Here I am again. Slow, always will be.
No fluff sorry :/
Monica was terrified. They were chasing her. They were right behind her. She could hear the rasping breaths they drew into their hideous bodies. She pushed herself, running faster to escape them, her breath steaming in the cooling afternoon, her heart and feet pounding in a syncopated rhythm.
"Leeeeet ussss feeeeaaaaasssssst!"
She shuddered, hearing their harsh voices, scared of how close they sounded.
She threw a glance over her shoulder, her messy black hair whipping back and forth.
There were three of them chasing her. They looked like a cross between a snake and a human. A vaguely human female body but their lower half were two huge bodies of snakes.
Monica squeaked in fear when one of them threw a spear at her. She could see it glinting in the late afternoon sun as it raced towards her. With reflexes she didn't know she had, she spun around and deflected it, sliding her hand along against the shaft behind the head of the spear before grasping it.
Stumbling slightly with the twist and the added weight, Monica kept running, looking in shock at her hand which now held the metallic spear.
Looking ahead, she could see the trees thinning. It was a clearing of some sort. Like the one she was suppose to be in right now.
Monica couldn't comprehend how she ended up in this situation.
She was supposed to be on a school camp. All of her classmates and friends were spending the weekend in tents out in the forest, a break from the monotonous city hustle of New York.
She remembered her mother, looking nervous as she dropped her off at school, telling her to be careful and if she saw anything, to tell a teacher.
Monica rolled her eyes at that. She was seven years old already! She wasn't a baby anymore. But now, it came back to bite her.
Their teacher had told them to gather wood for a fire, and so, Monica went off. She was going to bring back the biggest pile of wood!
She strayed a little too far from the camp, a little too deep into the forest. She had gotten lost, she couldn't find her way back, and now she had three horrible monsters chasing her.
Monica cried out when her foot caught on a root, bringing her out of her thoughts and she was sent tumbling to the ground, losing her grip on the spear she'd caught.
She groaned in pain, but she couldn't afford to be idle. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing the spear, her only defense. She ran again, the monsters now even closer. She could hear the scrape of the snaky legs and she didn't dare look back for fear of what she'll see.
Monica redoubled her efforts, gasping for breath. She reached the clearing and saw the sun, streaming serenely through the canopy of the trees. At any other time, she would've taken the time to appreciate the natural beauty, but now... All she could focus on was what was sitting in the middle of the clearing.
A single cabin, her only hope. She was tiring.
Racing up to the wall facing her, she pounded her fist against the wood, panting from exhaustion.
"Please help me!" she screamed, hoping someone was inside.
"No-one isss going to ssssave you noooow" They hissed in glee.
She turned around to finally face her pursuers, gripping the spear, knuckles turning white. The three snake ladies surrounded her, blocking her escape, her back against the wall. One was holding a round shield and a jagged sword, the other two holding identical spears to her own.
Monica attempted to thrust her spear at the one in front of her, but the snake-lady laughed, deflecting it with ease and batting the weapon out of Monica's hands.
Monica was shaking in fear… she didn't want to die. She cowered against the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible.
She whimpered and closed her eyes as they moved in.
Shriiiing!
Shreeeeeeeek!
A three horrible wails rung out in the clearing.
Monica snapped her eyes open in time to see an elderly man put a pen in his pocket, three piles of golden dust sitting innocently behind him, granules already drifting into the wind.
He ran a critical eye over her, checking for any serious injuries. Finding none, he squatted down to her level and smiled kindly at her, the wrinkles around his eyes becoming more prominent.
"Hey, how'd you find yourself all alone out here?"
He had fading grey hair, in a stylishly messy mop on his head and beautiful sea-green eyes, just like hers, curiously enough. He wore a faded pair of loose jeans and a hoodie and an orange coloured shirt peeking out from underneath. Pretty trendy for an old guy. Except for a pair of fluffy owl slippers that were on his feet. Monica couldn't help it. After all the exhilaration and fear, she started giggling before laughing fully out loud.
The old man looked confused for a moment, before he looked down at where she was looking. He started to smile and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Well you know, when someone starts screaming outside your house, you don't really think about what you're wearing."
That instantly sobered Monica up. She immediately hung her head.
"I- I'm sorry for disturbing you mister."
All the old people at the apartment where she and her mother were staying at never refrained from telling her that she was a nuisance.
"Nonsense!" The man smiled kindly, moving to sit next to her, leaning against the wall of the house. "You were in trouble, and it's only right to help those in need."
Monica didn't know how to reply to that, so she kept silent, a little intimidated and shy around this stranger in the middle of nowhere.
"I'm Percy by the way. Percy Jackson. What's your name?" The stranger, Mr Jackson, said suddenly, a smile gracing his features.
"I- I'm Monica Sommersby." She responded a little awkwardly, unsure how to act in front of the old man.
A small frown appeared on his face, and for a moment, Monica thought somehow she'd done something wrong. 'How do you give your name to someone the wrong way?' she thought, panicking.
"Sommersby…" the old man muttered. "You wouldn't happen to be related to a Natalie Sommersby?"
Monica's eyes widened in shock. "Umm… yeah, she- she's my mum."
"Small small world…" he muttered, before he blinded her with a brilliant smile. "That explains so much, and so, let's go!"
He leaped up with agility that she wouldn't expect from someone who looked that old. Monica was left confused.
"Wait what…?"
He looked back at Monica, who was still sitting against the wall of the cabin, looked confused at why she was confused.
"Well, we have to get you back to your mother, don't we?" he said. "So, come on! No point in dallying here."
"But…" she gestured weakly to the diminishing piles of dust in front of her. She didn't think she had the energy to even stand up
Mr Jackson looked mildly embarrassed as he realised, and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. Suddenly, his face brightened up.
"Want a piggyback?"
A rapid knock echoed throughout the small apartment room. Natalie Sommersby looked up from the coffee table, surprised. She wasn't expecting anyone, especially since her daughter was on a camp for the weekend. Quickly making her way to the door, she prayed that Monica didn't get hurt.
The knocking continued just as she opened the door. Standing in front of her, a hand still up in the air, was an old man, with her daughter on his back, eyes closed and her head resting on the man's shoulder. She nearly screamed.
"Oh my gods! Monica!" she panicked, immediately assuming, since she was back from camp early that she was hurt. She was held back by the man however.
"She's fine Nat, just sleeping."
Taking a closer look at the old man, she suddenly realised it was someone she recognised.
"Mr Jackson! But, I thought… When did… How… What…?"
"Why is everyone so confused whenever I turn up…" She heard him mutter under his breath. "It doesn't matter about me, but Monica here," he said, jerking his chin at the sleeping child on his back, "has attracted some unsavory attention."
Natalie gasped in horror, her hands over her mouth.
"You know what needs to happens now." His serious green eyes bore into hers.
She nodded, tears forming, but she determinedly held them back. She knew the risks of keeping Monica at home. She had to go to Camp. And there was nothing she could do.
She smiled humourlessly, thinking of the irony of going to a camp, only to leave and go to Camp.
"I'll… I'll go pack what she needs. The car is parked just across the street. You can put Monica there, I'll be over in a minute."
Mr Jackson nodded and shuffled off, Monica still sleeping peacefully on his back, blissfully unaware of the dramatic changes occurring in her life.
Natalie hurried inside, packing essentials into a small rucksack. She had dreaded the day she would have to, and it was suddenly thrust upon her.
Quickly stuffing the rucksack full, she rushed outside within the promised minute, to find Mr Jackson and Monica, awake now, sitting on a bench, close to the car, talking.
Monica looked up and her eyes lit up as she spotted her mother.
"Mummy, what's going on?"
Oh the innocence. Why couldn't she be a few years older before this happened?
"It'll all be explained once we get there. Quick now, in the car." She said briskly before turning to Mr Jackson. "Thank you so much for your help. I'll bring her to Camp. She'll be safe there right?"
Mr Jackson nodded. "As safe as those like us can be…" He paused for a long while, nervously shuffling from one foot to the other. Natalie waited for him to say what was on his mind. "Actually, I was hoping to come with you. To Camp." He eventually got out.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded once more.
"Well then," she smiled, "hop in."
Monica bounced restlessly in the back seat. The car ride was silent, with Mr Jackson staring out the window with a weird expression on his face and her mother not explaining what was going on or where they were going other than 'you're going to camp'. Whatever that meant. Her school camp was definitely not in this area.
They slowed down, right in front of a white picket fence, with a sign that read:
'Delphi Strawberry Service'
'Pick your own strawberries'
Behind the fence was a small hill, and a pine tree sat atop, wrapped with what seemed to be a bunch of thick cables. A strawberry field was just visible to the side of the hill.
Monica groaned aloud. "Muuuuuum…" She whined. "I don't want to go to another farm camp. The last one was horrible!"
"Don't worry sweetie, it's not a farm camp. Just follow Mr Jackson and everything will make sense."
The two of them got out of the car, and began walking towards the hill. Monica suddenly realised her mother had not yet gotten out of the car.
"You're not coming mum?" She asked.
"I can't sweetie. But don't worry, I'm sure Mr Jackson will take care of you." At this she levelled a glare onto Mr Jackson. Unaffected, he just simply smiled and nodded.
"Take care Moni!" She called as she drove off.
The duo continued towards the tree, Monica a little more subdued and put out that her mother didn't accompany her. At least Mr Jackson was with her, even though he was almost a complete stranger. But her mum knew him, so she guessed he was trustworthy.
"Do you know what's going on Mr Jackson?" She questioned.
"It'll be all explained when we get there but…" he paused in thought. "Besides the three snake ladies chasing you today, has anything strange happened to you? When you were scared? Or angry?"
Now that Monica thought about it, there were occasions where strange things happened.
Mr Jackson's voice suddenly turned gruff and deep but his eyes lit up with humour. "Yer a wizard Harry."
Monica looked confused at him. "What?"
"Never mind… An book quote. But anyway, ever seen things moving in the corner of your eye but when you look at them, that you're never really sure if they even existed? Or impossible things suddenly becoming possible?"
"All of those things." Monica said quietly. "But what does that have to do with this?"
"Because you're not human." At her flabbergasted expression, he quickly amended. "Well, not fully at least. Well, half to be exact."
He coughed. "Perhaps that wasn't the best way to explain it… It's been a while since I've had to do this whole introduction thing. Well anyway, let's keep going."
"Let someone else do the explaining…" She could hear him mutter to himself.
Monica was left in his wake, mouth hanging open. "I- I'm not… human?"
Her thoughts were interrupted, when a roar shattered the air.
"Monster! Monster at the border! Class 8 or 9!"
"Send a team to Half-Blood Hill, just passed Thalia's tree! Be swift!"
"Alpha team! Move!"
"Gamma team! Provide assistance to Alpha if need be, otherwise watch and learn. You need some experience and see how things are handled before you guys are sent out."
Chiron looked up from his game of pinochle as the cries rang out across the camp. It was rather rare that monsters strayed close to the camp borders in recent years. Most knew that they would be hunted down and sent to Tartarus if they were spotted near the Camp.
The only reason that a monster would venture so close would be to chase a new camper entering, or if the monster was extremely powerful. Possibly both, if the Half-blood was unfortunate enough.
"I concede. The game goes to you Dionysus. I must attend to this new development that has arisen."
Mr D. grumbled at the interruption of their game. "I swear, I can never play a full game. It always ends prematurely."
Chiron ignored him in favour of slinging his bow and a quiver full of arrows onto his back. He galloped from the Big House, passing by rushing campers hurriedly preparing their gear, or racing to the cabins for safety.
He spotted an easily recognisable mop of blonde hair running towards Thalia's Tree. One of Athena's children. "Harrison!" He called out, slowing to a canter next to the teen. "What is the current situation?"
"Initial scout reports a Class 8, possibly 9, chasing a new demigod. Another figure was seen, standing aside, probably controlling the monster. Intel was unclear. Alpha has been dispatched and Gamma is watching for experience."
The categorisation of monsters was an initiative of Athena's children. It easily taught the younger campers what they could fight, and what they should run from. The combat teams were conceived from the minds of the children of Hermes and Ares. Quests were a rare occurrence now. Instead, reports from dryads and naiads of rampaging monsters were sent to either of the demigod camps, Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter. Whichever received the request sent out response teams to tackle the problem.
"An excellent, swift response." Chiron complemented. "Hopefully we can get to the demigod before-" he was cut off as an earth shaking roar reverberated across Long Island. New York might have heard it too.
"We must hurry!"
Chiron effortlessly picked up Harrison and swung him onto his back, before galloping full speed to Thalia's Tree. Harrison have a small yelp of surprise. Chiron did not allow many campers to ride him, it was a very special privilege.
They got to the top of the hill just in time to see a massive, hulking silhouette smash the ground, and a much smaller figure just managing to roll out of the way. Another figure stood to the side, observing, making no move to help either combatant. The Alpha team was already moving down the hill in a cohesive unit. 'Testudo' formation, a technique shared by their Roman counterparts, and Gamma not far behind, observing.
Chiron too was observing, for now. The hulking silhouette possessed massive horns, and a large muscled human figure. A huge battleaxe, shaped in the form of the Greek letter Omega swung from its back, currently not in use.
"The Minotaur…" Harrison breathed from Chiron's back.
Chiron now looked to the demigod fighting for their life. Young, female. Nothing else remarkable could be discerned at this distance.
The other figure however…
"Come Harrison, we shall investigate the mystery man. Alpha team will take care of the Minotaur."
He was about to rush towards the mystery figure when he suddenly disappeared. Chiron could just make out his image rushing towards the Minotaur, a punch on the way to the tiring new demigod. A gleaming blade flashed, and the Minotaur's arm was severed, but the momentum still managed to land a grazing punch on the demigod's shoulder which sent her tumbling towards the oncoming Testudo formation with his immense strength.
Within a blink of an eye, the stranger disappeared again, moving with an almost inhuman speed. Just as Alpha managed to recover the new demigod, the Minotaur dissolved to dust, the mysterious stranger left standing behind where it used to be, a sword outstretched.
All the demigods assembled stared in shock at the ease that this stranger just dispatched the Minotaur with.
Chiron's eyes however, were locked onto the sword. A familiar Celestial Bronze straight blade.
The stranger swung the sword about a few times before it suddenly disappeared and the demigods muttering amongst themselves, unnerved by this new figure.
The stranger managed to take two steps towards them before the Alpha team retook their Testudo formation, spears bristling like an angry porcupine. A tribute to their rigorous training and gave credence to their elite status.
Chiron quickly set Harrison down from his back and interposed himself between the two sides.
"Demigods! Stand down!"
The spears were lowered, but the shield wall remained upright, protecting the medic who was attending to the young girl. The stranger continued to walk towards them however but made no aggressive movements, stopping just beside Chiron.
"Just please tell me Monica is alright." The voice was surprisingly elderly. Silence permeated the hillside.
"She's fine." The field medic spoke up. "Unconscious but nothing broken. just going to be some heavy bruising."
The stranger nodded in relief. Chiron turned to him with a beaming smile. He bowed deeply, to the surprise of the assembled demigods behind him.
"Welcome home, Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon, Defender and Hero of Olympus."
Monica's eyes fluttered open. She was lying on something soft. She attempted to sit up, but hissed when her shoulder flared up in pain. Almost instantly, a beautiful young woman appeared by her side.
"Hey, take it easy," she said soothingly. Her long black hair tied into a messy bun and striking grey eyes, looking at her with concern. "You took a pretty bad beating on your shoulder. By the Minotaur from what I've heard. I'm surprised you're alive to be honest."
Monica tried to say something. But her throat was parched. Before she could do anything, a glass of what looked like apple juice was thrust in her face.
"Here, drink this, it'll make you feel better."
Monica nodded her thanks, and took a large gulp. She almost choked. The apple juice wasn't apple juice, but instead tasked like her favourite mango-coconut ice cream that she always got when shopping with her mother at the mall. It was wonderful. The entire glass was quickly drained, the young woman looked on amused at her eagerness. Monica blushed with embarrassment and grinned sheepishly.
"It tasted nice… And thank you." She croaked out.
"Your welcome." The woman replied with a smile. "I'm Maya by the way. Maya Jackson. And this is Camp Half-Blood's hospital ward. What's your name?"
"Monica. Monica Sommersby. Are you related to Mr Jackson?"
A single sleek eyebrow was raised. "You're going to have to be a bit more specific than a 'Mr Jackson'. I'm sure there are millions out there." She grinned wryly.
Monica's cheeks reddened once again. "Umm…" She tried to remember the old man's name. "Percy? Percy Jackson I think."
"Mhmm… Sure am related. He's my father."
Monica looked mostly surprised. "But you don't look like…" She trailed off.
Maya laughed good-naturedly. "I get that a lot. Most of my looks comes from my mother, Annabeth Jackson. She passed away a few years ago though. But my dad doesn't like talking about it. It's still a sore spot for him. They were blessed by Aphrodite you know. Not many couples are. They had a real special bond between them."
"A-Aphrodite?" Monica asked, confused. "But isn't she a Greek god?"
"Ah, you haven't been inducted yet. "Maya nodded in understanding. "But yes, that's exactly what she is. You'll find out soon enough."
"Sommersby… Your mother wouldn't happen to be Natalie would it?"
Monica looked at her in shock. "How do you know my mum?"
"Eh, not so much, but my elder sister is best friends with your mother. She used to come over to our house all the time to hang out. But my sister isn't at Camp anymore. Left to explore other countries she said." She grinned. "Small world eh?"
"I'm glad you two are getting along." A voice called out. Monica looked to the source and saw Mr Jackson standing in the doorway.
"Dad!" Maya squealed, bounding towards her father and engulfing in a hug. Mr Jackson laughed and hugged her back.
"Good to see you again Maya. It's been quite a while. And look how you've grown!" He turned to Monica. "And you, Ms Sommersby, I need to apologise. You are a brave little girl, taking on the Minotaur. I'm sorry about your shoulder. To be honest, I wanted to see how you did against the Minotaur, a test if you will, and I wasn't fast enough to stop it." He hung his head
Monica pouted at being called a little girl, but smiled nonetheless.
"It's ok."
But before she could say anything else, a man on a horse entered the hospital ward. No, not on a horse, attached to one… Like a-
"A centaur, indeed Ms Sommersby. I see you are somewhat fluent with Greek Mythology. I am Chiron." He inclined his head to her.
Monica just gaped, a mystical creature from storybooks and fairy tales was talking to her.
Chiron turned to Maya. "Is she adequately healed to be moved? It is best to introduce her as soon as possible."
Maya looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's only severe bruising on her shoulder. As long as nothing contacts it, and she keeps it in a sling, she should be fine to walk."
Chiron turned back to Monica. "Come then child, let's get you all sorted out."
After arranging a sling for her shoulder and arm, she followed Chiron out of the hospital. Maya and Mr Jackson trailing slightly behind.
She gazed out over the field. 'Camp Half-Blood' Maya had called it. She spied a lake, with canoes rowing across. A rock climbing wall, and- did that just pour down lava? 'O...k… Seems a little intense…' She thought.
An archery range, stables. And what she guessed to be cabins, arranged in the shape of an Omega and hundreds of teens milling about.
They arrived at a big blue house, where a man in a tiger-patterned Hawaiian shirt sat sipping from a glass of Coke.
He looked down is red nose at the oncoming entourage. "Aha, so this is Monique Summerbee I presume."
"Umm… It's Monica Sommersby" she said meekly.
The man waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes whatever."
Chiron spoke up, "Monica, this is Mr D, the camp director. Let's get started on the Orientation."
"You're taking all this remarkably well." Maya commented after dinner.
Monica just shrugged. "It explains a lot of previously unexplainable things, so I guess it just fills in the blanks I suppose."
"Much better than me I'll tell you that! Took me a few days of being in denial" Mr Jackson laughed. They were sitting in the Amphitheatre, around the blazing campfire, waiting as campers trickled in.
Once everyone settled in, Chiron stamped his hoof on the hard stone three times, and all the demigods quietened immediately.
"As many of you are aware, we recovered another demigod. Welcome Monica Sommersby." Maya helped her to stand, to the applause of the camp. She blushed heavily at being the centre of attention.
"Currently unclaimed but-"
A collective gasp echoed around the Amphitheatre. She looked confused. Had she done something wrong? She just stood up, and Maya's insistence as well. That was until she noticed an ethereal green glow on the campers' faces nearest to her, emanating from-
She quickly look up, to see a glimpse of a glowing floating trident, before it disappeared.
There was a silence, so thick she felt like she could touch it before Chiron broke it.
"All Hail, Monica Sommersby, Daughter of Poseidon!"
A hand landed on her head as she unpacked her bag within the Poseidon cabin, and she looked up to see Mr Jackson's smiling visage.
"I guess that makes us siblings, eh?"
"And you're my aunt now!" Maya exclaimed. "I have to say, it's pretty weird having an aunt that's a good two decades younger than me" she joked, grinning down at her.
Monica smiled, her new family wasn't so bad. If only her mother were here, she'd be the happiest girl in the world, surrounded by family.
OMAKE by me
Swordfighting class
The students muttered amongst themselves at the presence of an old man with their instructor.
"Afternoon all," Oliver Delim, Son of Hermes greeted his 5th year class, consisting of mostly 16-18 year olds. "Today, we have a very, very special guest to instruct you for today. Mr Per-"
"What good is an old man gonna do to teach us sword fighting? How to use a sword as a walking stick?" Tony Pettis, Son of Ares, guffawed at his own joke, a small group of campers around him laughing harshly along. He was the best sword fighter in his age group, making him even more arrogant on top of his inborn arrogance due to his parentage.
Oliver cringed at the insult to, probably the most powerful demigod to ever exist. They were all told stories of Percy Jackson and his partner and later wife, Annabeth Chase. Of the amazing achievements they've accomplished. But Tony didn't know who he was taking to. Oliver never got to finish his introduction of Mr Jackson.
"I'm sorry Mr Ja-"
Percy waved a hand. "It's fine."
He turned to the boy who spoke out. "And you are…?"
The boy puffed out his chest. "Tony Pettis. Son of Ares, best sword fighter in camp." He was pushing it with that statement. There were a number of better fighters than him at camp, but this stupid old man didn't need to know that. He was probably weak, and was probably going to lecture them this whole lesson or something. What Tony failed to realise, is that to live to an old age as a demigod, even in recent years with better technology and safety, was a rare occasion. One had to be quick, smart, agile, cunning and powerful to live to an old age.
"Come here Tony." Percy said. He'd seen these types of people and knew how to deal with them. It was like dealing with Clarisse all over again when Percy first joined camp. Tony jumped from his spot in the stands and stood in front of him.
"Best sword fighter you say? Well then. Come kill me."
Gasps rang out.
Tony gave an arrogant snort as he drew his sword. "Piece of cake."
Percy let a smirk bleed into his face.
Tony took a swing at Percy's head, only to swing at nothing but air he Percy leaned back a fraction of an inch, letting the blade pass just in front of his face.
The students were shocked. It was clearly a calculated move, minimal action for maximum effect and maximum efficiency.
Tony grunted angrily and swung again and again at Percy. Each time, Percy moved the slightest amount and the sword passed a hair's breadth from him, the smirk still plastered on his face. He still hadn't even draw Riptide. Tony was getting frustrated now, his face burned an angry red as he breathed harshly after swinging at nothing for the past few minutes.
"Aren't you going to fight back!" He shouted angrily.
Percy shrugged. "If you insist."
Tony prepared himself, but it was futile. Faster than he could react, or even see, a foot slammed into his wrist forcing him to drop his sword, hissing in pain.
A fist grabbed the back of his shirt, and his legs have way as they were kicked from behind, forcing him to his knees. His discarded sword was flicked up with deft footwork and caught by Percy's leg, holding it in between his thigh and calf, the blade resting on Tony's collarbone, against his neck. He gulped nervously. The blade rested there for a few seconds to let the message sink in. Percy flicked the sword up before kicking it back into its sheath at Tony's side. Tony gulped at the skill and precision demonstrated by that single move alone.
Percy turned to the class.
"Anyone else have a problem with 'an old man' teaching you?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. His intense sea green eyes burned with power and decades of experience.
A bit disappointed. There isn't even any fluff... and in my opinion poorly written story with Natalie and Monica's backstory and what not, but whatever. It is as it is.
Favourite, follow, review. I like all of those things.
~Matanator