Something I Killed Rises From the Dead
The next day Annabeth and I were practicing our sword techniques with everyone else. "Did um, you get a visit from your mother?" I asked while blocking one of Annabeth's parries.
She raised an eyebrow as I went to attack. "Yeah, how did you-" Being smart and all, she answered her own question. "Oh, it was weird wasn't it?" I nodded my head trying to focus on the training. I really had gotten rusty. Riptide felt a little heavier than usual these days.
"What did you tell her?" I asked, curious to know how Annabeth handled it. I didn't necessarily take the path that most children do against their God parent. I sort of treated Poseidon like a regular, mortal father.
"That it was none of her business really," she replied back. I smiled and dropped Riptide slightly only to get hit by Annabeth's sword. I took a few steps backs to see a slight cut on my arm. "I'm so sorry," Annabeth began but then she stopped and placed a hand on her hip, "You really should pay attention Seaweed Brain." You'd think if you kiss a girl she'd stop calling you some ridiculous nickname but no- that doesn't happen.
Mrs. O'Leary came running up to me and began barking at Annabeth. Then, she directed her eyes on my cut and began to whimper. I was supposed to watch the dog but when I left camp I couldn't exactly take her with me. I patted her nose, "It's all right."
Annabeth lowered her sword as we took a short break. Everyone else was busy fighting. I was glad to see Tyson and Grover working together. Since the Labyrinth last year, the two of them had become really close friends. Grove used to be scared of Tyson. "Keep fighting Percy, Annabeth. Training isn't over just yet," Chiron stepped into view. He was in his centaur mode with half of his body a horse and the rest a man.
He had on a simple red tee shirt that said Camp Half-Blood Teacher. He had a bow in one hand and a group of arrows hanging from his back in a carrier. He normally taught just the archery classes but since our last sword teacher was gone, he had decided to take over. Everyone else was too busy with the upcoming war.
"Come on Seaweed Brain, we've got more training to do." I gave her a smile and lifted Riptide back up in fighting mode. I was about to strike Annabeth with the blunt of my sword when Mrs. O'Leary started freaking out.
The dog began howling and barking madly out towards the tree where the Golden Fleece hung protecting our camp. I stared in amazement to see the large figure of a man with a bull's head. The bull had a dark black beard, raging red eyes, and he had a large ax. He stood at the edge of the barrier and was trying to get past the barriers.
"Percy!" Annabeth stared at me in shock as I glared at the Minotaur. I had killed it once, without a weapon but it had been raining there so I was stronger than before. But then again, I had the water within me to use in case I grew weak. Being the only one in camp to have killed the Minotaur I instantly ran towards the demon with Riptide pointing straight at its chest.
Annabeth was running beside me as well as Grover and Tyson. "Run back, I can handle this." I wouldn't risk any of them getting hurt. As it was, I had suffered a great deal before I managed to kill him. I still had its horn back in the Poseidon cabin.
"He's come back earlier than he's supposed to. It takes a demon at least a century to regenerate Percy! He's stronger than the last time. I'm not leaving," Annabeth yelled while she held her sword forward. She grabbed her invisibility cap in case she had to use it.
"Me too," Tyson said with a large grin. He was prepared to fight with his bare hands. Grover nodded his head. We all stared forward at the glowing, raging body of the Minotaur, who I had once thought killed my mother.
We jumped through the barrier, the Minotaur had backed off when he had seen me coming. Its breathing was a large growl. I then felt the wind of something rushing over my head to see Mrs. O' Leary leaping over us right at the Minotaur. The dog attacked almost as large as the Minotaur. I forced myself to move forward with Riptide.
The Minotaur picked up Mrs. O'Leary and tossed her aside. I drew my blade and ran at it while its arms were still in the air. I managed to swipe across its chest. A small cut drew some thick black blood but normally, with Riptide, the Minotaur should've been dead by now.
I had to dodge its hands by rolling past it. I tried shoving Riptide up into its stomach. I fell through its legs, Riptide loosened from my grip and stuck into Minotaur. I heard its growling pain as it ripped my sword out of himself with his hand. Tyson tackled the Minotaur before it could use the blade. I had to duck to avoid their bodies from knocking my head off.
"Bad Bull Man," Tyson growled punching the Minotaur in the face. Annabeth ran past me and handed Riptide back to me.
"Percy, kill it now. I've figured it out." Annabeth stepped aside and sheathed her sword. She placed her hands around her mouth and screamed, "Move Tyson!" I watched as my half-brother rolled off the Minotaur. Before the monster could react, I jumped onto its large chest and stabbed it right in the heart.
Black blood oozed and instead of disappearing like usual, the Minotaur just died right there on the spot. I removed Riptide and stared at him. I backed off of the monster and Annabeth stood next to me. "Why didn't it disappear?"
"You've killed the last one Percy," she told me, slipping her hand into mine. I couldn't ignore the way she was shaking in fear. There was some form of knowledge that I had been missing before.
"The last one? But can't it just reform like usual?" I stared at Annabeth. Her mouth was pressed into a frown and her eyes were glaring at the body. I pulled her away slightly. Riptide was still in my hand dripping with blood. Tyson and Grover came to stand by us.
"Percy, the Minotaur was trapped within the Labyrinth by Deadalus and Minos. That's where it regenerated and fed off prey." I narrowed my eyes as she stared at me.
"So because the Labyrinth is destroyed, the Minotaur has no where to go to form again?" Annabeth nodded her head. The realization sunk low on my shoulders. The body won't disappear and come back. "That's why it came back so easily, because the Labyrinth is gone and it escaped. Which means…" Annabeth filled in for me what I was too afraid to say.
"Any monster trapped in the Labyrinth is free and roaming the earth."