Chapter XIV
Percy's body trembled as he slowly managed to stand up with has back supported by the wall he sat against. Shaking, he stared at the invader as it started taking slow, unhurried steps towards him. Like a true predator after its prey, waiting to strike at the precise moment.
At a distance Percy could see that whatever it was, it was large. But as it approaching him, he realized it was easily a few heads higher than him. Frozen in place, he couldn't force himself to move a muscle. And as the creature approached, it opened his maw and though it was unexpected — even though Percy knew he shouldn't have been expecting it at that point — it started speaking.
"It took me a good while to locate you, godling," Its voice was like a stone grounded on pavement, rough and uneven. The volume, much like the creature, seemed to shift as Percy understood one word perfectly, and the next was like a distant whisper, and he couldn't have been sure he truly understood the meaning of what the creature said.
"A good thing you used some of your powers while I was hunting, then. Much stronger smell. And if I could be honest, you smell delicious puny one, who sired you?" It questioned as he kept walking towards him, around the pool, and getting ever closer. It took Percy a few moments to piece together its meaning, and once he put it all together, his shivers got worse. Somehow a monster located him. And this time Reyna was out-cold. By what he did.
Percy cursed inwardly, eyes moving frantically from the monster to the broken window to the large building doors, and finally to Reyna. I can run, he though. But I can't leave Reyna behind, no matter what happened. Percy inhaled. Slow and deep, and then exhaled. One breath. Two breaths. It was difficult, but his body was relaxing, his mind cleared, and the shivers lessened. If I can do whatever I did to hit Reyna, I can beat whatever this is. Reyna saved him once, that night on the beach. It was his time to at least try to save her now.
"What are you?" He took a step forward, his voice sounded less intimidating than he intended. He needed to get as far away from Reyna as possible.
"I am your death, godling. Contracted to kill and devour you after I bring my magister your corpse." Its green eyes shone as it passed from Percy to Reyna.
"And I see you brought me a second meal, though less potent. How considering." Its jaw never moved as the voice echoed in the large building.
"Who sent you?" Another step forward and a few deep breaths and Percy managed to stop shaking. He faced a monster, though he never managed to look at one so clearly before, and he could do it again. But without Reyna. The thought disturbed him, yet he kept walking.
"My magister is of no relevance to you, godling. You can meet him as you slowly decay after I've drank your blood dry." The creature retorted, never answering Percy's question. They were closing distance from one another, and the monster stopped.
Not if I kill you first you smoking coyote. The thought passed in an instant as Percy raised his hand, palm and fingers spread and pointed towards the monster. I hope you like getting wet. The monster tensed in a moment, readying itself for some sort of impact or attack. None came. Percy stood, hand outreached, and cursed. This time aloud. Of course it wouldn't work when I need it.
The monster let out a laugh as it pounced toward Percy, its size and strong body shooting it forward, mouth agape and claws ready to strike. Percy lurched out of the way in the last second, yet a claw managed to get him in the arm and a large bleeding scratch appeared on his right forearm. It wasn't deep, but it stung harder than it should have. The creature turned to face him again, and this time Percy exploded into a sprint, trying to reach to pool. It'll be easier if he was inside a water source. He was a jump away from the pool when black smoke enveloped him, blocking his vision from all sides.
"Nice try, godling," The voice was much clearer inside the smoke, and it didn't break like when he was outside it. Percy could hear the monster as it goaded him, as if talking to a child who didn't know better.
"But seeing how much you want to get inside the water tells me I shouldn't let you. Why aren't you using your powers?" Percy had no idea himself. It worked before, against Reyna. The memory wasn't a pleasant one. He wanted to try and retrace the steps but his mind and body racing wasn't helping the situation. He didn't utter a word.
"Keeping secrets? Fine by me." inside of the black smoke,the monster appeared before him in an instant. Using its massive body, it tackled Percy in the torso, sending him flying backwards. Without enough time to react, he felt the breath leave his lungs in an instant as he rolled a few time, felling pain fill his body as he saw the inside of the pool building twist and turn in a myriad of directions. When he landed, right by the big double doors, he felt pain, nausea, and his vision swam before him tilting the view left, then right. But most of all, Percy felt disappointed.
It's my fault that monster got here. It's my fault Reyna is out-cold and can't help. It's my fault I couldn't do anything because I wasn't training hard enough. It's my fault I'm so weak. The thoughts ran through his head as he watched the monster approach him, coming out from the dark smoke as it slowly trailed behind the creature.
"I was hoping for more of a challenge, godling. You killed my kin when he found you, after all." The taunt sounded even shakier now as Percy tried to focus on the creature as it came closer.
"I'll enjoy ripping you apart piece by piece. And then I'll rip the left-overs over there too, even slower that you." Percy could hear hunger in its voice at the mere prospect of what the monster was saying. And after looking up made his stomach churn even more as the world was spinning around him, Percy closed his eyes.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm not the one you were looking for Mark. I'm sorry I didn't take things seriously Reyna. I'm sorry about what I said, before, He thought as darkness enveloped him. I really wanted to help you find what you were hoping for when you smiled. The pain, nausea and thoughts intertwined, and Percy nearly passed out.
"Then help, Perseus. Do what you were meant to." A voice echoed out of nowhere in Percy's subconscious. Weak and distant, yet familiar. He could just barely hear it.
You, he thought. You're the one who warned me on that night, helped me until she arrived. Who are you?
"No time," The voice muttered. "We are yet weak. Rise and lead, Perseus. On my authority. We name you miles Romae." The voice rang, and faded slowly.
Percy's eyes snapped open and the world cleared. The pain and nausea were still there, but Percy felt them diminish greatly as he looked up, and saw the monster almost upon him. As it caught his eyes, the monster stopped in its tracks as it kept staring.
Percy felt something bloom inside of him. A sort of warmth. A connection. It was faint, almost non-existent, but it was there. He felt his surroundings, and he felt the water lapping at the edges of the pool. He could tell Reyna wasn't hurt very badly, and he could tell the monster was starting to hesitate. He felt his wrist warm up for a second and then fade, but he didn't dare take his eyes off the monster.
"No…" The never moved as it kept staring into his eyes.
"After five-hundred years they give it to a clueless boy? This is almost too funny if it wasn't so dangerous. Better finish it now than plat with such expensive food." Percy didn't know what the monster meant, but he knew that he was going to try and get him somehow. That small connection warned him.
The monster brought its massive claws down towards Percy in a speed that could crush his body. Yet despite his injuries he felt lighter. He rolled out of the way and bounced back up standing, facing the monster.
"Sorry for the wait there, I don't deal well with smoked dog. Does things to my stomach." Percy felt better yet he couldn't explain why even if he tried. He wasn't shaking in fear and shock. He knew he could take the oversized wolf, whatever it was.
The monster growled again, its voice once close and once far away. "Don't get cocky godling, I beat men with thrice your experience in my prime. You don't even know what you just received do you?" The monster leapt into action, running towards Percy in a confusing pattern from the left then from the right. Finally when it was close enough, it jumped at him again, closing the distance with its mouth agape, and its clawed paws aimed to strike.
With a move that Percy thought was previously impossible, he rolled under the attack of the massive wolf-like creature, dodging its attack. Then, with a move that he should've never known, or ever done before, he stopped his roll midway, putting his palms before his head as he pushed the rest of his lower body forward, and up into the air, supported by his forearms. His legs connected with the creature's massive body with a powerful kick that — combined with the monsters own momentum — sent it flying upwards and away from Percy.
In an impressive arc, the monster was blown straight inside the pool, sending waves and a massive water spray forward as it connected. Percy, still shocked by what he just managed to do, got up and hurried to look inside the pool, to see if the monster was still there. As he reached the edge however, he found that the water was now a deep black color. The entire insides of the pool was dark, and Percy noticed that the connection the water wasn't there anymore as well.
It's the smoke, Percy though. It somehow manages to hide his presence. Readying himself, Percy looked inside the waters, trying to see if he could find any movement. It was too dark to see. And Jumping inside wouldn't do him any good, he'd just get knocked back again.
Percy paced slowly along the edge of the pool. He can't get me, I'll be ready for another pounce. His shoes stepping on the water sent sounds echoing. He can't get me, the thought crossed his mind in an instant, and he began dashing towards the other side of the building, where another, unconscious demi-god laid. But he can get Reyna.
Panic once again bloomed inside of him as he saw the monster emerging from the dark pool, its smoke-like substance following behind it as it launched itself towards Reyna. It would reach her before him. Percy knew it. The pool was rapidly changing color from ink to the clear waters that were there before he launched the monster towards it, and luckily the water cleared before the monster reached Reyna.
Percy felt his connection return in an instant, and it was all he needed. He pictured what he wanted to do in his mind. His imagination conjured an image of the same serpent-like water jet that he used to hit Reyna. The water obeyed almost immediately, changing and elongating according to his will. The result wasn't as strong as it was when it happened before, but he couldn't dwell on it now. With a mental command, the serpent cracked itself like a whip before moving to wrap itself around the monster in a vice grip, stopping its momentum right before the claws hit Reyna's body.
The monster lurched, shocked by the whiplash of its body. "So this is why they gave it to you, godling." The grip on the monster was getting stronger and stronger, and he could hear its voice straining as it spoke. "You're the son of Neptune, as ludicrous as it sound to say out loud." The grip was growing stronger, crushing the creature's body with such strength that Percy winced as he heard some bones crack as the monster let out a painful yap. Percy closed the distance as he made sure the water would keep its hold.
"Who sent you?" Percy asked again, looking at the monster. It let out another painful sound.
"Whatever you have is nothing compared to the magister, not to mention the domina. Run while you still can, son of Neptune, and do it quickl—" Before it could finish the monster burst into golden dust, scattering in the air. In between the specks of gold he could see Reyna standing in front of him, gladius in hand in a stabbing motion aimed towards the monster that was held by his power a moment before. She sheathed her sword in a fluid motion in a golden scabbard that somehow disappeared into the air as if it wasn't there. Reyna turned to look at him.
"Nice save, Percy. Now we know what you can do with water." She sounded tired and unfocused, and he didn't know how to react.
"Sorry I punched you with a wall of water, Reyna. Didn't mean to." He felt like apologizing.
"Sorry I yelled at you, Percy, it was necessary, as you saw. I'm glad you got your emotions in check to use your powers." He stood next to her, bringing one of her arms around his shoulder for support, and she leaned on him and let him lead her to a bench to sit down.
"It wasn't that." He started, and she looked at him puzzled, her hand still supported by his shoulder as they sat.
"I couldn't control anything. That things almost killed me. And you. But then… something talked to me. It helped me somehow." He looked to Reyna and saw her deep in thought. It took some time until she slowly raised her eyes again, and Percy noticed they returned to the same soft dark pools he knew before.
"Percy," She started.
"What?"
"Show me your tattoo." How did she know about it, didn't he manage to hide it that time?
"What tattoo?" He tried to look away, but couldn't. Her eyes trapped him.
"Come on, Percy, were after that by now." She brought her other arm and turned it towards Percy so that he could see her wrist. A tattoo was etched there, but instead of the trident he had, she had a symbol of a gladius, with an S.P.Q.R below it, just like his.
He put his right hand forward, and turned it so he could look at the tattoo that he knew he'd find there. But something was different from the last time he saw it. The trident, as well as the S.P.Q.R. symbols were still there, but below it, marked in large capital letters, was another inscription. MIL. That was new.
As soon as Reyna saw his tattoo, she gave him the biggest smile he ever saw her wear, and her eyes sparked with hope again, like the last time he did something that she approved of. Percy pointed to the new mark on his wrist.
"That wasn't there before." He mumbled.
"I know." She said, the smile never leaving her face.
"It wasn't anywhere, on anyone, for the last five hundred years."
"What do you mean?" Percy realized that the monster said the same thing.
"It means the gods recognize you as a soldier of Rome, Percy. Something still lives on, giving them strength, and they invested it in you."
Percy didn't reply, trying to wrap his head around the situation. They sat there for a while, until it got late. Yet all Percy was focused on was how nice it made him feel to see Reyna in such a cheerful mood. And if the gods did give him the strength to somehow help them, he'd use it as best he could to keep that hopeful smile on her face.
A.N. - After the last cliffhanger I couldn't keep you waiting.
Plus, 200 follows?! That's insane. Thank you all for your support.
Enjoy.
T.I.