"ERUMPO FLAMMA!" Echoed in the colosseum, followed by a rumble in the earth.
Lou's magic was sputtering as she tired, her companion barely able to keep up with the oncoming hordes
"VENENIFER SPICA!" His shout matched the first, followed by the thump of dummies hitting the dirt.
It was almost in sync, the spear that sunk into Lou's stomach at the same time her companion's head rolled from his shoulders.
His next cry was a wordless roar, bashing his targets with his staff and sending them skittering across the arena. He merely stood there amidst the destruction, coated in sweat and panting. The early morning air felt far warmer than it had when Lou left, despite it having been only two weeks.
It had taken everything Chiron could pull to keep him there, and even that became shakier per day. This was the tipping point, this nightmare that played on repeat in his mind. It didn't matter the consequences, demigod dreams weren't something to be taken lightly, and he would never stand idly by while his real family gets hurt.
So, as he walked to breakfast, he planned. When he sacrificed some of his breakfast, he prayed for Hermes' blessing in his task. The far too crowded Hermes table still made bitter feelings bubble in his chest, especially when he could see several empty tables around them.
He carefully studied the latest spell, a tracking spell, one he would need dearly in a few hours. The book was, as usual, cryptic and irritating in wording. He began muttering the spell in parts, careful to avoid accidentally casting when he didn't fully understand it and its effects. His fellow cabin mates practically ignored him while he studied, leaving him to his own little world.
Breakfast, and everything until lunch, passed in a blur. He carefully snuck past Chiron and Dionysus, both locked in a game of Pinochle, deeper into the Big House. His bag was almost ready, missing two final resources, ambrosia and nectar. The cabinet it sat in was alarmingly small, in his eyes, and the amount of both even more so. Regardless, he took a small amount of both, before covering his tracks and escaping to the stables.
He moved quickly, and avoided being spotted as much as he could, the fewer that saw him the better.
He strode between the stalls confidently, coming to a stop in front of one pegasus.
Agot was the pegasus with the most endurance in all of Camp, one that he could trust to make it there on time. The saddle was on his back in an instant, and together they exited the stable. He was just as quick to step into the saddles and nudge Agot to a trot.
Now, they knew. The pegasus' stayed in the stable area exclusively, even when they flew. It was only a matter of time before someone alerted Chiron. The trot became a gallop, and his wings began to beat. Percy's heart pounded as Chiron galloped into his sight, the centaur's expression twisted into rare anger.
Finally, he began to take off, gaining altitude far quicker now.
"PERSEUS!" He roared, slowing to a stop. Despite his instincts, he leaned over and sent him a small wave. Now, though, he needed to find Lou.
"Vestigia semideum perhibemus Lou Ellen Blackstone!" He called to the wind, feeling a tug in his gut pulling him northeast. As he began to steer to the feeling, an unbidden grin drifted to his lips.
The grin that lingered when he first left Camp vanished when his destination became clearer. Land of the Witch. He shuffled about the saddle uncomfortably, now able to see Salem itself. The town was a far cry from when he had last seen it, burning chaos replaced by clean, neat buildings.
Regardless of the current state of the town, it was far too similar to what he once lived in. He shook the thoughts from his mind and followed the tug to the town below. After a moment to compose himself, he guided Agot down to a smooth landing.
He left Agot in the field they landed in, and began his short trek to Salem. Despite himself, the sight was nostalgic in his eyes, and he could practically see himself running around with her. The slight smile that teased at his lips died at the thought, matching the anger that spiked in his chest.
The brick streets threatened to pull him far below the nostalgic memories, somewhere far darker.
"She is a witch. And that boy! He has acted against God! Seize him!"
He yanked his dagger free of the sheath on instinct, whirling in circles to spot the villagers. He was only greeted with bubbles of tourists, posing this way and that spaced out across the streets. His pulse still roared in his ears, drowning out even the cars that sputtered by.
With a small huff of breath, he followed the connection. Some of the buildings had been burned down, he recalled, replaced according to the new additions. He studied each with scrutiny, struggling to remember the names of those who once lived there.
He felt his power flare against his fingertips for less than a moment, before his heart jumped to his throat.
Salem, in all its original glory, laid bare before him. He half expected some version of his memories, but the streets around him remained eerily empty. He glanced at his form, finding it both solid and in modern clothing. Something was messing with him. Or someone.
"Show yourself," His call echoed across the empty street. Then she appeared. He knew who she was the moment his eyes landed on her, and it was far from a welcome sight.
"Hecate." He hissed, fists curled at his sides. She regarded him with an almost cold indifference, torch of greek fire aloft in her fist. Her stare only narrowed at his tone.
"You, demigod, would do well to watch your tone amongst your superiors," Her tone barely wavered from monotone, despite her words, "But I am curious who could layer Mist so thoroughly as to hide the truth from me." Her robes betrayed no movement as she drifted to him, almost bringing her torch to his face before he stumbled away.
"Remove the Mist, boy, and let me gaze upon your nature." She seemed far less threatened by his dagger than he had hoped.
"You speak as though you are my superior," He countered, "Perhaps I am one of your bastards, though it may give you far too much credit." The tone he took was far more sarcastic than it should have been, especially since she could probably peel the Mist free if she wanted, and he may just get her help to find Lou no matter how little he wanted it.
For some reason, she didn't smite him almost immediately, or peel the mist free like he suspected she could. Instead, he swore he could see the beginnings of a smile for a moment.
"Why are you in my land, boy?" He met her gaze unflinchingly, "It is clear you have not come to see myself." It took a healthy amount of self control to keep his tongue in check, instead looking down each street.
"I am following your daughter, Lou Ellen," Her gaze remained trained on him, "I seek to keep her safe as I can." she only nodded.
"Very well. She is headed to Mount Misery," The goddess watched as Salem faded around them, "You are an interesting mystery. Not many mortals know Salem as it started, and I must know how you do." His heart pounded harder in her chest, and his hand slowly slid the dagger back into the sheath, as Hecate vanished in a swirl of shadows.
At least something good came from seeing her. It took a moment before he began to jog back to Agot, ignoring the indignant cries of tourists he breezed past.
The pegasus was already waiting for him, and broke into a sprint as soon as Percy slid into the saddle.
"Hang on Lou, I'm on my way." He muttered, turning to Mount Misery in the west.