Hey! It's Bell! Back with a new chapter! Kay, I want you guys to tell me which character's POV you want next. I will, in that chapter, give whoever chose the POV a shout out. I want to explore different characters and create holes waiting to be filled in the plot. I hope this will work out. Anyway, enjoy! This chapter has a new character in it, just to create more suspense. Enjoy and review!
Chapter 12 Thalia POV
My feet dig through the snow with every step I take, hiking in the snow capped mountains bordering Greece (I honestly don't think snow capped mountains border, much less exist, in Greece. But meh.). The wind howls in my ears and violently blows on my spiky hair. I would've enjoyed the great view up here if it wasnt for the blizzard. The snow is piling up in mounds and i can barely walk. This weather isn't my favourite. Why couldn't Artemis have given me a mission to go to a nice, warm and sunny place, where I won't have to worry about monsters and wild animals on my tail? Why here? I sigh, rubbing the thick, furry sleeves covering my numb arms. How lucky Phoebe is, hunting in the nice, warm woods of Argos. Just because I'm Artemis's lieutenant, doesn't mean I should always get the hardest jobs. The wind blows fiercely and pushes me slightly to the side. I try to not lose my balance on the steep slopes of the mountain, spreading my arms out, flailing. Suddenly, something gold and sharp whizzes past my face, surprising me. I close my eyes and stand on both feet equally, regaining my balance. I make no sound. I strain my ears to distinguish between the whispering of my coat or howling of the wind and footsteps. The footsteps sound like slithering. I can believe the slithering. I'm on the same bit of cold, wet snow. It's hard to walk on. When the person is close enough, I whirl around.
I come face-to-face with Hylla Twice-Kill, the queen of the Amazons.
I lean back and smirk. "What a pleasant surprise, Hylla."
Hylla grins. "It always is, with me,"
I roll my eyes. "So," I say. "What brings you here to the cold borders of Greece? Last time I checked, you were an arrogant Roman Amazon who wants nothing to do with Greece."
"You think I want to be here?" she says, snorting. "I was given orders to check out the rumours of a prophecy going around here."
I raise an eyebrow. "Hylla Twice-Kill, Queen of the Amazons being ordered around?" I snort. "Bad day, for you isn't it?"
Hylla purses her lips. "You would know. You're always being ordered around."
I cross my arms. "Hey, I swore an oath to take orders from Artemis. I did it willingly."
She rolls her eyes. "Whatever."
I smile in victory. "So, did you hear anything from your sister?" I ask.
She frowns. "No. But I did hear that a group of exiles captured the princess. Sounds like Reyna."
I smile wistfully. "And Jason."
"I think your brother is part of the prophecy."
"So you know the prophecy?" I ask.
Hylla nods. "Sadly, I can't find the Oracle. People say she was imprisoned by the King in order to keep the prophecy quiet."
"Well, he isn't doing a good job at that. Slowly and slowly the prophecy is going around."
"But as it goes around, it's being altered. So not a lot of people know the actual one." She says.
"And you do?" I ask.
She nods. "Go ahead then." I say.
She shakes her head. "I can't tell you. Not where anyone can hear."
I shrug.
"People say a war is coming up." she says. "Between Greece and Rome."
"Yeah." I say, nodding. "Artemis informed me. She said that we Hunters can fight only if monsters come up."
"Against Rome?" Hylla asks. I nod. "Well, then," she holds out her hand, "It'll be fun fighting against you."
I shake her hand and grin. "It sure will be."
Percy POV
Annabeth has been sent to her house in the village for some time, on my orders. I don't want Ethan to have leverage. I don't want Annabeth in danger. I'd stationed Leo and another guard, Michael Yew, to protect her. I trust them both to take care of her. I'd been following Nico for days and always ended up losing him. He'd either blend in with the crowd or disappear into the shadows. I think he knows he's being followed. I just hope he doesn't know it's me. We've been friends for ages now and always been loyal. But if he has something to do with Piper's capture, he wouldn't want to see me again, that's for sure. Right now I'm hiding near a village food stall, dressed in peasant clothes. No one knows it's me. Everyone thinks I'm a normal villager. Nico usually goes this way when he disappears. I hope I find where he goes off to.
I see him. Nico is walking normally, eating an apple. He looks so normal and peaceful, just like the villagers. I smile a bit, then move slowly so that I'm following him slowly and undercover. I weave through the crowd of people as if I'm looking at stuff from the stalls. Nico doesn't notice. He keeps walking down the little cobblestoned road. I slowly follow him. He takes little turns and twists in the alley as i silently stalk him. After about 20 min, he stops near an old hut, knocks on the door after looking around to make sure no one is there. The door creaks as it opens. I come a little closer to the area and see a dark skinned girl's face peek out. She has tangled curly hair and big doe-like golden eyes. She is wearing ragged clothes but, despite that, looks fresh and full energy. She gives him a big bright smile and gestures for him to come in. He does.
When the door closes, I get out of my hiding place behind a building and survey the hut. It looks old and unnoticeable. A perfect place to hide, I think. I look around before coming up to the door. What are the odds? Ten, maybe twenty people pointing swords at me, guarding a door with my sister inside. A small part of me tell me not to do this. Play it safe. Figure out more. Bring guards next time. But the fear for my sister is all-consuming. I squeeze my eyes shut. This is for Piper. This is for Piper. This is for Piper. I open my eyes and, before Im really sure of what I'm doing, kick the door open. Dust falls down in my eyes and I cough as it scratches my throat. The scene in front of me is surprising. About 6 or 7 people sitting in the living room, including Nico, talking. Just talking. Well, now that they see me, they are not talking and instead looking up at me with wide eyes. All of them have bar code-like tattoo's on their arms. Romans. I scowl. Nico gets up.
"Percy!" He says, in shock. "What are you doing here."
"So you are a traitor." I snarl.
Nico blinks. "Percy I can explain-"
"Where's my sister?" I ask angrily, looming at the Romans. A tall blonde one gets up. I'm assuming he's the leader, from the way they all look at him.
"Prince, listen to us..." He says calmly.
"I'm not listening to anyone until I see my sister!" I shout.
The boy exchanges a glance with a dark haired girl. They seem to be having a silent conversation, which reminds me of how Piper and I silently converse. The girl shakes her head. The boy sighs and looks at me. "Okay." He says.
The girl glares at him. "That's not what I said." She says, sounding deadly. The boy shrugs.
"She'll feel a little better seeing him." He says.
"Since when do you care about how she feels!" The girl asks, a hint of jealousy in her voice. I blink. What?
"Just show him." The dark skinned girl from earlier says in a soft voice.
The boy nods and walks up to me. He holds out his hand a little hesitantly. "Jason Grace." He says.
I frown a little. This exile is willing to let me know his identity? Is this a sign of trust? If it is, I'm honoured. "Percy Jackson." I say, shaking it.
He frowns as well. I'm sure he's confused that i have a different last name. He says nothing, though, just gestures for me to follow him. I do. He walks in the hallway and stops by a door not unlike the door I just broke down. The others have followed us and look curious as to how our reunion will go. Jason opens the door. He tells me to wait outside while he goes in. I nod. I want to know how Piper acts around these people.
"Hey," He says.
She snorts. "Back again? Do you enjoy my company that much?" She says. I smile. Typical Piper.
"Oh, please." He says, "If I wanted to be here, I would've come already."
"Then why are you here?" She sounds nonchalant. She doesn't care at all.
"I have a little gift for you." He says.
"Did you get knocked on the head? Who gives their prisoners gifts?"
I can't stand it. I slip inside the room. "It depends on the gift." I say. "And I think I'm a pretty good gift."
She looks at me with wide eyes before running and tackling me with a hug. I smile and hug her back tightly. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me they captured you as well?" She breaths.
I laugh. "No. I turned myself in." I say jokingly. It's her turn to laugh. She pulls back and smiles a wide smile. She looks so happy. So pleased to see me. I'm flattered.
"I missed you, Percy." She says, her voice cracking a bit.
I grin. "Who wouldn't miss me?" I say.
She hits me playfully. "Enough with your jokes, now. I mean it."
"Oh, I know you do." I say. She glares. I chuckle. "I missed you too, Beauty Queen." I say.
She glares. "Not helping. Don't be Leo." she says.
"Oh, don't even begin to compare me with Leo." She hits me again, harder.
"You're the worst with reunions." She says. I pull her to me. I literally squeeze the life out of her. I missed her so much. Over her shoulder, I see Jason leaning on the wall, smiling at our little exchange.
Did you like it? I loved writing the reunion. I want this to be happier than it actually is. The Thalia part is just a little hole I've created here. It will be filled later on in the story. Anyway, REVIEW PLEASE. Bye!
