A/N-Sorry for not updating when I said would, my computer broke and my loaner was acting weird. Don't even get me started on that broken computer-these two idiots in my physics class broke it. It's alright, they'll pay for a new one. Anywho, that's pretty much the only reason why I wasn't updating and apparently I've never heard of writing the chapter out on a paper then transferring on a word doc. I'm smart like that. This chapter is shorter and there's a section on Percy's pov of the winter dance. Enjoy!
Zoë Nightshade drove like a mad woman. She wove in and out of traffic, nearly causing a collision at every turn.
"And here I thought Thalia was a bad driver." Grover clutched his seat, making dents in it.
"I'm going to get you for that, goat boy!" I threatened, glaring at him.
Grover bleated mournfully and looked at the road ahead. "Gods, Zoë-you're going to kill us before we can even save Artemis!"
I snorted. "Real talk, though. Not all of us are immortal, you know."
Something seemed to register in Zoë's mind and slowed down slightly, going at least 20 miles above the speed limit instead of a hundred. "I am sorry. I just feel as though we are running out of time."
"It's the eighteenth, Zoë." Percy's gaze was focused on the road. "We've three days, fourteen hours, and 93.3 seconds until the Winter Solstice."
"How many miliseconds?" I asked teasingly.
"Shut up," Percy chuckled then looked out the window. ".089."
"That's what I thought." I laughed and surprisingly, Zoë joined in.
"Thee is correct, Percy." The lieutenant loosened her grip on the steering wheel. "We have time."
"You should listen to me more often. I'm never wrong."
Grover frowned. "Well, there was that one time..."
"I didn't ask for your two cents, goat boy." Percy interrupted, earning a laugh from Bianca and me.
"Wow, I didn't come on this quest to be attacked, you know." Grover leaned back, adjusting his reed pipes.
"You didn't?" I rose my brows.
Percy threw his head back, laughing. "I thought you were supposed the be the scapegoat."
"Good one." I complimented.
"I'm available anytime." He turned around to wink at me. "And I mean, anytime."
A blush spread across my cheeks. "Classy, Percy. Class-y."
"It's among one of my gifted talents." He wiggled his brows at me. "Wanna see my other gifts?"
"No, thank you. Please keep your gift wrapped." I smiled. "Return to sender."
"Consider the sender offended."
Zoë cleared her throat. "I hate to interrupt the sexual innuedos but I'm afraid we've got company."
"The good kind?" Grover asked, bleating.
"I wish." Zoë muttered before pointing to a museum. "Skeleton guards."
I sucked in a sharp breath-she was right. A line of bone-white skeletons with guns were positioned in front of the museum. The mortals walking by gave them a strange glance but I knew the mist prevented them from seeing their true nature.
Zoë parked and unbuckled her seat belt, getting out of the car. "Let's go."
Percy, Grover, Bianca, and I followed suit and got out of the van.
Bianca caught up to us, eyes wide. "Am I only one wondering why we are heading toward those creepy skeletons? I think we should pass them-it's probably a bad omen that they're here."
"'Tis a good sign, Bianca." Zoë said, her hair blowing in the wind. "It means we're going in the right direction."
"Or toward our deaths." The new hunter grumbled but opened the museum doors. By the time we reached the door, the skeleton guards had disappeared inside. "After you guys."
"Thanks." I murmured, going in.
"I've never been to the Smithsonian." Grover commented, looking at all the sculptures and bones.
"Well, now's not the time for sightseeing." Percy jaw locked. His eyes narrowed. "Something's up here."
"I agree." Zoë's bow appeared in her hand. "Split up. Follow those skeletons and see what they are up to. Meet back in five."
"Grover, Thalia, and Bianca take the left. Zoë and I will go right." Percy directed before walking off in that direction.
A pang of jealously struck my chest as Zoë caught up with him and I looked away. In the words of Zoë Nightshade, I do not care. I do not.
"It looks like you care." Grover commented. "A lot, actually."
"Shut it, goat boy." I felt my cheeks warm.
"Did he just read your mind?" Bianca asked, weaving past a group of mortals.
"No-he's satyr so he picks up on emotions. He can read expressions pretty well." I explained. "He's also never heard of a thing called privacy."
"Sorry." Grover said sheepishly.
I shrugged, straining my neck to look for the skeletons. "I think we should turn back around and wait for Zoë and Percy. I don't see any skeletons."
"Same here." Bianca said. "Maybe they got scared and fled?"
"Ha." I laughed dryly. "I wish. They'll be back and we'll be ready when they come."
"I hope so..." Bianca trailed off and I led us back to the spot where we all had agreed on.
Barely two minutes later, Percy and Zoë ran in. Their faces were pale and Zoë had a wild look in her eyes.
"I will admit, I did not believe thee at first. But now that I have seen him with my own eyes, I do." Zoë looked at Percy, her face as pale as a sheet.
"I knew it was him the moment Thorn said something about a general. Any idea how they got him out from underneath the sky?"
Zoë looked around before ushering the group towards the door. "The burden must be accepted willingly. Anybody in their right minds would never take it from him. They must've been manipulated."
Percy's lips twitched. "Of course, I should've seen it earlier. Annabeth. The titans lured in Artemis by having Annabeth hold the sky. She would never let a maiden go through such torture."
"But that begs the question-who got Annabeth to hold the sky? Certainly not the general." Zoë tapped her foot. "Also the titan lured Artemis in by sending that monster for her to chase. What is that monster and how did it come to be in their possession?"
"No idea." Percy looked around. "Maybe it just appeared and the titans used it to their advantage?"
"Likely. The way Artemis described it to me..." A shiver passed through the girl. "It has immense power, rivals that of the gods."
"Hold up," I interrupted. "What are we talking about? A general? Holding the sky?"
Percy opened his mouth to speak but a fierce growl interrupted him. Around us, the mortals screamed and began to scatter.
I tapped my bracelet and my shield appeared. "What's going on?"
"That." Percy's sword was at full length as he pointed to an enormous lion running at full speed towards us. Its golden fur glittered, catching the light.
"The Nemean Lion," I recognized. "When it gets closer, we split and scatter. It can't get all of us at once."
The group nodded and when it came near, I rolled to the left. When I got back up, I saw that Bianca and Zoë had their bows in hand, running up the stairs. They were going to aim from high ground. And good thing too, because I had a feeling this massive lion wasn't going to go down easy. Grover played a tune on his reed pipe, causing the lion to roar. Percy appeared beside me and slanted his head toward the cowering mortals.
"Got it." I said, helping the mortals escape the floor.
"Kitty!" A toddler said as I ushered her toward another section of the museum.
"Yes, big, scary kitty." I agreed, handing her off to her parents. They looked confused but not scared. "It's our new virtual animal project. Nothing to worry about."
The parents nodded, taking the child's hand before wandering off in another direction.
Running at full speed, I reached my friends in a matter of minutes. Arrows whizzed past me, bouncing off the Nemean lion harmlessly.
"We're not even making a dent!" Grover yelled.
I looked behind me and saw an army of skeleton warriors approaching. "Well, we better get rid of it fast-the skeletons are coming!"
Bianca's face paled as she notched another arrow.
"I've got an idea." Percy jumped on the nearest waterfountain. "I'm going to get to open its mouth and Zoë and Bianca launch your arrows into the back of his throat. Thalia, send a shock through him. The water combined with the electricity should do the trick."
"Ready whenever you are." I said, drawing my spear to conduct electricity.
Zoë and Bianca nodded, ready to implement the plan.
Percy's hands shot out and a burst of water followed, aiming at lion's mouth. It was in full-roar mode, angered by Grover's obnoxious reed pipes.
Zoë's and Bianca's arrows flew and I followed it up with current of electricity. As soon as the arrows entered the lion's mouth, it began to jerk violently, currents of electricity flowing through him. With one final roar, the Nemean lion fell to the floor, twitching until it no longer moved. I watched as the the lion shrunk, leaving behind a normal-size lion's pelt.
Zoë took it, her hands shaking. "Take it." She told Percy and he stared at her with disbelief.
"I-I can't." He shook his head. "I know what this means to you. Let's just leave it and forget about it."
"It is time someone noble and brave donned the fur, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like him, nor will you ever be."
"Zoë, I-I don't know what to say." Percy's eyes burned amber. "Thank you."
Before I could decipher their conversation, the skeletons were approaching. "Incoming!"
"Run!" Bianca yelled and we ran, leaving the skeletons and the museum behind us.
The following is a scene from Chapter 5, the Winter Dance at Westover Hall
1st POV/Percy-
Adjusting my tie, I stepped out of my dorm room and slipped my tux jacket on. The Winter Dance. Practically the last place on Earth I wanted to be at. A night of watching sweaty, gawky mortal teenagers paw all over each other wasn't my idea of a fun night. But I had little choice-we had to find the monster/vice principal and protect the Di Angelos.
I glanced over at Annabeth. Standing beside her boyfriend, dressed in a silver dress, she looked like her mother, Athena.
Lee looked over at me as he messed with his cuff links. His brows inched up. "I really hope we don't make a scene tonight."
"I have to agree, but there's no fun in a take down without a scene." Annabeth hiked up her dress slightly, revealing her knife tucked into a garter.
I smiled. "Classy, Wisegirl."
"I try." She waved a hand toward the stairs. "We should get going."
As the three of us went down the steps and headed into the gym, I reflected on the real reason I was really here. I wasn't here to scuffle with the monster/vice principal.
It had to do with one sweaty, gawky mortal teenager pawing all over one person in particular. Once I knew that Thalia had actually accepted the idiot's offer to the dance, instinct was screaming that she was going to need me. Or it was a really messed up territorial need to… to do what?
Go in there, beat the crap out of Logan and claim my girl?
Uh no, because beating the crap out of him would probably end in his death and she wasn't my girl. No way in holy hell.
Annabeth disappeared into a flock of several girls who were already squawking and squealing about her dress. Forcing myself to breathe and not run around the room, popping all the balloons that probably took an entire day to blow up, I found the nearest empty table and sat. Following suit, Lee did the same. He started talking about some football game I could give two craps about and I zoned him out.
And waited.
And waited some more.
And then I saw Logan's jock-douchebag friends head toward the door and I knew that meant Thalia was here. Leaning back in my chair, I casually looked over my shoulder.
Something unexpected happened to my chest. It felt like someone had walked right up to me and socked me in it. I might have stopped breathing.
"Oh Rhea, mother of baby Zeus," I muttered.
Thalia stood by the door, her hands clasped around a tiny clutch as her eyes bounced around the gymnasium. The dress… aw man, that dress should be illegal. Tight around the bodice and waist, then flowing over her hips like a river of crimson silk. Her hair was up, revealing a long, graceful neck I didn't know she had.
Red.
Red was my favorite color.
Thalia wasn't cute. She wasn't even sexy. She was beautiful—absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
I watched her bolt as soon as she spotted Bianca and an approving smile spread over my lips. That's right, Sweetheart, I thought, stay away from Logan. He so doesn't deserve to be in the same time zone as you.
I had no idea how long I watched her, but I eventually lost sight of her in the crowd. Part of me wanted to get up, and go find her. But that would raise eyebrows, so I remained there, gripping the back of my chair so hard it groaned under the pressure. At some point, Lee got up, talked to Grover who was on the opposite side of the gym, then pulled his girlfriend aside, talking to her by the stage.
I craned my neck, still looking for Thalia.
Then she reappeared with Annabeth, skirting along the dance floor. She stopped, twisting gracefully until her gaze landed on my table as if she'd been looking for me. Something inside me roared a male approval.
Our eyes locked, and there was that sucker-punch feeling again, except in moved lower, into my stomach. I was mesmerized, enthralled. She took a step back and—
And Logan pushed through the crowd, blocking her from me. Every muscle in my body locked up as a primal urge rushed through me. I started to stand, but at the last moment, forced myself to sit.
A few seconds later, Annabeth arrived at the table. She filled me in a few things. Describing the monster/vice principal, but I didn't really hear her. Then Lee leaned over, whispering in my ear. "I'm going to keep an eye on the Di Angelos. I'll send the signal if anything's up."
"Got it."
Lee got up. "See you in a few."
Peace out, I thought. I kept an eye on Logan… and Logan's hands. I did not like them.
I'd barely realized that Annabeth had gone too and was now making her way to Thalia. She pulled the daughter of Zeus away briefly and I nodded in approval.
I growled, looking down. What Thalia was doing really wasn't any of my business. In reality, she can do whatever she wanted. As luck would have it, Thalia ended back with Logan again.
Logan's hand glided down the front of her dress, causing Thalia to jerk back. Her angry expression was lost in a sea of faces and… well, that was it. I was on my feet before I even realized it, moving between dancers, my hands curling into fists.
I stalked up to them, stopping behind Thalia. "Mind if I cut in?"
Logan's eyes shot wide, and he must've seen his impending doom in my face, because he dropped his arms and took a step back. "Perfect timing. I needed to get a drink anyway."
I arched a brow and then turned to Thalia, dismissing the idiot. "Dance?"
She stared back a moment, then carefully placed her hands on my shoulders. "This is a surprise."
Damn if it wasn't. I wrapped an arm around her waist and took one of her hands in mine. And damn if she didn't feel right in my arms, perfect actually.
Stupid and oddly wishful thinking.
Her incredibly long lashes swept up and eyes warm but wary searched mine. A pretty flush spread across her cheeks and down her throat. I'd do something terrible to know what she was thinking. I pulled her closer.
"Are you having a good time with Happy Hands?"
She sucked in her lower lip, and I bit back a groan. "Such a constant smartass."
I laughed and she shivered in my arms. My hand slipped to her hip and I cleared my throat, looking over the top of her head. "You… you look beautiful, by the way. Really too good to be with that Linus idiot."
"Logan." She corrected, looking down as her skin flushed. "Are you high?"
"Unfortunately, no I'm not. Though, I am curious why you would ask."
"You never say anything nice to me."
"Good point." Damn, I was a dick sometimes. I sighed-well, most of the times. I lowered my chin and she jumped when my jaw grazed her cheek. "I'm not going to bite you. Or grope you. You can relax."
She was silent, so I took that as a good thing. Acting on instinct, I guided her head to my chest and then placed my hand on her lower back. Dancing like that was normal. Nothing for anyone to fuss over, including me.
Breathing in the peaches scent of hers, I closed my eyes and let the music guide us. I started to hum to the underlying beat, focusing on the heat she threw off. There was something strangely intimate about slow dancing. Not the bumping and grinding kind that left little to the imagination, but this—two bodies melded together, drifting in the same beat, touching in all the right places. Intimate.
Okay, maybe I was high.
My hand curled against her back. "Seriously, how's your date going?"
Thalia smiled. "He's a little friendly."
"That's what I thought." I searched for him in the crowd, wanting to knock him out. "I warned you about him."
"Percy," she said. "I have him under control."
I snickered. "Sure looks like it, Sweetheart. His hands were moving so fast I was beginning to question if he was human or not." She stiffened in my embrace. "Gods, you're way out of your league with that Lincoln guy."
"Logan." Thalia pulled back and I immediately missed the way she felt.
We'd completely stopped dancing by this point. A storm was brewing and it had a name: Sweetheart. I almost smiled.
"Excuse me?" she said. "I'm out of my league?"
Didn't she get it? "You heard me."
A/N-And we all know what happens after that. I would've continued to the part where he sees Zoë but I'm planning to reveal the way they met next chapter actually. Also this is going up today because I won't be updating on saturday, I'm taking the ACT then doing a college visit. Thanks for reading and as always, have a great week!
