AN: Sorry it has taken so long to update. School got in the way of things. Anyway, I am back, and will hopefully have book 1 done by the new year. In this chapter I am including the submitted character, Callidora Fawn, submitted by iBallloonX. Thanks for the character.

Percy Jackson and the Curse of Echidna

Callidora

The following Monday, after a weekend of almost no sleep, I stumbled into school, almost tripping over crumbs on the floor. I was killing myself, and I knew it. But nonetheless, I came into school. Mom had suggested that I stay home, but I knew I couldn't, not with the chance of something happening. Well it was good I came to school after all.

I was walking down the hall in between first and second period. Thalia was walking next to me. Over the weekend she had gotten worse too, though there was now a noticeable difference in our conditions. I was obviously the one in worse shape.

Anyway we were walking down the hall, yawning and spreading our doom and despair tired attitudes to everyone around us. You know how teenagers aren't morning people? Well Thalia and I had become no time people, always irritable, always on the edge of falling asleep. While we were walking down the hall, I saw something, and didn't think anything of it until second period began. A girl with long auburn hair was looking around worried. It wasn't until second period began that I gave it any thought.

Who was that girl? Could she have possibly been a demigod? No not likely. What were the chances of that?

Yet for some reason, I kept thinking about it. Finally, to resolve my conscious, I asked the teacher if I could go to the bathroom. I took the hall pass and went to where I had seen the girl. I looked around, staring at the empty hall. I yawned, my eyes closing as I did. When I opened them the spirit of Kronos stood in front of me.

Hail the conquering hero, he spoke in my mind. An ironic smile danced across the spirit's lips. If the day that you fulfilled the prophecy you were in this condition, I would have won the war.

"Shut up," I told him. "You're just a figment of my over-tired imagination, nothing more."

The golden form laughed. If only that were true. Well so long young hero. Enjoy the rest of your day at school.

I blinked, and the image of Kronos was gone. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself. It was my imagination. I leaned against the wall. I needed to rest. Maybe if I just sat for a bit...

And suddenly I was dreaming. I saw the girl that I had seen earlier glancing around nervously, exactly as I had seen her earlier. I was able to get a better look at the girl this time. She had long auburn hair that flowed freely down her back. Her eyes were a cerulean color. She was about five foot eight maybe. She wore one of those one shouldered tunic tops and short shorts made from denim. She wore leather ankle boots and earrings shaped like doves.

She walked down the hall, passing by Thalia and I. I heard a guy call out, "Hey Callidora!"

She turned. Running up to her was an Asian guy with dark hair, wearing a plain blue t-shirt and jeans.

The girl, whose name was apparently Callidora, said, "Not now Mike."

"Mike" looked slightly deflated. When Callidora kept walking, he caught up to her and kept walking. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing," Callidora muttered.

"Is someone picking on you?" Mike asked. "Don't worry, I'll take care of them."

He made fake boxing motions, making a fist completely wrong, by the way. Callidora actually laughed. But then the joy faded from her face. "It's just... Last night, I got a letter in the mail... from my mom..."

Mike looked quizzical. "I thought you said you didn't know your mom?"

"I don't! But she sent me this letter. It had these earrings in it. It said all the stuff you'd expect, 'I miss you', 'Sorry I've never talked to you before', stuff like that. But the weirdest thing was, at the very bottom it said, 'Watch for Percy Jackson.' What could that mean?"

At the mention of my name Mike's eyes had flickered yellow. When Callidora looked up at him, his eyes were normal again. "I don't know." The bell rang. "But come with me. I have a friend that I think could help."

I snapped awake. I glanced at the clock. I'd only been asleep for a couple of minutes, but something made sense to me now. That girl had been looking for me. Her mom was a Greek goddess, and had been trying to point her in the right direction: to safety. And I knew something else. That Mike kid was being possessed by Helen, and he had probably led Callidora right into some trap. Some trap that I'd have to enter myself if I was to save another demigod.

But first I was going to get help. I ran to the class Thalia was in, and told her teacher that Mrs. E. had asked to see Thalia. She was excused. As we walked I told Thalia about my dream. She nodded and said that Callidora Fawn was the name of a daughter of Aphrodite on the list.

We went straight to the main office and walked to the announcer's desk, where Helen sat. She looked up as we approached. "Percy, Thalia, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"You know damn well what you owe the pleasure to," Thalia snapped. "Where's the girl? Where's Callidora Fawn?"

Helen laughed. "That's why you're here? On another rescue mission? I'm afraid you're too late. You see, Callidora is having a conversation with Mrs. E. If you were to try to defeat Mrs. E, then the evidence needed to have you expelled would be her word. And trust me, the principal swearing two students attacked her is quite enough to get you expelled. We both know that by 'expelled' I mean fed to Chimera."

Thalia and I looked at each other. Great, I thought. Just perfect.

But what could we do? We couldn't risk the safety of the other demigods by bursting in there to save one, but then again we couldn't just leave Callidora. How could we pull this one off. Unless...

"Fine," I said gritting my teeth, a plan already formulating in my head. I guess Annabeth was rubbing off on me. "Let's go, Thalia."

Thalia stared at me, wide eyed. "What are you saying Jackson!"

I sent her the tiniest wink to let her know I had a plan, making sure Helen couldn't see it. "There's nothing we can do."

Thalia nodded grimly, but sent a small wink back my way. We backed out of the office, Helen smiling the whole time. Once outside the office, Thalia whipped towards me and asked, "What's the brilliant plan Percy?"

But I was too busy patting my pockets for drachmas. Damn, I thought. Out. "Drachmas! Thalia I need a drachma!"

She pulled one out of her pocket and handed it to me. "This is my only one. But I don't really see what this accomplishes."

But I was already running down the hall. I slashed apart a water fountain. The spray splashed everywhere, making a rainbow. I said the required lines. Then I had to say the person and destination. This was our only drachma. He could be one of two places right now, and I only had one shot. "Uh, Nico di Angelo, uh... Camp Half-Blood?" The last bit was more of a question really. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I was lucky. Nico's form came into focus, standing outside his cabin, facing away from me.

"Nico!" I yelled.

He spun, and his eyes widened when he saw Thalia and I. "Percy, Thalia? What's going on? Shouldn't you two be in class?"

"No time," I said. "We need you to come to the school. Now."

"What's going on?"

"Now!" Thalia growled. "No time to explain zombie boy!"

Nico rolled his eyes, but he nodded, then waved his hand through the image, dissolving it. Next thing I knew, there he was, standing in front of us in the flesh. "What?" he asked.

"Nice trick, zombie lad," Thalia muttered.

"So it's lad now, is it?" Nico asked. "I thought it was zombie boy."

Thalia was about to make some withering comeback, but I stepped between them. "Stop. Nico, we need your help." I explained our situation and my plan. Nico nodded slowly. "Makes sense. But I'm swordless. My sword is still being used as Thanatos's prison."

"You won't need a sword to cause a good distraction," I said. "Just follow the plan. Get Echidna and Helen to chase you, then just shadow travel back to camp. With luck Thalia and I will be there later with Callidora."

Nico nodded. "Alright. Okay, I'll do it. Be ready."

We followed Nico down the hall and hid in the janitor's closet across from the main office. I heard Nico running, yelling insults, and two people chasing him. My plan had worked!

Thalia and I slipped out of the closet, and into the office. Echidna's door stood wide open, and Helen was gone too. We peeked into Echidna's office. Sitting slumped over in a chair was the same girl from before, Callidora. She was bound and gagged. Thalia and I rushed forward and ungagged her. She stirred feebly. She muttered one word, that I was barely able to make out, "Trap."

I spun towards the door as it slammed shut. I could hear it lock. Then the room started filling with a strange greenish gas. So much for my perfect plan.

Thalia pulled her shirt up over her nose and mouth, I did the same. I unwadded the makeshift gag Callidora had had, and held the clothe over her nose and mouth. "Thalia," I said, my voice muffled by my shirt, "hold this clothe, I'll try to bust the door down."

She nodded and came over. The gas was now at waist level, and already I was breathing in some of it. I was feeling light headed. I sprinted at the door, slamming into it with my shoulder. I heard a loud crack, but nothing gave way. I tried again. Same result. And again. Nothing. By the fifth time, I was nearly unconscious. But I slammed into the door. The wood gave way and the door came down. The strange gas poured into the empty office and dissipated. I dragged myself up, letting my light headedness go away.

Thalia staggered out of the office, dragging an unconscious Callidora. "No time to rest Jackson, we have to leave. Nico's probably gone already. Echidna and Helen will be back soon." She said the words like she was forcing them out. She probably felt the same as I did. Whatever the gas had been, it was nasty stuff.

I nodded and pushed the window open. Thalia and I took Callidora to Paul's Prius. I hope he didn't mind taking the subway home. As we buckled her in, she woke back up. "Who are you?"

"Percy Jackson," I said.

She got a puzzled look on her face. "You're the one my mom wanted me to find?"

I nodded. "I guess so."

"How do you know her?"

I glanced at Thalia. "Long story. We'll explain on the way."

Helen and Echidna walked back into the office irritable. That demigod had gotten away. They were in for a worse surprise when they discovered Echidna's office door busted down.

Echidna growled, and went to her office to check, but Helen knew what had happened. They'd been duped by Percy Jackson. Not pleasing at all. But no matter. Helen's plan was still right on schedule. All she had to do was make sure Percy's next nine days were a living hell.