"THE VICE PRINCIPAL GETS A MISSILE LAUNCHER?"

Vespertine was going to be in some deep shit.
She'd gotten distracted and lost sight of the kids, and Percy apparently was going to take it upon himself to save them.

She wanted to see Percy again sometime. Even though he wouldn't remember her, looking into those eyes of his would be enough.

For now, she'd watch Percy do dumb things from a distance so as not to be caught and to make sure that the kids were taken care of like they had planned. So she followed closely behind, making sure he didn't die.

She wasn't sure if she was enamored or amused by Percy as he was brave and loyal yet so funny and it was all rather endearing.

She hoped he didn't die, it would be a shame for something so pretty to die.

✦ ✦ ✦

Percy didn't know what kind of monster Dr. Thorn was, but he was fast.

Maybe he could defend myself if he could get his shield activated. All that it would take was a touch of his wrist-watch. But defending the di Angelo kids was another matter. He needed help, and there was only one way he could think to get it.

He closed his eyes.
"What are you doing, Jackson?" hissed Dr. Thorn. "Keep moving!"

He opened his eyes and kept shuffling forward.
"It's my shoulder," he lied, trying to sound miserable, which wasn't hard. "It burns."

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

Thorn herded them outside, and he tried to concentrate.

He pictured Grover's face. He focused on his feelings of fear and danger.

Last summer, Grover had created an empathy link between them. He'd sent him visions in his dreams to let him know when he was in trouble.

As far as Percy knew, they were still linked, but he'd never tried to contact Grover before.
He didn't even know if it would work while Grover was awake.

Hey Grover! He thought.
Thorn's kidnapping us! He's a poisonous spike-throwing maniac! Help!

Thorn then marched them into the woods.
They took a snowy path dimly lit by old-fashioned lamplights. His shoulder ached. The wind blowing through his ripped clothes was so cold that he felt like a Percysicle.

"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!"

"Don't talk to my sister that way.'" Nico said. His voice quivered, but Percy was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all. And we love Bianca. No slander in this house is allowed.

Dr. Thorn made a growling sound that definitely wasn't human. It made the hairs stand up on the back of Percy's neck, but he forced himself to keep walking and pretend he was being a good little captive.

Meanwhile, he projected his thoughts like crazy—anything to get Grover's attention: Grover! Apples! Tin cans! Get your furry goat ass out here and bring some heavily armed friends!

"Halt," Thorn said.

The woods had opened up. They'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea.
At least, Percy sensed the sea was down there, hundreds of feet below.
He could hear the waves churning and he could smell the cold salty froth. But all he could see was mist and darkness.

Dr. Thorn pushed us toward the edge.
Percy stumbled, and Bianca caught him. "Thanks," he murmured.

"What is he?" she whispered. "How do we fight him?"
Percy knew she was girlboss material, but she couldn't possibly take him on.

"I... I'm working on it."
Percy had, in fact, zero clue what he was going to do to save their lives unless Grover showed up.

"I'm scared," Nico mumbled.
He was fiddling with something—a little metal toy soldier of some kind.

"Stop talking!" Dr. Thorn said. "Face me!"
They turned.

Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. At first Percy thought it was a switchblade, but it was only a phone. It wasn't unreasonable to overreact in this situation. He pressed the side button and said, "The package—it is ready to deliver."

There was a garbled reply, and he realized Thorn was in walkie-talkie mode. This seemed way too modern and creepy—a monster using a mobile phone.

Percy glanced behind him, 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 said.
"You do have a plan, right?"

Grover! Percy thought desperately. Come to me!

Maybe he could get both the di Angelos to jump with him into the ocean. If they survived the fall, he could use the water to protect them.

He'd done things like that before. If his dad was in a good mood, and listening, he might help. Maybe. Probably not, but he could try and do it himself.

"I would kill you before you ever reached the water," Dr. Thorn said, as if reading his thoughts. "You do not realize who I am, do you?"

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

Something had sprung up behind Dr. Thorn—like a catapult, but more flexible... almost like a tail.

"Unfortunately," Thorn said, "you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise you would already be dead."

"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."

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

"Luke," Percy said, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "You work for Luke."

Dr. Thorn's mouth twisted with distaste when he said the name of Percy's now enemy—a former c̶r̶u̶s̶h̶ friend who'd tried to kill him several times. There was a time when that name would give him butterflies, but his betrayal had cut deep. And now his heart felt scarred.

"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."

"Who's the General?"

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

Percy turned and saw a light in the distance, a searchlight over the sea. Then he heard the chopping of helicopter blades getting louder and closer.

"Where are you taking us?" Nico said.

"You should be honored, my boy. 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."

"The Great what?" Percy asked.

Anything to keep him talking while he tried to figure out a plan. He was used to playing dumb.

"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 him after the rant. "He's completely nuts."

"We have to jump off the cliff," Percy told her quietly. "Into the sea."

"Oh, super idea. You're completely nuts, too."

Usually Percy would appreciate how her rationale reminded him of Annabeth, but in the moment it was annoying. He never got the chance to argue with her, because just then an invisible force slammed into him.

Looking back on it, Annabeth's move was brilliant. As usual.

Wearing her cap of invisibility, she plowed into the di Angelos and Percy, knocking them to the ground.

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.

If you've never seen Thalia run into battle, you have never been truly frightened.
She uses a huge spear that expands from this collapsible Mace canister she carries in her pocket, but that's not the scary part.

Her shield is modeled after one her dad Zeus uses—also called Aegis—a gift from Athena. The shield has the head of the gorgon Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it won't turn you to stone, it's so horrible, most people will 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!"

Percy thought Dr. Thorn was a goner. 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 sliced like a loaf of bread.

As it was, she managed to roll backward and land on her feet.

The sound of the helicopter was getting louder behind them, but they didn't dare look.

Dr. Thorn launched another volley of missiles at Thalia, and this time Percy could see how he did it.

He had a tail—a leathery, scorpionlike tail that bristled with spikes at the tip. 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—a frantic jig that sounded like something pirates would dance to. 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 said, now visible. Her magical New York Yankees cap had come off when she'd plowed into them.

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

"A manticore?" Nico gasped. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

Percy didn't know what he was talking about, but he didn't have time to worry about it. The manticore clawed Grover's magic weeds to shreds then turned toward them with a snarl.

"Get down!" Annabeth pushed the di Angelos flat into the snow.

At the last second, Percy remembered his own shield.

He hit his wristwatch, and metal plating spiraled out into a thick bronze shield. Not a moment too soon.

The thorns impacted against it with such force they dented the metal. The beautiful shield, a gift from his brother, was badly damaged. He wasn't sure it would even stop a second volley.

He heard a thwack and a yelp, and Grover landed next to him with a thud.

"Yield!" the monster roared.

"Never!" Thalia yelled from across the field. She charged the monster, and for a second, Percy thought she would run him through.

But then there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind them. 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 helicopter had to be manned by mortals, but what was it doing here? How could mortals be working with a monster?

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 parried away a spike just before it would've hit her chest. He raised his shield over them, but he knew it wouldn't be enough.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield, little heroes."

They were trapped between a monster and a fully armed helicopter. They had no chance.

✦ ✦ ✦

Vespertine heard the dreaded whisper in her ear. It didn't scare her. But she never liked hearing her Grandfather's voice.

It snaked across her skin, time slowing all around her.

"I see you've met the Boy. You must gain his trust, my child. He is instrumental to our plans. It is good you've piqued his interest."

What? Percy?

Vespertine had known that Grandfather had plans for a Boy, but she'd never gathered it would be Percy.
If so, what could her dreams mean? And how could she gain his trust when he has already forgotten her?

"Yes, Grandfather. I will try... As long as no harm will come to him by your hand."

There was a pause. A concerning one.

A sigh.

"Not by mine."

And then He was gone. And she knew that was that.

She followed Percy outside just in time as him and the Zeus spawn were to be killed by that cursed manticore, "Thorn".

Vespertine had always wondered why the monsters always insisted on such ridiculous names for themselves.

She took her ring and threw it into the air, watching as it changed into her blade.

She caught it by the hilt, a well practiced move, and threw it into the shoulder of the manticore in a fluid motion. 

Just as she heard the call of their hunting horn.

✦ ✦ ✦

The manticore froze, a dagger protruding from his shoulder.

Then Percy heard a clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.

For a moment, no one moved.
There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.

"How?" Dr. Thorn said. "It cannot be—"

His sentence was cut short when something shot past Percy like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's other shoulder.
He staggered backward, wailing in agony.
He deserved it anyways.

"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 almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two, but Percy's eyes must've been playing tricks on him. No one, not even Apollo's kids at camp, could shoot with that much accuracy.

The blade from before had disappeared, but the wound remained.

The manticore pulled an 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 his attack and slammed his tail into Percy's shield, knocking him aside.

Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them.

The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about fourteen, like Percy. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.

"The Hunters!" Annabeth cried.

Next to him, Thalia muttered, "Oh, wonderful."
Percy didn't have a chance to ask what she meant.

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, so she looked like some kind of Persian princess.

"Permission to kill, my lady?"

Percy couldn't tell who she was talking to, because she kept her eyes on the manticore.

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

"Not so," another girl said. This one was a little younger than Percy, maybe twelve or thirteen.

She had auburn hair gathered back in a ponytail and strange eyes, silvery yellow like the moon. Her face was so beautiful it made Percy catch his breath, but her expression was stern and dangerous. It reminded him of Vera and the thinly veiled wildness in her eyes.

"The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." She looked at the older girl with the circlet.
"Zoe, 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.

"Get back, half-blood!" the girl with the circlet said. "Get out of the line of fire!"

A familiar voice chimed in,
"You foolish girl, get out of the way!"

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!" Zoe 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.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled.
He started to run after her, but their enemies weren't done with them.

There was a snap-snap-snap from the helicopter—the sound of gunfire.

Most of the Hunters scattered as tiny holes appeared in the snow at their feet, but the girl with auburn hair just looked up calmly at the helicopter.

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

She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into dust—no, not dust. The black metal dissolved into a flock of birds—ravens, which scattered into the night.

The Hunters advanced on them.

The one called Zoe stopped short when she saw Thalia. "You," she said with distaste.

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

Zoe scanned the rest of them.
"Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."
Percy wasn't the greatest at math, but last he checked, there were only four left of his group.

"Yes," the younger girl said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled, gaining their attention. "You have to let us save her!"

The auburn-haired girl turned toward him. "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help."

Percy tried to struggle to his feet, but a couple of the girls held him down.

"You are in no condition to be hurling yourself off cliffs," the auburn-haired girl said.

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

Zoe stepped forward as if to smack him.

"No," the other girl ordered.
"I sense no disrespect, Zoe. He is simply distraught. He does not understand."

The young girl looked at Percy, her eyes colder and brighter than the winter moon. "I am Artemis," she said. "Goddess of the Hunt."

author's note
if you haven't noticed, the above ring is vespertine's ring. it turns into the dagger. ik it's kinda basic but whatever. it can also kill anything and anyone. I just had to make her MORE special bc I love her. anyways... more details on that later.
Also, so sorry for the odd pacing and the inconsistent shifts in tone. This was a long one.
Anyways, tell me what you think <3