𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐜𝐡𝟏|Cheerleaders ruin my vacation

Disclaimers: These are not my characters or original ideas; they belong to Rick Riordan

PART I:
DEATH

Percy

Look, I didn't want to have to save the world again.

Vacation. It was supposed to be a vacation. Yeah, right. Doesn't really seem like it when you are in a duel with three annoying Empousai. I mean, sure, I got super bored without training... but all these monsters were starting to bug me.

It'd been three months since Gaia was defeated and those three months had been great. No more prophecies, just time to chill. I had been staying with my mom, Paul and Annabeth in our favourite place in Montauk.

I hadn't been there since... Gods. Since I discovered I was a half-blood. That was a lifetime ago. But it was fine because mom and Annabeth were making dinner and we had blue cookies for dessert. Perfect.

Not so perfect when I was coming back from the store with Paul. We'd been discussing school (he's very interested in this particular topic) and how I hadn't failed an exam in a while. Yet. I'm eighteen now (it's currently the end of October) so I was studying in New Rome with Annabeth. Discussion of this was broken when three Empousai decided to show up.

I'd handed the shopping bags to Paul and said that I'd be moment. I have no idea what he saw - three regular girls? He didn't have clear sight. But I think he understood when I took out riptide as they came around the corner of the street.

My ballpoint pen formed a glistening bronze sword as I took off the lid, its sharp edges gleaming in the sun. I always knew I was a monster magnet, it's a package deal when being the son of a Big Three God, but over the past week or two, they'd been everywhere. Annoying much. I stepped forward.

"Well, it's Percy Jackson. We come as messengers," the first Empousa said - let's call her Tall And Ugly.
"You better watch out, little hero, you don't have much time left..." I realised that this one was Tammi from Goode High School. Great.
"She's back and you didn't know it. She's regained her strength and she's more powerful than before," said Kelli. My favourite.
I didn't know who 'She' was but Kelli was annoying and my dinner would get cold if she didn't leave.
"Isn't that..." Paul began.
"Yup," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Oh come on, Percy, she didn't say we couldn't hurt you..." Kelli said, baring her fangs.
"Okay, well um, I don't know why you're acting all mysterious but I'm hungry so could we wrap this up?" I asked.

Tall and ugly ran at me and I jumped out of the way, slashing riptide at her midsection, but she dodged and got away with a small, barely noticeable, cut on her hip. I frowned. After everything, I would've considered these monsters easy to beat. Sure, I'd only made one attacking move but normally said move would send that monster back to Tartarus in a flash. Huh.

"We are stronger now, we all are," Tammi said, her grin widening. She and Kelli finally decided to join the show.
"Yeah? Well so am I," I said, hoping hours on end of training had paid off. I dodged under Tammi's claws and kicked Tall And Ugly when she made a grasp for me. I wondered how they had reformed so quickly. Weird.

Kelli made to slash at me but I deflected it with my sword and rolled away. When did they get so fast?

"Hey, you!" I heard Paul shout.
Tammi turned around to look at him. I brought riptide round and Tammi became dust. "Nice one!" I shouted back. Paul gave me a thumbs up, grinning.

It was easier from there - soon Tall And Ugly was gone and Kelli was snarling at me. Kelli was dodging, spinning, lashing out and I was doing more of the same. She was fast. She suddenly stopped, almost as if she was catching her breath. Then she pounced. I brought my sword in a perfect arc so Kelli was sent down with her cheerleading squad.

__________

When we got back to where we were staying, the smell of spaghetti bolognese drifted around our temporary home. I found mom and planted the shopping on the work surface.

"Hi," I said.
"Hello, Percy!" she said, "dinner is almost done - Annabeth just went to take an Iris message and then we'll settle down for dinner," she said, putting out the plates on the table.

As I got out the cutlery, Paul explained to mom about Kelli and her minions and she frowned when she saw a small cut on my arm. "Plaster!" she said and I almost laughed. It was only the size of my thumb, nothing compared to Tartarus. But I wasn't going to tell her that. "Okay," I said, and did what I was told.

We sat down at the table. I looked into the smooth metal surface of the butter knife on the table. A boy with tan skin, and long windswept hair looked back at me. He had sea green eyes, deep shadows lurking below them, remains of long gone cuts and scars on his face. I put the butter knife down.

I called for Annabeth. No reply. She probably just couldn't hear me through the thick wooden door. I called again. This time my girlfriend burst through, out of her bedroom.

Perfect blond curls framed a face of beauty; grey eyes more cold than a hurricane. I smiled until I saw her expression. She was white as a sheet and her brows were furrowed.

"Are you okay, Annabeth?" my mom said, putting down her fork.
Paul and I exchanged worried glances. Annabeth began with "the Iris message."
"Yeah? Who from?" I asked.
"Camp. And they need our help."