Sleeping Beauty

Chapter Seven


Selene

Chiron remained at his desk at Big House. Grover and Annabeth would take turns monitoring him. They knew their mentor was the best at teaching and training. Many Heroes applaud his efforts as a fearless general. But ever since he has spent time with Selene, the once heartless general had fallen victim to the worst possible emotion, one that has plagued humanity for years. He has fallen in love.

Opening a drawer, Chiron pulled out a silver handkerchief. Staring at it, he wished he could go back to the time where he and Selene would enjoy picnics by the ocean under the night sky. Or enjoying a delightful moment together by the lake. But life had to go on, new demigods came and they needed training.

Hence, their time together grew less and less. He would try to make time to see her, which somehow always seem to work, but now she was gone. Another trial has been set before them. One that he hoped they could conquer. But the more he thought about it, he wasn't so sure.

Sighing loudly, Chiron folded the handkerchief and set it down on his desk. Blinking away a few tears, Chiron gently touched the lace cloth before pulling out some files and placing them in front of him. He would do what he always did when he felt angry or depressed, he would work. For it's the only thing that would keep him going. Because doing anything else just seemed too much for him right now.

Selene…. I miss you

Back at Dunn Fragrances, Seth expected to get more complaints along with the police. But when he walked through the main doors, everyone was working. Anyone who made eye contact with him bowed slightly or gave him a simple hello. Even Vivian smiled as he walked past her desk. But she didn't make eye contact with him. Something she never did. Seth wanted to stop and say something to her, but Vivian beat him to it.

"You have a visitor waiting for you in your office. He said he's your partner." Vivian said.

Nodding, Seth went into his office where Mr. C sat in his seat behind his desk. Closing the door behind him, Seth's eyes narrowed as he sat down in the chair across from him.

"To what do I owe this visit?" Seth asked.

"I take it you noticed there are no more complaints," Mr. C said.

"Yes, you're doing, I assume?" Seth said.

"A sprinkle can do wonders," Mr. C replied, pulling out a bottle of Moonlight Serenade. "While your plan was good, I simply added icing on the cake."

Seth remained silent, he wanted to defend his employees and stop what has become more than just financial bliss. But he knew it would be best to remain calm. Thinking it over, a thought flashed through his mind.

"You cleared the field, because a much bigger threat is heading our way," Seth said, leaning back in his chair.

Mr. C smiled. "Your mind works fast; the ones I have told you about have been scoping out the factory."

"Which means they know she's there." Seth paused. "They will try to save her, which will be a sight to see. For my security is so tight, not even a fly can get through."

"I believe you, but it's time for me to give them a taste of what they are up against," Mr. C said, his eyes giving off a red glow as a sinister smile spread across his lips.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Yolanda watched with a smile as Aphrodite and Joseph kept their eyes on the monitors. While Percy helped Tracy with looking up media coverage. It was moments like this Yolanda cherished the most.

Leaving the kitchen with water bottles in hand, Yolanda kept glancing up at the window from time to time. She couldn't understand why she was being drawn to it.

Handing out water bottles to both Aphrodite and Joseph, it was when she placed the rest of the water on the table that Yolanda focused on the window. The sides of the window glisten as she moved closer toward it. No matter how hard she tried to look away, the shine of the window grew too much for her to resist.

Looking up to grab a bottle of water, Percy noticed Yolanda's eyes flicker as a white aura outlined her body. He tapped Tracy and pointed at Yolanda. Sitting up, Tracy set her tablet down as she watched Yolanda walk toward the window as if in a trance.

"Heads up, boss is in a mood," Tracy said aloud.

Joseph and Aphrodite turned to Yolanda. Hopping up from his chair, Joseph grabs his belt with two daggers on it and placed it around his waist. Tracy strapped her sword across her back as she stood up.

Stopping at the window, Yolanda raised her hand, pointing outside. Percy walked over to the window. He looked out, spotting a crow perched on a car outside on the street.

"Trouble…. Trouble is here," Yolanda repeated.

Aphrodite, Joseph, and Tracy joined Percy and Yolanda by the window. They all looked at the crow and thought nothing of it. But the moment the crow's coal-black eyes glowed red, Percy pulled out his pen.

After a few moments, more crows joined in. Soon, there were over hundreds of crows covering the car and phone wires. All their eyes were red as well.

Shaking out of her trance, Yolanda grabs her staff and joined them back by the window.

"Someone really doesn't want us to carry out our plan," Tracy said.

"Step aside, I got this," Aphrodite said.

Everyone moved out of the way as Aphrodite raised her hand, staring at the crows as a pinkish glow form at her fingertips. She then blasts a pink orb at the crows. Crying out from the blast, the crows were destroyed.

At first, there was nothing but black feathers on the ground. But after a few moments, the feathers transformed into crows, doubling the amount that was there before. Aphrodite blasted at the crows again. She was about to blast them a third time, but Joseph pulled her away. Leaving Tracy to shut the window.

Percy and Yolanda held the other two windows shut as hundreds of crows clawed and smacked against the windows.

"Let me go, that should've worked!" Aphrodite yelled, pushing Joseph off her.

"It didn't, it only made the problem worse," Joseph said.

"But it should of…" Aphrodite said.

"Which means these crows are more than they appear to be," Tracy said, pressing to keep the window shut.

Joseph ran over to help Percy as Aphrodite raised her hands. Taking a deep breath, a pink glow engulfs the windows, keeping them shut, which also repaired the cracked glass.

Letting go, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But it was short-lived as Aphrodite hissed and grit her teeth. Everyone looked to see scrapes, scratches and bruises appear upon the goddess's arms, neck and face.

"A plan would be good right now!" Aphrodite exclaimed through her teeth.

A plan, was something they didn't have right now. As Tracy and Joseph were tending to Aphrodite's wounds, Yolanda looked at Percy before taking off to the kitchen.

Turning on the sink in the kitchen and running to the bathroom, Yolanda turned on the tub and sink in there as well. The moment Percy heard the water running, he knew what he had to do. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes as he pushed away all his worries and thought about only one thing …...water.

"Guys, get ready!" Yolanda shouted, running back into the living room.

Tracy and Joseph looked toward a blue light emulating from Percy, his aura growing brighter with each second.

Soon the water that was running wasn't filling the sinks or tub. But hovering in the air around Percy. Growing more and more, the water's shaped formed into a dragon that roared. Lifting him off the floor, Yolanda laid flat on the floor and shouted.

"Now!"

Releasing her hold on the windows, Aphrodite, Tracy, and Joseph hit the floor.

The moment the windows opened; Percy opened his eyes, he raised his arms and shouted as the water dragon shot through the windows, engulfing the enormous mass of crows. Screeches filled the air and then went quiet, for all the crows were no more.

Dropping his arms to his sides, a smile spread across Percy's lips. The moment his feet touched the floor, he looked back at everyone before falling backwards. But he didn't touch the floor, for Yolanda ran over and caught him.

"I did it…" Percy pushed out his lips.

"Yes, you did, now rest we'll take care of everything else," Yolanda told him.

Percy smiled once more before closing his eyes.

Hopping up from the floor, Tracy went to the kitchen and bathroom to turn off the sinks and tub. While Yolanda laid Percy down on the couch. Taking off his shoes, Aphrodite placed them in front of the couch before sitting down in a chair.

"He's such a good kid," Aphrodite said, followed with a sigh.

"Indeed," Yolanda said, as she looked at Aphrodite, still seeing scratches and bruises on her arms and around her neck. "How are your wounds?"

"I'm fine, but it's healing slowly," Aphrodite paused. "Which is weird, because I should already be healed by now."

Hearing that made the hairs on Yolanda's arms stand on end. For the wounds of a goddess to take this long to disappear means they are dealing with something even more powerful than them.

Oh boy… what have they gotten themselves into now.