First I'd like to thank Nerdgirl for her kind words. I saw your comment and it helped me feel a lot better.
I do want to say as always I've been busy and I've had a hard time coming up with how to write each chapter. I do have many things on my mind like I for one would love to see Rick Riordan write a book about Sally Jackson. I know it might not be as action packed as his other books, but I really want to see what it was like for her before Percy was born till a year or two before the first book. I don't know, I want to see what he says had happened or whatever. I mean he could also have those stories he scraped over in the beginning of the first book. I guess I want one of the best book moms to get her day in the spot light. He could even cover her point of view when Percy had gone missing.
NOTE: I am willing to hear suggestions and anything you think I should add to the story. It is helpful and does help me get ideas going. I have the basic outline, but your suggestions will help me flesh it out.
PS: This chapter may be subject to editing when or if I see fit. I just wanted to get it out there for you guys because I've made you wait so long.
Anyway, for all of your patients here is a next chapter.
Grover and Annabeth were quiet, even when they had re-began their bike ride towards the nearest city. Other than the clicking of the bike chains and the occasional car that whipped by them, it was dead quiet. It was getting late in the day. Their rest had taken almost two hours. Percy had to sit for two hours silently and watch as his friends exchanged glances every so often.
He hated to be the only one in the dark. It must have something to do with the friend Annabeth had mentioned to him earlier. Whoever Chiron was talking about it seemed to have tied a heavy weight upon the trio. One that made their bike ride feel painfully slow. The sun still beat unsympathetically upon them and they were feeling exhausted. Percy hadn't realized it but the sun was already starting to set. Where had the day gone? He could vividly remember waking up in Lupa's cave as if it had just happened moments ago.
The silence was almost too much to handle, Percy had to say something, "So, what kind of monsters do you think my aunt and uncle sent to kill me? Killer cows? Peacocks?"
"Really, Perce?" Grover hollered at him. "That's not something you just have a casual conversation about."
"I'm just trying to get someone to speak, the two of you haven't said anything since we talked to Chiron."
Annabeth shook her head and sighed, "Actually Seaweed Brain is onto something, we should be talking about what could be coming. We'd be idiots not to."
Percy could hear someone stop their bike behind him and he followed suite. They were close to a clearing at the side of the road. There was a small creek, long green grass and a single tree for shade. The trio guided their bikes to the tree and sat down. The son of Poseidon felt kind of greatful for the break, he could tell the others were too. Though he did find it strange that the grass was taller then them when they sat.
"We should be prepared for anything..." Annabeth began as she pulled up some of the long grass around them. Her fingers worked to tie it into knots. "And no lone wolf heroics, Percy. When we fight, we fight together."
"I did pretty well against the, Minotaur." Percy shrugged, refusing to wince when his still painful muscles protested.
Grover bleated and tugged on the demigod's shirt sleeve, "You got lucky against him. That guy can take down even the most skilled demigod."
"Lets just be glad that the Fates are being kind to us right now." Annabeth gave a frown. Percy looked at the grass blades she had in her hands. He realized she wasn't making knots, she was weaving them into something. It didn't seem like she was giving any thought to it. "Grover, you know it could be a lot worse."
Percy looked at the two of them again, both still refusing to say that unspoken thing that upset them. He wished people wouldn't hide things. His mom hid that he was a demigod and suffered with an abusive husband, Paul tried to hide the fact he loved the teens mother, and Percy hid the fact that he wanted Paul to be his father in fear he'd cause more trouble than it'd help.
"Anyway, Percy, there are any number of monsters that Zeus and Hera could be sending after you." Annabeth continued. "And on top of that Hades...now that it is out that you are a son of Poseidon, well he's not going to be happy about the broken oath either."
"Yeah, yeah, I shouldn't have been born. Bla, bla, bla." Percy muttered. "But how about you two tell me what has you so distracted? We need to be focused, but you two haven't been since Chiron called."
Both the goat and the demigoddess looked at him with mournful expressions. It had something to do with that girl everyone kept mentioning, but he didn't know what had exactally happened to the girl. He knew it had to be bad, something terrible. Grover gave a wince, he looked absolutely tearful as he opened his mouth to speak. Much to Percy's dismay the satyr didn't get a chance.
"Wait," Annabeth muttered, her face had gone a sickly pale. Percy wondered if it was because she had a concussion or if she were scared. "Do you guys hear that?"
For a moment, Percy heard nothing, just the sound of birds and the wind rustling through the leaves of the lone tree. He was starting to think she should be the one sleeping while he took first watch. Then it seemed like Grover was picking up on something too. The satyr's nose twitched as he sniffed the air around them. There was something out there.
Percy scanned the area around them, the grass was tall and itchy and it made it hard to really see anything. He tried to stand up, but Annabeth yanked him back down onto his butt. The look on her face could turn even the Minotaur to stone. As much as he liked to think that whatever was stalking them relied on its sights to find them, he highly doubted that that was the case. He immediately pulled the pen from his pocket.
And this time he wouldn't use it as a projectile weapon.
"Grover can you tell if it's a monster?" Annabeth hissed as she pulled out her own weapon.
The elder of the three nodded his head, his pupils dilated like a frightened goats, "Most definitely, and its a powerful one too. It reeks."
Percy felt all of the hair on his arms rise up when he heard the grass around them rustling. It must be huge. Percy thought to himself, every muscle in his body was tense and ready for an attack, but after a moment the rustling sound became quiet as the monster went in another direction. The trio held their breaths. The birds were no longer singing and the wind had become chilly.
"What do you think it is, Wise Girl?"
Percy got into a crouching position, hoping to get a view of where the monster was. In spite of the fact Annabeth insisted he sat low, Percy needed to know where the monster was. As far as the eye could see there was only a sea of golden grass. At first Percy saw nothing out of the ordinary until he noticed something large and fast began heading towards them.
He wasn't sure what it was until it lifted it's head with it's large neck.
It was a snake, a giant snake, it was larger than a semi-truck. Percy felt his heart jump to his throat as it opened its mouth showing off its long tusk like teeth. A whole elephant could fit into its massive jaw. Without thinking, Percy grabbed both of his friends and pulled them to their feet quickly. The two seemed just as stunned as him about the large beast.
"Run!" He ordered as he gave them both a push.
At first they were all keeping a good distance from the snake, it'd snap at them but they managed to avoid its bite each time. It amazed Percy what life threatening danger could make one do. He had always thought one person being able to lift a car out of pure desperation was just media hype, but now he could believe it. Annabeth by far was the fastest out of the three of them, her blond hair could almost blend in with the color of the grass. Percy had lost sight of her a couple of times when she got farther ahead, but her bright orange shirt made her easy to find again.
The snake was unrelenting. It was only a matter of time before something bad happened. Percy knew that. He didn't expect it to be so soon though. He heard Grover give a bleat of surprise and then the goat boy's hoof steps were gone. The teen feared the worst, his friend was gone. Percy wasn't sure if he'd really want to turn around and see Grover being eaten by a snake, but he turned anyway. Relief flooded through him when he saw that Grover had merely tripped, he was still alive.
Not for long if the snake had its way.
"Grover!" Percy called for his friend.
The older boy turned and made a pained face. "Percy don't, its my job to protect you. Not the other way around. Just go!"
"Sorry buddy, not going to happen!"
Grover scrambled frantically trying to get back to his feet before the snake got to him. He was so nervous he couldn't seem to get his legs to work right. The snake was almost on top of him. If Percy wasn't quick enough goat boy would be snake chow. Determined not to lose his friend Percy pushed himself to run faster. Losing one person he cared about was more than enough for the teen. Grover wasn't about to be the next casualty.
Percy wasn't the fastest runner, his lousy lap times in gym had confirmed that, but at least he was a bit faster than the snake. Even with Grover protesting and trying to push the teen back the way he came from, Percy was able to shove his friend out of the snake's path. He wasn't so fortunate, the snake bore down on him at an even greater speed than the minotaur. There was only a feeling of weightlessness before the pain sank in.
The snake's fangs dug into his shoulder, a numbness seemed to spread through his body. He only heard Annabeth and Grover give yelps of shock before the giant reptile began hauling him away. Probably to enjoy his meal in peace, Percy grimaced at the thought. The son of Poseidon looked at the long drop that awaited him if the snake were to decide to let go. It would be the equivalent of jumping off of a two story building. Not might not be lethal, but his injuries would leave him a sitting duck anyway.
Percy cursed his luck.
If he still had Riptide he could fight the monster and protect himself. He had conveniently dropped it when the snake had come after them. And in that moment, Percy was sure he was dead, that he was going to become food for an over grown reptile. Percy gave a scream and attempted to kick out at the serpent. His worn out sneakers only seemed to helplessly bounce off of the snake's scales. As the poison went farther and farther through his system, Percy couldn't help but feel the world going blurry.
Was he so lame that he'd die barely a third of the way through his quest?
The fang's dug deeper through him, he could feel his bones starting to shatter under the pressure. His cry of pain seemed to drown out the snake's heavy breathing. Fourteen was really way to young to die. Percy gave yet another fruitless attempt to free himself by punching at the snake's face with his free hand. Still nothing. Breathless and in agony, the teen dangled from the mouth of the monster wondering if this really was what fate had planned for him. He glanced up towards the sky, almost imagining Zeus watching his death play out.
Was Poseidon watching too?
Just thirty feet away from Percy was a large lake. It was peaceful and calm and not the ocean. Even if his father was watching, could he even help? Percy closed his eyes in thought, being faced with his enevitable doom seemed to give him a lot of time to think over things. He had always heard that death tended to make time slow down. Now he knew for sure that death liked to take his sweet time.
Hey, Dad. Percy thought as he struggled to take in a shaky breath. The poison was taking its toll. I could use a little help here.
The son of Poseidon let his eyes close as if he could almost imagine Poseidon was watching him. Just as Percy could feel his consciousness about to flee from him the snake gave a rough jerk as it tried to turn to another direction. Surprised by the sudden movement, Percy opened his eyes to see a giant hand of water reaching out for them. The snake tried to escape with its quarry, but it was too slow. With an earthshattering grip, the water hand grabbed tightly around the snake's throat.
Somehow without grabbing the teen in the process.
Percy felt his stomach go to his feet when both he and the snake were dragged back to the lake. As soon as they hit the water, the snake lost its bite on him and Percy was sent flying. He thought that he would die on impact. He didn't, however, he just sank like a rock. The water was cool and it seemed to dissolve the poison from his blood. Somehow he felt more energetic than he had just moments ago. Then he remembered when he had been in the fountain on Olympus, the water was giving him strength.
With clearer vision and a clearer mind, Percy could finally get his bearings. And to his horror, he could see the large snake slithering its way towards him. He immeadately thought about going backwards away from the snapping jaws of the monster. The water needed no invitation, he could feel it grasp tightly around him before it dragged him back and up. In fact it shot him straight up into the air like a rocket. Percy looked around at the forest surrounding the lake, a beautiful place to fight a killer snake.
Speaking of...
He looked back down and the snake had followed him, it was bound determine to eat him alive. Without Riptide it was only a mater of time before it succeeded. It didn't take long before the water was no longer keeping Percy up in the air. He was now falling, right towards the snake's open jaw. Okay Percy thought. A sword or something would be really helpful. Percy thought back to the trident, specifically Poseidon's trident that he had used when fighting Clairesse.
A tendril of water slammed the snake's mouth shut when Percy was mere inches from being swallowed. He was detoured from its mouth and ended up sliding down it's scaly back. Percy looked down at the water as he fell, he wondered if he was the one controlling the water. It didn't feel like it, but maybe, maybe he did have some command over it. Percy stretched his hand out, almost imagining a weapon forming there.
Please, he thought. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the snake starting to whip its head around to look at him. If this didn't work, he was as good as dead. Percy was surprised to feel a powerful tug in his gut. The water leapt so quickly into his hand that he was almost knocked off his path down the snake's spine. It rippled and bubbled until it formed a three pronged weapon. A trident.
"This'll work." Percy muttered before using all of his new found strength to jam it into the snake's body.
In spite of the fact that the weapon was made of water, it tore through the snakes scales like a hot knife through butter. The snake gave an ungodly wail as the trident tore its side wide open. In one last attempt to kill him, the snake lunged and managed to sink it's fang into the teen's leg. It released a large amount of poison into his system. Even more so when it was just carrying him off. The snake crumbled into gold powder, but the damage was done.
Percy lost his control over the water trident and it fell apart. He was falling once more, his heartbeat echoing in his ears as if someone had torn it out of his chest and held right next to his ear. His vision became blurry and his blood burned through his veins. It felt as if someone had shot liquid lightning into his blood stream. Pain was the last thing he knew before he hit the water and passed out.
Again, sorry it took me so long to finish this chapter. Let me know what you thought and if there are any spelling errors please be patient with me, I am NOT that great of a speller and I do look over my writing but sometimes I miss things.