Longer chapter this time my lovelies! After lots of blood and guts and monster slaying - Hel is FINALLY leaving England! Hope you enjoy!

I mentioned last week, but will mention again because it never stops being beautiful, but my most amazing friend PiecesInTheirGames made an incredible cover for this story! The full version can be seen here:

b-abbity . tumblr . com

/ post / 38092846324 / helonearthcover (you know the drill, remove the spaces)

Chapter Five

Percy was up and about but with a pretty serious looking head wound and blood streaked down his shirt. He was just about managing to dodge the chimera's lightning-fast tail/snake-head thing with the help of Annabeth's distractions, not that she was faring any better, heavily favouring her left leg over her right.

"Oi, goat-breath!" Both heads turned to me, the lion puffing smoke through its yellowing, deadly sharp teeth, the snake hissing menacingly. To this day I'm not sure how a snake managed to hiss menacingly – lessons from Nagini maybe? "Yeah I'm talking to you!"

The lion roared fire, forcing me to dive to the side to avoid being barbecued before rolling forward and slashing at its unprotected neck. It was too quick, however, and was already moving back, the lion drawing its head back no doubt to unleash another seriously bad-smelling fireball. I moved forward with it, rolling low so the fire passed over my head and to the side, and managed to land a blow to its right shoulder. The lion roared in pain as the snake whipped around, twin fangs snapping for my flesh.

Before it could reach me, I drew back and out of its range, glancing at Percy and Annabeth. Percy now appeared to be out cold, Annabeth dragging his limp form to the door where, in theory, he would be clear from the monster's attack. I met Annabeth's gaze; she nodded and hopped agilely, despite her injury, down the steps to stand beside me.

The chimera had pulled back too, the lion trying in vain to reach its shoulder with its tongue, but both heads snapped back to face us the second they realised we were focusing on it once more.

"We need to get at its underbelly, think you can do that? You're smaller than me, and your weapon's more practical for short-range stabbing."

Annabeth nodded, "Good plan, but I don't want to risk falling just short, or not being able to get out in time with my ankle."

"Ok, I can do it. How are you going to distract both heads?"

"Help me wound the lion. I can deal with the snake."

"Deal."

I had to hand it to those children of Athena; when it came to making strategies in the blink of an eye there was no one better. Only problem now was that the dumb, ok not so much, which was the problem, creature had realised the snake was the end we had the most difficulty with, which was naturally the head that came at us next.

Annabeth and I split up and each darted past it, halting it for the vital seconds in which it decided who to follow, for us to get past it, and for Annabeth, aiming for its neck but it moved at the last second, to sink her dagger into its leg, slicing through muscle and sinew in the time it took her to push it in and yank it free. I managed to land a blow to the side of the lion's head, slicing off a sliver of fur and skin. Now howling in pain, the lion brought its huge head down, trying to charge us but unable to see clearly through the blood slipping over its eyes and down its muzzle, doing absolutely nothing to improve its appearance. We both darted away, managed to avoid its gnashing teeth, while the snake twisted around trying to get a clear jab at one of us.

Annabeth provided bait, leaping into its range. It swung for her, jaw wide and she brought up her dagger to defend herself, the beast clamping its jaws around the blade. It didn't let go, however, but forced itself down, using its huge strength to bring her to her knees, her arms trembling with the effort of holding onto her weapon, let alone pulling it free.

"Now, Helena!"

By the time the snake had unhooked its jaw and swung round to me, I was on the ground, demonstrating my best sliding tackle but with a tad more lethal weaponry than usual. My sword raised over my head, I turned my face to the side as it cut through the monster's stomach in a long, rough tear. That didn't stop blood pouring over my face and arms though. I stopped then rolled out of the way of the monster's death throes, propping myself on one arm, grabbing the hem of my shirt with the other and wiping my face clean as best I could.

With one final roar it disintegrated, blowing sand all over my once beautiful front garden, now completely destroyed. The front gate was half off its hinges, two of the trees by the hedge had been uprooted and the driveway was all torn up along with the majority of Domica's lovely flowerbeds.

I flopped onto my front, exhausted and miserable staring at the havoc demigods had wrecked on my life. Annabeth was back by Percy, supporting his head.

"Helena?" I clambered to my feet, bending to pick up my sword, now dripping with chimera blood, ew, and going over to her. Percy was deathly pale and still losing blood from the cut on his temple. "Help me get him inside."

Usually I would be affronted by her assumption that she could use my house as an emergency demigod surgery, but all I could see on her face was terror. I grabbed his legs, she trying to get his arms while simultaneously supporting his head. John took this moment to come outside, ignoring the mess both the garden, and I, were in, and just picking up Percy bridal style as if he wasn't the same age and, if not as ripped as John, far from just skin and bones.

Once inside, John placed Percy gently on the sofa in the lounge and Annabeth resumed her care, her gentle but firm and precise actions indicating she was used to patching him up.

Leaving them to it, I followed John back into the hallway where he dragged me into possibly the most violent and bone-crushing hug I've ever received.

"Are you alright?" He asked, pulling back, gripping my biceps just as tightly as he looked me over.

"John, John, I'm fine, this is all the- Uh. The cow's blood."

"The cow-"

"Need to get some water for Percy now, talk later!" I pushed past him, fairly running into the kitchen, where Alex was sitting, staring, open mouthed at his phone. He barely glanced up as me, his beloved sister, ran in covered in blood. "What have you got there?"

"The video of your fight. It's. So. Awesome! You ripped that thing in two!"

"Can I see?" I'd gone cold all over. My worst fears were coming true; my family had become part of my crazy demigod side whether I liked it or not. Inherently a trusting soul, he handed me his phone from which I immediately deleted the video and prayed to God he hadn't already put it on facebook.

"Hey!"

Ignoring him, I got a glass of water and went back into the lounge, where, to my astonishment, Percy was already sitting up, touching his forehead gingerly where there was no sign, other than the blood still covering his face, neck and t-shirt, that he had been injured at all. I passed him the water in silence. staring at his miraculous recovery.

"Ambrosia." Annabeth explained, noticing me looking.

"Ambrosia? As in the food of the gods?"

Now it was her turn to stare at me, "Of course; in small amounts it can heal demigods. You really don't know anything about demigods, do you?" I shook my head, still staring at Percy in shock. "Well you certainly don't fight like an untrained child; you looked like a seasoned warrior out there. Have you really had no training?"

"What did I miss? How did you kill it?" Percy interjected, looking interested. Annabeth explained and Percy gave a low, admiring whistle. "Wow, I really can't believe someone who's never fought monsters before is capable of killing a chimera. I mean, even I couldn't do it, though I was twelve at the time."

"I've had a bit of training." I said, lying through my teeth. I'd had combat training, sure, at the more violent demigod group I'd gone to before Goodwill, but never with a sword, and definitely never with the idea of fighting a goddamn chimera in mind.

"I can't wait until you get to Camp – you'll love it, Chiron will be so impressed."

Annabeth gave Percy a look at that. "She doesn't want to go, remember?" But then she turned to me, "Unless you've changed your mind?"

Absolute denial was on the tip of my tongue, but something made me pause. "With the chimera today, will that happen again?"

"You've not had monsters here before?" Annabeth asked, looking confused, especially when I shook my head. "But you're an eighteen-year old child of Aphrodite – it's impossible that monsters haven't picked up on your scent before now." I shrugged. "But whatever the reason, from now on, yes. You will. Other monsters will be drawn to you, as they always are to demigods."

"So, next time, my family could get hurt?"

Annabeth's face softened. "To be honest with you, Helena, I'm very surprised they weren't injured today."

"My name's Hel." I said absentmindedly as I turned away from them. John, Alex, Domica, even Tam could be at risk if I stayed? They could be hurt, or worse, killed, because of me. I suddenly realised how incredibly stupid I'd been. All that time I thought I'd been protecting the people I love when I was the one putting them in harm's way. I couldn't believe how selfish I'd been, rejecting all offers of my mother to take me away from the mortals, put me with other demigods who were like me. Who had had to give up their families like I now knew I had to.

I looked back at Percy and Annabeth and wondered what they had had to sacrifice to keep the people they loved safe.

Annabeth looked up at me, "Well?"

"I'll go with you."

raisa864: I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Thus the eternal balance of Hel, which will be explored and explained later on! Thank you so much for taking the time for review, and I hope you liked the new chapter :)