"'Greeks!' Percy yelled. 'Let's, um, fight stuff!' They yelled like banshees and charged."
~Rick Riordan (Blood of Olympus)

                                                                         ______________________

"Ava? Ava! Wake up!"

"What's wrong with her?"

"I don't know! Ava, can you hear me--?"

I forced open my eyes, even though my eyelids seemed heavy as if they had been closed for years. For a while, everything seemed blurry until two faces, hovering above me, swam into focus. Vanessa's face lit up in relief but there was certain urgency in her movements as she helped me up. There was another girl with her whose name I was pretty sure was Sam. I had seen her couple of times in training. She was kind of hard to miss with her dark, ebony skin and neon-highlighted hair and a curling dragon tattoo in her collarbone.

"Vanessa," I said, after taking a moment to orient myself. "I had the strangest visions--"

"There's no time," the girl, Sam said, tapping her sword that I hadn't noticed before, impatiently on the floor. "We need to get going."

Vanessa nodded grimly. She turned to face me and said, "We're under attack."

                                                               ______________________

The three of us rushed down a corridor that was oddly quiet and deserted. But a moment later, when we were out on the main atrium, I could see dozens of people rushing around, almost everyone armed.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed. "What is going on here?"

"They're preparing to go out for battle," Vanessa said, as she regarded the clamor of people moving around, grabbing shields and armor and weapons.

"Are you two just going to stand there?" Sam said. "We need to go out as well. We've had training. They'll expect us to fight."

"I know. You go ahead," Vanessa said. "I'll make sure Ava is safe and then join you."

I started to protest but no one seemed to hear me.

"C'mon Ava," Vanessa said after Sam had headed off. "You can go down to the crypt where most of the children are-"

I shook away my hands from her. "I'm not a child!"

"I know. Try to understand, you don't have enough training to go out there and fight."

"No, you try to understand!" I cried. "I need to go out there! They're here for me!"

Vanessa recoiled. "What?!"

"If you'd have listened to me, I was trying to say I had some visions! Flashbacks, really. I know what's happening. I know everything now. They're attacking to take me. The Hooded Demon promised he'd come for me at the beginning of my 16th mortal year. And today's my birthday!"

"What are you talking about? Why would he come for you?"

"To sacrifice me! And my entire family! He said I was the ultimate element that would complete the ritual that would bring back Ozoman."

"Whoa! Slow down! O-Ozoman?!" Vanessa cried in shock, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Yes! Don't you understand? All these murders....how there was no blood in the bodies of the victims? How there were symbols engraved in their body in the language of Ozra? It all makes sense! The Hooded Demons are collecting blood to perform some sort of sacrificial ritual and awaken the Dead Devil."

Vanessa almost stumbled back, her shoulders hunching as if the new found knowledge was too much to bear. "And you're the last one they need," she said, narrowing her eyes at me. "Why?"

I swallowed and forced out the words. "Because, apparently, I'm stronger and powerful. I...I'm an Elder."

                                                                         _________________

After a heated argument between the two of us, Vanessa finally relented in defeat and agreed to let me go out. She thought I was being noble, willing to fight for their cause and risk my life. But I wasn't. I knew they couldn't kill me. They needed me. But I needed them too. I needed to know what they did to Carla and Rick, my biological parents. And if by any chance, they were alive. I just...had to be sure. 

So, mustering every remnant piece of courage inside of me, I made myself walk past the throng of people, shouting orders and running around. I grabbed a sword and shield. But even as I did so, I wondered if I would need them. Where were my powers? Shouldn't I have some super awesome tricks up my sleeve, being an Elder and all? But since they haven't given any signs of showing up, I couldn't rely on them now. I had to hope my last few weeks of training would be enough.

Inhaling a deep breath, I walked towards the giant double doors of the Fort that were swung open. I stepped out into the cold night air that prickled my skin. For a second, I had the bizarre recollection of stepping out of my apartment door to go to school and now, here I was, stepping over the threshold to a battle that awaited me.

I walked along with the rest of the crowd of people towards the iron-wrought gates. Beyond that, I could see the pegasus' were taking off, carrying people to the battle in the city below. I walked over to the very edge of the paved pathway, that was now also serving as a runaway for our steeds, from where thousands of steps led down the hill.

Below, the city of Morlea was burning.

_________________

I grabbed a ride with a middle-aged guy who introduced himself as Robert. I closed my eyes as the pegasus took off, its huge black wings almost blending with the night. Just today morning, the entire city had looked so beautifully serene from above. And now it was on the brink of destruction. I couldn't bear to look at it.

Within a short while, the pegasus descended and landed right in the middle of the battle. I felt my jaw slacken with horror as I finally took in the sight. Houses and trees were burning, sending columns of smoke in the air. And the demons – they were everywhere. Some looked like reptiles with scaly trunks and clawed feet. Some had horns sprouting from their forehead. Others were winged with bat-like wings and razor-sharp teeth. They were attacking from every direction, Guardians falling as they tried to stop the war-path that the demons had started on.

I was so busy staring at the devastation around me that it took me some time to register the winged creature flying towards me, its claws outstretched. At the last moment, I came to my senses, slashed out my sword and cut off one its wings. It went tumbling down, shrieking.

"Good one!" Robert said, as he climbed down, his own bow and quiver slung on his back. I followed. The pegasus flew off the moment both out feet touched ground.

Robert shot me a two-fingered salute and headed off to his right, yelling at me, "Good luck, young lady!"

My fingers tightened on my sword hilt as I swung it and plunged it over a demon with a gigantic jaw lined with what seemed like sharp knives but were actually teeth as it leaned over a wounded girl, about to tear away her flesh. The demon screamed but broke off mid-way as it burst into ashes. I helped the girl to her feet, gave her a curt nod and ran to meet my next target.

I had a mission now. I had to get to the Hooded Ones, wherever those rotten skunks were hiding. I would kill as many as I could for I had promised myself, I would get my revenge on them for killing Mom--- I mean, Esther. I almost chuckled. How weird it seemed, calling Esther by her name. It didn't feel right. After all, she had been my mother -- in all the ways that mattered. She was the one who watched me grow up, tucked me into bed, healed all the bruises and scrapes I got, told me bed-time stories. And she lied. But mothers lie, don't they? It's in the job description. So, how could I begrudge her attempts at keeping me safe?

Suddenly, bursting with renewed energy, I slashed and hacked at the demons. I still wasn't nearly as good as Josh or Vanessa or Kace but fortunately, the demons weren't very smart to dodge my attacks either. But even as I decapitated a demon that suspiciously resembled an enlarged vermin, I could feel myself getting tired. I knew with the adrenaline coursing through me, I would last at least a couple of hours but I was simply not trained enough. Even I understood that.

My eyes caught sight of another demon prowling a boy whose sword lay broken in two beside him. Even from a distance with all the sounds of metal clashing against metal and the howling cries and shrieks, I could make out the demon cackling with glee as it slowly drained the life out of the boy. Enraged, I ran towards them.

But the demon sensed me. It turned and I almost gasped. It was by far, the scariest looking with a tough black hide, feet with talons and a swishing tail with a sharp pincer at the edge that looked like it could cut through my skeleton like butter.

Despite the fear threatening to overtake me, I pushed it down and stood my ground. I had to keep the demon distracted long enough for the boy to flee. It lunged at me, its claws outstretched. I dodged but I was a second too late. I felt a stabbing pain engulf my right arm as its claws raked through my skin. But I didn't dare look at the wound. Mostly because I had no time. It was already coming at me again. 

I swung my sword, trying to go for its belly that was protruding and looked soft enough than the rest of his body. But it merely grabbed my hand, its sharp talons sinking into my skin. It twisted my hand, making the sword fall out of my grip and threw me on the ground. I was about to crawl away when I suddenly felt my vision go black as pain took over every inch of my body. I blinked through the haze of pain and saw the demon retract its pincer from my calf. I fell back on the ground, choking and screaming, as I felt fire course through my veins. The pincer must have ejected demon poison on my body.

But before it could delve its final blow, I felt sharp talons take hold of my shoulder. I screamed weakly as all of a sudden I was airborne. With the life and energy draining out of me, I couldn't even attempt to try and fight the demon bird that had hold of me. Not that it would help. I felt a hysterical laugh bubble out of me as I imagined myself getting splattered all over the ground. Great, now I was delirious and suicidal.

Abruptly, the demon dipped, crowing loudly, such that I felt my ears were bleeding. My eyes widened as some part of my brain that was still functioning registered the foliage of the forest approaching me in an alarming speed. I cried out as the bird left its hold on me. And then I was plunging downwards, the branches of trees raking my clothes and face. And then, miraculously, I stopped. I was still hovering well above the ground. And I could see the inky black sky peeking through the canopy of the trees. A star winked at me, making me giggle.

But then I heard footfalls. And there was a familiar drop in the temperature. I felt my giggle die down as I twisted awkwardly while still floating in the air that had started to seem more like an invisible cage and less like an effort to save me. My face paled as I saw the numerous figures emerge from shadows. It was an entire army of Hooded Ones with the leader at the forefront, still wearing his signature coat and hat. And there it was too, that same infuriating smirk in his face, as he said, "Well, hello there, Aveline."

__________________

I was ready to pass out with the demon poison still coursing through me. It was only the sheer amount of fear and helplessness still keeping my eyes wide awake. So much for a mission. I had no clue whatsoever how to fight these guys.

And I was going to be their prisoner soon. Or better yet, their sacrificial element. Pleasant.

So, of course, I had to employ the evergreen tactic of keeping them distracted by talking. Or blabbering nonsense in my crazed, dying state.

"What do you want?" I asked, almost whimpering.

The leader tilted his head. "I thought you'd have figured that out by now."

I swallowed. "But why now?"

"There's a certain age when a child's powers awakens. If we'd have tried to torture out the powers out of you before the right time and trust me, we could do that, it would've come out warped and, overall, ineffective to our cause. But now, there are no more restrictions. You should rejoice, child, for you'd be giving your life to a greater cause."

I almost snorted. "Well, too bad for you because my 'powers' aren't going to show up anytime soon."

He chuckled. "I don't expect it to. Not without some assistance at least. Which is why I'm here."

My eyes widened. What did that mean? I grappled the air in a futile effort to get away from him as he stalked closer to me, his tread predatory. And I was the prey.

Abruptly, the pressure of air that caged me released its hold and I thumped down, groaning, my entire body screaming in pain. I crawled back on my butt when I saw the leader's shadow looming closer to me, until it even blocked the small patch of sky visible and the winking star. He bent down on his knees, so that he was level with him. Fear crawled through me, slow and inevitable, just like that poison.

"You're too late, demon," I said, my voice weakening as well. "Poison courses through me and I'll be dead within seconds."

This time, the leader let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, poor child, brave of you to assume that I'll let something so important to our cause be killed with poison. You won't die today. But instead, you will emerge. Strong and powerful. As they say, one has to see the face of death to feel the breath of true life."

He gripped my wrist and black ink replaced the blood inside me. I screamed and thrashed, as the demon poison, combined with whatever he was injecting on me, increased tenfold. My breath became shallow. Cold sweat beaded my forehead. And, I couldn't be sure, but I could almost feel my heartbeat slowing down, as if it had lost the will to keep beating.

The shadow over me disappeared. The battle seemed distant. Every sound came muffled. The star over me twinkled again as I took my last breath.