I let the blood rush to my head. As soon as my vision cleared, I got confused. I wasn't in my cabin and I had two other girls in my room. After a minute of confusion, I remembered that I was in my new room, and that I was going to fight. Today. I was buzzing. I checked my watch and it was about 7:30 am. I was always an early waker. I pulled my trunk out of the Duat and decided what to wear. The first thing I pulled out was my camp half-blood tee-shirt. My first thought was to throw it away. In a split decision, I decided to leave it in the trunk. I took out a linen shirt. It was an odd shirt, but it had cool designs. I decided to put it on. I put on my old leather boots. No one else was awake, so I decided to explore. I had a knack for doing that.
I found the dungeons, the library, Ethan's room, the map room, the attic, fully stocked with weapons, and the mess hall. By the time I got there, I was starving. I sat down and waited. I saw a buffet table from the corner of my eye. I jumped up and rushed to it. Amazingly, the food wasn't bad in any way. I left and went back to my room. The other girls were awake when I came in. Sadie was in the bathroom, probably changing. Alice was on her bed, doing nothing except twiddling her thumbs.
"We're not gonna win. I can feel it." she told me. I sat next to her, on her bed.
"Why do you think that?" I asked her. "Or feel that I guess."
"I don't know. I haven't even seen the plan. I just..." she didn't finish. Sadie came out of the bathroom. She had a streak of green in her hair. She acted as if it wasn't there.
"So what's the battle plan?" she asked, joining us sitting on the bed.
"How about I show you?" They nodded. I lead them down to the map room. After a few minutes, I found the one Annabeth and I made yesterday. I layed it out on the table.
"So, Alice you lead one group of monsters to the left. That will distract them so Sadie's group can come in the right. If I'm right, that will make them divide in the middle. I'll lead the last group in and up to Mt. Olympus we go. Do you like the plan?" I asked.
"I'm fine with it. I just have one question. How do you know where they'll be?" Sadie asked, peering over the map.
"I don't. That's where I would defend." I told them. "And I saw their map."
"How?" Alice asked.
"Dreams and visions." I answered. They seemed to get it. Alice perked up as if she heard something.
"The battle is starting soon. Let's go." she said. Me and Sadie glanced at each other for a moment. We had the same thought. How did she hear that?
We didn't have much time to think. A moment later Annabeth called from the end of the hallway.
"Let's go guys! Bring the map up!" she yelled and went back upstairs. I grabbed the map and ran upstairs with Alice and Sadie. We met in the mess hall to discuss the final things.
"Okay, there's a change of plans. Instead of Alice going out to fight, I am. Apophis ordered it. Alice will be our not-so-secret weapon." Annabeth informed us. Alice looked a little sad.
"Is that 'cause she's the titan's daughter?" I asked.
"Probably. I'm not sure." she replied. "Anyway, we need to rally the troops. I've always wanted to say that." I snickered at her comment.
"What will I do?" Alice asked.
"I don't know." she admitted. "You'll probably stay until one of us gets you. Sorry. Anyway, let's go." she lead us to a gigantic room with about one-thousand monsters in it. Luckily, they were already in groups, waiting to be ordered.
"Which of you wants which group?" I asked them.
"I call right/left!" Annabeth and Sadie yelled simultaneously.
"Okay then. I guess I'm middle."
(Looking back on it, that was the best decision I ever made.)
We took our groups and told them the directions. No one, or should I say thing, said anything. The room opened on one side, and we looked outside. We were on ground level, so it was hard to see everything. What I could see, was at least five hundred people, forming ranks. It was a little pathetic. Half of them were walking around, clueless. It was amusing. Those who were ready, were very prepared. They had swords, staff, and wands at the ready. There were a few tree spirits, dryads, and satyrs. They weren't very scary. Anyway, we marched into battle. A few were shocked who was leading the monsters. All of the magicians were now completely in confusion. I guess the pharaoh's sister shouldn't be evil. The demigods were surprised that Annabeth was on this side. No one really payed attention to me.
"You guys stay here. I'll be right back." I told them. I shadow traveled to the plan room. The boys were shocked that I appeared.
"I'll give you a choice. You can surrender now, and not waste your and my energy. Or you can fight and die. What do you chose?" I asked them. Nico was the one who answered.
"Maria, why are you doing this? Why aren't you helping us?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked, snarky. My own reply took me back for a second. Nico took that small opportunity.
"You're not even thinking right. Help us, not Apophis." he said.
"So, I take it you rather fight." I said. No one said anything. I back-flipped into the darkness and ended up next to Annabeth and Sadie.
"Nice flip. I take it they didn't surrender." Sadie said.
"Correct." I told her. "And thanks." We marched to battle, going along with our original plan. Sadie and Annabeth went their ways with the monsters. After the other side split up, I took the middle group in.
When we were close enough, I could see the whole battle. Plenty of people were already on the ground, either knocked out or dead. There was dust here and there. None of the boys seemed to be fighting. I started to join the fight. It's a blur what happened. I don't want to talk about it either.
Anyway, eventually I got locked in combat with Anubis. He was the only one of the boys who had joined the battle. He was also the first person who stood a chance against me. I know it sounds stupid to fight with a god, but I wasn't in the right mind. I also had a normal reason to hate him. He was a dog, and I was a cat. The most annoying thing about him, was that he made my heart do a little happy dance when I saw him. Especially that.
(Carter just made an unhuman squealing sound. Yes you did Carter, don't deny it.)
Neither of us had the upper hand. That was until a deflected his blade and made him drop it. There he stood, defenceless. As I went down to pick up his sword, he stopped me. In the weirdest way too. He grabbed my arm and pulled me over to him. After that he proceeded to do the stupidest thing any boy could do to a girl with a sword.
The fool kissed me.
(Again with the unhuman squeal from Carter.)
Everything in my head changed. As in my judgement was different. And my thoughts were basically: Oh my Gods, Oh my Gods, Oh my Gods, Oh my Gods, Oh my Gods. I pulled away and just stared at him. I glanced away for a second. Just in time for me to see an arrow flying toward us.
"Move!" I yelled at him, and switched places with him just in time to get an arrow in my arm. It wasn't an normal arrow either. As soon as it touched my skin, a thousand volts raced through me. It was worse than getting hit by a taser. I fell to the ground, shaking. I knew who shot it; Thalia shot the arrow for Anubis. I ruined her plan by taking the arrow. I blacked out for a while as I slipped into the Daut.
My bau decided to go off. It traveled to a giant hall with one floating cat goddess in the middle of it.
"Finally! You're here!" Bast said. "Listen, I know Apophis is trying to make you evil and such but you aren't supposed to be."
"Bast, I kno-" I started to say.
"I mean, you're supposed to be good with your brother." She continued.
"Bast, I-"
"You're shouldn't be fighting with Apophis, you should be fighting against him."
"Bast!" I yelled.
"What?" Her hair puffed up.
"I know, I'm fine. Seriously, listen. I feel like I'm giving advice to myself. Anyway, I need your help to convince the boys I'm good. I'm just hoping Anubis sticks up for me."
"What happened between you two? You've blocked me out so I have no idea what happened." she said.
"I swear if you tell anyone this I will come after you. He kissed me. Happy?" I said. She didn't say anything. I felt a tugging sensation around me. "I need to go. Nice talking with you." I was whisked away and back into my body.
I woke up in a infirmary bed. Anubis is next to me. I touched my arm. It was wrapped in bandages. They were a little bloody.
"Hello." I said to Anubis. He was happy I was alive.
"How are you?" He was a bit concerned.
"Other than getting an arrow in my arm, I'm fine. Come on, we need to see the other guys." He helped me up and stumble to the planning room. The Athena kids were bickering around a large table.
"They have forces everywhere, we're spread too thin." One girl said.
"Yeah, but if we group together, we'll be struck from behind." A boy said.
"Sorry to cut in, but I think this might help." I circled the headquarters of the enemy. "They're coming from here, here, and here. The largest group is to the left. The smallest in the middle. I trust you can make a plan out of that." I left them. They were all staring at me, wondering if they could trust me. "Well, go on. Do something." They set to work.
Finally, we came to the main hall. The boys were bickering about something.
"Hello boys." I said. They paid no attention to me. I whistled. They turned to my direction. "Hello. How are you?" No one answered. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. Let's discuss matters. Shall we?" Everyone had been standing and yelling. Now they were silent. "I'm guessing that you guys don't trust me." Percy nodded.
"Not at all." Nico said.
"I'm sad my brother doesn't like me anymore." I said. I was a little upset. "How can I make you trust me?"
"I don't know." Percy shrugged.
"I've got it!" I yelled. "I know how to get you to trust me." I held out my hand and a hieroglyphic burned above it. The hieroglyphic was a bright gold. It was a picture of a cat slicing the head of a serpent.
"Bast trusts me, you should too. I can help. And the dog trusts me too. I've got opposites trusting me! And if you still don't trust me then look at my left arm." I pulled up my sleeve to show them the arrow wound. It still stung. "It wasn't any arrow either. It was electric."
"How do we know that you telling the truth? You could've asked her to shoot you." Carter said. I went over and slapped him in the back of the head.
"Why in Hades would I want an arrow in my arm?" I yelled. I calmed myself down before I started talking again. "Anyway, we need to discuss stuff. Like how to get your girlfriends good again." Everyone blushed except Percy and Anubis. "What? Have you not excepted that? Okay, I'll rephrase it. We need to get your friends who are girls, good again. Anyone else have a idea?"
"Nope."
"Not at all."
"What's your idea?" Walt asked
"You really want to hear it?"
"Yes." he responded.
"Okay, I think we need something to shock them. Take them by surprise." I said. "Are you following me?" The boys shrugged. "You're not going to like what I'm going to say. You guys have to kiss your girlfriends. Wait, I mean your friends who are girls. And you know which girl goes with who. Or you don't. Boys are clueless."
"Excuse me?" Nico said.
"It will work. Trust your sister." Anubis said.
"And how do you know?" my irritating brother asked.
(Yes Nico, you are quite irritating. Now let me continue.)
"Yeah, and how are fine?" Percy asked me
"Can we Please save that for another day? We have work to do. By the way I need to borrow a pegasus." I said. "Don't worry I'll find one. I know the one that will cooperate. Back in a bit." I shadow traveled to the horse stalls at camp Half-blood. "Blackjack? I need your help." A horse whinnied at the sound of its name.
"Blackjack!" I started patting his nose. "Now I know I'm not Percy, but I need your help." The horse whinnied and let me ride him. "This is probably not the best idea, but Poseidon and Zeus, please forgive me." We took off to the sky.
"Okay, Blackjack, don't freak out, but we have to go to the enemy's headquarters. You won't get hurt, I promise." We came down in front of a tall school. "I knew I hated school." I rode into the main hall, which had magically been altered. It had been turned into a throne room, with only one throne. And the God of Chaos sitting on it.
"Apophis. I have a proposal. I give each side a question. The question has to be yes or no, it can be complex or simple, it just has to be yes or no. The other side will also get a question Same rules, no lying. It benefits both sides. Or disadvantages one. If I cannot answer then you may ask another question. Do you agree?" I asked. I was still on top of Blackjack.
"Any yes or no question? Do you swear to be truthful?" he asked.
"Swear on what?" I asked. I purposely had an annoying sound in my voice.
(Yes, purposely, Nico. Will you let me tell the story? Thank you.)
He thought for a minute.
"Swear on your life." he finally said.
"Well, that's for me to decide. And it sounds a bit extreme. But, sure. I swear." I said "What is your question?"
"Leave and let me think." he said.
"Okay, then I'll go ask the other side." I took off with Blackjack again. As I soared above the battle, I saw adults fighting in the battle, against the monsters. I realized that those weren't just adults, they were the gods and goddess. The only goddess I didn't see, was Hera. Maybe she didn't like to fight. Artemis and Apollo were back to back shooting arrows at monsters. Each arrow hit 3-5 enemys. I landed in front of the Empire state building, and rode into Percy. Not literally.
"You stole my horse!" he yelled.
"Your pegasus. And anyway, he's not yours. Although he likes you. He's the only one that doesn't pull away from me. And I have a proposal. We need all of you guys to talk." I left Blackjack in the lobby and walked to the big room. They were again arguing about something. I whistled. They turned to me. Anubis rubbed his ear.
"Will you stop doing that?" Anubis said.
"No. I'm guessing none of you have left yet. Good. I've already made a two way deal with Apophis," A few gasps, "Gods, it benefits you guys too. No need for gasping. Anyway you each gets a question they can ask. It has to be yes or no, or if I can't answer then you can ask a different question. I've already sworn on my life to be truthful, and I don't plan on dying soon. It can be complex or simple, blah blah blah. What's your question?" I asked.
"Wait, you said each gets a question to ask. Doesn't that mean each of us gets a question?" Carter asked.
"Is that your question?" I asked him.
"Yes, that's my question." he replied.
"Then you'll like the answer. Yes. Although, you just asked yours. I'll give you guys a minute to decide your questions." I said. I sat down on a chair and waited as they huddled. They separated.
"Questions! Ask them." I said. Percy went first.
"Are the girls safe?" he asked.
"Yes. They're fine except that they're on the other side and such." I answered.
"I can't believe I'm asking my sister for advice." Nico said.
"Big sister." I stuck my tongue out at him. "Go on, ask your question."
"Hey, you're only two years older than me." he argued.
"Three. Today's my birthday."
"Really?"
"Yes. My birthday's the spring equinox. Come on, ask your question." I said.
"Are we going to win the battle?" he asked.
"Yes. And no." I answered. The boys looked at each other.
"How can it be yes and no?" Walt asked.
"I cannot answer. That is not a yes or no question. And I rather not die." I put my feet up on the table. "Walt and Anubis, you guys still need to ask your questions."
"Will all of us survive?" Walt asked.
"Depends. Who is 'all of us'?"
"Me, Percy, Anubis, the gods, both kinds, Carter, Nico, Annabess," he listed.
"It's Annabeth." Percy said, a little irritated.
"Right, Annabeth, Sadie, Chon, Amos, you, Alice,Thia," he continued.
"Chiron and Thalia." Nico corrected.
"Zia, and, that's it." he ended.
"Doesn't Anubis count as a god?" I asked. "Anyway, I'll hold on to your question. I have a question for you. How come you pronounced my name and Alice's name correctly, but not Chiron's, Thalia's, and Annabeth's?" I asked him.
"Because I've met you guys?" he answered.
"I've never brought Alice to met you." I said.
"True," he said. "But I think I would know my girlfriend."
"You're the guy she was talking about? Who knew?"