Daughter Of Light- Book 1: PJO

Chapter 6: I become a Great Couples Therapist

Together Percy and I lunged forwards. Kelli was a lot faster than Tammi. She dodged Percy's first strike 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 her and the empousa. I was still nervouse to let my arrow go if I didn't have a clean shot, despite what everyone said about mortals not getting hurt with celestial bronze. Also I had no idea what my capabilities were. I had never fought a monster before. Not like this.

Kelli circled us, her eyes going from me to the bow and arrow to Percy and his sword. I stood between Rachel and the monster while Percy stood between in front of me.

"Such a pretty little blade," she said. "What a shame it stands between us. And once I'm done with you...I can kill the girls behind you! I'm a cheerleader and they're a bunch of losers."

Her form shimmered; sometimes a demon, sometimes a pretty cheerleader. I tried to keep my mind focused, but it was really distracting. Percy looked like he was having a much harder time. I knew they were charm speakers, and it affected the guys a lot more then girls.

"Percy! Focus!" I warned him again.

"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 in the middle of his explanation 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 us. Percy ducked. I shoved Rachel out of the way and we crashed into a row of clarinets. The tuba sailed over our heads and crashed through the window.

The voices in the hall died down.

"Percy!" Kelli shouted, pretending to be scared, "why did you throw that? Nora! Stop!" She threw a chair and it crashed into the metal music stands making a horrible racket.

I was too surprised to answer. Percy was frozen. 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. I charged after Percy. We had to stop her from hurting the mortals.

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

Kelli flung open the doors. None other than my dad, Paul Blofis and a bunch of freshmen stepped back in shock. Percy raised his sword. My arrow was knocked and ready.

At the last second, the empousa turned toward us like a cowering victim. "Oh no, please! Please don't hurt me!" she cried. Percy couldn't stop his blade. It was already in motion. And my fingers let go of my arrow.

Just before the celestial bronze hit her, Kelli exploded into flames like a Molotov cocktail. My arrow sailed safely through my dad's chest. 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. I backed into the band room as the flames engulfed the doorway.

"Percy? Nora?" Dad looked completely stunned, staring back and forth between me and 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.