Chapter 23
Percy POV
"Come on go go go!" I whispered harshly, as soon Emily as Malcolm was out of the room I relocked the door to the principal's office. "You're sure the camera was set up right?" I asked.
"Do I question you on your boats." Malcolm shot back. "Now we need to get back to the dance before anyone notices we're gone." he said. One might ask why three kids on the honor role are breaking into the Principal's office during the christmas dance. The answer to said question has three parts.
Malcolm was accused of cheating on a midterm merely because his girlfriend was caught cheating and nearly kicked out of school. I was suspended for standing up for Malcolm. Emily was also suspended for beating the snot out of the football star when he got a little too friendly. There was a whole meeting with the Principal and when Emily's parents didn't show he let the jock off with a warning.
So we decided set up a little surprise for him in his office. Two steps into gym and the coach was already eyeing us suspiciously, Malcolm's girlfriend was waiting for us and immediately dragged him onto the dance floor "Percy dance with me." Emily said.
"What?" I squeaked.
"Just put your hands on my shoulders and shuffle like your trying to waltz." She said quietly. I gulped and did as she asked. There was something really terrifying in both a good and a bad way about looking in her eyes. Up until that moment I hadn't really been paying attention to what Emily was wearing but she was gorgeous. Her dress was forest green with long sleeves, the top went up to her neck, a gold sash and a pendent finished off the ensemble.
I don't know what came over me but I leaned in and kissed her...and she kissed back. The two of us separated after a second and Emily looked shocked more at herself then me. I couldn't speak, my chest was burning and my brain was melting. The greatest tools I had were falling apart and I have no idea what to do.
I tried to say something but Malcolm cut me off "Principles been hit by the flower bomb and he knows it's us, scatter!" He said barely breathing. Neither of us questioned him and ran.
"Are you okay Percy." My mom asked. "You're being kinda quiet."
"Ya I'm fine." I said. It had been three days since I kissed Emily and it was all I could think about.
"He doing better than fine the way I heard it." Thalia said. I gave her a questioning glance, the two of us had hung out a few times and it was fun. It was really nice having someone who understood what it was like being a child of the big three. "What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Malcolm may have let it slip that he saw you kissing Emily." Annabeth said from behind me.
I lurched forward as my mom hit the brake a little too hard "And why wasn't I told about this?" She asked with raised eyebrows and a light smile.
"Because it was a spur of the moment thing and I'm not sure if I just ruined the friendship. And what about you Annabeth and that unclaimed boy Tomas from the Hermes cabin." I shot back
"We're dating and I'm not ashamed to admit it." She said.
"A boyfriend?" Mom half shouted, it wasn't hard to tell that my mother cared for Annabeth like a daughter, she and Thalia were regular dinner guests at my house. Annabeth shrunk back having forgotten that her main mother figure was in the car.
"Let's get going." Thalia said sliding out of our car. Me, and Annabeth quickly followed not wanting to get caught up in the inevitable storm of questions that would follow. I guess it's a little embarrassing being driven to my 'demigod missions' by my mom but how else were we gonna get to this school.
Annabeth picked the lock to the side door of the school "I wonder what your mother would say." I said doing my best impression of an english school teacher.
"She'd probably give me a pat on the back for getting us in." Annabeth said.
Admittedly we ran into a bit trouble when two teachers from the school showed up but Thalia took care of that using the mist. Annabeth was fairly impressed and Thalia asked if Chiron had taught it to us. Annabeth said no and I informed her that children of Poseidon can't calm their power enough to pull it off.
Grover met us in the gym "Thank Zeus you're here." he said "There's two demigods a boy and a girl twins but I haven't been able to get near them one the teachers always cuts me off."
"Guy's let's dance over to them." Thalia said pulling Grover onto the dance floor.
"Does she seem a little overeager to you?" I asked.
"Nah" Annabeth replied "Thalia just likes to take a rather straightforward approach to the things she does. Last week she tried to get rid of the Pegassi manure by hitting it with lightning and called it 'target practice'."
I had to chuckle there, Thalia wasn't exactly girly but I would have never taken her for a pyro maniac. After a few minutes of dancing I realized that the twins were gone "Annabeth" I began as Thalia and Grover ran for the far exit.
"I know, this way!" She shouted heading out the back way. After she dragged me into hall I saw Thorn, one of the teachers we met at the entrance, walking around the corner with the twins. When we rounded the corner ourselves Thorn was waiting there for us. I saw something behind him move launching something at me and Annabeth, with half a second to spare I managed to shield Annabeth and take both projectiles. Fire exploded from my shoulder and ribs, the next few minutes at least I couldn't really tell you anything that happened. I could feel Annabeth pulling me along but that's about it.
Artemis POV
"The demigods are directly ahead milady." Zoe said.
"Thank you Zoe." I said going to gather the hunters, the wait was making them anxious.
"Milady there's more." Zoe said. "A few of Chiron's campers are already with them, Annabeth and Percy are with them. Also Percy has been heavily wounded by the manticore." she sadly reported. I froze up slightly when I heard that, Percy has been an endless source of headaches and problems for me.
He refuses to take credit for feats he achieves and defends those who attack him. My first take was he was a fool or arrogant. Then he tells my lieutenant about how my choices have hurt others while trying to find a way to save his friends knowing he will receive absolutely no reward. This one boy is shaking the very foundations of my beliefs and I didn't know what to do. "Move in but hold your fire I want to get them all out of here alive."
We hid ourselves amongst the trees waiting for a clear and decisive shot. Sadly when my half sister and the satyr arrived it only complicated things. The arrival of the helicopter was the final straw, I fired a single arrow into the manticore's shoulder and stepped out of the trees. "NO! You can't! It's against ancient law for you to interfere!" He shouted.
"The hunting of all wild beasts is allowed in my sphere of control and you are a wild beast." I said. Percy looked like the poison was burning his insides but he was becoming coherent again. I looked up at the helicopter "Mortals aren't allowed to witness my hunt." with a wave of my hand it was a flock of ravens.
The manticore used my moment of distraction to attack Percy but his friend Annabeth came to his rescue. That girl had the heart of a true huntress, if only she would join the hunt. "Fire!" I shouted.
"No don't." Percy shouted. I gritted my teeth trying hard not to take offence 'how dare you question my hunter's skills'. Annabeth fell off the cliff with the manticore and Percy tried to chase after her but I tackled him to the ground. "What are you doing!" Percy shouted at me.
"Think you stupid boy where is her life source!" I growled.
I could see the gears turning in his mind as he realized Annabeth had been taken. Slowly Percy calmed down and I let him up. The anger in his eyes shocked me and it...hurt. He'd never looked at me like before, just what exactly did this daughter of Athena mean to him.
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