I Experience Weird Things (Again).
I washed my face after waking up from a terrible dream, it was the dream with Gaia and the Giants all over again. Gods. How I hated that dream. Yet another dream joined it as well…..
"Sir! Sir!" called out Arachne as she ran towards Tartarus, whose eight legs moving in a weird pattern, nearing The New Master who was sitting in a black obsidian throne.
"Yes?" he snarled as I hid from sight behind an obsidian pillar.
Arachne stopped and panted
"She's-she's been claimed…" Arachne panted
"Who?" asked Tartarus.
"The Girl."
"What do you mean?"
"The Virgin has been claimed, her-her father claimed her a day ago, as his daughter, your brother sir." Arachne reported
Tartarus stood up
"WHAT?! NO! NO! NO! NO!" he roared as flames erupted from the walls
"Stupid, wretched traitor!" he screamed
"It's true sir." Arachne squeaked
Tartarus groaned as he turned around and opened a curtain behind his throne, revealing images and maps.
"Fine, if my stupid brother has claimed his daughter, then I can't target him anymore…. We'll have to change some plans. Bring forth my sons! The Gigantes! We'll need them for this task…" Tartarus said menacingly as he turned to face Arachne, who nodded and scurried out
"Fine, then it seems like my brother isn't the only threat standing between me and my glory, then it seems like he and the rest won't be the first targets on my list then….." he muttered to himself as I turned my head and peeked at him from the pillar, as a dagger slipped into his hand and he turned around and flung it
"My next target will be her." he growled as I saw that the dagger had a picture of me, dead center.
And soon enough the dream changed to reveal my visions….
(Andy hears loud screeching noises as each mini-vision changes and fades to black as she hears screams and wails of pain and hears the sickening crunch of a dagger hitting its target.)
A foreign land in flames, a palace empty, a broken amulet, bodies lying everywhere... lifeless in a flaming battlefield, corpses burning, a boat on fire….A dead body, A cloaked figure, Darkness rising, A valley in flames, The world in flames, Decapitated heads everywhere, Blood trickling down a thousand dead gods, And then...
A cloaked figure stabbing at an unknown person as the screams echoed, splatters of blood covering what was a white floor, the sun setting down in an unknown land with dead bodies lying everywhere, glassy eyes open, a bloody sunset…. Blood trickling down a black wall as it glistened and continued to stream down in a straight line….
And then, he loomed towards me laughing and he placed his hand around my throat.
"Do you think, you can stop me?" he hissed, "You will have to sacrifice someone for you to win! You, do not have that courage!"
"Yes-I-do!" I choked
Tartarus smirked in disgust
"You disgust me, you liar, traitor, you useless piece of trash… Where were you when Gaia and Kronos needed your help? Huh?" he boomed as he dropped me on the ground and turned around sharply, his black cloak fluttering around him as I was on my knees, gasping for breath.
"That, was not my fight!" I croaked
"Of course, you don't do anything!" he said innocently as he flew towards me and fell on his knees and brought two finger under my chin and lifted it sharply
"Listen to me ungrateful disgrace. You might be with them, but you'll never escape me, ever. You need me and in the end you'll always come back to me." he snarled
'Yeah, well I'll never go back to you, I'll join you once hell freezes over!" I exclaimed
"Of course you won't because you can't kill me.." he said smugly
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you before the war's over!" I told him defiantly as chains wrapped around my hands, restraining me back.
Tartarus laughed, his wicked laugh echoed across the dark room as a red glow seeped in through the walls and flames erupted.
"I'm the Primordial of the Pit dear, if you want to kill me, you have to destroy the Pit too.." he said
I bowed my head down as Tartarus revealed his whip and slashed it against the ground as he began to spin it. Every time the whip's flaming rope hit the ground, it sent sparks.
"And I'll kill you before the battle's over…" he said menacingly as he neared me….
I concentrated, I concentrated on the strong ocean currents, the ideas, the storms. Storm-Bringer eh? Let's prove if my old man really is the Storm-Bringer. Controller of the Waves, Bringer of the Tides, Lord of the Waters, Maintainer of the Rivers, Creator of Lakes, Storm-Bringer, Father of all Sea Life, Primordial of the Sea, Firstborn of Chaos, Water-Lord, Father Sea. Let's prove that statement. I concentrated on Nephthys, Goddess of Rivers and Night? I'm gonna prove that. I concentrated on my chains and a blast of Egyptian Magic spurt out of my hands and my chains were cut apart. I stood up and lifted my head up and opened my eyes. I realized I was emitting a strong blue glow and that my eyes were glowing as well. I brought my hands together and spread them apart diagonally as I spread my fingers apart and cupped them.* *(see Wanda & Hawkeye vs. Vision clip from Captain America: Civil War at 1:58 )
"You shouldn't have done that." I told him
"They'll always fear you and hate you, Dark Virgin." he said
"I'm not the Dark Virgin and I'm no more your servant." I growled as blue magic began to spread and I went to one knee as a huge amount of force onto the ground as a large CRACK! Was heard.
Tartarus dropped his whip and mended the crack.
He smirked as I rose above the ground and charged.
I raised my left arm to punch his right forearm as I sent a spurt of Egyptian Magic. I was the Mistress of the Elements, Descendant of Hatshepsut, Host of Nephthys, Daughter of Pontus. Nothing was going to stop me.
His scarlet magic and my blue magic clashed. I was sent back and crashed against the wall. I stood up as I began to conjure up a storm as I waved my hands in a circle and cupeed them together and I opened both of my hands touching the wrists and sent out a hurricane. Tartarus waved his hand and deflected it.
"You need more than that to stop me, wretched idiot!" he called out as he walked towards me, his fiery red eyes glowing.
I stood up and thought:
"Maw."
I felt the water collect around my hands as I sent him blast after blast, storm after storm, but he simply deflected it.
I extended my hands and began to bring them towards me as I clawed them as water began pouring in. I went to one knee and hit my hands against the ground as a force field shook the water and the tide went towards him. I summoned a ball of fire and it shape-shifted into a lion as it charged towards him. He flicked his hand as he sent me a jet of flames. I casted a water force shield and brightened my arms close and flicked them as if they were holding a ball and clasped them together and the fire was gone. I sent him a wall of earth, wind, fire, ice and water. He grabbed his whip and cracked it as it morphed into a balck scarlet glowing sword and he broke them apart.
"You, you mastered the elements…" he said in a hushed but awed voice
"You gave me the curse of the elements, what did you expect me to do, not master them?" I asked him as I sent him a mini-blizzard, and hurricane. I revolved my hands as I made the storms revolve around him. I concentrated as I took a few steps forward and revolved my hands and began to engulf him with the elements. Ice, earth, wind, fire and water revolved around him as I did my best to contain them all, I began to chant several Divine Words:
"A'max, Ha-Di, Ha-wi, Sa-hei, Maw, Tas, Samir, Stahp, Hu-Ai….A'max, Ha-Di, Ha-wi, Sa-hei, Maw, Tas, Samir, Stahp, Hu-Ai.." I chanted as the hieroglyphics glowed purple and began to inflict against him. I concentrated on him and tapped my foot on the earth and a crack began to open and then…
There was a blast, I felt as my magic was being ripped away, tearing against me as I hit a nearby wall.
"You see my dear wretched niece, you'll never win because you-are-not-a-goddess!" he said
I tried to stand up, but I failed and I collapsed.
"I-have-to-get-up!" I squeaked as I stood up and leaned against the wall.
Taurus laughed
"You'll never defeat me, you'll always come back to me, ALWAYS!" he roared
"NO!" I screamed as my amulet began to glow and I puffed my chest out as I felt Nephthys begin to rise. Oh, how glorious it felt to be a goddess, but it cost too much, way too much. Nephthys rose from me as she glowed blue, her silver Egyptian crown gleamed as Nephthys eyes glowed and spread her falcon wings and Tartarus was gone….. and then...I felt drained… I felt weak and I collapsed into the void…..
And then...the dream changed...
Flashback/Nightmare of the Acropolis, the day Gaia rose, sometime around July reprise:
I was back on the Acropolis, I had my sword out and I was facing an army of giants. Polybotes, Enceladus, Porphyrion, Clytius and Alcyoneus all faced me and sneered.
"You think you can defeat us, half-breed!?" spat Porphyrion.
"You said it, not me...I'm a hybrid, not a demigod, not a mortal, they can't kill you, I can.." I sneered, I raised my sword and marched into battle.
Clytius charged at me. I shook my sword and ducked one of his swipes from his stygian iron sword. I stabbed him right at the bottom of the groin (Totally not ladylike) and ran to the east. The giants roared with laughter as I ran, I smirked, I had put inside my sword one of my lighters, and the label read fire, and Clytius wasn't immune to fire…
"We'll see who's laughing now.." I muttered.
BOOM!
Clytius exploded. The other giants stopped smiling.
"Oh! Now you've made me angry!" Alcyoneous growled as he marched at me.
"Good, 'cause I'm just getting started…" I snarled.
"Cut-Throater!" I yelled.
My sword flew back at my hand as it morphed into a double-axe
"Bring it on, old man.." I growled as I ran and charged into battle.
1) Never fight giants without a weapon or handy object of some sort. As Alcyoneus tried to swipe at me crouching I remembered the day when we were sparring in karate class a few years ago. Since I was pretty short (And I still am) I learned how to fight by not aiming at my opponents head, because of my height issues but at the ribs and lower body anything below the chest since most of the time I just couldn't hit my opponents head. Also I got used to my opponents being bigger than me, meanwhile the giants were used to the gods flying, not me running. So it gave me an advantage. I sliced my double axle straight through Alcyoneus' right leg. I ran as fast as I could and grabbed out my gun and pulled the trigger. I shot straight into Alcyoneus' small of his back. Alcyoneus fell onto his knees. I rapidly climbed onto his back and as Cut-Throater turned into a spear, I stabbed him straight through the neck. Alcyoneus exploded. I got thrown back as my back hit a pillar of the Acropolis. I fell down and my weapon clattered out of my hand. Polybotes and Enceladus roared with laughter
"Not so strong now, huh half-breed?" mocked Polybotes as he and Enceladus charged at me.
I stood up and WHAM! I felt a sickening pain on my right cheek as I once more crashed against a pillar.
"It's a pity to have to kill you, your daddy cares about you very much..we'll see what he does when you're dead!" screamed Polybotes, his hairy green serpents writhing.
As he grabbed from the neck and grabbed a vial of poison and started to shove it down my throat. I felt the water course through my veins and I blasted a huge wall of water at Polybotes, he let go of me and dropped me. I spit some blood from my mouth on the earth and yelled
"Hey, you Dung Brain! How much did your daddy and mommy pay you to kill me?! Because I'm starting to think you will receive nothing from them!" I hollered at Enceladus.
Enceladus roared and charged at me. I spread my feet a shoulder width apart and faced Enceladus "Hey, what's two plus two!" I screamed.
Enceladus stopped and said
"Two plus two?"
"Yup! What is two plus two! If you get it right, well-" I said, I made a gesture with my arm as I waved it, presenting myself
"-you get me." I finished.
"Two plus two..hmm…" said Enceladus
"Oh! Please Enceladus, enough! She's trying to trick you!" Porphyrion roared.
Encelaudus stopped thinking and looked at me
"Are you?" he asked.
"What! Me! Oh, c'mon! Porphyrion! I expected better sportsmanship! Of course not! He just has to answer this one question!" I said sweetly.
Polybotes whom I had trapped into a sphere of water was trying to get free and transform the poison into water.
"Look, here!" I said.
I took out a large sack full of gold and riches I had carried and presented it to Porphyrion as Enceladus continued thinking and I concentrated to keep that sphere of water shut. Porphyrion's pull seemed more and more tempting every second.
"A king needs it's riches right? If you want to be with Hera then.." I persuaded "Look, my king, you alone are stronger than Zeus, think about it, once you kill Zeus you'll rule the world! You will rule with Hera! Here!" I said and offered him the bag of riches.
"For a good kill and a good reign, my king" I replied as I bowed to Porphyrion.
Porphyrion took the bag and smiled. As he opened it I shot a spell at Enceladus, and turned him blind and deaf. I forced the poisoned water sphere surrounding Polybotes and forced the poison to go down his throat. Porphyrion fully opened the bag and soon enough and I blasted Porphyrion with a lightning spell I had learned from Hera. Porphyrion laughed.
"I'm immune to lightning dear, I have good reflexes, unlike my brothers. With my spear, I can kill you…" Polybotes said as he stood up with his spear in hand.
Enceladus was unable to hear or listen, and Polybotes was choking in his own poison. I summoned Cut-Throater and it transformed into a double-axe. He is immune to electricity, but how about water? Electricity and water were always a powerful combo, and I charged. I deflected many of Porphyrion's strikes as I ducked, sidestepped and dodged and when I saw a small spot open, I struck with a water jet. Porphyrion stabbed me in the back with the end of his spear and I flew up and beyond. I dropped Cut-Throater and shapeshifted into a giant hawk. I flew and dive-bombed straight at Porphyrions's face. I started to scratch out his eyes and I flapped my giant wings. As Porphyrion shot a ray from his spear. I grabbed the spear with my beak and forced the lightning to hit Porphyrion, I shot out a blast of water from my wings and screeched. Porphyrion grabbed me from my wings as he left his spear and pulled. I yelped and had no choice but to shapeshift back. Polybotes smiled,
"Your charmspeak is beautiful, you know what? I will keep you!" he said.
He set me down and I spit more blood on the ground. Porphyrion sneered. The earth had started to rumble. Soon enough a huge figure rose. She was tall and covered in green, her pale face and tangled brown hair were messy. I gasped. It was Gaea. She smiled
"Thank you, dear…. For waking me up.." she said sweetly.
I clenched my fists and crossed them into an X in front of my chest. I spread my arms apart as Enceadus and Polybotes exploded. Polybotes was now a pile of icky green stuff and Enceladus was smithereens. Gaea sneered,
"You will pay for that, Porphyrion, take her!"
Porphyrion grabbed me from my waist and the abyss to Tartarus opened. I heard a cruel drawling voice inside my head screaming at me, laughing as I fell for nine days to Tartarus…..
I splashed more water on my face and rubbed it with a towel.
I changed clothes, to my HRB t-shirt, baggy jeans with many pockets, black converse and my amulet as I sat down. My bangs flopping and landing in front my eyes, I pushed aside the small strands of hair.
I had fallen around the ends of July and gotten out in mid April, this world was insane. I remembered about my fatal flaw. When Nico had asked me about it, I had no idea how to respond, I had several and they were linked in a way….
"Why did you change your mind?" I croaked
I still looked terrible, the ambrosia had healed me, but slightly, I was still very, very, very weak.
"What?" he asked quietly
"With Porphyrion…" I said feebly
"Oh, because I can't keep grudges, it's my fatal flaw as a Son of Hades.." he told me
"Oh," I whispered.
"What about you?" he asked
"My anger, it's my biggest flaw.." I croaked
"It'll get better…" he whispered as he continued to stroke my hair "I promise.."
My anger is indeed one of my flaws. You see, I keep deep grudges. I really do, like I mentioned before, I'm not the forgive-forget person, and since I keep grudges, I also have wrath which causes me to become reckless, which in turn makes me do the wrong things, which in turn gets others killed which in turn leaves me to have a very low self esteem for myself and beat myself up for it.
You see, I'm the if-you-hit-me-i'm-going-to-hit-you-back-just-as-hard-or-even-harder/ if-you-do-this-to-me-i'll-do-it-back-to-you type of person. As well as I'm not the forgive/forget person either, I can hold grudges for years, at max, I think the longest grudge I have and still holding has lasted for five years and counting. Seriously, anyone can mess with me and trash talk about me and say whatever the hell they want about me, but no one, absolutely no one messes with my friends/family, the only one who does that is me. I don't trust anyone, heck, I don't even trust myself! Tbh…
I was quite impulsive, willing to sacrifice and do whatever I could to get others to safety, even if it meant sacrificing my life for them.
I turned on the radio
"Here's We Are Young by Fun, ft. Janelle Monáe!" Jeremy exclaimed
I heard the song and began to smile. I definitely recognized this song.
I went outside towards the Fighting Arena and saw that Percy was there, along with Annabeth, Grover and Chiron.
"Hey, where are the others?" I asked
"They left last night. But Bowles is still here." Grover said
"Oh." I replied
(Percy)
"Hey, care for a fight?" I asked her as everyone glanced at me
Andy chuckled
"Is this for a bet?" she asked
"No, why would you ask that?" I told her
"Because usually people would ask me to fight them to win a bet." she said with a smirk
"No, I assure you it's not for a bet." I said as I unscrewed the cap of my pen and it morphed into Riptide. Andy took out a hand fan and threw it to the air as it spun and a flash of light as she caught a sword. The blade of her sword was double edged, but the metal on her blade was clear, as if it were made out of glass. I glanced at it in confusion.
"It's not glass." she said
I nodded
"Alright, begin!" Chiron called
I lunged towards her and slashed my sword but she quickly ducked andwent on a two point landing before I could react she hit the flat of her blade against my back, causing me to hunch over and then swiftly slapped the flat of her sword blade against my stomach, causing me to hunch over even more. She pushed her foot against my kneecap and I fell down face first with a small thump! against the dirt. She stepped on Riptide and forcefully wrenched it off my grasp with her foot as it slid over and clattered against the rocks. She pointed her sword at the back of my neck. She had fought like a demon, she was indeed an amazing fighter.
"I'd give up if I were you." she muttered
I slapped my hand down and she smirked as she helped me back up and dug her sword on the ground as a few small cracks erupted from the ground.
"My 8th grade Algebra teacher always told us to work smarter, not harder. My martial arts teacher always told us to respect our partners and destroy our enemies. But either ways, good fight Percy." she said as she turned her head and smiled at me and with that she left.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
"Oh my gods! that was faster than Black Widow's move in Iron Man 2!" exclaimed Bowles, who had just come along
Leo and Jason gulped.
"She's gotten faster, quicker, more agile... Using just her instincts. Now that's good hybrid learning." Chiron said with a satisfied smile
"But-but Percy was always one of the best sword fighters out there! How-" sputtered Annabeth
"I think someone's gotten used to me winning." I told her with a smirk
Annabeth closed her mouth
We all glanced at Chiron who was in utter shock and then he grinned
"Oh, that was indeed magnificent!" he said
"Yeah, that was pretty cool, she did indeed work smarter, not harder." I said with a chuckle
"That-was-awesome!" Grover exclaimed
"Andy, she-she-" and Grover faltered as he gave me a guilty look
"No, it's fine, she needs some praise, by her looks and the way she just left I don't think anyone gave her much encouragement or praise, right?" I asked
Everyone looked down at the floor with guilt.
"Yeah, well she needs some praise. She just simply left, it didn't seem like she expected for praise, that's not good. You all should've paid more attention to her. Luckily she joined the Vestal Virgins and went to the House of Life, so she didn't turn evil, but what if she didn't? She could've become evil. She would have destroyed us all. You all should be more aware, just because she has more power doesn't mean she has feelings. She's not a monster, she's just like us." I said and with that I stood up and walked away.
(Andy)
I got some breakfast in the Dining Pavilion and stood up and continued to walk towards the beach as I turned my head and my eyes bulged. A ship around 200 feet wide was docked on the shores of Long Island.
"Holy shit!" I screeched as I ran towards the ship.
Once I got there I saw Bowles, Leo, Annabeth and many Hephaestus kids building the ship. Annabeth looked down and waved
"Hey, An! C'mon up!" she called as I went inside the ship.
"Woah!" I gasped as I stepped on the ship, it was beautiful.
"So what have you guys built? Or reinforced?" I asked.
"Reinforced," Bowles said as he grabbed a chunk of-
"Is that Olympian Platinum?" I asked
"Yup! The Chief let us bring some to reinforce the ship, it's well built but it needs our 'vibranium' you know?" Bowles said
"Yeah, I do!" I replied with a chuckle.
"Wait, how many types of metal do you guys have?" asked Leo
"Many, we mine them, we have Imperial Gold, Celestial Bronze, Hellenic Titanium, Olympian Platinum, Silver, Hybrid Copper, Aztec/Celtic Iron, Nickel, and Palladium. I guess…" I told him
"Woah! What else?" asked Leo
"I guess he and Julian would get along…" whispered Bowles to me
I laughed
"Sure would, ask Bowles, I'm not entirely sure, it's been years since I've been there and two ish years makes a HUGE difference." I told Leo as I stepped off the ship.
"Andy, aren't you coming?" Bowles asked
I stopped.
"Whaddaya mean?" I asked him as I turned around
"To the quest, we reinforced the ship and we're already done, we're about to leave, are you coming?" Bowles asked
"I-I can't Javier...I've already put many in danger, I'll transport the ship wherever you'd like to first." I told him
"Wait, where is the Chief?" I asked him
"He took off before us." he left last night
"Oh, and you?" I asked
"I'm about to leave."
"Well, I hope it all goes well…" I muttered in a quavery voice as I ran off.
I headed off to the Oracle Cave and entered.
"Woah." I said as it echoed across the Cave, there were beautiful paintings, murals in fact covering the walls, inside there was a red-headed girl sitting on the same three-legged stool that the old mummy oracle used, painting something I didn't recognize until I came closer and I realized she was painting what had happened yesterday during Capture the Flag.
"Ehem." I said
The red-headed girl turned around. She had a regular t-shirt, baggy jeans and sneakers. She had freckles on her face and green-eyes.
"Hi, uh...I don't mean to bother, but who are you? I haven't seen you around much." I told her
She stood up and wiped her hands on her tan apron
"I'm Rachel," she said offering me her hand
"Oh! Hi, I'm An-" I began
"Andy, yeah Annabeth told me about you." she said
"Oh, nice to know.." I muttered
"Whatcha painting?" I asked
"Can you guess?" she said as she stepped aside.
I neared the painting and gasped. Gods…. The details…. The details were so fucking realistic…. Heck, even my features were accurate, it was like looking at a portrait of me.
"Wow, this-this amazing!" I told her
"Thanks, I began to paint it yesterday when you got claimed I ran here and began to paint, I usually don't paint this fast, I spent almost all night painting." Rachel said
"Well, you sure have a gift for art." I told her with a chuckle
"Yeah, thanks." she said as she blinked and clutched her head
"Not again.." she muttered as she collapsed.
"Rachel!" I cried as I caught her and set her against the wall and a thick green smoke began to surround us
"Oh not again! Oh, c'mon!" I groaned as Rachel's eyes opened and glowed green and she collapsed as words began to form, a sheet of paper fell from the smoke. Huh, odd. What happened? I grabbed the paper and read it as my eyes widened. No, this couldn't be...I took a step back and hit the Cave wall.
My eyes widened as I collapsed to my knees as my head began to throb. I clutched the side of my head with my hands and screamed.
A foreign land in flames, a palace empty, a broken amulet, bodies lying everywhere... lifeless in a flaming battlefield, corpses burning, a boat on fire….A dead body, A cloaked figure, Darkness rising, A valley in flames, The world in flames, Decapitated heads everywhere, Blood trickling down a thousand dead gods...
I gasped as I stood up quickly and toppled. I fell against Grover, who had come in running along with Percy and Annabeth. Behind me I heard Rachel cough, I turned around and helped her up
"Are you okay?" I asked her
"Yeah, usual Oracle stuff, you?" she said
"Atty?" asked Grover, I clutched his shoulders as I felt my stomach go queasy.
"I need to talk to Chiron.." I told him
"But-" began Grover
"NOW!" I said sternly as I leaned against his shoulders and we walked towards the Big House.
We opened the door as I went towards the restroom and closed the door and leaned against the wall and threw up in the toilet.
I know what you're thinking-
EWWWW! SHE THREW UP!
Relax, everyone throws up.
I opened the door and clutched my stomach and groaned
"Uggh! I've never felt that queasy after a vision…" I moaned as I sat down on the chair.
"What is wrong Atalanta, Grover you're dismissed and get ready." Chiron said as Grover nodded and left.
"I've had another vision, and it's been the same one. In Tartarus was when I had it, before I met Nico..it was daily...every day and then after I met him they were gone and then one day out of the blue it appeared again! And it was the same vision! Chiron? Don't you-don't you think it might have something to do about the End of the World?" I asked him.
"I don't know.." Chiron said
"It's been the same thing! Over and over again! A foreign land in flames, a palace empty, a broken amulet, bodies lying everywhere... lifeless in a flaming battlefield, corpses burning, a boat on fire….A dead body, A cloaked figure, Darkness rising, A valley in flames, The world in flames, Decapitated heads everywhere, Blood trickling down a thousand dead gods! One and after the other! Chiron, "Chiron, when will it end?" I asked
"No one knows.." Chiron said sadly
I sighed angrily.
"I-I can't stay here..I-I''m gonna cause too much trouble….Wait, where are Bowles, Phoenix and Luis sleeping at? In fact, where are they?" I asked as the question dawned on me
"They slept here in the Big House, they left for the Valley." Chiron responded
I stood up from my chair and rubbed my face
"Gods, I'm so sorry, should've thought about that…" I muttered
"No, no...it's fine you were distracted after all…" Chiron said
"I won't go on the quest, I'm sorry, but I can't bsides I have nowhere to go I'm banished from the Valley and I don't belong here. But I will summon a portal for them to get through and get them a head start. Besides, I think I sense some Cheese Demons in Brooklyn, it'd be worth checking out… And then I'll go rogue, but don't worry I'll keep an eye out on them…" I said
"Thank you Atalanta, that's very kind of you." Chiron said
"It's the least I could do, my friends are gonna be in that boat." I told him
I pushed my chair away and headed towards the door.
"Atalanta…." Chiron called out as I turned around
"Remember the power of a hybrid will always grow with its owner…" he said and I gulped and nodded as I left…...
I went to the Hera Cabin and sat down as the radio began to play some slow ballads.
I closed my eyes and began to breathe in deeply. I inhaled and exhaled and I opened my eyes, I grabbed out a watering can and filled it up with water I had conjured, I had pasted the pictures Hera gave me on the bulletin board above my headboard. I went outside and began to water down the pants as I saw the ship get tied up and anchored on the beach. I went back inside and set the watering can down as I grabbed my green jacket and headed towards the beach.
"Hey, did you guys get a prophecy?" I asked Leo, Calypso, Jason, Piper, Annabeth, and Percy.
"We just got instructions." Percy said as he handed me the paper and I read it.
To find the first orb, you're to dwell deep inside the heart of the pit…...
To find the second you're to roam the soil where it's split…..
To find the third you're to dive in deep the mighty tides….
To find the fourth you're to travel in the darkest coat, where the dark mist glides...
To find the last and fifth you're to hold its realm and find it beneath..
"Geez…" I said
"Do you think you know what they are?" asked Piper
"Yup, Chiron said it's the Elements, Tartarus is the one who needs to get his ass kicked so it's simple, the first is the Pit, the second is the Earth, the third is the Sea, the fourth is the Darkness/Night and the fifth is the Sky." I told them
"You're right, just like Tartarus' brothers and sisters!" Annabeth exclaimed
Everyone looked down as I fidgeted my feet.
"Andy, I-" began Annabeth
"No, it's fine, not like I enjoy having monsters for a family, especially them, but either way we have a lot of things in common in our dear monstrous family…" I snarled as I headed back
"Wait, aren't you coming with us?" asked Jason
"And put you all at risk?" I replied
"No." I retorted sternly
"But-" began Leo
"No, I've had enough with 39 quests, I'm not taking more, I'll open a portal and give you a headstart and that's it." I implied
"Where to?" I asked Jason who had come from the ship.
"The Valley." he said with guilt in his eyes.
I gulped and turned around quickly before he could say anything and I waded into the sea and grabbed the rod clinging on my waist as it grew into a staff form. I touched the water and raised my staff, holding it with two hands. As it rose a wave rose and then I lowered my staff and so did the wave. I began to do some kata as I waved my staff around as the seafoam, currents,and tides calmed down and flowed along with me. I opened my eyes and stabbed at the air in front of me as a circular wide portal of around 300 feet of height made out of pure water (*reminiscent of Doctor Strange's portals but with water) appeared.
"Ha, ha!" I exclaimed in relief "Oh my gods, I thought that wasn't going to work!" I dug my staff on the ocean as it spread apart and revolved around the staff like water going down a drain.I waded back to the beach as I felt pain surge through my body.
Everyone on the beach, Chiron, Tyson (who had come over), Nico (who had also come over), Grover (who had come back from the forest), Leo, Calypso, Jason, Piper, Annabeth, and Percy had their jaws wide open
"What, too weak?" I asked them with a smirk as I walked past them, the pain getting stronger every second.
I stumbled and fell onto the sand and rolled around said
"Go! I won't hold on much longer!" I croaked
"Oh, uh yeah!" Grover said as they all began to run to the ship.
I saw a satyr much older than Grover, a loud nymph and their son say goodbye to Jason, Piper, Calypso and Leo.
They got quickly on the ship and began to power it
"Please be careful, watch out and take care!" I called from the beach
"Will do!" hollered Grover as I watched Tyson, Nico, Grover, Leo, Calypso, Jason, Piper, Annabeth, and Percy leave and go into the portal, once they made it to the other side I closed the portal and collapsed…..
I heard a knock on the door of my apartment. Katherine had gone to work and I was at home, finishing my coloring page.
I stood up and ran towards the door and opened it to reveal Luke. My eyes widened and I began to shut the door.
"No, wait! 'Meda! Please, I want to talk!" he said as he pushed back
"No! You poisoned Thalia!" my nine year-old self screamed.
"Please, I need to talk to you!" Luke said
I sighed and opened the door as I held my hand out
"What do you have in return?" I asked him
Luke sighed and gave me a box of donuts.
"Good, come in." I told him as I set the box of donuts and opened the box and grabbed the milk from the fridge and poured milk in a glass.
" "Meda, Kronos, he-he's going to use me…" Luke said nervously and I dropped my glass of milk
"NO!" I screamed as I ran at Luke and tugged the hem of his shirt
"Luke, he-he's mean! He doesn't want you! He doesn't care about you! I-I saw it, I know how this will end! Please Luke, you have to leave, flee and never come back to him!" I told him as tears brimmed inside my eyes
"What-why-?"
I burst into tears and hugged him
"What-?" Luke said as he began to hug me and stroked my hair
"Luke, don't go!" I pleaded "Please!"
" 'Meda what do you mean?"
"I-I-... I'm so sorry Luke!" I choked as more tears fell down my face.
" 'Meda, what happened?" asked Luke
I began to cry, [Andy's commentary: for years he had tortured me and I had enough, I never told anyone because I knew they couldn't relate and I had decided (at that time) that if there was one person in the whole world I'd have to tell, it'd be Luke.]
"I-I...there's this person, he's-he's mean!" I wailed
"He-he's been he-he doesn't let me sleep every-every night!" I sobbed
"Wait, who?" asked Luke
"I-I don't know, he just says for us to call him The Boss." I croaked
"Tell me what happened…" Luke said softly as we sat in the Living Room of my apartmentI began to tell him everything, from how it felt to the name he called me
"The Dark Virgin...I've heard of that name, but are you sure it's been you?" asked Luke
I shook my head, trembling
"He-he tortured me...he told me no one loves me…. That I was worthless…. He-he get this thingy that nurses use to give you a shot."
"A syringe?" said Luke
"Y-yeah, that and-and he-he stabbed me. He gave me a shot on-on th-the side of my neck. Inside the t-tube was a black liquid, it looked like-like licorice….but-but melted…"
"And what happened next?"
"Poof!"
"Poof?"
"Y-yeah…...poof! I-I don't remember well what happens next though…" I said
At that point I was still young, I didn't understand very well, but I did know Tartarus was a bad person...
"Luke, don't join him. Please, he's using you! Please! Y-you won't make it through!" I wailed
"Okay, I-I'll try…" Luke said as he stood up and I tugged at his shirt and gave him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a pack of Kool-Aid.
"For you!" I said
Luke smiled and took them as he ruffled my hair and left….
…...
"What brings you here?" I asked Luke, I was now 11 and much more smarter, this time I was going to accept more than just donuts.
"I-I need your help." he said
"Then you should've come way sooner."
"I know, 'Meda, I-"
"Don't call me 'Meda, you don't deserve to, I know what you did, seriously Luke?"
"I-I don't know what to do."
"What do you mean?" I asked him
"I'll get dipped in the Styx, 'Meda, he-"
"AND WHAT DID I TELL YOU?! HUH?!" I roared
Luke glanced at me in shock
" 'Meda, why-" began Luke
"I told you when I was nine about what happened to me, did you think I was lying? Did you think I made this up?" I spat as I showed him the right side of my neck and Luke's eyes widened.
"So-"
"Yes, I wasn't kidding about that, he's been controlling every night! He's never let me sleep, he-he inputs this serum into me and every time he does I-I think I become mindless, at first he just used me for small trials, but now he uses me full time. Luke, you need to get away! When Kronos destroys Olympus, he'll get rid of you! You'll die Luke! I've seen it! Please, for once LISTEN TO ME!" I roared as tears brimmed in my eyes
Luke hugged me.
My eyes widened and I hugged him back as Luke began to cry, I knew he wasn't faking it, the training with Nyx had really paid off.
"Luke, promise me that you'll keep your promise to me and Annabeth, okay? Promise Annabeth a family and promise me protection, okay? You promised…" I croaked
"I just want to die…" he whispered
"Don't we all…" I croaked
"You, Ethan and so many others need to snap out of it….. You guys need to leave….. Stop serving him, he doesn't care!" I wailed
Luke pulled away
"I-I'm so sorry 'Meda, but it's done… I already dipped myself in the Styx, he'll use me, if I leave if the rest leave, he'll kill us…." he said in a quivering voice as he left and closed the door. I ran towards the door and turned around and slid against it as I began to cry.
Good people, under the influence of bad people do bad things…. I knew it, since I was one of those good people as well…..
I gasped and woke up, I was inside the Hera Cabin, Chiron was in a sitting position (he was in centaur form) and was reading a book as he wore bifocals and turned to face me as he dropped the book.
"Are you okay?" he asked
"Y-yeah, w-what happened?" I asked him
"You collapsed, you used a lot of magic…. You're getting stronger and more skilled with it each year. I'm very proud." Chiron said with a hint of pride in his voice.
I smiled as I slowly slid off the bed and stood up as I stretched my back.
"Care for some instinct games?" I asked him as Chiron picked up his book and smiled.
10/2/2020: A/N: How did Percy know Andy was a Vestal Virgin and that she had gone to the House of Life? We'll find out more in the next few chapters. Stay safe and take care! (Also, Trump got covid-19 and I've never been so relieved to hear some news)
P.S: I've had to change and replace a few things in some chapters, so if you'd like to re-read again the last chapter, go ahead.