Camp Half-Blood comes out for blood
Dr. Annabeth had flown in with delicate-looking golden wings. It didn't look like she'd be using them again. The wind began to rip metal feathers off and whirl them away. She wore black pants with large pockets on her legs and a red shirt that was already soaked through.
The cyclopes were proving to be the most deadly enemy. They uprooted trees planted alongside the road – little scrappy cherry trees that blossomed in the spring and brandished them. With their earthplugs, they were immune to Dr. Annabeth's Legend power.
Kelli was unfortunately the only empousa to hear Dr. Annabeth's command to leave us alone. She gave us a wide berth, sulking, but wouldn't attack us anymore.
"You're here!" Annabeth exclaimed. "How are you here so fast?"
"Crushable pearls," Dr. Annabeth said. "And my husband is the son of the sea god. But it looks like the Gods know I'm here now! Let's get you to safety. Hurry!"
Dr Annabeth had, around her torso, a few swords strapped. She pulled the strap over her head and then tossed the bundle to me. Each sword was wrapped to a strap with the hilt secured. Annabeth reached over and pulled the binding off one of the swords. I was now able to draw the sword. I hefted it over my head and passed the bundle to Piper.
Dr. Annabeth waited a moment, analyzing the situation, and then leaped forward. She cut the head off an empousa before it even had a chance to react. With Kelli out of the running for the Kill Percy and Annabeth Award, there were four fire-hair ladies left. None of Medusa's relatives. The minotaur would likely circle around soon.
"Let's get to the water!" Annabeth shouted. "Percy can protect us better from there!"
"Good thinking!" Dr. Annabeth shouted, and struck another empousa across the chest. Not a mortal wound unfortunately.
Annbeth took off sprinting down the hill. It was raining pretty heavily and she was out of sight soon. I made and missed a slash at one of the Furies and then sprinted after her. In the rain, my body felt lightweight. I glanced back only once and saw Dr. Annabeth jump out of a cyclops' blow. Grover's panpiping was doing next to nothing in the rain. A few seconds after I thought this, I heard him stop.
I gained enough ground on Annabeth that I could see her and I sped up and snatched her wrist as I ran by. She yelped and then it was all she could do to keep pace with me as I ran. We dashed past the Washington Monument and towards the river.
The storm down by the lake seemed completely different from the storm we'd left. No lightning cracked. It was more wet over here. Annabeth was spitting water out of her mouth.
Percy was brightly lit in amber light up in the water and was using the waves to wash monsters on the shore out to sea. That was something I hadn't thought about. Some of the monsters were down here specifically to fight Percy. The bank had about fourteen cyclopes and six Empousai down here. And if Percy thought we were enemies, he'd sweep us out to sea. I'd be fine, probably, but Annabeth?
"Percy!" I yelled. "Down here!"
Nico and Grover appeared behind me, panting. I could see the light Dr. Annabeth was giving off as she battled her way down the hill. A figure fought at her side. Piper.
I heard something clicking behind me. I turned and something black slammed into Annabeth, which would have carried her away if I hadn't had a grip on her wrist still. It was difficult to see in the low light and with the rain, but it seemed to have multiple legs about as thick around as table legs. And it was big… maybe as big as a car. Nico and Grover yelled for us as we shot off.
I held onto Annabeth as we rolled. That clicking sound continued. "Annabeth!" I shouted.
There was no answer, which scared me. I couldn't see her. I squeezed her wrist to see if I could feel a heartbeat, and then her hand came to life and snatched mine.
"Miss me?" A voice asked. It was a weird voice. Like an angry buzz in multiple tones. I kicked out. Near as I could tell, this monster had a furry body, multiple legs, and was very big. I didn't know any monsters that fit that description. Maybe the Minotaur? But I didn't think he could talk.
Then, Annabeth screamed.
My ears began to ring immediately. I thought they were bleeding for a moment, but it was just the rain. She began to thrash and yank on my arm. That gave me the final clue I needed to figure out what had grabbed us.
A spider. The spider, probably. The one Athena had first turned into a spider.
I raised my sword arm and dashed the Greek blade Dr. Annabeth had brought me into the body of the spider. I heard a cry of pain and Annabeth and I were momentarily freed.
I could see the Washington monument lit up against the sky. Then, a creature rose up in front of it. I could see a humanoid torso and head, except for massive mandibles peeking out of the creature's mouth. Underneath the torso was the giant butt of a spider – easily double the size of the torso it was attached to – and eight long, spindly legs.
Annabeth screamed again and began to back away towards the water. She was completely stiff with terror and pulling me along too. I let go of her, and she scrambled away. I readied myself, preparing to take on Arachne, and then something slammed into me from the side, knocking my breath away. More fur… another massive force… this time, I knew what it was. I'd fought the minotaur before.
Somewhere in the near distance, lightning crackled, and I heard Dr. Annabeth scream, "Percy! Get out of the water!" It sounded like she was running towards us. Thank goodness.
There was a thud beside me, and then a massive boom that shook the ground. Lightning had just struck the lake - moments after Percy had hit the ground. I heard a monster wailing in pain in the near distance.
The Minotaur opened his mouth to roar and I smelled rotten meat that made me gag. His heavy arms began to squeeze me tightly. I fought back, but felt myself beginning to crumple like a can. Then strong hands snatched my legs and someone with incredible force ripped me away from the Minotaur. I went skidding across the grass instead.
Percy Jackson uncapped a pen in his hand and it sprouted into the sword I'd used at Yancy in between the Minotaur and I. Apparently he got the same strength from the rain that I did, and it had been enough to tear me away. He swung at the Minotaur, who was now on the retreat. With a run and a jump, he plunged the sword into the Minotaur's side. He was gone in a flash of dissipating gold.
Annabeth and Dr. Annabeth were beside each other and brandishing weapons at Arachne the giant spider. Annabeth was trembling and shaking though. Dr. Annabeth looked on with careful, precise consideration. Then she ran, leaped, and stabbed Arachne in the leg, near where she already had a gash from me. Arachne howled and tried to shake her off, fell off balance, and toppled down. Annabeth darted forward and sliced another leg, downing the spider, and Dr. Annabeth jumped up onto the back of the wounded monster and drover her knife through its back. Arachne, too, dissolved.
Down by the road, about five or six van-like cars pulled up. They were the vans from Camp Half-Blood. People began to pile out of them. Demigods in Greek armor.
Very few monsters were left. Now that we were armed and had Percy and Annabeth, things were different. There was still the Nemean Lion, which had backed off when the Minotaur and Arachne had shown up. Now, it prowled forward, glaring at Percy.
"I hate this thing," Percy muttered, moving in front of me carefully.
"Maybe… if I distract it, you can stab it in the side?" I asked.
Percy shook his head. I could tell by the way the water hit me when it flew off his head – even in the rain. "Its hide is impenetrable," he said. "But I guess I could…" He outstretched a hand.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then the lion began to toss its head uncomfortably and jump around. He drove his face into the dirt. I looked closer. A bubble was forming around his nose and mouth. As the rain fell, it grew larger and larger. Percy kept his hand up. The lion continued to toss its head more desperately. Pounding his head – and the bubble – into the ground did nothing.
I watched the lion run out of breath and collapse onto its side. After a little while longer, it burst into gold dust and washed away, leaving its hide behind. Percy had suffocated it.
Thunder continued to roll, but the rain slowed down. I wondered if Percy had been making the rain this whole time.
Percy wandered over to the Nemean Lion's hide and picked it up, testing it. He glanced towards where the Greek Demigods were marching up. Dr. Annabeth headed to him too. "I know I said I wouldn't do that again," he told her. "But for the sake of keeping everyone safe…"
She cut him off with a kiss. "I got it, Seaweed Brain. I got it."
In a flash of lightning, I saw shadows in the sky momentarily. The demigods from Camp Half-Blood were hurrying towards us. I wondered if they'd be disappointed most of the monsters were gone. Another lightning flash, and I glimpsed chariots in the sky being drawn by flying horses. Percy took Dr. Annabeth's hand and drew her back towards the water. He tossed the Nemean Lion's hide to me. "You and Annabeth hide under that," he told me. "They're here for us."
I nearly toppled under the weight of the hide. Annabeth hurried over and pulled it over both of us like a massive blanket. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Aren't they here to fight monsters?"
Percy shook his head. "Doubt it."
Chiron appeared, galloping up to the end of the water. Percy and Annabeth were five steps away from jumping in, but behind them, the sea rose. I saw my dad Poseidon appear in a chariot made of water, drawn by hippocampi.
From the sky, Gods in chariots began to land. Each was heavily armed. There was Athena, with her helmet covering most of her face. Ares, looking determined to drive his head through a brick wall. Hermes, face set impassively. I counted eleven Gods in all. I didn't know the God lineup well enough to tell who was missing, but Hera was the obvious first choice.
The campers took their places behind the Gods. They did not look friendly, but they weren't looking at us.
"Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase," Mr. D said, glaring at Percy and Dr. Annabeth. "You were told never to return. Yet here you are."
4/12's chapter will be called "A Legend is born."