Beginning of Chapter 2...?
The moon glared down upon the stone and mud structures. The village was beautiful, yet something was wrong. Even at this time of night there would be a little noise, but the entire town was deathly silent.
Out of the alleys several shapes began to drift toward a house set in the side of a hill. The shapes stopped twelve or so feet away and seemed to disappear at one of the nearby buildings.
The dark figures stepped from their various shadows and grouped together. After the exchange of several hand signals, they began advancing on the house again. They crossed the final street silently and split into two groups. One went around the side while the second approached the front door.
One of the figures went to the door, slinging its weapon under its arm; around its back as the other two leveled their weapons at the door. The figure bent down and opened a small wallet sized set of picks and began to work on the door. After a few moments the figure put the picks away and unslung its weapon. Raising a hand, the figure gripped the handle of the now unlocked door and opened it slowly. The other two figures readied behind the first and they went in.
The street remained silent as they entered the building, sweeping their zones as they went. The room they were in held two exits, the group moved towards the door on the left and swung it open. They were met by several weapons being leveled at them.
A few hand signals exchanged with the group that had gone around the side, and they merged together into one group as they went for the unopened door behind them.
The lead figure laid its hand on the door and looked back at the others for support. They were all nervous about what lay beyond, but they had been hunting their target for too long. Receiving a few nods of assurance, the lead figure started to push the door, but it exploded off its hinges.
The beast launched off the door and flew towards the group, its talons outstretched. The monster made it a few feet towards the group before several crossbow bolts thudded into it. The monster went down and one of the figures stepped up, slinging its crossbow under a shoulder and pulled a sword out of what seemed like thin air.
The figure walked over and raised the blade, but the monster lashed out knocking off the figure's hood. "I know THAT SMELL!" it screeched. "You have the blood of Medusa and my other sister on you, half-blood. Neither has yet to reform." The monster spat, slashing at the figure before more quarrels thudded into it.
The figure glared down at the monster pinned to the floor by several crossbow bolts. "You have killed this village, and many like it. For this deed, I sentence you to return to Tartarus." The figure said through its half mask. Raising the blade once more, the figure brought it down in a swift strike; the freed head rolled away before the monster dissolved into dust.
The figure sighed and turned back to the group. "Let's pack it up," he said pulling his hood back over his jet black hair. "Nikolai, Jacob, go search the rest of the house for anything useful. When you're done, we're out of here; this place creeps me out."
A few chuckles came from the group. "Yes Sir," one of the hooded figures said as he walked through the doorway into the room the gorgon had been hiding in. One of the hooded figures was helping the demigod that had been thrown by the door while the other turned and went through the doorway.
The leader sighed and checked his watch. The time read around midnight, but the figure was looking at the date. "Two more days," he muttered.
The figure tending to the wounded soldier heard this and looked up. "It's ok, there's only two more days."
"Sir, we've got a half-blood in here, but she won't come to us," a voice called from the other room.
The leader sighed, as if things couldn't get any worse. "Thanks Nikolai, on my way." He turned and started towards the door. "Cal, come on."
They entered the low ceiling room and took in the destruction caused by the gorgon. The room had been torn apart, the table and its contents strewn across the floor. Crouched at the other end of the room were the hooded figures of Nikolai and Jacob. They were trying to coax a young, wild-haired Middle Eastern girl out from the crack in the wall she was cowering in.
"No! Bad men stay away!"
Normally the hooded figure would have worried about the language difference, but the group's ear pieces acted as universal translators.
"Jacob, Nick, go in the other room." The leader sat cross-legged on the floor five feet away from the scared girl. He reached up and pushed back his hood.
He freed his jet black hair. "It's okay. None of us are going to hurt you," he said.
The girl did not come forward from her hiding place. In fact she cowered further into her hole.
The man nodded at this and scooted further away, leaving a good seven feet between them. The other figure that had come in, Cal, sat down a little closer. The reached back and freed its hood, shaking long caramel-colored hair out of the confines.
The now hoodless girl reached up and pulled down her half mask. She smiled at the cowering youth and put out her arms.
At the sight of a fellow female, and one with such soft almond eyes; brought the girl shooting out of her hiding place and into the arms of the sitting girl.
The young Middle Eastern girl was bawling into the girl Cal's shoulder. "The bad men hurt me, and the witch woman killed them, but she tried to eat me," the girl sobbed. Cal started petting the girl's hair, whispering calming words to the young girl.
The jet black haired teen decided to make the room a loupe more comfortable. He got up and went to the fire pit that was barely more than embers. He sent up a silent prayer to the goddess of the hearth and there was a bright flash. When the flash faded, there was a middle-aged Middle Eastern woman sitting next to a now cozy hearth.
The woman smiled at the black haired teen. "I haven't heard from you in a long time," the woman said, pulling the boy into a tight embrace.
"I am sorry Lady Hestia. I have been elsewhere," the teen said.
The woman just smiled and pulled back. She started to ask why he had called her when she heard the crying. She turned to the crying girl and sat by the hearth.
"Come here child, no one will hurt you."
The girl's head shot up at the voice. The girl scrambled out of the caramel haired girls lap, and rushed to the woman.
"Grandma, is it really you," the girl cried.
"Yes, and I am sorry I haven't come to see you in a long time, but now I am here. Why don't you talk to the young man here? He has some things to tell you."
The girl had stopped crying, but was clutching Hestia tight. "Bad men are scary," she said not looking at the dark haired teen.
"This one would never hurt you," Hestia said, giving the girl a squeeze.
The girl nodded and turned towards the teen. The teen smiled and sat on the hearth a few feet away. "I'm Percy, and you don't have to worry about being hurt by any of us."
The girl nodded again and continued to sit on Hestia's lap.
Over the course of the next hour the group talked. Percy explained about how she was a half-blood, that her father was a god, and that she would be safe. And the girl had in turn told them about the horror she had experienced in the past two weeks. Her village had been invaded by bad men who had killed almost everyone. She had hid for the first few days, but she came out to get food and she had been caught like the others. The next few minutes had turned everyone's blood to ice and the girl had started crying. Hestia and the girl, Cal, comforted her while Percy shook in rage.
After a few minutes he repressed his anger and smiled at the girl. After a few more minutes the girl finished her story about the gorgon coming and killing the men, then chasing her. They had comforted the girl and explained again how no one would hurt her.
Percy looked down at his watch and read 11:45. He had a quick talk with Hestia and they whisked each other goodbye. After Hestia disappeared Percy turned to back to the girl, who they had founds name was Anita, and smiled. "Alright, we are going to take you to a safe place" he said, but she had already fallen asleep. Percy smiled and signaled Cal that they would be staying for a while. He sat down next to the hearth and he soon felt a small figure crawl close. Anita fell back asleep with her head nestled on Percy's thigh.
He smiled and stroked the young girl's hair as the caramel haired girl came and sat near him. "Two more days Cal," he said softly as she leaned into the warmth of the hearth and fell asleep too.
Percy grinned and stroked Anita's matted hair. "Guys we'll be here a little while longer. Go scout around if you want," he said activating his earpiece. They confirmed they had heard and he leaned his head on top of Calypso's; thinking back to the last time he had seen Hestia.
{{Three years ago}}
Percy groaned rolling over he looked around. He was at the hearth in the throne room on Olympus. As he looked around the room the memories of the previous day returned, saddening the young demigod.
His sleep had been filled with dreams of the faces of those he had lost and killed. He had not slept well that night, something that as a demigod he was used to.
Why did this happen, he thought? What did I do to deserve this?
He allowed for a minute more of self sympathy before he remembered what Hestia had said, "You have many choices to make tomorrow."
He stood up and stretched. The throne room still showed some signs of the recent battle, but the damaged thrones had been repaired. As Percy looked upon the gods' seats of power he tried not to remember what had happened the day before, instead he directed his thoughts to the thrones. Most bore elaborate designs of that gods' fields. Poseidon's was a fishing chair with green stitched waves rolling over the chair. As he looked Percy noticed that the waves were moving, constantly crashing together and rolling over the chair. The shadows of shapes moved under the waves, yet Percy had no idea how it was possible considering they were just stitches.
Percy turned to the other gods' thrones and felt at peace as he watched the shifting scenes of their domains. His thoughts turned to his mother and Paul. Who was it that had killed them? He wondered. The giants had been killed, but no one could find the blonde haired man.
He was brought out of his misery when he noticed a soft hand on his shoulder. Turning he met the gaze of Hestia. "Percy, the Olympians will be holding a council in a few hours. My brother asked me to tell you that his palace on Olympus is open to you."
"Thank you Aunt Hestia," Percy said deciding he would go find his dad's palace and get cleaned up before the council meeting. Percy left Hestia at the hearth after promising that he would remember to call on her should he ever want to talk.
As he walked through the streets of Olympus he thought about the choices he had before him, and by the time he arrived at his father's palace he had decided what he would do.
He almost gasped when he beheld his father's palace. It was beautiful, made of sea green blocks of stone with beautiful plants, native to the most beautiful parts of the seas, planted all around the palace, but what made it for Percy was the fact that the entire palace was encased in a dome of water.
The palace was underwater, which would give him the privacy from others, something that only the peace of being underwater could give.
Percy sent silent thanks to Poseidon as he stepped up to the edge of the water. I hope it doesn't pop when I walk into it, he thought.
The water cascaded around his body as he stepped through. When he was past the edge he looked back. Olympus and the other palaces looked so much better from underwater, he thought.
He propelled himself through the water and to the palace doors. With a motion of his hand the doors swung open, admitting him to the beautiful palace of his father. The walls were lined with coral and plants from deep under the sea. The room was filled with living, glowing coral in the place if chandeliers and light fixtures.
Percy propelled himself forward, setting out to explore the palace, but a movement to his left stopped him. He thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out riptide in pen form.
The pack of reef sharks ignored the pen in his hand and one swam forward a few feet. "Master Perseus, your father sends his greetings," a slightly growly voice spoke in his mind. "I am Brightfin, steward of your father's palace here on Olympus."
Percy got over his shock of not being attacked and berated himself for forgetting be could speak to all creatures under the sea, including sharks.
"Nice to meet you Brightfin," Percy said putting his pen away and deciding not to make an awkward situation by sticking out his hand to shake.
The reef shark stayed where it was and spoke again. "The showers are down that way, they should be self-explanatory," Brightfin said flicking a fin towards a hallway. "One of the sharks here will bring you the new set of clothes that just arrived."
"Alright, yeah. Thanks man er...shark," Percy finished awkwardly. The sharks began making an odd growling noise that worried Percy. He wondered if he had pissed them off, but then he realized that they were laughing. "Enjoy you shower master Perseus," Brightfin said as he swam in the opposite direction.
Percy chuckled to himself as he propelled himself towards the showers. He went through a doorway and encountered a puzzle.
He was underwater, how on earth was he supposed to take a shower. He looked around the room he was in and saw a drain in the floor and one on the ceiling. He wondered what the one on the ceiling was. He continued looking around and saw the button on the wall next to the doorway. He leaned over and hit the button. When nothing happened he started towards the door to go ask Brightfin how to work the shower. As he moved, a door slid up from a hidden panel in the ground; sealing him in.
He panicked for a second as the water started draining from the room. Then it hit him, the shower room was like an airlock, it would drain the water from the room so he could take a shower and then it would fill backup so not to disturb the amount of water in the dome.
Percy smiled to himself at being able to figure that out. He grunted before coming back to reality to take a shower. When he had finished he hit the button again and waited for the room to fill back up. The door slid down and Percy swam out into the small changing room where a new set of clothes were waiting for him. The clothes were soaked from being in the water, but at Percy's touch they instantly dried.
He put on the dark green short-sleeve t-shirt and grabbed the pair of dark khaki pants. He reached in his pocket and sure enough there was Riptide. He smiled and reached for a small package next to the clothes. The note said, "Thanks for saving Luke's soul, -H" Percy read the note and gave a ragged grin before he opened the case. There, lying in the molded felt was the ring that Annabeth wore around her neck.
He thought about how she had never loved him, but he was still sad about her death. A memento to a happier time, he thought. Sliding the ring out of the felt, he took off his Camp Half Blood necklace and slid the ring on.
He looked at the torn and destroyed clothes at his feet. He looked around and found a chute in the wall. He tossed the clothes into the chute and went to thank Brightfin. After making small talk with the staff, Percy left his father's palace.
He walked down on the street of Olympus taking in the damage caused by Kronos. Remembering what he was about to do, his good mood disappeared.
He reached the throne room and paused. Taking a deep breath he pushed open the doors. Most of the Olympians were already there, but a few were still missing. Shrugging, he took a seat next to the hearth and waited for the council to begin.
The remaining gods slowly appeared in the room and took their seats. Zeus started the meeting, rambling on about the plans to fix Olympus. Athena enlisted the help of her children to design the new Olympus.
After the talk about the new additions to camp was out of the way, Zeus closed the meeting and all the gods except Zeus and Hera left. Percy got up from his seat at the hearth and kneeled before Zeus.
"Lord Zeus, I would like to ask you a favor."
"What, do you want us to start spending time with our children now?" Zeus asked sarcastically.
Percy shook his head and grinned. "No, but that's actually a good idea. You should think about that."
His smile faded and he continued. "But no. I am here to ask you if I could leave camp. There are too many memories there."
Zeus started to respond when Hera stepped in. "Husband, perhaps we could send him to...you know...the romans," she said, mumbling the last part.
Zeus started to yell, but Hera laid her hand on his arm. "I think this might work. Remember what Apollo's Oracle saw and my own theory is on it."
Zeus considered the choices for a moment. He sat up a little bit on his throne "My love, could you go get Lady Lupa?"
Hera nodded and flashed out. Percy just stood there through the entire exchange trying to understand. Why would he want to go to Rome? He considered asking what was going on when Hera appeared with a wolf the size of a small hellhound.
Zeus raised his hand and he and his wife blurred for a moment. When they came back into focus, he was wearing a toga and she was wearing some skirt thing. They were both larger and had stricter facial expressions.
Zeus grinned down at a confused Percy. "Ahh, Young Perseus, as you can see we are Roman gods." He said making Percy even more confused.
Hera eventually took pity on the confused demigod and explained about the roman camp and the gods' aspects. "...and the Roman campers are taught by Lupa, just like; well no, totally differently than Chiron."
Percy absorbed all this information. "So am I supposed to train with this Lupa, whenever she shows up," he asked.
The wolf beside Hera, or Juno, growled and leapt at him. He started to reach for Riptide, but his hand had barely reached his pocket when the wolf was upon him.
He started to struggle when a voice entered his mind.
"Quiet Pup, that is your one warning because you didn't know. Next time, I will kick your ass," the wolf growled. "You will learn respect."
Percy stared at the wolf on top of him before it struck him. Lupa, Lupine, he knew what that meant. "I apologize Lady Lupa," Percy said bowing his head to the wolf.
With a growl, Lupa released the boy and started to glow. When the light subsided, in her place stood a beautiful woman with overly large canines. She turned to Zeus and paused.
"I'll accept this boy, but the camp may not," she said with a surprisingly soft voice, for a wolf.
Hera and Zeus conversed mentally for a few moments and after a few nods, agreed to send Percy to the camp.
The two flashed out; leaving Percy and Lupa alone.
"Listen close pup, the Romans aren't like their puny Greek counterparts. You have to earn their trust," Lupa said.
Percy began wondering if this was such a good idea, but Lupa grabbed his arm, flashing them to the Roman camp.
Shaking her head, Lupa walked towards the guards at the entrance to a tunnel.
"Halt, Identify yourselves," one of the guards hollered.
Lupa stepped closer and they dropped to their knees. "Lady Lupa, we didn't see it was you.
"It's ok children. It is good that you are guarding Rome."
"What brings you to camp my lady, and with a demigod no less," the guard on the left asked.
As Lupa explained something about how he had been working for the gods, and something about the Labyrinth; Percy took the time to size up the two guards. The guard on the left was a fairly large boy, he wore a set of medium armor and had a bow slung over his back. Percy wasn't very worried about him, but the guard on the right made him hesitate. Even though she looked to be only 13, she wore a long Calvary sword in a hanging sheath about halfway up her side. Normally he wouldn't worry about such a weapon on a non-mounted fighter, but the girl seemed to know how to use it.
Percy was snapped out if his examination when Lupa called to him, something about being lazy and not very Roman. The two guards stepped to the sides and allowed them to pass. He hurried a few paces to catch up to Lupa.
They walked through the tunnel and emerged next to a river. Percy gasped as he took in the valley around him. On the far side there was a city. Its streets bustled with merchants, children, and adults all going around with their daily lives. In front of the city was an armed encampment where warriors were training, blacksmiths were making weapons, and more chores were being done. All around this encampment were wooden watchtowers, guarded and armed with large crossbows.
"The Little Tiber," Lupa said. Wading across to the river Lupa got extremely wet, whilst Percy remains perfectly dry. When they were halfway across the river horns were sounded and all up the line of towers the mounted crossbows swiveled towards them. The gates to the encampment opened and out streamed eight fully armed Romans. Lupa ignored them and reached the other bank. She stepped onto the bank and stumbled over a rock; Percy lunged forward and caught her arm out of reflex. She started to growl and pulled from his grip.
The Romans rushed past her and the leader attacked him. Percy barely had time to draw Riptide and block the downward blow. The other guards rushed forward and Percy began to worry, since he no longer held the blessing of Achilles so these Romans would tear him apart just because of sheer numbers. His attackers pressed him back. He dodged a thrust from a spear and blocked a strike from the leader. Percy smacked a few of them back and raised his other arm. The Little Tiber responded to him and tentacles of water flew out and started blocking their attacks.
The battle raged on. He took two blows, a cut across the shoulder and a small puncture wound to his arm. He realized he could not win this fight without maiming the others, so he stopped hitting with the flat of his blade. He took several steps back and flicked his arm at the river. The water receded into the river and Percy let the blade drop from his hand.
The leader of the patrol started forward to execute him, but before he could strike a figure stepped out of the camp. The girl wore a purple cape with the letters SPQR in gold. She walked forward and the patrol leader lowered his weapon.
Following the girl were two others, a skinny blonde boy and a legionnaire ghost. The ghost looked at Percy and narrowed his eyes.
"Graecus," the ghost spat. The skinny boy widened his eyes and started whispering with the ghost. The girl looked back, clearly annoyed and raised her hand causing them to fall silent, albeit unwillingly.
"Who are you prisoner?" She said her hand dropping to a dagger sheathed across her waist.
At this Lupa stepped forward. "His name is Perseus Jackson, and why was the demigod I was escorting attacked," she growled rounding on the patrol.
Their leader cowered before the mother of Rome. "W..we saw him attack you Lady Lupa." the boy continued to cower.
Lupa glared at him for a moment, before speaking again. "I tripped; he stopped me from falling you fool. You are just lucky he didn't actually fight you fools or the praetor would have had to execute him."
The boy stumbled over himself spewing apologies. Lupa glared at him for a moment then looked back at the girl with the purple cloak.
Percy had been watching the girl, he could almost swear that he knew her, but couldn't put his finger on it. When Lupa had said his name, the girl had flinched. She definitely knew him, but from where. He would have to ask her later.
The girl was glaring at him and he realized he had missed something.
"I said come with me boy," the girl repeated irritated.
Percy nodded and followed the girl. One of the patrols said something about getting his sword, but when they looked his sword had disappeared. Percy felt the familiar weight of his pen in his pocket and allowed himself a slight smile.
Percy, the girl, the blonde boy, the ghost, and Lupa walked into the camp and towards the Principia.
They stopped at a stand selling some sort of meat because Lupa was hungry. Percy watched as the blonde boy walked over to a brown haired girl standing nearby. At first Percy thought she must have been his girlfriend because the boy stroked her hair, but she smacked his hand away. The boy said something to her and the color drained from the girls face. The blonde boy chuckled and stroked her hair again, causing shivers of repressed fury and revulsion to travel down the girl's body. Percy had heard the boy say "...And I'll tell them your little secret." The blonde boy was clearly blackmailing the girl, and Percy decided he would do something about it.
He walked over and grabbed the boy's shoulder. "Leave her alone," he growled in a low voice. The boy took a few steps back.
"Be careful Graecus, you don't know who you are messing with."
Percy ignored him and the boy brushed past him. Percy turned towards the girl. She was beautiful. She had caramel hair and a beautiful coppery skin color. Percy thought she looked quite familiar, but his thoughts were cut short when the girl threw her arms around him.
"Perseus Jackson," she purred. "Thank you, hero."
Percy knew that voice. "Calypso," he gasped, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question," she said pulling back, holding him at arm's length. "I am free from my prison, thanks to you. And so I came to America to explore the cities that you talked about. I found one, but monsters found me and I was forced to run. Luckily I came across a patrol of demigods and they brought me here."
Percy stared at her for a moment. "Yeah, well, when we saved Olympus everyone I loved died, so I couldn't bear to return to camp. So the gods sent me here." Percy smiled at her, but his face fell as he remembered the blonde boy. "What did that boy say to you," he growled.
Her face fell, "That's Octavian, the Augur of the camp. He knows about my father, and is threatening to tell the camp if I don't do as he says," she said shivering.
Percy's face morphed into rage. He started to pull riptide from his pocket but stopped when Calypso laid her hand on his.
"No, don't do that hero," she pleaded softly. "It will only make things worse."
Percy sighed, but pulled his hand from his pocket. Calypso kept her hand on his for a moment more then released him. She started to say something else, but frowned over his shoulder. Percy turned around to see Octavian glaring at them. Octavian gave her a smirk and mouthed, "I warned you." Percy started to reach for Riptide again, but Calypso stopped him again.
"It was lovely to see you Percy, but I fear that I will not be able to stay here much longer," she said sadly looking at Octavian who had turned and followed the ghost.
"I promise you won't get hurt," Percy said. He started to say more, but the girl in the purple cloak called out to him.
"Hurry up boy, we are going!"
Percy gave Calypso a smile and ran to catch up. They reached the Principia and went in. Percy was told to wait as Lupa and the girl spoke quietly. The girl nodded and Lupa flashed away.
"Well Perseus Jackson, it looks like you are well liked by Lupa. But don't think that you will be accepted here." Finished, the girl turned and called to Octavian. Octavian said something, the ghost nodded and left.
"Yes oh great praetor," Octavian said sarcastically, coming to stand by them.
Reyna glared at him before turning to Percy. "Let's begin. You already have two strikes in my book. One you should remember, two you attacked my people," Percy started to argue but the silver and gold greyhounds that came into the room started to growl at him. The girl turned towards Octavian, "What do the auguries say?"
"They say he is a powerful demigod, a Greek, a son of Neptune," Octavian said glancing at the metal dogs. Reyna nodded, reaching for her dagger.
"I would kill you here and now, but my counterpart is on a patrol and I won't make a decision before he returns. Although Lupa and the Olympians have vouched for you, you should be very careful." With that she turned and left the room, dogs in tow.
Percy rounded on Octavian, "Listen close slime, you ever touch Calypso again and I will beat the shit out of you."
Octavian's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare touch me," he scoffed. Percy reached over and grabbed his toga.
"I will," he said through gritted teeth.
"Well then. Reyna!"
Percy released him and took a step back. Octavian glared at him. Reyna came back into the room without the dogs.
"I just had a vision, that girl that came in with the patrol. She is spawn of a titan. None other than Atlas himself."
Reyna gasped at this, a Titan in the camp. She started to call for guards, but Octavian wasn't finished.
"And you saw how the Greek and she acted," he said flicking his hand in Percy's direction. "They are spies," he said disdainfully.
Reyna glared at him, she clearly hated Octavian, but she seemed to hate Percy even more.
Percy started to speak up in his defense, but a motion at the door stopped him. In walked a very tired looking demigod with a purple cape. He tossed his sword towards a table, it spun end over end and transformed into a coin, landing on the table and spinning to a stop.
Reyna looked at the new arrival and her gaze softened. She likes him, Percy thought. He moved on his foot and she snapped her head around to glare at him again.
"Octavian, get out," she said. He started to protest but she gripped her dagger. Nodding the boy turned and left. "And send in Hazel," she called. The demigod in the cape had walked down the hallway, leaving Percy with Reyna for a moment.
Soon one of the guards from the tunnel, the girl, walked in. "Praetor," she said bringing her fist over her chest in a Roman salute.
"Go get the girl that arrived yesterday, the pretty one, and bring her here," Reyna said. The girl, Hazel, saluted and left.
Reyna rounded on Percy once more. "As much as I hate Octavian, you need to pay for everything you did to me and my sister. You and that bitch daughter of Athena."
Percy was shocked at that outburst, what had he and Annabeth done to this girl. And then it hit him. "Circe's island, you were one of the attendants."
She glared at him and nodded. "Look I'm sorry, but I didn't do anything. Circe turned me into a guinea pig," Percy said apologetically.
"Nothing, NOTHING! YOU DESTROYED MY HOME AND LEFT US DEFENSELESS WITH THOSE PIGS OF MEN," she screamed at him. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THEY DID TO US? HUH, DO YOU!"
Percy was shocked, they had unleashed pirates on the island and left. With Circe dead, the girls had indeed been defenseless. It made his blood boil when he thought about what the pirates must have done.
"I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't know. We didn't realize they would get the vitamins. I'm sorry if they hurt you, but that is Circe's fault not mine."
She glared at him and started to say something else, but the other Praetor returned, summoned by the yelling.
He looked between the two and the let his eyes rest on Percy. "What's wrong Reyna," the demigod asked Reyna, laying a hand on her shoulder.
She stopped glaring at Percy and turned to her fellow Praetor. "Nothing Jason, just dealing with a dangerous demigod."
Jason stared at Percy, something had made Reyna angry. "Alright, what's going on?"
Reyna glared at Percy and told Jason the entire story. Jason nodded and raised his eyebrows at Percy every now and then.
When Reyna finished her story Jason got up and collected his coin from the table, Percy started to worry that he might have to fight the Praetor.
Jason looked at him for a moment, then smiled. "Alright, so we have a problem. You've pissed off Reyna, you are pissing off the ghosts, and you've pissed off Octavian. Good job by the way. You are vouched for by Lupa and the gods, but you are also friends with the Titan. Way I see it there's only one thing to do."
Jason paused at that and started pacing. "It hasn't been done for years, but it might be time now."
Reyna stared at her counterpart, "What hasn't been done in years."
"A military sentence," he said causing Reyna to gasp.
Jason turned towards Percy. "You are officially sentenced to three years in special military service."
Reyna nodded, "Your sentence begins tomorrow, and tomorrow you will meet your fellow hunters."
Jason called behind him for a pair of guards to escort him to his cell. Jason turned back to Percy. "I hope you live, I feel like we could be good friends."
Percy was snapped out of his memory when his radio crackled. "Perce, we got company. There are several small figures stalking through the streets towards the house."
Percy groaned, "Got it Jacob, keep an eye on them. We're on our way out with Anita."
"Who?"
"The little girl."
"Course you got her to talk," Nikolai laughed over the radio.
"Shut up, Nick." Percy sighed. "Wake up you two," he said shaking Anita's arm. She bolted up, clearly scared, but Percy quickly pulled her into an embrace, whispering calming words to her. Calypso stretched and glared at him. "I was comfortable," she growled jokingly.
Percy sighed, "We've got inbound. Time to get back to work." He reached up and pulled up his half-mask and hood. He went from a good natured boy to a faceless being as shadows hid his sparkling green eyes from view.
Anita shrieked and stumbled back. Percy quickly knelt down. "It's ok Anita, it's still me and I would never hurt you," he said. She calmed down and smiled, "I know Percy."
He grinned and drew out a small dagger. He reversed it in his hand and handed the blade to the young girl. "Just in case. It's celestial bronze, so it will kill bad monsters like that witch."
She nodded and took the blade, a new power entering her eyes. The fear was dissipating and Percy saw this.
He turned to the now hooded Calypso and signaled to the door. She nodded and handed him his crossbow, a three and a half foot long beauty. The stock was made of a combination of wood and Plexiglas, while the arm in the front was made of a light weight metal. The string was a compound that was harvested from giant Arctic spiders and could withstand almost any conditions. Percy smiled beneath his half-mask and took the weapon, sure he sucked with a bow, but this was really easy to shoot even though he still preferred Riptide.
Together the small group went outside. As they emerged into the bare street, Percy looked up at the moon and it glared down at him.
Sighing he stepped up next to Nikolai who was staring down the street with his crossbow leveled at the approaching figures. Most were small, teenage sized. Their slight builds told him they were probably female and he groaned.
He tapped his ear piece and subvocalized, "Hunters," he said with a note of sadness in his voice. If the others picked up on it, they said nothing.
Percy looked down the street, the hunters were only a few buildings away, but he was already beginning to worry. This could get real bad, he thought.
Jacob and Nikolai were staring at the approaching hunters. The former with a little bit of fear and respect, but the latter's gaze only held loathing. Percy knew Nikolai had a problem with the hunters of Artemis, and he knew things could get ugly real fast if he wasn't careful.
The first of the hunters came around the first building, but Percy knew they were surrounded. He looked up at the sky, it was brightening, which meant Artemis was finished with her duty and would be returning to her hunters; he would have to get his group out of this fast, or things would turn bad.
He stepped forward into the street and started to say something when an arrow whipped into the earth in front of his feet.
"Drop your weapon and identify yourself," a female voice rang out.
Anita shrieked when the arrow had been shot at Percy, but had been cut off when Jacob put a hand over her mouth and whispered to be quiet. She glared at him, but that was the least of his worries. The second he put a hand on her, four hunters appeared a few feet away from the girl and leveled bows at him. "Release the girl or die, scum" one of the girls, Phoebe if Percy remembered correctly, ordered.
He stepped forward, but two arrows whistled past his head. He stopped in his tracks, but Nikolai and Calypso raised their crossbows at the two who fired. "Anita, it's okay." Percy called over his shoulder and the girl nodded. Jacob released her mouth and raised his crossbow.
Things were going to hell and Percy was worried. "Everyone calm down," he said.
"Shut your mouth boy," one of the hunters snapped. She wore a bracelet on her forearm and glared at him with piercing blue eyes. Shit, he thought. Shit shit shit. Things couldn't get any worse. Boy was he wrong.
The girl glared at him. She started to say something, but a bright silver flash interrupted her. Standing in the middle of the street was a young girl, about 12 or 13. She had long auburn hair, but her eyes were ancient. She glared at his group. "What's going on Lieutenant," the girl demanded.
"We were chasing the gorgon like you asked, but when we came here the wolves lost the scent. But we found this group of boys capturing this girl." the girl with the silver bracelet said glaring at Jacob.
Artemis's eyes exploded into silver fire. "You will die, Boy." she snapped raising a hand towards Jacob.
He started to protest, but Anita; scared, grabbed his leg and hid behind it. He lowered his hand and tousled her matted hair.
"We aren't capturing her, we just saved her from a Gorgon," Percy said.
"And why should I believe you. Who are you?"
He stayed silent.
Artemis glared at him, but the girl with the silver band rushed forward and backhanded him. "You will answer when my Lady commands; and you will take off your hood.
His group had leveled their weapons at the girl, but Artemis snapped her fingers and their weapons fell to their feet.
The girl drew back her hand to smack him again, but a small red dot played across her forehead. She lowered her hand and stepped back.
Percy smiled beneath his half-mask. Thank you Tammy, he thought. "Now if you done your little rant huntress, you will step back," he said, feeling horrible about being like this to Thalia, but he had sworn not to reveal himself to his old friends.
Artemis exploded in rage. "You dare threaten one of my huntresses!" A bow appeared in her hand, but Percy lowered his weapon to the ground and flicked a hand up. The light disappeared.
"I am sorry Lady Artemis." He said kneeling. "But I cannot answer your question."
She approached, glaring down at him. She reached down smacked off his hood. She pushed down his half-mask with a silver hunting knife and gasped, stepping back. The hunters reacted instantly, bows raised. Thalia stepped forward to beat him for attacking her mistress, but when she saw his face she gasped too.
"P.. ?"