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Percy had never imagined that a simple trip to her mother could turn into . . . . whatever this is . But when she and her best friend Annabeth, acciden...
A.N due to Bianca's introduction here is her graphic. I will be adding it to characters chapter as well eventually and some other characters
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A.N Enjoy!
The sun's warmth dwindled as Perci and Annabeth ventured deeper outside the outskirts of the market, where the bustling sounds of life faded into an unsettling quiet. The dirt path beneath their feet wound through a grove of ancient olive trees, their twisted branches stretching overhead to form a canopy of shadows. The air grew heavier, carrying with it a faint metallic tang that made Perci's stomach churn.
Annabeth's sharp eyes darted around, taking in their surroundings. "I don't like this," she murmured. "Why did we leave the main square again?"
"Because it's me," Perci replied dryly, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword. "Bad decisions are kind of my thing."
Annabeth shot her a sideways glare, though her lips quirked in the ghost of a smile. "Let's not make this one worse."
They pressed on, tension crackling between them like static. Perci's hand remained on her sword, her senses heightened. She knew this feeling all too well—like being watched, stalked. A rustle of leaves to their left made her spin around, but there was nothing there. Just shadows.
"Do you hear that?" she asked in a low voice.
Annabeth paused, her brows knitting together as she strained her ears. "No, I—"
A guttural roar ripped through the grove, deep and resonant, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The sound was so visceral that it seemed to pierce straight to their bones. Both girls froze, their breath catching.
"That," Perci muttered, unsheathing her sword. "That's not good."
Before Annabeth could respond, a massive shadow moved through the trees, its golden glow unmistakable. The beast stepped into the clearing, and Annabeth gasped. It was the Nemean Lion, its fur gleaming like molten gold in the dim light. Its eyes glowed an unearthly yellow, and its fangs, long and curved, looked as if they could bite through solid steel.
Annabeth took an instinctive step back. "That's... not a typical monster."
"Oh, it's the Nemean Lion," Perci said, her voice grim. "It's fine. I've fought it before."
Annabeth stared at her. "You've what?"
The lion let out another roar, silencing their exchange. It lowered its head, muscles rippling beneath its impenetrable golden hide, and charged.
"Move!" Perci yelled, shoving Annabeth out of the way as the lion barreled toward them. The beast's claws tore through the earth where they had just been standing, sending clumps of dirt and rock flying.
Perci rolled to her feet, her sword ready. She knew from experience that brute force wasn't going to cut it—literally. The Nemean Lion's hide was invulnerable to blades, arrows, or any kind of direct assault. The only way to kill it was to exploit its one weakness: its mouth.
