Chapter 8: Experiments
Annabeth
Through some sort of unfathomable magic, we survived a fifteen hundred feet plunge without any protective equipment; namely, the parachutes that would have saved our lives under normal circumstances. It was truly a miracle we could even breathe right now.
"Puff… Huff… Huff…"
Four other girls stood close by, "Come on. It's not that bad…"
I could barely manage to catch my breath, "It's not bad?! I almost die!"
"You know I would have caught you before you landed."
"That's beside the point! You threw me off a helicopter!" The daggers aiming toward my best friend were indeed sharp and piercing.
"The important thing is we are all alive and well, right?"
The smirk on her face irritated me, but I couldn't do anything. My body gave out the moment we safely landed on solid ground. I was now crawling over on my hands and knees, feeling so weak that it felt like gravity had up and vanished.
"Please for the love of the Gods above… Don't ever do that again." Percy managed to get on his wobbling feet, "And tell us first if you are going to use magic to slow our landing."
"Where is the fun in that, Percy?" Thalia replied happily without an ounce of guilt, "Besides, it was a good laugh to see you two like that. Right?"
Illya and Piper nodded with smiles of their own.
"It's not funny, Thals!" I snapped, "I swear to god, after we rescue my mother and stupid Jason from Amk, you'll be the first one I am going after."
"Hmm? I don't know, princess…There's just something different about your threat when you are looking like this. It's kind of funny."
The desire to make her freeze in an ice Popsicle was strong, perhaps that's what I was trying to do when I glared like a demon at her.
"Alright, enough teasing. We're already here, so let's get to work." Piper helped Percy up.
Our landing was directly on a pier facing the east river. The area around was vast with many empty spaces, and unlike the city, this place was also far more spacious.
Though from a certain viewpoint, the place felt a bit too spacious. It felt empty, devoid of life. The weirdest part? Tall brick walls blocked off the north and east sides, overgrown vines crawling up every section and turning it almost like a hedgerow. Further down south, there seemed to be a mansion hidden behind a tree garden. It was entirely pitch black.
Did we land on someone's private property? Or maybe this is already Rachel's mansion?
Beyond this enclosure, there were signs of life, of industrialization, of a crowded neighborhood with tall skyscrapers and factories that filled the docks. It felt like civilization was just within my grasp, yet so far away despite being in the same borough.
"Which direction is your mansion, Rachel?"
The death-defying skydive experience seemed to have shaken the auburn hair girl too. Luckily, our friends never threw her out of the helicopter, meaning she got down in the safety of Illya's arms instead.
Thanks for saying something before they threw us out, Rachel!
"Umm…" Rachel turned her head a few times, "Actually, I think it's this way?"
She took a few steps only to turn around, "Wait, no. It's this way."
"Oh gosh, please don't tell me you suddenly forget the way back home?"
"O-Of course not!" Rachel was trying to hide her wobbling legs, "I'm fine. Let's get going."
Everyone seemed concerned, but I knew what was going on. Our friends' little stun had flipped Rachel's sense of direction upside down and inside out. Otherwise, her legs wouldn't be trembling like jelly.
"Ahem… This way,"
As she led the group toward the southern end into a small garden, Thalia helped me up.
"You've got yourself to blame, Thals." I landed a punch on her arm as soon as I got on my feet.
"Yeah yeah, I'll apologize later. Let's go, Beth. We should catch up before they get too far ahead and we get lost inside that garden."
"Fine." I crossed my arms.
However, I soon realized my legs wouldn't move, I couldn't even begin to walk forward, much less able to walk straight. Helpless on my own, the subsequent laugh beside me and the way she tried to hide her snickering made me want to pull my dagger out and put it against her throat.
"I hate you…" I wasn't prepared for more humiliation
As a result, I ended up relying on Thalia's shoulders as a clutch. She put her arms around my back, but how I wished it was Percy who was holding me up.
I looked forward. It seemed Illya was helping him in the same way, her arms around his back and holding his sides. Just the sight of her getting touchy with my seaweed brains sent my blood boiling.
"Oooh… Someone is jealous— Gah!"
I smacked the back of her head with my hand.
The commotion brought Percy's gaze backward. I caught his eyes, then the way he smiled at me when I wasn't expecting it… Safe to say, my face glowed like a pink flamingo.
"And someone is a little too fluster— Guh!"
A little bit further, Piper was walking beside Rachel. They seemed to be talking about the layout of her mansion and what we should expect once inside. After all, Rachel was using her hands a lot.
"This way!" Rachel turned back and gestured to everyone.
We were now leaving the pier as she led us through a flat lawn field with nothing but space on it. There were bright underground spotlights around the edges, and the closer we got to the middle, I noticed what this field resembled if looked from the overhead view.
"Doesn't that look like the alpha and omega symbols overlapping each other?"
"Huh?"
I pointed around the outline of this huge lawn, "From above. Do you see it?"
It took her a while, but she nodded, "Yeah. I see it now. Hmm… Alpha and Omega huh?"
To the beginning and the end of everything… There was something about it, perhaps it was even the large field itself that made me feel uneasy. Whatever this lawn symbolized, it wouldn't be a good idea to linger in case of a trap. Further ahead of us, it seemed like everyone was waiting at the front of the garden. It was thick with trees that blocked out the moonlight, an entrance with a winding path like a maze.
"Hurry up, you two." Piper waved.
Besides her, it seemed Percy was fine on his own now. After being thrown out of a helicopter without a parachute, he was surprisingly steady on his feet. I grumbled, it reminded me of how impeccable his sturdiness was.
"Wise girl?"
Percy called my nickname softly like a puppy. My eyes tilted toward his like gravity, I swallowed hard when he took a step forward and extended his hand out to me, "Need any help, wise girl?"
A rush of dopamine hit my head, newfound steadiness returning to my legs, I immediately pushed my best friend away and sank into his arms.
"Typical," Thalia exhaled behind me.
When I was safely secure inside his lean and muscular figure, I looked up at my boyfriend and the prince charming who swept me off my feet, burning into his emerald eyes with deep refusal to ever let him go.
Everyone Ooohh, all except for Illya who I gave a passive-aggressive glare while snuggling into Percy's arms, "Stupid seaweed brain…"
Choosing Percy as my support instead, I heard him laugh awkwardly as four pairs of eyes stared around us, though I wasn't too thrilled about Illya who scowled back.
"You two are so cute…" Rachel smiled, "But we should go while we still can, right?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
And so, Rachel began to guide us to her mansion through this maze-like garden. Sharp turns at every corner, we would have easily gotten lost without her. I would have preferred if we didn't need to run through this garden, but the tall walls back in the courtyard made this the only exit.
"How do you remember which way is which?" Piper bemused, "My head is already lost after the second turn."
And after the next few turns, even I was starting to lose my sense of direction. It truly was a maze you could easily get locked in if you weren't already aware of its path toward the other side.
"To be honest, this is only my second time using the garden entrance."
"Eehhh!" We were shocked.
Rachel nodded nonchalantly, "It's okay. I think I can remember the path, at least, I should be able to get us through this maze without getting lost."
Our anxiety grew tenfold.
The deeper we entered the maze garden, each winding path leading to another winding path began to look eerily familiar. For real, this garden surely seemed endless, or… maybe that was the point in the first place. I felt something tugging at my heart.
"Rachel, where do you usually come home?"
"Huh? The gate at the front door?"
"So when we landed, that huge lawn field back there was your courtyard?"
Rachel tilted her head. She rubbed her chin as if pondering my question.
Not drawing a shred of confidence from me, Rachel's reaction left a shiver down my back. Why was she so confused? Does that mean the Lethe poison is still working on her memories? How can she not know if this was her own courtyard? Can we even trust her to lead the way?
"I think so? To tell you the truth, I haven't had many reasons to leave the house for much of anything, so I never knew a path like this existed. This is my first time seeing it too."
"Wait, then how can you be sure we are not getting lost?!"
Thalia and Piper tensed too. The trees around us were small but big enough that leaves alone were thick and densely packed. The only light sources were these dim yellow lamps that hung over the black metal bars at every other intersection.
To suddenly say that when we had wandered so far inside already…
"Rachel, do you know the way out or not?" Thalia was serious this time.
Like everyone else, Rachel's revelation was very troubling. Part of me wondered if she was joking or serious… I hoped it's the latter...
Rachel blinked her eyes, "You don't see it?"
I looked around me and wondered what she was seeing.
"We don't see anything, Rachel…" Thalia was just as confused.
Shocked, Rachel pointed to the rocky stones that made up the path, "There are arrows pointing the way… See, it's on the ground!"
Arrows? I squinted carefully but came up empty.
"I don't see anything like that…"
"Me either…"
Stumped, Rachel looked at us like we were the crazy ones. She looked so confident that one couldn't easily doubt her.
"Is it possible that she can see something we can't?" Percy brought it up.
Then it hit my head.
"Your latent oracle power… Oh my God! So you can see through more than just the mist?!"
A collective gasp echoed in the garden, "That would make sense."
"Of course! That's why you are not getting lost in this maze! This must be your father's doing. Building this garden so he can pervert anyone from breaking in or getting out except for you."
Piper pointed at Rachel, "So without you, we wouldn't have been able to get through at all."
The revelation unsettled me, "Let's hurry then… I wouldn't want to stay here any longer. Plus, we have to find my mother and Jason as soon as possible."
With an agreement settled, Rachel sped her way through the garden, leading us through turns that even someone like me was getting dizzy keeping track of. It was scary to imagine, but anyone trapped in here wouldn't see the light of day and all they would face would be an endless path for eternity.
A terrifying thought passed my head; that reality was all too possible, and just thinking about it left me shivering as chills crawled over my spine. I froze up in fear.
"We'll be fine, wise girl."
Percy held my hand with a tight grip as we rushed together as a group. The last thing we wanted was to lose sight of Rachel, that's why she's taking care to let us keep up so no one could be left behind.
After about ten minutes of running through the garden, we finally reached a narrow and straight path, and about fifty feet away ahead, we saw a gate. It seemed the exit was within our reach.
"Finally!" Piper exclaimed, "Look! I see some moonlight. We are out!"
"Wait, Piper! Don't rush a-ahead…"
Thalia was right. As soon as Piper rush forward, a subtle click was heard. All of us froze, but nothing happened. We stood still, waiting for some unknown booby-trap to activate, but nothing came. It was silent.
"Hahaha…" Piper knocked her head and looking back all guilty-like, "Sorry, I think I tripped a wire, but nothing happened, so maybe it was a false—"
Before she could finish, the entire fifty feet path leading to the outside world collapsed. It opened up like a trapped door in the middle and swallowed us whole.
"Aaahhh! Not again!"
Desperate as I clung onto Percy's shirt and threw myself into him, we fell toward another hell waiting for us as our screams echoed down the pitch-black darkness.
Illya was the only one not screaming.
With her palms thrown out, she chanted, "Limit magic cast. Begin processing, potential wind elements reached. Release all sacred power: Typhoon Hurl!"
A moment later, I fell into something super soft and comfortable. Like laying on a fluffy cloud, we stopped falling and instead slowly descent like an elevator down the pit.
"Okay, you're going to have to teach me how to do that once we are back on solid ground." Percy griped because Illya's magic helped save our lives, again.
Just who is this girl and why is she so good at using magic?
Jealousy filled me to the brim, enough that I want to learn from my new arch-rival too. Ever since Illya joined us, I've been unable to gauge whether she was a Half-Blood or not. The way she used magic on the fly was simply too good to be true. Even Thalia and Piper paled in comparison to her level of casting, and the only clue I had was her last name revealed by Aphrodite; the family name Conwy must have a deeper meaning and history behind it.
"We're coming up on the drop," Thalia warned.
Then we landed on a cold resin floor. Everyone landed on their feet, but of course, I had to stumble like a clumsy idiot and landed on my butt.
"Owww…" I rubbed my behind as Percy pulled me back up, "You are so clumsy, wise girl."
A pout went over my face.
Falling at least five hundred feet underground, we finally settled in the darkness, but even after our eyes adjusted, I could barely make out what was around us. My other senses, or rather, the scent around me… Let's just say it wasn't pleasant, not one bit.
"Why does it smell like death down here?" Piper pitched her nose.
"Never mind that, Pipes. We have to stick together. We don't know what's out there." Thalia ordered as we huddled together until everyone was accounted for by physical contact, "Illya, make some lights if you still have some mana left in you."
Mana? Is she for real right now?
Then I saw Percy's faint reaction amid the darkness; he was just as much of an otaku as I was, so I wasn't surprised he reacted with his mouth half-open too. There was no such thing as mana in this world, or so I had thought. Apparently, I was wrong and right at the same time.
"Elements of lights, come forth."
Literal light elements were generated and produced by a single chant. Illya brought the orbs high above and it cast a white glow about ten feet around us.
"This is…"
There was no doubt. We were in some kind of laboratory, dozens of square lab tables nested with test tubes and other apparatus were dead give-away.
"Is this what my father had been doing?"
Thinking that we fell into a trap, we ended up discovering the secret lab Walter had been using to study our world and us Half-Bloods. Somehow, I've got a bad feeling about that foul stench.
"Why would we fall right into his lab? That doesn't make any sense."
"In any case, we should find the master light switch." Thalia said just as her blue eyes glowed like a kaleidoscope, "Piper, help me find it."
"You've got it." Her eyes turned into a kaleidoscope too.
Unable to help them, it was a skill only the best Half-Bloods could wield, the ability to enhance the dex augma wired in us from birth and focus all that energy to the eyes. It allowed one to spot hidden things not meant to be revealed, like the switch for the trap room in our school.
"Found it. It's over there." Piper pointed, "Follow me, and don't get lost behind."
Piper led us down one end of the laboratory. I could vague tell we were heading south. As expected, we found a heavy-duty switch flipped down and the fuel cells were conveniently pulled out. A huge door blocked the way beside us.
"Are you sure this is the light switch? This looks like it's for the door, right?"
Piper tapped Thalia's shoulder and gave her a puffed confident smile, "Don't worry, Thals. The current is flowing in the right direction. Plus, when has my luck been wrong?"
"I am surprised you could say that right after leading us down a trap…" Thalia sighed and inched forward toward the panel.
"Wait, Let me do this." I pulled her back, "Don't want you to make a mistake and blow us up."
Thalia might have the edge since she could manipulate electricity, but I wasn't about to leave it to chance. After all, I bet it wouldn't have been as easy as plugging in all the fuel cells and pulling the switch, and as I took a look at the circuit board, I was right.
They were hydrogen fuel cells of different pins and connectors. Upon first glance, doing this randomly would certainly lead to trouble. It was lucky I stepped up before an explosion blew up in our face.
"Let's see…"
Analyzing the conduits and tinkering with the fuel cells, I did what I've been always good at: solving impossible puzzles. Despite it being a challenge, I blew through it like a breeze and made all the right connections, or so I had hoped.
"Moment of truth…" I flipped the switch.
A loud click reverberated as it locked in place. Dull rumblings vibrated into the walls. Suddenly, a rapid series of blinks rolled from one end of the ceiling to another.
"Well, at least we didn't blow up, right?" Percy joked as relived sighs left all of them at the same time. A grumble left my lips and I pouted at my seaweed brain.
Just as we had hoped, lights as white as glaciers filled the room and revealed all there was about the laboratory. It was the size of a small warehouse and rectangular in nature. The reflective panel on the walls made the lab shine like a lustrous pearl. On the far left side, blue hues shone through a line of icy glass, it was most likely a refrigeration unit to store his test materials.
And on the far right side, a huge chamber sat in the middle, and two metal chairs sat side by side behind the observation windows. Both were installed with a contraption around the head, linked by a dozen digital wires streaming into the grated ceiling above.
There was no doubt about it. This was how Walter managed to—
"—!"
I snapped my head at Rachel who gasped suddenly. She was shaking in fear and tears were threatening to overflow her eyes.
I followed her gaze.
In the center of the room, monitors and computerized machines filled the lab tables. There were different test apparatus and vials scattered around the work stations, but further back, a mechanical arms robot as tall as us sat near a large table, there were restraints built into it.
"This is horrible…" Rachel covered her mouth.
At that moment, I understood her reaction. That unpleasant stench from earlier, we finally found the source. From that large operating table, a pool of blood soaked the white resin floor with the color of rose, small drops steadily dripping off the edge. A lifeless body laid on top and was restrained by cuffs that lock her to the table.
"—!"
I couldn't speak, I was afraid that if I open my mouth, the sight of the girl on the table would make me hurl.
"No… This can't be… Is she—?" Percy blenched and was objectively worse than I was.
Thalia clasped a hand to his mouth. She shook her head and gave us stern looks to stay put. The solemn look on her face was enough to make me freeze up in fear.
"Piper," Thalia called calmly.
The daughter of Aphrodite squeezed her lips tightly, "Right behind you."
Leaving us on our own, Thalia and Piper went to the mutilated body of the girl with even and steady steps. In their hands, they brought out logs of pyre wood and put them around the girl's body. Once they finished, Piper brought out a golden coin and placed it in the girl's bloody palm, placing her hands across her chest and whispering deeply.
Then Thalia snapped her finger and the following sparks fueled the fire needed to give her the funeral one deserved. Orange flames burned bright and hot, and there I stood in silence beside my friends, wondering what I was feeling, what Percy was feeling, and what my best friends were feeling.
When the flames were at their hottest, Thalia and Piper clasped their hands and offered prayers to the Gods. I wasn't sure what to do, but as I stared at the sight of a lifeless girl being consumed by fire, my eyes grew watery.
Percy clasped my hand. I tried to look at him, but his sight was set straight and looking forward the whole time. I didn't know how I should feel, but I could feel Percy's strength seeping into me. I looked forward once more…
"…!"
A dry gasp left me. I thought I saw the ghost of the girl flowing above her corpse. She was looking at each one of us with a grateful smile, then she turned her gaze to me. I couldn't help but weep, the brilliant smile she gave me made my heart wrench in a knot.
I am sorry…
She kept her smile as if she wanted to comfort my soul.
Please don't feel sorry, princess of Athena. I've lived a great life as a Half-Blood. Don't despair because of my death and continue to fight for us, for all of us.
Tears flowed down my cheeks and I wasn't able to stop them.
Thank you, all of you. I know my death won't be in vain now.
Her last memories slowly faded into the burning fire. I almost wanted to reach out even though I didn't know anything about her, not least her name. I bit my lip, enough to draw blood. What right did I have to comfort someone who had to suffer a terrible death when I didn't even know her as a person?
Like my best friends, all I could offer her was my prayers and to help her reach the realm beyond. I didn't want to succumb to that feeling, but helplessness found its way to me like a living cancerous cell.
"This isn't right…" I gritted my teeth.
As the flames burned to a crawl and the pyre woods slowly faded into ashes, Thalia and Piper passed their sympathetic looks, "Annabeth, this is not your fault…"
Anger rose from the pit of my gut…
"Is it not? We were supposed to protect all Half-Bloods, right? So why is it that I am the only one who's getting so much protection? Why didn't others get the same treatment? Why— why couldn't it have been…"
I hesitated.
They knew what I wanted to say, but no one spoke after me. Everyone pulled their gaze down to avoid poking the subject. I knew it wasn't fair, and yet I tried to make them feel uncomfortable all because I couldn't handle my own guilt.
"Wise girl…"
I pulled away from his outreaching hands, "Never mind… Let's go deeper inside the lab. They are probably behind that door. We should get going-gg…."
A hand pulled me back, "Annabeth wait…"
Rachel pulled me back, "I think we should split up. There are a lot of evidences here, and if I… if we want to learn more about what my father did, then we should stay and gather as much information as we can from here before heading out."
She made a good point, but then…
After seeing what Amk was capable of, my anger only grew into worry. I didn't want the same fate to befall Jason who was precious to Thalia and Piper, and as much as I had my conflicted feelings about my mother, I was worried about her too.
A goddess or not, she still had vulnerabilities that could be exploited, and to face Amk's soldiers alone without any help… It was a suicide mission. Why couldn't she stop being so stubborn?
I knew the answer. I was her daughter after all.
"You are right. I'll stay here with you." I nodded, "What about you guys?"
Percy bumped my shoulder with a small grin, "I'm staying with you, of course."
I smiled back.
"Well, Illya should stay with you, I wouldn't want to leave you two without any backup." Thalia gestured as the group split up, "Piper and I will go on ahead."
Swiping a card off the lab table, my best friends went toward the northern end of the laboratory blocked by a reinforced steel door, that thing looked ready to stop a nuclear apocalypse.
"Hey, don't do anything stupid, you two. Please be safe."
As they went over to the security key access, they passed a smile back at Percy, "Speak for yourself, but don't worry, we'll be back before you know it."
I caught their gaze too, "And we'll bring them back safely, so don't worry, princess."
Alarms blared while emergency red light cast rotating shadows around this section of the lab. The steel door soon opened upon scanning the key card. It was total darkness behind, a rush of chilling air escaped out like a mysterious fog.
"See you in a bit…" Thalia and Piper smiled and ventured into the uncharted room as if fear was the least of their concern. Luckily, the door didn't close on its own, ensuring an escape route back.
"We should open up this door too, just in case, right?" I pointed backward at the door on the southern end.
I grab another keycard off the table and went to scan it for the first door too. Once opened, it led up a short staircase and I had a feeling it would bring us back to Rachel's mansion. Our escape route was now secure.
"Let's get some Intel, shall we?"
With the flick of my wrist, I brought out four tiny drives and handed them out, "We should split up so downloading his data would be faster."
Rachel took hers and immediately went to work. Meanwhile, Illya took hers but instead made her way to each area of interest and just stared. I wondered what she was doing.
As for Percy, he insisted on sticking with me. I couldn't be more glad. After seeing what happened to the girl we had given an impromptu funeral, I wasn't sure if I could handle the deprived horror that awaited me on those computers.
"We don't have to watch it, wise girl…"
As I hovered over the copy all files button, I hesitated. Percy reached out and held my hand over the mouse. I watched as he passed me a gentle look, "We'll do it together, okay?"
It only took a small gesture for Percy to untangle my twisted heart. I nodded as we click the button at the same time. Folders and video files for all his experiments began to flash one by one, streaming into the ghost drive I kept in my phantom bracelet.
When the data was duplicated, we went to the next computer. Rachel was hard as work too, and within ten minutes after we spread out, all his data were copied. Rachel regrouped with us, all except for Illya who was staring at the chamber by herself.
"Illya, are you okay?"
The girl with wavy white hair skipped over and handed the empty ghost drive back to me. She seemed a little distraught, but I didn't know why. Instead of questioning her, I threw the handy device back into storage.
We were all together again.
"Um… Is it okay if we head upstairs?" Rachel asked us, "Actually, there is something I want to get from my room before we leave."
I didn't think it was impossible, but without Thalia or Piper, I wonder if it's alright for me to make the decision. Percy passed me a confident smile.
"Sure." I decided, "There might be clues there as well. Let's go."
As long as the doors stay open, there shouldn't be problems. Of course, I took the keycard just in case and stuff it into the pocket of my school blouse.
Climbing the stairs was easier than I thought. We ended up in the kitchen area, meaning that the laboratory Walter used to conduct his inhumane experiments was down in the basement.
To see a steady stream of light from the moon was reassuring after the nightmare we just faced. Rachel then led us around the house, passing by the living room and up the dark mahogany stairwell toward the fifth floor. Overall, the mansion had an unconventional Victorian and country-style vibe to it.
"This place is actually pretty nice, minus the whole evil laboratory down in the cellar I guess."
Rachel smiled bitterly.
"Ah. I am sorry, Rachel." Percy immediately apologized after the auburn hair girl's reaction, "I shouldn't have said that."
"It's okay, Percy." Rachel looked conflicted, "I don't think I can forgive my father after seeing what he had done to you guys."
We went down the southern end of the hallway, "I loved him, but I don't think I can anymore."
Rachel stopped before the second room and opened the door, "Well, come in… I just want to grab some stuff before we leave."
Rachel went over to her bed immediately.
Meanwhile, we separated and took a look around. Truth to her talent, there was a whole section of the room dedicated to painting. I took a glance, canvas upon canvas staked on top of each other with beautiful drawings, yet they all lay across the floor and gathering dust.
"Okay. I am good."
"Huh? That fast?" I asked.
"Oh, yeah… I just want to grab this photo of me and my mom. It was the last photo I had of her, so…"
Rachel was holding that picture frame dearly as it was something precious she treasured. We all had that one thing we could never let go of. Truth be told, her life had turned upside down in a single day, so I could never hope to understand how she managed to look that content as if that picture alone was giving her the strength to stand.
I bit my lips.
"Pack up your stuff, Rachel."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
I went to her closet and spotted a suitcase. It was plenty big enough.
"Well, I can't let you stay here, not after knowing what your father had been doing to you and the Half-Bloods he captured. You are staying with us now."
"Huh?! But… But… I don't want to—"
Percy nodded and stepped in for me, "Annabeth is right. You are not safe here anymore. You should come and live with us, that way we can all protect you."
It was the most logical conclusion I could come up with, yet Rachel didn't agree so easily.
"I appreciate it, really! But I'd just be intruding on you guys, and I don't want that."
My cheeks heat up faintly, "It's a big estate. There are plenty of spare rooms for you to pick from, so don't worry… Think of it for our sake and yours as well."
I pulled some of her hangers off the hook and put them in the suitcase, "And if anything, having one extra girl living there is much better than having a mansion that's empty all the time."
Maybe it was the way I said it, but Rachel suddenly hugged her picture close to her chest.
"Whoa… You don't have to cry about it."
Tears of joy rolled down her cheek, Rachel wiped her face and smiled, "I am not! It's just… I am not used to having a friend doing that much for me…"
Another set of hangers left the hook when an unfamiliar shiver left me tingling, "Hmph! I am just giving you a place to stay since your home isn't safe anymore. Don't think I am doing this for some special reason. You've still got to cook and do your own laundry and everything else."
Percy laughed subtly beside me.
"Uh-huh… like the way you do your own cooking and laundry, wise girl?"
"Shut up!"
Percy recoiled away from my punch with more laughs and made me pout, "Jerk… Why do you always have to do this to me?"
"Aww… because I love the way you look when you are all pouty and angry, wise girl." He wiggled his eyebrows back.
"Wh-aaa…"
Turning bright red, I couldn't believe he just said something that embarrassing when Illya and Rachel were watching the whole thing.
"Hahahaha…." Giggles followed.
We turned our heads. For one reason or another, Rachel finally relented and had a change of heart about our new arrangement, "Fine, but I've got a lot of stuff, they probably are not going to fit inside one suitcase."
I rolled my eyes, "Just get the important stuff first. We can always come back and pick up the rest."
Rachel nodded and let out a happy sigh, "Thank you, both of you, from the bottom of my heart."
Percy waved his hand, "It's the least we can do after you saved us at school."
And so, everyone helped out as Rachel told us what to put in her suitcase. The most essential stuff like her clothes and a few personal treasures went inside first. Of course, Illya and I were the fastest considering we were both girls, we just instinctually know what Rachel needed from the get-go.
"Do you need anything from this drawer?" Percy went beside us and pulled on a handle.
A second too late at stopping him, Percy saw the content inside and shrieked.
"Ahhh! What do you think you are doing?!" Rachel shouted and slammed her drawer shut.
"Sorry! Sorry… I didn't mean to—"
Illya looked at Percy with newfound contempt, "Perv…"
"I am sorry! Seriously, I really didn't…"
As hopeless as he was a dummy, Percy ventured into a forbidden place every girl has, and even I couldn't help my seaweed brain from the sidelong glances dripping from Illya and Rachel.
"You are such a seaweed brain-nn…"
Stopping short of teasing my boyfriend, a heavy object suddenly flew into the room as dull metallic echoes reverberated from the impact on the hardwood floor. It had a cylindrical shape and a circle of LED lights on the top, successively lighting up one by one clockwise.
It looked almost like a…
"…!"
Accompanied by progressively loudly beeps, I looked at everyone else in alarm. They realized what it was too, and before I had a chance to react, Percy swooped me up in his arms and rushed beside Illya who had Rachel dragged behind her.
The next few seconds happened in a flash, literally.
A huge explosion destroyed what was once Rachel's room with an ear-piercing blast, sharp glass fragments blew into the air beside me yet I wasn't cut by any random shards.
"Illya!"
The air around us slowed as we descent safely onto a spacious backyard. Once the flying and burning debris settled around us, Percy pulled back from his protective hug around me.
I could only stare at my seaweed brain shocked. He looked beside us.
"Are you guys hurt?"
Rachel coughed wildly on her knees, "N-No… I am okay—"
Percy passed a worried look at Illya too who winced for a second but wasn't hurt, "I am okay too, Percy."
A sigh of relief escaped him and I felt his chest heaved on my hands. Still looking at him, he finally gave me a long and worried look. I could only blink back.
Doing something only a crazy person would, Percy made a daring jump out the window of a five stories tall mansion. I almost wanted to curse him out, yet it was his quick thinking that saved all of us.
"Are you hurt, wise girl?"
I reached up and touch his cheeks. There was a shallow cut from one of the glass fragments, blood dripped down as I wiped them on my fingers.
"You are hurt, Percy…"
He reached up and pulled my hand away, "It's just a small scratch. It doesn't hurt."
He helped me to my feet and looked back at the mansion slowly engulfed in orange flames, "More importantly…"
Then someone clapped in feign applause "I am actually impressed, Percy."
A girl stood on the porch and walk down triumphantly as if the battle had already been won.
"Drew…"
It was the rouge Half-Blood who had been keeping tabs on us. Like before, the small army behind her was all her friends from school, yet they looked lifeless and in a trace. It's almost like they could only obey her orders and nothing else.
Piper recently told me about this, an ability to charm spell people into doing what you want without free will, it was the ultimate weapon for any child of Aphrodite, which meant Drew was a daughter of Aphrodite as well!
"Be careful of her… She can charm spell you with a single touch." I warned Percy.
Percy nodded and picked up on what I figured out too.
"Well, this is awkward. I was hoping that shell bomb might kill all of you, but I didn't think you were crazy enough to jump out the window."
With her hands thrown out to her sides and a nonchalant look on her face, Percy released his new sword flashing silver against the moon and stood calmly beside me.
"Hello, Drew. I am guessing you have unfinished business with Rachel?" An intimidated Percy flashed a feign smile forward.
"Not me… I couldn't care less about her oracle power."
"Then you have business with us?"
"Don't flatter yourself, son of Poseidon. I am not here because I want to."
Meanwhile, I took a look behind me. Rachel and Illya were helping each other up, but suddenly, Illya winced again. She stumbled on her feet when taking a step toward us.
I bit my lips.
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked.
Illya tried to nod, "I am fine… Just my right ankle, it hurts."
Our sudden jump out the window must have done more damage to Illya than it seemed, even after she used wind magic to soften our landing. In her current state, she might as well be incapacitated. Plus, Rachel wasn't a fighter, much less a Half-Blood with special abilities, which meant Percy and I were the only ones who could face off against Drew and her charm spell army.
"Don't try to walk anymore. You're just going to hurt yourself." I said as I released my new sword with a flowery guard design and it materialized in my right hand, "Just stay back and protect Rachel if you can."
For the first time, Illya's reply left me very uncomfortable, "Yes, Lady Annabeth."
Shivering, I shook her awkward formalities away and turned back to face Drew.
Standing protectively before our friends, Percy realized what we were up against too, yet he stood tall and confident, so if I was going to be his partner and protect him, I needed to be just as strong.
As our looming battle inched closer with each passing second, some sort of innate tingle rolled down my spine. I felt deeply connected to Percy, almost like we were reading each other's thoughts without even speaking a single word. Even as Percy dragged out the mock conversation, I was able to tell what he wanted me to do.
He nodded subtly at me.
I nodded back, readying my left hand behind my back for our backup plan.
The burning mansion in the background crackled, it made for an intensity I hadn't felt since my battle with the Nemean Lion.
"So what do you want? I don't expect a daughter of Aphrodite would be a match for the son of Poseidon and the daughter of Athena. What are you really looking for?"
Instead of an answer, Drew sighed in defeat, "Isn't this something else? And it's all because I love him so much. By the way, that was a cheap trick to teleport away, but this time, you don't have your little companion to save you. I won't let you run away now."
With a click of her fingers, the dozen of students from our school paced forward and formed a semi-circle around us. Percy and I tried to cover the area, but there were too many. From a purely numerical perspective, we were outnumbered six to one, and we couldn't fight back to back while also protecting our friends. In any way you look at it, this hand was stacked against us from the beginning.
If only Thalia and Piper were here…
Suddenly, something Jason said echoed in my head: This isn't a game anymore.
"Any last word?" Drew smirked, her wickedness amplified by the dark shadows of the burning mansion behind her, its flames so bright and hot the structure was now crumbling. Over the distance, sirens could be heard rushing here.
"Don't think you'll win so easily, daughter of Aphrodite." Percy smiled faintly, "We don't plan to go down without a fight."
Percy was right, but it didn't change the fact that we were hard-pressed with our backs to the wall. The only trump card on our hands... Yet, I couldn't waste it until it was the right time.
In my head, I work through exactly what they were carrying; a mix of seven long swords, two daggers, one mace, and two spears. It would be difficult to work a strategy to defeat one, much less all twelve of them at the same time.
Luckily, every student here was only mortals, not Half-Bloods with special abilities nor monsters with unbelievable powers.
"Wait!" I inched my feet in a fighting stance as they came closer, "You said you are not doing this for your own end, so you must be working for someone under Kronos's command. At least tell me who he is and why he's coming after Rachel?"
As our powerless classmate raised their weapons, my question suddenly brought the world to a halt. It wasn't just Drew who blinked and recoiled. Beside me, Percy… Rachel… even Illya flinched.
"Wait!? You don't know…" Drew raised her eyebrows wide.
Their reaction left me even more confused.
"Annabeth, let's focus on defea—"
Mangled laughs escaped Drew as she obnoxiously clutched her stomach and bellowed in hysteria, "Oh my God! You really don't know! Hahaha!"
"Know what?"
Is Percy keeping something from me? Why did they react like that?
Drew with her out-of-control sneer pointed her fingers at us, "Hahaha! You will never get to find out now! Pin them down but leave Rachel to me, my devoted minions."
Time suddenly slowed to a crawl. As soon as our classmates ready their melee attacks, every part of my body tensed for battle and my grip tightened as instinct took over.
And so the battle began…
Barely able to catch a glimpse behind me, the first swing from a one-handed short sword came down on Percy's right flank. Though after everything he'd been through, Percy deflected the blade with ease and sidestep perfectly. Hurling him away with his lost momentum, he elbowed the boy in the back of his head and left him tumbling in the dirt.
"Try not to kill anyone, wise girl." Percy grunted as he blocked a horizontal strike and parry it away, "We don't know if they can be cured of the charm spell."
"I know that already, seaweed brain!" I shouted as a dagger came at me, "Just shut up and help out already, you idiot!"
I locked our blades and managed to disarm her by swiping my feet underneath hers. As she tumbled, I sent her dagger flying a distance away, knocking her out with the hilt of my sword.
Two down... but only ten more to go. I sighed.
Tougher looking than the first two, all ten of our classmates rush us at the same time. Spears and sword at the ready, Percy and I worked as best as we could, but after a while of parrying and avoiding their attacks, only then did I realize we let three slip through. They headed straight for Rachel and Illya!
"Rachel! Illya!" Percy screamed and rushed over.
Narrowly avoiding the spikes on a heavy mace, Percy was about to dash back when the three boys were sent flying backward by three separate blasts. There were large smoking holes in their uniforms right at their abdomen, none of them were conscious after that.
"Don't worry, Percy. I can still cast magic." A fiery orb grew red between Illya's palms.
We were shocked.
"Percy! Watch out!" Rachel screamed.
The same mace Percy avoided earlier came down on him. He didn't have time to react.
"Firebolts!"
A red stream of fire magic flew passed Percy and landed on the boy's side. The buff mace wielder quickly got knocked off his feet, his uniform charred, but he was still conscious.
"Thank, Illya."
Percy went back to the fight. Just as I was observing their flawless teamwork with jealousy, I forgot to watch my own back. A long sword and a spear came at me from the sides. There was no time to parry or block both with only one sword in my hand.
"Annabeth!"
Of course, I had another backup plan. With a graceful leap, I launched myself off the ground and did a full backflip away. When I landed, Percy had his mouth wide open.
"When did you learn to do that?!"
He stared wordlessly, and honestly, I was happy. It meant I was now catching up to him, and there was no way I'll let him get too much better than me.
I grinned smugly.
But all of a sudden his gaze tilted a bit downward, I watched him gulp.
Following his eyes, I almost yelped.
Overlaying on top of my school uniform, I was wearing composite chest armor much more durable than my first battle with the Nemean Lion, a sword belt fixed to my lower waist that tied lightweight armor for my hips.
It was the perfect balance for me, but this outfit forgo one tiny detail, namely, it didn't help my short skirt from flowing with my movements, and my long stocking didn't help hide much of anything either.
I… I was…
"Ahhh! Don't look, you dummy!" I hurriedly pulled them back down.
Percy pretended like he had no idea what I was talking about and looked away whistling.
I chewed on my lips and ignored him.
Rachel and Illya sighed despondently behind us.
"Well, I'll admit. You two are very cute together." Drew said nonchalantly.
As we ready ourselves once more, there were only seven left, and one of them was gravely injured from Illya's firebolts magic. The numbers looked a lot better now. We stood still, readying for someone to make a move.
"But that's not going to save you, and I wonder just how long you can keep this up." Despite losing five of her charm-spelled army, Drew didn't sound the least bit concerned.
"Huuaah!"
Our classmates came at us again. Percy and I smirked. We were fully prepared this time.
"By the way," Then I caught a moment of Drew's leering gaze aimed right at me, "Luke Castellan is the Half-Blood working with Kronos, and the person I am deeply in love with."
…
…
W-Wait, what did she say?
…
…
My arms froze solid on instinct. The world slowed to a halt as time stood still in my head.
"Annabeth!" I heard Percy screaming for me.
As my grip on everything went numb and my body paralyzed, I didn't realize what was happening until a silver glint of many steel blades flashed before my eyes. I couldn't blink away.
Clank!
A powerful shockwave sent my balance tumbling backward. Luckily, I caught my feet at the right moment, heavy dullness passed through my body in waves as I averted my eyes. When I open them again, I saw Percy down on one knee before me and struggling with all his might to push back.
"How—"
Through sheer willpower alone, Percy was now wielding two swords, one in both hands, while holding the weight of all seven attacks at the same time.
"M-Move-ee… W-Wise girl!"
But I couldn't. I couldn't react no matter how much I wanted to. The words from Drew lingered in my brain and refused to let me take control of my body.
The two blades held in a cross guard creaked loudly, Percy was struggling backward now.
"A-Annabeth!"
I didn't know what I was doing anymore. Despite his pleads and the agitated shouting behind me, my mind blanked to a degree that I'd never felt before, an unfamiliar intensity bubbling in me, the inducing anger boiling. My body couldn't stay calm.
"What did you say?"
I watched as Drew smirked, "I said Luke Castellan is the one working with Kronos, the same boy who got almost got his way with you if only you weren't such a stuck-up bitch."
I released a short sword in my left hand along with my long sword in my right. The extra weight didn't bother me, not as much as the words spoken blithely.
"Is that right?"
"Annabeth! Don't— Ughh…" I ignored it even when Percy was pushed back, his right foot slid backward on the grass, "Damn it! Annabeth, don't engage alone!"
I didn't listen, I couldn't listen.
My sole target was Drew. Nothing else mattered.
I leaped forward and jumped over our enemies. With a quick dash, I closed the twenty feet gap between me and Drew in less than a second. She just stood calmly with a smirk on her face, one that I couldn't wait to wipe off her lips.
"Annabeth!" Percy screamed my name but I couldn't care, not when I had a mission to fulfill. As for the small numbing pain biting into my chest, I tried my best to ignore it.
Why? Why didn't you tell me, seaweed brain?
Anger drove me forward. I threw a hidden small knife hiding underneath my short sword at Drew who took out her dagger to deflect it.
"That's the spirit, daughter of Athena."
Luring her weapon out, I made a slash at her right hand with my long swords. It sliced through her wrist as warm blood splattered. Her grip immediately faltered and the dagger fell on soft green grass stained red. She grunted in pain, but I didn't let that stop me.
With a rough tackle, I pinned her down on the ground and placed my short sword at her throat.
"Tell me why? When did Luke become a Half-Blood?" I shouted uncontrollably, "Answer my questions, daughter of Aphrodite." I pressed the blade deeper and enough to draw blood, yet she kept her smirks all the same, "Don't make me kill you, Drew! Tell me now!"
"You are not going to kill me, Annabeth." Drew looked right into my eyes with a gleaming smile, "After all, you are mine now."
Before I had a chance to figure out what she meant, her eyes glowed scarlet night. The piercing gaze was captivating, the mesmerizing beauty behind her iris was… Just as my own eyes widen in realization, Drew's eyes sparkled like a blood-red gem. I looked away immediately, not knowing if it had any effect on me.
"Shame... I would have preferred if you become a part of my obedient army, but I am fine with killing you just as much."
I didn't dare to open my eyes to look after that. Her ability to charm spell me was too risky. I couldn't take that chance, but that left me open and defenseless too.
Ss-Slash!
Braced for the pain to follow, I didn't feel anything but a heavy yank which pulled me off Drew as I landed a few feet behind me. I opened my eyes. Percy was standing over me, his forehead dripping with sweat and fresh blood stained his armor.
"Don't do something stupid like that again, wise girl!"
Worry overwhelmed me when I saw my seaweed brain, yet I smacked his hand away and got up. I didn't even care if he looked hurt by that, then I looked back and saw all the remaining students knocked out cold. There were scorch marks on their body, but some had clean cuts on their limps which were bleeding steadily.
Percy and Illya defeated all seven by themselves.
When Percy tried to pull me close, I wiggled away and said firmly, "Don't touch me, seaweed brain."
"Wise girl, just listen… "
I ignored him and went back to Drew.
When Percy pulled me away from Drew's second attack, he kicked her spare knife away. Now vulnerable and hurt, Drew couldn't escape even if she wanted to.
Instead of using my swords, I brought out a celestial cuff and bound her wrist. She didn't struggle one bit during the process, but I wasn't worried. Now she had no way to use any special Half-Blood ability.
"So, what are you going to do about it?" She smirked, but for the first time, her unease showed. Drew seemed a bit fearful at her helplessness.
"You are not going anywhere." I made sure the cuff was tight enough to hurt, "Not until you tell me everything I need to know."
I stood back up amid a crumbling mansion on fire and the twelve Goode's students lying unconscious in the garden.
"Annabeth…"
"Let's go, Percy." I gestured while keeping Drew in my sight, "We are bringing Drew with us. Let's meet up with Thalia and Piper."
"Annabeth… Wait just a minute, let me—"
"Don't say another word, Percy. I don't want to hear what you have to say right now. Let's go. I am sure the police will handle the wounded. We should regroup."
I didn't allow him to respond. Quickly, I brought Drew up to her feet and walked toward the cellar entrance in the garden, "Let's go, Rachel. Illya, keep watch with Percy."
Rachel watched me, her gaze somehow different than before but she did what I asked.
Illya replied rather coolly, "As you wish, Lady Annabeth."
With a new prisoner held at knifepoint, we head back down to hell and met up with our friends.
...
AN: I know it was a very long chapter, but if you liked it, don't hesitate to drop a review or PM me. I won't bite :) Thanks to everyone who favs, follows, and reviews. I'll keep writing this very long fic until I finish it, and I don't care how much work it will be, I promise myself I would finish at least one damn story in my head, and that's what I'll do. Sorry for ranting. Till next time! Bye!
