hey guys, so sorry we havent posted for AGES but we have both had loads and loads of homework. We will try to post more often but it is hard. KEEP READING!

brook's Pov.

I was running.

I didn't know how long I had been running for.

But I still was.

The men were still behind me, if that's what you could call them.

At first glance they looked like regular guys- or as regular as you can get with gold chains and ear piercings. Unfortunately, up close, they were even uglier.

With glowing green eyes and dripping fangs they had charged me in a dark alley corner. I had barely got away. I remembered what had happened afterwards...

Running again, in the hope I would lose them, I stumbled on something, and fell flat on my face, grazing my hands. Standing up, I looked round, realising in horror that the ground around me was littered with bones. I had just ripped on one. A cave entrance looked before me, and I wanted(and half didn't) to explore. But there was no time, I could hear them closing in.

Hissing behind me.

Whipping round, I held my knife in front of me. Tree branches moved. Twigs snapped. Then, melting out of the shadows, ten of the monster guys surrounded me, two stepping between me and the cave. Stalking towards me, they came at me one by one.

That was the mistake.

Though I was much more tired, scratched and aching than I had been before, I hadn't gained any major wounds, just a nick on my shoulder, and a gash on my leg.

Collapsing in a heap on the ground, I brought out a herb from my pack. I didn't know why I picked it up, but it seemed important. I reckoned now would be a good time. Chewing it, I swallowed it down with some water, gagging at the taste. So much for sweeteners. Emptying my water bottle into my mouth, I knew I would have to find water soon.

Standing up, I hitched my pack on my shoulders and began walking again, towards the east. Then, the wind shifted. The air became colder, the shadows grew. A dark and menacing feeling came up behind me, and something hard, sharp and VERY painful hut me on the back of the head. I almost blacked out. If you have ever had a head injury you will understand. It felt unreal I suppose, just the weird feeling of being hit there.

Now that would have been it if my instincts hadn't kicked in and made me throw myself to the side. Black misty smoke swirled around, and I crawled away backwards, keeping my eyes on it. I hadn't noticed it creeping up behind me. It attacked from every angle, shooting black barbed arrows, punching (can mist punch? Weird) and flames as black as night licking at my heels as I dodged. I got burnt, shot and beaten up.

This wasn't something I knew how to fight. By the gods I didn't know what it was or even, HOW to fight. I wish I did. Thrusting my knife into what seemed like a weak chink in the smoke, I dodged backwards. The smoke was advancing all the time, constantly attacking in every way. I ducked, avoiding a stream of acid that would have ended in a very painful death. Every second you had to be alert. Otherwise I would be a disgusting pile of blood, guts, melted STUFF, all with arrows sticking out like a porcupine. Or a hedgehog. Whichever.

I back my knife glinting in a mixture of blood and, urm, hissing green goo. Gorgeous. Passing over the moment of shock I sprinted back, and found myself running up a steep hill. Leafs shielded the twilight from the forest floor and I found myself squinting, trying to see. But then, I ran in to something. Something scaly, hissing, and very much alive.

I brought my blade down on it as I rolled to the side but it's fangs lunged at me and pierced my side. Wincing I faced it. Glinting in the dappled moonlight, scaly snake trunk legs, yellowy eyes, bared fangs and an elegant yet deadly sword, this, lady snake monster looked like she was ready to kick some demigod booty.

I came in with my knife, feinting and jabbing to the left but she counter attacked and winded me in the stomach. Swirling her sword she swung at my right, kicked my pierced side and dodged my feeble jabs. She stabbed me on my other side, all the while laughing. Stumbling, I fell onto a tree. I swear I could hear it whispering words of encouragement.

Suddenly I got angry. I wasn't going to be beated by a lady with yellow eyes and snake legs, no sir-ee. I pretended I was all wounded and beaten up (which wasn't hard, I didn't need to) just as she came in for a swing, I stopped her and lightening fast, dodged and stabbed, counter attacking. Finally, just as she came over her surprise, I stabbed at her heart. She crumbled to nothing, just a pile of ash and a glinting fang. I scooped it up anyway.

Glancing up the hill, I saw a huge pine tree, sweeping the sky, marking the top. I decided that would be my marker. As adrenaline rushed as I was, I was seriously injured. My side was on fire and I had a feeling there was some kind of venom in those fangs. The snake lady had also busted my ribcage by feels of things. I needed help.

Just as I grabbed my bag and turned toward the tree,a about fifty metres up ahead, I felt it again. I had forgotten. That feeling behind me. The darkness. It wasn't over. My side was doubling over, I hadn't slept in almost a week and my ribs were protesting as much as those striking teachers on TV. Boy if I had to mark the homework I had seen handed in each lesson by some members of our class every day, I would get angry about it too. But my problems might be more serious than that. There was no where to run to.

I turned to fight.

Jason's Pov.

We had searched for almost a week. Nothing. No trace. We were sad. We had never known her, but we had been there when she was attacked, and we had been knocked out. Nine half bloods and a satyr. All knocked out. And one person fought. It Was still hard to get your head over it. Piper looked over and squeezed my hand sadly. We were in a council meeting with Chiron. He had said there was nothing to be done, so nothing to be done. Dismissed we wondered off. It was my turn for border patrol, so I said goodbye to piper and walked towards Thalia's pine.

That's when I heard the screaming.

Normal Pov.

An ares camper had been on patrol. He was off shift so he walked away, knowing his place would be taken. He was five metres away when he felt it. Just a sense. But it was a monster, he was sure of it. Very close. Shouting, he ran towards the big house, where counsellors were streaming out.

Brook's Pov-

Running, I stumbled up the hill, tears streaming down my face. My previously injured leg was streaming blood, my side a gashed, bloody mess and the rest of my body I couldn't care less about. I just wanted it to stop. My body was on fire. Snake lady venom was coursing through my veins, blood pouring out everywhere. My hair was burnt and singed, and the pain just kept coming and coming, and I just wanted it to STOP I had been running for days the last time I ate was days ago, and I just couldn't physically carry on. I screamed and screamed and screamed and I felt the thing behind me and I collapsed and I felt it claw my back and I fell back onto more pain.

I stumbled up just to fall down again. It lunged and I knew I was dead but by then I didn't care, I knew it had come as a relief, when I saw the golden sword slash the now blurry haze of darkness, followed by a dark blackish blade, and all I remember then is the blackness.

Nico's Pov.

Waving goodbye to hazel, I walked backwards and melted into shadow. Feeling the cold darkness wash over me as I shadow travelled, I almost smiled. A second later I re appeared on the hill top, overlooking a very familiar view. Just in time to register the screaming, hissing, and the girl collapsing into my arms, the girl I hadn't thought about for two years, the girl I knew so well. And then I turned to face the monster, seeing Jason's concerned face run up beside me.