Percy Jackson, Son of Olympus, The Titan's Curse

| Chapter IV || Kidnapped by a Vampire |

*December 14 XXXX*

*Percy's Point of View*

***

Even for a vampire, Mormo was fast. She was leading us from in front but as soon as any of us tried to make our escape, she'd whirl around, her claws flying towards us. Each attempt had a new cut appearing somewhere or other.

My shield – a gift from Tyson before I left for Olympus – still sat in wristwatch form on my arm. All it took was one tap, but I couldn't reach it without Mormo noticing. She was faster than the watch, and if I tried to activate it, she would surely just take it away. And even if it did work out, I'd still have no protection for the di Angelos. Maybe if I bided time, my trail would lead the others to us.

So much for being the leader of this team. Dad did tell me that I needed to be more independent - seeing as Artemis crashed my last two quests and I'd never really had to do anything on my own before - but this wasn't what I'd had in mind for my first on-my-own mission.

Subtly, I pulled off a shoe and kept walking. In front of us, Mormo didn't notice.

The snow quickly soaked through my sock and turned my toes to ice, but I kept walking. Beside me, Bianca looked down, raised an eyebrow at my frozen foot and the shoe I'd left behind us, and whispered, "Why did you do that?"

"Trail," I whispered back.

"For who?"

"You'll see."

And maybe, just maybe, I could call for some other backup. I closed my eyes, slowing my pace.

"What are you doing, Jackson?" hissed Mormo. "Keep moving!"

She was behind me suddenly, and gave a shove to my back, the points of her claws just barely pressing into my spine. Opening my eyes, I kept shuffling forward. "It's my shoulder," I lied, exaggerating the pain in my voice with a keening groan. "It burns. I think it's infected."

"You'll be dead soon, anyway, Jackson! Walk!"

As she herded us further down the trail, I tried to concentrate. I pictured Artemis face – not hard, by the way. Whilst focusing on my feelings of fear and danger, I called out to her. Most people just pray to gods, but Artemis and I had been friends for...eight years already? We had a special bond. If she was in the area, and heard my distress signal, she would come.

"Artemis!" I thought. "I'm in a bit of trouble here! Mormo has kidnapped me and two other demigods. They don't know who they are, and I can't fight and protect them at the same time! If you're close by, please help!"

I shouldn't rely on her so much. I really shouldn't. I was already thirteen, for the gods' sake, and trained on Olympus! I should be better than this! But training on Olympus was so much different than fighting monsters on mortal grounds. Especially a monster like Mormo. If the monsters I'd faced until now were strong, she was on a whole other level!

Mormo shoved us toward the woods. There was a small, snowy path leading into the forest, lit my dim, old-fashioned lamplights. At the entrance, I slipped off my other shoe.

"And if you could kick my teammates butts into gear, that would be great, too!" I added. Maybe humour would catch her attention faster.

We kept trudging. I, without either of my shoes and only a few layers left to toss, felt shivers already running down my spine. The wind blowing past my feet and the snow against my wet socks were so cold that I felt like a Percysicle. (Why had I thought this was a good idea? Why hadn't I just let dad wait for us?)