Chapter IX: In Which Reality is a Nightmare
Bobby ignored the jeers and insults of the various gladiators stuck in their cells as he was led to the armoury.
"Picking out your new bet?"
"Pick the centaur! They're an easy kill!" The cells erupted with cruel laughter. "Why don't you volunteer yourself?"
Bobby scowled and followed the servant.
"You shall be a Dimachaerus. I presume you understand the rules?" The male servant said.
Bobby grinned a bit; he liked fighting with two weapons. "Yeah, I understand. Just give me my armour and weapons."
The servant led Bobby into a changing room and nodded. "Yes, sir."
Bobby yawned and cracked his knuckles. Too bad Todd hadn't volunteered, if it wasn't for that shoulder injury. He would have been up for the intense, gladiator fighting.
The servant came back, handing Bobby the swords and placed the armour on the small table in the corner of the room. He grabbed both of them and swung them around.
"You have a few minutes to prepare while the Bestiarius is fighting."
"Alright," Bobby said, slightly excited to be fighting someone of possible higher calibre than himself.
The servant bowed and left. "I wish you that the Goddess Fortuna is smiling upon you."
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The arena was a shrinked version of the Coliseum in Rome, but less in ruins. Gwen was surprised that the mortals did not notice this. Sure, they aren't the best when it comes to seeing deeper than their vision lets them, but come on. There is a freaking arena on top of a casino. One of them is bound to notice.
The arena was already starting to fill up with monsters, demigod servants and if Gwen's eyes weren't lying, she could see a few mortals in the seats. The monsters made Gwen nervous; she couldn't bring her bow and arrow. She could clearly see how the demigods, mortals and monsters separated, as if there was a physical wall between the groups. Clearly because the monsters must work for Caligula, or they are just here for the blood.
Gwen stumbled and Percy caught her before she fell. She blushed slightly; Gwen was not used to wearing dresses. How can any girl stand to wear such a limiting piece of clothing?
Bora led them to one of the best places to watch the battles, the ringside seats by the box for the emperor. Gwen saw that the sand on the arena floor was dirty and soaked with blood. It seemed that a fight had just finished, the crowd was calling for more. Some of the servants were cleaning the pool of blood to the best of their ability and two others picked up the armour leftover from the monster that had fought.
The knot in Gwen's stomach tightened with the mere thought of Bobby in that arena, fighting to the death against someone of higher skill or a monster. No, I'm just being a worrywart. Bobby can take on almost anyone. Still, first Jason disappeared and if Bobby dies…
Gwen forced the thought from her mind.
"Mistress, do you need a drink? You are looking a bit pale." Bora murmured, looking concerned. "If the mistress cannot watch the entertainment…"
Gwen shook her head. She was going to watch this. After all, she is a First Legion Praetor; she wouldn't hear the end of it if she missed an opportunity to watch this. "No, I'm fine. Thanks for your concern though." Bora nodded and went back to his spot.
Gwen played with a piece of her hair, a habit she does when she's nervous. She watched the arena as a Chimera walked into the arena.
She had never seen a Chimera before. A bit scarier than what my book said, but monsters are always scarier in person. The sand absorbed the blood dripping from its mane. I would hate fighting that monster by myself.
The Chimera roared (If Gwen's ears were working admist the loud crowd, it sounded like a bark) at a male adult with a whip. The snake-tail tried to bite the trainer and Gwen saw how instinctive the trainer was when he deflected the snake.
That was the fight. The Bestiarius was almost killed when the Chimera spitted fire.
Gwen could see the people in the crowd make bets. Bobby's fight must be up next. She looked toward her companions. Todd looked slightly interested and sleepy. Percy looked, well, he didn't look sick but he didn't look healthy. Well, this is his first gladiator fight.
The crowd silenced briefly as Bobby and the other gladiator came into the arena. Compared to Bobby, the gladiator was a monster. Bobby was six foot and this guy towered over him. Bobby was somewhat lean and the guy looked like he was on steroids. This cannot be good...
Even though Percy still had some doubts about Bobby, he didn't want him to die. This is so typical of an Ares child. Wait, Ares? I mean Mars. I really need to sleep…
Percy felt tired but he couldn't sleep with the crowd's roaring in his ear.
Bobby and the other gladiator were circling each other, sizing them up. The gladiator's heavily scarred skin and malicious grin made him a terrifying person to look at.
Percy nudged Todd. "Why do they have two swords?"
Todd yawned, glancing at Bobby. "They're doing a Dimachaerus fight. It's mostly used for close combat and bloody fights. Dimachaerus fighters have to be extremely skill to use swords as an attack and defence weapon. Very few people at camp can do it."
"Who can?" Percy's interest in this type of fighting rose as he watched Bobby expertly deflect the sword like an actual shield. "I wanna learn this stuff."
"Me, Bobby, Jason and I believe Reyna is learning it if I'm correct." Todd said. "It's a bit difficult if you don't learn how to be ambidextrous."
"Ambi-wha?"
Todd imitated writing with a pen with both of his hands. "Able to use both of your appendages fluently and neatly. It's harder than it looks."
Percy nodded. "I'd still like to learn anyways." He could tell that Todd wanted to watch the fight rather than try to hold a conversation in the middle of a roaring crowd.
He turned his attention to the fight. Bobby's right arm was covered in blood and the other gladiator's left leg was limp. Both looked like they were far from done.
Bobby took a deep breath and ignored the faint taste of blood lingering on his tongue. He kept clenching his fists to make sure the slice the other gladiator gave on his upper arm wasn't deep.
This guy was tough, Bobby admitted to himself as he tried to cut the guy's throat. His grip on the right sword was slipping because of the blood.
The other gladiator took the hilt of the sword and rammed it in Bobby's chest. He staggered backwards, trying to catch his breath.
Bobby didn't see the sword come down on his clavicle. The pain surprised him; he had never received shoulder injuries. The warm blood felt foreign on his neck and chest.
He blindly kicked and felt contact and heard the semi-satisfying crack of a bone breaking. The other gladiator grunted in pain and backed up.
Bobby swung his sword and slashed at the guy's knees. The gladiator dodged swiftly. Come on, Bobby. You're getting sloppy and in front of your enemy as well. Bobby didn't have the time to see if Percy was watching, one millisecond off his current enemy and he could probably be dead. Well, if Gwen didn't kill him first from all the unnecessary injuries he's received.
Bobby wiped the sweat from his eyes and brow. The sweat stung the cuts on his hands.
He slammed both of his hilts into the gladiator's chest and slashed upwards. The force knocked the gladiator into the ground. Bobby placed a foot on the guy's chest and looked up at Caligula for the signal to kill.
Percy followed Bobby's gaze and watched as Caligula stood up. He didn't look pleased. The crowd went silent. What's he doing? A hollow feeling settled in his stomach as Caligula held out one hand, palm down.
Caligula gave a thumbs up and the crowd exploded with cheers and jeers. Percy looked back at the arena. Bobby had one of his swords in the air, above the guy's neck. Wait, doesn't a thumbs up mean the fight's over? The hollow feeling in Percy's stomach increased as the sword swung down.
Maybe it was some weird thing that demigods' ears do when someone dies, Percy didn't know but he could've sworn that he heard the sickening SHLUCK of the guy's head being sliced off.
What had just happened?
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Todd looked at Percy just as Bobby beheaded the gladiator. The look on Percy's face wasn't very reassuring. It looked like he was about to puke. His face was pale. At least he wasn't puking, that's a good sign.
Todd shook Percy's shoulder gently. "Yo, Perce. You okay?"
Percy blinked and took a couple of deep breaths. "F-fine." He looked far from fine. "Just a bit startled."
He didn't believe it but something told him that if Percy talked about it, well, whatever dinner Percy ate would come back up. "Fight's over. Come on, we better follow Gwen before we lose her."
Percy slowly got up and followed Todd. "Where did she run off to?" Percy's voice was quiet and in shock. Todd didn't blame him, very few people got through their first gladiator battle completely unbothered.
"Probably fussing/scolding Bobby."
"Huh." Was Percy's reply. This must be bothering Percy a lot. As long he doesn't puke. Todd remembered his first time watching a gladiator fight. It didn't bother Todd that much, after all, Death was his forte. He saw spirits almost every day of his life. What bothered him was how easily the winner killed the loser. It annoyed him how death was so easily taken. At least the mortals have some sense how serious death was.
They had caught up with Gwen, who was ordering the servants to get medical supplies as she removed the armour. "Bobby, if you weren't a child of Mars, I would've totally killed you. Right now."
Bobby chuckled slightly. "Stop fussing, Gweny. I've fared off in worse condition."
"Look at this clavicle cut! You better be thanking the gods that it wasn't as serious as Todd's shoulder injury." Gwen half scolded, hitting Bobby in the head.
Todd glanced at Percy, who was still by the doorway, staring at the floor. He was taking deep breaths; at least he is breathing and not hyperventilating. Poor kid.
Gwen noticed Todd's silence and looked at Percy. A flash of sympathy appeared across her face before it disappeared. "Bora?"
"Yes, Mistress?" Bora stepped from his spot in the corner.
"Will you take Percy to his room for the night? Make sure he gets in bed before he collapses from shock." Bora nodded. Bobby rolled his eyes and scoffed under his breath.
Bora led Percy from the room. As soon as he was out, Gwen hit Bobby in the back of the head again. "Don't be like that. No one can exactly be like you. Give Percy a break."
Bobby hissed in pain as Gwen applied nectar to the cuts. "He's just watched you behead a guy for entertainment you can't expect him to be talking about how the guy had it coming for him."
"He's sixteen, has a celestial bronze sword, and good fighter and he hasn't seen someone get killed? What kind of demigod is he?" Bobby asked rhetorically.
"Not a normal demigod. That's for sure." Todd answered.
Caligula walked in at that moment; there was something wrong about his pleasant look. "Ahh! Reuven, what an excellent job you did! I did not know you knew the Dimachaerus fighting style. Lupa seems to know what to teach at that little camp." Todd frowned briefly before putting a neutral expression on his face.
Bobby noticed the slight insult directed at Lupa and First Legion. "Thank you, Caligula. You picked an excellent fighter."
Caligula looked around. "And where is the son of Neptune?"
Gwen cleared her throat as she finished wrapping the bandage over Bobby's upper arm. "This was his first gladiatorial battle and well…he isn't faring as well as we thought. I sent him with Bora to lead him to his room."
Caligula nodded sympathetically. "I understand, after all, the camp does have its drawbacks. He hasn't spewed, has he?"
Gwen shook her head. "He just needs to think alone for a few moments. He will be ready to leave in the morning."
"About that, "Todd drawled. " What is the information that you promised?"
Caligula chuckled. "Ahh, straight to the point. One thing that the children of Pluto have in common. There has been recent monster activity in the areas around Lewis & Clark National Forest in Montana and in Haleakala National Park in Hawaii."
"Thank you, "Gwen nodded once. " I guess we'll leave in the morning if that is okay with you?"
Caligula nodded and clapped his hands once. "Excellent. I hope you guys have the rest you needed. I presume you will need supplies?"
Bobby nodded. "Just a few."
"Excellent. I shall tell my servants to prepare the supplies. I hope your journey bodes well."
Bora watched as Percy sat on the bed, staring at the floor. He didn't like seeing Master Percy in this state. "Percy?"
Percy looked up, his eyes were faraway. Bora swallowed. "I believe that you should get some sleep before you leave in the morning."
Percy nodded and Bora left, unsure if Percy would actually get any sleep.
Percy didn't know why he was acting this way. It's how the world works, people die in more gruesome ways. Its possibly worse for demigods, adding the factors of monsters and gods/goddesses out to get you, curses.
Percy didn't know what time it was. His instinct told him it was possibly early in the morning. Bora had said something about leaving in the morning. He should probably get the sleep he needed. Why can't I stop replaying that moment?
He remembered that the Romans were ruthless; at least that's what he inferred from watching at First Legion. After all, he's heard of kids younger than he was dying from exhaustion. He just never believed it. But now…
The feeling that he didn't belong returned. Percy changed into normal clothes; he didn't wonder how his backpack got in the room.
He never divulged in that feeling. It gave him a sense of foreboding, like if he was someone's pawn. Someone who was older, powerful and a Pluto of a eviler.
I'm not going to get any sleep if I keep thinking about that. He thought as he laid on the bed. He stretched and closed his eyes. He forced himself to relax.
The next thing he knew, he was asleep.
Where am I? Percy thought. He didn't recognize where he was. It was really dark, cold and wet. Wait, wet? I'm not supposed to feel wet.
Percy moved his arms. Something was stuck to them, like cold, sticky mud.
Percy tried to get out of the mud. As soon as he tried, he felt like he was choking. Panic started to flow through his body, propelling him upward.
After a few agonizing moments of choking, he burst through the surface. Percy gagged as he spat the mud out of his mouth.
The sky was grey and there was mud everywhere. Absolutely no land or water as far as his eyes can see. The wind blew harshly and coldly. Percy shivered. Where am I?
The wind carried a voice. "What do you plan to accomplish being pawns again? You don't belong with them. You don't need them. You are invincible." The voice seemed to come through the mud, vibrating through his skeleton.
Pawns? Percy was confused and just a tiny bit scared. He looked to the right and saw something green sticking out of the mud.
Percy started to move through the mud. The voice continued, "Do you think you will actually make friends at the opposite?" he tried to ignore the voice. Opposite? What did she mean by that?
Something was sticking out of the mud. Percy grabbed for it. It was a curved horn, with a bit of dried blood at the tip. It burned Percy's hand and he dropped it. It sizzled as it sunk back into the mud. "The floor where you will step will be littered with the bodies of your friends and fellow demigods."
Percy had passed a thermos, a silver hairpin, a bronze spider, and a silver bracelet with a scythe charm. Every time he tried to pick it up, his hands were burned. Why were they here of all places?
The mud got thicker the farther he went. Pretty soon, he was practically swimming in it.
Percy couldn't hear the voice anymore, the wind got louder.
He was a few feet away from the green thing. It was the tipoff the statue of Liberty, how he knew, he didn't know. A feeling of homesick erupted in his stomach.
Then he noticed someone slumped on the torch of the Statue of Liberty. It was the girl he and Todd saw on patrol. She looked like she was sleeping.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up!" Percy shouted. "What are you doing?" What was she doing here?
As he got closer, he noticed the girl wasn't actually sleeping. She looked like she had a fight with a Mars child and lost. Her arms were bruised.
There was also a knife in her chest.
Percy's blood went cold and he froze. "No, no, no, no." He muttered. Panic started to swell up in him. Why her? What happened to her? Who did this? Who was she?
Her blood dripped into the mud, turning it from a green brown to a blood red.
He reached the edge of the statue and tried to pull himself up. Something stopped him, no matter how much he tried to lift himself, something was pulling him down. Anger filled him, blocking some of the panic. Who was stopping him from getting to this girl to help her?
The wind stopped and the voice returned. "You can stop this from happening. If you turn your back against the Queen of the Gods."
The Queen of the Gods? Percy didn't care what he had to so as long as that as long as the girl lived. The mud has started to pull him down and making him heavier. It was getting harder to move and get to the girl.
"Just a simple pawn," The voice cooed mockingly. "When you could be so much more, what would be the point of saving your relatives when it's going to happen again?"
"The gods don't change, Son of Poseidon. When will you realize that?"
Percy choked on the blood red mud. He struggled to get the mud off him so he could get to that girl, whoever she was. He would do anything to stop that girl from dying.
The mud pulled him deeper, his vision blurred.
The last thing he heard was a female voice say in a scolding tone. "To save a friend, you would sacrifice the world."
Percy fell off the bed and woke up. He was covered in a cold sweat and he was gasping for air. "What just happened?"
Percy removed himself from the tangle of sheets. He glanced at the clock, five ten a.m.? How long I was asleep?
Percy coughed and held his throat. It was scratchy, itchy and the taste in the mouth was like he swallowed a cupful of dirt. He remembered the dream and shuddered.
The water felt fantastic as he swallowed it. "Who is that girl?"
"What girl?" Bora asked, he stood by the bathroom door. He looked nervous and scared.
Percy jumped, knocking the glass to the floor. "Jeez! Bora, you scared me."
Bora bowed his head, "I apologize, Percy. However, this is urgent. You need to leave now."
He blinked, "Leave? What happened?"
Bora looked around, as if he expected someone to stop him. He was quivering in his sandals. "It's Master Caligula. He is very angry."
"What why?" Percy grabbed his bag, well, Caligula had it replaced with a Volcom checkered backpack.
"It was the fight sir. Master Reuven wasn't supposed to win. Caligula had a lot of money on the fighter Bobby killed…"
Percy slipped on his shoes, "Let me guess, he wants us dead?"
Bora nodded. "I have already warned the others, though Caligula will know someone told you."
"What! Why?"
Bora opened the door. "Because Caligula knows everything that happens. Your companions are waiting at the end of the hall."
Percy saw Gwen, Bobby and a sleeping Todd at the end of the hall. "What's going to happen to you?"
Bora shrugged. "I get killed." He still looked nervous. Gods, I can't let a small kid die. I'm not totally in the mood to watch another death.
Something occurred to Percy, what that woman said to him in the baths. Take something cooling. Cooling?
Percy didn't have enough time to think this through. Bora seems to have this calm, cooling persona about him. Heck, he's not even panicking at the thought of death.
"You're coming with us." Percy decided.
"What? I can't-" Bora started.
Percy shook his head. "Nope, that's final. You're coming with us. I'm not going to have a death of al little kid, one I can prevent in a way." He added, thinking of the little kids who die at First Legion.
"But-" Percy pulled him toward the others.
"Percy, what took you so long?" Gwen asked, kicking Todd awake.
Percy paused. "Nothing important. How are we leaving? Cause I'm pretty sure that Caligula won't just let us walk through the doors."
Gwen lifted Todd from the ground. "Quickest way possible. Which is where our friend, the son of death comes in. Shadow Travel."
Something sparked in Percy's mind. He saw a small boy with dark hair, he looked a bit like Todd and a freaking huge dog. Before Percy could grasp at the memory, it disappeared. "Shadow Travel? What's that?"
Bobby shook Todd, who was asleep. "Todd, wake up. Fish Face asked a question."
Todd jerked awake. "Wha? Oh, Shadow Travel, right. You- or I…" Bobby shook him again. "Uhm, I travel by the shadows, or wherever there's darkness. Very quick and efficient. Sometimes."
Gwen turned to Bora, who was keeping his head down. "Where's the darkest place on this floor?"
Bora answered immediately. "Three floors up. In the pool room."
"Good, Bobby, take Todd and make sure he stays somewhat awake."
Percy kept up with Gwen. "Why's Todd almost asleep?"
Gwen picked the lock to the stairway. "Child of Pluto thing. The powers he has requires a lot of energy. Child of the Big Three thing. Jason…" she swallowed. "Jason slept often, not as much as Todd. You seem to tie with Todd."
She opened the door. "And why is he practically asleep?"
Gwen answered. "Shadow Travel exhausts him more than anything. If he's half asleep, he's gonna to use less time sleeping."
"Where are we going?" Percy asked as he tried to keep up with Gwen on the stairs.
"Montana or Hawaii."
"Hawaii, I vote for Hawaii."
He held the door for Bobby and Todd. "Todd, you're really heavy."
Todd mumbled. "S'not my fault…"
Bobby sighed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever Todd. Percy, help me get Todd into the room. Get his legs."
Percy grabbed Todd's leg and moved the barely conscious Todd into the pool room.
The pool lights gave the room a slightly creepy look. There were two pools, one took three fourths of the room's space and the other was a hot tub. Besides from the pool lights, the room was completely pitch black.
"Kay, Corpse Breath." Bobby grumbled. "Let's get out of here quickly. Or I'll throw you into the pool." Percy let of his legs and Bobby shoved Todd. He stumbled and stood up.
"Is Bora coming?" He drowsily asked, stumbling to a corner of the room.
"No."
"Yes." Percy and Bobby spoke at the same time.
Bobby glared at Percy. "Why is he coming? He's of no importance."
Percy scowled. "Caligula's gonna kill him. I'm not gonna have Bora killed, especially since he helped us."
"Your point? He knew the risk of helping us. He's just gonna be more of a burden!" Something occurred to Bobby. He narrowed his eyes. "Is this your stupid way of coping watching your first 'mortal' death?" His tone was accusing.
"No! He's only five years old!" Percy clenched his fists. The pool water began to churn.
"It is and you know it! Who cares if the kid dies? If he comes with us, he might be killed by a monster or something like that. He's not going."
"It's not!" Percy almost shouted. He felt frustrated. The water began to spill over the edge of the pool, unable to hold the tension.
"Why not?" Bobby taunted. "Give me one good reason that we should take another burden when we barely started this quest."
"Burden? Who else is a burden?" Percy asked, half knowing the answer.
Bobby jabbed his finger at Percy's chest. "You are! I don't believe this Minotaur crap that you don't remember anything. You're hiding something."
"I'm not and it's not a lie! I don't remember anything besides the fact that my name is Percy Jackson, I'm sixteen and that I don't belong here."
"He's not coming with us, Percy." Bobby ordered. "That's an order."
Before Percy could tell him to shove his orders up his butt, the doors burst open. Two armed women slithered in. They had scaly, green skin, two tails for legs and they weren't very attractive.
Percy waved his hand at them, his mind blank with anger. The water from the pool shot out at them. The force alone was enough to turn them into dust. The water flowed back into the pool, he immediately felt exhausted.
Gwen stepped in. "Guys, we have to go. Now." Her tone left no argument. She pulled Bobby and Percy toward the corner.
"We're going to-" Todd was interrupted by snarls. "Nevermind. Think about where we're going and just keep contact, kay? I dunno what'll happen if one of you guys lets go. And I don't wanna find out either."
Todd grabbed Bobby's wrist, Bobby took Gwen's hand, Gwen grabbed Percy's wrist.
Todd walked into the shadows, pulling the line. Percy resisted as much as he could and grabbed Bora's wrist at the last minute. Screw what Bobby says, I'm not leaving Bora behind.
Gwen didn't expect the force of Shadow Travel. The wind roared in her ears and she felt like she was on a roller coaster going downhill.
Bobby's hand started to slip in Gwen's. Panicking, she tightened her grip but something was pulling her back. The force was strong and Gwen's hand slipped from Bobby's.
The feeling of being on a roller coaster changed to a feeling of falling. Gwen was still holding on to Percy.
Gwen was jerked and tumbled on something hard. She heard Percy groan and someone else yelp in pain. She opened her eyes and forced herself up. Percy is gonna get killed when Bobby finds out.
"Bobby? Todd?" She called. No answer. Gwen tried to keep her panic down. "Percy?"
"Ughur. Here." Percy groaned. He was near Gwen, obviously trying to find the energy to get up.
"Bora?"
"Here, Mistress." Was his quiet, pained reply. Gwen looked at her surroundings. She appeared to be on a hiking trail, with lush, tropical greenery. She looked around for Bobby and Todd.
"Bobby! Todd!" Gwen called, feeling nervous.
"Mistress?" Bora called her attention uncertainly. "Percy doesn't seem to be awake anymore."
"What? Is he breathing?" Gwen kneeled by Percy, who was indeed unconscious. Gwen put her head against his chest, it was faint but he was breathing. She checked the pulse on his neck. Faint also. What was wrong with him? He shouldn't be this faint.
"Percy?" Gwen slapped his cheek lightly. "Percy? Wake up!" No response.
"Great, "She muttered. "I have an unconscious demigod that I don't know why he's out, a servant and Bobby and Todd are probably lost or in Montana."
Gwen looked at the sky, the sun started to rise. It turned the black sky into oranges, pinks, reds and a bit of purple. It was a breath-taking sight. Bora quietly stared in awe. "At least the sunrise is beautiful."
Behind her, there was a popping sound. Gwen whirled around, her bow out and notched with an arrow. "Who's there?"
"My, my. I had never seen this situation before." A deep voice said from the greenery. "Aurora would like this."
Bobby spat out pine needles and shook his head. "Gods damn, Todd. Next time, don't land me in a tree."
Silence answered Bobby. Right, Todd's probably out cold.
"Hey Gwen, Help me with Todd." Bobby looked for Todd.
Todd had fallen into a creek. Bobby rushed to the bank. "Crap, crap. Can't have hypothermia getting to you." Bobby pulled Todd out of the river.
Being in the middle of a forest with limited supplies is not a good thing. "Gwen, Percy? A little help?"
That's when he noticed that they were alone.
Bobby cursed in Latin. "Percy is so dead the next time I see him."
Something cracked behind him. Bobby had his sword out, hovering over the unconscious Todd. "Who's there?"
There was a shout, sounding like rocks smashing together and something slammed into Bobby's head, knocking him out.
Wassup my various demigods, scribes, gods, fauns, dryads, nymphs and monsters? How was the chapter? I think this is a good chapter. I've waited to write this chapter for a while, since i started First Legion.
What do you think now that our lovely group has been separated? Predictions? Any grammar, spelling and other errors? Let me know in a review.
In Interview with a Demigod's AN. I mentioned an AU fic i was considering writing. It was inspired by the show Dead Like Me. And it involves Annabeth as she copes with her new life as a Reaper. It's gonna involve the whole Greek mythological world.
Here's the prologue
Being dead isn't all it's cracked up to be. I thought as I stared at the small little, gray leather journal that Chiron gave me.
The first entry was in Central Park. A K.Z Eisner. Who loved to bike. And was going to die around 5:12 p.m.
I closed it and pocked the journal. It felt weird not having Percy around to figure out how to find this K.Z.
I jogged to Central Park. The weather was cool and mildly sunny.
Complete opposite of how I felt. I'm a child of Athena, I shouldn't be nervous. I've watched Percy, Nico and Thalia do it. It should be very easy.
I sat down on a bench and watched the people pass by. Percy said that you'll know when it's your reap.
I sat there, thinking about math problems when an old guy sat down with me, propping his bike against the bench. I glanced at him. He was wearing one of those biker uniforms, the brightly coloured ones with various brands on it. His was a purple colour.
"Nice day out." I casually said.
The guy smiled a bit. "Sure is. I'm just resting a bit. Don't mind me." He checked his watch.
"What's the time?" I asked. Chiron and Percy told me the reaps usually appear near the time.
"Four thirty." Damn, I'm not sure if this is the guy.
"Thanks." I watched the skies, Why did everyone else make this seem easy?
A cellphone rang. The tune was a piano riff. I kept my glance to sky as the old guy answered it. My reaper hearing caught bits of the conversation.
"Hi Grandpa Eisner. When are you coming to visit?" The voice was a little girl's. I hesitated, what would happen to the girl if this guy dies?
"Soon, after one more ride." K.Z answered cheerfully. "Tell your mother that, kay?"
"Alright. Love you."
K.Z. hung up and stood up, stretching. Now's the time.
I stood up and walked, tripping on the bike. K.Z. caught me. I hesitated before running my hand his arm. He briefly glowed grey. He gave me a strange look.
I forced a smile. "Thanks." I pulled away. "Have fun with your ride."
K.Z. nodded and got on his bike.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a golden retriever running and a girl chasing it.
Even though I've seen pretty gruesome deaths with the other demigods, I couldn't watch as the dog ran in front of K.Z., making him swerve and fall off his bike. On his head.
I sighed as K.Z. appeared besides me. He looked at his body then back to me. "What are you?"
I turned and began to walk, K.Z. followed me. "I'm Annabeth and I'm a reaper."
Like it, hate it? Tell me in a review. If this gets a good reception and does get posted, it's gonna be a secondary project until First Legion is completed. And if this gets completed in the time frame i want. It'll be the main project until i can get the sequel plot written and after reading The Son of Neptune. Suggest titles for the AU fanfic. i suck at titles.
I just revealed a spoiler...but yes! There will be a sequel to First Legion. After the publishing of The Son of Neptune, of course.
Review Question: Suggest some good PJO fanfics! I'm looking for some fanfics, suggest a title for my AU fanfic, or If you had to choose between taking Bora or leaving him, what would you do and why? What do you think Percy's dream signifies?
Remember, Reviews make lovely presents for my inbox!
