Chapter 8

"…A museum?"

"We are following Artemis's trail!" Barked out Zoe, but I could tell she was getting annoyed.

Zoe was doing her best to keep us on track, but it was almost impossible for her to even retrace the steps of someone like the hunting goddess.

I scoffed. "Whatever. Just let me know when you plan on doing something actually useful." I said tiredly as I was halfway down the steps.

I planned on retreating back to the van to wait on the rest, and maybe I would have time to go into the stone.

However, I cut this plan short as I stopped my descent and turned sideways to prevent myself crashing.

Into what? Theseus sprinting up the stairs, who flew past me and collided with Thalia.

I snickered to myself as I watched the hunters draw their weapons, then Zoe's face turn sour seconds after.

"You." She said with distaste.

Theseus held his hands up in a "slow down" motion as he tried to catch his breath.

"Hold on Zoe!

I know, I know you're about to get at me for being here, but there's no time."

"What do you speak of, boy?"

He turned to Thalia. "Luke."

Her face went pale.

The name sounded familiar.

"Where?!" Asked Thalia. I noticed how she seemed to gloss over the fact Theseus was here completely just because of the name alone.

I listened intently as Theseus explained how he trailed us on his pegasus and came across a man known as The General, along with Thorne and a demigod named Luke.

Zoe took all the information at once without responding, but seemed to panic momentarily at the mention of the general.

I wondered what she knew.

"The skeletal men you speak of, I know them.

The spartoi."

Zoe gave me a knowing look.

"Their powerful, I'll admit, even individually. Twelve you said?"

I rested my hand on my sheathed sword.

"I doubt as a group y'all could take one even 2."

Zoe scowled. "Bringing down your companions helps little in this situation." She said.

"But your right, we are outnumbered and horribly out manned. Our intentions are not to win a battle, but to save the one who can win it for us."

"Artemis? Assuming we really are following her trail, would it be to far to say she already lost? Seeing as she's captured and all.

How much would the goddess really help.

Zoe seemed ready to draw her weapon before Thalia stepped in between us.

"If we're going to be a team, we don't have time for arguing like little kids." She said with a tone of anger.

"Theo is right, we don't have time. We have to go before they get on to us."

I turned my back and nodded.

I started walking in the direction Theseus had come from, drawing my sword in the process.

"What are you doing?" Asked Theo.

"I agree that the best course of action right now is to get away while we can.

But that doesn't mean that's what I'm going to do.

I don't know about y'all, but I'd rather not spend this whole trip being hunted.

Y'all can go to the car and wait, or leave for all I care, but I plan on settling this right now."

As soon as I finished, I felt a strong grip on my shoulder.

I turned back, locking eyes with Theo.

I had no idea what he was going to say, but he didn't get to chance as screaming erupted throughout the museum.

Followed by a roar.

"That doesn't sound like skeletons." Said Bianca.

Zoe shook her head.

"The little friend that the general spoke of, it doesn't seem the be the dragon warriors. Perhaps he is saving them."

"Great." Mumbled Thalia.

"Then what…" I didn't hear the rest of Theseus' sentences.

I'm sure the boy was about to ask what monster we were exactly dealing with then, but he was removed from my view as I was sent sprawling through the air.

Just before getting hit, my instincts had forced my hands upward to try and block the attack, not expecting the sheer brute force behind it.

I hit a hanging space capsule with a loud thud, but collected myself mid air to land on my feet.

"What in Hades's name…"

My eyes widened as I saw what hit me.

A lion the size of a pickup truck, brown fur so pure it shimmered like gold in the sunlight.

It stood at the bottom of the steps, eyeing my quest mates who her frozen in what couldn't have been anything but fear and shock.

The Nemean Lion.

It opened its jaws to let out a roar that shook me to my core.

My hand flew upwards to grab my hood that threatened to fly off.

I immediately drew my sword, but before I could even do that, it pounced.

It was in that moment that I realized that Theseus, the closest to the lion, was someone who, by the process of elimination, had to die on this quest.

I could only watch what I believed to be his last moments, frozen in place.

But the boy was faster than I thought. Zoe had apparently commanded the group to scatter, and they did just that, splitting in every direction, the lion landing on the stairs with a loud crash, denting in a way to almost form a ramp.

"Stay vigilant and distract it!" Yelled out Zoe as she made her way to Bianca, both of them furring off arrows that did little to nothing.

"Until what?!" Yelled Thalia back as the lion now was focused on her, slightly hesitant after seeing her spear and especially her shield.

"Until I think of a way to put it down!"

She thought she would be the one to kill it? I couldn't have that.

Tired of simply watching, I charged forward to flank the giant feline.

I was in the air within seconds, coming down with my sword below me.

I had heard the tales of the lion's impenetrable skin before of course, but I couldn't imagine just how durable fur could really be.

I found out quickly as my sword made contact with its rear, reflecting off like it was pure steel, and making my entire body vibrate.

The lion roared as it kicked up its hind legs, sending me flying yet again off its back.

I landed with a roll as gracefully as I could, looking to my side to see Theo.

"You ok?"

I scowled. "Focus on the fight."

He gripped down on his sword, keeping eye contact with the beast as Thalia fought it back.

"You're right. Do you have a plan?"

"Besides killing it? No."

We both rolled in opposite directions as Thalia was sent sliding on her feet after trying to block an attack with her shield.

She kept her stance strong even while in motion, but I knew a follow up would destroy her.

And the lion knew this too apparently, as it stood up tall in front of her, preparing to come down with full force.

I sighed. Was I really about to do this?

I rushed forward, and just before the lion came down, I crashed into its side, only being able to even budge it because it had only been on two feet.

I quickly got up, but das that the beast had been quicker, already focusing its attention on me.

It reared back a paw, swinging forward, only for it to be sent off track by Theseus batting it away with his sword.

I wasted no time to get back as the lion was obviously getting irritated at having struck air yet again.

I noted that even with Theseus putting his all into the swing, it didn't seem even close to piercing the skin. It was as off our swords were mere clubs while facing against the lion.

The beast let out a low gro, but didn't attack. Instead, it started turning in circles, eyeing each member of our party with a fierce gaze.

"It's choosing who to prioritize." Said Plutus in my head. "It knows it's outnumbered.

It will try to pick the weakest link, then kill them as quickly as possible.

If it succeeds, it will probably kill off 2 or three, and then the rest will have no chance of stopping it."

I let out a low breath. Plutus was right. Our strength was in numbers.

Even if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be able to defeat this thing on my own, not without knowing it's weakness.

I had to keep the others alive, for now at least. That was the first priority.

Eventually, the lion was able to choose its first victim, the one I feared would be its choice.

Bianca froze up as the lion locked eyes with her, simply lying in wait as it was pelted fun Zoe's arrows.

It didn't seem fazed at all, merely watching the girl with a frightening gaze.

I couldn't have this.

I sprinted full speed to close the distance, but it was too late.

Bianca had shakily tried to notch an arrow, but at the first sign of movement, the lion sprung into action.

With its speed, I couldn't hope to catch up.

It reached the base of the capsule the hunters stood on in seconds, swiping at it once and sending it tumbling to the side.

Zoe was able to land on the balcony above with ease, but Bianca was sent to the floor, scrambling to grab her bow that she had dropped.

Me and Zoe both realized the danger she was in immediately.

The lion turned to her to finish his prey off, but cried out in pain as it was struck.

A bolt of lightning that moved much fast than what I had been hit with during capture of the flag, though not nearly as powerful.

The lion turned to Thalia, the one who had fired it off, but stayed to its original intentions.

Killing the weakest link off first.

"I ask of you master, put your sword into your left hand and allow me to take over."

"No!" I shot it down. "You've done enough Elaine. Let me handle this."

With that said, I rushed forward.

The lion hadn't even turned to look at me, and used the opening to hopefully find a point where I could actually do damage.

Just as I reached the beast, it turned around to face me fast than I thought possible.

It had intentionally left its back turned to draw me in, just to get me close enough to finish me off.

I dropped to my knees to slide underneath its first attack, but this left me face to face with the creature, directly into its guard.

"It's mouth!" Yelled Theo from behind.

"What?

The creature roared directly into my face, and for the first time in a while I wondered what it would feel like to die.

The mouth was its weak point, that's what Theseus had meant.

Like an out of body experience, my arm raised itself to draw back my sword. The entire Tim, my eyes were stuck in place, staring at the gaping jaw in front of me, and the razor teeth inches away.

I didn't know why it felt like I was in slow motion, but I didn't care as long as the beast continued to waste its time roaring.

All I had to do was stab forward…

It was about to happen, but was cut short as I felt a hand on my collar, one that yanked me back with surprising strength, stopping me from killing the right there.

I landed on my back, on top of whoever had pulled me away.

"What the hell!" I yelled out.

I watched Theseus run past me and engage with the lion, having support from Thalia firing off lightning and jabbing her spear to his side, as well as Zoe distracting the monster with arrows.

I tilted my head upwards to see Zoe above me.

"Why did you do that!?" I asked angrily. "I was going to kill it."

She shook her head with an annoyed look.

"Look."

I followed her finger and aw what she was pointing at.

The marble floor directly where I was standing was smashed into pieces, creating a large ditch of rubble.

"It was going to kill you.

For some reason you took your time before attacking. Any longer and you would've been mush."

I slowly glanced down at my hands.

She was right.

The reason why I felt like I was moving in slow motion was because I actually was. But why?

What had made me hesitate?

"Fear." Said Bianca, as if she read my mind.

"You were scared."

I looked back up at her.

She looked embarrassed for a second.

"Or at least, that's what I felt. I mean, I never had the chance to kill that thing, but I felt it too.

When it turned on me, all I could do was watch.

I was scared."

I pushed myself off the girl and raised my upper half.

The rest were fighting the monster as best as they could, but it was an uphill battle. Three people wasn't enough to truly outnumber such a powerful beast, and the fight was obviously wearing down their enduresnce.

Zoe had stopped using her bow all together, instead dripping down to try and help with her knife.

I could tell they were getting tired.

There wasn't much time.

"Help me up."

Bianca quickly obliged, getting herself up first then pulling me off the ground a moment later.

"You said fear, right?"

She nodded slowly.

"Being that close to its teeth, I don't blame you.

I don't even know how you could move. We all thought you were going to die."

I turned to her. "But you saved me."

She looked down awkwardly.

"You think I look like someone who has fears? Or someone who needs saving, for that matter."

"No." She stated.

"But you're human. It's natural."

I continued to stare, not able to come up with a response.

My gaze made Bianca outwardly conscious.

"I mean the fear part, I'm not saying you needed my help or anything!"

I huffed.

"I'll keep that in mind."

I turned my attention to the lion, walking forward.

I had to be quick. If I spent too much time trying to overpower it, I would be out muscled and eventually depleted of energy.

If I was to do this, it had to be efficient.

I stepped beside Zoe. "Get your bow back out. Give me an opening."

"There are none, fool." She spat out, but he ultimately listened.

"Don't get yourself killed."

I chuckled. "You would like that, right."

I watched as Thalia was sent back behind us by a powerful swing from the lion.

She had three long tears going through her clothes, but her skin seemed to be clean from any cuts, though bruised.

Theseus however, who was now facing the lion on his own, had a sickly looking gash along his right eyebrow.

"Theo!" I yelled out.

He turned back for a second, keeping one eye on the lion.

I motioned for him to fall back.

He seemed reluctant, but after a nod from Zoe, he dropped back, making me now the closest to the beast.

It eyed me dangerously.

I only took one step forward, and it had already pounced on me.

I rolled underneath, and it quickly turned around to face me.

I noted that it was now in between me and my group.

Ignoring this, I ran forward with my sword ready.

I ducked underneath the first swipe, and weaved my head to the side to avoid the lion chomping down on my skull.

I scowled as it took a large bite from my leather armor, ripping off a piece of my chest piece, exposing my skin.

I countered with a swing of my own that only seemed to piss it off more.

I rolled to my side to avoid another blow, but looked up to see the lion was already upon me.

I was defenseless, but was saved by Zoe firing off an arrow that either purposely or coincidently landed in the creature's right eye, making it back away in pain and rage.

Before it could fully recover, it was sparked in the chest yet again by Thalia from behind me.

The Nemean Lion regarded me with a dangerous gaze.

Though its eyes were far from human, even while one was bloody, I got the message they portrayed.

It was going to kill me.

At least, it would want to, but I would kill it first.

We both charged forward at the same time.

It leaped off its back legs with its front two stretching outward, as if it was going in for a big hug.

My eyes never left its gaping maw, and as soon as it was close enough I jabbed forward.

I had obviously been a little too excited to land the blow as I had plunged my sword so deep that I found my head and half my upper body was literally inside the creature's mouth.

As soon as my sword made contact, there was an explosion of blood and the giant beast's body went limp.

This would be a good thing, that is if it didn't collapse directly on top of me, forcing me onto my back.

On my way down, I felt my head graze one of its monstrous teeth, cutting my head and making my vision blur.

I was powerless to get the creature off as I struggled to stay conscious.

I duly noted that I had landed on the creature's pawls, and even while dead they were still sharp enough to easily pierce the skin on my back.

However I couldn't even register the pain as I had lost a little too much blood in my head, and seconds after I was buried in the corpse of the Nemean Lion, I felt myself slip away from the real world.

-Line Break-

"No…" Bianca dropped her weapon and cupped both of her hands over her mouth.

She watched as the Plutus bravely entered the lion's mouth to land an attack actually capable of killing it, but she was sure the boy had gotten himself killed on the process.

Why? Why would he do that?

A part of her felt guilty.

Was it because he simply wanted to prove her wrong?

The first time he had been face to face with the beast, she had accused him of being fearful, but this time the man showed no sign of hesitation when he had another chance.

That determination may have just gotten him killed.

And she couldn't help but feel like it was her fault.

"Plutus!" Yelled Theo as he ran forward towards the man and the lion, who was already shrinking after it had been slated.

Before he could even reach her, Zoe was at his side and on a knee.

Thalia slowly made her way towards the others, a look of sadness across her expression.

Bianca however, couldn't bring herself to move.

"There's a pulse." Zoe said as Theseus reached them. She had two fingers on the boy's wrist.

"But it's fading.

He isn't breathing, and probably hasn't been since he has fallen."

"Is he going to die?" Asked Thalia, grim and blunt.

She shook her head.

"I don't know."

"We have to help him!" Said Theseus as he was shaking the man's body gently, trying to get a response.

He raised his hand, and a small portion of water emerged from the nearby fountain, flying forward and above the man.

He dropped his hand and sent the water underneath Plutus's hood, splashing the area where his face should have been.

This garnered no reaction, only pulling back a part of the man's cloak.

This revealed the bottom part of Plutus's chin from the darkness, being the closest the group had been to seeing his face.

"I have some nectar, but no ambrosia, it was left in the van." Said Zoe, reaching to her side.

"Should we take the hood off?" Asked Thalia, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"It almost feels like an invasion of privacy.." Zoe trailed as she pulled a vial out.

"Then how are we going to feed it to him?"

"I'll do it." Bianca was the one to respond to Thalia's question.

She walked forward shakily.

She tried to look confident, but was definitely shaken up.

"If Plutus plans on taking me to his patron eventually, then he'll have to reveal himself to me anyway."

The group nodded as it seemed like a good compromise, but Zoe herself was unsure.

She didn't know if the nectar alone would be enough to save the man, and if he somehow died she didn't want Bianca to witness it.

However, she still handed Bianca the vial containing the nectar as she squatted down on the other side of the man's limp body.

With shaky hands, Bianca popped off the cap and threw it to the side.

The others all turned away as she prepared to remove his hood.

She hesitated slightly.

For some reason, she felt wrong, even trying to save the man.

She was struggling to bring herself to reveal the man's full face, as only his chin was visible.

She made contact, and felt that his skin was soft, besides at the tip where his fuzz was present.

She decided to only reveal as much as she needed, which was only his mouth.

She tugged at the hood once, and everything below the man's nose w became visible, the other half of his face still covered in darkness.

Bianca stopped for a moment, slightly in shock.

He was a kid!

Well, not a kid, but he wasn't nearly as old as she had thought.

Though he had a strong jawline and the startings of facial hair, Bianca could say without a doubt that the man in front of her was nothing more than a teen.

Something about that fact made her heart wrench.

How could someone so young be forced to have to risk himself for two people he didn't know?

She shook her head, she didn't have the time.

She was about to feed him the nectar, but paused when she saw a slight glowing.

She glanced at his left arm that seemed to be humming.

She noticed that right after, his breathing returned.

But it was still shaky. She had to do this right now, before it was too late.

Parting his lips slightly, Bianca tilted his head backwards and placed the top of the vial against the bottom of his mouth.

She slowly emptied the bottle, doing her best to make sure none was wasted.

She took a step back and waited.

1…

2…

She was counting in her head when the boy sprung forward with one long deep breath as if he had nearly drowned in a pool.

The others turned around at the signs of life.

Plutus slowly turned his head, his hood now covering his face yet again, and faced Bianca.

Then did something unexpected.

He spit out the remaining nectar in his mouth with a "bleh" sound.

"Disgusting." He said as he got it all out.

Theseus and Thalia gave him a strange look.

Zoe however was focused on something more important.

"Your back." She stated, and they all looked.

6 deep stabs, 3 on each side of his spine.

The creature had been able to claw at him one more time, but died before it could cause serious damage.

However, six holes leaking blood would ultimately cause problems.

Plutus nodded, then brought a hand to his head.

When he brought his hand back from the shadows, there was blood dripping from his fingertips.

"A small but deep gash above my left eye. I'm sure it tried to bite me before its demise."

"We need to take care of that, now." Said Thalia.

Plutus raised his hand.

"No, we don't have time, we can do it in the car."

"How can you say that, you're going to die!" Bianca said, but he only shook my head.

"Look." He said, gesturing towards a group of men in camouflage suits.

"Like I said, we have to leave now. We got lucky, but that won't happen again if we fight with them."

"And how exactly do you think you'll be able to outrun those creatures in your current state?" Asked Zoe.

He turned to her with a smile she couldn't see.

"Actually, I'll have to ask y'all for a favor.

Would you mind carrying me back to the car?"

As soon as the man finished his sentence, his body fell back as he lost consciousness yet again.

Zoe scowled as she caught him.

"Why would you spit out the nectar?" She asked angrily as if he could hear her.

"Theseus, help me!" She said as she hauled the man's limp body to its feet.

The boy scrambled forward and draped one of Plutus's hands around his shoulder as Zoe did the same, nearly dragging him away as the other two followed.