Hey guys, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, in which Rachel is awesome and so blatantly crushing on an oblivious Percy that it isn't even funny, and in which Percy is so done with monster crap.
Percy had to ignore Paul's worried cries as she and Rachel burst past the schools gates, Rachel's nails were digging into Percy's hand she was clinging to her so tightly as they careened through the streets- the yells of Tammi and Kelli fading into the background as Percy dragged Rachel into an alley and the sprinted through it- only to jerk backwards as they drew close to the exit because Kelli was there, blocking the way, a smirk on her lips.
"Oh Persephone." her voice was singsong as she stepped forward, "Persephone. We've been sent to say hello-"
"Oh, and who sent you? Can I have three guesses." Percy pushed Rachel behind her as she backed away, only to hear footsteps back where they'd come and when she glanced backwards she saw Tammi.
"You can have one." Tammi's voice was just as mocking as Kelli's and Percy resisted the urge to snort as she positioned herself so that she could see both of them. Tammi was advancing faster than Kelli.
"Hm, would it be Alabastard?"
"Cute." Tammi tilted her head, "You know, we usually go for boys but you'll do- Mistress, may I?"
"Go ahead, Tammi. You're doing fine."
Tammi took another step forward, and Percy had Riptide out in a second, the tip of the bronze blade pressed against the monsters chest.
"Take another step and I will impale you."
"Ugh. Little girls. Tammi sneered and lunged- and as she did she began to change. The color drained out of her face and arms, skin turning as white as chalk and her eyes turned completely red- her teeth transformed into fangs- and Percy blinked slowly.
"What the- this is some Twilight level crap-"
"Percy!" Rachel yelped Percy's name as the girl started snickering, and Tammi's eyes narrowed furiously- and it only got worse when Percy's gaze flicked down and she spotted her legs- the left leg was brown and shaggy with a donkeys hoof and her right led was shaped like a human leg but it was made of bronze.
"What kind of vampire novel crap is that? I mean sparkles are one thing but those?!"
"Don't mention the legs! It's rude to make fun-"
"Make fun? You're like a mix and match vampire-"
"A vampire, you say?" Kelli laughed. "That silly legend was based on us, you fool. We are empousai, servants of Hecate."
"Mmmm." Tammi edged closer to me. "Dark magic formed us from animal, bronze, and ghost! We exist to feed on the blood of young men, but given our orders we'll make some exceptions-"
"Fucking Hecate- what is it with her kids and creations wanting to hurt me!" Percy threw one hand into the air, "I don't deserve this crap, y'know that?"
Tammi bared her fangs at Percy then, lunging forward, and Percy thrust her blade forward as she did, jerking it to the side as soon as she felt it pierce through the monsters chest.
Tammi tried to move back again but it was too late and Riptide sliced through her with ease, and with a horrible wail she exploded into dust all over Rachel.
Rachel coughed. She looked like she'd just had a sack of flour dumped on her head. "Gross!"
"Monsters do that," Percy gave a small shrug. "Sorry."
"You could have warned me!"
"I didn't expect a monster attack today okay?"
"You killed my trainee!" Kelli yelled. "You need a lesson in school spirit, half-blood!"
"Schoo- Oh come on you can stop the cheerleader stuff now!" Percy rolled her eyes, moving so that she was between Rachel and the monster, protecting her friend.
Then Kelli too began to change. Her wiry hair turned into flickering flames. Her eyes turned red. She grew fangs. She loped toward the two girls, her brass foot and hoof clopping unevenly on the hard ground.
"I am senior empousa," she growled. "No hero has bested me in a thousand years."
"Then you're overdue right?" Percy tilted her head, giving an innocent smile as she twirled the blade.
Percy very quickly learned that Kelli was faster than Tammi, the monster lunged for Percy, and when the daughter of Poseidon swung Riptide she dodged it easily, ducking below it, kicking Percy hard in the chest with her brass foot, sending Percy flying back, crashing into Rachel, who let out a cry of pain as they both landed on the hard ground.
It was only years worth of training that let Percy vault back to her feet, blade thrust out to point at Kelli's chest, keeping the monster at a distance, reaching back with her free hand to grab Rachel and haul her to her feet. As Kelli started circling them Percy moved, keeping Rachel behind her at all times, acting as a shield for the mortal.
"Percy- oh gods Percy what do we do?" Rachel's voice was shaking.
"It's gonna be fine Rachel. I can handle this." Percy really, really hoped she could. She doubted that the monster would leave Rachel to escape- usually mortals were fine but this was too personal "So Kelli, has Alabaster finally stopped trying to recruit me and just decided to kill me instead?"
"Alabaster has others to satisfy him now. He'll soon see that he doesn't need a little girl any more. Even if you begged he wouldn't take you back." the smirk Kelli gave made it very clear just who was filling that role and Percy found herself raising an eyebrow despite herself, blinking rapidly. And was it just her or- or was there a very faint hint of jealousy in the monsters tone?
"You-" She forced down a hysterical laugh, "You know what? Good luck with that- honestly a monster's probably just what he deserves, shame you're not biting him though-" she heard Rachel choke down a hysterical laugh behind her and Kelli glared.
"I'm glad you're amused." then she chuckled, "You poor poor dear. You don't even know what's happening, do you? Soon, your pretty little camp in flames, your friends made slaves to the Lord of Time, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. It would be merciful to end your life now, before you have to see that."
"Oh please." Percy rolled her eyes, "How very merciful of you." she was surging forward, swinging her sword, ignoring the ache in her rips, and the monster leapt backwards, ducking under her backswing and surging forward, fangs bared as she grabbed Percy's wrist and twisted it until Percy's grip on Riptide dropped, the sword clattering to the ground as Kelli wrenched her around and swung her, throwing her into the wall- and before Percy had time to collect herself and react- mostly because she was slightly dazed from hitting the wall- her head had cracked pretty hard against the rough bricks, Kelli was in front of her, fangs out and ready to bite down on Percy's neck- except suddenly there was a metal point jutting out of her shoulder, though it disappeared quickly, ripped back out, and Kelli let out a screech of pain, whirling around, and Rachel was stood shaking in terror, her face so pale that her eyes almost glowed and her freckles stood out like constellations on her cheeks.
She was gripping Riptide as if it was a lifeline- and despite the terror in her eyes her expression was one of grim determination. "Get away from her!"
"Rachel-" Percy's mouth dropped open in shock, and Kelli was clutching her shoulder, snarling as she glanced between them and Percy kicked out, pushing herself back against the wall and planting both feet against Kelli's chest and pushing back as hard as she could, sending the monster flying back into the opposite wall.
"Percy catch!" Rachel was tossing Riptide through the air, and Percy caught it with practised ease, twirling it with a sudden smirk on her lips as she surged towards Kelli- who's eyes flicked between them, she was still clutching her wounded shoulder- and then before Percy could reach her Kelli exploded into flames.
Percy let out a cry, and Rachel grabbed the back of her shirt, yanking her backwards and away from the red hot flames- if she hadn't Percy would have probably ended up with a bunch of nasty burns- as it was her face just went a rather bright shade of red from the heat.
And Kelli was gone when the flames disappeared- since they had nothing real to feed on.
Percy turned her head, shaking slightly as she blinked slowly, "Rachel-"
"Holy shit." Rachel threw her arms around Percy and hugged her tightly, "Oh thank the gods. Is she dead? You didn't stab her-"
"No- no I didn't." Percy's voice was incredibly confused, "I didn't kill her she just- exploded. I've never known a monster do that and I have dealt with a lot of monsters."
"Well she's gone, that's what matters." Rachel's voice was firmer, and while she kept one arm wrapped around Percy her other hand moved up to Percy's head, fingers gently pressing against the skin. "I think you're bleeding-"
"I'll be fine."
"No you won't." Rachel snapped the words, "Percy your head is bleeding from where she threw you into the wall. You need some nectar or ambrosia."
"Look at you." Percy let out a weak laugh, "You might not be a demigod but you definitely speak the lingo."
"That isn't funny." Rachel slapped Percy's shoulder gently, her fingers still pressing over the back of Percy's head, searching for something- then Percy hissed in pain when Rachel's fingers pressed over an incredibly tender spot.
"Hey-"
"There-" Rachel moved her hand, an incredibly gentle look on her face, "Do you have some ambrosia with you-"
"You've spent way too much time with my mom-"
"You should always carry some-"
"Yes mom." Percy's voice was teasing as she slid her hand into her pocket and she pulled out a little bag that held some squares of ambrosia.
"You mock me but I've spent too much time around demigods with no self preservation instincts- remember that time Leo-"
"Oh gods." Percy giggled- "At least all it did was blow his eyebrows off and give minor burns-"
"He looked so dumb until they grew back."
"He is dumb for a genius." Percy let out a breath, tilting her head forward, panting slightly as she rested it against Rachel's. "Are you okay? That was pretty scary."
"I'll be fine- you're the one who got hurt-"
"I got tossed into you pretty hard."
"Just a bit bruised, now shut up and eat that ambrosia." Rachel snatched the bag from Percy and pulled out a square, "Before I have to feed it to you- don't test me Jackson because I swear I will- Percy-" she burst out laughing at Percy's response, which was to give a cheeky grim and open her mouth, letting Rachel pop the square of godly goodness into her mouth- and Percy let out a happy noise at the taste, the pain in her head quickly fading away into nothing. Then she grabbed Rachel's hand and straightened up, "Let's get out of here."
"What do we do Percy? Just go-"
"We go home. I'm supposed to meet Annabeth there. Then... I guess the cinema date is gonna be a no go."
"I can come with you to help you explain everything to your mom." Rachel offered quickly, squeezing Percy's hand as they headed towards the mouth of the alley- which opened out onto East 81st- and Percy, who's gaze was on Rachel, walked straight into someone- her hand slipped out of Rachel's as she stumbled and a pain of hands on her shoulders steadied her as a familiar laugh filled the air.
"Woah Seaweed brain, no need to fall for me. You're out early." it was Annabeth- and Percy felt her face splitting into a wide smile despite everything that had happened as he gaze focused on the girl.
She was dressed up nice, a pair of light blue jeans, a silvery blouse, her owl shaped locket that Poseidon had given her hanging around her neck and her little owl earrings sparling in her ears.
Her hair had been pulled back into an updo with a few curls left down to frame her face.
"Annabeth." Percy felt relief flow through her as she lurched forward, throwing her arms around the other girl, "Oh thank the gods you're here-"
"Woah- what happened?" Annabeth frowned- pulling back slightly and spotting Rachel, raising an eyebrow as she took in the sight of the monster dust covered girl. "You're the girl from the Dam right- Rachel-"
"Rachel Elizabeth Dare." Rachel's eyes flicked up and down, taking in Annabeth slowly. "And you're the girl with the dagger. Annabeth, Percy's told me a lot about you,"
"Likewise."
"I guess this is your first time really meeting." Percy glanced between them, slightly confused about the sudden tension between them.
"Yeah." Annabeth nodded, "Yes it is." her voice was very stiff. "Percy- I thought you were still supposed to be at the school orientation thing. I was gonna surprise you there."
"Ah." Percy flushed, "I can totally explain."