Chapter 5
All rights and stuff go to Rick Riordan!
Jason's POV:
I walked into my cabin and I saw something really unexpected.
"Thalia?" I said. She leaped up and gave me a hug. I returned the favor. It was so good to see her. Man, I missed her so much.
"So what's up little bro?" She asked. I filled her in on how Annabeth and Percy were doing, or not doing, and how there is kinda this little special ops thing going on. She wants in and I guess you can't really say no to a hunter of Artemis unless I want to die, or get a mega wedgie from my big sis. So I told her she could help.
"But what brings you here?" I asked. I really was curious.
"Some of the other girls are off with Artemis, but she gave me a special mission. I'm really not supposed to say anything, but hey you are my little bro, so no harm done. Besides you'd never tell." I giver her a look that's like really.
She continues, "Ok so Tartarus really didn't like the fact that Percy and Annabeth escaped and closed the doors of death. I mean I guess if I were some immortal all powerful being I wouldn't want two kids ruining everything. But anyway, he wanted revenge. So he sent this creature that is like half man half monster out here. It's not like the Minotaur, but it it's kind of like half animal."
"How does Artemis know all this," I asked.
"I don't know. She has many allies that are both monster and God and some demigod. I guess she just heard it on the grapevine. But what she said it true. I have been following this thing for over 3 months. No matter where it goes it leaves a bloody mess."
"What is it?" I asked, "Oh and also, it might already have gotten into camp. Annabeth is missing." The last part was very serious.
Thalia stared at me. "That's really not good. The creature feeds on blood. So Annabeth might not even be alive," She said.
"I think you are right," Said Nico. He was at the doorway. His sudden outburst made me and Thalia jump, not to mention he was wearing all black, but it's one of his charms. "I'm pretty sure I saw her run across the camp today. She was so pale." (Nico decided to leave out the part about the bite wound though.) He said this with the utmost seriousness. All of a sudden the light air that was in the room faded. Even the Zeus statue in the corner became really serious, and he was always serious. " I also found something really weird on Will's neck. And it seems to match your description," Nico said.
We all hurried out of the cabin and rushed over to the infirmary. It wasn't dark yet. But the sun was starting to set. Gosh Apollo can't you make it a longer day. Man. I bet he's just playing his little instrument that Leo made him. He probably doesn't even care.
We got to the infirmary and Nico told Will to lift up some of his hair. There were two little point marks on his neck. They'd healed but there was still some indication that it was definitely a bite.
"This can't be right," said Thalia, "The creature always killed it's victims, not just suck some and move on." She examined Wills' neck. He wasn't too happy but he obliged.
"It still hurts like the dickens," he said as Thalia poked at it.
"C'mon," I said, "we have to tell Percy. Something isn't right here."
Percy's POV:
I just walked out of the cabin, when I thought I saw something. I looked around. But nothing was there. Oh man I am definitely like Annabeth. I just gotta lighten up I thought to myself. I bet Annabeth is fine. She's probably frolicking with her laptop and architecture plans or something. Wow, worst pep talk ever.
But, before I could take another step, Nico, Jason, and Thalia crashed into me and we all went sprawling on the floor of my cabin.
"Ouch" I said. "What was that for?"
"We need to talk to you dude," said Jason.
They told me about the creature from Tartarus and what it did, why it was here. But all I could think about were those days in Tartarus. The drinking of the lava to keep us alive, Annabeth almost dying, me sending that poison back to that lady. I couldn't go back. I couldn't. It was too much to take in. But I listened to what they had to say. It was really dark, but if it was for Annabeth, then it had to be done.
"OK then," I said, "I suppose we will just have to be a bit more secretive."
Third Person POV:
Reyna devised a plan that would involve surrounding the area, but making sure nobody could be seen, or could be smelled, because Thalia explained it was extra sensitive. Thalia also explained that it was faster, stronger, and lethal to both humans and demigods. They made the plan, and by sundown, they were ready to go.
Percy's POV:
Oh Gods. What am I doing. Hey, dad, and uhh Zeus, if you can hear me I'd really like some uh, family support. It's just you know. A nice thought I guess. I kinda did pray to my dad and uncle that I could really use some help.
At the edge of the woods, I started to panic a little. What if Annabeth wasn't there. What if she was but something happened to her. If that thing has done anything to her I'm gonna slash him into a pile of sand no matter what.
Annabeth's POV: (Previously during the day)
I saw Percy help up the Apollo kid. I recognized him now that the hunger was gone. His name is Will, I think he is Nico's boyfriend if I'm correct...not sure. I wanted to be down there with Percy so badly, but his scent was absolutely intoxicating. I didn't want to hurt him, but if I did would I vamp out or something. I couldn't take that chance. I just have to hope that he'll come tonight.
Oh Gods. There it is again. It always tugs at me. Sometimes I can suppress it, sometimes I can't. I moved away just as Percy was turning around. I doubt he saw me, or else he would have come running. I run back into the forest and use my heightened senses to see what's lying around. I catch something. It's not human, but it will have to do. I make a run for it and *wham* I have already got it. It's just a squirrel. Not really great but whatever. I suck it dry. The blood is definitely nastier, but it stops the hunger for just a little bit.
After that I just found whatever was in the forest. I definitely don't want to be hungry while talking to Percy. Oh crap, I didn't think about to actually say to him. What am I going to say? I just knew I needed to see him. But what am I supposed to say? Hey Percy so I'm a vampire now, um still wanna date? We could totally go to the movies and I could just kill you. Haha. No way. That is just way too, I don't even know what. I thought about it a little more. I thought I had a plan, maybe a few flaws in it but I think it could work.
Percy POV:
I was already walking into the woods. The sky was darkening and I could see some bats flying in the air. The sunset looked nice. Just like the one Annabeth and I saw yesterday. But yesterday felt so far away. I shook that memory away. I had to stay focused. I kept going and going. I had a flashlight with me so I could see where I was going. The forest was even more creepy at night.
*crack* I swung my flashlight around to see what it was. I saw a squirrel scamper up a tree. Man. I am way on edge. I just gotta loosen and take my time. I started to recognize the place. I swung the flashlight up and saw that the canopy of trees was shielding the sky. I swung my flashlight to a tree and sure enough, the message was there.
"Hey Percy."
I spun around and saw Annabeth. She didn't look too good. I rushed over to her and we both hugged. I was determined to not let go this time. I don't think I could lose her again.
"Percy could you turn off the flashlight?" She asked. I didn't know why she wanted that but I did. It was so strange to see her this way. I held her hand and it was cold, like ice cold. She drew away. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore. The words just started to fall out.
"Annabeth where have you been? What's going on? What happened to you?" I couldn't stop.
"Hey Percy can we go somewhere else? I will tell you everything but, not while people are watching" How could she even know? I guess Reyna's full-proof method didn't work.
"Uhh...sure" I said hesitantly.
"Good" and before I even knew what was going on something hit me really hard on the head. I fell down and I drifted into a sleep.
"Uuuuhhhhh" I groaned as I got up. I opened my eyes. It was still dark, but I was in a completely different place.
"Percy? Oh thank Gods you're alright,"she said. I sat up straight. I looked up and saw the full moon. It was really pretty. But what worried me right now was why I was suddenly in a different place. I looked around. We were at a completely different part of the woods and not even I knew where we were.
I looked over at Annabeth. She looked really great in the light of the full moon. But something was off. She wouldn't look at me. I stood up and stood by her. She still didn't look at me. She had clenched fists and was really tense.
"Annabeth, please, tell me what's going on," I pleaded. She finally looked at me with those stormy grey eyes. I could tell she was dying to tell me.
Annabeth's POV:
I was learning about my new senses when I heard Reyna and the others talking about something. I used my hearing to listen in. Even though I was in the woods I could hear everything clearly. The plan was to surround the area, have Hazel do some magic so that I couldn't sense them, and then capture whoever it was who showed up once Percy got me to talk.
It was a good plan, but that wouldn't work for me. So I had to adjust my own plan for that. Ok, first, get Percy and me away from them. That shouldn't be too hard. I mean the plan was to spy on me first, kidnap me second. Percy and I would be long gone before the second phase of their plan even started.
It was just about night. I smelled him. Percy was walking alone. That was good. I needed him alone. The less people the better I thought. I could smell him from a mile away. I hid behind a tree but I could see him quite clearly. He had his orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt on. His bead necklace, and he carried a flashlight with him. He was almost there. I saw him take in his surroundings.
I made my move.
"Hey Percy" I said. He spun around and hugged me. It felt so good to have him there. I wished we could stay like this. Trapped in time. But we couldn't.
"Percy, could you turn the flashlight off?" I asked. He did, but I sensed his reluctance. All of a sudden he started to ask me questions. I wanted to tell him. I did. But first we had to move someplace else.
I asked him if we could move someplace else. He said ok. Before he or anybody else knew what happened, I hit Percy on the back of the head. I hope he will forgive me. And I grabbed his as I sped off into the night with him.
It was around midnight when he woke up. I could hear him groan a little. He still drools when he sleeps. It is kinda cute. But then I realize that I hit him on the head. He could be bleeding.
I rush over to him hoping he's ok. "Percy? Oh thank Gods you're alright." He sat up straight and took in his surroundings. He looked so perfect in the moonlight. The messy hair, the green piercing eyes. But then I smell it. I hit him too hard or he hit something, but I smell the blood. It's almost too much. But this is Percy. I can't afford to lose control with him. I feel my fangs grow in and my eyes start to shift. I clench my fists wanting it all to stop. He's right behind me I know it.
"Annabeth, please, tell me what's going on" He said, sounding desperate. I finally looked at him, hoping all the red had gone away from my eyes.
I didn't know what to do. I guess I had to show him. But what if he hated me, or worse, hunted me because I was a monster.
"I think the only way you will understand is to show you," I said. He looked confused. I looked him in the eyes. Willing the change to come wasn't difficult, it was getting back to 'normal' that was challenging. He just stared at me. He didn't move away either. He started to move towards me actually. Before even I could react, he kissed me. He kissed me, and I kissed him back. It was like a fire ignited in my chest. But it was a good fire, one that warmed my entire body.
I heard everything in him, his breathing, but especially his heart. It was the most amazing sound. I cupped my face, and I slid my hands from the back of his head to his neck.
That's when I felt it. The vein. It carried that pulse through himself, and I wanted it. I wanted it so much. I pushed up against a wall. And he stopped kissing me. I looked back at him.
Percy's POV:
I looked at her. Wondering what she was going to show me. She was looking at me. But I saw her eyes. They were slowly becoming a deep shade of...red. It was so strange. But I knew she was still the same person. She looked at me with worry in those eyes. I stared at her. Starring at her thoughts of whether I would would accept her, or if I wouldn't. I knew at that moment I couldn't let her go. She needed me. I have no idea what happened, but I moved in for a kiss. It was like kissing ice, but after a second, indulged and wrapped her hands around me. After a second, she wasn't cold anymore. She was warm, and she was beautiful. Her hands moved from my head to the back of my neck and suddenly I was pushed up against a tree. I stopped kissing her.
Her eyes were red, but a dark shade of red this time. And she had little points of teeth coming out of her upper lip.
"Annabeth, what-" But before I could say anything else she went to my neck and bit down on it. I struggled but I started to feel too weak to stand. "Annabeth..stop...please"
Annabeth's POV:
It tasted soo good. It was sweet and good and it flowed, straight from the vein. The smell was amazing. I was sucking him dry. And I was...happy. He was just too good. I couldn't let him go.
"Annabeth...stop...please" he said. I was shocked back into my senses. I pulled away and he collapsed. My eyes were still red and my fangs were still out. No he couldn't collapse, not now. I wanted more, and I was going to get it. I crouched beside him and pulled his head up, but he looked at me with a panicked look in his eye. He was talking to me.
"Annabeth...fight it...plea-" He collapsed. I didn't drink all his blood, so he wouldn't be like me, but if I didn't get him to the infirmary, he would die.
"Percy! PERCY!" I shouted. He didn't respond. I grabbed him and I ran as fast as I could to the infirmary. Will was there. I laid him on the bed and ran out. I looked back to see Will immediately take action with Percy. First he gave him ambrosia and nectar, then he tended to the bite. I ran away as fast as I could.
Percy's POV:
I was so scared. I'd never seen Annabeth this way, not even in Tartarus. I looked at her. I looked at her eyes. Her face was angry and desperate, but when I looked at her, it all melted away, her face relaxed a little and the deep red faded to a brighter red.
"Annabeth...fight it...plea-" I said. Then her eyes turned to their grey, her fangs retracted, and she became the Annabeth that I knew and loved. But I collapsed before I could see anything else.
The next thing I knew, I was in the infirmary. I looked around to see if Annabeth was there. She wasn't. I knew I had to find her. But I had to do it alone.
End of Chapter 5
Hey! So I'm a creature of habit, and I'm pretty sure you all know what I'm going to say, but here it is anyway. Please rate, review, etc. and leave some constructive criticism, but no haters please. Thanks!