Child of the Moon

We Are On A Cruise... We Are NOT Having Fun

The two big hairy guys shoved us into the suite.  It was massive, with nice furniture, a massive bed, and marble floors.  In the middle of the room was a big golden box, like a coffin.  It was decorated with horrible images of flaming cities and dying heroes.

Luke: A little nicer than Cabin Eleven, huh?

He'd changed since the last summer.  Instead of Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, he wore a button-down shirt, khaki pants, and leather shoes.  His hair, which used to be messy and unkept, was now clipped short.  He looked like an evil Ken doll.

YN: What's with the giant bed?  I guess you'd need a lot of room for the monster ladies you probably sleep with, huh?

Percy snorted, trying not to laugh.  Luke glared at me and one of the guards smacked me in the head.  I tried to stand but I was quickly wrestled to the ground,

Luke: Where are my manners?  These are my assistants, Agrius and Oreius.  Perhaps you've heard of them.

None of us said a word.

Luke: You don't know Agrius and Oreius's story?  Their mother... well, it's sad, really.  Aphrodite ordered the young woman to fall in love.  She refused and ran to Artemis for help.  Artemis let her become one of her maiden huntresses, but Aphrodite got her revenge.  She bewitched the young woman into falling in love with a bear.  When Artemis found out, she abandoned the girl in disgust.

He smirked at me. I just glared back.

Luke: Typical of the gods, wouldn't you say?  They fight with one another and the poor humans get caught in the middle.  The girl's twin sons here, Agrius and Oreius, have no love for Olympus.  They like half-bloods well enough, though...

Agrius: For lunch.

Oreius started laughing uncontrollably until Luke glared at him.

Luke: Shut up, you idiot!

Agrius: Go punish yourself!

Oreius looked sad and wandered over to the table, and started banging his head on it.

YN: Quite the charming family you've found here Luke.  You've settled down on a boat, and made new friends.  Almost makes me feel bad that I'm gonna kill you.

Luke: Oh, I thought you told me at the beginning of the summer that you weren't gonna kill me?

YN: That was before you poisoned the remains of one of my best friends, you son of a bitch!

My right eye glowed silver, and there was a blinding flash of silver light.  Luke, Agrius, and Oreius rubbed their eyes, blinded.  I jumped to my feet.

YN: Go!

The four of us ran out of the room, and I wripped Αγριος off my wrist.  I cut down the two snake women outside the room and we hurried to the edge of the boat, climbing into one of the emergency life rafts just as Luke burst out onto the deck.

Luke: Stop them!

I cut the ropes, dropping our raft towards the water, narrowly avoiding the wave of arrows that whistled over our heads.  Annabeth pulled out a thermos from her duffle bag, and a jet of air exploded out of it, sending us rocketing along the waves.  The Princess Andromeda shrank to the size of a toy boat as we got further and further away, and then it was gone.  I collapsed onto one of the seats, as Annabeth hurried over to me.

Annabeth: Are you alright, YN?

Percy: How did you do that?  That blinding light?

YN: I don't know... but I'm really tired.

Annabeth: Whatever the case, you saved us.

I smiled, then promptly passed out.  When I opened my eyes, I was back in the place where I'd first met my mother.  A clearing in the middle of a snowy forest.  My mother stood in front of me, smiling softly.

YN: Mother.

Artemis: My son.  I see you've discovered another of your gifts.

YN: Yes.  I... I don't deserve something like this though.  I feel kinda spoiled.

Artemis placed her hands on my cqheeks, smiling at me.

Artemis: You are my only child.  You should feel spoiled.

I smiled.  There was the sound of a hunting horn in the distance.

Artemis: I must go now, and so should you.  Your friends are in danger.

My eyes shot open, and the first thing I heard was a roar.  I looked around, realizing I was in some sort of tent that looked to be made of swamp leaves.  I quickly stood up, running out the door and finding my friends... facing a massive dragon with seven heads.  A Hydra.  I was about to run to help them, but suddenly something slammed into its side, exploding. The Hydra fell to the ground, its heads moving weakly, before it burst into yellow powder.  I looked to where the explosive had come from, and saw a massive battleship.  On the side were the words CSS Birmingham.  And standing on the deck, grinning down at us with her arms crossed...

Clarisse: I suppose I have to rescue you losers.  Come aboard.