Meeting the Cousin
Thalia looked around for any signs of danger. After visiting Luke's home, and at the same time Hermes, she talked to Luke so he won't fell any resentment toward his dad. That conversation had been awkward, but in the end, he agreed with her that their godly parents just cannot talk to them like mortal parents.
Thalia started to walk again when Luke stopped her. "What is it now Luke?" she asked in annoyance.
"Do you hear that?" he replied, answering her question with another question.
Thalia grunted but decided to humour him, started to listen. She about to answered back with a no before punching his shoulder as hard as she can when she heard the sound of battle.
"That sounded like a fight happening" she realised as Luke just nodded, confirming her that was the sound he heard.
"Should we help them?" Luke asked, even though he already knew Thalia reply.
"Of course! Besides, that sounded like someone fighting using a sword and as far as I know, only demigods and monsters still used swords" she answered swiftly, her mind totally set in stone to help the probably overwhelmed demigod from the clutches of the monsters.
"Right. Of course, that will be your answer" he said, muttering the last part so Thalia won't blast him with lightning. "But what about Annabeth? We can't bring her or she might be targeted." Luke voiced, concerned can be heard in his voice as the thought of bringing the daughter of Athena with them might be a bad idea.
Thalia slapped her forehead. How could she forget about their youngest member? She turned around to look for the daughter of Athena. She furrowed her eyebrows as she failed to spot her.
"Luke, where is she?" Thalia asked, her voice indicated she was worried.
"I don't know Thalia. What I do know is we should – "Whatever things that Luke wanted to say was lost as they hear the voice of the person that they looking for.
"Thalia, Luke. You should come here to see this." The voice says. Thalia and Luke looked at the direction of the said voice, both knowing it belongs to the youngest member of their group.
"Luke?"
"Yeah, Thals."
"Correct me if I'm wrong but does her voice come from the way we heard the fight happen?" Thalia asked, her voice and face completely blank.
"Unfortunately, you are not wrong and yes, her voice from that exact direction we heard the fight from with a huge chance, she might be stuck in the middle of the fight," Luke replied, his face similar to Thalia.
They both look at each other for a moment before bursting into a sprint, praying to all the gods (and yes, including Hera which makes Thalia a bit green for having to be that desperate to pray to Queen of Olympus).
(Meanwhile, in Olympus, a certain goddess suddenly filled with urges to blast a girl for some reason.)
Fortunately, when they reach the area, they found their last member, looking at something in front of her. Not that they care, they just glad Annabeth safe and sound.
"What were you thinking Annabeth?" Thalia scolded. "You can get badly hurt." She then looked at the daughter of Athena, and after confirming she isn't harmed in any way, let out a sigh of relief.
"Well, now that Annabeth is safe, let help the demigod. He or she probably needs some help dealing with the monster." Luke spoke with a worried tone. The demigod might die if they don't help.
Annabeth looked at the two persons that she considered her older brother and sister with confusion. "But he doing just fine." She pointed out, still confused why did Luke consider he need help.
Luke and Thalia looked at each other, this time their look of confusion plastered on their face. They turn their face to Annabeth, having some long questions for the daughter of Athena.
"He? (Okay maybe not too long)." They both spoke at the same time, in complete unison. Annabeth surprised because of how they spoke at the same time. Did they rehearse it or it just complete coincidence? If it's the former, why didn't they asked her to join?
She shocked her head. ADHD can be annoying sometimes. She decided to answer their question with a simple physical reaction. She pointed her hand to the sound of metal hitting metal.
Both Luke and Thalia were shocked. How the heck did they not hear the sound of battle happening so close to them. They twisted their neck to look at what Annabeth pointed at. As their eyes landed on the battlefield, their jaws started to have minds of their own and unhinged from their intended spot. In much simpler term, their jaw dropped at the sight in front of them.
Their eyes landed on sight of a boy, probably a few years older than Annabeth but younger than both of them. But that isn't the reason they surprised. No, they were shocked by how he handled the monsters.
The boy (Unfortunately they don't have his name) move with the agility and grace of a dancer, professional swordsman and martial artist. His movements were quick, precise and graceful but Luke and Thalia, both having some fighting experience from their time on the run could tell that each strike packs a punch.
He jumped a considerable distance from his enemies before analysing his enemies. 12 dracaena and 2 cyclopes. A bit more manageable than 23 dracaena and 4 cyclopes before. The amount of golden dust accumulated on the grass shows that the number of monsters slain was not small. He then changed his form, preparing to unleash another attack.
He leapt toward 1 of the cyclopes and thrust his sword into the eyes before using the body as some kind of trampoline and jumped toward 2 dracaenas. When they came into his reach, he slashed at them, cutting both of them to half with ease.
He then moved towards the injured cyclops, slashing at the leg multiple times, causing the monster to scream in agony. As the cyclops moved around clumsily, accidentally crushing one of its allies, he jumped upward on top of its head and unleashing a blow that split its head into two before jumping from the already disintegrating monster.
He then parried a slash from a dracaena and thrust his sword into the creature neck, causing it to scream an unpleasant shriek. Before the monster even have time to disappear into golden dust, he already pulled his sword and slash at another monster at the torso, causing the upper part of the body to fall on the ground even before the lower part stop its charge from the lack of head, or anything above the waist.
As he looked back into the enemy force, he avoided a clumsy strike (the way the monster swinging a sword causing him to cringe for the fact it was wielded like some kind hammer) before catching the strike with his barehand. Before breaking it to two pieces!
(Meanwhile, Luke and Thalia had just finish reattaching their jaws, before dropping it again when they saw the boy catch it with ease, judging from his bored look. Their jaws dropped even further into the ground when they saw he snapped the sword. Annabeth just watch the entire fight with awe in her eyes, completely amazed by the mysterious stranger skill that seems even greater than her friends slash older sibling figure.)
After turning a sword into two useless pieces of metal, he decided to clear the shocked look plastered on the face of the broken sword wielder with the best way he knew, by punching it faces with force enough to dent car's door, sending the monster sailing to the air before coming to an abrupt stop due to conveniently placed boulder (or inconvenient in the monster's case), causing it spine to broke, if not shattered from the impact.
He then jumped backward, avoiding a powerful strike from a cyclops in the process, and have a look of the remaining monsters. He has the upper hand but if he got too confident, he might get killed or be injured at best. However, he seems to miss one of the dracaenas.
The said monster had crept into one of the bushes as stealthy as she can, a bow in one hand and arrow case sling on its shoulder. As she got into a perfect position, it bid its time, waiting for the right moment to strike the child. How dare this demigod kill many of its brethren. (Yes, this monster is a hypocrite)
It nocked its bow and released it, expecting the arrow to hit the demigod. What it didn't expect was that the demigod jumped to the left, avoiding being struck by the projectile. The dracaena growled before firing another arrow, and another one. Each arrow was skilfully dodged by the demigod, he didn't even turn around to spot the arrows! He even struck down 2 dracaenas while dodging.
It decided to fire again, this time changing its position before firing another arrow when the demigod seems to behold by the surviving monsters. It laughed, expecting the arrow to finally hit the stubborn demigod. The gleeful expression on its face turned into one of shock as the demigod caught the arrow with his hand before snapping to 2 pieces. He then slashed another dracaena before jumping backwards and crouch to pick a random rock. He then threw the rock toward the archer's direction.
The shock didn't even have time to move as the rock move at a speed of a bullet, and smashed her head like a cannonball, destroying a part of its head. The monster slowly disintegrated, though a shocking look can be seen from its remaining head.
After killing the archer, the demigod slowly turned to the remaining monsters. He taunted them, wanting for them to make the first move. The monsters, either stupid or brave, responded to the taunt by charging him together. The boy only smirked before in a dash of speed rush toward the dracaena at the left. He struck like a viper, thrusting his sword at the neck with amazing speed, killing it before it even responded the demigod appearance.
The swift attack surprised the monsters temporarily before they shock their surprise and attempted to hit their troublesome opponent. (Keyword: attempted) The demigod avoided each strike with ease before moving for the kill. He then parried a strike to his torso before performing a slashing motion with his free hand, breaking the dracaena's neck. After the kill, he twirled his body 360 degrees, slashing at the surprised dracaena, who probably did not expect its opponent to be quick.
The final monster, a cyclops, swings his club downward. The boy dodged by a hairbreadth narrowly avoided being turned into a demigod pancake. He then stepped on the club for some reason. The cyclops, puzzled by the weird and stupid action, (cyclopes are a lot stronger than demigod) He then tried to pull the club, maybe even causing the demigod to lose balance if not fall on his butt. The result of the action was that the cyclops struggling to lift the club while the demigod seems content to just step on the club and watch the cyclops and his observers (yes, he noticed them a while ago) bewildered expression.
But as he will need to finish this fight at some point, so he decided to finish it the coolest way possible. He sprinted on the club and cyclops hand and when he reached the elbow, jumped upward and performed a flip at the same time. When he came in range with the monster neck, he beheaded it, while in mid-air and his body was upside down. He then finished his flip, landing on his feet. Afterword, he walked away as the head stayed attached for a few seconds before splitting away from the neck. While at a considerable distance, the cyclops body finally allows physic to do its job and fell.
Meanwhile, the spectators watched the entire showdown with disbelief and awe, the former from the two eldest in the group while the youngest reaction was mostly the latter.
"Whaa – how? "Thalia sputtered, her brain trying and failing to comprehend the scenario that just occurred before her.
"I don't even know what to say about that fight" Luke spoke, though with how low his voice is, it might be a whisper. He sounded less surprised though his mind was in the same state with Thalia, just barely able to comprehend the event.
Their thoughts were broken when they heard a shout from their youngest member. "Thalia, Luke. The boy is calling you." Annabeth exclaimed.
Both Luke and Thalia shared a glance before looking at the clearing, spotting the said boy waving at them.
"Do you have fun watching the show?" he asked with a grin.
While both Thalia and Luke was perplexed by the question, they decided to ask some question of their own.
"Yes, and when did you notice us?" Luke asked.
"About the time you reach past the huge boulder that shaped like a bull with no leg. Probably 200 feet from this spot." He answered swiftly without any hesitation.
The trio eyes bulged from the fact. They did, in fact, past through the said boulder before but that was like 40 minutes ago. How did he detect them?
"You probably wondered how I can detect your presence." The boy said. The trio eyes bulged again. Can he read their mind? "And, no I can't read your mind. And before you asked me how I knew what you're thinking, your face does the telling better than you did." Well, that answered their question.
"To answer that question, I detect your presence when you came. And, no I'm not a monster. And, if you wondering how I can sense you, each creature, including monsters, demigods and gods have some sort of aura. You can be trained to be able to sense someone coming and tell the difference between mortal, demigods, and monsters." He explained while answering all possible question the demigods in front of him can ask. (Seriously, how did he do that.)
"And can you tell me your name? It's kind of awkward not knowing your name while explaining all this." He exclaimed.
After changing several glances with Thalia and Annabeth (mostly Thalia) Luke decided to spoke on the behalf of their small group.
"Well, my name is Luke and the goth girl beside me is Thalia (he received a not so light punch for the introduction) and this little squirt here is Annabeth." He introduced them, shrugging both Thalia's punch and Annabeth indignant shout. "We already told you, our names. What about you?" Luke asked.
"My name is Percy." The boy answered without any hesitation.
"You said you were able to sense us. Can you tell us how?" Luke inquired.
Percy about to answer when suddenly his body stiffen. He sprinted toward them and said" While I love to explain about it, the huntress of Artemis just entered the area."
"What does that have to do with anything? I mean you said there was the huntress of Artemis, right? Maybe they can help us?" Thalia asked.
"I assume you never met them before" He got nodding heads in response. He sighed. "Yes, they work under Artemis and they shared her hatred for men. They probably treated you two well, but me and Luke, we probably got glared and treated with hostility. And that just the best cases scenario. So, do you want to take your chances with them?" he replied.
"No" "I started to see that it will be a horrible decision" "No" was the reply he got. "Good, now the little one will jump on my back and you two will follow me to my hideout," Percy ordered.
Thalia was not amused. "Hey, who makes you in charge?" she growled, annoyed how this new demigod seemed to be ordering her and her friends around. Percy just looks at her blankly. "I made myself in charge here considering you probably lost and don't know the way to my hideout. As making the daughter of Athena ride on my back, she probably lacked the endurance and speed to make it out of the forest quickly. So, do you still question me, daughter of Zeus?" he asked.
Thalia seethed but, in her mind, she knew she cannot refute what Percy says. Suddenly her brain caught up to what Percy just called her and Luke seemed to notice it too.
"How did you know Thalia and Annabeth parentage?" Luke asked, wary if he might be an enemy considering every single monster call them their godly parent children.
"The same way I sense your presence, but that story for another time, we should get out of here before the huntress found us." Percy replied
Luke wanted to ask more question but it not the time and place yet. He ushered Annabeth to Percy's back, his stare telling her that she can trust Percy. When Annabeth climbed on the demigod back, he stared at them silently asking if they were ready to go. When he got the sign, he quickly runs at a pace the older demigods can follow him.
When the huntress of Artemis arrived, they only found golden dust and spoils from the monster.
Meanwhile, the groups travelled, or to be more precise Luke and Thalia tried and failed to catch up with Percy who seems to be leisurely running, if not for the fact that he moved at an astonishing speed. Annabeth had the time of her life as she felt the wind brushing her face and hair.
There were few occasions where Percy slowed down so the older demigods can keep up with him. That probably the only reason why they still didn't lose sight of him.
They continued to run until their lead suddenly stop. Luke and Thalia tried to catch their breath as they look at what stopped Percy.
"We are here." The boy said, telling the others that they have arrived.
"Yeah, but where is here?" Thalia asked, only seeing a lake in the middle of a forest.
"This is my home." Was the replied she got? Before she could ask more question, Percy waved his arm, making a motion of pushing something.
"What are – "any questions that Luke has were gone like a house, no a mansion is more appropriate, appeared in front of them.
"Let go inside now." Percy told them as he ushered them to enter his home.
While both Thalia and Luke still suspicious and unsure what to make of Percy, Annabeth decided to accept the invitation. Seeing their youngest member going in, they decided to join, just to make sure she safe.
When they entered the mansion, their jaw dropped again (there sure a lot of jaw-dropping today). The inside of the mansion is more impressive than the outside. While the inside is devoid of furniture, the walls are painted intricately, paintings of animals and mythological beasts adorning it.
The rooms also have several statues and sculptures of animals, the most prominent is the sculpture of a tortoise with spiky shells. That statue was located at the centre of a pool inside the room, the pool size is about half the size of an Olympic sized pool
The ceilings also decorated the same way like the walls, with the addition of beautiful lamps and some weird bubble that seem to be floating. It took them a while to realise the bubbles were a ball of waters, floating in the air without any support.
"How on earth?" Luke asked, completely baffled by the thing he saw.
He heard fake coughing from their host (seriously, that cough is fake). He moved his head to look at Percy who smirks mischievously at them.
"Well," he spoke, "I never told you who my godly parent is." As he spoke, water started to rise from the pool, forming a trident on his head, wolves made of water formed at his side, looking at the newcomer with no emotion, not that Luke think they had one, they were created from the water after all.
"I am Perseus Achilles Jackson, son of Poseidon." He shifted his gaze to Thalia. "Hello cousin, how life going with you?" he asked with an innocent tone.