CHAPTER TWO: THE MANTICORE

     Nari was struggling to get her breathing under control, but she hadn't had a panic attack yet. That was good.

     Percy tried to reassure her that it was fine despite being in a life or death situation, but Nari didn't think he realized that he only made it worse. He was Percy Jackson. The Percy Jackson. A part of her still thought maybe she was dreaming.

     Nari glanced at Percy, watching as he closed his eyes. She knew what he was doing... Dr. Thorn did not.

     "What are you doing, Jackson?" The monster hissed. "Keep moving!"

     Percy opened my eyes and kept shuffling forward. "It's my shoulder," he lied, trying to sound miserable. Nari mentally praised him. Reading the lines on paper was one thing, but hearing the delivery of each line spoken was another. Percy wasn't too bad at lying, if he tried hard enough, anyway. "It burns."

     "Bah! My poison causes pain. It will not kill you. Walk!"

     Thorn herded the group outside. Nari knew it was best not to try anything—she knew help would show up eventually. But what about Annabeth? Could she change that? Should she? Would the Fates allow her to?

     The Fates.

     Nari felt her rapid breathing hitch in her throat. The last thing she remembered before she showed up here was three old ladies watching her intently. That didn't make sense... how could they have been in her world? Was it possible the Fates existed there too? She couldn't be sure. She didn't even know if she wanted to know the answer to that question. It would change everything.

     Thorn led the demigods and Nari into the woods. They took a snowy path dimly lit by old-fashioned lamplights. Nari was hardly aware of the cold, her mind was too busy thinking a million things a second. Her quick breaths turned to smoke in the air. She was already shaking from panicking, but maybe the cold was making it worse. She wasn't sure.

     "There is a clearing ahead," Thorn said. "We will summon your ride."

     "What ride?" Bianca demanded. "Where are you taking us?"

     "Silence, you insufferable girl!"

     Nari found it within herself to glare harshly at the snow. She hated Thorn—she would be concerned if there were any Percy Jackson fans out there who actually did like his character.

     "Don't talk to my sister that way.'" Nico said. His voice quivered, but Nari was proud of him for standing up for her.

Dr. Thorn wasn't pleased with his comment, and made a growling sound in the back of his throat that made Nari scared he was about to attack—but no, he wasn't. She knew he wouldn't yet.

"Halt," Thorn instructed. The group did.

The woods had opened up. They'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea. Nari couldn't actually see any water past all the mist and darkness, but from having read the book in Percy's point of view, she knew he could sense it.

Dr. Thorn pushed them toward the edge. Percy stumbled, and Bianca caught him.

"Thanks," Percy murmured.

"What is he?" she whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"I... I'm working on it."

Nari debated remaining silent, but based off how things were going, she knew that hadn't done her any good this far. Would the others question how she knew? Yes. Would they figure it out even if Nari didn't say anything? Yes. But she felt so useless.

Knowing that they could figure these things out on their own, and would, made her feel like a badly written character. There had to be some reason the Fates sent her here, right?

"A manticore." She said, before she could stop the words from leaving her mouth. She felt the stares of the other demigods on her, and heard the growling behind her.

"Very good," Dr. Thorn drawled out, she could hear the smirk in his voice. "I don't know how you got here, young demigod," Nari froze at the accusation. Demigod? "But you certainly are a nice change of pace."

There was a long pause, and Nico's small voice brought Nari out of her panicked thoughts, "I'm scared," he mumbled. He was fiddling with something, Nari assumed it was something from his Mythomagic game.

"Stop talking!" Dr. Thorn shouted viciously. "Face me!"

They turned.

Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. A phone. He pressed the side button and said, "the package—it is ready to deliver."

There was a garbled reply.

Nari didn't look, but she knew that Percy would be glancing behind himself right now. He was wondering how far the drop was.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself."

"What did he call you?" Bianca muttered.

"I'll explain later," Percy replied, his voice soft.

"You do have a plan, right?"

Yes. Nari thought. He does have a plan.

Dr. Thorn brought the attention back to him, shooting down an idea that Percy had yet to finish planning out, "I would kill you before you ever reached the water," he said.

When Nari thought he would continue speaking, he didn't. She frowned. She knew what his next line was supposed to be, "you do not realize who I am, do you?" He was supposed to say.

She changed something. She had made a choice, and changed something. How far would the Fates let her go? How much could she change?

Nari felt her shoulders drop at the realization. It was a heavy burden to carry, the future—but the ability to change it? Even worse.

A flicker of movement behind him, and another missile whistled so close to Percy that it nicked his ear.

Dr. Thorn looked Nari in the eyes, "you're an unusual demigod, I'll admit." He said. There it was again. That word, the thing she was so far from being. Demigod. "Unfortunately," he continued, "the General will want to speak with you." He eyed her for a long moment, and Nari felt uncomfortable under his gaze. "Fascinating."

It was like he knew that she didn't belong in his world.

"Who wants us?" Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I..." Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other."

Nari frowned. She realized that she knew more about their family than the di Angelos did. Guilt pooled in her stomach like acid.

"Aww," Dr. Thorn cooed falsely. "Do not worry, little brats. You will be meeting my employer soon enough. Then you will have a brand-new family."

"Luke," Percy said. "You work for Luke." He said it like it was automatic, already written in the stars. Then, he frowned as if remembering that Dr. Thorn's identity had already been revealed. Nari made a mental note to remember that for later.

Dr. Thorn's mouth twisted with distaste, "you have no idea what is happening, Perseus Jackson. I will let the General enlighten you. You are going to do him a great service tonight. He is looking forward to meeting you."

Percy frowned, "who's the General?"

Thorn looked toward the horizon. "Ah, here we are. Your transportation."

But Nari knew it was coming long before anyone else did. In the distance, a searchlight ran over the sea. Then the sound of helicopter blades grew louder and louder.

The Hunters are on their way. Nari had to remind herself, as a way to assure herself that she would be safe soon enough.

"Where are you taking us?" Nico asked.

"You should be honored, my boy." Dr. Thorn sneered, "you will have the opportunity to join a great army! Just like that silly game you play with cards and dolls."

"They're not dolls! They're figurines! And you can take your great army and—"

"Now, now," Dr. Thorn warned. "You will change your mind about joining us, my boy. And if you do not, well... there are other uses for half-bloods. We have many monstrous mouths to feed. The Great Stirring is underway."

Nari scowled at the manticore. She hated how everyone threatened Nico, or spoke to him like he was nothing. The insults, the trauma, all of it. Soon enough, they would see how powerful the son of Hades could be.

"The Great what?" Percy asked, his mind trying desperately to think of a plan.

"The stirring of monsters." Dr. Thorn smiled evilly. "The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!"

"Okay," Bianca whispered to Percy. "He's completely nuts."

Percy ignored her statement and said, "we have to jump off the cliff, into the sea."

Oh yeah, like that's gonna make them feel safe.

"Oh, super idea." Bianca muttered sarcastically, "you're completely nuts, too."

Next thing Nari knew, an invisible force was knocking the her and the demigods off their feet. Despite the terrible situation she was in, she felt relief flood through her in waves, Annabeth.

For a split second, Dr. Thorn was taken by surprise, so his first volley of missiles zipped harmlessly over their heads. This gave Thalia and Grover a chance to advance from behind—Thalia wielding her magic shield, Aegis.

Nari had read about it time and time again—the shield, their quick reflexes, their amazing ability to work as a team. Seeing it in person, however, was all the more impressive.

Thalia was terrifying in a fight, and Nari was just glad that she was on their side. She used a huge spear that expanded from this collapsible Mace canister she carries in her pocket, but her shield was something else. It was modeled after one her dad uses—also called Aegis—a gift from Athena. The shield had the head of Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it wouldn't turn you to stone, it was horrible, most people would panic and run at the sight of it.

Even Dr. Thorn winced and growled when he saw it.

Thalia moved in with her spear. "For Zeus!"

Thalia jabbed at his head, but he snarled and swatted the spear aside. His hand changed into an orange paw, with enormous claws that sparked against Thalia's shield as he slashed. If it hadn't been for Aegis, Thalia would've been terribly injured. Still, she managed to roll backward and land on her feet.

Through all the violence and yells, Nari couldn't remember exactly when the Hunters would be arriving. She just held onto the fact that they would be there soon, and tried to avoid getting killed.

Dr. Thorn launched another volley of missiles at Thalia. The missiles deflected off Aegis, but the force of their impact knocked Thalia down.

Grover sprang forward. He put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play. Grass broke through the snow. Within seconds, rope-thick weeds were wrapping around Dr. Thorn's legs, entangling him.

Dr. Thorn roared and began to change. He grew larger until he was in his true form—his face still human, but his body that of a huge lion. His leathery, spiky tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions.

"A manticore!" Annabeth realized, now visible. Her magical New York Yankees cap had come off when she'd plowed into them. Nari frowned when she looked at her. The blonde was meant to topple over the cliff with Thorn. Would the Fates let her change that?

"Who are you people?" Bianca di Angelo demanded. "And what is that?"

"A manticore?" Nico gasped, his knowledge on Mythomagic shining through. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

If Nari wasn't in the middle of a fight, she would've smiled at the boy. The manticore clawed Grover's magic weeds to shreds then turned toward the demigods with a snarl.

"Get down!" Annabeth pushed Nari and the di Angelos flat into the snow. Nari groaned as her head hit the ground, but it was better than being impaled, so she wouldn't be complaining anytime soon.

"Yield!" The manticore roared.

"Never!" Thalia yelled from across the field. She charged the monster, but before she could do any real damage, there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind the group. The helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets.

The searchlights blinded Thalia, and the manticore swatted her away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear flew in the other direction.

"No!" Percy ran out to help her. He blocked a spike before it could strike her in the chest. He then raised his shield over them.

"Come on." Nari mumbled, adjusting so she could see the fight better, while remaining close to the ground. "Any second now."

Annabeth frowned, turning to face her, "what?"

Nari didn't respond. Her eyes were rapidly scanning the trees for the Hunters.

Dr. Thorn laughed, unaware of Nari and Annabeth speaking in hushed tones. "Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield, little heroes."

Just as everything felt hopeless, a sound pierced through the air—a hunting horn booming through the woods. Nari felt her spirits rise. They were here.

The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved.

"No," Dr. Thorn mumbled softly. "It cannot be—"

His sentence was cut short when something shot through the air like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's shoulder. Nari almost smiled. She loved the Hunters.

He staggered backward, wailing in agony.

"Curse you!" Thorn cried. He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. It looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two, and Nari was amazed.

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. His breathing was heavy. Percy tried to swipe at him with his sword, but he wasn't as injured as he looked. He dodged Percy's attack and slammed his tail into his shield, knocking him aside.

The Hunters flooded out of the woods, glowing with a silver aura that made them look so ethereal. But they had fierce looks on their faces, their eyes glaring at both the manticore and the helicopter. They decided to go for the more immediate threat: Dr. Thorn.

"The Hunters!" Annabeth cried.

Thalia muttered with distaste, "oh, wonderful."

One of the older archers stepped forward with her bow drawn. She was tall and graceful with coppery colored skin. Unlike the other girls, she had a silver circlet braided into the top of her long dark hair. Nari knew who this was; Zoë Nightshade. "Permission to kill, my lady?"

The monster wailed. "This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws."

"Not so," another girl said. Nari's breath hitched in her throat as the girl walked forwards. She was looking directly at a goddess. She had auburn hair gathered back in a ponytail and eyes that were silvery yellow like the moon.

Artemis, goddess of the Hunt, was standing only a few feet away, and Nari couldn't believe it.

"The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." Her eyes fell to Zoë. "Zoë, permission granted."

The manticore growled. "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!"

He lunged at Thalia and Percy, knowing they were weak and dazed.

"No!" Annabeth yelled, and she charged at the monster. Nari ran after her, but a hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back. She turned, her eyes falling to a wide-eyed Nico.

"Nico, please let me go." She begged, "Annabeth is—" Nari cut herself off. What could she say? She had nearly revealed the truth. Just when she came up with a good lie, Nico spoke.

"Don't go." Nico's frown was deep, his eyes shone with tears as if he might cry if Nari got hurt. The girl frowned. Nico di Angelo cared for Nari Seong? She had so many questions. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Get back, half-blood!" Zoë called. "Get out of the line of fire!"

But Annabeth leaped onto the monster's back and drove her knife into his mane. The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life.

"Fire!" Zoë ordered.

"No!" Percy screamed.

But the Hunters let their arrows fly. The first caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest. The manticore staggered backward, wailing, "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!"

And before anyone could react, the monster, with Annabeth still on his back, leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness. Nari felt her heart shatter. Annabeth would be safe by the end of the quest, but she never wanted the blonde to suffer on her way to safety. Luke, holding up the sky, being kidnapped... it was too much.

Percy cried out for fear of what could happen, while Nari grieved what would happen. "Annabeth!" He yelled.

Percy started to run after her, but their enemies weren't done with them. Gunfire spewed from the helicopter, and the Hunters scattered. All except one.

"Mortals," Artemis announced, "are not allowed to witness my hunt."

Nari couldn't believe the amount of power she was witnessing from one living being. Artemis thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into a flock of ravens, which scattered into the night.

Then, the Hunters advanced on Nari and the demigods.

Zoë stopped, her eyes narrowing on Thalia. Nari almost rolled her eyes at what was to be an entire quest of bickering from those two. "You," she said with distaste.

"Zoë Nightshade." Thalia's voice trembled with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual."

Zoë scanned the rest of the group. "Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."

Four, Nari frowned. She was supposed to say four.

"Yes," Artemis said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see." Then, her eyes met Nari's, and the goddess had a look of complete understanding in her eyes. She knew that Nari was very far from home.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled. "You have to let us save her!"

Artemis turned toward Percy. "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help."

Percy attempted to get to his feet, but a few of the Hunters held him down.

"You are in no condition to be hurling yourself off cliffs," Artemis said.

"Let me go!" He demanded. "Who do you think you are?"

Nari winced, and Zoë stepped forward as if to smack the boy.

"No," Artemis ordered. "I sense no disrespect, Zoë. He is simply distraught. He does not understand."

Artemis regarded Percy with her beautiful, silvery eyes, "I am Artemis," she said. "Goddess of the Hunt."

—————
lizzie speaks...

okay... so i currently have the idea in mind that updates for this will be every sunday but i might just post multiple times throughout the week with no set schedule... would that be okay??