A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

II| the hunters

Daphne realised she probably should've paid more attention the Luke when she had last spoke to him.

She tried to remember what monster Dr. Thorn was and the importance of the Di Angelo children.

Percy closed his eyes.

"What are you doing, Jackson?" hissed Dr. Thorn. "Keep moving!"

Percy opened his eyes and kept shuffling forward. "It's my shoulder," he lied, trying to sound miserable, which wasn't hard. "It burns."

"Bah! My poison causes pain. It will not kill you. Walk!"

Thorn herded the group outside, and Daphne tried to think.

Thorn inarched them into the woods. They took a snowy path dimly lit by old-fashioned lamplights. The wind blowing through my ripped clothes was so cold that Daphne felt like an icicle.

"There is a clearing ahead," Thorn said. "We will summon your ride."

"What ride?" Bianca demanded. "Where are you taking us?"

"Silence, you insufferable girl!"

"Don't talk to my sister that way.'' Nico said. His voice quivered, but Ariana was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all.

Dr. Thorn made a growling sound that definitely wasn't human.

"Halt," Thorn said.

The woods had opened up. They had reached a cliff overlooking the sea. At least, Daphne assumed the sea was down there, hundreds of feet below.

Daphne could hear the waves churning and she could smell the cold salty froth. But all she could see was mist and darkness.

Dr. Thorn pushed them toward the edge. Percy stumbled, and Bianca caught me.

"Thanks." He murmured.

"What is he?" she whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"I... I'm working on it."

"We'll work faster." Daphne sneered.

Technically, she should've been trying to help Dr. Thorn but she had a persona to keep and she wasn't one hundred percent sure whether Thorn would spare her.

She didn't want to test her luck.

"I'm scared," Nico mumbled. He was fiddling with something a little metal toy soldier of some kind.

"Stop talking!" Dr. Thorn said. "Face me!"

They turned.

"Can you stop shouting?" Daphne complained. "It's worse than Ellis when you step on some of his plant and I've got a headache."

Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. A phone.

He pressed the side button and There was a garbled reply, and Daphne realized Thorn was in walkie-talkie mode.

This seemed way too modern and creepy -a monster using a mobile phone.

Percy glanced behind them.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself."

"What did he call you?" Bianca muttered.

"T'll explain later," Percy said.

"You do have a plan, right?"

Percy turned to Daphne and the girl shook her head knowing what he was asking. Daphne could barely teleport herself never mind a group of people.

"I would kill you before you ever reached the water," Dr. Thorn said, as if reading Percy's thoughts. "You do not realize who I am, do you?"