Too Many Memories

The Past Is Evil

The Past Is Evil

I sighed as I blocked another swing from a monster. I slashed to the right with my dagger and the dracaenae crumbled into golden monster dust. I whirled around and lifted my dagger to block the empousa's strike. The force rebounded and she was thrown off balance. I flicked my wrist and the empousa disappeared in a puff of dust.

I huffed and panted as I looked around the clearing to see piles of monster dust and spoils of war. I smiled at my success before shouldering my two backpacks and continuing on. I heard the snap of the branch too late.

I turned quickly but the tip of a sword filled my vision and it was moving too fast. I made a desperate attempt to duck, but the weapon never hit me. Instead, I heard the clang of metal against metal. I looked up and saw the telekhine stumbling around, his sword loose in his grip. A pure black arrow lay abandoned on the ground, a small piece of white paper tied around it. I bent to pick it up but remembered the telekhine.

I shot up and threw my dagger with deadly accuracy and impaled the telekhine to a nearby tree. It hung there for a second before I grabbed the arrow and stabbed it in the chest, effectively sending it back to Tartarus. I sheathed my dagger and examined the arrow.

Unrolling the paper, I found a message written on it:

You should be more careful when fighting monsters. Athena is supposed to be wise and smart, maybe next time she should make sure all of the monsters were dead before turning her back. Be careful.

-Thalia

I smiled. Percy must've seen that I was in trouble and sent Thalia to help. Thanks, Percy.

I couldn't let you die, now could I? There's no guarantee that you would be able to join my team. And I love you.

I chuckled. I love you too. I sent him an imaginary kiss, fingered the necklace he gave me and my camp necklace, and pushed on.

I had the gods to thank for getting me this far. Especially Poseidon. He had flashed me to Seattle, which made the journey much easier. All I had to do was find the Amazons and try to convince their leader to let me join.

~

"Death! Get her out my sight!" The Queen of the Amazons, Hylla, ordered. My arms were grasped harshly as I fought to loosen their grip.

"Wait, please! Queen Hylla! What did I ever do to you?" I struggled and my captors released my arms but stood on either side of me.

"Do you not remember me?" Hylla growled.

"You're, you're . . ." I swallowed and thought. Her face was familiar, I just couldn't remember where I had seen her. I remembered a smiling face, a clipboard, a spa. "Circe!" I gasped. That wasn't good news.

"Congratulations. Now you can die in peace, knowing who your killer was. Now, leave!" Her goons grabbed my arms once again.

"Hylla! Why do you hate me? You recognized me right away and wouldn't even let me say one word before you sentenced me to death. What happened?"

She narrowed her eyes and tried to burn a hole through my head. "When you and that male released the pirates, they kidnapped us. Do you know what it's like to be a prisoner of pirates?"

I shook my head. "That's not our fault!"

"I think otherwise."

"Circe turned Percy into a guinea pig!"

"He deserved it! Males are disgusting beings that should only exist for the purpose of being slaves and reproduction! They always take the glory and feel as if women are weak and feeble things that need protection, when we are stronger than them. They are impertinent and stupid. They don't think before they act. They should be treated everywhere the way they are here." Hylla retorted and glared at me. "Your friend is just like the others. He might not act like it now, but mark my words. He will be like all men eventually. Just like Hercules and all of the other heroes. Jason, Odysseus, Theseus, all of them. He will be just like them."

I growled and sent her my best death glare. "You don't even know him. He fought in two wars, the second Titan War and the Demigod War. He had to deal with almost everyone he knew losing their memories of him. He was alone, because a Primordial god wanted him to feel alone. The first god, Chaos, made a deal with him which backfired. Percy learned to handle it and joined Chaos' team. He battled Pontus, the Primordial who had ruined his life and beat him, taking his powers and titles.

"I won't go into the details but he fought Tartarus and beat him, and he also became the new Chaos. Chaos lost his powers after a lucky shot and Percy became his successor. He never changed after each new power he got. He didn't ask to become a god. He was always tricked or forced to be one, never by his choice. He still hates it. He never wanted any of that.

"So, do you think Percy will end up like the other heroes?" I glared at her and folded my arms.

Thanks for standing up for me, although you didn't have to. Percy commented.

Of course. Everything she said was false, I had to correct her information. You don't believe that, do you?

No. I sensed the doubt in his voice. I rolled my eyes and made a mental note to talk to him about that later.

For once the Queen of the Amazons was speechless. Not a sound came from her mouth. It opened and closed as she looked for words but nothing came. Finally, she grinned, a sparkle in her eyes. "You've got spirit. You're brave. You don't give up. You plan. And I can bet you can fight. That's good. I'll listen, you have two minutes." She waved off the guards on me and sat expectantly, waiting for me to talk.

I swallowed, trying to comprehend what the Hades had just happened, before clearing my throat and talking. "As I told you, Percy is Chaos and can't stay on Earth. I can't be with him, but I still love him. Camp Half-Blood has too many memories for me to stay there, but I couldn't join the Hunters of Artemis. I'd like to join you, the Amazons. I would be a good addition to you. Like you said, I can plan, I don't give up, and I can fight. Will you accept me?" I gripped my dagger which the guards had surprisingly left me with. I suppose they assumed Hylla would kill me before I could harm anyone.

"I admire your determination. I propose a duel. This is a special case. It hasn't been done in many years. We only let in skilled females with potential. You sound like you would be very helpful, but my personal feelings will prevent you from joining us at first glance. Instead, we fight. You win, you can join us. I win, you will either die or you will leave. I will be the one to decide which fate you will have if you lose. Do you accept?"

I took a deep breath and fingered my dagger. I traced the handle, remembering when I had flown out of the garbage can and Luke had caught me. I had found two people like me, I felt like I had a family, and I knew what I could do. When Luke gave me the knife I knew what my future would be like. I hoped that was the case this time.

"Yes."