Moonlit Tides

Chapter 4

Yay, another one! I left off at the dance so there's gonna be some party fun. . .
On an unrelated topic, what do people do at dances. . .jk.

Here it is

3rd person pov

Grover explained the situation once they entered the gym. There were two demigods, a brother and sister, ten and twelve. The gangly satyr hadn't been able to determine their parentage, but came to the conclusion that they were powerful.

"Monsters?" Percy asked

Grover nodded and his Adams apple bobbed.

"Dr. Thorn. He suspects, but isn't sure yet. I don't think he'll let them leave without figuring it out."

He looked at them desperately.

"I can't get close to them, he keeps blocking me and I don't know what to do!”

Persephone tried not to get upset when her best friend looked at Thalia for help. He used to look to her, but Thalia was older. Not because her dad was Zeus.

"Then let's dance," Thalia said after being told that the kids were in the gym.

Students were going wild, having to overcompensate for the usual strict rules. Balloons both black and red littered the floor and guys were kicking them around or attacking each other with the streamers. Groups of girls moved around in huddles, all wearing too much makeup and revealing clothes.

Grover pointed the two out, sitting on the bleachers. They were obviously siblings, both having olive skin and silky dark hair. The girl wore a floppy green cap that hid her face and the younger boy was shuffling cards. The sister looked wary, as if she sensed something was amiss.

Percy started forward, but Thalia grabbed her by the shoulder. Thorn had slunk to the bleachers and stood near the di Angelo kids. The vice principal turned to them coldly and nodded in their direction. Thalia hadn't fooled him after all.

They decided to mingle, spreading their 'scent' to confuse Thorn. Thalia made a snarky remark about the choice of music, which Grover had happened to choose. The two broke away and the satyr was tripping the whole way.

That left Annabeth and Persephone alone. She took in the small details of the blonde beside her, who had grown even taller since summer.

"So. . ." Percy drew out, trying to act natural.

The two girls ended up talking about architecture, which Annabeth loved with a burning passion. Thalia had came back with Grover, looking like he wanted to die, and urged them to dance.

"Um, who should I ask?"

Percy had seen plenty of pretty girls from the short time they had been there. Even gotten quite a few long looks. Hell, she was getting stares right then too.

Annabeth punched her in the gut and she bit her tongue to keep from crying out.

"Me, Seaweed Brain"

They shuffled awkwardly for a few minutes and she tried to think about little things. Anything but how much taller the other girl was, how sweaty her hands must be, or the fact she kept stepping on Annabeth's toes.

Annabeth was on the verge of telling her something serious when she froze and said the kids were gone.

The daughter of Athena turned and pushed through the crowd of tightly packed students. Persephone made a decision in that moment and went the other way, after Thorn.

A floppy green cap caught her eyes, lying on the floor by a few cards. Percy caught a glimpse of Dr. Thorn, leading the siblings out of the gym doors. She walked out into a dark hallway, gripping Riptide. The sword illuminated rows of lockers.

Jogging down the hall, the girl found herself facing the younger kids. Their eyes were fixated on something behind her, wide from fright. She put her hands up.

"It's okay, my name is Percy and I'm not going to hurt you." She said to assure the two.

Then Persephone realized they were gaping at what was towering behind her. She whirled around only to feel pain burst in her shoulder, a sudden force slamming her into the wall.

"Persephone Jackson, I know who you are." Thorn said as he walked into view.

His face was ghoulish, drawn into a sneer.

She swung her sword and a second projectile hit the wall, half an inch from Bianca's face. Then he dragged them out into the snow.

Percy was in trouble and needed help, there was one way to get it that she knew. She closed her eyes, reaching out with mentally.

"Keep moving, Jackson!" Thorn hissed.

Percy made up some lie about her shoulder burning, which wasn't that hard. She pictured Grover, trying to channel her fear and danger.

He didn't respond, even when she thought of pancakes.

Thorn dragged them on through the woods, making some speech about some general and the great stirring. She had caught herself speaking with a French accent and clamped her mouth shut. The forest opened up and Thorn kept talking. Then a helicopter came into view from the distance.

She debated jumping into the icy water below, but it'd be hard to avoid being impaled on the rocks.

She called Grover again.

"I would kill you before you reached the water," Thorn said as he cocked his head.

They were going to have to jump.

Before she could make any moves, an invisible forced had knocked them all down. Annabeth had slammed the three of them into the snow. Thalia and Grover approached from behind, Aegis out and ready to be used.

Thorn growled at the sight of it.

Then he attacked, several of his darts shooting out from behind. He had some sort of tail that launched them quickly. Thalia was knocked off her feet. Grover put his pipes to his lips and played a fast tune, grass sprouted and wrapped around Thorn's legs. He broke free of them with a roar, his body morphing into that of a lion's.

"A manticore!" Annabeth shouted.

Like that made any sense.

Thorn whirles around, snarling. The di Angelo's were shoved down by Annabeth. Persephone remembered her own shield, hitting her watch as a volley came straight for her. Not a moment too soon either.

Thalia charged just as a bright light and a thunderous noise filling the area. The helicopter had appeared over the cliff, hovering. The lights blinded the daughter of Zeus, and the manticore batted her away with a huge paw. She flew back, her shield separating from her arm.

Percy launched herself to Thalia and positioned her body over hers. She rose her shield to cover them both, knowing it wouldn't be enough.

To be continued. . .

I'm horrible, I know. It took awhile, but here it is.