Thalia and I braced ourselves for the worst. When the other women saw the cashier change, they took it as a signal and they changed as well.

"Now we're ready to play," the hag in the middle sneered. I tried not to tremble. If Thalia was right about them being the most dangerous monsters since who knows when then we could be in a lot of trouble.

Then the hags charged and I got my next surprise. They could breathe fire through their mouths like dragons.

Thalia cringed beside me, and then raced at the Furies with her spear. I followed with my knife.

I would like to say that I was the heroic one and I jumped on a Fury's back and ended her...but I'd be lying. I did try to jump on a Fury's back, only to find that it was boiling hot. I felt like I was on fire.

"Luke!" Thalia cried. "Are you okay?"

I fell off the Fury's back and hit my back (hard by the way) on the ground. I yowled in pain. "I'm fine! I hope..."

Thalia was impressive as usual. She tackled two Furies at once, each move was flawless. With her dealing with those two, it only left me to deal with the cashier. The cashier Fury glared at me and charged, her talons glowing. I raised my knife and stuck it in her chest.

She screamed in agony and evaporated. I sighed in relief, while trying not to gag at the dust she left behind.

Thalia was still going strong with the other Furies, but I got up to help her. I felt huge waves of nausea but I didn't care. Thalia needed me. And I needed her.

I raced at the other Fury just as it cut and burned Thalia's arm. Thalia yowled in pain but managed to stab the one Fury's chest before she collapsed, clutching her arm.

I tackled the last Fury on its back and knocked it down. The Fury landed with a thump, but she did not evaporate.

"You think you're so great, don't you godling?" the Fury sneered.

I hesitated. Sure, people have insulted me before, but being insulted by a monster? No chance about it. I wouldn't answer to her. I struck out my hand, and she was history. Thalia groaned in pain beside me, and I limped over to her.

"T-They'll come back," she whispered.

I placed my hand on her cheek. Her face was burning up. The Furies might have done her a bit more damage than she was letting on, although she did look pained.

"You'll be okay," I told her, trying to stay positive. "For a twelve year old, you fight pretty well!"

Thalia laughed weakly. "Aye, and you for a fourteen year old...you fight like a wimp."

I chuckled, and helped her up. Thalia leaned against my shoulder and I led her out of the alley. Thalia groaned once in awhile and grabbed her arm in immense pain.

"What did you mean when you said that they would be back?" I asked her. "We killed them, they should be gone."

Thalia tightened her grip on my arm. "Monsters aren't like humans and demigods. Sure they can die, but they don't...'die.'"

"What do you mean?"

"They are sent to the darkest parts of hell where they reform. They then return to the world and go at it again and again. It drives us demigods crazy."

"Tell me about it," I grumbled, pausing to catch my breath, as Thalia was getting heavy on my shoulder.

Suddenly, a girl with a mop of blond hair burst into the alley. Her eyes were stormy gray, and her face looked terrified.

"Where are they?" she shrieked.

"Where are who?" Thalia asked.

"The stupid monsters! Where are they? They're all around me!" the girl rapidly glanced left to right then buried her face in her hands. Thalia glanced at me and mouthed out Omg, she's cute!

I walked over to Annabeth and placed my hand on her shoulder. When I touched her, she shirked and pulled herself away from me. "Stay away! The monsters are coming! They always come!"

I forced her to look at me in the face. It was hard too, because I had to pick her up while she was kicking and screaming. "No monsters are coming," I said firmly when I finally got her to calm down at look me in the eye.

The girl blinked. I thought I could see tears forming in her eyes. "R-really?"

I nodded. "Monsters are never going to hurt you again. Thalia and I are here. However, I think you might be able to protect yourself, as you seem like you would be a good fighter. What's your name?"

The girl bit her lip. "I'm Annabeth."

Before I knew it, I reached into my pocket and pulled my knife out. "Well, Annabeth. To protect yourself from monsters, how would you like to have a knife?"

Annabeth's eyes suddenly had a glow in them. "Really?"

"Knives are only for the cleverest fighters. You look pretty clever to me. How old are you?"

"Seven."

Thalia glanced at me, concerned. "Where are your parents?" she asked sweetly.

"They don't care about me...I ran away."

I glanced at Thalia. Let's take her in, I mouthed out. Thalia nodded.

"Thalia and I have a place where we live. We ran away from our families too. You could come and stay with us if you want Annabeth."

Annabeth grinned, and I realized just how cute she was. "Sure!" Lowering her voice, she asked," You two won't treat me how my family treated me will you?"

I firmly shook my head. "No, Thalia and I are your family now. I'll never fail you the way your family did."