Percy Jackson & The Mutant Demigods

Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Powers

Percy

The fight got boring real fast. Maybe it was just me, or maybe because Annabeth had the upper hand. Sam was always on defense, with no chance of winning at all.

Thud. A cry of pain.

Sam was on his stomach, obviously hurt. Annabeth stood over him, her dagger blade inches from Sam's throat. "Stop." Sam held up his hand, trying to regain his breath. "No more."

Everyone was watching now. Annabeth walked around Sam, never moving her knife. That's my girl. I thought proudly.

Angel looked at me strangely. He's your brother, she thought. Not that it mattered.

It does matter, Angel thought insistently.

Annabeth said, "You lost, Sam."

Sam was breathing steadily now. "If we continued, it wouldn't be a fair fight."

Tory realized what he was saying. "Don't, Annabeth. It's a draw."

"Fine," Annabeth snapped. "But this isn't over; I hope you know that."

"As I do, Miss Chase." BIG mistake.

Annabeth's dagger hurtled straight at Sam. He twisted the knife in midair and sent it spinning into the sky.

Annabeth's owl wings shot open, and she rose unsteadily into the air; Sam followed, sunlight glinting off his wings. Annabeth managed to snatch her dagger, then the two started fighting again.

"What the heck?" Shelton squinted, trying to see the fight above. "Why are they still fighting?"

"No idea," Max admitted. "But I'm going to stop it."

"Wait."

Max turned, her wings already extended. "What?"

I took Riptide from my pocket. I uncapped the pen and tossed it to Max. When she caught it, my trusty sword was in her hand. "How did you do that?"

I replied, "Magic. Now get up there."

She grinned and soared into the air. "Showoff," Tory muttered.

The rest of the flock walked over. "Hello," Fang said. Wait, Fang talks?

"Hey," Tory replied. "I'm Tory."

"Ben."

"Shelton."

"Hi."

Iggy said, "Cool. I'm Iggy."

Hi blurted, "Are you blind?" Then he blushed. "Sorry."

Iggy just sighed. "It's okay."

Nudge said, "I'm Nudge! I saw what Sam could do. Can you guys fight really well too? Can you bust through walls and stuff? Do your eyes really glow like golden fire? Can you—"Fang clamped a hand over her mouth. The Virals stared at her uncomprehendingly. I couldn't blame them; Nudge said all that in less than four seconds.

Gazzy explained, "She has a motor mouth."

"You don't say." Ben was trying not to laugh.

"I'm the Gasman, or Gazzy. Don't ask." Tory instinctively moved away from him.

"I'm Fang."

"And I'm Angel," Angel concluded.

"So," Hi asked, "do you guys have other powers?"

"Max can fly super-fast," Nudge said.

Angel added, "I can breathe under water, talk to fish, and read minds."

What the heck? I knew she could read minds, but being able to talk to fish and breathe under water as well? That's a lot.

Shelton whistled. "That's a lot."

"I can mimic voices," Gazzy said.

"No way!" Hi said excitedly. "Show me."

"It's a lot of fun." Gazzy moved his mouth, but it was Sam's voice that answered.

"That's awesome!"

"I can talk really fast," Nudge volunteered. As already shown.

Gazzy asked, "Do you guys have any powers?"

Tory started to explain, but she was interrupted by something slamming into the sand.

Sam, Annabeth, and Max were lying on the beach, each looking exhausted. "What happened?" I asked.

"Max happened." Sam glared at her. "She came out of nowhere."

"Tried taking both of us at once," Annabeth added.

I stared at Max in awe. "Both at once?"

"Yeah. Didn't go so well though." She handed Riptide to me.

Annabeth and Sam were still glaring daggers at each other. Could they ever do anything without trying to kill each other?