The Earth Monarch

Chapter 26: Winter Friends

AN - I am having trouble getting a chapter about Perseus in the World Wars, so I am going to skip this part of the timeline, and fill in details in later chapters. This chapter is still going to be a story, not just an Author's Note (basically Taboo on Wattpad to have AN's as single chapters). Hope you enjoy this story. 😊

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Outside Westover:

I leaned against a snowy pine tree, the shadows clinging to me, cloaking me in darkness not even Hemera could penetrate. Snow gently fell around me, 3 inches already stacked on the ground. Before me was a fairly large clearing, enough to fit a medium sized house.

On the opposite side of the clearing, it dropped into a cliff, where the Ocean below lapped at the stone wall calmly, soothed by my presence. "Let go of us!" The voice of a boy complained, coming into view.

A expensive looking man in a white suit was dragging 3 kids; a boy at 13, a girl at 12, and another boy at 10, behind him, towards the cliff's edge. "Silence, Jackson," the man snarled, pronouncing the 'J' in Jackson like Jacques. "The packages are secure, come in for retrieval," he added, speaking into a radio, which seemed to momentarily stun the older boy.

"Hold it right there, Thorn! You're not going anywhere!" 3 more kids came running into view, the black haired girl shouting at the man. "And you think you have the power to stop me?" Thorn growled.

Weapons appeared in their hands. A spear and shield on the black haired girl, a bronze dagger in the blonde's, before she put on a baseball cap and turned invisible, and some reed pipes for the crippled, brown haired boy.

They all tensed for a battle, then froze at the sound of a hunting horn. I smirked knowingly, my eyes moving to the side, as flashes of silver moved between the trees. "No, this is impossible!" Thorn cried. Thin spikes began flying from behind him, spraying randomly into the forest.

Silver arrows flew out, striking the spikes midair. "This is against the Ancient Laws, you cannot harm me!" Thorn wailed hysterically, his eyes trying to find an escape.

"Untrue, the Hunting of Wild Beasts is within my sphere of domain. And you are a wild beast. Ready your bows, Hunters!" Artemis ordered, her voice resonating from everywhere, as she was still shrouded in the dense forestry.

"Just what we need, the man-hating hunters," the spear-woman exclaimed sarcastically, clearly disappointed and slightly hateful. "I'd advise a more peaceful course of action, Phoebe Artemis. The Innocent will not have their blood spilt, whether by the Manticore's Claw, or by Silver Arrow," I announced, my voice deep and wise, as it resonated throughout the clearing.

Everything went still after that, no one moving a muscle, either out of interest or fear. Even the wind, snowfall, and surrounding wildlife stilled and silenced. "Who...are you? You feel familiar," Thorn questioned.

Stepping out from my hiding place, I answered him as I got closer. "I am an ancient being, Manticore. An old, wise, powerful being that has walked on this world for eons. My name is legend, myth. My feats are even more so," I began, speaking barely above a whisper, yet still as loud as a roar.

Stopping in front of his face, having to leaning down so we weren't chest to face. "I am Perseus, The Earth King. The Champion of the Primordial, the Ancient Teacher. You will release these demigods from your grasp, and flee. Your other choices are clear; become a pincushion by the Hunters. Or become my next training dummy. Your choice," I whispered in his ear.

I withdrew, as the beast gulped in terror. He shakily let go of the children, and took a step back fearfully. When I made no move to grab him, he dove off the cliff. "Smart choice," I said with a smirk.