Roman Demigods

Chapter 2

Considering Jason was the only familiar thing to me at the moment, I stuck by him. I started to regret that as he went further onto the sky walk. I said. "Jason, we really should get off this thing!"

Jason grabbed my hand tightly. "It's fine, come on." I glared at the back of his blond head. I did not like being this high up. It might be fine with Jason, but it was making me nervous. It was chaos all over the skywalk. Kids were screaming and stuff was flying all over the place. Backpacks, jackets, notebooks and more. Jason was pulling me, but slipped, which tripped me and I fell on top of him, letting go of his hand. He grunted from my weight. "Get up, Rory."

I grumbled. "Then you shouldn't have pulled me on this thing."

"Rory." I smirked a little, I could easily hear the exasperated tone. Surprisingly enough, with most of my memory gone, that tone from him seemed familiar. I got up quickly, looking around. I saw Leo almost fall off the railing. I felt panic fill my chest and lunged forward, but Jason grabbed him. I almost forgot my wariness of being so high due to my worry. I fiddled with the ring on my finger. It felt like a common nervous habit of mine.

Leo yelled out. "Thanks, man!"

Coach Hedge was shouting. "Go, go, go!"

I noticed Piper and Dylan by the doors, which they were holding open for the other kids. I felt worried for these kids. Even if I didn't remember anything, I felt like I was better able to handle this then they were. I moved from Jason and Leo, going to the other teenagers. Leo asked. "Where are you going?!" He was shouting over the whipping wind surrounding us. Piper was telling the kids to keep moving, her voice calm. It was admirable, she wasn't even freaking out. I moved around the skywalk, helping people up.

I pulled up a girl with blond hair. "C'mon, get to the door." She didn't say anything, but continued quickly toward the door. I did that for a couple of the other kids. Soon most of them were gone.

Jason called. "Let's go, Rory!"

I went to move forward to the doors, but felt like I was trying to run through sand. Looking at Hedge, Leo and Jason, I saw they were having the same problem. The last kid went through, but me, Jason, Dylan, Piper and Leo were still stuck on the dangerous skywalk as the wind slammed the doors shut. Piper was yanking on the doors and the kids on the other side were yelling back. Piper shouted. "Dylan, help!"

Dylan was grinning, his expression made me uneasy. "Sorry, Piper. I'm done helping." As I struggled against the wind, I watched in horror as he flicked his hand, forcing her to slam into the doors and slide across the skywalk. I felt anger tugging in my chest. "Piper!" Jason shouted at the same time as me.

Hedge called. "Girl, hold on!" I turned, he was holding Jason back and warning me back. Jason cried out. "Coach! Let me go!"

I yelled, the wind almost snatched the words from my mouth. "Coach, we have to help her!"

Coach Hedge called back. "Jason, Leo, Rory, stay back. This is my fight. I should've known that was our monster."

Leo gaped. "What? What monster?" He slapped away a worksheet that slapped him in the face.

I was ignoring what Coach said, fighting against the wind to do...something.

I lunged forward, yelping when he flicked his hand again and the wind seemed to pick me up and threw me backwards. "Nice try, girlie."

I groaned as I rolled across the skywalk, my back smacking into the railing.

"RORY!" That was Jason. I could hear his panic.

I winced, getting to my knees. "I'm okay!" I stayed on my knees, crawling away from the railing. I felt that nervousness of being close to the edge and being this high up.

"Girl, I told you to stay back!" That was Hedge.

I grumbled under my breath. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome." I looked up and stared at Coach Hedge. His baseball cap was gone and peaking from his curly hair was two twisted bumps. His baseball hat changed into a thick twisted branch. I shook my head, feeling like I seeing things. He looked familiar like my memory should be catching it, but I was drawing a blank.

Dylan said. "Oh, come on, Coach. Let the boy attack me! After all, you're getting too old for this. Isn't that why they retired you to this stupid school? I've been on your team the entire season, and you didn't even know. You're losing your nose, grandpa."

His nose?

Coach made a bleating sound. "That's it, cupcake. You're going down."

I moved closer, getting to Jason and Leo. It should of been exhausting, but I wasn't even out of breath. Leo helped me up. "Rory, you're here!" He looked me over worriedly.

Even if I didn't remember him, I could see the obvious concern. I smiled at him. "I'm fine." I ignored Jason disbelieving look and the throbbing in my lower back, which is where I hit the railing full force. I knew I would have a bruise later.

I said. "We need to get to Piper."

Leo asked, glance at her by the doors. "How?!"

I shook my head, determined. "It doesn't matter how. We just need to do it." I looked back at the fight.

Dylan taunted. "You think you can protect four half-bloods at once, old man?" He laughed. "Good luck." He grinned wider and swung his hand. A funnel cloud came and whipped Leo up. I lunged upward, but the cloud was quicker than me. It threw him toward the Grand Canyon, his fingers scrabbling to take hold and not fall.

Leo yelled. "Help! Rope, please? Bungee cord? Please!?"

I called. "Leo!" How was I supposed to get him? I couldn't fly! Why did that even sound like a possibility? No one can fly.

Hedge let out a curse, tossing the bat to Jason. ""I don't know who you kids are, but I hope you're good. Keep that thing busy while I get Leo." He glanced at me. "Sorry, kid. I only have the on weapon."

I shrugged. "I don't think I can use them anyway." Hedge looked me up and down, sending me a strange look. I tugged on my purple shirt, glancing at myself. I didn't think I looked like much. Ratty shirt and jeans with boots.

Jason demanded. "Get him how? You're going to fly?"

Hedge kicked off his shoes, revealing hooves. My eyes almost bulged out of my head. "Goat hoov-you're a faun!" Jason was nodding along, looking just as shocked.

Hedge snapped. "Satyr! Fauns are Roman! But, we'll talk about that later." Hedge leaped over the railing. He sailed toward the canyon wall and hit hooves first. He bounded down the cliff with impossible agility, finding footholds no bigger than postage stamps, dodging whirlwinds that tried to attack him as he picked his way toward Leo.

Dylan turned toward them. "Isn't that cute! Now it's your turn." I didn't know who he was talking to. I don't think it mattered. Jason threw the club. It seemed to move through the wind easily and smack into Dylan, the club landing next to Piper. He fell to his knees. I watched gold blood trickle down his face. That's because he's a monster.

I shook my head. How did I know that?

Dylan glared at Jason. "Nice try, boy. But, you'll have to do better."

I made a face as the sky walk shuttered and cracks appeared in the glass. Dylan's body dissolved into smoke, as if his molecules were coming unglued. He had the same face, the same brilliant white smile, but his whole form was suddenly composed of swirling black vapor, his eyes like electrical sparks in a living storm cloud. He sprouted black smoky wings and rose above the skywalk. His made me uneasy just by looking at him. If I was ready for a fight before, I definitely would now. Just his look put me on guard.

Jason said. "You're a Ventus. A storm spirit." For some reason, I didn't like the sound of "storm spirit", it made me more uneasy.

Dylan's laugh sounded like a tornado tearing off a roof. "I'm glad I waited, demigod. Leo and Piper I've known about for weeks. Could've killed them at any time. But my mistress said two more were coming—both special. She'll reward me greatly for your deaths!"

I glared and tried to work out a plan. I didn't remember much, but I didn't think I was the planning type.

Two more funnel clouds touched down on either side of Dylan and turned into Venti—ghostly young men with smoky wings and eyes that flickered with lightning. Piper stayed down, pretending to be dazed, her hand still gripping the club. Her face was pale, but she gave us determined looks. I frowned, worried. I didn't know her for long, but she was a friend.

I was startled as Jason was struct with lightning in the chest and thrown back. I winced, but wasn't worried. I wondered why. I cared about Jason and knew him, but I could not understand why him getting struck by lightning didn't worry me. Hedge had Leo and that made me relieved that he was covered. The three storm spirits lunged toward Piper. Dylan went to Jason. I didn't have a weapon, but felt the ring. I didn't know what to do, but I felt like this would help me. I twisted it to the right and watched it transform in my hands. It was a sword that looked like it was made out of pure gold, it had an inscription of a forked object in a circle at the hilt.

I waved a hand, hoping to get them away from Piper. "Hey! Ugly bodies of hot air! Over here!" I ignored the fighting by Jason. I had to focus on these Venti. They made a face at my blade, but rushed me. I tightened my grip on the hilt and just did what felt right. I stabbed forward, watching one of them disintegrate from their smoky form. By instinct, I rolled to the right, dodging the attack the other storm spirit aimed at me. I dodged a couple attacks of lightning, ending up on my knees and stabbing upward. I coughed hard as the smoke surrounding me, getting in my short hair. A third one got past me to Jason, but before I could lunge after it, Jason stabbed forward, killing it.

I stood up. "Well, that was fun."

Piper was shocked. "Rory, Jason-how did you-what-"

I shrugged, still holding the sword. "I don't know. I just did it."

I heard Dylan snarl behind me. "Who are you, halfbloods?" I looked over and saw Jason was fine. I don't know how I knew that was going to happen.

Then Coach Hedge leaped back onto the skywalk and dumped Leo like a sack of flour. "Spirits, fear me!" Hedge bellowed, flexing his short arms. Then he looked around and realized there was only Dylan. "Curse it, kids!" he snapped at Jason and me. "Didn't you leave some for me? I like a challenge!"

Leo got to his feet, breathing hard. He looked completely humiliated, his hands bleeding from clawing at the rocks. "Yo, Coach Supergoat, whatever you are—I just fell down the freaking Grand Canyon! Stop asking for challenges!"

Dylan hissed at them, but I could see fear in his eyes. "You have no idea how many enemies you've awakened, half-bloods. My mistress will destroy all demigods. This war you cannot win."

I scoffed, angry. "Yeah, we're not scared of you or your mistress, buddy."

He laughed darkly. "You should be, little halfblood."

Above us, the storm exploded into a full-force gale. Cracks expanded in the skywalk. Sheets of rain poured down, and we had to crouch to keep his balance. A hole opened in the clouds—a swirling vortex of black and silver. "The mistress calls me back!" Dylan shouted with glee. "And you, demigod, will come with me!" He lunged at Jason, but Piper tackled the monster from behind. Even though he was made of smoke, Piper somehow managed to connect. Both of them went sprawling.

I, Leo, Jason, and the coach surged forward to help, but the spirit screamed with rage. He let loose a torrent that knocked us all backward. I was tossed on my back, my sword ending up further away from me on the skywalk. Jason and Coach Hedge landed on their butts. Jason's sword skidded across the glass. Leo hit the back of his head and curled on his side, dazed and groaning. Piper got the worst of it. She was thrown off Dylan's back and hit the railing, tumbling over the side until she was hanging by one hand over the abyss. I felt my heart drop in my stomach. I called, struggling to my feet. "Piper!"

Jason started toward her, but Dylan screamed, "I'll settle for this one!" He grabbed Leo's arm and began to rise, towing a half-conscious Leo below him. The storm spun faster, pulling them upward like a vacuum cleaner. I ran over to them, dodging the blast of wind that tried to throw me away. I did the only thing I could think of, I jumped upward and grabbed for his legs. Leo yelped in shock. I said. "Sorry!" I was being pulled upward, but tried to throw myself backwards. I could hear the others talking in the background, but the wind was rushing harshly in my ears. But, I knew I couldn't let go of Leo. I might not see him again. Just like Piper, I didn't remember him, but he was a friend.

"Help!" Piper yelled. "Somebody!"

Then she slipped, screaming as she fell. "Jason, go!" Hedge yelled. "Save her!" Suddenly, the coach slammed into us, causing Dylan to drop us. I let out a yell as me and Leo dropped to the skywalk in a twisted tangle of limbs. Dylan grappled the coach's arms instead. Hedge tried to head-butt him, then kicked him and called him a cupcake. They rose into the air, gaining speed.

Coach Hedge shouted down once more, "Save her! I got this!" Then the fau-satyr and the storm spirit spiraled into the clouds and disappeared.

I called out. "No!" But, they were gone. Jason had jumped after Piper, but for some reason, like with the lightning, I wasn't concerned with him jumping over the edge. I went over to Leo and got to my knees. "Hey, Leo, you okay?" He looked terrible. His brown curly hair was full of monster gold dust and his army jacket saturated with rain water. My clothes weren't any better, I could feel my purple shirt sticking to my back. He also looked dazed. I put a hand on his back. "Hey, Leo? Dude, answer me."

He groaned. "Ow, I'm fine." He glanced at me, sending me a tired grin. "Thanks for saving me."

I nodded. "Yeah, anytime."

He looked over the edge. "Will Piper and Jason be okay?"

I nodded again. "Yeah. C'mon, get up." I got to my feet and pulled him up by his arm.

He winced. "Stupid...ugly...goat." I felt guilt twist into my gut when I couldn't see Coach Hedge anywhere. Dylan took him and he was protecting us. I wish I could've done something. I saw Jason and Piper come over. I let out a sigh of relief. Piper and Jason ran over to us, looking relieved to see that the both of us were okay.

Piper asked. "Where did he go?" I knew she was talking about Coach Hedge.

Leo pointed straight up. "Never came down. Please tell me he didn't actually save my life."

Jason said. "Twice."

Leo groaned even louder. "What happened? The tornado guy, the gold swords … I hit my head. That's it, right? I'm hallucinating?" I let him lean his weight on me as he was still unsteady on his feet.

Jason went over to his sword and picked it up. I watched as he flipped it, the sword changing back into a coin. I felt my mouth twist uneasily. That seemed normal to me, but it shouldn't be. I glanced around for my sword, but saw Jason coming over, my sword in his hands. He was glancing at it with a weird expression, his brow furrowed.

I asked, still holding up Leo. "Jason?"

He handed it to me. "Sorry, it just looks very familiar." I grabbed it, twisted the hilt at the bottom and watched it turn back into a ring. I slipped it on my finger.

Leo's eyes were bouncing between the both of us. "Yep, definitely hallucinating."

I made a face. "I don't think so...I mean, we're all seeing this."

Leo opened his mouth, the look on his face saying he wanted to argue, but Piper said hesitantly. "Jason, Rory, those things-"

Jason said. "Venti. Storm spirits."

Piper's face was concerned. "Okay. You both acted...like you seen them before. Who are you two?"

He shook his head. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. I don't know."

I frowned, letting go of Leo when he seemed steady. He sent me a grateful grin. I twisted my ring on my finger again. "I don't know. I can't remember anything either. Something must be going on."

The storm dissipated. The other kids from the Wilderness School were staring out the glass doors in horror. Security guards were working on the locks now, but they didn't seem to be having any luck. Jason said. "Coach Hedge said he had to protect four people. I think he meant us." I felt my gut twist again in guilt.

"Rory..." It was Jason. He saw the look on my face and was looking at me in concern. I shook my head. It felt strange, that one person could read me so well.

Piper shuttered. "And that thing Dylan turned into…God, I can't believe it was hitting on me. He called us... what, demigods?"

Leo was hunched over a bit, wincing. "Don't know what demi means," he said. "But I'm not feeling too godly. You guys feeling godly?" I smiled a bit at his humor.

There was a brittle sound like dry twigs snapping, and the cracks in the skywalk began to widen. I glanced around nervously, suddenly remembering how high up I was and how unstable the skywalk was. "We need to get off this thing now. I don't like being up here." I wouldn't even listen to any teasing about me and heights.

"Ohhh-kay," Leo interrupted. "Look up there and tell me if those are flying horses."

I grumbled under my breath. "What now?" We all looking at what he was pointing at. Toward the east, I stared with wide eyes. I saw strange shapes in the sky and as it got closer, I saw they were winged horses. Behind them, they were pulling a chariot in the air. My mouth dropped. "Awesome."

Leo made a disagreeing noise. "Not awesome, Rory! I don't want anymore surprises." I ignored that. Everything was happening so fast, but I couldn't help, but be in awe at these majestic creatures. I felt like I've seen them before.

Jason nudged my shoulder. "Reinforcements. Hedge told us an extraction squad was coming for us."

Leo straightened. "Extraction squad? That sounds painful."

Piper asked. "And where are they extracting us to?"

I shrugged, my eyes looking to the incoming horses warily. "I dunno. Only one way to find out."

The chariot with the horses landed on the far end of the sky walk. The flying horses tucked in their wings and cantered nervously across the glass, as if they sensed it was near breaking. Two teenagers stood in the chariot—a tall blond girl maybe older than me by a couple of years, and a bulky dude with a shaved head and a face like a pile of bricks. They both wore jeans and orange T-shirts, with shields tossed over their backs. The girl leaped off before the chariot had even finished moving. I stumbled back a step at the look of pure fury in her expression. She pulled out a knife as she ran toward us. The bulky dude ran after her. I blanched, tighting my grip on my ring. If she came slashing at us...

"Where is he?" the girl demanded. Her gray eyes were fierce and a little startling.

Jason asked. "Where's who?" She frowned like his answer was unacceptable.

Then she turned to Leo, me and Piper. "What about Gleeson? Where is your protector, Gleeson Hedge?" I raised an eyebrow at the name.

Leo said, clearing his throat. "He got taken by some...tornado things."

Jason corrected him. "Venti. Storm spirits."

The blond girl arched an eyebrow. "You mean anemoi thuellai? That's the Greek term. Who are you, and what happened?"

Jason explained what happened, glancing away from the girl's intense eyes. She looked like she was deciding on who she wanted to gut first.

When Jason had finished his story, the blond girl didn't look satisfied. "No, no, no! She told me he would be here. She told me if I came here, I'd find the answer."

"Annabeth," the bald guy grunted. "Check it out." He pointed at Jason's feet.

"The guy with one shoe," said the bald dude. "He's the answer."

"No, Butch," the girl insisted. "He can't be. I was tricked." She glared at the sky as though it had done something wrong. "What do you want from me?" she screamed. "What have you done with him?" The skywalk shuddered, and the horses whinnied urgently.

I raised my hands in the air, glancing at the skywalk floor and back to look into intense gray eyes. "Woah, woah. Let's just calm down. We're all confused. Those uh..." I tried to remember what she said. "...Anne thor things came out of nowhere."

Butch looked like he was choking on a laugh. Leo was not far off. I grinned awkwardly. Long and complicated names did not seem to be a skill of mine. Annabeth said shortly, exasperation in her tone. "Anemoi thuellai. That's not even close. How did-" She did a double take, staring at my face intently. Her blade was sheathed somewhere, but then she was in my space, her hands clutching my shoulders tightly as she studied me. It made me feel like a science experiment. Suddenly, I was more nervous of her than the skywalk breaking. She looked like she was trying to look into my soul. "Who are you?" I heard Jason, Leo and Piper's sounds of protest, but Annabeth's attention was fully on me and I felt for my safety it was best if I didn't look away.

I ran a hand through my short black hair, shrugging and leaning back a little. "Probably doesn't mean much, but uh, Rory." I shrugged again, giving her a sheepish grin. She obviously had a lot of things going on. Instead of reassuring her, my attempts at making her feel better ending up going worse. Her eyes were flickering over my face, her face turning an unnatural white shade.

She asked, her voice tight. "Just Rory?"

I frowned. "Memory is a little messy, but Aurora's my whole name. Too long and serious for me...I think." I tried to send her my awkward smile again.

I was so lost and this girl looked like she wanted to gut me. My expression seem to make her angry. "This has to be a joke. You can't-" She cut herself off, her grey eyes blazing. It put me on edge. She looked like she was planning something, but I didn't know what.

Butch cut in. "Annabeth. Let her go. We gotta go. Whatever you have to ask, you can when we leave. Let's get the four of them to camp." Annabeth let go and stepped back. I let out a silent sigh of relief.

She was fuming still. "Fine." She sent Jason a dark look, narrowed her eyes at me, looking bewildered and spun on her heel. "We'll settle this later." She went toward the chariot. She was muttering under her breath as she left.

Piper put a hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's fine." Made me a little nervous, but I had a feeling I've faced worse things. I shook my head. Where did that thought come from? Plus, I understand she must be concerned for someone or something.

Piper turned to Butch. "What's her problem? What's going on?"

Leo agreed. "Seriously!"

Butch said. "We have to get you out of here. "I'll explain on the way."

Jason gestured toward the blonde. "I'm not going anywhere with her. She looks like she wants to kill me and strangle Rory."

Butch hesitated. "Annabeth's okay. You gotta cut her some slack. She had a vision telling her to come here, to find a guy with one shoe. That was supposed to be the answer to her problem."

Piper asked. "What problem?"

Butch said, looking concerned. "She's been looking for one of our campers, who's been missing three days. She's going out of her mind with worry. She hoped he'd be here."

"Who?" Jason asked.

"Her boyfriend," Butch said. "A guy named Percy Jackson."

I felt a throbbing in my skull at the name. It wasn't so much the first name, but the last name. That name felt very familiar, but I couldn't place it. I squinted my eyes. "By why did she came at me like that? I don't think I ever met her before."

Butch made a face. "You reminded her of him. And she's not wrong."

I exclaimed, throwing up my hands. "I don't know a Percy!"

Butch nodded. "I know and I'm sorry. She's been on edge the past three days. C'mon let's go."

Jason looked hesitant. I was too. "Jason asked. "But-"

The skywalk creaked and I shook my head quickly. "Nope. Not doing this. To the blond murderess we go. C'mon, to the chariot!"

Butch looked like he either wanted to laugh or was staring at me in disbelief. The others followed me.

It seemed like the best way to get our memories back.