Percy stared around the arena in awe. It was completely different from yesterdays plain dusty ground. This time it was filled with luscious green grass, tall pines and a random pond here and there. Some colossal Venus fly traps were randomly dotted around the arena and Percy could sense hidden bombs planted in the ground ready for exploding wildly.
Out of the hundred contestants, now only fifty were competing in this event – the winners of the first challenge. At least now Percy didn't have to fight scarecrow anymore.
The King of Athane stood in the royal box looking down at the contestants. "Warriors, you shall each be assigned a partner to accompany you in this arena – both of you must defeat the twenty monsters that venture into the arena – the warriors with the fastest time will be ensured a place in the next challenge."
The spectators roared and applauded rowdily.
"Any warrior that falls unconscious will be at a risk of not making it to challenge three, am I understood?"
The contestants yelled their agreement.
The king signalled them to leave and Percy followed after them, giving Annabeth a quick smile who was sitting in the royal box next to a spiky black haired girl. The girl gave him a suspicious look but the door to the arena shut and blocked her from view.
Through the door, Percy could hear the monsters being let loose into the arena; they roared and screeched sending almost visible sound waves rippling through the air.
"Jason Grace and Chris Rodriguez."
A tall blonde haired elf pushed his way to through the contestants, a followed by another elf who carried a long bladed sword and shield with a picture of two snakes on the front.
The crowd cheered when they entered the arena, Percy caught a glimpse of a terrifying ten foot dragon roaring down at the two elves. Piece of cake. There was still plenty of room to move and manoeuvre around it, since the arena was just humongous.
"Thinking about the monsters in there?" he heard a malicious voice say.
"Not really."
Heracles laughed unpleasantly. "You should be worried, I've fought those monsters before – if I found them hard, you'll have no chance."
Percy's eyes flashed, he felt his power rise up in him. It took every last drop of his will power not to annihilate him where he stood.
"I'm not surprised you found them hard to kill – you haven't stepped one foot in the training grounds. Where have you been all night? Cuddling up in your safe warm mansion? Coward."
Heracles scowled at him. "I'll get you back for this, I'm the son of the Duke – so you better watch your words from now on."
Percy wrinkled his nose in disgust. "When you get a life." Though his threat still hung cold and fresh in the air.
Heracles' snorted and stomped away into the crowd of contestants, probably going to have another shouting match with Triton. Percy had no idea how people could get so conceited, it just seemed surreal to him.
He leaned against the arena wall; he could hear shouting on the inside. The crowd seemed to be going absolutely mental with screaming and yelling. He smiled to himself when he remembered the princess staring down at the arena with the most bored face he had ever seen. Thinking about her, he didn't even know her name. Maybe it was the stereo typical princess name – Isabella? Esmeralda...hmm that didn't really suit her at all.
He kicked a loose stone that was by his foot, it skidded a few meters away and clanged on something metallic. Percy leaned forward, curious. It was shaped like a compass, a small chain was threaded through the top of it, so it could hang like a necklace.
He stepped forward. Eight metres away...seven metres away...six, five, four...
"Persues Jackson and Triton Atlantia!"
Percy stopped and looked back. He could hear the crowd cheering in the arena. Only four metres away...he jogged forward and pocketed the small object. He wasn't even sure why he bothered, but something about it hummed with an unfamiliar energy. It intrigued him.
He quickly jogged back to the arena entrance; Prince Triton looked at him impatiently as if to say: 'What the hell were you doing? We've got a fight to win."
The drums started playing as Percy entered the wild arena, the large double doors closed behind him with a bang. He could sense a strong layer of magic that protected the spectators. Great, now he was in a cocoon of energy with his best buddy Triton.
Well...that just made his day.
"Let me do all the fighting – I don't want you to embarrass yourself," Triton tried to say that kindly, but it came out like 'I want all the attention to myself...Mwhahahahahahah!'
"I don't think it's me who should be worried about being embarrassed..." Percy muttered, remembering when Triton's trousers fell down in the middle of beating up a contestant. And Percy had absolutely nothing to do with it, nothing whatsoever...not.
Doors suddenly opened from the sides of the arena. Monsters poured out, one after the other – roaring in hunger for blood.
"So...you take the left flank I'll take the right?" Percy said, trying to make tactics.
"I'm not taking orders from you, peasant," Triton spat arrogantly. "I'll kill as many as I like."
"Fine, but you're going to regret it," Percy knew that there was no possible way Triton could defeat at least over ten of these monsters. They were too powerful for him. He'd be exhausted by the eleventh one.
Percy on the other hand, could probably disintegrate every single monster with one simple spell. Being half fish did have its perks.
He started running to the right, dodging the trees that always seemed to be right in the middle of his path. It felt too realistic in the arena except fake at the same time. The trees were too tall to be natural, they must have been made from magic and there were no Venus fly traps in the whole world that were as big as the ones here. These ones could probably gobble up six elves in one go.
Hmm...Nasty images...
There was a sudden screech behind him; a leathery abnormally large bat was zooming right towards him. In front of him was a gigantic sized monster, with grey legs and head but a golden lion's body. It was charging right at him. He had a split second decision.
Before the two beasts could slaughter him, he summoned the winds and shot straight into the air. The two monsters collided with each other, each screaming at about two hundred decibels. The withered old bat shrivelled up like a prune and turned into a nasty looking splodge on the ground. The ugly hybrid monster looked up at Percy, with his mashed up face in rage. Percy let go of the winds and he shot straight back down to earth, performing a full backwards somersault and landed on the creatures' hairy backside.
It reared in fury. It obviously wasn't used to being ridden on like a horse. Ah well...better late than never. The monster unexpectedly started charging towards a tree, Percy shot out a hand and the tree burst in water, giving the hybrid horse an unanticipated shower. It started screaming and legged it towards the nearest monster it could find.
A fully grown, fire breathing, leather winged dragon.
The crowd was screaming in excitement. Although Percy didn't really understand what was the exciting part. A dragon? Couldn't the king have come up with something less stereotypical to fight? He already knew the dragon's weakness, since he had defeated its kin countless amounts of time. He lifted his new hybrid into the air with him and catapulted them both straight into the dragon's mouth.
He heard screaming in the distance but the dragon had already closed his mouth. It was just like he had remembered. The throat was a dark unwelcoming purple, but he needed to go down there...
He discarded his new horse and sent it tumbling down the giant oesophagus and then slid down the gut, like it was a slide. He was covered in blood, but he could deal with that later. Percy timed the seconds...one...two...three...four...five...now! He stabbed his dagger at the side of the gut and hung from the momentum of the fall. He sliced through the sinews and tissue, a rush of blood started pouring out of the gap. Percy climbed up; he could see the enormous ribs that were at least ten times bigger than him. He cast a spell to shield the blood from his eyes and then...he started climbing.
Annabeth's hands were over clasped around her mouth in horror. Panic flooded into her, butterflies started in her stomach. Percy had been in the dragon far too long. There was no way he could've survived.
The spectators were muttering to each in doubt, they didn't know what to make of this. Most of them were shaking their heads in disappointment. No one in the history of the Mellay's had survived the dragon; there was no reason why it should be different this time.
The contestants didn't have to defeat the dragon; it was there for bonus points for the competition and an obstacle to make fighting the other monsters more of a challenge. The last contestant's both had been defeated and knocked out by the dragon even though they had put up a good fight.
Each monster had a weakness and so far nobody knew what this gigantic winged creatures' was. Her gaze drifted to Prince Triton, her fiancé. He was in a bad condition with numerous cuts and scrapes all over his body; he looked up at the dragon with a look of repulsion. He was in the middle of fighting a three headed mastiff that was currently drooling a river of saliva on top of him.
Annabeth didn't think she'd look at him the same way again. Absent minded, she started counting the seconds...one...two...three...four...five...
...Six. The sixth rib. He could see the heart now, golden and pumping; its massive arteries were the size of Percy. They were diminutive in comparison to the dragon. Percy leaned inwards, he plunged his dagger right inside the heart. He pressed deeper, the dragon was roaring loader and louder. Percy twisted the dagger sharply and withdrew it. The rib cage started shaking, he held on to the sixth rib as cracks suddenly raced up the cage and organs. Blood was gushing heavily done upon him; he held his breath for the smell was overwhelming. The dragon was roaring from the outside in complete and utter agony. Brilliant.
Then everything burst apart, he was thrown into the air – for a split second he felt a sense of freedom, every worry and care was left behind on the ground. He loved every moment...until he started falling. The grounds rushed towards him, every single pair of eyes were on him. He was heading straight into...a pond.
NO!
He manoeuvred to the left but it wouldn't work – he couldn't fall into a full body of water, not here, not now. Suddenly something swooped down and grabbed his body. Relief swept through Percy, he twisted out of the flying monsters' beak and snapped it in two. It screeched in pain and started plummeting to the ground. Percy leapt off just in time; he landed perfectly with both feet on the ground.
The audience went crazy and applauded like mad. Everyone was up on their feet from their stone seats, cheering wildly.
What was the big deal? All he had done was kill a dragon he had killed many times before. It wasn't like it was that hard.
There was a sudden presence behind him, quick as a snake he slashed off its neck before he had the chance to see what it was. Thick red blood splattered on his already stained clothes and in his knotted hair.
He lost track of time after that, he charged at every monster he faced and slaughtered it like a pig. It was as though they weren't even trying to fight back, some even cowered under the tree at the sight of him. The small sign of humility made him feel slightly sorry for the beasts. Unlike Triton who was screaming every possible insults at them between his laboured breaths.
The drums started banging again. The challenge was over. His adrenaline still pumped through his veins. Together, they had defeated every single monster, which was a new record for Athane. Prince Triton glared at him, his face was dripping with sweat and there was a nasty gash on his forehead.
"Well that was fun," Percy told him cheerfully. He briskly left the arena with a humiliated Prince lagging behind.
"Persues was like so incredible!" Silena gushed; she was in the middle of plaiting Annabeth's curly blonde hair.
"I know," Annabeth said dazedly. "He knew the dragons' weakness, no one; I mean literally no one has ever figured it out -"
"I know! Simply breath taking - literally! I was holding my breath the entire time he was inside the dragon and then when he burst out of it – that was just...wow."
"He was covered in blood," Annabeth pointed out. The memory floated back in her mind.
"Aww, you're still squeamish about blood aren't you! I remember, even when it's only the littlest thing, you still cringe dramatically! Remember that time when I got a paper cut and the tiniest drop of blood dripped out – you like ran for miles," Silena laughed, she finished tying the plait with a silky red ribbon.
"I was five at the time, that was when I was absolutely terrified of it. Anyway you made it worse by trying to wipe it on my face – just ewwww!"
"I was five at the time as well – I think we were both a little crazy," Silena giggled.
"You still are! I bet you've paired up every couple in Atlantia – you're mad about love, always have, always will."
Silena considered. "I haven't paired up every couple, although that would be a dream come true, but now two hundred elves are in forever debt to me for sorting out their love lives."
"TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE? Is that like all you ever do?"
Silena looked shocked. "Of course not! I've set up one of my Dad's chocolate shops in one of the streets – you will not believe how many elves love chocolate!"
"Wow! That's amazing! My father hardly ever buys chocolate, it's so unfair."
Silena frowned. "You should definitely persuade him, chocolate is so nice! But enough about chocolate – we need to do wedding plans!"
She opened her massive scrapbook on the inn bed. "What flowers are we having? Katie's mother sells flowers doesn't she? It will be nice to meet her again."
"Put down lilies, roses, tulips and we must have hydrangeas and peonies."
Silena started writing speedily into the book. "Lilies, roses, tulips..."
"Hydrangeas and peonies," Annabeth prompted.
"Got it. Now for the bridesmaids – there's so many I don't know who to choose!"
"Put down Hazel, you were her friend when you were younger, she'll remember you. She'll be what? Thirteen? Twelve?"
"Thirteen, her birthday's just passed," Silena said.
"How do you remember that? It's just strange," Annabeth replied in awe.
Silena shrugged. "I have no idea. Who else shall I put on the list?"
"Thalia? You know her don't you? She'll be delighted to be your bridesmaid," Although Annabeth wasn't sure what Thalia would think when she would be forced to wear a dress. Her father, the duke didn't care what she wore, so Annabeth always saw her in her tomboy clothing. She wished her father would let her do the same.
"Ok, I'll put her down on the list – what about Katie? I've known her for ages; it would be mean if I didn't put her down."
Annabeth agreed with her. "Yeah, that's fine."
Silena printed Katie's name out in her small elegant handwriting. She stopped writing and studied Annabeth. There was a five second silence.
"What are you going to do about you arranged marriage?" She said it completely out of the blue.
Annabeth bit her lip nervously. "I don't know...I don't know what to do."
Thalia sighed. All her efforts to unveil Mr Brunner's secret were for nothing. She hadn't noticed anything else suspicious about him. His recent trips to the forest could just mean he was actually collecting herbs like Travis said.
She felt slightly foolish for leading herself on like that. Thalia didn't know what to think now. Was he really up to something? Or not?
She rested her head on her hand and flicked through the pages in her scrapbook. She read and re read all of the information she had written down.
...was extremely mad and kept muttering random words. I couldn't make any sense of it, it's like he's in his own dream world. I don't get how a heart break can turn you insane – it's really creepy but I...
Thalia stopped reading. Leo had confused her an incredible amount. She secret wondered who he really is or where he came from. He couldn't have lived in that underground lair all his life and that goblin had told him about his heart break. Leo must've been somewhere different to actually experience it.
This was driving her insane, just like Leo. The constant thinking about the mystery was hurting her head. Even if Mr Brunner was up to nothing, she had to prove that first before she made any judgement.
Guilty until proven innocent.
She re read another diary entry.
Mr Brunner carried a book in his hand as he walked through the courtyard...
It must be another clue. But to Thalia it led nowhere. She carried on reading, hoping to find an answer to this messed up jigsaw puzzle.
...never seen her perform magic before, it was the biggest sleeping enchantment I have ever seen...
How had Annabeth harnessed her power so early? She wasn't even sixteen. Thalia's first spell was lighting a fire and even that drained a lot of energy from her. Jealously started to build up inside her, but she tried to push it back down.
Sighing, she shut the scrapbook shut and placed it back in her secret compartment. She shut the long black curtains that contrasted with the pale white room. She swiftly changed into her night gown; it was the only dress she ever allowed herself to wear.
She flung her day clothes on the floor of her bedroom chambers; she wasn't bothered to put them neatly in the cupboards. She lifted her duvet of her bed...and jumped back in horror. Any other person would've screamed but Thalia glared at the figure in irritation.
"Luke, just what do you think you're doing?"
"Sleeping...Mmmhmm..." he started snoring, how had she not noticed him before?
"Get. Out. Of. My. Bed." She growled.
A streak of black snot trailed down her pillow. Urggh. Maybe it was better to sleep on the floor tonight. Thalia got a spare blanket and pillow out of her wardrobe and curled up on her mat next to the fire.
An owl hooted outside as the kingdom of Athane fell asleep. Little did they know what troubles were lying in wait for them.
AN: Hi, thanks for reading again - i'm thinking about merging the first few chapters together to make larger chapters, just a thought. Read and review! Au revoir!
Cocoa :)