Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson

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Chiron was waiting for us, a grim look on his face. The counselor and I laid Percy down on a cot. He looked dead already. He was ash white, and his chest was just barely rising and falling. You had to look closely to actually see.

"Step back, child." Chiron ordered. I did as I was told. I felt weak though, and sick. I sat down in the corner, rested my head in one of my hands and took in a shaky breath.

"What happened? Where is he?" I heard Annabeth's strained voice. I looked up to see her run in. When she spotted Percy she looked like she wanted to cry. Was she… falling for him?

I sat back and let Chiron do his work, healing Percy. (I don't think they even noticed me anymore.) It took a long while, but finally it looked like Percy could breathe easier, and his color came back slightly. I relaxed just a bit. At least he was okay.

Afterward, Annabeth helped him sip nectar and dabbed the sweat off his forehead until he woke up. I could see just how tense she was. How afraid she was that Percy wasn't going to wake up, but as soon as he blinked and his eyes opened her tight shoulders dropped.

"Here we are again," Percy croaked.

Again?

"You idiot," Annabeth breathed. It wasn't very hard to hear the elation in her voice. Well, maybe if you weren't a dense boy such as Percy, but other than that…. So, was she falling for the Son of the Sea God? "You were green and turning gray when they found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing…"

"Now, now," Chiron said. He was in his human, wheelchair form at the very end of the bed. Percy looked a little surprised to see him there, like he appeared out of thin air. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit. How are you feeling?"

"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved." Percy answered. Nice explanation.

"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now, you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened." Chiron said.

I perked up at that. I desperately wanted to know.

But what Percy said I didn't want to accept. Was that why Luke came to say goodbye? But, where was he now? Was it too late for me to change his mind? He had tried to kill Percy! I sat back and tried to keep from crying.

The room became deadly silent after that. It just kept stretching on and on.

"I can't believe that Luke…" Annabeth faltered with her words. Anger and sadness crept into her voice. "Yes." she decided. "Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him…. He was never the same after his quest."

I stood up and walked up to the other side of Percy's cot. He looked surprised to see me there. As did Annabeth and Chiron.

"You have to tell me, Percy, where did Luke go." I asked my voice on the brink of shaking.

Percy shook his head still looking shocked, no longer by my presence, but because of my question.

"I-I'm not sure. I don't know." he told me.

"He-he just left? Did you see anything? Anything all—"

"No," he objected. "He made an arc with his sword and he just stepped through and was gone. Why—" he started, but I turned away frustrated. He was saying goodbye. But why? Was it too dangerous for me? I mean, I was sure, absolutely positive, that he loved me. He really, truly loved me.

Chiron continued, seemingly ignoring my outburst. "This must be reported to Olympus." he murmured bleakly. "I will go at once." My heart jumped in my chest.

No.

No, I needed more time. If I did manage to somehow save Luke, how would the gods punish him? Just the thought of that made me want to give up right then and there.

"Luke is out there right now," Percy said. "I have to go after him."

"No, Percy. The gods—" Chiron tried to warn him.

"Won't even talk about Kronos," he lashed back. I don't think I'd ever heard him talk like that before, seen him that mad. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"

Chiron and Annabeth turned to look at me. Annabeth's gaze was a little more scathing, though.

"Tori, you should get going. Argus will be with you shortly." Chiron told me gently. I'd heard too much, but… I'd already known about Kronos. "I do hope you have a good year and I look forward to seeing you next summer."

I managed a smile, which was really just a twitch of the edge of my lips.

"Um, yeah. Thanks. You too." I muttered turning and walking out, feeling all three of their stares on my back. I picked up my bags and headed up the hill, trudging my feet. I stood for a moment and turned to look back at camp. Would things be the same when I came back? I sure hoped so.

I waited in the van for Argus, but didn't expect Percy to come with him. What an awkward, long ride that was going to be. And it most certainly was. We didn't speak, we just stared out opposite windows on opposite sides of the van. But it was still awkward.

Then I remembered where I lived. I wasn't exactly ashamed, I just didn't really want anyone to know. My foster mother was very sweet and handled me very well, because of my apparent ADHD and dyslexia. So I didn't mind living there, it was just… I don't know how to explain it; I just didn't want Percy knowing, or anyone else for that matter (except Luke, I had told him), that I did live in a foster home.

"Hey, Argus, could you stop a block away from my… my house?" I requested. One of his eyes opened on the side of his neck and stared at me a little confused. I smiled as innocently as I could. He nodded. "Thanks."

When we got close, Argus parked onto the curb and helped me with my bags.

"Thanks again, Argus. I'll see you next summer." He smiled, turned, and one of his eyes opened up in the back of his neck to wink at me. I couldn't help but grin at that.

The van drove off and I headed up toward my home. Mrs. Alexander gave me such a tight hug when I got in I couldn't breathe.

She followed me into my room. I threw my bags down on my bed and started unpacking. I took out The Red Pyramid and set it down.

"How was camp?" she asked just as I noticed something silver and shiny sticking out from underneath the cover. I picked up the book slowly, and pulled out a small, thin chain with a single charm. I held it up to the light to get a good look at it. A necklace. It had to be from Luke. I put my hand behind the charm and looked at it carefully. It was relatively small, and it was in the shape of a scythe.

My foster mom didn't know anything about me being a half-blood. I mean, she was my legal guardian, but I didn't want to put that kind of stress on her. She already did enough for me; I was trying to return the favor.

The beginning of the school year went without a hitch. Things were quiet, no monsters found me, and nothing "unusual" in a mortal's mind happened either. Of course, I thought about Luke constantly. I always wondered where he was. What he was doing. If he was even okay. That look in his eyes when he left that last day at camp was absolutely agonizing. When would I see him again? Was I ever going to see him again?

Then everything changed. It was New Year's Eve. It had become a tradition, ever since I was little, to go see the ball drop in Times Square. That's where I was right now. Usually, I'd be with Mrs. Alexander but she was sick. I told her I could stay at home and watch it from TV, but she insisted I go out. I did really want to, so, I donned a light jacket (it was cold but I was feeling very warm lately, and no I wasn't sick, we checked), hailed a taxi and went down to Times Square.

It was almost as crazy as it had been when Percy had come back from his quest alive. There was screaming and cheering. People dressed for the weather as well as the occasion. I was probably the only odd one out. I didn't like dressing up for holidays. I celebrated them, but didn't like dressing up.

I paid the cab and slipped out into the cool night air. I shoved my hands into my pockets and walked forward in the crowd. I slipped through leisurely, trying to get to the front. I still had five minutes before they activated the ball. I looked around as I strolled, couples, friends, news reporters and cameras were everywhere.

I was slipping through a tight spot when I noticed something a little odd. A young man, nineteen, maybe twenty, was staring into a dark alley way. (I know, horribly cliché, but it was the easiest spot to pick where you wouldn't have anyone interrupting you… that is if no one noticed.)

I quickly started making my way over to him, glancing at the clock. Three minutes before New Years. I looked back at the man but he was just being swallowed up by the darkness. I hurried along through the crowd hoping I'd be able to make it in time. Hoping that if it involved monsters at all, I'd be able to take care of it in less than two minutes.

I approached the alley cautiously. It was way too dark for me to see anything. Like pitch black. Holding my breath, and letting my switchblade slip out from my sleeve, I stepped in, the sounds of the crowd muting tremendously. I walked forward a few inches and heard someone say, "How about a kiss." My first thought would be, oh, some couple enjoying New Years, but the way the voice said it sent chills down my spine.

I'd only ever heard of them before, at camp. I'd seen one picture, which wasn't very pretty. Deathly pale skin, glowing red eyes, elongated fangs, and two different legs one brown, shaggy, with a hoof, and the other made of bronze: empousai. But how many were there? Just one, or more?

Swallowing hard I took another step forward.

"Wait," a different voice said. I froze. Okay, right now, two. I didn't think that was too bad…. "I smell a half-blood." My heart jumped in my throat. Oh dear. I peered into the darkness trying to distinguish any shapes, but my eyes weren't adjusting very well with the neon lights flashing behind me.

Suddenly there they were, two glowing red eyes that seemed to be floating in mid-air. I was frozen to the spot, petrified. I didn't think I'd ever meet an empousa, now I was practically staring one in the face. But I had to be brave and make sure that guy they'd taken was going to be safe.

Another pair of floating, red eyes appeared. There was a scream that sounded like that man's, before the sound of scuffling. I had just enough time to step aside right before the guy dashed out of the alleyway. Two pairs of eyes turned on me radiating anger and hatred. Well, at least the guy was safe, I guess. Me on the other hand….

"You idiot half-blood!" one of them hissed. "You're going to pay for that!"

"I thought you didn't feed off of girls." I said.

The one closet to me took a step forward and I could suddenly, magically, see her. I tried not to cringe away or make an expression of disgust. Her face was worse than I could have imagined or had seen in the book. I mean, she looked normal enough; black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail, dressed like a normal teenage girl, jeans, a jacket, boots. It was really weird. But the face gave it away. Pale, red glowing eyes and fangs.

"We can always make exceptions." she told me with a malicious smile. She took another step toward me. I pulled out my switchblade; it skimmed the base of her neck. Her smile didn't waver. That was when I wished I'd brought my sword with me. She swatted my blade away. "You can do better than that half-blood, I know you can." she scoffed.

I moved my hand back trying to keep it from shaking. "Yeah, well, I regrettably forgot my sword at home." I retorted, sounding much calmer than I felt about my predicament. "Besides, I couldn't just walk into the middle of Times Square with a sword hanging from my waist, now could I?"

The other empousa stepped into my line of view. I kept an eye on her and the one in front, looking for any indication they might lash out at me.

"You're a confident one, aren't you?" the other one asked. She had long, flaming, blond hair, literally and metaphorically. There were little sparks and flames that would appear in her hair every now and again. Okay, no one ever said anything about flaming hair!

"Well it's helped me stay alive for this long." I replied.

The empousa in front of me smiled. "Why don't we change that then?" At first I thought she was going to lunge, instead the one with the blond hair did. I wasn't prepared for this and almost got bowled over by her, but I managed to sidestep her attack. She flew past me, I could feel the heat of her hair brushing against my cheek though, she came so close.

Before I could recover the one with black hair was already flying toward me. I swiftly ducked and did a summersault underneath her. I landed on one knee, one leg extended and turned to face them. The blond lunged, I lashed out with my blade but she dodged. I got to my feet just as the black-haired empousa bared her fangs and charged toward me. I braced myself to meet her so I could at least try to eliminate one of them. I couldn't keep running away.

As soon as she came into reaching distance I grabbed her shoulder with my left hand and jabbed my blade into her with the other as hard as I could. Her teeth inches from my neck. She pulled back with a stunned look on her face, like she couldn't comprehend that I'd just managed to stab her before she managed to bite me. I capitalized on this moment and jabbed again in her side and dragged my blade down diagonally.

Her eyes had become murderous but before she could attack again she turned into dust. The other walked through her friend's ashes, her eyes shining brighter than ever, and her hair in full-on flame mode. Oh boy. I didn't think I had enough energy to deal with her.

"You were lucky that time," she spat constraining herself from attacking me just yet. "But she was merely a trainee." she smiled wickedly. Now was the time I was really wishing I had my sword.

With a low growl rising in her chest she went into a hunter's crouch. I was expecting this and got ready to dodge, but she knew my moves, and before I could get out of her way, she grabbed my arm and slammed me up against the brick wall, and not lightly either.

I tried to stab her, but she caught my wrist and twisted until I dropped my blade. Darn it. Now I was weaponless. She smiled and laughed throwing me down. I lifted myself up slightly and glowered up at her.

"You're going to have to better than, little godling." she mocked. "Go on, get up." My eyes never left her as I slowly go to my feet. "That's it, get up. I'll give you one last try."

Before I could do much of anything, though, she ran toward me and was tugging one of my arms behind my back.

"Not fast enough." she snarled in my ear pulling my arm up an inch, sending shockwaves of pain throughout my entire body.

"Well…" I gasped through clenched teeth. "If you'd let me grab my blade, maybe I'd do better."

She pulled my arm up more and I tried not to scream.

"I'm not going to fall for that stupid little trick." she laughed. "Even if you had that wimpy thing you call a blade, I'd still cream you." I heard her inhale deeply. "You don't smell half bad, half-blood." she commented. I felt her teeth graze my neck and panic shot up my spine.

"But I'm not going to let you off that easily." she said after a moment. "You vaporized my trainee and I just won't stand for that. I did say I would have my revenge." I felt her move and slightly push me forward. I braced for pain. But then she pulled me back. "Oh, and Luke says hi." She finished. I didn't have very much time to process that because not a second after she pushed me forward, and as she did this her claws-for-nails raked the back of my right shoulder, ripping through the fabric of my jacket and shirt underneath, as well as my skin, like a hot knife slicing through butter.

I heard the rip before I felt the pain. And when I felt the pain I couldn't stop the cry of pure agony. I fell to my knees, my left hand coming up and holding my shoulder tightly, my nails digging into my skin. That pain incomparable to the burning of my shoulder. I could feel the cold night breeze on my bare shoulder followed by the warmth of gushing blood; my blood.

My heart stuttered irregularly and I felt like vomiting and passing out.

Then I felt a hand grab a fistful of my hair and pull my head back. She was standing in front of me, bending down, getting right into my face. I gave the most menacing glare I could through all the stinging and the pounding headache I was starting to get.

"That's what you get." she spat throwing me off to the side. I struggled to at least sit up. "You're so pathetic." She knelt down and fingered my necklace from camp. My vision blurred and I vaguely registered the shouts of people counting down from thirty. "Yet you've been going for six years now. Don't they teach you anything?" the empousa asked, her voice almost drowning out the others. That's when I started seeing black spots.

I blinked rapidly trying to clear my vision. I couldn't afford to pass out now. What would she do to me then?

"Sure they do; they teach you how to read Greek." Another voice came. It was male, but I was too out of it to recognize it. "Don't forget the arts and crafts." When I looked all the bright lights shadowed the figure standing at the entrance of the alleyway. "Oh, and there's a really awesome climbing wall." The empousa stood up and faced the guy. "But most important, they teach us how to kick monster butt."

"Another one come here to die as well." she said not scared at all. "Oh, you're a handsome boy, aren't you?" her voice perked up like she'd just won an unexpected prize. "How about a kiss?" she asked in a seductive voice.

"I wouldn't kiss you if my life depended on it." the guy retorted.

She let out a frustrated, enraged growl. "You're going to regret that."

I closed my eyes, no longer able to keep them open. The hand that was gripping my wounded shoulder loosened as I started falling into a black abyss.

The last things I heard were snarls and the sounds of a slicing blade, hitting nothing but air.

Then the countdown, which seemed to have gotten louder suddenly, in the last seconds of my consciousness, muffling the sounds of the fight.

"Ten!" they shouted in unison. "Nine…! Eight…! Seven…! Six…! Five…!" Their voices started to fade as New Years got closer. "Four…! Three…! Two…! One…!" The volume slowly lowered as I let the lapping black waves wash over me. "Happy New Year…!"

I felt weak, and tired, and really, really hungry. I opened my eyes slowly but was met by a bright light shining through the window and quickly closed them again. I lifted my arm—which was extremely hard for some reason—and put my hand over my eyes before rubbed the sleep and gunk out of them. I tried rolling over onto my right, but searing pain stopped me. I gritted my teeth and took deep breaths until the blazing pain finally subsided.

I slowly opened my eyes again, squinting because of the blinding light. I opened them inch by inch as my eyes slowly adjusted until I only had to blink a few times before my eyes were finally, fully open.

I used my left hand and pushed myself up, struggling because my right shoulder was like dead weight. I was panting when I achieved my goal.

I was turning into such a wimp! That went so, horribly, wrong. I don't think I'd ever encountered a monster where I didn't win, or at least, that I couldn't fight. That ignited a yearning to train over this year so I would be better prepared next time I met a monster or stupidly decided to save someone from a monster with a switchblade.

I looked around the room. It was my room. How did I get here? I looked out the window. The glass was cold which felt good because of the layer of blankets resting on my legs. Outside the snow was half-melted, and the sun was just barely making its way through the clouds.

I lived with Mrs. Alexander in her apartment. It wasn't top notch, but it was livable.

"Oh, you're up!" a familiar voice exclaimed. I looked over to the door to see my foster mom.

I smiled.

"Yeah," I croaked my voice breaking. I cleared my throat. It was deathly dry.

"Here you are deary." she said handing me a glass of water. I downed it quickly and set it aside on my nightstand. Mrs. Alexander then handed me a bowl of jell-o.

She was a sweet foster mother, about in her thirties, with long raven-black hair, and laugh lines.

"Thank you." I told her before taking a big spoonful. It was probably the best thing I'd tasted in a long time. But perhaps that was because I was starving. "How long have I been… out?" I was a little afraid of the answer and based on how hollow my stomach felt I had been out for a long time.

"Three days." she whispered.

"Three…" I mimicked in a shocked tone. "Three days." I was totally dumbfounded. "Oh gods." I muttered. My eyebrows furrowed. "But, wait, how did I get back here. What about my shoulder—?" I reached up to gently prod it and realized that the top of my torso was wrapped in gauze and so was part of my right arm. (I was wearing a tank top over this, just so you know.) "How—"

There were three loud knocks on the door.

"Oh, that must be them. I'll explain everything in just a moment, dear, okay?" she asked getting up, setting the tray, she'd brought the glass of water and jell-o on, down at the foot of the bed. She headed out before I could answer.

I stared down at my red jell-o and waited as patiently as I could. I heard the door open and then greetings, but I couldn't understand any of the words that were being said.

Mrs. Alexander popped her head in.

"You have visitors. They've come every day waiting for you to wake up, and making sure you're all right. Isn't that sweet?" she explained.

"Yes, but who—" I started as she pulled away once again; someone very, very familiar-looking taking her place. He pushed the door open a little wider and stepped in. His mom—I'm assuming—stepped in after with a smile on her face. She had long brown hair, and blue eyes that shined and, if I looked closely enough, changed in the light.

"It's nice to see you awake. After what happened, I was so worried." the woman said. I didn't know what to say. I was still getting over the dazed feeling. "Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't even told you my name. I'm Percy's mom, Sally Jackson." She walked forward with her hand outstretched. I carefully, because of my shoulder, reached up and shook it.

"N-nice to m-meet you." I stuttered my brain unfreezing. "I'm Victoria… but Tori works too." I quickly added.

Mrs. Jackson nodded and stepped aside. Percy came forward then and we looked at each other, but didn't say anything.

"Maybe I should give you some time by yourselves." Mrs. Jackson suggested walking toward the door.

"That's not necessary—" I started just as Percy turned and said, "You don't have to—" but the door was already closing. Percy stared at it for a moment before turning back to look at me, and then at the walls. Talk about awkward.

Finally he pulled the chair from the foot of the bed and sat down. I took this time to put the bowl of jell-o onto the windowsill.

I stared down at my hands and fiddled with my fingers.

"Thanks," I finally mumbled. I never actually thought I'd ever say this in my life, especially to Percy, no offense. (I mean, if he managed to take that empousa on by himself, he was good.) "Thank for, uh, saving my life." I hesitantly looked up at him.

He looked embarrassed.

"I-I wouldn't exactly call it 'saving your life.' " he muttered meeting my gaze for a split second before looking away again.

"Still, if you hadn't been there… I don't think I'd be here." An awkward silence followed that.

"Oh, uh, I found a switchblade near the entrance of the alley. I was just assuming… it was… yours." Percy said breaking the silence and pulling out a blade. Sure enough it was mine.

"Thanks." I took it and put it on the nightstand next to the empty glass.

More awkward silence ensued.

Thankfully, Mrs. Jackson poked her head through.

"All right, Percy. It's time to go home." she said. "It was nice meeting you, Tori." I smiled.

"Nice meeting you, too." Percy stood up. "Bye, Percy. Thanks, again."

He nodded and headed out. I fell back onto my bed (which was painful) and let out a huge groan.

I was so going to be taking weapon lessons over the school year now. It was a good thing I knew an older friend who actually happened to be a half-blood.

Hope you enjoyed!

.happiness.

~ See you at Camp Half-Blood!