Hello everyone,

Thank you all for reading my story. Disclaimer: I don't own any excerpts from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse.

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SharkAttack719

Περσεύς 3

Missile Launchers and Magic

I didn't know what kind of monster Dr. Thorn was, but he was fast.

I could only hope Annabeth and Luke knew what back of the school meant. It was a good thing that Dr. Thorn was actually bringing us to the back of the school. Who knows what would've happened if they went to the wrong place and waited there for us to arrive.

My shoulder was sore from the spike that grazed it; the poison was taking its effect.

Then, I grabbed my right forearm. I tapped the spike to the side, but that only made it hurt more. "Ow!" I said, grimacing.

Dr. Thorn noticed that the spike in my right wrist was causing me pain. "Do not worry," he said. "My poison causes pain, not death. Now, walk!"

He shoved my back and I shuffled forward. As Thorn herded us outside, I looked around for any sign of a place where I could help save the di Angelo siblings. I looked at Bianca who was staring at me with wide eyes. She seemed pretty freaked out about me. I could still see the recognition in her eyes. She knew who I was.

So did little Nico. The last time I met them I was the year in between them. Now I was at least two years older than Bianca and four years older than Nico. Nico seemed a little freaked out, but he also looked excited in a way. It was like the fact that he was in danger fascinated him. There was a hint of fear in his eyes as well. I wouldn't be surprised either. I felt much fear when my mother had died. I had been sad, too.

Thorn marched us into the woods. We took a snowy path dimly lit by old-fashioned lamplights. My shoulder ached. The wind blowing through my ripped clothes was so cold that I felt like a Percysicle.

"There is a clearing ahead," Thorn said. "We will summon your ride."

"What ride?" Bianca demanded. "Where are you taking us?"

"Silence, you insufferable girl!"

"Don't talk to my sister that way.'" Nico said. His voice quivered, but I was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all.

Dr. Thorn made a growling sound that definitely wasn't human. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, but I forced myself to keep walking and pretend I was being a good little captive. I closed my eyes and concentrated, this time on Grover's face. I was trying to use the empathy link to my advantage. Apples! Tin cans! Grover can you hear me? Tell Annabeth to think of a plan before you guys intrude. I might think of something so be aware.

"Move!" Thorn shoved me again. I growled and glared harshly at Dr. Thorn.

The monster didn't seem fazed, probably because he thought I was a weakling.

"Halt," Thorn said.

The woods had opened up. We'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea. At least, I sensed the sea was down there, hundreds of feet below. I could hear the waves churning and I could smell the cold salty froth. But all I could see was mist and darkness.

Dr. Thorn pushed us toward the edge. I stumbled, and Bianca caught me.

"Thanks," I murmured.

"What is he?" she whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"I'm working on it, Bianca," I whispered back.

I looked over the edge once again and held my right arm down. Suddenly, a gut feeling entered in my stomach. I felt the power of the ocean rise up through my hand. I willed the water to scale the cliff, as if it were raining backwards. An idea popped into my head and I turned to Thorn.

"Good," he said. "Follow Percy's lead. Face me."

Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. At first I thought it was a switchblade, but it was only a phone. He pressed the side button and said, "The package—it is ready to deliver."

There was a garbled reply, and I realized Thorn was in walkie-talkie mode. This seemed way too modern and creepy—a monster using a mobile phone.

I glanced behind me, wondering how far the drop was.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself."

"What did he call you?" Bianca muttered.

"I'll explain later," I said.

"You do have a plan, right?"

Rise and hide, I willed the water. Wait for my signal, I told it.

"Yes, I do."

"I would kill you before you ever reached the water," Dr. Thorn said, as if attempting to read my thoughts. "You do not realize who I am, do you?"

Well, what if the water reached me?

A flicker of movement behind him, and another missile whistled so close to me that it nicked my ear. Something had sprung up behind Dr. Thorn—like a catapult, but more flexible…almost like a tail.

I narrowed my eyes at the monster and dug into my head for any knowledge of mythological creatures with tails that threw spikes. I nearly pissed my pants when I figured out what the monster was. He was a manticore, a long forgotten creature of the east that was exiled from the Western World. There was almost no information on this creature out in the world...almost.

"Unfortunately," Thorn said, "you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise you would already be dead."

"Who wants us?" Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I…" Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other."

"Aww," Dr. Thorn said. "Do not worry, little brats. You will be meeting my employer soon enough. Then you will have a brand-new family."

"Ethan," I said. "You work for Ethan."

Dr. Thorn's mouth twisted with distaste when I said the name of my old enemy—a former friend who'd tried to kill me several times. "You have no idea what is happening, Perseus Jackson. I will let the General enlighten you. You are going to do him a great service tonight. He is looking forward to meeting you."

"The General?" I asked. Then I realized I'd said it with a French accent. "I mean… who's the General?"

Thorn looked toward the horizon. "Ah, here we are. Your transportation."

I turned and saw a light in the distance, a searchlight over the sea. Then I heard the chopping of helicopter blades getting louder and closer.

"Where are you taking us?" Nico said.

"You should be honored, my boy. You will have the opportunity to join a great army! Just like that silly game you play with cards and dolls."

"They're not dolls! They're figurines! And you can take your great army and—"

"Now, now," Dr. Thorn warned. "You will change your mind about joining us, my boy. And if you do not, well…there are other uses for half-bloods. We have many monstrous mouths to feed. The Great Stirring is underway."

"The Great what?" I asked. Anything to keep him talking while the water collected just below the edge of the cliff.

"The stirring of monsters." Dr. Thorn smiled evilly. "The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!"

"Okay," Bianca whispered to me. "He's completely nuts."

I grinned at her. "Sometimes you got to be nuts to live, Bianca."

I looked behind the manticore at saw the silhouettes of three people standing in the shadow of the forest. I saw the invisible footsteps of Annabeth carefully walking through the snow so that she wouldn't make too much noise. My eyes slowly followed the trail of footsteps, and when I thought it was time, I held my hand up, a signal to stop.

Luckily, Annabeth understood. She stopped. The silhouettes in the shadows of the forest moved forward, but I moved my hand slightly to stop them too. The gut feeling of controlling gallons and gallons of water started becoming a little pained as I held them at will.

"What are you doing, Jackson," hissed Thorn.

I gave him the patented Jackson grin. "Killing you." My face turned fierce and with a loud shout, all of the water that had collected just below the edge of the cliff exploded over the side. A cocoon of water surrounded Bianca, Nico and I, as water came crashing down on Dr. Thorn.

"Back, Annabeth!" I yelled. I could only hope she knew what I wanted to say. "Go, lightning!"

"Yah!" I heard a yell from the trees and thunder rumbled in the sky. Seconds later, lightning flashed and struck the manticore with a loud boom! Thorn hissed in pain and slowly got up.

I knew I couldn't fight with my right hand unless I healed it. But that process would take too long...unless...

I yanked the spike out as hard as I could so that there wouldn't be as much pain. It still hurt, but I concentrated on keeping the water up on the cliff without it evaporating and condensing. I let go of the shield that protected me, Bianca and Nico, and wrapped a ring of water around my right wrist. I felt the water mending the bone, tissue and muscle. I felt regenerated, as if I were playing a video game and had respawned.

I pulled Riptide out of my pocket and uncapped it. I doused Thorn in water again before letting all of the water spray back out into the ocean.

Then Thalia and Luke rushed into combat.

Thalia had a huge spear in her right hand that looked kind of intimidating, but was definitely not the scariest part about her. She looked fierce running into battle, her blue eyes flashing in anger. The scarier part about her was the fact that she was using her shield, Aegis, in battle. The shield has the head of the gorgon Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it won't turn you to stone, it's so horrible, most people will panic and run at the sight of it.

Even Dr. Thorn winced and growled when he saw it.

Thalia moved in with her spear. "For Zeus!"

I thought Dr. Thorn was a goner. Thalia jabbed at his head, but he snarled and swatted the spear aside. His hand changed into an orange paw, with enormous claws that sparked against Thalia's shield as he slashed. If it hadn't been for Aegis, Thalia would've been sliced like a loaf of bread. As it was, she managed to roll backward and land on her feet.

The sound of the helicopter was getting louder behind me, but I didn't dare look.

Dr. Thorn launched another volley of missiles at Thalia, and this time I could see how he did it. He had a tail—a leathery, scorpion-like tail that bristled with spikes at the tip. The missiles deflected off Aegis, but the force of their impact knocked Thalia down.

Grover sprang forward. He put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play—a frantic jig that sounded like something pirates would dance to. Grass broke through the snow. Within seconds, rope-thick weeds were wrapping around Dr. Thorn's legs, entangling him.

Dr. Thorn roared and began to change. He grew larger until he was in his true form—his face still human, but his body that of a huge lion. His leathery, spiky tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions.

"A manticore!" Annabeth said, now visible. She was next to us, stuffing her magical New York Yankees cap into her pocket.

"Who are you people?" Bianca di Angelo demanded. "And what is that?"

"A manticore?" Nico gasped. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

I didn't know what he was talking about, but I didn't have time to worry about it. The manticore clawed Grover's magic weeds to shreds then turned toward us with a snarl.

"Get down!" Annabeth pushed the di Angelos flat into the snow. At the last second, I remembered my own shield. I hit my wristwatch, and metal plating spiraled out into a thick bronze shield. Not a moment too soon. The thorns impacted against it with such force they dented the metal. The beautiful shield, a gift from my brother, was badly damaged...again. I wasn't sure it would even stop a third volley.

I heard a thwack and a yelp, and Grover landed next to me with a thud.

"Yield!" the monster roared.

"Never!" Thalia yelled from across the field.

Then Luke appeared seemingly out of nowhere and hacked at the manticore. He swung skillfully in a very conservative way. Thalia followed him into battle and began to charge at the manticore. I stood up and held Riptide forward, just in case any spikes came our way. I pulled out Triametalla and deactivated my heavily damaged shield.

I thought that Thalia and Luke would have been able to handle the manticore on their own, but the stupid helicopter had to ruin and crush my dreams.

The helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets. The helicopter had to be manned by mortals, but what was it doing here? How could mortals be working with a monster? The searchlights blinded Thalia, and the manticore swatted her away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear flew in the other direction.

Luke tried attacking the manticore while he was distracted, but Dr. Thorn anticipated that and sent him flying. .His sword flew high in the air and landed at the edge of the cliff-side before skidding off. Luke grunted in pain. I knew I couldn't protect them both at once so I charged the manticore.

Thorn was a very excellent shooter, I praise him for that. But I was very lucky I learned how to fight with a switchblade in one hand and a sword in the other. I felt like I was fighting like a hurricane, swatting away anything that would come up to me. My right hand no longer felt sore, and my shoulder was only hurting a bit, the water probably skimming my shoulder to slightly heal it.

I yelled as I thrust at the manticore's chest. He dodged, but I spun so that I stepped in closer and jabbed with the knife. It narrowly missed nicking Thorn's skin, but I followed it up with a wild slash downwards. I grinned maniacally at the manticore. "I'm not so bad, am I, Dr. Thorn? I'll give you a challenge. I'm not even going one hundred percent."

At that very moment, I heard a little noise escape the forest. Sure, it could have been a bug and animal of some sort, but I knew it wasn't. I heard a laugh from inside the forest that was very human-like. It could have been a forest nymph, but that was unlikely. In that moment, Dr. Thorn took the opportunity to sweep me away with his tail. I flew at least ten feet and landed with a grunt and crack that sounded as painful as Luke's. I looked to my left where Thalia was glaring at the manticore with a hatred I hadn't seen since this morning...to me.

"Oh, poor boy," Thorn goaded. "You should have known I was much superior to your swordplay."

He advanced on me slowly. "I could have killed you mere seconds ago if you weren't wanted alive. So for that, I shall spare your life. Being too overconfident will lead to your downfall, Percy Jackson."

"Wise words for an overconfident coward like yourself," I retorted. "Hiding behind your stupid spikes. Ha! Long ranged weapons, unless used by the right people, are for sissies."

Dr. Thorn growled. "Who are 'the right people'?"

I glanced at the forest and noticed figures standing in the shadows. "Them," I told Thorn.

He gave me a confused and angry look. "What are you talking about?!" he demanded.

"Now!" I shouted.

Then I heard a clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.

The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.

"No," Dr. Thorn said. "It cannot be—"

His sentence was cut short when something shot past me like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's shoulder.

He staggered backward, wailing in agony.

"Curse you!" Thorn cried. He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. It almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two, but my eyes must've been playing tricks on me. No one, not even Apollo's kids at camp, could shoot with that much accuracy.

Then the silvery color of the arrows lit a memory in my head.

It couldn't be the Hunters. Oh man... Well, at least I praised them?

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. His breathing was heavy.

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. His breathing was heavy. I tried to swipe at him with my sword, but he wasn't as injured as he looked. He dodged my attack and slammed his tail into my shield, knocking me aside.

Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about fourteen, like me. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.

"The Hunters!" Annabeth cried.

Next to me, Thalia muttered, "Oh, wonderful."

I didn't have a chance to ask what she meant.

One of the older archers stepped forward with her bow drawn. She was tall and graceful with coppery colored skin. Unlike the other girls, she had a silver circlet braided into the top of her long dark hair, so she looked like some kind of Persian princess. "Permission to kill, my lady?"

I couldn't tell who she was talking to, because she kept her eyes on the manticore.

The monster wailed. "This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws."

"Not so," another girl said. This one was a little younger than me, maybe twelve or thirteen. She had auburn hair gathered back in a ponytail and strange eyes, silvery yellow like the moon. Her face was so beautiful it made me catch my breath, but her expression was stern and dangerous. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." She looked at the older girl with the circlet. "Zoe, permission granted."

The manticore growled. "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!"

He lunged for me and Thalia. I tried getting up, but a sharp pain in my left leg prevented me from doing so. However, Annabeth and Luke came to our rescue. Annabeth tackled the manticore away from us, grabbing onto its back. Then Luke leaped on without any weapon and tried holding Thorn in a choke hold. Annabeth then drove her knife into the beast's mane. The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth and Luke hung on for dear life.

"Fire!" Zoe ordered.

"No!" Thalia screamed.

But the Hunters let their arrows fly. The first caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest. The manticore staggered backward, wailing, "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!"

And before anyone could react, the monster, with Annabeth and Luke still on his back, leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness.

"Luke! Annabeth!" I leaped up and ran to the edge of the cliff. I looked down before a snap-snap-snap from the helicopter—the sound of gunfire—made me dive to the side. Bullet holes where I used to be standing appeared in the snow. I rolled up and glared at the helicopter. I focused all of my remaining energy on this last push. I reached down, grabbing hold of the ocean water once again and shot my hand up, like I was eager to answer questions in school. An enormous fist of water shot out of the darkness, stretching hundreds of feet, and grabbed the helicopter. Then I yanked down and the helicopter was no more. I felt the presence of the helicopter down there somewhere and I made sure that it could never come back up.

"Percy Jackson." The auburn-haired girl regarded me with those silvery yellow eyes. "I see you were willing to take on the mortals on your own."

I gave her a respectful look despite how tired I was and bowed. "I assume you were meant to hunt the manticore with your Hunters. Sorry if we ruined that hunt, but we're sort of on an escapade at the moment."

Artemis gave me a strange look as the Hunters began advancing on us.

"Percy," Thalia warned. "We have to find Annabeth and Luke." She gave me a look.

I grimaced. "They're...they're not in the water, Thalia. If they were there, I would be able to feel their presence. Trust me, I wanna hurl myself off this cliff, too." Then I mouthed, "Here come the Hunters."

The one called Zoe stopped short when she saw Thalia. "You," she said with distaste.

"Zoe Nightshade." Thalia turned, her voice trembling with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual."

Zoe scanned the rest of us. "Four half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."

"Yes," the younger girl said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

I tiredly shuffled forward, trying to make my way towards Bianca and Nico. Then two Hunters grabbed onto my arms roughly and shoved me to the ground. I gritted my teeth angrily.

Grover looked around desperately, as if the adventure of crashing to the snow made him amnesiac. "Percy? What's happening?"

I looked around at the Hunters, Zoe and the young auburn-haired girl. "The Hunters are here, Grover."

"Wait, did you say Hunters? Like you mean the Hunters are here, with us?" Grover looked around frantically. His eyes locked on the auburn-haired girl and he asked, "Is that...?"

"Yes, Grover." Thalia rolled her eyes.

"That's Artemis, goddess of the Hunt," I replied. Then I turned to Artemis. "Could you please ask your Hunters to let go of me? It's getting rather annoying and I'd rather solve this problem calmly and with the least amount of violence as possible. With all due respect, I don't think your Hunters would enjoy touching a 'filthy male' like myself, would they?"

Immediately, the two Hunter that were holding onto me let go and wiped their hands on the snow.

"Thank you," I said, getting up. "Now, let's talk!"

Hey everyone,

Hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks to those who've put this on their favorites, followed and reviewed.

Disclaimer: I don't own any excerpts taken from Rick Riordan's book Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse.

I also apologize for any grammatical errors in the chapter above.

With best regards,
SharkAttack719