Dearest Readers,
I hope the cliffy from last chapter was not TOO bad ;) and I also hope that you catch the small Easter Eggs that have been planted in this chapter for what will be coming in the future. Let me know if you have any questions, want to see anything specific, or even what you liked about this chapter.
I look forward to seeing your responses!
XOXO Ally Layne.
Bad Moon Rising
Chapter 16: I Meet Icky Vicky
I was standing in the forest just outside of Camp.
I knew exactly where I was, just four minutes west of the river, next to a small cave I had used to hide in for hours just to get away from it all.
There was only one thing off about this situation, though.
There were spiders everywhere.
I knew that if anyone was going to have to deal with spiders, it was going to be me. Annabeth is terrified of them, considering she's a daughter of Athena, and Percy has a deep hatred toward the things, considering he's dating a daughter of Athena.
The spiders surrounded me, and somehow they picked me up, dragging me to the cave.
But it wasn't a cave at all.
I had seen this place before.
Luke had tried to drag my brother or I down into its depths with those flying shoes.
But what was the entrance to Tartarus doing here, just outside of Camp? Nothing about this was making any sense.
The spiders were still crawling all over me, and I couldn't move as they started to weave a webbed cocoon around my body, holding me tight in my spot.
Just as they were about to cover my face with the web, reality paused as I knew it.
I blinked, and things immediately changed, but I was still standing at the hole of the entrance to the pit. The place where Kronos had been imprisoned for thousands of years.
But I wasn't alone, now. The spiders have gone, but Percy and Annabeth were standing there, and he grabbed her hand as he told her something that was just not loud enough for my ears to catch.
What were they doing?
Why were they so close to the edge?
I couldn't hold back the scream that escaped me as a long web shot out from the pit, wrapping around Annabeth's ankle, and pulling her toward the edge. Percy immediately lunged after her, and I felt my heart stop as they both went over the edge.
I screamed, screamed, and screamed.
But no sound came out.
I was alone.
Then, I woke up.
And after living a horrible nightmare, what was in front of me almost seemed… pathetic.
I was annoyed.
Very annoyed.
I woke up with a massive headache that bordered on migraine, and was hanging from what looked like pipes from the ceiling of some old crusty place that I had no business being in. I mean, what was this? A friggin episode of Criminal Minds?
It would've been, but I was no victim.
I looked down at myself, seeing that I was still wearing the same clothes I wore when I went to Sam and Emily's for their New Year's Eve party.
Damn, That really went to shit, didn't it?
It was daytime, which was all I could figure from the light coming in through the shaded windows.
I didn't know how long I've been here, what was going on, why the vamp wanted me, why I wasn't dead yet- or really anything, to be honest.
I wiggled my hands around, and grimaced at the sting of the rope that someone tied me up with. I wondered if there was such a thing as soft rope that didn't actually hurt my hands like this, but I doubted it.
I could feel the watch that would turn into a shield on my wrist, but after wiggling my hips I learned that there was no sword to be found. Shit.
There goes an easy kill.
My hands were starting to go numb from losing circulation.
I let out a sigh. Then blinked.
Dear gods, if Annabeth finds out about this, she'll kill me.
Now I really needed to get out of here. Fuck vamps, Annabeth is way scarier than anything I've ever faced in my life. I mean, how long has it been? Is anyone looking for me- dear gods, did anyone actually call my mom or Annabeth?
My mom is going to kill me.
No- my mom and Annabeth are definitely going to tag-team. It's easier if they do it together instead of one of them raising me from the Underworld just to do it again. But I wouldn't put it past them.
It was then that the blond haired vampire that I saw standing in front of my house walked into the room with an ominous smile on his face. "Ah, the pet is awake."
The vampire I didn't know the name of stalked forward slowly, and his features became illuminated in the light. He was wearing a deep navy sweater with dark pants. His hair seemed to be combed back expertly, as if he was taking extra time to take care of his looks.
What in Hades Underpants was this vamp on?
Oh yeah, human blood, probably.
I rolled my eyes. "What do you want?" I asked, looking at him expectantly.
His smile widened. "You are just as petulant as I was warned you would be."
I let out a snort. "Who warned you about me?"
In a flash, he was standing right in front of me, but I didn't flinch at the sudden movement. If anything, it made me even more annoyed, which I didn't think was possible. He let his cold fingers run down my neck, while I refused to break eye contact with his red ones. "Your blood… it sings."
I smiled. "Must be the ichor."
But I didn't stay here for small talk. There was something else that was going on, and I was going to find out what.
I was willing to bet I was face to face with the monster that was behind all the disappearances in Seattle.
It only made more sense, now, than before.
"You aren't working alone, are you?" I asked, smirking down at him from where I was still currently hanging. "And you are behind the disappearances. Damn, I must be some sort of genius, but I cracked the case, vamp-ass."
He took a few steps backwards and smiled once more. "You are smarter than you look, Andromeda Jackson."
"Just because you know my full name doesn't mean you need to say it," I deadpanned.
"I was told you're not human," He continued. "And it is my job to figure out just what you are."
I tilted my head, doing my best to ignore the deafening numbness in my fingers. "Oh, so you're just the grunt, huh? Who's calling the shots around here, they're the only one I'll talk to.'"
His red eyes narrowed. "You-"
I sighed. "Look, just give me what I want, and maybe I will spill the beans and all the secrets I know."
"Maybe I should just cut you open and see what secrets come out," he spoke, his voice deep and menacing. "You will tell me what you are, pet, or I will kill-"
"Every person that I have ever loved?" I pouted. "Been through that already. Next."
His eyes narrowed as he started to circle me, like a predator honing in on its prey. "I know about your family. They are from New York, your mother, Sally Jackson? Yes, Sally. She remarried did she not? To Paul Blofis, a teacher at your old school? And your twin brother, Perseus. I find your names rather odd, Perseus and Andromeda. Just like the stories of old."
I raised my brows. "Wow, you know how to use Google? Impressive."
He flashed back in front of me, wrapping his cold fingers around my neck before placing the ever faintest pressure, slowly working his way to a choking grip. His eyes studied my reactions, as though he were learning just how to control the power which he had.
It was a little morbid, watching this vampire learn how to kill someone without ripping out their throat.
Especially considering that someone was me.
"There are things going on that you cannot possibly understand," he spoke, his eyes slowly becoming darker with each word. "It is best if you just give in now, and maybe we will let you live."
I smiled, not bothering talking with the pressure he had on my throat. It would only aggravate the pressure and pain even more.
I was getting under his cold-ass skin, and he obviously didn't have permission to kill me, or he would've done it already. This was wonderful.
"Riley, please don't kill our guest."
Ah, there she is.
The vamp-bitch behind it all.
Within a second, he released his grip on my throat, allowing me to breathe and cough as I got used to having my lungs again. After nearly coughing up my lung, I looked up at the red-haired vampire who had been testing the patience of the wolves for months. "Hello, Victoria, is it?"
Her smile was white. "Ah, so they have told you about me." She stalked forward, her black boots barely making a sound with each step she took. Her black jeans and boho-looking shirt nearly made her fit in with any of the other Seattle citizens.
But considering her eyes were that same red as Riley's, it was obvious she was not like them at all.
I smiled back at her. "And the two of you used Google to look me up, congratulations."
She tilted her head, sizing me up. "It seems that you and your brother have quite the track record. Fugitives, arsonists, murderers, what other hat have you worn?"
"Well, I wouldn't say we were very good students."
Vicky did not look amused. "I gathered that from the amount of times you have been expelled."
"Good, I'd hate for you to not know that about me."
A low growl pierced through the room. "Tell us what you are," Riley demanded from back in the shadows where he had retreated.
I smiled over in his direction. "I told you I might tell you what I am, doesn't mean that I was actually going to tell you jack-shit, assholes."
Vicky walked up to me, grabbing my face solidly with one hand as she snarled. "You will tell me what I want to know."
"Or whuh?" I asked, my lips squished together from the way her hand held onto my jaw. "You'll kill meh?"
She took a deep breath in with her nose, taking in the scents around her. "Why does your blood smell different from everyone else?" she demanded. "Why does your adrenaline not run at the sight of us?"
I would've shrugged, but I was hanging by my hands. The attempt to do so definitely didn't work. "I dunno."
She snarled again. "Tell me!"
I blinked. "Ewe, don' spih on meh."
Her eyes narrowed. "You will tell me what you are, or-"
"You'll kill meh, you alreah tol' meh thah."
"Maybe I shall simply kill one of those wolves you just reek of. Maybe that will be more useful instead of just threatening your life," she spoke, removing her hand from my jaw. I moved it around a bit so I could make sure she didn't break anything. "You hero-types are simply annoying."
I blinked. "Well you don't have to be a bitch about it." I moved my jaw again. "And why do you want to know what I am, anyway?"
"You said there is ichor in your veins," she spoke, tilting her head. "What is that?"
I smiled. "Slit my throat and you might find out."
"Oh, I will be doing much more than that. Especially before I deliver your body back to those mutts."
"Just be honest, you're going to make Riley bring my body to them," I goaded. "You seem less of a hands-on kinda gal."
"Can we just kill her?" Riley asked. "She is getting on my nerves."
I rolled my eyes. "You don't have nerves, you're already dead."
Victoria glared at me before turning to Riley. "Go fetch me one of the wolves. Preferably the red one- she smells most like that mutt."
I blinked.
Jake.
There was a line, and now she has officially crossed it.
I felt a familiar tug in my gut, and the world exploded.
The pipes above me ruptured, and I fell to the ground, ready for action as water jetted toward Vicky and Riley, pinning them to the floor. I was surprised to see that no matter how much they thrashed, there was no getting free.
I walked over to the window to see the ocean off on the horizon, and smiled down at the two of them.
"Adios, bitchachos!"
Then, I did the best impersonation of my brother's stupidity, and jumped from the window and landed on the ground in a roll then took off in a sprint, praying that the daylight would be enough to keep them off my tail.
I didn't have my sword, which limited my options. The best thing I could do was make a run for the ocean and hope for the best.
Sticking to the main roads, I hurled myself into a sprint just for those few blocks until I jumped right into the water, letting my powers overtake me as I jetted the Hades out of there. I was able to stretch the rope enough to slip my hands out
Lady Andromeda!
My Lady!
Were those- oh thank the gods.
A small pod of orcas congregated around me, creating a safe space for me to catch my breath. "Hello," I greeted, smiling as one, the first one who had spoken, had come to gently place it's head against mine.
Years of being in the ocean, feeling the connection I did, never really got old when I was able to connect with these beautiful creatures.
We were sent to protect you. Another orca told me, swimming up and gently brushing against my side with one of its pectoral fins.
"By my father?"
Who else, Lady Andromeda? The one who I had greeted earlier reared back with a powerful swing of its tale.
We were given notice of where to bring you to see you safely home. A completely different whale from the pod spoke.
I was still completely enraptured by their beauty, and didn't even think as I ran a hand along one of their dorsal fins. "You are all so beautiful."
It is an honor to be thought of as such by our princess. The first one spoke. Now we will see you home.
I followed them home, allowing the water to pull me along at their sides as they quickly swam through the sound and Neah Bay before due south toward La Push.
Compared to the time it took for me to drive from Seattle to La Push, I quickly discovered it would just be far easier to swim out there in the future, though it'd be smart to make sure I was being guarded by the Mist.
However, when the pod of orcas dropped me off at the beach closest to my home.
"Thank you," I told them. "All of you. It was an experience meeting you that I will not soon forget."
You are kind to us, one told me. If you are ever in need, sing us our song, and we shall find you.
Whales sang songs across the oceans. And the song they sang to each other was incredibly distinct, where I knew I could recognize it a mile away.
"If you don't mind, can you keep an eye out for any vampire that may use this path to come to this side of the peninsula?"
Most of them nodded, and the ones that did not merely sang their agreement.
We shall do what we must to protect our princess, one affirmed.
The one who was the largest in the pod, their leader, was the one who gave me definite words. These waters are ones we frequent, sing to us if you want to speak again, Princess Andromeda.
"I shall see you again shortly," I told them, thanked them once more, then headed to shore.
When I made it to the beach, there was no one there. It was an overcast day, which was not unlike most days, but it was completely desolate.
No one from the pack was out, nor were any of the locals I recognized from the tribe.
I sighed. That meant there was no one who could give me a ride back to the house.
Which was a pretty good hike, one that took me right past both Sam and Emily's and The Black's Residence before I made it to my own.
Maybe one of them could give me a ride.
I nodded to myself with a direction firmly in mind, and I trudged on.
