Chapter 13
The forest
Nico Di Angelo
We walked around a while, then came to a stop at a clearing in the middle of the woods. There were logs positioned in a circle, a small brook, and a circle of thick trees big enough for something to hide behind. That didn't reassure me.
We set Snow down on one of the logs, and Topaz started passing out food. Olive and pepperoni pizza for Percy; Tacos for Leo; meatless spagetti for Sapphire; cheesesburgers for Annabeth and Topaz; a steak for Blade; Caspia had soup; and she got out ravieoli for me and Snow. We set it next to her, even though she still wasn't awake.
"So, any ideas on what kind of monsters we will find?" Blade asked.
"None," Annabeth said. "We'll just have to find out. We can go looking after we finish eating."
Snow stirred. She sounded like she was talking in her sleep. She had never done that before. Her face was pinched together like she was having a nightmare.
I shook her shoulder gently. "Snow, wake up." Her eyes shot open. I had never felt so relieved. She wrapped her arms around me and cried into my shirt. I held her and stroked her curls. She seemed to pull herself together. "I-I'm sorry. I just had horrible nightmare about something that hapened to me... a long time ago.
"It's okay to cry. Especially about something like that. Don't worry, we'll make sure he never comes back." Topaz came over and hugged her. "Don't worry. We got out of it once, we'll get out of it again. It might not be as bad the second time around, now that we're older."
"Okay, I gotta ask. What are you guys talking about? First that guy on the plane said you would be "offered" and now you're talking about this. What happened with you and the titans? Did they molest you or something?"
"Yes." He looked down. "Um, that was a joke."
I glared at him. He shrunk back.
"It- It's okay, Nico. We were thirteen when it happened. I guess Atlas and Kronos were bored with their own wives. They came up and asked us, and they said if we said no, they would kill our parents. It went on for a long time, until the gods overthrew them. They were overthrew on our hundred and forth birthday. "
"So, it went on for 98 years?" Blade asked. "Yes. After that, several gods asked to marry us-"
"Which ones?" She looked uncomfortable. "Um, Everyone but Annabeth's parent actually. A few others. We decided to remain unmarried at least for a while. For once, they respected someone's wishes on that. I suppose they felt bad for us."
"Wait. My dad proposed to you."
"Um, yes." I was really weirded out. "So you could have been like Persephone, being cheated on then hating me for it."
"Can we talk about something else?" She said, lighting a cigarette with her finger. "You shouldn't smoke when you're healing." Caspia said. "Well, my arm hurts, and you guys are harassing me about something that has haunted me for over 2000 years, so I want to feel better. Besides, it doesn't even hurt me. Tastes like cherries."
"You're going to alert the monsters."
"That's what we want, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess." Percy said.
"I'm starving. Topaz, where's my food?" She rolled her eyes. "Right there at your feet."
"Oh." She started eating the ravioli.
Percy was continuing to make Topaz create more pizza for him.
"I really don't want to go out with a fat guy." Annabeth sighed. "I'm not fat, Annabeth." She looked exasperated. "No, but you will be soon if you don't stop eating so much."
He rolled his eyes and shoved a piece of Pizza in her mouth. "Yes, Annabeth, do you see now why I can't stop eating? That pizza is worth getting fat for. Do you understand now, Annabeth?"
She spat the pizza in his face. "Gah! You got the point in my eye!" She smiled. "Good."
"Okay, I'm done. We can go now." Percy frowned. "I thought you were waiting on me?"
"No, seaweed brain, you've already eaten plenty. Snow hasn't eaten anything today." I cleared my throat. "Let's go. Snow, your bag. Can you get the head for the others?"
"Yeah." She brought it out and handed it to them. "Okay, should we do groups? Or should we stay together?"
"I think we should break into groups of three. That way, it's the right number. Okay, Me, Nico, Snow; Caspia, Percy, Annabeth; Leo, Sapphire, and Blade."
"Okay, Percy's group should get the head because Sapphire, Nico, Topaz and me can see in the dark and Leo can summon flames."
"I feel like the useless group."
"Yeah, me, too."
Snow slipped her hand into mine. "Let's go."
We walked out of the clearing with Topaz. It really was a beautiful forest, especially at night. From the towering trees, to the trails to the wildlife and the gaping rivers, it was really pretty, and somehow mysterious. It reminded me of the barbie doll at the booth for some reason. I don't know why, she was neither beautiful nor interesting. Maybe just instincts or... she's a monster, I realized.
"Hey, guys," I said. "Do you remember the Barbie doll at the entrance? I think she might be a monster."
"I know." They both said at once. They looked at each other. Snow spoke. "I think she's an emposai."
"Indeed," Came a voice from the darkness. It was Barbie. "I am Tammi, aprentice of the senior Emposai Kelli. And I am here to kill you, male. I am NOT a Barbie doll. And now I will feast on your flesh, drink your blood, and take the two girls to my master."
Her fake tan paled to bone white. Her plasticy face withered into a hags.
She bared her fangs and lunged.