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Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Crossover Series

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Katniss Everdeen And The Daughter Of Artemis

I – City Girl

"Wow." Prim said with astonishment as she looked around the house, "Everything's so...beautiful."

"I said the same thing." Katniss told her sister as she undid her braid, "Better than that shack we used to live in."

"You can say that again," Prim murmured, running her hand along the fireplace, "It's dust free."

"Yeah." Katniss hugged her from behind, "And you and Mom are living with me."

Prim smiled, "She's already gone to bed, right?"

Katniss nodded, "And we should too. Come on." She grabbed Prim's hand and led them out of the living room and up the stairs. There were multiple bedrooms on the second floor, which Katniss displayed to Prim.

"Which do you like?" She asked her sister, smiling at the look of happiness on her face.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could sleep with you..." Prim trailed off.

"With me?" Katniss was surprised, "I figured you were tired of sharing a bed with me and would have wanted your own, but if you say so." She smiled, "Come on."

They entered the one room Katniss hadn't shown her. The theme was green, and not one specific color, all types of variations.

"This room is so like you!" Prim laughed, "You really had everything green?"

"Hey!" Katniss hit her with a pillow, grinning, "They asked me what my favorite color was, how was I supposed to know they'd do this?"

"You're so silly." Prim shook her head, yawning.

"Alright there Princess Prim," Katniss teased her, "Time to sleep."

Prim climbed into bed with Katniss and faced her, "Katniss, you know I love you, right?"

"I know Prim. I love you too." Katniss shut her eyes, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

An annoying amount of sunlight hit Katniss' face and she slowly got up, rubbing her eyes.

"Ugh...Prim what time is it?" Katniss asked while stretching. She got no response and fully opened her eyes to learn that she was no longer at her home in Victor's Village, but in someone else's house.

The house was a bit messy, books and papers scattered about but not anything she couldn't handle. She got up to look out the window and nearly fainted at what she saw.

People below her were walking without looking over their shoulders for Peacekeepers, non-government owned cars were being driven by the masses and everywhere she looked there was food.

"What the~?" She cut herself off, 'Is any of this even real? No, it can't be. I'm dreaming. That's it; I must be dreaming.'

"You're awake!" An adult's voice said happily, "Thank goodness!" Katniss turned around to face the owner of the voice.

She was a thirty-something looking woman, with long brown hair that had streaks of grey here and there, as well as a nice warm smile, "My name's Sally Jackson, how are you feeling?"

"I...what is this place?" Katniss asked, taking a good look around.

"Well, if you mean in a broad sense, we're in Manhattan. But thinking smaller, this is my family's apartment." Sally explained.

"Manhattan? I don't~" Katniss gripped her head, a massive pain hitting her, "Just, where's Prim?"

"Who?" Sally sounded and looked confused.

"Prim, she's my sister." Katniss told her, revealing more information than she normally would to a stranger, "We were sleeping together and then..." 'And then?' She couldn't remember anything after falling asleep.

"I'm sorry but, I only saw you in the alley. I brought you here before anything happened." Sally scratched the back of her head, "There wasn't any trace of another person."

Katniss fell back into the sofa, her legs giving out, "What am I doing here?" She murmured to herself.

Sally was about to say something when an alarm clock went off, "Percy! We're gonna be late!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" A younger male's voice called from inside a room. There was a jingle of a doorknob as a boy stumbled out of into view, tugging at the heel of his sneaker as he tried to shove his foot into the shoe.

"Listen," Sally grabbed her keys off the table, "I know you just woke up and a lot must be going on in your mind, but I have a job interview to get to after I drop Percy off at his school so if you don't mind, maybe you could tag along with him?"

Katniss looked at the shabby-dressed fifteen-year-old. His hair was jet black, a high contrast to his sea green eyes and tan skin, "I guess I can go."

"Hm?" Percy looked from her to his Mother, "She's coming with me?"

"It's not a problem, is it?" Sally sighed, "Please Percy, I don't have any more time to waste and~"

"No, no, no!" He threw his hands up, "It's fine! It's fine! Let's go!"

Katniss watched the multitude of teenagers jumble up the steps, shake some man's hand and continue into what she assumed was a school.

'They don't look oppressed. But some of them definitely don't wanna be there.' Katniss thought to herself, 'It's as if they're ungrateful Capitol children.'

"You'd better get inside, dear. I'll see you tonight."

That brought Katniss out of her loose state, "Are we going?"

"Yeah." Percy nodded, stepping out and helping her open the door, "Come on."

She climbed out of the car with ease, brushing down her pants as she stood up straight. Percy turned his head to look at the entrance and that's when he stiffened.

"M-Mom? Does the school have a side entrance?" He asked, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

Katniss followed his gaze and her eyes landed on a girl with frizzy red hair.

"Down the block on the right." Sally told him, pointing, "Why?"

"I'll see you later." Percy started to walk away.

"Wha~"

"Bye! Have a nice interview!" He dashed down the sidewalk.

Sally sighed and looked at me, "As soon as orientation's over, I'll help you find your sister so please take care of him for a few hours."

Katniss nodded, "Not a problem." She jogged off in the same direction Percy had.

'Where is this boy?' Katniss asked herself as she turned the corner.

"What's your name, fish?" The new voice caught Katniss' attention and she stepped back quickly, assessing the situation by peeking out.

"Fish?" Percy asked, confusion evident in his voice.

He was being questioned by two girls wearing matching purple-and-white uniforms, their arms crossed over their embroidered names.

"Freshman." She corrected herself.

"Uh, Percy." He eyed the two of them with suspicion, hand drifting to his back pocket.

What was he planning on doing? Katniss looked on with suspicion; he wouldn't harm two girls, would he? After all, this hardly seemed like a hostile environment, nor did there seem to be any immediate danger.

"Oh, Percy Jackson." The blond one said, "We've been waiting for you."

Katniss stepped out at that, "Is that normal? For upperclassmen to be waiting on a new student?"

Before the two could speak, a voice called from inside the building, "Percy?"

He quickly scurried inside, bumping into the darker-skinned girl's leg, which made an odd metallic sound.

"Watch it, fish." She muttered as Katniss approached her.

The two made eye contact and Katniss refused to back down, her gray eyes shining with a silent defiance. The girl was forced to look away, much to Katniss' pride. She hadn't gone through those torturous games for nothing. If there was one skill she couldn't have been more thankful for achieving, it was intimidation.

"I was just about to call Sally." The man stated as Katniss neared him, "Welcome to Goode High School!"

Spotting Katniss, he shifted his attention to her, "And you are?"

"Oh, this is..." Percy trailed off as he realized he didn't know her name.

"Katniss Everdeen." She held out her hand to the older male, "Ms. Jackson asked me to look after Percy."

"Like a babysitter!" He snapped his fingers, "Well, I'm Paul Blofis, call me Mr. Blofis. If there's anything you need, feel free to~"

"Where's the orientation?" Percy cut him off, again looking like he had spotted his worst nightmare. Again, it was that redheaded girl she'd seen at the front. And she was looking in their direction.

"The gym, that way. But~"

"Bye." Percy grabbed Katniss' arm, dragging her along with him.

"Percy?" Mr. Blofis called, but they were already running.

"Okay, what's the deal?" Katniss asked once they had entered the gym and taken a seat among the three hundred plus freshman, "Is that red-headed girl your nemesis or something?"

The walls of the gym were plastered with big purple and -white banners that said, "WELCOME FUTURE FRESHMEN, GOODE IS GOOD, WE'RE ALL FAMILY," and a bunch of other cheesy lines.

The marching band stopped playing. A man in a pinstripe suit came to the microphone and started talking, but the sound echoed around the gym so Katniss had no idea what he was saying. He might as well have been gurgling water.

"What? No, she's not—It's just~" Percy was cut off by a hand on his shoulder and Katniss looked to see its owner: it was the redhead.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare." Percy stated.

Her jaw dropped open like she was surprised he knew her name, "And you're Percy somebody. I didn't get your full name last December when you tried to kill me."

Katniss' eyes widened, "You tried to kill her?"

It was like Rachel had just noticed Katniss, "He didn't tell you?"

"No, he didn't." Katniss shot daggers at Percy with her eyes.

He looked from one to the other, cornered on both sides, "Look, I wasn't—I didn't—What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I guess." Rachel shrugged, "Orientation."

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that you tried to kill her?" Katniss couldn't help but ask.

Rachel nodded in agreement, "He gave me some half-assed explanation at the Hoover Dam too!"

Someone behind them whispered, "Hey, shut up. The cheerleaders are talking!"

"Hi, guys!" A female voice bubbled into the microphone, reminding her somewhat of Effie Trinket. It was the blonde Katniss had seen at the entrance. "My name is Tammi, and this is like, Kelli." The brunette next to her did a cartwheel.

Next to Percy, Rachel yelped like someone had poked her with a pin. A few people looked over and snickered, but Rachel continued to stare at the cheerleaders in horror. Tammi didn't seem to notice the outburst and began talking about all the ways students could get involved during their new year.

"Run," Rachel whispered to Katniss and Percy, "Now."

"Why?" Percy questioned, but Katniss had already gotten up, following after Rachel who pushed her way to the edge of the bleachers, ignoring the frowns from teachers and grumbling kids she was stepping on.

Percy continued to hesitate, obviously reluctant to move. Tammi was explaining how they were about to break into small groups and tour the school and Katniss noticed Kelli catch his eye and gave him an amused smile, as if they were falling right into her trap.

Shaking his head, he seemed to have resolved himself and followed after Katniss. The two of them found Rachel in the band room, hiding behind a bass drum in the percussion section.

"Get over here!" She hissed, "And keep your heads down!"

It felt childish hiding behind a bunch of bongos, but nevertheless Katniss crouched beside her.

"Did they follow you?" Rachel asked.

"The cheerleaders?"

Rachel nodded nervously.

"I don't think so." Percy said, "What are they? What did you see?"

Her green eyes were sparkling with fear. She had a sprinkle of freckles on her face and a maroon T-shirt that read HARVARD ART DEPT, "You…you wouldn't believe me."

"Oh, I would," Percy nodded, "I know you can see through the Mist."

"The what?"

Katniss listened closely, not saying a thing.

"The Mist. It's…well, it's like this veil that hides the way things really are." Percy explained, "Some mortals are born with the ability to see through it. Like you."

'Mortal?' Katniss thought to herself as she followed along their conversation, 'What is he, some kind of creature?'

Rachel looked at him carefully, "You did that at Hoover Dam. You called me a mortal. Like you're not."

Percy bit his lower lip, his face looking like he had said something he shouldn't have.

"Tell me." She begged, "You know what it means. All these horrible things I see?"

"I'd like to hear about this too." Katniss added, sitting down completely.

"Look, this is going to sound weird but do you know anything about Greek myths?"

"Greek?" Katniss repeated the word, "What's a Greek?"

The two of them turned and looked at her in disbelief.

"You know," Percy tried, "Like, the citizens of Greece. Maybe Sparta rings a bell? Athens?"

Katniss shook her head, "I've never heard of that."

"Okay," Rachel put a hand up, "You can give her a history lesson later, just tell me what you were telling me. You mean stuff like the Minotaur and the Hydra, right?"

"Yeah, just try not to say those names when I'm around, okay?"

"And the Furies," Rachel said, just getting started, "And the Sirens, and—"

"Okay!" Percy looked around the room, as if he were worried things were going to come flying out of the walls.

Down the hallway, Katniss could heard a troop of footsteps coming out of the gymnasium. They must have been starting the group tours, meaning we didn't have long to talk.

"All those monsters," Percy said, "All the Greek gods—they're real."

"I knew it! You don't know how hard it's been!" she said. "For years I thought I was going crazy. I couldn't tell anybody. I couldn't—" Her eyes narrowed. "Wait. Who are you? I mean really? "

"I'm not a monster."

"Well, I know that. I could see if you were. You look like…you. But you're not human, are you?"

Katniss perked an ear as she waited for his response.

Percy swallowed hard, "I'm a half-blood. I'm half human."

"And half what?"

Just then, Tammi and Kelli stepped into the band room, slamming the doors behind them. Katniss stood up immediately, cursing herself. Why hadn't she heard them approaching?

"There you are, Percy Jackson!" Tammi said. "It's time for your orientation."

"They're horrible!" Rachel gasped.

They were still wearing their purple-and-white cheerleader costumes, holding pom-poms from the rally.

"What do they really look like?" Percy asked, but Rachel was too stunned to answer.

"Oh, forget her." Tammi gave him a brilliant smile and started walking toward him. Kelli stood in front of the doors, blocking our exit.

Percy began to sway back and forth as she stared into Tammi's eyes, obviously under some kind of influence.

"Percy." Rachel warned.

He said something really intelligent like, "Uhhh?"

Meanwhile, Katniss tried to discreetly look around the room for some kind of weapon. Surrounded by instruments, she began to quickly run scenarios in her head in an attempt to discover a way out.

Tammi was getting closer to him all the while. She held out her pom-poms.

"Percy!" Rachel yelled, "Snap out of it!"

Seemingly coming back, Percy got his pen out of his pocket and uncapped it. It grew into a three-foot-long bronze sword, with its blade glowing with a faint golden light. Tammi's smile turned to a sneer.

"Oh, come on." She protested. "You don't need that. How about a kiss instead?"

Rachel grabbed his arm, "Percy, she wants to bite you! Look at her!"

"She's just jealous." Tammi looked back at Kelli, "May I, mistress?"

Kelli was still blocking the door but now licking her lips, "Go ahead, Tammi. You're doing fine."

Tammi took another step forward, but Percy leveled the tip of his sword at her chest, "Get back."

"Freshmen," She said with disgust, "This is our school, half-blood. We feed on whom we choose!"

That's when she transformed. The color drained out of her face and arms, her skin turned as white as chalk, her eyes completely red and her teeth grew into fangs.

"A vampire!" Percy yelled before drifting his eyes down to her legs.

Katniss followed as well and below the cheerleader skirt, she saw something she'd never imagine to see. The left leg was brown and shaggy with a donkey's hoof while the right leg was shaped like a human leg, but made of bronze.

"Um, a vampire with—"

"Don't mention the legs!" Tammi snapped, "It's rude to make fun!" She advanced on her weird, mismatched legs, looking totally bizarre and Katniss had to laugh.

"Something funny, girl?" Tammi turned to her.

Katniss nodded, "You look like something I hunt for lunch had a child with-"

"C-3PO!" Percy snapped his fingers.

"Don't know what that it is but sure!" Katniss colluded with him.

"You don't know C-3PO? He's the bronze cyborg from Star Wars! Anakin made him." Rachel tried to fill her in.

"I don't care where he's from! No one makes fun of me!" Tammi bared her fangs at Percy as she lunged but Rachel threw a snare drum at her head before she got to close.

The demon hissed and batted the drum away. It went rolling along the aisles between music stands, its springs rattling against the drum head. Rachel threw a xylophone, but the demon just swatted that away, too.

"I don't usually kill girls," Tammi growled, "But for you, mortal, I'll make an exception. Your eyesight is a little too good!" She jumped at Rachel.

"No!" Percy slashed with his sword. Tammi tried to dodge my blade, but I sliced straight through her cheerleader uniform, and with a horrible wail she exploded into dust all over Rachel.

Rachel coughed. She looked like she'd just had a sack of flour dumped on her head, "Gross!"

"Monsters do that." Percy apologized, "Sorry."

"You killed my trainee!" Kelli yelled, "You need a lesson in school spirit, half-blood!"

She too transformed, her wiry hair turned into flickering flames and her eyes turning red. As her fangs grew, she loped toward us, her brass foot and hoof clopping unevenly on the band-room floor.

"I am senior empousa." She growled, "No hero has bested me in a thousand years."

"Yeah?" Percy asked, "Then you're overdue!"

Kelli was a lot faster than Tammi, as she dodged Percy's first strike and rolled into the brass section, knocking over a row of trombones with a mighty crash. Rachel barely managed to scramble out of the way and once she did, Kelli turned her eyes on her.

Quick, Percy put himself between her and the empousa and Kelli circled them, her eyes going from him to the sword. Clearly, she had forgotten Katniss was in the room.

"Such a pretty little blade." Kelli purred, "What a shame it stands between us." Her form shimmered—sometimes a demon, sometimes a pretty cheerleader.

"Poor child."Kelli chuckled, "You don't even know what's happening, do you? Soon, your pretty little camp in flames, your friends made slaves to the Lord of Time, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. It would be merciful to end your life now, before you have to see that."

From down the hall, Katniss could hear voices: A tour group was approaching. A man was saying something about locker combinations. Katniss slowly inched for the doors, shuffling along the floor silently.

The empousa's eyes lit up, "Excellent! We're about to have company!"

She picked up a tuba and threw it at them. Rachel and Percy ducked while Katniss continued making The tuba crashed through the window and the voices in the hall died down.

"Percy!" Kelli shouted, pretending to be scared, "Why did you throw that?"

He was too shocked to answer as Kelli picked up a music stand and swiped a row of clarinets and flutes. Chairs and musical instruments crashed to the floor.

"Stop it!" Percy yelled and slowly Katniss was starting to understand Kelli's intentions.

People were tromping down the hall now, coming in our direction.

"Time to greet our visitors!" Kelli bared her fangs and ran for the doors. Percy charged after her with Riptide and Katniss tried to stop him.

"It's a trick! Don't move!"

But he shook her off of him and pursed.

Kelli flung open the doors and Paul Blofis as well as a bunch of freshmen stepped back in shock. Percy raised his sword. At the last second, the empousa turned toward to him with the face of a cowering victim. "Oh no, please!" She cried.

Just before the sword hit her, Kelli exploded into a burst of flames and waves of fire splashed over everything. Flames engulfed the doorway of the band room and Percy backed up.

"Percy? Katniss?" Paul Blofis looked completely stunned, staring at us from across the fire, "What have you two~?"

Kids screamed and ran down the hall as the fire alarm wailed and ceiling sprinklers hissed to life.

In the chaos, Rachel tugged on Katniss' sleeve, "You have to get out of here!"

Katniss nodded. The school was in flames and they would be held responsible. Apparently other people couldn't see through the Mist properly, whatever the Mist was. To them it would look like he'd just attacked a helpless cheerleader in front of a group of witnesses and as his "babysitter," there was no way she would be able to escape punishment.

The last thing she needed was to be thrown in jail in this strange world when she had to be out looking for Prim. Katniss turned from him and jumped for the broken window.

Dashing out of the alley, she ran straight into a young blond haired girl with grey eyes.

"Careful, careful." The girl told her as she helped Katniss stay up, "Are you okay? Your clothes smell like smoke and~"

"Katniss! Wait for me!" Percy interrupted, coughing as he emerged from the alley.

Rachel was by his side, "You're pretty fast, too fast for your own good, you know that."

"I've learned to be quick on my feet. Otherwise I wouldn't be standing here today." Katniss retorted.

"Amen to that." Percy wheezed, hunching over.

The girl's concerned face melted as she stared at Rachel before turning to the school. She seemed to have just noticed the black smoke and the fire alarms.

She frowned at Percy, "What did you do this time? And who are these people?"

"Oh, Rachel, Katniss—Annabeth. Annabeth—, these are friends of mine, I guess."

"Hi." Rachel said before turning to Katniss and Percy, "Both of you are in so much trouble! And don't forget you still owe me an explanation!"

Police sirens wailed on FDR Drive.

"Percy." Annabeth said coldly, "We should go."

"I want to know more about half-bloods," Rachel insisted, "And monsters. And this stuff about the gods." She grabbed Percy's arm, whipped out a permanent marker, and wrote down some numbers on his hand.

"You're going to call me and explain, okay? You owe me that. Now get going."

"But—"

"I'll make up some story," Rachel said, "I'll tell them it wasn't your fault. Just go!"

She ran back toward the school, leaving Annabeth, Percy and Katniss in the street. Annabeth had already started walking, as did Katniss.

"Hey!" Percy jogged after them, mainly to Annabeth's side, "There were these two empousai," He tried to explain, "They were cheerleaders, see, and they said camp was going to burn, and—"

"You told a mortal girl about half-bloods?"

"She can see through the Mist. She saw the monsters before I did."

"So you told her the truth?"

"She recognized me from Hoover Dam, so—"

"You've met her before ?"

"Um, last winter. But seriously, I barely know her."

"She's kind of cute."

"I—I never thought about it."

Katniss whistled, drawing a dark look from Annabeth but she shrugged it off, "Giving yourself away a little too much, don't you think?"

"Giving what away?" Percy looked at her, "What?"

"Nothing." Annabeth kept walking toward York Avenue.

"I'll deal with the school," Percy pleaded, the anxiousness clear in his voice, "Honest, it'll be fine."

But Annabeth paid him no mind, "I guess our afternoon is off. We should get you out of here, now that the police will be searching for you."

Behind them, smoke billowed up from Goode High School. In the dark column of ashes, Katniss could've sworn she saw a face—a she-demon with red eyes, smirking at her.

"You're right," Percy told Annabeth, "We have to get to Camp Half-Blood. Now."

"Katniss, you're not from around here, are you?" Annabeth asked her.

"Not at all." Katniss answered truthfully, "Never was a city girl."