Chapter 8
Percy emerged from the water first, using his powers to get him to the shore, searching frantically for his friends, as soon as he saw Annabeth surface he dived towards her pulling her onto the grassy bank with him, bow still clenched in her hand, the arrows all gone from the quiver
"Are you okay?" his hand was on her cheek as she blinked the water from her grey eyes, she stared up at Percy who was so close she could feel his breath on her face, she nodded as her cheeks reddened. Percy froze, something catching his attention, he looked up to something she could not see, the little colour draining from his face
"Percy?"
But Percy's focus was on the large hell hound creeping towards them, it stepped silently, teeth bared, glowing eyes watching them, it crouched readying itself to pounce. Percy's hand gripping his pen, something silver flashed in his peripheral, the hound howled in pain as a dagger punctured it's side
"PERCY, ANNABETH RUN!" Grover called dripping wet he already heading for the forest "C'MON" he called again Percy wrenched Annabeth to her feet, dragging her in the direction Grover was heading, she looked back eyes searching for their fourth companion.
"What about Markos?"
"We can't fight them off Annabeth" Percy called feeling bad for not staying but he had to protect Annabeth and Grover. Annabeth glanced back again, but the Son of Ares was nowhere to be seen. Instead two hell hounds came crashing into view biting at their heels and gaining fast
"We're not gonna make it to the truck" Grover called back, ahead of them Percy saw the satyr skid to a halt "We're defiantly not making it back to the truck" he said coming to a stop, seeing the obstacles before them, the trio stood back to back, weapons drawn. The now four hounds circled them, teeth bared with drool around their mouths. Their tightly packed muscled limbs tensed and ready, time seemed to stand still, none advanced
"Any plans?" Grover muttered under his breath, secretly hoping one of them would come up with a plan,
"RUN"
A large figure crashed into one of the monstrous beasts, Markos's blade pierced the skin, killing it instantly and the hound crumbled to dust, he then launched the sword into the next, it embedding in the hounds hind leg, making it yelp in pain. Markos unsheathed the Harpe of Perseus readying himself, coming between the half bloods and the remaining hell hounds.
"MOVE!" Markos roared at the gawking Demi-Gods their brains kicked in as they bolted through the trees. Markos shifter his weight bracing himself for the onslaught, the hounds eyes watched the fleeing female the hackles rose on their backs as their pray got away. They turned to their obstruction, hunger clear in their eyes, they lunged at Markos claws out, he swung his blade catching them.
Yells mixed with howls echoed through the woods, stopping Annabeth in her tracks, heart pounding. Percy and Grover noticed her pause and came to a halt
"Where's Markos?" she asked, her eyes widening in fear
The trio scanned through the trees but there was no sign of him
"He was right behind us" exclaimed Grover
"He stayed behind to fight them" realisation hit her like a ton of bricks "We have to go back" Annabeth didn't wait for an answer before she started to sprint back the way they came
"Annabeth wait" but she was gone, Grover and Percy pelted through the trees "ANNABETH!" Percy's heart pounded, he had heard the cry of pain, the hounds had surly gotten to Markos and now Annabeth had run straight back there
"ANNABETH!" they both entered the clearing at the same time, skidding to a stop. The dust piles of four hell hounds on the grass. In the centre of the chaos knelt Annabeth clutching an unmoving Markos, his clothing ripped and smeared with blood, the harpe of Perseus still clenched in his hand, Annabeth looked up at Percy concern clear on her face.
"He's alive" she said "We need to get him out of here"
The boys hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and lifting Markos off the ground and hauling him along, doing their best not to further his injuries, the only nectar they had, had been in Markos's rucksack that was now gone, probably taken by the hounds
Once they had made their way back to the car park Annabeth yanked open the rear door to his truck, Markos slung around both Percy and Grover's necks, his feet dragging along the gravel. Annabeth ran to the other side climbing in before pulling Markos onto the rear seats so his head rested on her leg, he groaned slightly
"It's okay" Annabeth whispered "We're going home, going to get help" she ran a blood stained hand through his hair which was matted with blood and sweat. Percy started the engine, he reversed looking in the review mirror, his jealousy bubbled quietly when he saw the look on Annabeth's face, the worry etched in her face, he knew that she was a caring person but the look on her face now was something that Percy had only seen once before. He turned his eyes back to the road discreetly moving the mirror so he could not see either of them.
Annabeth pressed her hands to Markos's chest, red liquid seeped through her fingers, it was warm and stuck to her skin. She quickly and swiftly removed her jacket pressing it firmly to the opened wounds on his chest, she took a deep breath, her mind working for a solution. They couldn't go to a hospital, the minute they took his blood they would know something was different, could he make it all the way back to Camp Half-Blood, especially losing this much blood, the odds weren't good.
"Percy pull over… somewhere quiet" she ordered, a slight lump in her throat as she thought of what she had to do
"What, why?" he asked looking back at her
"Just trust me" she snapped Percy and Grover shared a look, Grover then proceeded to open up a map looking for a suitable location. 10 minutes later they pulled into an abandoned warehouse, Percy shut off the engine turning to Annabeth whose hands were covered in blood, she rummaged in her pockets pulling out a lighter, her breathing quickened.
"Okay I need you two to hold him still" she ordered
Percy was unsure of her actions but he helped Grover to get him to the floor, Annabeth took her dagger from the small of her back using it to cut away the remains of Markos's grey tee, which was now drenched in blood. She then went about making a small fire, she held the dagger in the flames. Percy watched as her hands shook slightly
"What are you doing?" he asked slowly,
She swallowed her mouth suddenly dry "He is losing too much blood, we have to close the wounds" she held up the blade which now glowed white. Percy's eyes widened as he grasped what she was saying
"Whoa Annabeth wait, just wait surly there's another way" he held up his hands trying to get her to see reason.
"There is no other way… and every second we spend arguing he" her words failed her, after a deep breath she said "Just hold him still" they looked into one another's eyes for a moment, before Percy's hands held Markos's right arm while Grover took the left. Annabeth looked down at Markos's bare torso, blood smeared across his chest, large gashes crossing his otherwise flawless skin.
"Lypamai" she whispered the ancient words for forgivness, then she pressed the red hot blade to the first claw wound. Markos's eyes opened, irises dark and dangerous looking, he inhaled deeply as his face contorted in pain, his teeth gritted together as he called out, he struggled against the boy's grip. The sound of his skin sizzling made Annabeth's stomach turn, she reminded herself she had to continue, she reheated the blade and repeated the torturous process, trying to block out the cries of agony that echoed the empty space.
Percy and Grover continued to hold the writhing body down but Markos was so strong his body packed with muscle and slicked with blood. Grover's hand slipped allowing Markos to break free, his hand flew up grabbing Annabeth's hoodie, pulling her close. They were within inches of each other's faces, he said nothing but his eyes spoke volumes… pleading.
"I have to" Annabeth whispered "Trust me" she brought a hand to his cheek, their eyes locked, he cried out in pain falling back to the floor with a thud. The boys gripped his shoulders putting their weight into it this time. Annabeth looked down blinking back the water that formed in her eyes, she wanted nothing more than to stop but he was losing to much blood, he wouldn't survive the journey.