Hi people!
*dodges murder attempt*
Yes, I am back from the dead. And I'm ready to keep my promise to all of you and give you an update! I've already gotten a start on chapters 15 and 16, so they should be up soon...ugh I feel so guilty right now, I hope you guys'll forgive me! I bring the gift of a new chapter! Don't murder me! *dodges rock*
Oh, and before this starts, I just checked all my reviews and I want to thank JaxedSilence, Artemis's huntress101, Guest, Sandstorm3D, Guest Demigod, and everyone else for such kind words. And a SUPER SUPER BIG THANK YOU TO christmascookie26 for the incredible 13 REVIEWS! You're awesome, thanks so much! And all of you too of course :3 Seriously, I don't know what I'd do without you all.
Here is the long-awaited (maybe) chapter 14!
With bated breath, Piper watched as Annabeth knocked on the door of her parent's house.
The hesitant daughter of Athena was looking incredibly nervous as her shaking hand was hovering in midair next to the door.
The daughter of Aphrodite knew, heck, she knew how important this was to Annabeth. With the most important person in her life, Percy, gone, she really needed family support, the kind of support her friends just couldn't give her.
Jason, beside her, looked tense as well, but it seemed he was having some sort of inner turmoil rather than worrying about Annabeth. His golden brows were furrowed as he stared at the ground, obvious signs something was bugging him.
"Psst, Jason, are you alright?" Piper muttered as Annabeth hesitated with her hand hovering next to the door.
Jason turned to her and gave her a forced smile. "Yeah. I'm good." The lie didn't reach his cerulean eyes, and Piper immediately knew something was up.
She gave him a 'seriously, you expect me to believe that?' look. "Jason, please don't lie to me...tell me what's wrong." She pleaded.
Jason shook his head ruefully. "I could never fool you, Pipes." He sighed. His cerulean eyes seemed to darken a shade as he continued. "But my problem...I'm the only one that can deal with it."
The daughter of Aphrodite tried not to show it, but she was hurt. She had hoped that after the incident with her dad, she, Jason and Leo would have no more secrets between one another.
Plus, she and Jason were always here for each other. They told each other everything. And now...
"But...Jason, what do you mean?"
The blonde gave her a pleading look. "Pipes...I..."
Piper felt anxiousness clench in her chest. Dozens of scenarios came rushing to her head.
Did he have a horrible dream?
Was he worried about Percy?
Was he afraid of something?
Was he secretly a spy sent by their new foe to plant information? Piper's mind began coming up with more and more outrageous thoughts.
Is he cheating on me?
"Jason," she begged. "You know how dangerous secrets are...I'm automatically thinking the worst!"
Jason absently nodded, his gaze now focused on Annabeth. "I know Pipes...but...my problem, I...I just need some time to be ready to tell you." He murmured, brushing his hand through his sandy locks.
Piper sighed worriedly. "Promise you'll tell me eventually?" She begged.
Jason gave her a soft smile, a real one this time. "Promise." Thank you, he seemed to say silently. He pecked her on the lips, and Piper felt the pain in her chest subside. It was Jason. He wasn't going to leave her.
The blonde son of Jupiter turned to Annabeth. "C'mon, Annabeth, you can do this!" he encouraged.
Annabeth took a deep breath. "Alright. I'll do it." She drew her hand back, and hesitated once again.
Piper left Jason's side and patted Annabeth on the shoulder. "It's alright, Annabeth, we're here for you."
The blonde smiled gratefully, noting how she didn't say anything like 'It'll be fine' or 'Your parents will definitely welcome you back' because in the demigod world, nothing was definite, whether it be living another day or defeating a monster (Or in this case, dealing with your parents after a year's absence).
She reached forward, and knocked three times on the door.
The knocks seemed to echo as the sound resonated, and the three demigods held their breath.
"Coming!" A motherly voice called from inside the house, slightly muffled by the closed door.
Footsteps were heard approaching the entrance, and the polished oak door opened with a soft creak. In the doorway stood a petite Asian lady, with dark black hair pulled into a bun and soft brown eyes.
"Annabeth." The woman breathed in shock. She reached out tentatively, as though she was afraid Annabeth would disappear if she looked away. She gently touched the blonde's cheek.
"Annabeth!" The woman cried again and flung her arms around the teen, bursting into tears. Annabeth herself looked like she was crying, and returned the hug full-force.
Piper looked on fondly as step-mother and daughter reunited.
Must be great to have such a caring mother...Piper thought sadly.
Jason was probably thinking along the same lines, because he reached for her hand and squeezed it.
Annabeth, through a voice full of tears, finally spoke. "I'm so sorry, mom, I'm so sorry..." She choked.
The older women shook her head. "Don't apologize!" She whispered fiercely. "I'm...I'm just so glad you're alright..." The lady whispered, pulling her tighter into her embrace. "I...I was so afraid when Chiron told me y-you and P-P-Percy fell into T-T-Tar...that place. I just...I..I..." The poor lady broke down and began full-out sobbing, clutching her daughter like it was a lifeline. "Thank the Gods you're alright..."
Piper would be lying if she said her eyes didn't glisten a bit after that exchange.
The woman finally noticed the other two demigods (Leo had gone around back to barf up his lunch) and released the sobbing girl. "You must be Annabeth's friends. Come in, come in!" She said rather quickly, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Sharing a happy look with Jason, and a ginormous grin on her face, the three demigods finally entered Annabeth's home.
"Fredrick!" Annabeth's mom called out into the house. "Mathew! Bobby! Come here!" Her voice was sharp with urgency.
Twin pairs of footsteps were heard on the second floor as three voices, one older than the other two, called out, "Coming!" in perfect unison.
Piper sweat dropped. It didn't take a genius from the Athena cabin to figure out that the mom ran the house here...
A pair of boys, either twins or close brothers, appeared at the top of the stairwell. Both ran ran down the stairs before promptly tripping on a toy car at the bottom of the stairwell, collapsing in a heap.
The mother, Piper was yet to learn her name, rushed over. "Matthew! Bobby!" She scolded. "What have I told you about running down the stairs?" She grabbed each boy by the arm and hauled them up.
The kids, Piper noticed, had their mother's dark brown eyes, but a sandy golden hair shade that seemed almost Annabeth's color.
One of the boys, Piper didn't know which, scratched his head sheepishly. "That we shouldn't?"
Annabeth's mom nodded furiously, brushing off their clothes. "And did you listen?"
The second twin grinned. "But mom...it's so much fun-"
"We just couldn't help it!" The first one finished. "Besides, how were we-"
"Supposed to know the dang car would be there?" The second questioned.
Piper glanced at Jason and rolled her eyes. She whispered, "It's like a second pair of Stoll brothers!" Jason gave a small laugh and nodded in agreement.
The mother turned to the demigods, her cheeks pink. "Sorry about that, my sons here are rather...rambunctious." She nodded towards the two. "This is Bobby," she pointed to the second twin, "and this is Matthew." she pointed the the first one.
Piper smiled. "Hi, I'm Piper." She nudged Jason beside her.
"Ow! I'm Jason." the blonde told them, rubbing his side.
"You guys already know me..." Annabeth laughed.
Both twins froze. "Annabeth?" They spoke in unison.
Soon they both tackled the poor demigod, leaving Jason and Piper shell-shocked. "Quick!" Bobby shouted. "What's me 'n Matthew's favorite video game?" He shook her shoulders anxiously.
Annabeth frowned. "Umm...World Racing III?"
Both twins grinned. "It really is you!" They smothered Annabeth in a hug. "You're really back, sis!" Matthew grinned.
Piper and Jazon stared at each other, blinking at the exchange.
Said girl laughed. "Yes I am. It's good to see you guys again!" Ruffling their hair, she looked around. "Hey, where's dad?"
The twins shook their heads. "He's in the garage doing his daily 'tune up' on his Sopwith Camel." Bobby snorted.
"Yeah, I swear he's in love with his plane, especially since he's adding all these demigod features, like new Celestial Bronze cannons...no idea where he's getting all the metal though..." Matthew commented.
"Alright honey, what's with all the ruckus-" A male voice paused. "No way. Annabeth?" A man stood in the living room doorway, staring at the blonde girl in confusion, worry, disbelief, and joy. "You're really back?"
Annabeth nodded. "Hi dad." She said quietly.
The man, whom everyone now knew was her father, rushed over and engulfed the officially hug-drunk girl in a warm embrace. "On, thank the Gods you're ok..." He whispered.
Annabeth blinked back tears. "I was so afraid you guys would kick me out again..." She confessed tearfully.
Her father held her at arm's length. "Annabeth." He said sternly. "Listen to me. We would NEVER through you out." The unspoken "Again" rang out clear as day, even for someone who had no idea what that was about, like Piper. "You always have a home with us. Always. Got it?" He paused. "Especially after...that place."
"Yeah," Annabeth nodded tearfully. "Got it."
Hazel KNEW she shouldn't have trusted the bald Russian dude.
...Now that she thought about it, that probably deserves some explanation.
Now, hotels have people.
Obviously.
Hotels also have weird people.
Obviously.
Hotels also probably have some hidden monster waiting for the unknowing demigod to wander by.
Obvious- wait, what?
To be fair, to wasn't like she could sense that the room service person that had confronted her was a monster and not a concerned man asking where her parents were...that in it of itself was insulting. She was sixteen, not a baby!
Hazel shouldn't have been surprised. Come on, monsters followed demigods EVERYWHERE. So why not to a fancy hotel on California?
Still, as Hazel crouched with her back against the wall with the monster - she still didn't know what type of monster it was - hunting the hallways ever-so-subtly calling out, "Now, Hazel dear, don't go running away from me...I'll find you eventually!" and generally just creeping her out, she realized she should really should call for backup somehow.
However, to her great discomfort, Frank, Thalia, and Nico were all downstairs getting food, since she hadn't been very hungry.
She tried in vain to calm her distressed breathing and slow down her wildly beating heart. She held a trembling hand to her chest.
Nope, wasn't working.
She knew she shouldn't have left her sword in her bag, which unfortunately was across the hallway in their rooms.
Why she wasn't in her room you ask?
Simple - she was trying to get a glass of water.
How humiliating.
Hazel felt enormous disappointment in herself for forgetting Rule Number One of being a demigod - NEVER, EVER, EVER LET YOUR WEAPON OUT OF YOU SIGHT EVER.
Too late now...
And with that...creature stalking the hallways for her, she couldn't exactly pop into her room and grab her sword to slay it.
All she could really hope for now was that her fellow demigods were fast eaters and she could hide from the monster long enough for them to find her, or she could somehow make it to her room without the monster noticing and immediately turning her into a Hazel-kabob with its giant shadowy drill-talon things it had for arms.
"Hmm...your delicious scent is somewhere over here! Sneaky little Hazel, trying to hide by the window with the breeze blowing your scent around!"
...Well crap.
The curly-haired girl winced helplessly as the creature made a slow advance towards her makeshift hiding place. It's body was made of a swirling darkness, similar to a dark starless sky. It was hovering above the ground, its lower body a wispy shape like a ghost's.
The creature turned its head towards her in a very eerie, almost robotic fashion. It's red eyes were focused in her as it gave the monster equivalent of a chuckle. "Ahh...there you are."
Her golden eyes glared defiantly at the beast. "Yes, I'm here." She snarled.
It seemed to smirk. "Such bravery. How...refreshing. You'll be an interesting kill."
Hazel did the only thing she could. She bluffed. Even if you kill me, you do know that my friends will find me and kill you themselves?" She taunted.
One of it's drill-like talons raised to its face and it laughed up roaringly in a deep, grating voice. "Adorable, really. You really think killing me will stop me? I'm a monster, I'll simply be transported to Tartarus for a few hours until my master recreates me."
Hazel froze, fear griping her heart as she realized the implications of those words. "Master?" she whispered.
The monster leaned in, a mouth Hazel didn't know it had appeared and silver fangs glinted maliciously in an evil smile. "Why of course, I'm not just your run-of-the-mill monster after all!" It laughed. "I am of a greater power, one more ancient and evil than you puny humans can comprehend. I server a greater cause, unlike those brainless goons and oafs from the depths of Tartarus..." It grunted in obvious disgust.
All the while, Hazel gaped while her mind tried to both comprehend the given information and think of a way to escape.
If only I had something to distract it with...
Hazel's hands fumbled behind her as she searched for something to distract the beast so she could somehow get her sword and either kill it or run for it and get backup. And judging from how imposing the monster looked, she guessed it would be smarter to go with option number two.
Her hands felt something cold and smooth, shaped in an almost point.
A key.
Jeez, how lucky was she?
Sending a silent prayer to whatever god was watching, she threw the key at the beast.
Like a normal living creature would (not that really counted as living but oh well...), the monster dodged the flying object and Hazel took those few precious seconds to make a run for it.
A couple seconds was all she needed to put a bit of distance between her and the monster. Seconds weren't just tiny, meaningless measurements. They could be the difference between life and death. Hazel never truly appreciated the tiny measurements until now.
I swear on the River Styx if I make it out of this alive I'll never under-appreciate seconds again! She thought as she ran for her life.
Her heart was pounding and she could feel her hair flying around her as she sprinted as though Death was nipping at her heels...in a way it actually was, or at least Death's lookalike, she thought dryly.
Focus! Hazel scolded herself. Giant creepy demon-thing out to kill me and I'm weaponless, concentrate.
She focused on the door rapidly coming into view - number 492. Oh, what a lucky number. Her feet thumped on the carpeted floor. Just a little further...
Hazel could see the brass doorknob glinting as she reached to open the door and-
"Gotcha!"
Hazel felt a sharp pain through her torso as she felt something large and sharp pierce it. Her mouth opened in a painful, bloodcurdling scream.
No...
She was officially a Hazel-kabob.
Looking down, she noticed the four-foot long harpoon sticking out of her midsection and out the other side in a bloody point. She felt her stomach (or what was left of it) recoil in disgust.
Hot, burning trails of something (oh Gods, she had a feeling it was blood, poison, or something worse) began to trickle down her torso and she felt her chest tighten painfully.
Hazel felt her vision begin to waver, everything tinted in red, as unimaginable pain rippled through her very being, traveling up her spine to her joints, her arms, everywhere. Every nerve in her body was on fire. Her torso felt as though it was being burned in acid and stabbed with multiple spike-covered knives.
She could feel herself being examined by the creature, the wound tearing painfully, as the eerie feeling of someone watching you was apparent when the monster began to speak.
"Cute little demigod, you really thought that you could run away from me? Me? Ha!" The demon laughed. "A valiant try. But no one escapes me, girl."
Hazel could barely feel herself being lifted up, still skewered on the large spike-thing, but she couldn't really register anything but the blinding pain throughout her body.
Tears prickled her eyes as she realized this was it. It wasn't one of those story book heroes-rescue-kidnapped-person-and-return-safely victories, no matter how much Annabeth or anyone else desperately hoped.
This was a dangerous quest, and everyone's lives were on the line.
And she was going to die.
This wasn't a training exercise, this wasn't a spar on the Argo II, this was real life and she was going to die.
Hazel gasped in pain as her breath grew ragged. Her eyes began to flutter shut as she felt her conscious begin to slip away. Her memories, her lifetimes, everything just began to swirl out of her in a gigantic whirlpool. Her mind began to blank, and she couldn't find the strength to take another breath.
No! She struggled to keep fighting, to keep her eyes open, for her friends - no, not friends. They were more than that. They were family.
She forced her lungs to open, willed her heart to keep beating, and her eyes slowly began inching open once again. The pain was still as real as before, but it just didn't bother her for some reason. It was simply at the back of her mind. She needed to focus in staying alive as long as she could.
The darkness returned full-force, and Hazel could almost feel the sweat beading her forehead as she tried to keep herself alive out of sheer willpower.
She coughed a racking, grating cough, and she heard a splatter of something hit the ground.
No! I won't give in!
But her struggling earned her nothing, the darkness began to encase her vision again as she still struggled, refusing to give up.
She felt a ginormous weight upon her chest, and no matter how hard she tried to lift her chest and breathe once more she couldn't. Her head was feeling light and her small sliver of vision began wavering.
She began coughing again, her chest burning horribly with each one.
This was it. It was too late.
Hazel sobbed in defeat as she felt herself being pulled, unwillingly pulled into the blackness of death.
"You sure you'll be ok, Haze? I- we don't want to leave you alone here..." Frank asked her worriedly.
Thalia shook her head. "Chill out Frank, she can take care of herself. We're just going for a bit of food, we'll be back soon."
Nico nodded, since he never really talked all that much anyways. "Trust me, my sis can take care of herself." He smiled at her.
Hazel laughed. "Don't worry Frank, I'll be fine." She pecked his cheek. "Promise."
A single tear traced down Hazel's cheek as she thought of her broken promise.
Frank, Percy, Annabeth, everyone...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
The last thing she registered was a scream, a thump, and multiple voices shouting her name.
"Hazel!"
Hehehe, cliffie ;) I know, I'm evil. Left you all for...what, two months? 0-0 And now leaving you with a cliffie. Sorry! (Actually, no, I'm not XD) As for the monster...basically, think of Umbra from Kingdom Rush Frontiers with the arms of a Beedrill from Pokemon and glowing red eyes instead of white. Yup, that's my monster.
So. We got some Jasper drama and a bit of cute Annabeth reunion time :3 So yay! This sets things up perfectly for the next few chapters.
Umm...what else...oh! While I was away, we reached 68 reviews! SIXTY EIGHT! Thank you all! :D
I hope you guys liked this, please review if you did, if you're happy I'm back, if you're furious at me, if you just don't care...whatever the reason. I love hearing from my fans...that is, if there is any... XD
R&R!