All of you answered D… sorry, but wrong! Don't worry, their meeting will happen, but not yet!
awesomest anonymous reviewer: Sorry, dude! But at least I updated, right?
shep114: I agree, I love Sadico too.
Pheobetitanessofthemoon1234: To all of your question, find out as the story progresses.
Enjoy!
P
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"You have got to be kidding me."
In front of us loomed a warehouse with rickety steel gates, chain link fences, and an aura that makes you feel that the building is gonna collapse any moment. Zia walked in confidently, as if she wasn't afraid of being squashed under tons of concrete if it goes down.
"Well? Come on!" Zia urged.
"But-this is a warehouse." I said matter-of-factly.
"Look up."
I did, and saw the five-storey mansion sitting on the roof of the warehouse. How come I didn't notice that one before?
"Wow." I said in awe.
We climbed up a set of stairs that led to the mansion above.
If I simply said that the building was magnificent, it would be an understatement. Egyptian drawings were carved directly into the wall, which happened to be made of solid marble. I could see sliding glass doors and tinted windows, and a very big terrace. Instead of a door, a slab of stone covered the entrance. To say the least, the place looked like a place for Egyptian Royalty.
Zia stepped in front of the stone, and chanted in some language that I couldn't understand. All I know is, it's definitely not English.
The stone slab cracked, and slowly turned to sand. It fell like a huge wave down to the floor, where it just…disappeared.
I stared at Zia in awe. "Cool."
She spat sand out of her mouth. "A little flashier that what I aimed for, but at least it did the job." She grumbled. "Come in." she said, but from the tone of her voice, it was more like ordered.
The inside was even classier than the outside. A snakeskin rug covered the floor. Various weapons and musical instruments hung on the walls, and a pool was situated in the Terrace. The water rippled, and I narrowed my eyes to look closer. Then my face paled.
"IS that a crocodile?"
Zia nodded. "His name's Phillip of Macedonia. He likes bacon."
I steered away from the crocodile. No matter what, for whatever reason there may be, I will never try to talk to a crocodile again, ever since that incident at the zoo months ago. (Long story.)
Zia led us to another room, where a man in weird armor was waiting for us. His facial expression clearly conveyed that he was less than thrilled to have us here. In his hand was another curved sword that Carter uses; I think he called it a khopesh? A hunting falcon was perched on his other arm. He was sitting regally on the sofa. His eyes, one of them silver, and the other gold, never left us, or more clearly, Annabeth and me, like he was expecting us to go wild and trash the place or something. Zia walked beside him, and whispered something in his ear. He nodded in understanding.
He stood up from the sofa. "It is… an honor to have you here, especially a son of Poseidon." I had this weird feeling that he was about to say something worse than honor, but caught himself just in time. "I am Horus, the heir to the Pharaoh's throne, the war god, and the avenger." He said. Just to prove his point, his hunting falcon shrieked and flew into the air, where it changed into a twenty foot soldier with a head of a falcon.
I was tempted to uncap Riptide, but thought better of it. If he was a god, it would probably be better to negotiate peace. At least, he wasn't Ares.
I held out my hand. "I am Percy Jackson, Savior of Olympus, the slayer of the Minotaur, son of Poseidon, bearer of the sky, and slayer of Kronos."
Horus raised an eyebrow. "Quite a humble man are you?"
"Uh…" I couldn't think of something else to say. I suppose that if you heard in that way…
"Wait up. If you're a god, then how could you be here? Aren't you supposed to have hosts to be here?" Annabeth asked. I didn't bother to stop her, since I knew from experience that there's no stopping her at this point.
"Normally I should have, but with Apophis rising, the laws of Ma'at are weakening, and most of us can now…sidestep some of those laws, like hosting for example." He explained. "Besides, I thought it would be better for us to meet face-to-face, don't you think?"
Another flacon flew from another window. IT definitely looked better. Bloody gashes decorated its entire body. Its left eye was swollen shut, and the tip of its beak was broken off. It's feathers were ruffled, and had a stain that I suspected were blood. It cawed out loud, circled above our heads, and landed on the sofa. Horus sighed. "It looks like our time will be cut short. I suggest you prepare, demigods. You're in for the fight of your lives."
"Can't you help us?" I asked him.
He shook his head.
"Sorry, but I can't. And even if I I could the most I could do is send one of my warriors to slow them down whilst you prepare." He gazed apologetically at the falcon.
Then it dawned to me. "Thanks." I said. That falcon was really brave, but what kind of monster could do that much damage to a twenty-foot tall warrior? I shuddered at the thought.
A portal of swirling sand appeared behind him. He started to walk towards it, but at the last second, he froze, as if he remembered something, and turned around. "Oh, I almost forgot. Chaos loves Chaos. Now, goodbye." He leaped into the vortex, and left us with a very confused Zia.
I rolled my eyes. Typical of the gods, always leaving us with freaking riddles.
Just then, the building exploded.
The ceiling started to crumble. Annabeth, Atalanta, Zia, and I began running for our lives, dodging falling chunks of stone, leaping over cracks, and trying to make it out of the door. Zia pointed her staff at the door (when did she get that?), and yelled, Ha-di!
The door exploded. We raced past through it, using the last of our energy. We turned around, just in time to see the mansion collapse on itself.
Zia paled. "Oh no. Amos is not going to be happy."
We rushed down the stairs, and ended back up on the street. Finally when I thought things were over, that's when the demons decided to show up.
To me, it's as if they melted out of the shadows itself; hundreds of demons with blades on their heads.
I uncapped Riptide. Annabeth unsheathed her knife. Atalanta removed her ring, tossed it in the air, and it turned into a javelin.
The first wave came. Because of the Blessing of the Styx, I was practically invincible. Riptide was alive in my hands; it was an arc of pure destruction. I fought like whirlwind, literally. A tornado of water formed around me unconsciously, like it did whenever I was fighting hard. My mini hurricane sent demons flying, and blocked most of their arrows. A demon charged me head on. I blocked its strike, and stabbed it through the chest. It muttered something that was probably rude in Egyptian, and collapsed in a pile of dust. Another one threw its spear at me. On instinct, I did that move I saw once on The Matrix, and the spear sailed right past my head. I stabbed another monster, and grabbed the spear it was holding. I threw it and it impaled the monster that threw its spear at me directly in the heart. I turned into a pile of sand. From the corner of my eye, I saw Annabeth stab another demon with her knife, before grabbing its sword and throwing right into the face of another demon. Atalanta was another matter. Every demon that came within two feet from her instantly had its feet encased in ice. Atalanta would simply swing her javelin, and the demon would turn into a pile of sand before it could even say, Oh Styx. Zia was encased with fire, and any demon who even neared her was burned to a crisp instantly.
Clapping emanated from somewhere. Good show, Jackson. A voice said. Its voice was even worse than Kronos'. While Kronos sounded like a nail being dragged through a piece of glass, this one sounded strangely like what a snake would sound like if it could talk.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" I demanded.
Just like that, the demons stopped attacking. They all stood in place, like statues.
A lone figure walked through the group. He had skin the color of Kool-Aid, and wore armor that was designed to look like snakeskin. A cape made of darkness was draped around his shoulders.
An amusing fight, child. Perhaps I have some use for you in my armies after all. What do you say, son of Poseidon? He said.
"A place in your armies? Look, I don't even know you dude." I pointed Riptide in his chest.
No need for hostilities, Jackson. I am Apophis.
Beside me, Zia paled. I tried to remember what carter had told us. Wasn't Apophis the god of Kool-Aid? No, that sounded stupid. God of Chaos? Probably, since a feeling of dread has started to grip my heart, and fear was pushing into every corner of my mind. I wanted to run, hide, and get away from Apophis, but I managed to remain where I stood.
Apophis chuckled. I commend your resilience, Perseus Jackson. Most men would have been running by now.
"Apophis." She growled.
He rolled his eyes. Seriously, why does every magician react like that every time they see me in this form? It's getting annoying. But no matter, in a few days, I will swallow the sun, and wipe your race of magicians. Except you, oh except you, Zia Rashid. You will be my form of entertainment, a young, beautiful girl like you.
I waved my sword at him menacingly. "Hey! You can't talk to my friends like that!" I protested.
I can and I will, Jackson. But before you decide to attack first and ask question later, just like that idiot cousin of yours, perhaps you would like to hear my offer first.
"What did you do to Nico!" I demanded.
Do not worry, that son of Hades is fine. It was rather an amusing fight, actually. He is a great fighter, but not so terribly bright… he mused. I was even prepared to extend him this courtesy that I am giving you now. Too bad he declined. You could do better, Perseus. Join me, and together we will rule this world forever!
"Go to Tartarus." I snarled.
Is that a no, Jackson? He taunted.
"Get it through that snake head of yours! Nothing you ever do, or promise, will ever make us go to your side! Kronos himself tried, and failed miserably, so what makes you think you could do better?"
I could exchange you service for the ones you love. He simply replied.
My face paled. MY mother…oh gods, if Apophis ever found out about my mother.
I would do nothing to you puny mortal mother, Jackson. I meant, the one closest to your heart.
He got me there. No one has ever replaced my mother in my heart, except for…
I swiftly turned around, and I wanted to kill Apophis there and then. Annabeth was on the hands of two of the demons, her hands and feet bound, and a nasty cut on her forehead was oozing blood. Atalanta was covered in what looked like Ribbons from head to toe, so she looked like a pink mummy.
"Release them! They have nothing to do with this!" I demanded, turning back to face Apophis. Zia blasted him with fire, but he swatted it away.
So Jackson, I will give you until tomorrow to decide. Bring me the crook and flail, if you ever decide to agree. He snapped his fingers, and the demons disappeared along with Annabeth, leaving me with an angry Zia, and a tied-up Atalanta.
Suddenly, pain erupted from the small of my back. I saw Zia's eyes widen, and in an instant, she was sent flying directly into a wall. As I fell to the ground due to the pain, I caught a glimpse of Apophis face; he was smiling evilly, and he had a dagger in his hands, Annabeth's dagger, to be precise. How had he known? How did he find out where my Achilles' Spot was?
Before I blacked out, the last thing I heard was Apophis' snaky voice.
A parting gift from me, Jackson. If you survive, think about my proposal.
Our questers are all mixed up! What will happen? Find out next chapter!