I just want to say something for this chapter and all the quests and prophecies. In the first books, especially Titan's curse, there's the whole theme how quests are kinda limited to 3 people and if there are more it will generally be down to 3 at the end, but that theme is quite often ignored, at least I think so. The best example is the prophecy of the 7, where there are more than 3, effectively it's 8 at the beginning of the quest and people leave and join over the course of it.
Disclaimer: I don't know anything, all rights go to Rick Riordan
Chapter II.
Car rides really couldn't compare to going somewhere on pegasus, though I had to admit getting to know some embarrassing stories about Percy's childhood was probably worth it, although even that got boring after a few hours. Getting further north was always nice too and unless you were suicidal and went to Alaska you could hardly get further north without leaving the US.
Westover hall reminded me of Descriptions of Orthys and with it's black stone and fortified design, though it looked like a cheap copy considering it's size. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if braziers were illuminating the Inside. It was probably built in the 19th century by someone with too much money and someone decided that it had just the right atmosphere for a military school, though that decision's reasoning was beyond me.
I had completely ignored the others for a moment and was ripped out of my thoughts when they left the car, so I followed suit. We waited for Percy's mom to drive off, I heard Thalia saying something to Percy about his mother, I couldn't exactly understand what he said to her after that, due the wind picking up for a moment, but if I had to guess he asked her something about her mother, which is a mistake I already made and Thalia could truly be intimidating if she was angry so I wasn't too eager to repeat it.
Annabeth interrupted whatever Thalia was saying to Percy: "We'd better get inside, Grover will be waiting." I hadn't met Grover yet but from what I knew he was the Satyr that brought all of the three into camp, making me kind of out of place, but I was used to that. And I had to agree that getting inside was probably a good idea, the cold didn't bother me, the snow and hail getting into my face did.
Thalia looked at the castle and shivered. "You're right, I wonder what made him send this distress call."
Percy looked up at the towers of Westover Hall and said. "Nothing good."
The oak doors groaned open and with us entering snow was blown into the large hall. The entrance hall could probably outfit a small army to man the castle, it was filled with various muskets from flint- to wheel-lock muskets and seemingly every pole arm known to mankind, with a few swords and axes thrown in for good measure, quite the impressive collection, I had to admit that.
Judging from Percy's "Whoa" behind me he agreed.
I could see Percy touching his pocket looking uneasy, maybe he was checking if he lost his impossible to lose pen/sword, Riptide, considering it was Percy everything is possible. Thalia was also rubbing her silver bracelet and I couldn't help but instinctively go to my hand checking for my ring with the bear insignia on it, as much as I disliked my father, I really could not complain about his choice of holy animal.
The doors slammed shut behind us.
The sound of music was echoing from the other side of the hall, so we dropped off our stuff at the entrance and started making our way there.
We didn't make it all too far as we were interrupted by a man and a woman in military-style uniform, they looked like they were teachers and the man seemed familiar, though I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Well?" The Woman demanded. "What are you doing here?"
Admittedly we were quite suspicious, four teenagers sneaking into a school in the dark, I guess our lack of uniform would have been rather problematic, but the ongoing dance seemed to be our saving grace. Still we had no good reasoning for being here.
Percy started to say something but was quickly shot down by the man.
"Ha! Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected." The man jeered in an French accent, not too weird in Maine.
Thalia stepped in snapping her fingers, manipulating the mist before speaking: "Oh, but we're not visitors, sir," Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm
Thalia. And this is Annabeth, Astor and Percy. We're in the eighth grade."
The man narrowed his eyes at us he didn't seemed to be too convinced, only supporting my theory that he seemed familiar, because if someone was familiar too me, they probably were a monster, an immortal, a demigod or demititan.
He turned to his colleague. "Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students." He asked her.
The woman was clearly mortal and still affected by the mist, the question broke her out off her trance. "I... yes. I believe I do, Sir." She looked at us and frowned. "Annabeth. Astor. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"
We were saved from having to explain ourselves, by a boy who came running. By how excited he seemed to see them and how focused he was on the other three that he must be Grover. "You made it! You - " He stopped short when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I uh." He stammered.
Thorn, the name seemed familiar as well... I think I have already seen him on the Princess Andromeda once, I could only hope he doesn't recognize me, though he probably already knew that we were demigods, at least after Thalia's mist trick it should have been clear to him.
"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" Said the man, His tone made it clear that he detested Grover, another good sign for him being a monster, if he had figured out that Grover was a Satyr. "What do you mean they made it? These students live here."
Grover swallowed, he clearly wasn't comfortable in his presence. "Yes Sir, of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I'm so glad they made... the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it.
Dr. Thorn glared at us clearly not buying into any part of the rather horrible explanation, whether or not he was planning to do something, he was stopped when Mrs. Gottschalk, still in trance said: "Yes, the punch is excellent. Now ran along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again." We quickly left in a chorus of "Yes, ma'ams" and "Yes, sirs" accompanied by a few salutes.
As we were nearing the door, I overheard Percy talking to Thalia in a low voice, asking her about the mist. I was somewhat surprised that he didn't know how to do it let alone what she did, I was taught it when I was around ten. Grover hurried us to a door with GYM written on the class. The others reunited with him, I went for an rather awkward introduction.
"So what's the emergency?" Percy asked.
Grover took a deep breath: "I found two"
"Two half-bloods?" Thalia asked, unbelieving. "Here?"
Grover nodded.
half-bloods weren't too uncommon in military schools a lot of parents often didn't have the nerve to deal with their demigod children. From what I heard the Satyrs have been put on overtime to compensate for losses and to bolster the strength of the camp. One must be quite lucky to find two living demigods at the same school, considering the monsters a single one could attract.
He continued: "A brother and a sister, they're ten and twelve. I don't know their parentage but they are strong. We're running out of time though I need help."
"Monster?" Percy asked.
"One" Grover nodded. "Thorn?" I guessed. He nodded again. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!"
Grover looked at Thalia. "Right," She said "These half-bloods are at the dance?" Grover nodded again. "Then let's dance."
The inside of the gymnasium was one of the most chaotic places I had ever seen. Balloons and the remains of them, were scattered on the floor, some of the balloons got kicked around in the air and into faces.
"There they are." Grover nodded towards two younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico de Angelo"
The girl wore a floppy green cap, as if she was trying to hide her face. They were clearly related as Grover said brother and sister, two years apart. They both had the same olive skin and silky hair, they used their hands a lot while talking, If I had to guess they had at least some strong Italian ancestry, if they weren't even immigrants, though European demigods were rather rare. The boy was was shuffling some cards, that looked to be part of a trading card game. His sister was scolding him, while looking around her, as if she felt something was off, most demigods had some sort of 6th sense when it came to that.
Annabeth said, "Do they. . . I mean, have you told them?"
Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger."
"So let's grab them and get out of here." Percy said and took a step forward, but was held back by Thalia after that. Thorn had slipped out of a doorway near the di Angelos. He nodded coldly in our direction.
"Don't look at the the kids," Thalia ordered. "We have to wait for a chance, We need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."
"How" Percy asked.
"We're three powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids." Thalia answered, I didn't like the sound of that plan, it would mean splitting up, which was rarely a good idea.
"Dancing?" Annabeth asked.
"Thalia, you realize we are one too many for that don't you? One of us can't will have to do something else." I threw in.
Thalia nodded to Annabeth. "I guess you have a point but if you are suggesting that you will do that, forget it, you had your turn at laughing Percy, now it's your turn at embarrassment, besides Grover will look way less suspicious doing that." I groaned, she cocked her ear to the music and made a face. "Ugh. Who chose Jesse McCartney?"
Grover looked hurt. "I did."
"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Can't you play, like, Green Day or something?"
"Green who?"
"Never mind. Let's dance."
Thalia turned around grabbing my hand and led, read dragged, me to the dance floor, I wasn't particularly eager as the last time I did dance was about two years ago and I was quite sure my skills did not exactly hold up well.
It didn't go quite as bad as expected, after a short time I was dancing relatively confidently, at least it was a slow dance that Thalia chose, so I managed to fall in to line rather quickly. Feeling secure enough, I decided to start talking. "So how's school going, I imagine it's rather problematic that you are lacking a few years of school." I asked, she nodded. "Luckily I share classes with Annabeth, so she can help me most of the times, but still it's annoying." She said but stopped when we were nearing Percy and Annabeth.
"Hey!" Thalia called to Percy. "Dance you guys, you look stupid just standing there!" She ordered them.
"I'm surprised that you can actually dance, it doesn't seem like something the titans would see as important." Thalia inquired.
"Well I did go to school for about 4 years, so we could gather real life experience, besides I did more than just train my whole life, we got free time too." I said.
"I know there are other demititans, but whenever you talk about them you always say them, who do you mean specifically?" She asked.
"Well. normally I mean myself and the sons and daughters of the elder titan lords, excluding Kronos and Oceanus, then there's Atlas son Hyas and that's it really as, due to the fact that our parents aren't exactly in a position in which they can have children normally, we were made by Prometheus from a bit of divine essence from them and clay, so we aren't even demigods or demititans for that matter, but it's the closest thing to describe us, I guess." I explained.
Suddenly Thalia stopped, Annabeth slid to a stop besides us. "They are gone." She said. "Where's Percy?" Thalia asked, Annabeth looked around. "I don't know I must he lost him" She said. Meanwhile Grover had found us as well. "Do you know where they went?" Thalia asked Annabeth, who just shook her head. Thalia cursed. Then Thalia spotted something. "There!" She pointed towards the emergency exit on the other side of the hall, the door was still slightly open.
We quickly rushed to the door, it lead into a long hallway, Percy wasn't there but two spikes were impaled into the wall, something had attacked him. One of the doors in the hallway was still open it lead out of the school and onto the cliff. Their trace continued in the snow. "Wait." Grover said. "Percy is telling me something trough our empathy link. He says Thorn's kidnapping them and that Thorn a poisonous spike-throwing maniac! "A little late." I muttered under my breath.
We came to the edge of a clearing. Percy was standing near the cliff's edge and the di Angelos were with him. "We have to get Percy and the di Angelos out of Thorn's reach." Thalia said. "I can go invisible and try to get them out of immediate danger." Annabeth supplied. Thalia nodded. "We'll move in once he's safe, GO!" She said.
Annabeth stood up putting on her Yankees cap becoming invisible and charged towards Percy, only indicating by her bootprints in the snow. I summoned my armour and sword and had to say I really couldn't complain that we didn't get top notch equipment from the titans, too bad it would be used against them now. My sword even mimicked the effects of my father's sword, though too an lesser extent, still the blade was quite cold.
We saw Percy getting tackled into the snow and jumped into action, Thalia had Aegis and her spear ready and took the offensive, even Thorn recoiled at the sight of her shield. Thalia got close enough to attempt a stab at his head but the spear got swatted to the side by his hand, that by now had grown into an orange paw, his claws caused spears as they dragged along Aegis surface. Luckily Thalia managed to roll back.
Thorn launched another volley of spikes from his tail towards us, Thalia deflected them with Aegis both got knocked down from the impact. Since I lacked a shield, I quickly used my cryokinesis to lift a large mass of snow slamming the spikes of course letting them land harmlessly in the snow behind me.
Grover played a frantic jig and Grass broke through the thick snow around Thorn's legs, Thorn roared and his form began to change, he grew in size, his body became that of a Lion, though his face remained human, his tail whipped deadly more deadly thorns into his surroundings.
"A manticore!" said Annabeth, now without her Yankees cap.
I heard Nico say something that I couldn't understand due to the noise, Thorn turned around towards them firing another valley of spikes and I saw them hit Percy's shield.
"Yield!" Thorn roared
"Never!" yelled Thalia and charged again.
I was about to follow but was stopped by the Thunderous noise coming from the cliff face, I turned around, to see a helicopter hovering just off the cliffs. It's searchlight tore through the darkness reflecting of the white snow, blinding Thalia, who was swatted away by the manticore's tail, swatting away her spear and shield the helicopter was clearly armed, so I retreated backwards, to Thalia's position, Percy had also rushed to her.
Thorn laughed: "Don't you see how hopeless it is little demigods, yield."
Suddenly the clear sound of a hunting horn cut through the air, it was coming from the woods behind us.
The manticore froze. "No," Thorn said. "It cannot be- "
What he was trying to say was cut short by a glowing silver arrow impaling itself in his shoulder, he staggered backwards towards the cliff face, wailing in agony.
"Curse you!" Thorn cried, whipping his tail, he unleashed dozens of spikes towards the woods, though all of them were shot down by silver arrows before even reaching the woods, Percy tried to take the chance and attempted to swipe at the manticore with his sword but was just slammed backwards by Thorns tail, I looked back neither Percy nor Thalia was in a position to do anything.
The archers came out of the woods, their silvery parkas, jeans and bows identified them as the Hunters of Artemis.
"The hunters." Annabeth cried out.
"Wonderful." Thalia muttered, she seemed to be okay again, though still disarmed.
Their lieutenant Zoe Nightshade clearly marked by her circlet stepped forward bow drawn and an arrow notched, she called out: "Permission to kill my lady?
The manticore wailed: "This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws."
Now the goddess herself spoke up: "Not so," Even in her twelve year old form, her face reminded me of my father's face on statues, the silver colour of her eyes looked not to different from the blue-white me and my father shared and they were incredibly cold, one could almost think they were made of the metal they looked like. She continued: "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." She looked at Zoe. "Zoe, permission granted."
The manticore growled: "If I can't have these alive I'll have them dead!" And charged at Percy and Thalia, I stepped next to them and began quickly gathering whatever snow, hail and ice I could and gathered it behind me, ready to unleash it in an avalanche like wave to push the manticore off the cliff.
I held the snow back when I saw Annabeth jump on the manticore's back, I couldn't do anything without hitting her. I saw her drive her knife into the manticore's neck, he began wildly thrashing around his tail flailing and throwing up snow. If he threw Annabeth off she could easily fall of the cliff.
I heard Zoe ordering the hunters to fire, Percy screaming behind me, but to no avail, the hunters let loose and the manticore was hit multiple times, arrows landed in his neck and chest, the manticore staggered and stumbled backwards towards the edge, wailing. "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!
The manticore leapt of the cliff, Annabeth was still on his back as he tumbled of the cliff and into the darkness.
I heard Percy yelling her name and running towards the cliff face, I pushed him back as the helicopter opened fire on the clearing. The hunters scattered as well, only Artemis remained standing calm looking at the helicopter. "Mortals," She announced "are not allowed to witness my hunt." She thrust out her hand, the helicopter turned into a flock of birds, ravens to be specific, soon their black feathers disappearing into the night sky.
The hunters advanced on us. Zoe stopped short when she saw Thalia. "You." She said, her voice filled with distaste.
"Zoe Nightshade." Thalia's voice trembled with anger as she spit out the lieutenant's name. "Perfect timing as usual."
Zoe's eyes turned to the rest of us. "five half-bloods and a Satyr my lady." She called out. Artemis was standing besides her by now. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."
"Annabeth!" Percy yelled. "you have to let us save her."
Artemis turned to him. "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help."
I saw Percy trying to stand up, but two of the hunters stepped in and held him down.
"You are in no condition to be hurling yourself off cliffs," Artemis said to him and I had to agree from the cut in his should to the bruises on his shield arm and the numerous cut's on his chest from thorns tail, didn't look too good either.
"Let me go!" He demanded, " Who do you think you are.
Zoe stepped towards him seemingly about to slap him, but was stopped by Artemis. "No, I sense no disrespect, Zoe. He is simply distraught. He doesn't understand." Artemis turned back to Percy. "I am Artemis." She said. "Goddess of the hunt."
So... once more tell me your thoughts.
I sadly couldn't change much without derailing the story except for giving exposition about his past and showing off his powers, but I can promise that I'll try to change more in upcoming chapters, even if it's only details.