𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐈𝐗
𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒍 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆

❛ he'd move mountains for her
  but do not be fooled,          for
   the          blood he would shed
       is practically               limitless ❜

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄, 𝕬urora Stark was getting a major sense of Deja Vu. It was a sensation too uncanny for the young girl to ignore, especially in the circumstance she found herself in—where her back was to the ever-growing ocean and her hair flying up to cover her face with the rush of wind invading her eardrums as though they were warning her of the doomsday awaiting them.

After shifting her shield back into her bangle, she used her free hand to grip onto Percy's arm for dear life. Hoping, pleading, and praying she wouldn't ruin her mascara and lipgloss by landing into the vast ocean.

Luckily enough, Percy too was scared of losing his grip on her. So he tightened the arm around her waist and the arm holding onto the lifeboat.

                         Still, arrows whizzed past her head—one getting so close she could feel it graze her cheek. Even as her thruster went off every five seconds trying to defend her friends from the weapons raining down on them her weaponry proved to be slower.

                         Something she was definitely going to fix when she got back home . . . If she got back home.

                         "Thermos!" She heard Percy scream over the sound of the rushing wind.

As she brought her right hand up to defend herself when another round of javelins and arrows came sailing in their direction, a tug broke her concentration.

It was Percy—who was only securing his grip on her.

                        "Aurora, Hang on!"

The girl flinched as a javelin almost caught her leg, "To what?!"

"To me!"

"Umm," her thruster released a mechanical whirl blasting apart a dozen arrows headed their way. "I'm kind of in the middle of saving our lives!"

Percy only groaned in frustration and tugged her thruster-covered arm to grip his shirt. Ignoring the sounds of protest escaping her mouth, he hooked his feet under the boat's inflatable bench, and as Tyson grabbed Aurora, Annabeth, and Percy by the backs of their shirts, Percy gave the thermos cap a quarter turn.

Instantly, a white sheet of wind jetted out of the thermos and propelled them sideways, turning their downward plummet into a forty-five-degree crash landing. The wind seemed to laugh as it shot from the thermos like it was glad to be free.

As they hit the ocean, they bumped once, twice, skipping like a stone, then they were whizzing along like a speed boat, salt-sprayed in their faces and nothing but sea ahead. Aurora heard a wail of outrage from the ship behind them, but they were already out of weapon range.

The tension in her shoulders dropped as the Princess Andromeda faded off into the distance. The worry of death, war, blood, and deadly revival momentarily slipped away with it long enough for her to sag down in the lifeboat with a sigh of relief.

"Hey," a voice gently ran through her ear. "You're bleeding."

Aurora placed her fingers to her temple and sure enough when she pulled back—red coated her fingertips. Likely from one of the arrows she wasn't able to destroy.

                         She watched as Percy dug through the only hot pink duffel bag ( which Aurora knew was definitely hers ) as if in search of something he knew was in there. Within a matter of moments found it.

                         In his hands was a small lilac canteen, which she was sure held nectar.

                         "Hermes left that for me?" She asked as she winced at the pressure Annabeth was applying to her temple to stop the bleeding. "Seems fitting."

                         Percy knelt down in front of her and handed her the canteen, "Very."

                         Aurora rolled her eyes at his tone, "Hey! I saved our asses, a little thank you is in order."

                         "Thanks, Aurora."

                         Aurora smiled appreciatively.

                         ". . . For almost getting yourself killed."

                         Aurora's smile fell and her eyes narrowed at the boy in front of her. Contemplating whether on strangling him or throwing him overboard.

                         The first would definitely get the job done.

                         Annabeth sighed, "He's not wrong, Rory."

                         Aurora's eyes turned wide at the double team, "Since when do you agree with Water boy."

                         Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Since Luke could've killed you but didn't. Your impulsivity always leaves you looking like this," she opened her palm and nodded to Aurora's arm. "Your arm."

                         Aurora had to admit, in a sense they were both right. Her recklessness always manifested when someone other than her was in a sticky situation, especially if it was someone she was rather close to. She'd jump in without hesitation, damning the consequences and damning the world.

                         Maybe she was a mere liability at this point—an inconvenience for the others with her impulsivity, reminding herself of her father. Surely, they'd get tired of her, and with the look on both of their faces . . . It made her frown feeling as though her observation was spot on.

                         It was the same look she'd received from Silena after Aurora's regularly scheduled fistfight leaving Aurora with wounds her siblings would have to heal.

                         She turned her head towards the never-ending horizon, where waves seemed to fill her senses. The salty sea breeze comforted her. She could probably bet Percy felt at home with the ocean.

                         She tugged the towel from Annabeth's hand and snatched the canteen from Percy before turning her back towards them.

                         "I'm fine," she stated placing the towel to the wound on her arm and taking a small sip of nectar. "We should call Chiron. Tell him what we just learned."

                         "Right," Annabeth said though Aurora could hear her tone drop. "He needs to know."

                         While Annabeth went to try and set up a stable connection, Aurora took this time to focus on her wounds and take a breather. Feeling like a liability was something she'd never want to feel, she wanted to protect people . . . protect the world like her childhood hero, use her intellect and hands to give the world a change she'd always strived to since she was a little girl.

                         A thump next to her distracted her from the blue abyss in front of her.

                         "Here," Percy said handing her a new towel. "Figured you'd need a new one."

                         She sighed and took it, "Thanks, ocean eyes."

                         "Hey . . . About Luke—"

                         "I don't want to talk about it," she shook her head not taking her eyes off the calm waves.

                         "I just wanted to say—"

                         "Why are you pushing, Percy!"

                         Percy looked offended, "I'm not pushing!"

                         "You so are!"

                         "Well if you'd let me finish—"

                         "This is what you call not pushing! I'd have to agree with Annabeth, maybe you do have kelp for brain—"

                         "Aurora would you please—"

                         "Scratch that, you are a seaweed brain."

                         "Your plan—"

                         "Oh, please. If you're here to scold me again, I think I've heard enough."

                         "You're plan!" He practically yelled.
"I-I'm glad you didn't, you know . . . turn to the dark side."

                         At his outburst, Aurora finally turned to look at him—and actually looked at him for the first time in days. The moment she locked eyes with his blue-green hues, her own softened ever so slightly. It was the first time in days, he'd seen her do that.

                         The sunlight reflected off of the ocean forcing blue waves to appear in his eyes, so intoxicating to look at. His shoulder-length raven hair was blowing in the salty breeze with small strands in front of his face. His eyebrows were pulled together as if he was trying to read her.

                         It was then that Aurora realized she hadn't said anything and was only staring at him.

                         She abruptly blinked and turned again to the ocean all around them a warm feeling tickling her cheeks, "Well, someone has to keep you from dying," she joked as a small smile twitched on her face.

                         "I'd counter someone has to do that for you too"

                         Aurora sent another glance his way, now a small smile on her face, "You're clearly talking about Nate right?" She teased.

                         This time it was Percy's turn to smile, a crooked grin she had been all too familiar with on their first quest together, "Of course. He is your protector."

                         Auroras' smile turned a little bigger at that. Percy didn't have to say it, because she knew what he meant. He had her back, whether she liked it or not.

                         She gave him a playful nudge, "Thanks, Ocean eyes. I mean it."

                         He gave her a soft smile, one not usual for him, and in that slight second of a moment, his aura flashed that beautiful magenta color. And for a moment—while looking at him, all Aurora wanted to do was reach out and grasp it. No matter if it caused a multitude of natural disasters or unexplained problems, she'd reach out with a vigilant hand to caress the color magenta . . . And even the color atlantic blue if given the chance.

"Guys," Annabeth's voice called out from behind her causing her to abruptly pull away from the boy next to her. "Chiron's on."

Aurora carefully stood and made her way next to Annabeth, ignoring the look her best friend was sending her way. Instead, her eyes furrowed at the weak connection between them and the Centaur, sure, you could see his face but there was some kind of weird strobe light flashing in the background and rock music blaring like he was at a dance club.

Aurora could tell it was a club, from the strobe lights she grew increasingly familiar with during her childhood and her father still hadn't found the correct grasp of what being a parent actually entailed.

His heart was in the right place, that much she can assure.

They told him about sneaking away from camp, and Luke and the Princess Andromeda and the golden box for Kronos's remains, but between the noise on his end and the rushing wind and water on their end, They weren't sure how much he heard.

"Percy," Chiron yelled, "you have to watch out for—"

His voice was drowned out by loud shouting behind him—a bunch of voices whooping it up like someone was doing a keg stand.

Percy and Aurora glanced at each other in question.

"What?" Percy yelled.

"Curse my relatives!" Chiron ducked as a plate flew over his head and shattered somewhere out of sight.

"Annabeth, you shouldn't have let Percy and Aurora leave camp! But if you do get the Fleece—"

"Yeah, baby!" somebody behind Chiron yelled. "Woo-hoooooo!" The music got cranked up, subwoofers so loud it made their boat vibrate.

Aurora presumed these partygoers would definitely give her own father a run for his money . . . billionaire and all.

"—Miami," Chiron was yelling. "I'll try to keep watch—"

Their misty screen smashed apart like someone on the other side had thrown a bottle at it, and Chiron was gone. An hour later they spotted land-a a long stretch of beach lined with high-rise hotels. The water became crowded with fishing boats and tankers. A coast guard cruiser passed on their starboard side, then turned like it wanted a second look.

"That's Virginia Beach!" Annabeth said as the group approached the shoreline. "Oh my gods, how did Princess Andromeda travel so far overnight?"

Aurora placed a thoughtful finger over her chin, "According to my math which is always right it'll b—"

"Five hundred and thirty nautical miles," Percy said.

Aurora knit her eyebrows together in intrigue, "Exactly," Suddenly, her face lit up like all the other times when she was investigating or proving a theory. A look, Percy never realized he would be on the receiving end of, "ocean eyes, what's our position?"

"36 degrees, 44 minutes north, 76 degrees, 2 minutes west," Percy said immediately. A grin broke out on Aurora's face, but Percy shook his head. "Whoa. How did I know that?"

"Because of your father," Aurora raised her eyebrows. "When you're at sea, you have perfect bearings. A trait you inherited from, well, him."

Before Percy could say anything, Tyson tapped his shoulder. "Other boat is coming."

Aurora followed Percy's gaze. The coast guard vessel was definitely on their tail now. Its lights were flashing and it was gaining speed.

"We can't let them catch us," Percy said. "They'll ask too many questions."

Aurora shrugged and stood up careful not to topple over the side of the lifeboat, "Shouldn't be an issue," she brought her right bangle up to her lips. "Megaphone!"

A gold megaphone with a pink lining formed in a matter of seconds, the gold so bright when it hit the sun directly it was immensely hard to look at.

Aurora brought it up to her lips, "Hi," her voice came out sweetly—too sweetly. "We're in a bit of a rush so I was hoping you would just turn around and forget you saw anything. Thank you."

Her voice came out so enchantingly that Percy himself was ready to jump in the water and swim from wherever he came from, yet it wasn't until Aurora sat down next to him in triumph did he realize the coast guard vessel did exactly as told.

Aurora examined her nude-colored nails—making a mental note to re-paint them when she arrived at camp, "Well, would you look at that," her brown eyes glinted with mischief. "Problem solved."

Annabeth tried to bite back a small smile overtaking her face to no avail, "That might have bought us some time, but we still need to find a place to sleep."

Aurora scanned their surroundings and within moments realized where they were, especially when Chesapeake Bay came into view. She looked at Annabeth who was already looking at her and shook her head.

Aurora grimaced, "No."

"Rory, it's the only way we'll get some rest."

"I will not step a single foot down in that place. I refuse."

"We're doing it," Annabeth affirmed.

"Snakes, brainiac . . . SNAKES. What if it was infested with Spiders?"

Annabeth shivered at the thought but stood defiantly, "I'd still do it."

"Ocean Eyes," Aurora turned to him. Her eyes doe in fear, "Help me out here."

Percy glanced in between the two and felt as though if he spoke it still wouldn't satisfy anyone so he said, "Snakes and Spiders aren't all that bad."

He was right because as soon as those words left his mouth both girls looked like they were moments away from strangling him.

"Keep going into Chesapeake Bay," Annabeth said sending a small glare towards Aurora."I know a place we can hide."

Aurora groaned and threw her hands up in defeat as Percy followed instructions. They didn't slow down until the shores of the bay narrowed on either side, and Aurora realized they'd entered the mouth of a river.

"There," Annabeth said. "Past that sandbar."

They veered into a swampy area choked with marsh grass. Percy beached the lifeboat at the foot of a giant cypress. Vine-covered trees loomed above them. Insects chirred in the woods. The air was muggy and hot, and steam curled off the river.

"Come on," Annabeth said. "It's just down the bank."

"What is?" Percy asked.

Aurora slung the hot pink duffel bag over her shoulder and grumbled, "Might as well be Tartarus."

"Just follow." She grabbed a duffel bag. "And we'd better cover the boat. We don't want to draw attention."

After burying the lifeboat with branches, Aurora, Tyson, and Percy followed Annabeth along the shore, their feet sinking in red mud. A familiar rattling sound caused Aurora's body to freeze.

"Oh, gods," Her body seized up in fear. Out of instinct, she tightly screwed her eyes shut and clenched her hands into fists.

A hand on her shoulder made her scream bloody murder.

Annabeth turned back and watched the scene confused at what the loud screaming was for. "What's going on?"

Aurora whimpered, "Snakes!"

Percy walked in front of her and placed his hand on either of her shoulders. "It's going to be okay!" Aurora only shook her head. Percy sighed and turned so his back was facing her before crouching down, "Hop on."

Aurora momentarily faltered, "What?"

"Hop on."

The sound of rattling broke her out of her head and she almost nearly threw herself onto Percy who swiftly put his hands on the back of her knees to steady her. As soon as she was situated a snake slithered past Percy's shoe causing Aurora to scream and bury her face in his back.

Percy didn't even bat an eye towards it making Aurora look at him in admiration.

"Not a good place," Tyson said.

"Any place that has snakes is not a good place."

Tyson swatted the mosquitoes that were forming a buffet line on his arm.

After another few minutes, Annabeth said, "Here."

The first thing that came to view was a pile of sticks on the ground forming a sentence that was intangible especially for them being dyslexic.

But Aurora remembered it all too well.

It was years ago—their last day staying here before Grover led them further towards camp. Aurora's seven-year-old self wanted to leave something behind to mark their temporary home even if Thalia and Luke were both against it. In hindsight, she understood where they were coming from—they could easily be tracked, but Aurora was stubborn even more so as a younger child.

So there in mud was supposed to read: WELCOME TO CASA STARK.

But seeing as they were dyslexic, to them it said: WOLECME OT ACAS RTKAS

Tapping Percy gently on the shoulder to let her down, Aurora helped Annabeth move aside a woven circle of branches, like a door, and Percy realized he was looking into a camouflaged shelter. The inside was big enough for four, even with Tyson being the third.

The walls were woven from plant material, like a Native American hut, but they looked pretty waterproof. Stacked in the corner was everything you could want for a campout-sleeping bag, blankets, an ice chest, and a kerosene lamp. There were demigod provisions, too—bronze javelin tips, a quiver full of arrows, an extra sword, and a box of ambrosia.

The place smelled musty like it had been vacant for a long time.

"A half-blood hideout." Percy looked at Annabeth in awe. "You made this place?"

"We all did," she said quietly. "It was Aurora and I's first project together."

Aurora looked around, "Not too shabby for a couple of seven-year-olds."

"So . . ." Percy said. "You don't think Luke will look for us here?"

"We made a dozen safe houses like this. I doubt Luke even remembers where they are. Or cares." She threw herself down on the blankets and started going through her duffel bag. Aurora frowned as she took notice of Annabeth's aura: A dark burgundy . . .

Longing.

She chose not to say anything. Annabeth and Luke's friendship was similar to Aurora's and Thalia's, so she understood her friend's grief. Yet, she couldn't help but notice, burgundy was on the red spectrum and red auras typically meant one thing . . . romantic love.

"Look what I found," Aurora stated while sitting down next to Annabeth. A small compartment box made of branches and leaves. "Our very own time capsule."

This made Annabeth perk up a bit, "I thought it'd be ruined by now."

Aurora shook the box causing the contents inside to rattle, "Looks like it's still standing."

They referred to it as a time capsule when really it was their very own projects bin as children. When they were younger both girls were determined on working together to build sensible projects to not only protect themselves but their group. However, they were seven-year-old children running for their lives in the middle of the wilderness with no mechanical parts and no time to build.

It was something Luke would have them do if nightmares plagued their sleep or nervousness would fill their bones at the monsters lurking in the shadows.

"If you want the world to be better. You have to make it better yourself."

Both girls must have been thinking the same thing as the small smile slipped from both of their faces.

"You should take the mechanical parts, Rory," Annabeth had said. "You never know when you'll need them."

Aurora didn't say anything only put the wooden box in her duffel bag for safekeeping.

"Hey, I'm sorry about, you know, seeing Luke."

Both girls glanced at one another, wondering who Percy's apology was meant for.

"It's not your fault." Annabeth unsheathed her knife and started cleaning the blade with a rag.

"He let us go too easily," Percy said, and Aurora had to agree.

Annabeth seemed to agree too because she said, "I was thinking the same thing. What we overheard him say about a gamble, and they'll take the bait. . . I think he was talking about us."

"The Fleece is the bait? Or Grover?"

She studied the edge of her knife. "I don't know, Percy. Maybe he wants the Fleece for himself. Maybe he's hoping we'll do the hard work and then he can steal it from us," she glanced at Aurora who clenched her jaw. "I just can't believe he would poison the tree."

Aurora glanced at her half-open duffel bag. The woven box peaked through, she couldn't believe Luke had done it either.

"What did he mean," Percy asked, "that Thalia would've been on his side?"

This made Aurora's face harden, "He's wrong," she answered sharply.

Aurora knew that Thalia would never side with the Titans. Sure, she had been angry with the gods but everyone has. She wouldn't go full Anakin Skywalker Even when she disliked her father at times.

Aurora frowned, "Ocean eyes, you know who you remind me of? Thalia. You guys are so much alike it's freaky. I'd wager you would've strangled each other," a small twitch appeared at the corner of her lips. "You're both too headstrong for your own good."

"It makes sense that you got along with her the most," Percy said. "You're pretty stubborn yourself."

Aurora released a small smile, "Yeah, it was something Thalia wasn't so fond of."

Now Percy could see why Aurora would think they were similar.

"But answer me this, ocean eyes," Aurora turned to look at him. "After everything you've learned about your father and what he's done. Would you turn against Olympus because of that?"

Percy looked at her and for a moment it was quiet.

"No."

There was something in his voice that worried Aurora, something Annabeth didn't quite catch.

She looked at him as if trying to decipher him, "Well that answers it," She sent him another glance. "Neither would she. Luke's wrong."

"So what did Luke mean about Cyclopes?" Percy asked. "He said you both of all people—"

"We know what he said, Percy," Annabeth spoke for the both of them. Aurora had grown silent. "He . . . he was talking about the real reason Thalia died."

Aurora abruptly stood wanting an out to the conversation, "I'm going to look for Tyson. I'll see you guys in a bit."

She could feel the looks they sent her way as we went to make a move to exit.

She was interrupted when the door of the hut creaked open. Tyson crawled in."Powdered donuts!" he said proudly, holding up a pastry box.

Aurora blinked at him in surprise and turned around to glance at the others in bewilderment, "Where did you get that, Tyson? There nothing around for—"

"Fifty feet," Tyson said. "Monster Donut shop—just over the hill!"

Aurora glanced at the others and nodded, "Let's go."

Within moments, they were crouching behind a tree, staring at the donut shop in the middle of the woods. It looked brand new, with brightly lit windows, a parking area, and a little road leading off into the forest, but there was nothing else around, and no cars parked in the lot.

They could see one employee reading a magazine behind the cash register. That was it. On the store's marquis, in huge black letters that even Aurora could read, it said: MONSTER DONUTA cartoon ogre was taking a bite out of the O in MONSTER.

The place smelled good, like fresh-baked chocolate donuts.

"This shouldn't be here," Annabeth whispered. "It's wrong."

"What?" Percy asked. "It's a donut shop."

"Will you keep your voice down!" Aurora interrupted. "You'll get us killed.

"Why are we whispering? Tyson went in and bought a dozen. Nothing happened to him."

"He's a monster," Annabeth concluded.

"Aw, c'mon, Annabeth. Monster Donut doesn't mean monsters! It's a chain. We've got them in New York."

Aurora ignored Percy and turned to Annabeth, "It's a nest. It has to be."

Tyson whimpered. Her hardened face softened. "It's okay, buddy."

He'd plowed through half a dozen donuts from his box and was getting powdered sugar all over his face.

"A nest for what?" Percy asked.

"Haven't you ever wondered how franchise stores pop up so fast?" Annabeth asked. "One day there's nothing and then the next day-boom, there's a new burger place or a coffee shop or whatever? First a single store, then two, then four- exact replicas spreading across the country?"

"Um, no. Never thought about it."

Annabeth muttered. "Of course, you didn't. Percy, some of the chains multiply so fast because all their locations are magically linked to the life force of a monster. Some children of Hermes figured out how to do it back in the 1950s. They breed—"She froze.

"What?" Percy demanded. "They breed what?"

Aurora cursed, "Shit," she turned to Percy. "You quiet, and do not move."

Aurora slowly turned her head towards a scraping noise, like something large dragging its belly through the leaves. Her eyes turned wide as she saw a huge shadow running through the forest. It was hissing, its front half writhing in all different directions.

It was a Hydra.

It's multiple necks-at least seven, each topped with a hissing reptilian head. Its skin was leathery, and under each neck, it wore a plastic bib that read: I'M A MONSTER DONUT KID!

Aurora glanced at Percy and Annabeth who looked equally as worried. She could already feel Nathaniel fighting to escape, but she did her best to keep him at bay. If he were to break out and save her, she'd have to rely on the others for the rest of the day, and they didn't have the time for that.

Percy took out his ballpoint pen, but Annabeth locked eyes with him sending him a look that said: Not yet. Aurora kept her eyes locked onto the forest, making sure the Hydra did not sneak upon them.

A lot of monsters have terrible eyesight. It was possible the Hydra might pass them by. But if Percy idiotically decided to uncap his sword now, the bronze glow would certainly get its attention.

They waited as quietly as they could.

The Hydra was only a few feet away. It seemed to be sniffing the ground and the trees like it was hunting for something. Aurora took hold of Annabeth's hand tightly worried that the Hydra would do something.

Aurora then noticed that two of the heads were ripping apart a piece of hot pink canvas—her duffel bag. The thing had already been to their campsite. It was following their scent.

"Styx!" Aurora cursed under her breath.

Each head was diamond-shaped, like a rattlesnake's with the mouths lined with jagged rows of sharklike teeth.

Aurora was definitely terrified. Her hands began to tremble at the large creature in front of her. It was basically seven really large snakes, and Aurora Stark couldn't even look at tiny ones.

Tyson was also trembling. He stepped back and accidentally snapped a twig. Immediately, all seven heads turned toward them and hissed.

"Scatter!" Annabeth yelled. She dove to the right, and since Aurora was frozen in shock she had to pull Aurora along with her.

Percy rolled to the left. One of the Hydra heads spat an arc of green liquid that shot past his shoulder and splashed against an elm. The trunk smoked and began to disintegrate. The whole tree toppled straight toward Tyson, who still hadn't moved, petrified by the monster that was now right in front of him, but Aurora was in a much worse condition.

"Tyson!" Percy tackled him with all his might, knocking him aside just as the Hydra lunged and the tree crashed on top of two of its heads.

The Hydra stumbled backward, yanking its heads free and then wailing in outrage at the fallen tree. All seven heads shot acid and the elm melted into a steaming pool of muck.

"Move!" Percy told Tyson.

He ran to one side and uncapped Riptide, hoping to draw the monster's attention. It worked. The sight of celestial bronze is hateful to most monsters. As soon as Percy's glowing blade appeared, the Hydra whipped toward it with all its heads, hissing and baring its teeth. The good news: Tyson was momentarily out of danger. The bad news: Percy was about to be melted into a puddle of goo.

One of the heads snapped at Percy experimentally. Without thinking, Percy swung his sword.

"No!" Aurora yelled.

Too late. Percy sliced the Hydra's head clean off. It rolled away into the grass, leaving a flailing stump, which immediately stopped bleeding and began to swell like a balloon. In a matter of seconds, the wounded neck split into two necks, each of which grew a full-size head.

Now they were looking at an eight-headed Hydra.

"Percy!" Annabeth scolded. "You just opened another Monster Donut shop somewhere!"

Percy dodged a spray of acid. "I'm about to die and you're worried about that? How do we kill it?"

"Fire!" Annabeth said. "We have to have fire!"

"How the hell are we managing that!?" Aurora shakingly asked.

Annabeth turned to her friend, her gray eyes wild with storms, "Nathaniel."

Aurora immediately shook her head, "It takes me hours to recover after he possesses me! Having to help me walk around will only slow us down!"

Annabeth pointed at the Hydra, "This is slowing us down! Nathaniel destroyed a Colchis Bull with one blast! We have to try!"

Aurora sighed, "He only comes out when I'm threaten—"

Annabeth nodded. "I know," she hauled Aurora up to her feet and ran towards the Hydra, pulling Aurora along the way. "Hey!"

                         Two heads turned toward the girls. Aurora thought Annabeth was going to fight it off, but what she did confused Aurora.

                         She pushed Aurora in front of her right into the line of fire.

                         "Annabeth! Are you insane?! Get her out—" Percy was interrupted by another head lunging at him.

                         One of the heads charged at Aurora. Its mouth opened wide.

                         Aurora yelled, "Sword!" her sword appeared in her hand and she jabbed at the head. It only made it angrier, sending a ball of acid toward her. Aurora rolled out of the way and sent another jab, it was useless.

                         She turned to Annabeth, "Are you trying to get me killed!?"

                         "Aurora, Watch out!"

                         She turned just in time to see a Hydra head wanting to bite her head. In that minuscule moment, her body froze . . .

                         Nate appeared.

                         Instead of his usual height which was always about the same as Aurora's, he was much larger. Too large if you ask the others. Nathaniel easily towered the Hydra—About three times its height, causing the Hydra to peer it's snake-like head up and snarl.

                         Nate growled and his fiery orange eyes looked deadlier than they usually did. He looked ready for a fight, whoever it may be and whatever they may be—by the look swimming in his eyes . . . They were doomed:

                         His usual flickering form made it hard to determine what he was, but truthfully no one really wanted to know. After Aurora told them back at camp everything about Nathaniel they knew he was a force to be reckoned with. He took his job of protecting Aurora very seriously. Especially after he forced Annabeth and Percy to have them dream of him to ensure that they meant no harm to the Daughter of Aphrodite.

                         Aurora's body was frozen as usual. No muscle in her body was moving—it didn't even look like she was breathing.

                         Nathaniel suddenly roared sending vibrations to the ground as he sent a rigorous white and gold blast to the Hydra. Two heads came off but did not grow back.

                         While Nathaniel fought the Hydra, Percy heard a strange sound-a chug-chug-chug that at first, he thought was his heartbeat. It was so powerful it made the riverbank shake, but nowhere near as powerful as Nathaniel's roar.

                        "What's that noise?" Annabeth shouted, keeping her eyes on Nathaniel and the Hydra.

                         "Steam engine," Tyson said.

                         "What?"

                         From the river behind them, a familiar female voice shouted: "There! Prepare the thirty-two pounder!"

                         A gravelly male voice said, "They're too close, m'lady!"

                         "Damn the heroes!" the girl said. "Full steam ahead!"

                         "Aye, m'lady."

                         "Fire at will, Captain!"

                         Percy exchanged wide-eyed looks with Annabeth. They knew that if they shot at the Hydra they could hit Aurora and possibly kill Nathaniel. They began to wave their arms frantically.

                         "No!"

                         "You'll hurt Aurora!" Annabeth yelled. "Or worse, Nathaniel will obliterate you!"

                         To Aurora, one of the worst things about being a vessel for Nate is how utterly unaware she was of the world around her while he fought. The only sense active was her hearing—and, well listening to your friends frantic doesn't really make you feel all that good.

                         Nathaniel had already cut off a total of six heads. Only two were left, but Nathaniel continued to have the same deadly look in his eyes. Every time he sent a blast of pure energy towards energy, if you looked close enough, his eyes would flare brighter.

                         "Enough!" He yelled and with one final blast the Hydra was gone, but its guts flew all over the place and what that actually means is that it specifically landed on Annabeth.

                         "Gross!" screamed Annabeth.

                         Suddenly, Aurora erupted in anguished yells as her body tumbled to the ground—too weak to even stand on her legs when Nate disappeared.

                         Percy rushed towards her with Annabeth not far behind but when they were ten feet away. Something flickered over Aurora. Percy had to take a good look to actually make out what it was.

                         It was a man.

                         "Who is that?" Percy questioned his eyes narrowing.

                         Aurora herself grew intrigued at the shadow appearing over her trembling body. With a small cry leaving her lips, she shakily lifted her head from the ground—trying to block out the glaring sun. Yet, when her eyes focused and a silhouette stood over her—they turned wide in surprise. Because something in her told her who it was, it all but screamed at her.

                         With his brown hair, small stubble, blue eyes, and scar running down his eyebrow—she knew exactly who he was.

                         "Nate?"

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄     𝐀𝐒     𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋
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— NAT TALKS !!

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