OMG guys, happy TheDayBeforeBlackFriday! As celebration of people going crazy over 10% off deals, I've decided to publish this chapter, you know, because no one's going to actually read on Thanksgiving, I'm so smart.

This is actually my favorite chapter, because Best Girl finally gets her grand appearance!

Viridian Oath

Bright morning light cascaded into the crack window curtains like a blade into the forming a shallow wound across the skin. Specks of dust fluffed into the air, like moving wind. The lofty mattress woke Percy several times from his veil of unconscious, leaving him scatter over the covers, arms and legs hanging limb over the bed.

Three sharp knocks jogged Percy's jumbled head, bringing him up faster than his body would give him balance. His head throbbed by the sudden movement and stung all the way down the back of his stiff neck and over his right shoulder. He could feel his soft hair standing in the irritating way that it always did when he baths at night.

Another series of knocks alerted Percy, he exclaimed out in urgency.

"Wh-Who's there?" Percy stumbled up and on is thick feeling legs. "H-Hold on." He shifted to the other side of the room, knocking his shin hard on the chair leg; he cursed silently though his movements of scorn. His hands fumbled for the doorknob, as the flesh of his fingers glanced the surface of the metal a surge of energy coursed through Percy's skin.

A pop of light followed by Percy's yelp of surprise. A static shock? Percy opened the door, with a little more hesitation.

Behind the wooden door was the figure of Annabeth standing straight and posed. A small tinge of amusement laced her face.

"Good morning, Percy." Annabeth said in a lighter tone than what Percy was used to hear from her.

"Oh, yes, it was." Percy said flatly, trying to hide his embarrassment. Annabeth was already in her outside attires, boots and everything.

"I assume you're not ready, or are you...?" Annabeth smiled as she spoke, her eyes dropped to Percy's boxers. "You are a scion of Avalon after all."

Percy's face flushed red, heat rising from his neck unrestricted. He quickly shut the door close, right in Annabeth's face, then, with a moment of consideration, opened it once more, but only a crack.

"Sorry..." Percy's eyes moved from side to side in an awkward dance. "I'll be right out."

Considering the previous day consisted of mainly sitting around while the Argo 2 swam across the countryside, Percy decided against requesting another pair of clothing. Once Percy had dressed up once more in his standard issued Corona uniform, he joined Annabeth in the hallway.

Another boy stood behind Annabeth in a measured and out-of-the-way fashion. His back was practically pressed against the wall; his eyes darted to Percy's momentarily before pulling back to the wall across from him.

The supposed guard had crispy and bright blond hair, small sprinkles of brown that gave him a humble look. His face casted an aura of youth, yet it was clear his maturity. He had a strong jaw and high cheekbones, and a full face without sinks that lay unmoving. His eyes were sharp, shrouding a deep passion that raged under the ponds of his blue eyes.

For a moment Percy wondered if he would ever move, his shoulders broad and his chin high, it was as if he had expected Percy to introduce himself.

"The colonel is waiting in the lobby hall." The guard spoke so suddenly that Percy was startled. He glanced down at Percy, barely a few inches taller, his hair stuck up in fanatic vibrancy. A twisted expression twitched in his eyes, a small move of his lips, and the tightening of his jaws. It was an expression of distaste? Caution?

The guard made a swift gesture of his arm, welcoming- more commanding- them down the hall. Percy was very much aware of the blonde's bow strapped firmly across his back, a hand loosely hooked on the bowstring laced over his front jacket. However, the blonde's very posture itself was a far more intimidating deterrence than any weapon in his arsenal.

Percy edged forward next to Annabeth, they glanced sideways at each other, exchanging their intimidation. Something about the solemn and quiet persona seemed to build a tall wall of stone behind them as they walked.

They finally reached the lobby where the colonel stood patiently with a handful of other soldiers, more for Annabeth and Percy's sake than the colonel's, Percy thought.

"Good morning, I presume you've had an rejuvenating rest?" The colonel smiled almost tauntingly in Percy's eyes. It was as if he could tell Percy's night troubles at an eye's glance.

"Are you sure you wish the set out so early in the morning?" The gentle voice of Mayor Dolin captured Percy's attention immediately.

"Monsters are usually less active during early mornings, the brighter the better." Nero answered, almost reminding.

"Yes, yes." Dolin nodded absentmindedly. "Those are the facts, straight out of the textbook." He smirked, his eyes distant for a moment. "But times are changing, the forest is restless, and the monsters are stir crazy. Always keep a seed of caution in a forest of brash."

Nero nodded once. The notion seemed casual, however, Percy suspected that the warning was buried deep in the colonel's industrious mind.

Without a farewell, the colonel turned back to the two, waving his arm in a similar fashion the guard had done earlier.

The walk was in an awkward silence. They passed the opened crater in the rear end of the town, this time, it was not crowded as many of the townsfolk seemed to be occupied with early work of a farm town.

The road outside of the town was flat for the most part. The grass parted for the dirt path along the edge of the forest. The trees were tall and shaded their domain in an eerie dark green; it was like an open door to a dark room that stretched the whole countryside. They hug the outskirts of the woods for a fare amount of time, beaten down by the bright weight of the morning sun.

Finally Annabeth decided to break the tense silence, "I thought the leader should always be in front, leading?" Her voice jogged the awkward silence away.

Nero seemed unaffected by the jab. "I prefer to have a constant account of all members of my unit, it takes caution to lead others." He replied coolly.

"So it's more of a trust issue?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow and turned sideways to face Nero as she walked.

Percy winced.

"Perhaps, that is defiantly a possibility." Nero smiled, nodding to himself. "However, how can I trust myself, if I were to trusted strangers?"

"You don't trust us?" Percy spoke up, his thoughts forming words faster than he realized. "Even if you're having us accompany you on this mission?"

Annabeth frowned at that.

"I do not distrust you." Nero said simply. "However, trust is only the result of partnership, it is not the goal."

The soldiers in front diverged from the dirt road onto a narrow path leading into the forest. The thick greenery of the trees shielded the sun's rays. The oaks were like towers, stretching high into the sky. Their roots were thick and restless, entangling themselves in and out of the ground so thick they were akin to lesser bridges.

"It's incredible the shapes of these trees." Percy chirped in awe. "It seems you can cut off a curve and fashion it like a bridge without remodeling it."

"That is why it is fittingly named the Archway Deep." Nero said knowingly. "It is one of Lyfeberry Ridge's most profitable exports. However, recently, the infestations of monsters have been preventing the workers from entering the forest."

For Percy it was hard to imagine that this quiet forest harbored any monsters at all. It seems so dark and lonely. The sudden fear crept up on him. The darkness, it was like a grasp of danger. What if the monsters were merely beyond the unseen, behind the wall of dark green leaves and bushes, creeping right beneath their very feet?

"Percy?" Annabeth's voice lulled the fear back into Percy's unconscious. "Are you all right?" She made to touch his arm, but then thought better of it and returned her hand.

"Don't be startled." Nero said. Percy could have sworn the colonel had a tinge of amusement in his voice. "You are in the company of one of Lord Apollo's elite special brigades."

Percy frowned, his eyebrows scrunched in embarrassment.

"I wasn't afraid," Percy exclaimed. "Merely cautious."

Nero smiled at his response and decided not to trouble the kid further.

"Careful, we have reached the barrier." Nero announced. His soldiers moved around the opening. The grass was flattened in this area, twigs crushed and bushes roughened. It was clear others have been here several times.

Two different settings intercept at the center of the clearing. On Percy's side was a deep, lush green of a thick forest, across from him was a darker bloom of nature. A sickly hue of blue, almost purple, draped over the overgrown forest. The leaves thickened and broadened wider than those on Percy's side. The trees seemed colder, more solid and menacing like stone.

It was as if the forest was twice taller on the other side of the line that traced across the clearing. Darker, full of the unseen.

The soldiers began to unpack their sacks and backpacks, unfolding tripods and other strange contract able machinery. Some pulled out lamp like objects that glowed a steady beat, and others brought out plates of metal and glass. One larger backpack contained a several small monitors.

"Past that line, you will enter the barrier that bars this forest." Nero turned to the two. "We will no be able to pass through."

"What do you expect us to do once we're inside?" Annabeth asked, for the first time Percy realized how lost he was.

Nero turned to the side.

"Lieutenant Fletcher," Nero called over. The blonde haired guard that escorted Annabeth and Percy turned and folded his arms behind his back.

"Yes, sir." Lieutenant Fletcher shouted with dignified disciplined.

Annabeth squinted, her hand shot up to shield her eyes as she blinked away. A small wince escaped her mouth, but she recovered quickly.

"What's wrong?" Percy leaned closer. Annabeth shook her head, eyes shut tightly. She gripped Percy's shoulders hard for support.

"Please bring the hacker." Fletcher ruffled through his bag and brought out a small rod. It was a dark metallic grey stick that was a foot in length.

Fletcher brought the rod to Nero who handed it to Percy along with another smaller device.

"This is a hacker that can cut a small tear in the barrier in order for us to destroy it, however, we need it to be placed inside the barrier for it to work." Nero said. He pushed up his glasses before continuing. "Once inside, use this tracker to find the epicenter of the barrier where the Dusk is weakest and plant the hacker underneath." He demonstrated it by making a circular motion around the knob at the end of the hacker.

Nero eyed the unsteady Annabeth. A thought occurred, but he kept to himself and led the two the boundary of the barrier.

"It's preferable to make this quick, as you will be outside of my influence and protection within the barrier." Nero said seriously, but without worry.

Percy gulped, feeling that everything was suddenly fast, faster than he could keep up. After a moment, he realized that Nero had nothing else to say, and they were simply expected to go forward.

He gave Annabeth a weak smile before taking a step.

The wind seemed to gush the moment he began to walk. The forest rusted together like a breathing beast of titanic size. The ground seemed to moan, and the sky stretched its arm from the stillness.

The forest didn't change immediately as Percy had expected. The line of light and dark was blurred. It seems the forest itself was moving away from Percy, growing before his very eyes.

The trees still moved, waving in the all too quiet wind. The thicker leaves bounced and the grass raved. However, it was quiet, the leaves and the grass did not speak, they only danced voicelessly.

The darkness was all around Percy now. It hugged him, but when he looked it was gone. The darkness was there, it was definitely there, Percy felt its breath brushing his neck. The coldness of the dark over his skin. It was as if the dark was always behind him, whenever he turned, the darkness moved too.

"Percy." The voice was like shattered glass against the silence, the complete and utter quiet. The voice belonged to Annabeth beside him, still holding his arm.

"It's too quiet." Percy confirmed. His voice was more confident than he felt.

"I don't feel well." Annabeth spoke with a shudder. "I feel sick." She hung her head.

Percy stopped, his hand rose and touched Annabeth's shoulder.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his eyes searching through Annabeth's bangs that draped her eyes.

"I just said I was sick, you dummy." Annabeth lifted her head, a small grin stretched across her lips, her cheeks rosy, but pale. Her eyes were darker like stone.

"Should we rest for a little?" Percy asked.

"No." Annabeth said firmly. "I'm not sure why, but I think it's this forest's affect." Her eyes were wide and afraid.

Percy squeezed her shoulder, partly for comfort, partly to still his own shaking fear. His eyes widened, terror or the sorts filled his vision.

Annabeth's eyebrows furled together and she turned around to see what Percy was looking at, her eyes shown fear when she realized what had happened.

There was nothing, nothing out of the ordinary; trees, grass, and bushes. There was nothing but nature, not a single trace of life, not a single sign of the Radiating Corona that had set up equipment moments before. They had simply taken a few dozen steps, but it was as if they were in an entirely different forest.

"Percy," Annabeth was truly frantic now. "W-We should turn back. Retrace our steps!" Even as she spoke she knew that that trick would not work.

Percy shot up; he fumbled with the equipment in his hands that he had nearly forgotten. He pulled up the small spherical device that was the size of an apple. It blinked on as Percy's fingers brushed over an outlined button.

Two pale blue lines stretched across the surface of the smooth ball, forming a cross mark where the button used to be. Thinner lines marked the sphere, the lines formed the contour of he forest, like a topographic map. A cluster of light blinked on the northeastern horizon of the sphere.

Percy attempted to turn the sphere for a better look, but the map only shifted as he turned the ball, like a bubble would in a water bottle.

Percy looked up toward the direction of the blinking light. There wasn't any hint of difference, an identical image of every other direction. He turned to Annabeth, about to speak.

"That way?" Annabeth pointed to the same direction, surprising Percy.

"Yeah." Percy glanced at the ball again then back up.

"Let's get going then." Annabeth said dryly.

The darkness merely subsided, but did not retreat. It lingered like a hunter; waiting, prowling, observing. It hung like spider webs just beyond their visions. Bathing in the shadows like insects, breathing like a ghost. If neither of them spoke, Percy could almost hear the faint heartbeat of the forest, the gush of wind as it breathed.

They spoke, barely, but enough to usher away the dark. Annabeth would sniffle. Percy would tick his tongue. And they would both speak a few words.

"Where are we?"

"How do you feel?"

"It's better now."

But they would keep quiet, for it was equally dangerous if the dark heard them rather than consumed them.

Annabeth felt it before it happened. She felt it before she saw the trees part, or before the wind rushed, or before the ground shook. She felt the presence of something, something that was behind the trees, over the sky, and below the dirt they walked on.

Then it happened. A torrent of wind so fast and hard that the tree branches bend and twisted. The ground shook and rocks flew. It was a bellow. It was the forest exhaling.

Percy grabbed a low hanging tree branch, covering his eyes with his free arm holding the equipment tightly in his hands.

Annabeth was thrown onto the ground, breathless. The bellow dropped as rapidly as it had begun, leaving the forest in frantic disarray.

Annabeth pushed herself off the ground; her hands were shaking as she gripped the thick tree root for support. Leaves drifted around her as she slowly climbed up.

Percy was beside her in a heartbeat. He knelt down and placed his free hand on her shoulder, stilling her quivering figure.

"Are you hurt?" He spoke in a hushed, worried voice.

Annabeth shook her head again. Her brain felt thick, like a solid caramel, flinging against the inside of her head as she shook.

"H-Headache." She winced.

Suddenly she stiffened, her eyes wide. There it was again, that feeling, but lesser. The world seemed darker, dull and plain. In this color-lacking world, a bright light shimmered, like the reflection of the sun off a running river. The light was sharp, but warm.

Annabeth turned, her eyes squinting as the light came into her vision. It was radiating, like a coat, it only exhausted in its range, and never casting its rays any further than a small circle.

Percy glowed with the sharp yet warm white light. It covers him like armor, shifting and swirling like water, sharp and bright like lightning. It was Dusk, Annabeth knew the moment she set eyes on him. She could see Dusk.

Percy cocked his head, searching for any injuries Annabeth might have sustained.

"Annabeth, you can hear me, right?" His voice was concern, trying to be steady, but definitely more concern.

"You can't see it?" Annabeth said more of a fact than a question.

"See what?" Percy tilted his head, arching an eyebrow.

The world grew darker, almost black. No. It wasn't the world that was black, but a shade, a portrait, a figure.

Annabeth's hand was on her dagger in a blink, a hiss slipped through her teeth.

Percy tensed, bolting up and reaching for his sword.

Annabeth gasped, the darkness solidifying before her very eyes. She twisted into a sitting position, her leg swung under Percy, kicking his feet from under him.

Percy toppled, falling on his back, hard.

The bushes parted, a bolt of golden hair sprang over the fallen comrades, arching over them like a hurl of blazing fire.

The blaze pounded against the ground behind Percy, it's landing was graceful and manacling. The solidified flame stood, hunched, on all four smooth white-yellow paws, stone black claws digging into the dirt between its thick furry palms. Its head hung low, displaying his sharp back blades. White fur sprawled out around its cheeks like a thick, full beard. Two golden eyes, like the ember of an extinguished flame.

Stripes laced the beast, lashing along it's long body like brush strokes. 3 horizontal marks etched above its sharp glare, and a vertical one that connected the three lines in the middle. It was a title. It was a symbol. Percy remembered learning it during one of his foreign language studies. The world meant "King". The King of the jungle.

"A tiger?" Annabeth breathed in, carefully, fearfully. She was afraid any word might provoke the tiger to strike. "I wasn't aware that tigers lived in this forest?" She said in a hushed panic.

The beast growled, slowly pawing its way around the clearing, sizing up its prey. Its steps were like ghost, soundless and haunting, it's eyes never breaking contact with the two demigods.

Percy stumbled to his feet, stuffing the hacker rod in an empty holster of his belt and the tracker in one of the large pants pockets. He reached around to his jacket cuffs and slowly peeled off the orange, patted jacket. It was a nice jacket too, very sturdy and warm. Percy was going to miss that jacket.

Once his jacket was off, gripped tightly in his left hand, he reached out to Annabeth with his right, never breaking eye contact with the feline.

Annabeth took his hands, needing the comfort more than the assistance standing up. Percy turned his head slightly, and whispered, "run".

With a snap of the wrist, Percy flared the jacket into the air, fanning it out like a shield. He broke into a sprint, jerking Annabeth harshly to the side. Within an instant, the tiger pounced on the jacket, digging its claws into the sturdy, padded military fabric like wet tissues.

The tiger snapped it's head towards the retreating figures of the two and pounced again, this time, it's steps struck like drums on the grassy ground.

Percy swatted branches aside, climbed on a giant root, and found himself before a small drop to the ground beneath. He pulled Annabeth along the neck of the root, sliding down to the ground. The tiger prowled about on the higher level, tracking the demigods beneath the drop of the cliff.

As they passed under a large loop of root, the tiger landed on the arch behind them. With another pound, it landed on the ground the same level as them.

"Any of those fancy spells left over for this situation?" Percy shouted as he ran.

"I don't know?" Annabeth almost cried out.

"How about any tips on tigers?" Percy rounded a corner of a thick tree trunk that was tucked against a cliff of rocks.

They two remained silent as they scurried up the rock slope. The tiger beneath clawed on the stone, gouging out the stones. It roared. Then it disappeared behind the thick leaves and wood.

"Tigers are extremely territorial." Annabeth panted out, one hand on her knee and the other tightly held Percy's.

Percy breathed hard, his head suddenly heavy and thick. It felt as of all of the worry and fear suddenly returned in a rush that overpowered his systems. He glanced at Annabeth, who straightened a little, their eyes met and he smiled.

Annabeth didn't smile; her eyes grew dark, like a smoldering ash. Electricity coursed through Percy, raising the hair on the back of his neck. He turned away, to the direction Annabeth was facing.

The low figure of a tiger looked out of the bushes, a few yards away. It huffed, its eyes gleamed with hunger. It wasn't the same tiger. The colors were darker. It stood a bit taller, and mush thinner, starving.

"'Very territorial?' I implore you to reconsider." Percy's face formed a deep frown.

The tiger began to pounce. Percy pulled Annabeth off the ground, darting to a separation of trees between the tiger and themselves.

Percy made a sharp turn, the tiger clawed as they passed. As they ran, the dread and fear of death loomed over them, they wouldn't even make it to the other side of those trees with the tiger mere breaths behind them.

Suddenly, everything went upside down. Annabeth's foot hooked into a protruding root. There was no pain as Annabeth fell, everything melted around her. The dull thud of impact muted everything else.

Within a heartbeat, Percy was over her, his sword drawn.

The tiger, slowed into a poised crouch. It's claw raked the ground, it displayed rows of sharp fangs like daggers.

A trimmer rolled across the clearing, like a gust of wind, it chilled Percy. Leaves rustled and branches danced an anxious rhythm. Darkness crept closer, around the edges, behind the trees, just beyond Percy's sight.

Another howl of wind, a sinister laughter of a wind. Percy could almost hear the low voices in the air.

The tiger lifted its head, listening, smelling, feeling the wind. It's expression morphed from hunger to distraction.

A third rumble, this time more profound, shook the very ground. Percy could definitely hear a cry beneath the voice of the wind.

The tiger turned away, scurrying back into the thick curtains of trees.

Percy hesitated, was it over?

Had they been saved by the darkness that his behind them? Or was this merely a grander evil?

Percy reached out and Annabeth took his hand. She stood, still holding his hand, shaking a little. After a moment of reassurance, she let go. Holding her arms, still quivering.

"What happened?" Annabeth asked, her natural curiosity overwhelming her fear.

Percy was wordless. A small buzz grabbed his attention. Within his pants pocket, the spherical tracker blinked a dim light. Percy extracted the tracker, a yellow light blinking on one side of the surface. The blinking pointed in the direction of the parted trees.

Percy and Annabeth glanced at one another, and came to the conclusion that thy must press forward. They have come too far to turn back. If danger laid both in front and behind them, then moving foreword was the better option.

The walk was coated in silence. An air of hesitation draped around Percy this time around. His eyes darted from the tracker and the surrounding bushes, anxiety pounding in his chest.

Annabeth inhaled sharply, stumbling to the ground. Percy crouched beside her his hand touched her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Percy asked lightly.

Annabeth didn't respond. Her fingers grip the grass under her. She tried to climb back up, but winced almost immediately. Her hand reached to her left ankle where she had hooked onto the root, a sprained ankle.

"We should rest a bit." Percy made to set his equipment down, but Annabeth grabbed his arm.

Percy opened his eyes to insist, but his words dropped when he noticed pale shimmer across Annabeth's cheeks. Like a ray of light, it was sharp and glaring.

Dreading, Percy turn to the origin of the light, buried behind ledges of leaves and branches.

"Help me up." Annabeth held out her arm, her words were a stiff and awkward, as if she wasn't used to asking favors and was unsure of a command.

Percy supported Annabeth to her feet. Holding onto her thin upper arm. Percy gazed at the tracker once more, longer this time. The light was blinking, just beyond the smallest ring that surrounded the center of the device.

"We should continue." Annabeth said with more reassurance than she really felt.

Percy looked pale, thoroughly hating any form of commissions from that point of his life. With a gulp, he gave a small nod.

Percy led the way, slowly to compensate for Annabeth's injured foot. He would glance briefly down on the tracker to make sure they were headed in the correct direction.

The light grew brighter; Percy was forced into nauseated silence, his heart thumping against his ribcage.

The pain of exhaustion faded, all sound seemed sallow compared to the deeper mind that rose within Percy. A strong daze worked over him, a darkness that rimmed his eyes, sharpening the path before him and ignoring everything else.

The light was blinding, but maybe only to Percy. But he didn't shield his eyes. Along with the burning light, was a growing flame of determination within Percy. Maybe it was only curiosity that allured him, pulling on his body like breaths of air, like a heartbeat.

A transparent mist cloaked Percy's eyes, a cold crept up his numb fingers, and soon even his mind seems to lull.

The trees parted like curtains, introducing a stage of sorts. A piercing brightness loomed over the stage like a giant, like a crucifixion. The light was structured in the form of twisted limbs; too organic to have been constructed, yet too grotesque to be natural.

Before the colossal effigy was another smaller soul, a buffer between the light and the world. Viridian green cloak danced in the wind, following her fluid turn. Raven blue hair, short, caressed her sharply clear ashen shard eyes, her anciently youthful eyes.

A cross.

"Ah, so we meet alas, Perseus."

Whoa, is that who I think that is? No way.

Annabeth is kinda mean, but that's apart of her ***CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT*** Percy is such a dud, what a selfless guy, trying to give meaning to his pathetic, selfish, cushy life. I mean, ***CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT***

Next chap is super actiony, I think. So, that'll be fun.

Leave your souls in a review! Thanks!