thalia, Nico, and Jason. Why attack me? It was probably because I was weak. Then, my mind reverted to another subject. Or person. Annabeth. Annabeth was really pretty. She was beautiful. When I was seven, I thought that girls were weird, They had cooties. But I was seven back then. When I saw Annabeth in the car at the airport, she looked so different. My heart was racing. I could feel my cheeks burn and turn red. She still looked like she did when she was younger, but now, wow. She looked more mature. I was planning on scary Thalia and Annabeth, but they scared me instead. When I showed my face, I was so close to hers. I can hear her breathing.
Annabeth was also a half-blood. That part had been nagging in my head. I've known her since we were seven, and I saw her again during camp. But she is the daughter of Athena! I can't be friends with her. Our parents practically hate each other. Making us friends would put us in danger. Put her in danger. I can never live with that. Like Orpheus said, my fatal flaw is Personal Loyalty.
I went up the elevator. I could barley remember which floor my apartment was located. The elevator opened. I walked out. No one was there. I walked strait to my apartment and stood there in front of the door. I chuckled. The last thing I remembered was Thalia, Nico, Jason, and Annabeth and how I love pranking them. Then, I blacked out.
