AN: Before we start I just want to say that the beginning will be fast paced in order to move the story to where I actually want it to start. Also, if you're interested in the premise/first chapter consider following because I will be releasing a chapter nearly every single day (I've already got the entire layout done). Lastly, there will be smutty scenes. However, they will not be in this story specifically because I want to keep this rated T; the smutty scenes will be uploaded separately if you're into that.

Besides that, enjoy!

"And don't fucking come back unless you're gonna apologize!"

Gabe's voice roared from behind as Percy bolted out of the house, door slamming shut. His face throbbed from Gabe's latest blow, tears blurring his vision as he stumbled down the street. Due to it being New York, no one took more than a second glance at Percy's battered form.

Percy didn't know how much more of Gabe's abuse he could take. Despite his persistent begging for his mom to leave his stepfather, Sally had insisted that he was around for an important reason. Percy thought that was stupid, because if her plan was to make him tougher through Gabe's abuse, the bullies from school clearly proved it wasn't working. Either way, the kids weren't as bad as the monster that was his stepdad. Gabe wasn't just a monster in the figurative sense; he was the kind that made Percy wish he had anywhere else to go and tonight, he wanted to go as far away as possible.

As Percy wandered aimlessly, the night air cooling his burning cheeks, a piercing scream cut through the silence from an alleyway nearby. Percy's heart pounded, and his first instinct was to run in the opposite direction because he was not trying to get beaten up twice within the span of ten minutes. But something pulled him toward the sound, a gut feeling he couldn't ignore. Without thinking, he sprinted toward the noise.

Percy wasn't sure what he was expecting to see—possibly a robbery or an assault—but nothing prepared him for what he actually saw. A girl who looked to be his age, twelve, stood in a defensive stance while facing the biggest dog—hound he had ever seen. Percy couldn't see the creature's face since it was facing the opposite way from him; towards the girl, but he knew this creature was serious business. It let out deafening growls, snapping its jaws before pouncing at the girl.

She managed to block the hound's attack, and surprisingly managed to get into the offensive, swinging her sword at the creature. However, it retaliated with a savage swipe that knocked the sword from her grasp, leaving her weaponless.

Cornered against the wall, the girl's eyes widened in desperation as the beast bared its fangs, ready to strike. Just as it was about to lunge towards her, Percy grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it behind the hound. The creature, momentarily stunned, turned towards the noise providing a long enough distraction for the girl to retrieve her fallen sword. With a swift motion, she drove the sword deep into the creature's side causing the hound to let out a final pained howl before dissolving into dust at her feet. The girl staggered back, her chest heaving with exertion and her hands trembling around the hilt of her sword.

"Thank you," she managed to say, her voice shaky but filled with gratitude. The girl looked at Percy, her dark eyes reflecting a mix of relief and lingering fear. "I thought I was done for."

As she caught her breath, Percy took a moment to really look at her. The girl was just taller than him, her dark hair tousled from the fight, streaked with dust and sweat. She wore simple clothes, a worn-out jacket and jeans that looked too big on her small frame. Yet, there was still something intimidating about the girl's presence. Her olive skin bore faint scratches and a bruise that was forming on her cheek, but she held her golden sword with a firm grip.

Percy stared at her, still trying to process everything he had just witnessed. "What... what was that thing?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, her expression wary. "What did you see?"

"What do you mean? Obviously a massive hound like thing. It looked as if it came straight out of hell or something!"

The girl nodded slowly, her grip tightening on the sword. "I was testing to see if you could actually see it. Most people can't for some reason. But to answer your question, I don't know either but I've been seeing creatures like that, time to time. If you can see it too, I think you're also in danger."

Percy wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel scared by what she said. "My life can't get much worse than it is now."

She glared at Percy, possibly upset that he wasn't taking her information seriously. "I'm not joking around, these things can kill."

Percy felt a chill run down his spine. "Well, what am I supposed to do about it anyways? All I can do is just keep on going with my life and you with yours."

She hesitated for a moment, studying Percy's face as if deciding whether to trust him. "If you want, we can stick together in case one of us is in danger. What school do you go to?"

"Goode Middle School. It's a shithole though, don't go there."

The girl simply shrugged. "I'll manage. Might have to fake some records though, to get my name registered."

"What?!"

She looked Percy in the eye and for the first time, she let out a slight smile. "Nevermind that, I'm Reyna."

"Percy."

"Well, Percy, I'll see you around later then." She said, before walking away from the alley.

"Yeah, yeah I guess." He muttered under his breath.

"MPHHHHH!"

Percy grunted as Alex and his friends pounded their fists into him, pain radiating through his body with each punch and kick. He tried to curl up to protect himself, but they had him pinned against the schoolyard wall.

"Just give us your lunch money, Jackson," Alex sneered, his fist connecting with Percy's ribs.

"My stupid dad took it before you guys," He gasped, struggling to catch his breath.

The blows kept coming, Alex clearly not believing such a predicament was possible. However, just when Percy thought he couldn't take anymore blows, a shout pierced through the chaos.

"Hey, leave him alone!"

The weight of the bullies suddenly lifted off him, and he looked up through blurry eyes to see Reyna's fist connecting with Alex's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

One of Alex's friends lunged at her, but she ducked and delivered a swift kick to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The third boy hesitated, clearly rethinking his choices, but Reyna didn't give him a chance. She spun around, her foot catching him in the chest and sending him crashing into the wall.

In a matter of seconds, all three bullies were on the ground, groaning and clutching their injuries. Reyna turned to Percy, extending a hand to help him up. "You okay?" she asked.

"Yep, just fine." He managed to groan out, before wincing in pain.

Reyna grinned. "Well that's great, because I needed you alive to show me around."

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, which was a relief after the morning's chaos. Reyna stuck true to her word and sat next to Percy in each of their classes, her presence a welcome distraction from his usual weekdays which were typically spent alone. As the final bell rang and students began to disperse, Percy walked with Reyna towards the school gates. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and a cool breeze rustled through the trees.

"Hey, Reyna," he ventured, adjusting the backpack on his shoulders. "You fight pretty well, so I… I was wondering if you could maybe teach me some, you know, stuff?"

She glanced at him, her expression unreadable for a moment before a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Sure, Percy. Wanna start now?"

Reyna moved with fluid grace, her strikes precise and calculated. Percy mirrored Reyna's movements, trying to anticipate her next move. With a sudden burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, her sword slashing through the air. Percy parried her blows, Reyna's relentless assault forcing him on the defensive. He ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding her strikes as they exchanged rapid blows.

Feeling the pressure mounting, Percy seized an opening and lunged forward, his sword aimed at Reyna's side. She sidestepped gracefully, spinning around to deliver a swift kick that knocked him off balance. Percy stumbled backward, his back hitting the cold brick wall.

Reyna pressed to her advantage, closing in with a series of rapid strikes that drove Percy further against the wall. He defended to the best of his ability, but Reyna's skill and speed left him struggling to keep up. With a final move, she swept his legs from underneath causing him to fall on his back, before Reyna got down and straddled his body, her sword pointed at his chest.

"Gotcha," Reyna breathed, a triumphant smile on her face before she quickly cringed, realising the somewhat intimate position they were in. They both blushed, before Reyna quickly got up and stuck her hand out to which Percy gladly took. They walked to the back of the alleyway before sitting against a wall, the dim light of a single streetlamp casting shadows across the hall.

Percy wiped the sweat from his brow as he caught his breath, grabbing a water bottle and taking a huge swig from it. Reyna, who was sitting next to him, watched with a hint of amusement.

"You're getting better, Percy," she remarked, twirling her sword before sheathing it. "Remember to keep your guard up, though."

"Yeah, thanks," Percy replied between sips, grinning despite the fatigue. "I couldn't have done half of this without you."

Reyna nodded, her expression softening slightly. "It's been an… interesting six months, hasn't it?"

Percy laughed. "Definitely. I mean, Gabe's gone now. It doesn't get much better."

"You've adapted well," Reyna said, her tone reflecting genuine happiness.

Glancing around, Percy took in the familiar alleyway where they had met the first night. Meeting Reyna here was the best thing that had ever happened to him, the two having quickly become good friends. In school, they stuck together, finding solace in each other's company, often joking around and laughing during class (much to Ms. Dodd's fury).

After school, they'd always find themselves back in this alleyway, their unofficial training ground. Reyna was a serious force to be reckoned with, and she pushed Percy to excel, teaching him everything she knew about close combat. As the weeks turned into months, the alleyway became more than just a place to train—it was their sanctuary, where they could escape from the ills of life and just hangout. They opened up to each other about everything—Percy about the abuse from his stepdad, Reyna about running away from her family.

"You know," Percy began tentatively, "I'm glad you decided to stick around. Living with us and all. I still can't believe you were living in a cardboard box," he said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Reyna shrugged, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "It wasn't so bad. I've had worse."

"Well, you're not going back to that," he stated firmly. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Reyna's gaze softened even further, a rare smile gracing her lips. "Your mom doesn't mind?"

"She's actually been supportive," Percy admitted. "For some reason, she thinks you're a good influence on me?"

Reyna chuckled softly. "You're right. Your mom is really cool. I wonder if my mom was also like her," She said, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness.

He noticed the sadness in her eyes, and Percy knew she was thinking about her own mom, who she had never known. It was a topic that they rarely touched upon, her mom and his dad, but he knew Reyna still thought about it.

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore," Percy said firmly, looking directly at Reyna. "What matters is that we have each other now."

Reyna met his gaze, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and understanding.

"Yeah," she murmured, a small smile playing on her lips. "We've got each other. And your really cool mom."

They sat in silence for a moment longer, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air. Eventually, they gathered their items and began to make their way home, the familiar path leading them through the quiet streets of the neighbourhood.

As they walked, the sky darkened ominously and before they knew it, rain started pouring down in torrents. The pair exchanged a look of surprise before laughing, breaking into a run and dashing through the streets, trying to avoid getting soaked while making it home. But the laughter was short-lived once they made it home, the sound of glass crashing coming from inside.

Reyna and Percy exchanged a quick glance before springing into action, kicking the door open and running into the living room. Much to Percy's shock, his mother was holding a bronze blade, her expression grim as she faced two snarling hellhounds that had invaded.

Without a moment's hesitation, Reyna and Percy joined her, their swords slicing through the air as they turned to engage the monstrous creatures.

"Percy, Reyna, get the one on the left!" Sally shouted, her voice strained with effort as she parried a savage swipe from the larger hound.

The pair managed to dispose of the hellhound with little trouble, and as they turned to help Sally with her hellhound, they were surprised to see that she had already killed it.

Breathing heavily, Percy turned to his mom. "What's going on? How do you know how to fight like that?"

Sally's gaze softened briefly as she met his eyes. "There's no time to explain now, Percy," she said urgently, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We have to leave, now."

Percy and Reyna exchanged a worried glance before following the former's mom out of the house. The rain beat down relentlessly as they sprinted towards his mom's car parked in the driveway. Sally fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking before she finally unlocked the doors. They piled in, she in the driver's seat, Percy and Reyna in the back.

The engine roared to life as Sally started the car, and they sped off into the rainy night. Percy could feel tension thick in the air as they drove, the windshield wipers beating frantically against the downpour.

"What's happening, Mom?" Percy asked again, his voice barely audible over the drumming rain.

Sally glanced at him through the rearview mirror, her expression grim. "Percy, Reyna, you both need to listen to me carefully," she began, her voice steady despite the urgency. "Those monsters, they know you children are here. They're after you both."

Percy's heart skipped a beat. He was in disbelief. This entire time, he thought his mom was simply just, well his mom. Percy never thought that she too was a monster fighting warrior. "How do you know all this?"

Sally hesitated, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Because... you both are not like other kids, Percy. You're both children of Greek gods."

The pair in the backseat exchanged a bewildered look, disbelief mingling with fear. "Are you okay?" Percy stammered, struggling to process her words.

"It's true," His mom continued, her voice urgent. "Your father is a god, Percy. And there's a place where demigods like you both are safe, that's where I'm taking you."

Just as the camp's borders came into view through the rain, a deafening crash rocked the car. The impact sent them careening off the road, the vehicle flipping over with a sickening lurch.

Percy groaned in pain, shards of glass cutting into his skin as he realised something must've rammed into their car. Percy was trying to find a way out of his seat before he screamed in horror, catching sight of his mom slumped over, unmoving. Panic gripped his chest as he reached out to shake her, but Reyna's urgent voice cut through his panic.

"Percy, we have to go!" Reyna shouted, her voice wavering with emotion.

Tears streamed down Percy's face as he continued staring. "Mom..." He choked out.

Reyna's hands were steady as she unbuckled herself and with difficulty, helped Percy out of the wreckage, grabbing both their swords from the backseat during the process. Together, they stumbled away from the overturned car, rain pouring down around them. Reyna wrapped an arm around Percy, supporting his weight as they ran through the streets, their breaths ragged and laboured. The reality of losing his mom crashed over Percy in waves, but Reyna's words of encouragement gave him enough strength to keep him moving.

"We have to make it to the camp she was talking about," Reyna said between gasps for air. "It's what your mom would've wanted."

As they ran, nearly reaching the border, a low ominous sound echoed behind them. Percy turned to see a monstrous creature, body of man and head of bull, charging through the rain-soaked streets, its massive horns gleaming in the dim light.

"Reyna, behind us!" Percy shouted, his heart pounding in fear.

She glanced over her shoulder, her expression hardening with determination. "We can't outrun it. Get ready to fight, Percy."

With no other choice, They turned to face the oncoming beast. The creature thundered towards them, its feet pounding against the pavement. As the creature closed the distance, Reyna drew her golden sword and moved with lightning speed, darting to the side to evade its first charge. She lunged forward, slashing at its legs. The monster bellowed in rage, swatting at her with its massive hands. Reyna just danced out of reach, her movements fluid and calculated. With the creature's focus on Reyna, Percy snuck in from behind and slashed at its legs. The minotaur let out a cry and with a powerful swing of its fist, sent Reyna flying, knocking her to the ground with a sickening thud.

"No!" Percy screamed, his fear and fury merging into a single, primal instinct. Time seemed to slow down as the monster turned its massive frame toward me, its eyes blazing with fury. It charged forwards, aiming to run through Percy but he easily rolled away before slicing the side of its torso as it went past him. The creature let out a groan, before trying to cleave Percy with its axe. However, its attacks, once powerful, now seemed predictable. As it swung its axe, Percy managed to evade it easily, before he lunged forward to attack, his sword slicing through the creature's chest. The creature let out a thunderous roar, staggering back from the impact.

Withdrawing the blade, Percy watched as the creature stumbled, its monstrous form faltering. The beast bellowed in pain and confusion, its massive hands clawing at the wound in its chest. And then, with a shudder, it collapsed into a pile of dust.

Exhausted and trembling, Percy dropped his sword to the ground and ran to Reyna, fear gripping his heart. Dropping to her side, he checked her pulse and saw that she was barely breathing, but alive. Knowing the camp borders were close, he scooped her into his arms, her weight heavy against him. With all the energy Percy had left, he carried Reyna into the borders, stumbling across the threshold.

"Help!" I shouted hoarsely, my voice echoing through the camp. "Please, we need help!"

Before Percy's vision blurred into darkness, he heard the commotion of voices and the sound of running feet. Shadows converged around him, strong arms reaching out to take Reyna from his grasp. And then, as the world faded away, Percy collapsed into unconsciousness, his last thoughts thinking about how he had lost his mother.