All Fall Down
A/N: So, because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I decided to give you guys an update in just a day. You had better not get used to that, at all. I was just really excited to jump straight in to the Titan's Curse! So many plans and possibilities...see if you can figure out why the chapter is called All Fall Down; and don't ask anyone to stab me in the eye with a butter-knife! *cough* you know who you are *cough*
Enjoy the next chapter of "Love and Hate's Daughter!" :)
Lina POV
It turns out that I only had a half-hour to take out some things from my Hogwarts trunk and put them in a small bag I use for missions and quests, change into clothes that aren't robes, and to reunite with Annabeth and Thalia, because in half an hour, Percy's mom came to pick us up and take us to the boarding school in Maine. His mom was really nice; I'd met her on a couple occasions.
As soon as we were all in the car, and moving, Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia look at me expectantly.
"What?" I ask them all.
"Lina, you were at Hogwarts for four months!" Thalia exclaims. "I'm pretty sure more exciting stuff happens there than in our stupid boarding school. You have to tell us stuff!"
I groan. "It's a really long story; do I have to?"
Percy smirks. "All we have is time, Lina."
I huff. "Fine." I told them about the flying car, the egotistical professor, the deathday party, the Chamber of Secrets, how I figured out who my father is, the two-week betrayal of Harry and Ron, and finally, how much of a slick git Draco Malfoy was.
By the time I was finished, I had taken up two hours of the drive to Westover Hall.
They all stare at me. "And that was only the first four months." Annabeth says. "Is it always like that, or are you and your friends just trouble-magnets?"
"Probably the second one," I say casually.
Thalia smirks at me. "How is it that whenever you say Harry's name, you blush?"
"We're not getting into that," I snap. But I hear Annabeth and Thalia giggling.
"You seem to really hate this Malfoy guy," Percy comments. "He seems to really get under your skin."
"Well," I say, laughing derisively. "There's really nothing to like."
As soon as that was over, Percy's mom took over the conversation, telling Thalia, Annabeth, and I a bunch of baby stories about Percy. Percy was about as red as a fire-truck, while the rest of us kept laughing at the baby stories and smirking at him. Gods, I really missed them.
When we finally get there, it was dark, and I peer out the window to see what the school looks like.
"What is this, like, some sort of medieval palace?" I comment, and Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia laugh.
"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Percy's mom asks.
"No thanks, Mom." Percy says. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."
"But how will you get back?" She asks. "I'm worried."
"It's okay, Ms. Jackson," Annabeth smiles reassuringly. "We'll keep him out of trouble."
I nod. "Yep, we'll make sure that nothing happens to your little boy, Ms. Jackson!" I tease, reaching up towards his face and squishing his cheek for effect. His mom gives me an amused look.
Percy glares at me; his face red. "You do know you're two years younger than me, right?"
I nod. "Uh-huh!"
He continues glaring.
Annabeth looks at Percy's mom. "I'll have to keep her out of trouble too." I scowl at her.
"Alright dears, then, do you have everything?"
"Yes, Ms. Jackson," Thalia says. "Thanks for the ride."
"Extra sweaters? My cell phone number?" She continues.
"Mom—" Percy says.
"Ambrosia and nectar? A golden drachma for contacting camp?"
"Mom, we'll be fine!" Percy says. "Come on, guys."
Ah...she was so smothering...the closest I get to parental love is from Chiron, and motherly hugs from Mrs. Weasley.
We all go outside; it's freezing. "Your mom is so cool, Percy." Thalia says wistfully.
"She's pretty okay," Percy says. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?"
Wrong move, Perseus.
Thalia gives him the most evil glare I have ever seen her give. "If that was any of your business—"
Sometimes I wonder if I am human; because I love watching Percy and Thalia fight, and I especially love starting them, even if they are going to kill each other. I think it's mostly because they would never.
"We'd better get inside," Annabeth interrupts. "Grover will be waiting."
"I wonder what he found here," Thalia says.
"Most likely nothing good." I say.
The doors groan open, and we step into the entrance hall. Everyone looks awestruck; except me that is.
"Whoa," Percy says.
I scoff. "Hogwarts is five times bigger."
But the décor...just so many weapons.
I look around the place and my stomach churns. I look at everyone else and they're thinking the same thing: the fight is coming...
"I wonder where—" Annabeth starts.
The doors shut. "Okay then..." I mutter.
We put our bags in the floor behind a pillar and start going down the hall.
But a man and a woman stop us.
"What are you doing here?" The woman demands.
"Ha!" The man says. "Visitors are not allowed at the dance!"
The man steps towards us; I step back. How on earth someone could have two different eye colors; I have yet to know...
Thalia steps forward and snaps her fingers. What the Hades is she doing?
"Oh, but we're not visitors, sir," Thalia says. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. This is Lina, Annabeth, and Percy. We're in the eighth grade."
I furrow my eyebrows. "I don't look like I'm in the eighth—" But Annabeth clamps her hand over my mouth. "Mmph!"
It's true. I'm only twelve; and I'm only 4'9. I definitely stick out like a sore thumb in front of Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia's tall figures. No one will possibly believe I'm in the eighth grade; I barely pass as a sixth-grader. Plus I don't really know what Hogwarts second years are equivalent to...seventh grade?
Plus we don't go here! We'll get punished for lying! What in Hades is Thalia thinking!?
"Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?" The man asks.
Percy and I grin at each other. Got Chalk? He was kidding...right?
"I...yes. I believe I do, sir." She frowns at us. "Annabeth. Lina. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"
Before anyone could answer Grover ran towards us gasping. "You made it! You—Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk! Dr. Thorn! I—"
He does look like a thorn...
"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" The man asks. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."
"Yes, sir, of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant I'm so glad they made the punch for the dance! It's great; and they made it!" Grover says.
Dr. Thorn glares at us.
"Yes, the punch is excellent," Mrs. Gottschalk says dreamily. "Run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!"
We didn't wait to be told twice. Grover led us to a door that said GYM on it.
"That was close!" Grover says. "Thank the gods you are here!"
Annabeth, Thalia, and I all hug Grover while Percy gives him a high-five.
I look at the t-shirt he was wearing: WESTOVER HALL: GRUNT. What the Hades...?
"What's the emergency?" Percy asks.
"You know there are two powerful half-bloods here," Grover says.
"Is—is there a monster here?" I ask.
"One," Grover says. "He is suspicious. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Whenever I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!"
Grover looks at Thalia desperately.
"These half-bloods are at the dance?" She says.
Grover nods.
"Then let's dance," Thalia says. "Who's the monster?"
"Oh," Grover says. "You just met him. That's Dr. Thorn, the vice principal."
"I knew there was something off about that guy!" I exclaim.
The dance was hectic. I wanted to get out of there the moment I stepped in.
"There they are," Grover says. "Bianca and Nico Di Angelo."
I look at the kids in the bleachers. The girl, I would say was a couple inches taller than I was while the boy was a couple of inches shorter. The boy was playing with some trading cards while the girl seemed to be scolding him. She kept looking around, like she was sensing something.
"They don't know, right?" I ask.
Grover shook his head. "That could put them in even more danger."
"So let's grab them and get out of here," Percy says.
How tactless...
Thalia put a hand on his shoulder. Dr. Thorn stood near the Di Angelos and nodded coldly in our direction. I really don't think he was fooled by whatever the Hades Thalia did...
"Don't look at the kids," Thalia orders us. "We need to pretend we're not interested; throw him off the scent."
"How do we do that?" Percy asks.
"We're four powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle and act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on the kids." She says.
"Dancing?" Annabeth and I say simultaneously.
Thalia nods. "Ugh," she says. "Who chose Jesse McCartney?"
"I did." Grover says, looking hurt.
"Oh my gods, that is so lame. Can't you play, like, Green Day or something?" Thalia says.
Annabeth and I share a smirk; we both know Thalia is obsessed with Green Day. And I just had an idea for a birthday present; I hear Green Day is coming to New York, I'll try and charmspeak us some tickets.
"Green who?"
"Never mind; let's dance." Thalia says.
"But I can't dance!"
"You can if I lead; come on goat boy." Thalia says as she grabs his hand and led him onto the dance floor.
Percy, Annabeth, and I stand off awkwardly. "I think I should let you guys have some Percabeth time!" I say.
"What?" They say.
But I just start giggling as I walk away from them; I guess I'm on my own.
I just walk through the crowd, while observing Thalia and Grover, and Percabeth from a distance.
But I was spun around by someone; a boy who towered over me in height. "You look like you could use a guy to dance with, what's your name?"
"Mingle and act natural," Thalia had said. Besides, I'm never going to see the guy ever again, so...why not?
"Um, it's Lina." I say.
"Nice name, I'm Charlie." The guy says, twirling me around the dance floor. But before I could know him a bit better, Annabeth pulls me away.
"Lina, the kids are gone!" She exclaims. "We have to find Thalia and Grover!"
I give Charlie an apologetic look before hurrying off with Annabeth.
"But where's Percy?" I ask her, concerned.
"What?" Annabeth says. "He was just—"
But we find Thalia and Grover. "The empathy link," Grover says.
"What?" Annabeth says. "Where's Percy?"
"Outside, the back entrance, with the kids. Dr. Thorn...!" He exclaims.
We head out the back entrance and pull out our weapons. I see the battle, and Annabeth pulls on her invisibility cap and plows straight through. Thalia runs straight at him, it was truly frightening. Grover sprang forward and played a song on reed pipes, a jig that pirate would dance to.
During all the distractions I try to stab him but his big orange paw slashes, and his form changes, a body of a huge lion.
"It's a manticore!" Annabeth says, now visible.
"Who are you people and what is that?" Bianca demands.
"A manticore? He's got three thousand attack power plus five to saving throws!" Nico exclaims. What the...
"Get down!" I hiss and push the siblings into the snow so the manticore wouldn't see them.
"Yield!" The monster roars.
"Never!" I say forcefully with charmspeak.
Thalia tries to charge the monster again; while I try to summon flames.
"It's now or never!" I growl as fireballs form in my hands and this time, I don't hold them back. I send them at Thorn, causing Thalia to gasp.
"Silly girl," he growls. "You think you can use your element against me?"
Percy and Thalia were trying their best, but they were toast. We all were.
Then I hear a hunting horn.
"No!" Dr. Thorn cries. "Not them!" A silver arrow hits his shoulder. "Curse you!"
He unleashed his spikes into the woods where the arrows came from, but the arrows came back in perfect reply.
Then the archers came from the woods. "It's the Hunters of Artemis!" I exclaim, pointing at them.
"Oh, wonderful," Thalia mutters.
When we were on the run we had an...Encounter with the Hunters.
"Permission to kill, my lady?" A girl asks. She was the same girl I saw when I was just six years old; Zoe Nightshade.
"This is not fair!" The monster wails. "Direct interference! It is against the ancient laws."
"Not so," another girl says. I knew instantly this was the goddess Artemis. "The hunting of wild beasts is within my sphere, and you are a wild beast."
"Zoe, permission granted." Artemis says.
The manticore growls. "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!" He lunges at Thalia and Percy.
"No!" Annabeth yells as she charges at the monster.
"Get back, half-blood!" Zoe says. "Get out of the line of fire!"
Annabeth leaped on his back and drove her knife into his mane. The manticore howls, and turns in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life.
"Annabeth!" I shriek. I jump on its back as well, in a desperate effort to stop the manticore.
"Lina, what are you thinking!" I heard Thalia shriek.
"Fire!" Zoe orders.
"No!" Percy screams. "Annabeth and Lina are on there!"
The arrows flew; one in his chest, another in the neck.
The manticore staggers backward. "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!"
The monster leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness; and Annabeth and I were still on its back.
"Annabeth!" I heard Percy yell.
"Lina!" Thalia shrieks.
But that was all we could hear as we tumble into the darkness. It seems like forever, but we hit rock bottom. Thorn looks at us, snarls, and then goes the other direction.
"Where are we?" I ask Annabeth. "Do you know?"
Annabeth looks at me concernedly and then puts a finger to her lips. "We have to be quiet, Lina; we don't want any potential predators to hear us."
After wandering around the dark for who-knows-how-long, Annabeth yells: "Thorn! Where are you? Why did you bring us here?"
We scramble up a hill and gasp.
It was Luke, and he was in pain.
"Luke!" I shriek and run towards him, but Annabeth pulls me back.
"They left me here," he groans. "Please, it's killing me."
I rush forward, but Annabeth pulls me back again.
"Why should we trust you?" Annabeth asks, her voice filled with hurt.
"You shouldn't," Luke says. "I've been terrible to you; both of you. But if you don't help me, I'll die."
A crack appears, as Annabeth and I rush to help him hold the weight. It was heavy; and by heavy, I mean, take your heavy backpack and multiply it by a thousand and maybe you'll understand.
Luke rolled free, gasping. "Thanks," he manages. "I knew I could count on the two of you."
He starts to walk away, leaving us with the crushing weight.
"HELP US!" Annabeth and I plead.
"Oh, don't worry," Luke says. "Your help is on the way. It's all part of the plan. In the meantime, try not to die." He walks out of the cavern, and the ceiling of darkness begins to crumble again, pushing Annabeth and I against the ground.
"Are we holding the sky?!" I manage to say.
"Yes," Annabeth says, her voice strained.
"Di immortales. Curse you, Luke Castellan; always pulling me back in." I mutter. But that was all I could say; for the sky was now crushing us, and I couldn't say a word.
I wonder what Harry, Ron, and Hermione were doing right now...no clue that their best friend will die...they'll find out soon enough.
I feel sorry for Percy, Thalia, and Grover; they don't know where we are...they must be worried sick...
The sky was crushing us. I guess I can say goodbye to my life...and ever becoming thirteen.
A/N: So there you have it! I made Lina a captive with Annabeth instead of a rescuer with the quest group; I planned this since the start of this entire story! The next chapter will be more interesting than this one, so look forward to that! Don't forget to R&R :)
-Ana
