The Silver Archer 2️⃣ (Percy Jackson)

03. We Burn a School Down

Adira

Kelli was a lot faster than Tammi. She dodged my first strike with my sword and rolled into the brass section, knocking over a row of trombones with a mighty crash. Rachel scrambled out of the way. I put myself between Percy and the empousa. Kelli circled us, her eyes going from me to Percy.

"Such a pretty little girl," she said. "What a shame it stands between us."

"Sorry, but I'd take her over you any day," Percy said, from behind me.

Her form shimmered—sometimes a demon, sometimes a pretty cheerleader. I tried to keep my mind focused, but it was really distracting.

"Poor dear." Kelli chuckled. "You don't even know what's happening, do you? Soon, your pretty little camp in flames, your friends made slaves to the Lord of Time, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. It would be merciful to end your life now, before you have to see that."

From down the hall, I heard voices. A tour group was approaching. A man was saying something about locker combinations.

The empousa's eyes lit up. "Excellent! We're about to have company!"

She picked up a tuba and threw it at me. Using my gift, and since it was metal, a type of earth, I threw it out of the way, smashing it on the floor with a TTTTTTTtttTTTTtTtTtTtTtoooooot, then I swiped it out of the window, breaking the glass.

The voices in the hall died down.

Okay, I told myself. No more throwing metal objects into glass windows.

"Percy!" Kelli shouted, pretending to be scared, "why did you throw that?"

I was too surprised to answer. Kelli picked up a music stand and swiped a row of clarinets and flutes. Chairs and musical instruments crashed to the floor.

"Stop it!" I said.

People were tromping down the hall now, coming in our direction.

"Time to greet our visitors!" Kelli bared her fangs and ran for the doors. Percy charged after her with Riptide.

"Perce, stop!" I shouted.

"Percy, don't!" Rachel yelled. But I hadn't realized what Kelli was up to until it was too late.

Kelli flung open the doors. Paul Blofis and a bunch of sophomore's and few freshmen stepped back in shock. But it was too late. Percy raised his sword.

At the last second, the empousa turned toward Percy like a cowering victim.

"Oh no, please!" she cried. He couldn't stop his blade. It was already in motion.

Just before the celestial bronze hit her, Kelli exploded into flames like a Molotov cocktail. Waves of fire splashed over everything. I'd never seen a monster do that before, but I didn't have time to wonder about it. Percy backed into the band room as the flames engulfed the doorway.

"Percy?" Paul Blofis looked completely stunned, staring at Percy from across the fire. "What have you done?"

Kids screamed and ran down the hall. The fire alarm wailed. Ceiling sprinklers hissed to life.

In the chaos, Rachel tugged on my sleeve. "You both have to get out of here!"

She was right. The school was in flames.

Mortals couldn't see through the Mist properly. To them it would look like Percy'd attacked a helpless cheerleader in front of a group of witnesses.

There was no way he could explain it. I looked towards my brother, towards the back of the group. He nodded at the broken window, and I ran out of it. A raccoon ran out after us.