Chapter Eight
Not Done Yet
Percy POV
As I lay there, I heard a noise in the woods. I did my best to get behind a tree and not make a sound myself. I held my breath, listening to the crunch of leaves. They stopped.
"What the Hades?" A male voice spoke. Oh gods! I just now realized who hasn't been there the entire time!
"Andrea! Andrea! Oh gods! Annabeth! Percy!"
I licked my lips for moisture and called back to him.
"Lucas!"
"Percy?"
I stuck my hand out from behind the trunk.
"Here."
He leapt over the fallen timber and inspected my wounds.
"Where is everybody?" He questioned.
"Taken. Where have you been?" I shot back.
"Well, I was using the john, when I heard a faint rustling to my right. I went to check it out, when a strange sensation came over me. A female voice spoke: I need you for later. I thought it was Gaea at first but then, I saw nothing except the glitter of rainbow behind the fleeing woman before I blacked out."
He stood and helped me to my feet. Why did gods always have to be so mysterious?
"Lucas, that was Iris, goddess of the rainbow, I'm pretty sure. Question is, what does she need you for, and why did she knock you unconscious?"
"For the death of Kronos and Gaea, of course." Came Iris's voice.
I looked up, as she descended from the trees.
"Percy, your trip is done now. If I had allowed Lucas to return to camp, he would have been taken with the others. Then, you would be helpless. I needed someone to be able to help their family."
"But I thought our mission was to come find and save you? What do you mean the others were taken?"
My mind started turning. My palms got sweaty. Something was wrong.
"No, I just told Chiron that. The less people know about my plan, the more effective it is. This wood has a hiding effect for the gods. A simple, yet unbreakable spell. I knew I could hide here undetected. But now, Percy, you must return home, and Lucas can aid me in my plan. You have had your moments of adventure. And, although it is not quite over, a new generation is coming."
Annabeth POV
The average amount of kidnappings per family isn't even one. I'm pretty sure we had hit a new record. My life sucked and was great at the same time. I wasn't sure where we were going, but I found out soon enough. If I didn't hate the monster carrying us, I'd kind of be amazed at how it could carry all of us in a restrained position. It reached a rundown building, and burst in. A cave led out of the back. It entered, traveling for another long ways before it stopped and dropped us in the shadows. Little light illuminated the area. I finally saw what it was. The Manticore. Exactly what I assumed
"Gaea will be here to speak to you," the Manticore growled in a French accent. "and to make sure you don't give me any more trouble, Athena's daughter..."
He trailed off, and I heard four distinct sounds.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
I cried out in pain as four spikes pierced my skin in both my legs and both arms, right above the wrists. They went completely through and fastened me to the ground. I balled my fingers into fists and stuck them ground. I shut my eyes tight, trying to ignore the throbbing pain. Come on, Annabeth, I told myself. Ignore the pain, ignore the pain. Somehow, the rest of my family was unconscious. I had nobody to help ease my suffering.
Percy POV
I didn't like it. I know I've already said that, but I mean it. I absolutely hate it. My wife and kids are being held by monsters most likely, and I had been ordered by a goddess to go home and wait while my son-in-law embarks on a dangerous journey to save them. Oh, well. I trudged on and saw that our temporary camp was still there. My arm was really starting to swell. I was glad it hadn't fallen off. I stumbled into camp, being swarmed by campers.
"Get a medic!"
"Guys, it's Percy!"
"Find Chiron!"
After many disorienting moments, I had gathered myself enough to figure out that I had been gone for a few days, and that my right arm was broken in just about every place possible. Chiron ride up in his wheelchair.
"Percy, what did you discover? Where it's your family?"
Everyone leaned forward, expectantly, hoping for good news. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of it. I gave a rundown, and everyone seemed disappointed that the battle didn't seem even close to being won.
"So, we just wait some more?" A camper asked.
"Yes," Chiron answered for me. "that it's all we can do. I trust Iris knows what she is doing. When she sets a goal, she rarely fails. And you're not done yet, Percy"
Annabeth POV
I didn't know which pain was worse. The worry about Percy, the worry about my kids, the worry about Gaea arriving, or the physical pain from the Manticore spikes. Emotional, mental, and physical agony. Oh gods, I could barely stand it, but my will to survive wouldn't let me give up. I would make it. I heard a stirring and craned my neck to see Andrew waking up.
"Ugh, What the Hades?"
"Andrew, honey, please help me!" my voice came out a lot more whiney than I wanted. I mentally cursed myself.
"Mom?" He rubbed his head and crawled over.
"Oh, dammit!" He cried when he could see me.
"Language, Andrew," my motherly instincts corrected him, although I didn't really care. "Please, just pull the spikes out of my wrists only. Straight up, don't teeter, don't move them to the side."
He did as instructed. Surprisingly, there wasn't a flood of blood like I expected. It slowly trickled out. I looked at the holes in my arms. I groaned, and crossed my arms, covering the wounds with my hands. Andrew scooted up and wrapped me in his arms like Percy always did. Despite my not wanting to, I wept. And Andrew just held me.
