𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍° ! percy jackson

𝐢𝐢𝐢.𝐢𝐢 - 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐩 + 𝐚)

"Don't be stupid." That was the one rule they had. That was the one rule they ever had to follow.

But unfortunately for everyone involved, Percy was never, ever one to follow rules. And when he turned around and saw Aurora was just gone, disappeared into thin air, he couldn't really tell what was stupid or not anymore.

He also couldn't shake the expression on Aurora's face when she saw the di Angelos, or the way her whispery voice cracked when she choked out an "Oh my gods," or the way her hands felt resting behind his neck—gods, were they really just dancing? Percy's hands around her waist, Aurora's arms around him... and that thought was definitely not the priority.

He knew Aurora had run after Nico and Bianca di Angelo. He knew it. So he did the only logical thing, and ran after her.

(I mean, if she was allowed to break the rule and be stupid, couldn't he as well?)

Uncapping Riptide, Percy allowed the warm, golden light subtly cast by the blade lead him through a door and down a corridor. However, when he got to the other end, there was no one there. He opened a door, and wound up back in the main entry hall, completely turned around. He didn't see Dr. Thorn anywhere, but there, on the opposite side of the room, were the di Angelos.

Percy let out a slight exhale, and almost felt relieved for a moment, until he noticed their horror struck expressions and frozen state. Advancing slowly, Percy lowered the tip of his sword. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

They didn't answer, staring blankly at him with terror in their identical brown eyes. Percy didn't think he looked scary, but then again, to young kids who just found out they were demigods, a random teenager holding a sword wasn't exactly a good look, was it?

"My name's Percy," He continued, trying to keep his voice level and patient as he attempted for an explanation. "I'm going to take you out of here, get you somewhere safe."

Bianca's eyes widened, her fists clenching. Only too late did Percy realize what her look meant; it wasn't fear. (Let's be honest, was he surprised that it wasn't fear? No.) She was trying to warn him.

Percy whirled around, and before he could fully process what was happening, pain exploded in his shoulder. A force, similar to a humongous hand, yanked him backward, slammed him to the wall.

Percy attempted to slash Riptide, but there was nothing to hit.

A cold laugh echoed through the hall. "Yes, Perseus Jackson," Dr. Thorn sneered, his accent mangling the J in his last name. "I know who you are."

Percy tried to free his shoulder. His coat and shirt were pinned to the wall by some kind of spike—a black dagger-like projectile about a foot long. It had grazed the skin of his shoulder as it passed through his clothes, and the cut burned. It burned bad.

Percy had felt something like this before. A couple summers back. And though it was delivered through a different culprit—a scorpion—he knew what it was: poison.

Percy forced himself to concentrate. I am not passing out. He chastised himself, blinking hard before refocusing his vision. That's so embarrassing if I do. Plus, I still need to help Aurora and Annabeth and Thalia and Grover. Yeah. Not passing out.

A dark silhouette now moved toward them, and Dr. Thorn stepped into the dim light. He still looked human, but his face was ghoulish. He had perfect white teeth and his brown/blue eyes reflected the light of Riptide.

"Thank you for coming out of the gym," the monster said slowly, his words warping as his accent thickened. "I hate middle school dances."

"I do too," Percy snorted out weakly, trying to swing his sword again, but he was just out of reach. A second projectile shot from somewhere behind Dr. Thorn. He didn't appear to move. It was as if someone invisible were standing behind him, throwing knives.