Chapter 2: Searching for Clues
Annabeth
"Umm…? Are you two sure this is a good idea?"
Seriously, who would have thought picking locks were a piece of cake for her? If someone caught them now, trespassing would be the least of their problem.
Down the main hall into familiar hallways, three girls dressed in school uniform sneaked quietly to avoid detection. It looked rather silly when there wasn't a single soul around. It was the dead of night, so obviously they would be the only ones there.
"Shush!"
Asked to keep quiet, the princess gave up and made sure to follow after her protector so she wouldn't be left behind or somehow be in harm's way, though safety was all but guaranteed because her other protector trailed behind her at all times, otherwise forming a defensive position front and back.
Finally, they stopped before the infirmary office.
"Where is your sense of adventure, Annabeth?" Teasing her, the girl behind began to snicker too.
Didn't they just tell me to be quiet? Wow….
"Give her a break, Thals… This is her first recon mission after all. " Her encouraging argument was nothing but a farce when her cheeky smile showed how she truly felt.
Shoulders slumped forward, the princess hung her head down and sighed in despair. The only thing she could do was resigned herself to their hopelessness.
"I hate you two…"
They grinned back.
Immediately afterward, she watched as her best friends huddled against the wall with one knee on the cold marble tiles. It made no sense what they were doing, but it seemed the two of them were preparing something on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Curiosity got the better of her.
Halted in the deserted main hallway of the first floor, faint silver light from a half-crescent moon lit up one of the girl's features, revealing a smug smirk. Her black hair as dark as midnight ran down to her upper shoulder, electric blue eyes as piercing as a lightning bolt complimented her already fierce appearances, that girl was none other than Thalia Grace, the daughter of Zeus and one of the most powerful Half-Blood in existence.
"Watch closely, princess." She reached into her pocket and brought out a green crystalized gem in an unrefined shape, "This spell is used to sense physical presences inside any building structure. For example, if I want to know if anyone is in school right now, all I've to do is place the gem on the floor like this…"
Now the crystal lay on top of a hastily drawn runic symbol done by Piper. With her right hand, Thalia crushed the crystal with one easy push of her palm against the floor and whispered, "Εννοια."
The floor underneath her hand abruptly glowed vibrant green. It was so bright that even when covered by her whole palm, the source of its ray leaked through her fingers and blinded Annabeth for more than a long few seconds. She had to turn away.
But eventually, the light dulled and all that's left were faded shimmering, "Voilà!"
As a result of using those magic words, the floor before them completely disappeared! It was replaced with a hollow after-image that if not careful, one would have thought the floor beneath their feet had turned into a pitch-black hole.
"Ahhhee!" She shrieked.
"Hahaha…. You are such a scaredy-cat, Annabeth."
Thalia tried to keep up a straight face as she laughed at her reaction. Even the gentler and mellow daughter of Aphrodite joined in on the fun, keeping wide grins to suppress her giggles.
"It's a projection of the school." Piper barely held off her amusement as she explained, "I don't know why, but it does happen to a certain type of material used for the floor… sometimes."
Making a mental note of that spell cast on porcelain tile, Annabeth shot them angry glares for messing with her again, "You two are assholes! Don't prank me like that!"
Of course, they knew what would happen after using that spell, so it was all a setup to scare her. It worked alright. Annabeth swore to get her revenge on her companions tonight if that's the least she would do. That was just too unforgivable!
Clearing her throat, Annabeth composed herself not lest to save a bit of her pride, then she gestured at the three orange dots, noting that no similar dots were present, "Ahem. So I guess there isn't anyone here after all?"
The projection came out to a complex green holographic layout of Goode as it flowed above the pitch-black void. From a glance, Annabeth could tell how it worked already. It seemed the controls were solely upon the movements of Thalia's hand placed over the empty darkness.
"Yeah." Thalia replied, "It's a simple clairvoyance spell. It scanned the surrounding area within a five-mile radius and generate a 3D map using that crystal. It is how we've been scouting unknown places before venturing inside."
"That's… terrifyingly useful." Annabeth could see its many application already, but especially for something like a top-secret infiltration mission.
"But this was just a demonstration." Thalia pulled away.
The projection dissipated into nothingness as the floor returned to normal.
"I've already run a pulse reflect on the entire building, but just in case, you don't feel anything too, right Pipes?"
Pulse reflect?
Within five seconds of focusing, Piper shook her head, "Nope."
Thalia straightened up back on her feet, "Good. It's one less hassle to deal with. Let's go."
And like that, they didn't have to sneak around the entrance anymore.
On the opposite end, there was a single-door entryway. It had a wooden plaque hanging on the door with childish silly stickers plaster all over it. It said Infirmary Office on the wooden sign.
A chilling freeze ran down Annabeth's spine as she followed her protectors and ventured inside. It felt like the temperature had dropped to sub-zero when she saw the exam room. Unpleasant memories attacked her with rapid images.
"Hey, you okay?" A pair of hands held her up when she wobbled.
Even though Piper was trying to ease her agitation, even patting her back to relieve her rapid breathing pattern, Annabeth couldn't help but flinch. Still, Piper's concern was all too apparent and it was also greatly appreciated.
"Yeah…" Annabeth recalled the afternoon only two days ago when Rachel ran all over the campus and finally told her what happened.
-Line Break-
"Percy!" The door slammed open.
The person who greeted her was shocked by her arrival, "Annabeth?!"
"Where? Where is he?!"
Despite being a nurse, Clara stood by her desk, petrified and overwhelmed with helplessness before she pointed inside her exam room, "Percy is inside, but I don't… I don't…"
Fresh tears rolled down her soft cheeks, Annabeth rushed to move past her and met Thalia and Jason huddled over Percy on the bed. Despite a distance of ten feet away, Annabeth could easily see Percy lying flat on his back, but something was stuck into his left side. It was a hilt of some dagger!
"Oh my God!" She gasped.
Driven on instinct, she was already on the move when someone held her back by pulling her wrist.
"Let go of me, Piper!"
She didn't budge. Instead, Piper calmly explained why she shouldn't interrupt the twin when they were helping him. Yet, the terrible sight put a wrench in her heart. His painful groans were impossible to ignore. There was so much blood, staining wet towels and sheets in a deep red that it was eerily reminiscent of that night during zero dawn.
"How did this happen?" Rendered helpless because she would just get in the way, Annabeth clenched her fist tight enough to bruise her soft and creamy skin.
No one responded.
After all, no one knew what happened. The only one who might have any clue would be Jason because he was the last one who's supposed to watch over Percy.
"Annabeth…" Piper brushed her arm, "Let's just take a seat. Thalia and Jason can handle it themselves. I am sure Percy will be fine."
Meanwhile, Jason carefully grasp the hilt while Thalia pressed against the stab wound. They shared a look and prepared themselves.
"Be careful. We don't know how deep that blade is."
It was a stab wound to his left lateral region, and judging by the angle of the blade, it posed a minimum chance of it damaging his vital organs.
"I know," Jason replied as he focused on pulling the blade out of Percy.
Thalia kept the pressure on that area with a towel.
With every centimeter, the blade exit Percy's body but also brought painful cries. Annabeth winced as she stood close by, tears rolling down her cheeks. Piper tried to pull her away, but she won't let her.
"Slowly… you are coming up to his arteries now."
The son of Zeus was sweating as he gritted his teeth, "Shhhut up… I am trying to focus."
The room was incredibly quiet as the twins worked together. After many heart-pounding pauses, Jason eventually sighed with relief. He managed to pull the double-edged dagger from Percy's abdomen without damaging any of his vital points. The seven inches blade was covered with thick blood, but the texture and color were completely off. It took on a toxic green color and its fluid agglutinated.
"Damn it…" Jason cursed and gestured at the abnormal blood dripping off the tip, "It's been laced."
Troubled, Thalia looked back at Percy with uneasy distress, "I'll heal him with the nectar, but you've got to get him back to the penthouse. It's the only way he could make it out of this."
Jason nodded pensively, "I know that already…"
Annabeth couldn't figure out what exactly, but following their agreement, Thalia shot a different hard look at Jason which he immediately got her hidden message. Somehow, she knew it was about her.
With the poisonous-looking dagger held within his right hand, Jason wrapped it with a towel, and with a flick of his wrist, it dematerialize into shards of crystallized light. The weapon itself was suddenly gone.
In the meantime, Thalia worked quickly and produced a bottle of nectar out of thin air right into her hand. It materialized in the same manner as Jason dematerialized the dagger, which she then poured a small amount straight into Percy's open wound.
"Ughhhh!" Percy groaned and writhed in pain.
Ever since that night, Annabeth wholeheartedly believed healing nectar was supposed to heal any wound, but nasty hissing sounds almost like a hot frying pan being doused with cold water reached Annabeth's ears instead. The wound even began to smoke from the inside out.
"Thalia! What are you doing!?"
Annabeth rushed forward impulsively only for Jason to hold her back in the blink of an eye. He restrained her with no effort whatsoever. Annabeth thrashed and struggled violently as Percy arched his back and screamed in agony. Unable to help, Annabeth couldn't stop crying.
"Let go of me!"
Despite her best, Annabeth couldn't break free from Jason who held her away. He was way too strong for her to have a chance. Suddenly, Percy stopped tensing up and fell back on the bed in a soft thump. His body limp and looked almost if he—
"Percy! Nooo!"
"Calm down, Annabeth." Thalia looked right into her eyes with firm reassurance, her strength and confidence were the only things keeping her together. Annabeth eventually stop fighting against Jason's arms, but her sobs didn't.
"His wound is healing from the nectar, princess, but it's going to take time to get him back."
Annabeth cried, "But why… Why did you have to—"
"That blade was poisonous. The healing nectar can only do so much to heal him, but it can't stop the poison from spreading. That's why you can't get near Percy or else you might end up in the same way."
"No way." An incredulous Annabeth stared back into her blue eyes. Despite how unbelievable it sounded, what she saw made a whole lot of sense now. She bit her lips as Jason released his hold on her, then took place beside his twin sister.
Thalia sighed deeply and took charge.
"Right now, the priority is to get Percy back to the penthouse where Lady Athena is the only one who can help him, and the quickest way is to let Jason take him back."
It was just like zero dawn. Despite the situation, Thalia was so calm through all chaos that it's not hard to see why she's the unrivaled figurehead of Camp Half-Blood. Even Chiron, her life-long butler who turned out to be the overseer of Half-Bloods was no match to Thalia's charismatic leadership.
"Meanwhile, we are going to stay here in school until today ends."
"What?! No way! I am not going to leave Percy!"
Thalia shook her head, "I can't let you do that, princess. We need to figure out who in this school would hurt Percy and why. If we all go back now, the culprit could easily escape our notice and strike again, and maybe with something even more deadly the next time."
"So we have to catch whoever it is…"
"Yes." Thalia said plainly, "It won't be easy, but time is of the essence. We shouldn't waste it." She tilted her head towards her twin brother, "I'm counting on you, Jason."
"You know I can get there in less than five minutes." He replied and approached the bed, "Don't worry. I won't let him die that easily. Plus, Annabeth will kill me if Percy is hurt more than he already is."
He picked up Percy's body with a bit of fumbling, "I'll get him back. I promise."
Then Jason tilted around to reassure Piper and her with a small smile too. All Annabeth could do was kept her worried gaze on an unconscious Percy, then she clench her hand to her chest and pray with all her being for her seaweed brain.
I know you will come back to me…
"Δίνη," Jason whispered, then faced the window while carrying Percy with both arms.
Through means unknown to Annabeth, Jason's spoken incantation forced the window to unlock by itself and be pulled wide open. At the same time, he launched himself off the ground and leaped out onto the greenery courtyard in the middle of their school building, but he never landed on his feet. Annabeth almost choked because his body was somehow flowing off the ground!
"Come back safe with them, sis." Jason insisted while levitating in midair.
Thalia shared a deep bonding look with his twin brother and promised, "I will, Jason. Take care of Percy for me."
Jason nodded before looking up into the clear afternoon sky, then he shot upward into the air and began to fly at the speed of sound. His figure disappeared into the vast concrete jungle in less than five seconds.
Annabeth watched in awe, but she couldn't let her shock interfere now. There were more important things to find out besides admiring his ability as the child of Zeus.
A hand patted her shoulder, Annabeth turned around saw Piper coming up from behind.
"Come on, we're going to catch us a bad guy." She offered a smile.
Annabeth nodded with determination, Piper then brought her over to Thalia who was conversing with Clara by her desk.
"It's not your fault, Clara… This is beyond what Lady Athena asked of you."
Clara sighed, "I know. It just pains me to be so helpless."
"You've done your best." Thalia patted her shoulder, "All that matters is Percy is alive, and I promise you we'll find out whoever is responsible. You don't have to do this alone."
Clara caught a sigh and brushed Thalia's hand on her shoulder, "You always know how to reassure people, lightning queen."
More than just visibly relaxed, Clara Lanes, the sarcastic and gorgeous-looking nurse who Annabeth had always thought to be a normal woman up until this point, pull Thalia's reassuring hand away and said with a steady smile, "Thank you."
The daughter of Zeus back away too, then she turned to look at Annabeth and Piper.
"When we go out that door, we have to be prepared and act like nothing is wrong. The story is still under wrap, and we'll use that to our advantage and look for any signs of abnormality in people's pattern, okay?"
Annabeth nodded. It was a promise. They were going to catch the person who hurt Percy, and she was going to find a way to make them regret their decision.
-Line Break-
In hindsight, the actual detection was easier said than done. Whoever the culprit was, or maybe even culprits, they were much hard to find than any one of them had originally expected. In other words, nothing major happened during the rest of that day. Despite splitting up, none of them had a clue who it was or where to start looking for them.
It was a complete flop, and on the second day, rumors had already spread throughout school that Percy was attacked and that's why he was missing. Of course, the rumors hit Annabeth hard too, and it easily turned her life upside down.
However, she was already used to everyone's stupid and many times hurtful gossip so it made no difference to her whatsoever.
What's important was finding the person who did it, interrogating them for their motive, and if they were lucky, learning what he or she knew about their real identities.
"Do you really think it's connected?"
Thalia stood beside her, "I am not sure yet. There is a possibility that he might be a regular student here who's jealous of Percy, but I don't know… something just doesn't add up."
"You mean the poison?"
"Yeah." She nodded pensively, "It's the snake venom specific from the monster Chimera, at least according to your mother when she ran an analysis of Percy's blood."
Chimera, the monstrous creature with the body of a lion and a tail that ended with a snake's head. If beasts like that exist in the world, there had to have people who bear witness to the monster, right? It didn't make sense.
"Can people not see monsters or something? If a lion with a tail of a snake roams around the streets, it would have already caused a big stir in the news."
"Oh crap! I totally forgot to explain this to you!"
Sheepishly brushing her hair, Thalia revealed a concept known as the mist. Essentially, there existed a veil that normal mortals couldn't cross, or in other words, it meant their five senses were limited to a fabric of reality that loosely mirrored their Greek mythological world, but with none of the dangers that threaten Half-Bloods every day.
It was the literal definition of blissful ignorance.
Annabeth couldn't help but felt envious of mortals who lead normal lives, not worrying about dangerous beasts or the existence of many more mythological monsters. After all, it was only a mere week ago when she was on the other side of the equation.
Would it be a lie to say she missed her old lifestyle? To live away from the despair she felt since then?
It was an impossible question.
"So how come I've never since any monsters? The mist doesn't cover for Half-Bloods, right?"
Thalia chuckled as if something funny was asked, "Really? If you actually saw a monster in the city or around the mansion, we wouldn't be doing our job right at all."
When her best friend put it like that… It wasn't difficult for a blush to appear on her cheek. Annabeth had never thought about the actual protection of their… Is it a region? Or maybe territory? In fact, she never knew the extent how far Half-Bloods venture out of the city to starve off Kronos's army.
That lack of knowledge frightened her, but anytime she asked her Godly mother about it, the reply was always the same phrase: You don't have to worry about that. Let me handle it.
Annabeth sighed.
"Are we almost done?" Thalia asked.
In the meantime, Piper sat on her feet on the floor of the exam room, chanting in Greek and preparing an incantation for a spell. It was a rather long one, and it required her to focus a lot.
"Yeah…" Piper mumbled through her lips, "Almost done."
There was a reason why they are in the infirmary. They needed to figure out where the attack took place. With Percy still unconscious back home, he couldn't tell them where he went nor who might have attacked him.
And according to Jason, there was a five-minute gap where Percy was separated from him because he had to use the bathroom, and during that time frame was when the attacker lured Percy away and stab him in an undisclosed location.
Jason only found him because he managed to stumble back.
As such, Piper suggested finding the scene of the crime and examine thoroughly. Without that knowledge, it would be much harder to identify the person who did it.
It was a solid plan, that's why Piper was focused on her spell, one that would reveal a faded blood trail that was cleaned up by now. Once completed, they just have to follow and backtrack, and if all went accordingly, they'll have a good idea where exactly it happened and perhaps even some clues.
"Ελευθέρωση!"
A small quake hit the floor around them. Annabeth gulped, that incantation was no joke.
From her right hand up her elbow, Piper's arm had been glowing purple-ish since she began reciting in Greek. Now that the spell was finished, that dangerous-looking mass within her dispel as a cloud of dark violet smoke.
Piper quickly wobbled.
"Piper!" Annabeth moved forward but was held back.
Thalia shook her head and was clearly telling her not to interfere. Annabeth reluctantly stay put and watched as Piper focused so intently, sweat was dripping off her forehead.
I trust you, Pipes.
In the next moment, Piper patiently collected the violet color smoke around her, swirling everything inside the palm of her hand. Its mass accumulate into the shape of a vortex as it turned denser, spinning rapidly in a spherical shape.
Piper was having a hard time maintaining whatever she was doing. Her body tensed unnaturally and sweat filled her forehead down to her neck.
"Piper…"
With a calm and deep breath, Piper sucked in a large breath and shouted, "προβολή!"
With as much force as possible, she pushed the vortex right past the floor before a loud boom could be heard. Despite it sounding muffled, the small tremor it created was not something to be easily dismissed. It was powerful enough that Annabeth had to find her footing again.
When it was all said and done, the spell was now completed. Annabeth looked at the floor again, but this time, there was a definitive trail made possible by the neon purple glow. It led out the door.
"Piper, that's amazing… Pipes?"
Piper tried to stand up, but she was clearly not ready for that. Her posture shifted left and right before her figure slowly collapsed. Annabeth rushed forward to catch her, but in that split second, Piper was already in Thalia's arms as she helped her steady.
"Thanks, Thals… I'll be alright."
"We should take a break. You need to rest after casting that spell."
"No! It's not going to last long. We have to hurry before the trail disappears." Piper insisted despite the visible exhaustion filling those brown eyes, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"You can't even stand properly. It will do us no good if you can't protect Annabeth. We should rest up, at least for five minutes."
"But…"
They were both adamant about their reasonings, but neither was going to work in everyone's favor. Like Piper said, their window was closing, but at the same time, she could barely walk, much less protect her in case of danger. There was only one option left…
"I… I'll take care of Piper." Annabeth piped up.
Immediately, Piper and Thalia stopped arguing and took turns looking at her.
"Huuuh?"
Annabeth pouted in defiant at their reaction, "I want to help! It's not fair that you two are taking all the credit. I'll have to get better at surviving in this world anyway, so this recon mission is good practice."
In reality, Annabeth was scared. If something did happen to them while she was protecting Piper, would she be able to handle it herself?
I won't know if I don't try. I have to try!
It was hard to put up a tough front when her friends were studying her, but if she wanted to get stronger in this world, this was the only way.
Finally, the older girl sighed, "As much as I hate to agree with the princess, she is right."
Thalia made her way toward her and flicked her right wrist. Crystallized light shards accumulated until a long dagger materialized in her hand. It had a simplistic design at first glance, but none of that matters because Annabeth felt an instant connection with the weapon. It's calling out to her, in a sense.
"Here. This is for you. Keep it close at all times."
Annabeth reached out as Thalia handed her the blade. The leather scabbard had a soft texture, and the grip on the hilt had an easy handle to it, it fit her hand nicely. It was honestly a perfect weapon for her small build and nimble figure.
"Use it only in case of emergencies, okay? If something did come at us, you do exactly as I said with no hesitation, no questions asked, got that?"
Annabeth nodded, suddenly feeling an extra weight to the light dagger.
"Come on then." Thalia led them to the exit, "I am sure we would be fine, but just in case, stay close to me as much as possible."
"Mm-Hmm."
With Piper steady in her arms, they were on the move once more.
Following the blood trail had led them to the main staircase that reached all the way to the top floor of the school, which was six stories in total.
"It's just like Jason said," Piper observed.
Annabeth nodded. As per Jason's report, when he discovered Percy wounded with a knife in his gut, he carried him down the main stairwell and rushed straight to the infirmary office. His attempt to avoid the bell and risk the oncoming students seeing what had happened was successful, hence why the rumors never took place on the first day.
The trail lead them to the fifth floor, but there was nothing up here except for classrooms. Split to both sides of the hallway, Thalia turned right toward the southern corridor.
It made sense. After all, the bathroom was located on the north end, so why did Percy walk so far away from Jason when he knew the danger of separating from his protector.
"Be careful."
Annabeth tighten her grip around Piper who looked severely uncomfortable in her current state, but she couldn't hesitate now.
"Okay."
Finally, the glowing blood trail ended and they faced an empty small corridor with a dead end. This area had mostly been abandoned once a newly renovated space for the janitors was constructed on the bottom floor. All that's left was the closet that held supplies.
"Hum? It's leading inside the wall…"
The daughter of Zeus examined the solid wall thoroughly as if checking for secrets. Sure enough, she found exactly what she was looking for. Just like what Annabeth had back home, there was a mechanism hidden into the bricks, one simple press triggered a loud and heavy rumbling.
"Stay back!"
Annabeth did as she was told.
Meanwhile, Thalia faced the opening entryway all alone, her stance ready for anything.
"This is crazy…" Piper whispered to herself.
As the secret panel slid open with ear-piercing creaks, Annabeth couldn't believe something like this exist in her school. Just who in the world put this here? And without the student body finding out?
The door came to a full stop and revealed a dimly lit room inside the enclosed space. It looked like a workshop with benches filled with all kinds of material, and as far as she could tell, they didn't look like the sort of things that were harmless to people.
?!
Thalia visibly tensed.
"Shit! Duck now!"
Around them, tiny capsules hidden within the wall opened up. Inside every compartment, pointy ends dripping with green venom stuck through and aimed right in the center. They were completely surrounded.
"Thalia!" Piper screamed.
With no time to react whatsoever, Annabeth stood helplessly as sharp fangs shot forward from every corner of her eyes, she barely caught sight of even one of their trajectory. There was no escape for her and Piper.
As her demise came at a blinding speed, Annabeth's vision blurred. This was the end, and as she expected, she was not fit to survive in this world.
But then something strange caught her attention. The world slowed to a crawl.
"I am the power that connects heavens and earth, all fields heed my call, let your power surge forth to destroy and protect."
Traces of blue electricity crackled from around Thalia's figure. A blue energy field enveloped her whole body as streaks of lightning snapped in all directions, frequency rapidly building upon intensity. The strength coming off felt inhuman.
"Lightning Volley!"
Lightning bolts shot through thin air from the heavens above and descent around Annabeth holding Piper steady. It should have scorched them to a pile of ash, but it didn't.
The earth rumbled endlessly.
But the projectiles…. It never struck her. She didn't feel any pain.
"That was a close one…"
A heavy heartbeat pulsing out of control vibrated beside her chest. Annabeth tilted her eyes nervously at Piper. She was holding a dagger, or rather… She caught an incoming dagger midair! Her right hand gripped the hilt firmly before it had a chance to hit her.
Meanwhile, unpleasant smoke fumes engulfed their surroundings. The thunderous lightning bolts were all but gone, leaving only the faintest bit of electricity snipping here and there. It seemed Thalia had used a powerful move and cast lightning rods around them in a protective field, any dagger flying toward them was burned into ash, all except for one…
"T…Thank you."
Piper carefully flung the poisonous blade toward the end of the wall, "Guess I am still the one protecting you, huh?"
She shot her an anxious but wry smile.
Annabeth could only nod. There was still much she had to learn from her protectors, and now she knew firsthand that their world wasn't something to joke about. She could easily die if not careful.
"I am so sorry-yy—"
Her words trailed as a fleeing shadow caught in her vision.
Whoosh!
Annabeth's mouth opened as she screamed, "Piper!"
Her protectors couldn't see it because their attention was focused on her, but the same pointed edge flew toward them, aiming right for Piper's head. Annabeth jumped forward instinctively without pause and tackled Piper away.
"Annabeth!" Thalia screamed.
No sooner as it was thrown, footsteps ran away from the scene as Annabeth landed on the floor with a crushing pain on her elbows. Piper wasn't hurt, but she was…
"No! Annabeth! Are you okay?"
Annabeth pushed herself up and burning pain shot through her arms. She collapsed. Thalia and Piper rushed to check on her right away, but instead of being hurt, a throwing knife was held in her right hand in reverse. It was the last poisonous dagger the attacker threw.
Annabeth somehow caught it!
"Damn it! I'm going to see if I can catch him." Piper said angrily, "Watch the princess, Thalia."
Annabeth laid on the floor and clutched the dagger which hadn't managed to pierce her. Behind her, Thalia came up and put a hand on her back. Her best friend quickly helped her sit up and took the blade away from her hand, throwing it into the same corner where Piper threw the last dagger.
"Annabeth, are you okay?"
How? How did I do that?
"P-Piper… We have to help her!"
Thalia shook her head, "She will be fine. It's because of you that she could recover from the last spell, so thank you Annabeth."
"But…"
Thalia placed a firm hand on her shoulder, "It's okay. Believe in her. She'll catch him before he could escape. We should stay here until Piper report back."
Annabeth looked down at her hand and suddenly felt so helpless.
"We also need to find out what exactly this place is and destroy anything that could be used against us, so take a minute to rest up first. I'll stay here with you."
Despite trembling and feeling dull pain in her upper arms, Annabeth nodded reluctantly.
"I… I- H…How did I do that?"
Thalia's expression tighten as she spared a glance at the two weapons on the side of the wall, "You are getting more and more adapted even though you haven't had any training yet. It's your Dex Augma kicking in, your agility and reflex increase tenfold in dangerous situations, that's why you were able to catch the throwing knife in that split-second response."
Annabeth looked down at her hands again. Despite her determination, she only barely managed to avoid death's door through some innate ability of hers. Once she had composed herself, she clenched them into fists and made an impromptu decision. Deep down, she knew it was the right choice.
"Thalia. I want you to teach me how to fight."
