Percy's POV-

I had a million and one thoughts running through my head at the moment. Number one, what in Hades is that giant thing outside? I mean, talk about good timing. I ran to my nightstand and quickly fumbled through a few drawers until I found what I was looking for. I took out my all-time favorite pen, riptide, uncapped it and instantly a 3 foot long celestial bronze sword appeared in my hand.

"C'mon, let's go." I shouted as I grabbed Annabeth's hand. I could've sworn she was blushing.

"What is it?" she questioned, as I flung open the door.

"No time, you'll see, let's go, keep up, C'mon."

"Whoa, Percy slow down, you're going a mile a minute." She ran at my side down the last flight of stairs, still holding my hand. I reached the bottom after what seemed like hours and sprinted outside. I gazed up at the monster and believe me when I say it was scary, Annabeth squeezed my hand and withdrew her dagger. She tried to hide it but I could tell she was nervous.

"These things never leave us alone do they?" she joked.

I was going to laugh, until a mid-sized SUV flew directly over my head and crashed into the street behind me, the creature had spotted us.

"Oh gods!" I screamed, Annabeth giggled. Now mind you, an SUV just sailed over my head, I was genuinely scared for my life, and Annabeth giggles. Out of all the-

"PERCY! C'mon!" I looked up at Annabeth who was already attacking the beast. I sprinted after her dodging massive blows from the giant monster.

It kind of looked like a hydra but was as big as a building and dressed in full battle armor. It had only 2 heads, one red and one blue, although I didn't really care because, you know, invincibility and all that, so I kind of just picked a head and attacked.

It's just my luck that the head I picked had a fiery tongue, literally; I was hurled backwards in a blinding flash of heat and light so hard that I ended up smashed against the wall of a Chase bank.

I quickly recollected my wits and picked Riptide up off of the street, this time I took a quick second to look the creature over. I was attacked by the Red Head so Red equals fire, I noted. So what does that make blue? Sure enough, my prayers were answered as the blue head snapped at me with fangs made out of ice. I dodged out of the way and somehow he seemed unsatisfied with the Ford billboard he just got a face full of. He breathed a cloud of water vapor that soon froze everything it touched. In that moment I had a plan.

Yes I, Perseus Jackson, notorious seaweed brain, had a plan. I commanded a huge burst of water to spurt out from a fire hydrant, swerve right in front of the Blue Hydra and curve down to me. Sure enough the Hydra froze the water in midair, Perfect! I jumped onto the newly formed slide and slid up to the Creature. Suddenly I heard Annabeth's voice

"PERCY! HELP!" she screamed. The Red Half of the hydra had her cornered up against a wall. She was definitely scared; she looked over at me with her big grey eyes and almost started crying.

Seeing Annabeth like that completely pushed me over the edge. Suddenly I had a newfound surge of power. I sliced riptide down onto the hydra's neck, slashing through the armor and cleanly lopping off the Blue head. The Red Hydra was now completely focused on me, but I was counting on this from step one. I jumped onto the Blue hydra's decapitated neck just as the Red hydra shot a burst of fire at me. I lifted the Neck up to the flame burning it so that another head couldn't grow. Don't ask me how but I jumped cleanly over the fire onto the next hydras head and jammed riptide into its neck using my falling momentum. It burst into tiny flakes of golden powder and I landed onto the pavement below me.

"Nobody touches Annabeth." I said calmly, sheathing riptide. Annabeth had a look of pure awe on her face, her eyes were big and she was smiling. I walked up to her and she gave me the biggest hug.

"Did you really just do that?" she pulled away and looked up at me. Her eyes were watery, I wiped a tear off of her cheek and she blushed.

"Not looking like so much of a seaweed brain now, am I?" I smirked. She wrapped me up in another hug.

"You are always going to be a seaweed brain Percy… at least to me." She laughed. I pulled away and grinned at her.

"Fair Enough, I guess."

We looked over the battle scene and yet again, my curiosity got the better of me. I crouched next to the dissolving pile of battle armor and dug around for a minute until I found something strange.

Sitting there, like a diamond in a mound of dirt, was a pitch black gauntlet with razor sharp claws and a bright golden inscription, Θεματοφύλακας των σκιών. I, being the seaweed brain I am always going to be, picked it up and it instantly scorched my hand.

"Fuck!" I yelled, dropping the gauntlet with a loud bang. Annabeth ran up to me worried.

"What is it? Are you alright?" I pointed at the gauntlet with my good hand.

"I don't know, I picked it up and the stupid thing almost set my hand on fire!"

"Idiot."

She searched around and picked up a scrap piece of armor big enough to carry it and scooped the gauntlet up.

"Let's get it inside; we can get a better look at it." I started to walk to the front door until I felt Annabeth slip her hand in mine. I looked down at our hands and she blushed

"Um, I'm still uh, shaky from the uh, battle." She said. "I need you, for um, balance, yeah that's it, balance."

I knew that was a lie but decided to let it go as we continued to walk. What was all that about? I walked her inside and we took the mysterious gauntlet into my room.

After we were in my room she set the piece of metal down on my desk. I was going to be a seaweed brain and grab it until I noticed that it wasn't burning a smoldering hole in the desk… I also noticed Annabeth was still holding my hand. She examined the artifact like a drawing on architecture.

"The inscription reads, Guardian of the Shadows." She stated with a funny look. "Wonder what it means."

"I don't know, maybe we should take it to Chiron when we go to camp." She didn't even look up from the gauntlet.

She studied that stupid thing for a good 10 minutes, although I don't see why. But that's one of the things I love about her, to me it was just a stupid, hand burning, metal glove, but to her it was some new mystery that needed to be solved right now. Well you know that and the way her beautiful grey eyes seem to draw you in and you just want to- whoa, get a hold of yourself Percy, that's Annabeth you're talking about. You know, your dangerous, knife wielding, best friend that knows where your Achilles heel is. Yeah the gorgeous one who no matter how much you love her, will never feel the same. I sighed to myself and sat down on the bed.

"Annabeth… you can look at that thing tomorrow, for now go get some rest."

"But Percy…"

"No Annabeth, you're exhausted."

"Am not!" she pleaded

"Are too!" I mocked, "C'mon Annabeth, it'll be there in the morning, I can tell you're worn out. She stood up and made her way to the bed.

"I guess you're right." She said, getting under the covers. "It'll be there in the morning." She managed to get out while yawning. I pulled the blanket over her and got up to grab a sleeping bag from the closet.

"Percy?" she called.

"Yeah wise girl?" I answered.

"Thanks for saving me." I walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Remember Annabeth" I assured as I started to play with the grey streak in her hair "I'm protecting you from now on." She looked up at me with those beautiful grey eyes and smiled.

That one smile could have melted the heart of Zeus himself, but to me, all that mattered is that it melted mine.