A/N: Hello my lovely beautiful readers! TripleHomicide here with another chapter of The Guardians, my new work. As usual, credit for the characters go to Rick Riordan, but the plot is wholly mine. Thank you all for giving this story a chance and I hope this chapter is good enough to keep you glued to your screens! Happy Reading! As usual, I would like to hear your thoughts, so comments would be nice. and AO3 have been disappointing me with the low number of reviews these days :'(

Wattpad on the other hand…you readers keep doing what you're doing. :)

The sound of hooves hitting the earth was loud as the three questers raced towards Thebes. Their horses—black, brown and white for Perseus, Leo and Piper, respectively—were fast and light on their feet, as though they knew the urgency of their journey.

Perseus clutched onto his steed's mane, urging it to go faster. It had been far too long. Too much time had passed since the Grove had been robbed of its source of light and he feared for what the Olympians' power was being used for.

Perseus glanced to his left and right, and he saw Leo and Piper, faces scrunched up in concentration as they tried to keep up with him. For someone who had never ridden a horse before, Leo was surprisingly good at it. As for the princess, following his announcement about the Prophecy and her temporary hosting of a war spirit, she had become more focused and a bit more determined and energised.

Perseus looked around him as they raced past trees and forests on their horses. The Prince of Sparta had been on his way to Thebes. They had to know what had happened, what he had been going to do and to meet the men he had been travelling with. Maybe one of them had seen something—something that would give them a lead on the location of the royals.

"Can we…stop?" Leo panted out. Perseus could see that the horses were getting tired. He shouted his agreement over the roar of the wind, and the noble creatures came to a halt.

"Take thirty minutes. Examine the place for clues of a struggle, although I doubt we'll see any," He paused. "I think it's time for lunch too."

The other two followed his orders quickly, Leo grabbing his water skin and chugging it down. Piper did the same, then splashed some over herself—that is, after removing her cloak.

It seemed as though Apollo was angry that day, for the sun was scorching and they were all sweaty in their cloaks and garbs. Perseus walked around his black horse, then moved to lean on a tree on the side of the path. He felt uneasy, as though something bad was going to happen.

They had been travelling for three days now and they hadn't been attacked—not once. Not by monsters, nor humans, and it was starting to worry Perseus. If monsters weren't attacking it meant they were converging somewhere.

As for the humans…maybe in the time that he had isolated himself from the world, they had stamped out robberies and bandit attacks on roads? That sounded dubious, now he thought of it. The mortals weren't that effective at ridding their road networks of crime. They weren't good at doing most things, in all honesty. Perseus rested his back on a particularly large oak tree, basking under the shade of the leaves.

Instantly he stiffened. Because there was a bloody knife at his throat.

-X-

Piper felt herself freeze when several figures clad in black appeared out of the trees around them. She had never encountered bandits before and the suddenness and quietness with which they had come made her panic. She felt a sword press onto her back.

"Drop your weapons, and give us all your belongings. Or die. Your choice." The voice belonged to the male bandit near Perseus at the tree. He had startling blue eyes.

She moved to draw her weapon, eyes travelling to Perseus, only to find him stiff as a board against the tree, a golden blade on his neck. She caught Perseus' eyes and saw him nod subtly.

Instantly he moved, melting into mist and reappearing behind the man with the blade. Piper followed his lead, ducking low under the sword and kicking the bandit with the sword off his feet. As he tumbled down, several more took his place and Piper drew Katoptris then charged.

She was aware of Perseus, spinning and duelling three of the black-clad men at once. He moved with expert speed and agility, hacking and slashing at the bandits to derail their movements and to knock them out. Leo was clutching twin hammers, which were lit with flames and bonking them into the heads of any bandits who crossed his path.

Piper focused on her own fights, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She ducked under a large broadsword and slashed her attacker in the gut. He doubled over and she slammed the hilt of her knife into his head, making him crumple. Piper didn't know how she knew a knife was coming for her. But she sidestepped, her cloak sweeping behind her as she elbowed the next bandit in her face. He grunted and she decked him in the face. Piper parried the next strike which came for her, twisting and disarming the attacker, then round-housing him in the face.

She glanced around, eyes picking up the other fights. The bandits seemed to have decided that Perseus was the most dangerous among them and seemed to have converged around him. Leo was still battling three at once and Piper was aware of the man racing to her.

She felt a buzzing in her head—a sort of nagging, to say something. She didn't want to reveal her magic. Not yet. But maybe…

"Stop!" Piper shouted commandingly. Instantly the battles ceased. Men stopped running. Even the ones stirring on the ground went still. "Drop your weapons." She heard the clang and thuds of several weapons being dropped.

Perseus and Leo had placed their weapons on the ground, looking very surprised.

"Bandits, line up on the path," Piper started, forcing will into her words. "Find some ropes then tie yourselves up."

The bandits followed her orders, looking thoroughly confused. In about four minutes, they were done, kneeling in a straight line and facing Piper. The Princess turned and motioned to Perseus and Leo.

Her two companions came to her side almost immediately, surprise still fresh on their faces. Perseus met her eyes, saying, "So it's Aphrodite, then. I guess I was right." He paused, squinting. "Explains a lot."

"Whoa, Beauty Queen," Leo praised. "I didn't know you were a demigod too. And Aphrodite's your mother? Sick." Piper was confused. Aphrodite? Was….was that who her mother was?

How could they tell? Was that why the Queen had hated her so much? Because she was the daughter of Aphrodite? Piper had always knew she was an illegitimate child. But only Jane, her father and she herself knew that. She had thought her mother was a simple commoner her dad had taking a liking to before he was crowned King. But she was the daughter of a goddess. A goddess! Piper felt uneasy and then angry, that her real mother had never contacted her—never acknowledged her.

"That charm speak was pretty powerful," Perseus commented. He moved towards the bandits, spotting the one with blue eyes who had held him at knife-point. Perseus threw off the black masks and hood he was wearing.

"Travis?!" Leo's surprised voice made Piper choke.

"What? You know them?" She whirled on him.

The son of Hephaestus disregarded her comment, moving towards the bandits. As he went he pulled off their hoods, he mentioned names, voice loud with shock. "Chris? Connor?" He looked around, an eyebrow arched incredulously.

"Did you guys not see me bashing your heads in?" Leo asked.

"Oh, we did," Connor spoke. "But we've got to eat, haven't we?"

Perseus' head was cocked to the side. He turned to Leo. "I suppose this means I can't kill them? They're friends of yours?"

"W-what?" Travis sputtered. "Kill us? We didn't even rob you yet!" He sounded indignant and Piper's eyebrows disappeared into her hairline as she examined them.

"You're not killing them," Leo said decisively. "Just…leave them here, like this. Someone'll find them eventually." He turned away from his very un-loyal friends and began walking to the horses, which hadn't strayed in the battle.

Perseus shrugged, then said, "Fine. Let's go."

He headed over to his own black horse, mounting it expertly. Piper took a last glance at the tied up bandits—the work of her Aphrodite genes, surely—she followed after them.

-X-

Leo nodded towards the lonely building by the side of the road. "I think that's an inn."

Perseus snorted, "Oh, how could you tell?" Piper chuckled, eyes moving to the huge building in the distance and the sign which said Inn. Leo stuck his tongue out, like a mature person.

Shaking his head, Perseus said, "Maybe the Prince and his companions stopped there on their way. Maybe one of them's even taken up residence here."

Piper nodded, tightening her hold on the reins of her horse and following after Perseus, who dashed towards the inn, Leo hot on their heels.

When they got to the front door, Perseus hopped off his steed and Piper and Leo followed suit. Under the Guardian's instruction, they tethered their horses to two long wooden poles set there for the purpose of travellers.

"Hoods up," Perseus motioned with his hand, ordering them. "If the Prince's attacker is in there, we don't want to be spotted."

Leo felt a rush of adrenaline flow through his veins and he adjusted the long brown cloak the son of Poseidon had given him, throwing the brown hood over his head. Beside him, Perseus threw on a black hood and Piper covered her face and head with her white apparently magical one.

As one, they walked through the doors of the Inn.

Instantly, all eyes were on them. Leo pursed his lips, resisting the urge to fidget. He looked around, examining anything and everything around him, and ignoring the assortment of travellers who were seated at chairs and tables. He spotted a collection of stairs, which obviously led to the rooms. Leo's eyes travelled to the bar a few feet away from the stairs, where a bald man sat cleaning goblets and pouring out wine to patrons.

Leo jerked his head in that direction and Perseus seemed to understand. If anyone had spotted the prince, it would be the man at the bar. Ignoring the suspicious and cold looks they were receiving from the people around them, the three moved towards the bar. Piper took the nearest seat, in the middle, directly facing the bartender, and Leo and Perseus slipped onto the high bar stools next to her.

"Good evening," Perseus greeted. "I'd like a goblet of your finest grape wine, please." He turned towards the others. Leo spoke next, resting his cheek on his fist in what seemed like boredom. He cleared his throat, then said, "Same thing."

"I'd just like some water, thank you," Piper said, keeping her gaze trained on the bald man. He nodded at their requests, then moved.

In a few minutes, three goblets were seated in front of each of them. Perseus exchanged a glance with Leo and shook his head subtly. Don't drink it. Leo understood perfectly and so did Piper, it seemed. He felt a small chill settle around him and the hairs on his arms stood on end.

Something about the inn just felt wrong. It was like there was a lingering presence…of something bad. Something evil.

"Nice road you have there," Perseus started again. 'The bandits are nice folks. They worry you often?" He was trying to strike up a conversation. Leo observed.

"Nay," The man said, shaking his head. "Every day's a good day. Lots o' customers, most of 'em are penniless, but they work 'ard to pay me back."

"I'm guessing a lot of people must lodge here then," Piper popped. "Seeing as it's the only inn around for miles."

"Right you are, miss," The bartender agreed heartily, wiping the surface of another goblet.

Leo chose that opportunity to speak, bringing his goblet to his lips and pretending to sip. When he placed it back down, he said, "I heard some prince or something was passing through these parts. And then he upped and vanished." The bartender seemed to stiffen at Leo's words.

He looked around and Leo could see the unease flickering in his expression. "Yes, I heard that too," Piper drawled. "Lots of royals seem to be disappearing lately, don't they?'

Perseus scoffed. "Maybe there's some celebratory ball or party they decided to go to without informing their families. I know if I was a royal, I'd like to head out on my own sometimes to relieve some of the stress."

The bartender still polished his cup, listening to their conversation hesitantly, although he seemed intrigued. Finally, he spoke. 'There was a lad 'ere few weeks ago. Looked rich, 'e did! Offered me a full large pouch o' gold to keep his presence quiet 'cause someone was after 'im!" He looked around again, and Leo could see some of his hesitance slipping away.

"Then when I escorted 'im to 'is room, he closed the door and then this blasting sound came almost immediately." Leo didn't need to force himself to look interested. He leaned forward and the bartender seemed to eat it up. He got a lot more comfortable and continued,

"When I was able to yank me door open, the lad was out cold, on the shoulder of some man, in a cloak just like yours." He motioned to Piper. He took in a deep breath, eyes widening and generally looking like a mad-man. "And you can call me crazy, but I know what I saw!"

Piper exchanged a glance with Perseus and Leo. "What did you see?" She queried.

"'e vanished," The man said, eyes widening. "Melting inta mist, like some sorta smoke man."

Perseus nodded tensely and Leo pursed his lips. It matched the description of the man who had attacked Piper's mother, then. So they were looking for a vanishing man with white eyes, white hair and white garbs who seemed to have a royal-family-member kink.

Finding him would be easy enough, Leo thought, sarcastically.

-X-

Perseus glanced behind him in unease, feeling his skin tingling. He had been feeling that they were being followed. His nerves had been prickling since they had left that bar and now, as they were headed to Thebes, it seemed to have gotten stronger.

He kept looking behind him as they rode, to the confusion of Leo and Piper who kept shooting him questioning glances. After a while, Perseus motioned for them to stop. He leaned down, then whispered, "We're being followed."

Piper pursed her lips and Leo arched an eyebrow. "By who?" The son of Hephaestus asked.

Perseus held himself back from retorting in annoyance by shaking his head. "I don't know. I've been riding with you all along, in case you didn't notice."

Leo rolled his eyes, glancing around uneasily. Piper fiddled with the hem of her cloak, then said, "Do we keep going? Or stop and drive them out?"

"It would be better to stop whoever's tailing us," Perseus said decisively. "But we have to get to Thebes first, that's more urgent." His voice lowered into a whisper. "We can spring a trap on whoever it is when they follow us into the city. Leo and Piper nodded their agreement and Perseus motioned for them to start riding once again.

The horses' hooves thundered against the earth, leaving trails of dust in their wake. They rode, barely pausing for breaks. Perseus was so concerned with arriving at Thebes in the shortest amount of time that he didn't notice the shadows which swirled behind them as they rode. He also didn't notice the plague spirits until it was almost too late.

-X-

Piper looked up when Perseus let out a loud curse. She looked around her, trying to see if it had been their mysterious stalker who had been spotted.

But no. It was something worse. Something misty and transparent, kind of like the Makhai but in a humanoid shape. It was something that made Piper's heart beat faster, ice filling her veins.

"What the bloody Hades—" Leo muttered, eyebrows disappearing in his hair. They pulled on the reins of the horses and they came to a stop, something Piper wasn't so sure they should be doing.

Perseus had turned pale, his eyes wide and cheeks sunk in as the transparent ghoul-like creatures came forth and Piper took the opportunity to properly examine them. The three creatures looked like spirits—humans in tattered ghostly robes with skulls that seemed to be filled with fog and a pale sickly aura emanating from them. If she focused, they seemed like blobs floating listlessly towards Piper and her two companions.

Perseus swore once more, and Piper was sure she heard a muttered word, Apollo, in his sentence. Their undoubted leader grabbed his horse by the reins, then spun, shouting, "Run!"

It didn't take much convincing. After Perseus shot past her and Leo, Piper spurred her horse into action, a movement which was copied by Leo, who looked white as a sheet. "Hiya!" Piper yelled. The horse shot forward and she streaked past Leo, who took just a few seconds to tail after her.

They rode, hard and fast, (A/N: This sounds so wrong in my head lol) Piper's heart was hammering so loudly in her chest she could hear it. They streaked past trees and winding paths and boulders, yet whenever Piper turned, she could still see the things coming at them.

They caught up with Perseus soon after, who had drawn his sword as he rode his horse. Piper shot to his side, shouting, "What are those things?"

He glanced back worriedly, then shouted in reply, "Plague Spirits. They're referred to as Nosoi, created by—"

"I don't think we have time for a history lesson," Leo called from Perseus' left side. "How do we stop them?"

"You don't," Perseus said, quite ominously. Piper felt chills erupt on her spine. "Just keep running!"

Piper pursed her lips and swallowed, following his lead.

-X-

It didn't take long for the Plague Spirits to catch up with them. Piper glanced behind them anxiously, then swore loudly, veering off to the left as a hand reached for her. She drew her dagger, slashing at the nearest spirit, vaguely thinking about how much swearing she had been doing lately and how her father would most likely disapprove.

She was aware of Perseus and Leo going off in different directions to avoid the touches of the plague spirits. "It's useless!" Perseus shouted. "No weapons, celestial bronze, imperial gold or steel, can harm them in this form!"

Piper really hated how invincible these monsters seemed to be. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and leaned to the side, narrowly dodging the hand of another Nosoi. Piper looked up, then her heart jumped up in elation.

"The gates!' She yelled. Leo looked up and spotted the high walls of the city of Thebes coming up close.

"We can't lead plague spirits into a city full of people!" Leo yelled. "They'll die!"

Piper hadn't thought about that. She risked a glance behind her and heard a moan from the shiny blobs chasing them. She turned, just in time to see Perseus shout, "There's a path coming up ahead if my memory's correct. A few millennia ago I helped construct a temple of Apollo around here somewhere."

Piper didn't even question it. She didn't have time to think about Perseus' words, because the next thing she knew, he was shouting, "Now!" And as one, the three of them veered towards the left where the path branched out. Piper saw the city getting farther and farther and shook her head, focusing on the task ahead.

A moan from behind told her the Nosoi were still following, and she gritted her teeth as they charged through the path which clearly hadn't been in use for centuries. They sailed through leaves and ducked under branches as they rode, and Piper saw a faint glint of gold in the distance.

"Almost there!" Perseus yelled.

They burst into a clearing a few seconds later and Perseus shouted once more, "Go, GO!" Then to the horses, he said, "into the Temple, to the nearest Altar! We—" He stopped speaking suddenly and Piper turned, just in time to see a nosoi sail through Perseus' body like the Makhai had done with her. The black-haired man slumped down, groaning.

"Perseus!" She yelled.

"I got him!" Leo grabbed the reigns of the black horse, then pulled. "Go! Into the temple!"

Piper kicked at the side of her horse and it shot up golden steps and through the temple doors. A second later Leo soared through the doorway, with the black steed in tow, Perseus hanging on to its neck for dear life.

Piper didn't know what made her blurt it out, but in an instant she was shouting, "Apollo, we need your protection!"

The Nosoi were almost at the doorway. It was silent for a few seconds, in which all Piper could hear was her heartbeat.

And then a faint pulse reached her ears, a small beating as the air hummed. Light seemed to collect in front of her, solidifying and becoming brighter and forming into the shape of a man, tall, with long blond hair and bright blue eyes, tan skin and a ruggedly handsome face, filled with boyish charm. He had the most blinding white teeth Piper had ever seen and wore golden robes, brown sandals, golden vambraces and a golden laurel wreath on his head.

The man turned to the doorway, then snapped his fingers, eyes blazing gold with power. Piper watched, awestruck as the Nosoi dissipated into the air just as they crossed the threshold.

The man hummed in approval and turned to them, flashing Piper a grin. "It's nice to finally meet you, Princess Piper," He said. "You're even more beautiful than Aphrodite says. Your mother's descriptions don't do you much justice." Piper was sure she looked gobsmacked just then, mouth wide like a goldfish. The golden god winked at her, licking his lips. Piper jerked, then stepped back.

Apollo looked around and then frowned, as if now spotting the unconscious man on the horse and the sweaty son of Hephaestus by his side. "Now," Apollo said. "I think your friend needs some help, no?"

-X-

Apollo placed a hand on Perseus' head, then wrenched it back just as quickly, as though he had been burnt. "Well," He laughed uneasily. "That's a big one."

"What?" Leo asked, unable to keep the worry out from his voice. How were they supposed to accomplish anything if their undisputed leader was dead? "What's a big one? Can you heal him or not?"

Apollo's eyes flashed dangerously and Leo reared back in mild surprise and fear. He pursed his lips, then glanced at Piper, who was still staring at Apollo in shock. Leo understood. The god of the sun was the first god she had encountered. He had been even more shocked when his father contacted him at first.

Apollo began muttering under his breath and then suddenly broke into a low soft hymn. Leo watched the god work and his eyebrow furrowed as Perseus, writhing on the floor where they had set him, began to glow a warm gold colour.

After a few seconds Perseus stopped moving, then let out a huge breath. He seemed at peace, worry erased from his face and sweat evaporating from his body. Apollo waved his hand and a goblet of water appeared out of thin air. Leo heard Piper yelp and he had to fight hard not to follow at the mysterious display of power.

He watched as Apollo dumped the contents of the goblet on Perseus' face. There were a few seconds of silence, and then the son of Poseidon sat up with a loud gasp. His eyes scanned the room and then found Apollo's, and then he blanched, then scowled, then punched the god of the sun in the nose.

-X-

To say Leo was surprised would be an understatement. Apollo reared back, more out of shock than pain, although the force of Perseus' punch was so strong the god's nose was leaking with golden blood.

Piper yelled, rushing forward as Perseus leapt to his feet and bounded to attack the god once more. She grabbed his hands and with strength Leo didn't know she possessed, pushed the son of Poseidon away from the god of the sun.

"What the Tartarus, man?" Apollo groaned, clutching his nose. "I just saved your life."

"I told you I never want to see you again!" Perseus raged. 'Y-you dare show your face here, after what you did to me?"

"You're in my temple, Perseus," Apollo held his nose.

Leo was confused and from her expression, he could see Piper was too. Perseus' jaw was clenched, his eyes flashing dangerously in anger. He was clutching his sword tightly, and he pointed the bronze blade to the god.

"Be-Because of you, I'm stuck on this godforsaken planet, until one of you asswipes (A/N: This is probably when the first modern curse word was invented in this AU lol) decide to kill me when I'm no longer of use!" He was yelling and that spurned Leo to move, to try to placate his companion. Perseus blinked, and Leo swore silently when he saw the tears leaking out of his eyes. "Because of you almost everyone I ever loved is dead and I can't join them." He sneered and scowled through his tears, saying, "I hate you for it. I hate you so much."

Leo reached him, placing a hand on his shoulder to lower the sword and glancing at Apollo. The god looked uneasy and Leo could see the regret in his eyes. The god moved forward, slowly, "Look, Perce—" "Don't," Perseus hissed. 'Don't call me that. You lost that right millennia ago!"

Apollo winced, then said, "I'm sorry for what happened to you, and for the role I played in it. I'm sorry for being the reason you were cursed with your semi-immortality." He inhaled. 'I know there's not much I can do to help you, but I have valuable information." He seemed a bit hesitant, and Perseus, after wiping his tears and sending him a glare that would have cut steel, said, "Talk."

Piper exchanged a glance with Leo. As he watched the scene unfold, Leo thought about how he barely knew the son of Poseidon. Clearly, the same thoughts were running through Piper's head because he could see the confusion in her eyes. Perseus was an enigma—a mystery which Leo felt wouldn't be easy to unfold. He had so many secrets and so many stories to tell. He had been through a lot and in the week or so the three had been travelling together, the only thing Leo had picked up was that Perseus was a son of Poseidon and that he was semi-immortal and hated the gods of Olympus, but worked for them anyways, because of a stupid oath he'd been forced to make.

Leo watched Apollo sigh, then pinch the bridge of his nose. "There's a cave, up in the mountains in the Alps, where answers to your questions lie." He folded his arms. "I'm not allowed to help you directly, but I can send you there." Perseus regarded the god and Leo could see his brain whirring, all signs of the broken warrior from a few minutes ago vanished completely.

"Take us there, then," Perseus finally said.

Apollo nodded. "I'm sorry I can't do much—"

Perseus cut him off with a snarl. "Just shut up. And take us there." Apollo sighed once more, then waved his hand.

The last thing Leo saw was the wistful and sorry expression on the god's face. And then they all shimmered and melted into beams of light as everything went black.

A/N: Umm, so here's it. Thanks for trying out this story. I hope you liked this chapter. Leave a vote, kudos, review or comment to tell me what you think. See you in a few days, friends. Bye 3

-TripleHomicide.