Origin of a Hero - [A Percy Jackson Fanfic]

-Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would follow a pegasus to save other pegasi- Thalia muttered under her breath, as she silently walked through the bushes of the forest- And I dream a lot of strange things...

And he wasn't lying, in order to ease the heavy mood that had settled in the air as he walked silently through the woods behind Percy.

It was true that she had had weird dreams. She remembered running like a soul from Hades chasing giant ants that tried to bite her with their pincers. Have you ever seen pictures of ant faces seen through an electron microscope? Those things are scary as fuck! Or running naked through Central Park while being chased by something she couldn't identify.

Yeah... Thalia's head wasn't the healthiest place to be. A psychologist would have a field day having a session with her.

But that wasn't what she should be focusing on right now. Nor on Percy's perfect ass that was only a meter away from her. She should be focusing on rescuing pegasi, and on the forest clearing in the distance.

"We're close," Percy said quietly. "Stay tuned. We don't know how many of them there are."

The black pegasus, Blackjack, snorted to get their attention and nodded three times. Thalia still found it amazing that this beautiful pegasus could understand them perfectly.

- There are only three of them? - Percy asked.

Blackjack nodded again.

"That makes things easier," Luke said, sounding confident.

-Don't underestimate the Amazons, Annabeth warned. They're fierce warriors. Far better than Artemis's hunters if the stories about them are true.

"Don't let the hunters hear you say that," Grover said, looking around, half expecting the hunters to appear. "They have a little... no... a BIG rivalry with the Amazons."

- Even though they're both made up of only girls? - Sammy asked. - I thought they'd get along.

-Oh, they both respect each other, but their ideals are slightly different and that's why they tend to clash. In the past, some hunters would arrive back to camp very badly injured after having encountered the Amazons.

-And now we're going straight to a group of girls who can humiliate the hunters...- said Luke, feeling his confidence evaporate.

- Great! I'll show them who's boss! - said Thalia, ever defiant.

The slight snort of the horse caught everyone's attention; they had arrived.

The midday sun allowed them to see clearly what was in front of them. Three cages, about three meters high and four meters long. In each of the cages, there was a pegasus as white as snow in winter. One of them was banging its head against the metal bars, another was calmly eating a sack of apples that it had in its cage and the third had its head down, as if it had resigned itself to its fate.

Guarding the cages were five girls who, unlike the Hunters of Artemis who were dressed in silver, the Amazons were dressed in black. Leather pants and a black jacket, along with black combat boots. Thalia could see that some of them had bows with a bunch of arrows hanging from their backs. Others wielded spears along with crescent-shaped shields.

But what caught his attention was seeing a group of boys, six of them, doing heavy work. They were carrying large wooden boxes to a cargo truck that was parked in the woods. The curious thing about these boys was that they were all dressed in orange suits, like those worn by prisoners, and they even had chains that kept their hands and feet together, although the chains were long enough for them to walk slightly.

- Who gave you permission to rest, boy!? - shouted one of the Amazons, while pushing with her foot a boy who had stopped.

The boy fell to his knees, but did not let go of the box he was carrying.

- Did I say stop? Move! - ordered the same Amazon who kicked him.

Thalia felt disgusted at the sight. Apparently, he was forcing those boys to do the heavy lifting. She thought about freeing those boys as well, but was shocked when the boy who had been kicked began to gasp and smile, while a bright red adorned his cheeks.

-Yes, my lady... Please kick me again...

- Don't you dare give me orders, you fucking masochist!

He kicked the boy again, but it only caused the boy to moan in pleasure as he got up and continued working.

-This... is this normal? - Thalia asked no one in particular, completely baffled by the sight.

-I told you that Amazons are different from Hunters of Artemis- said Grover, as he hid behind a bush-. Unlike Hunters, Amazons do not hate men, they simply subjugate them and force them to work for them... although many of them do it for pleasure.

Percy frowned in disgust at that.

"And why would they voluntarily submit to someone?" he questioned, unable to understand how someone could give up their freedom to be forced to work as a pack mule for someone else.

-Well... from what I understand... they do it so they can be with them, in different ways- said Grover, emphasizing the word.

Thalia, Luke, and Percy understood, while Annabeth and Sammy still looked a little confused.

-I understand... I don't know whether to feel sorry or envy for them- said Luke, watching as the Amazons forced the boys to drag a cage inside the cargo truck.

"Well, think about it later," Percy said, adopting a serious expression. "We have to do something before they take the pegasi."

"We have to distract them," Annabeth said. "We can't take on all of them. They're outnumbered and they're all armed."

-We don't just have to distract them, we have to separate them. We have to get them away from the cages so we can free the pegasi- said Luke.

-But how do we do that? -Thalia asked-. Those cages have locks, and surely one of them has the key.

A mischievous smile stretched Luke's lips as he looked at the cages holding the pegasi.

-We don't need the key. Or at least, I don't need it- he said, confidence oozing from his voice. -But I'll need some time to open the three cages. From what I could see, they all have electronic locks.

"Then we have to split into two groups," Annabeth said, her hand on her chin. "One group will distract the Amazons, while the other group will free the pegasi."

-Thalia and I will take care of the Amazons- said Percy, looking to Thalia for support which was met with a determined nod from the punk girl-. You four will take care of freeing the pegasi.

- Are you sure, Percy? - Grover asked worriedly. - The Amazons are a dangerous group. If they catch you, they will most likely take you prisoner and force you to work for them.

Percy smiled, slightly amused.

-Then maybe I can receive some... benefits from them.

That comment earned him a hard punch in the ribs from Thalia, who looked at him with a strong frown. The others chuckled, though Luke had a mischievous smile on his face.

-It... it was just a joke, Sparky- Percy muttered, wincing slightly, although he still had an amused smile on his face.

"Then you better," Thalia said, a warning tone in her voice.

A loud moan caught their attention. One of the pegasi was shaking violently inside its cage, preventing the boys in orange from being able to drag it properly into the truck.

- Control that pegasus! - ordered one of the Amazons, she looked to be around eighteen years old and was the obvious leader by the presence she radiated - It's bad enough that we lost that one and only rare black pegasus! I won't allow us to lose these rare white pegasi!

- Yes, ma'am! - was the response received in unison by the boys.

A smile stretched across Percy's lips at that.

-Okay, I think I have the perfect distraction- he said, a plan forming in his head.

Amber wasn't a very happy woman right now, her deep frown was evidence of that, as she crossed her arms and rhythmically tapped her foot against the floor.

She had been assigned to lead the group tasked with finding mythological beasts, by none other than the queen herself! Imagine her surprise and joy when after a week of finding nothing worthy of their attention, they found four adult pegasi, three of which were a beautiful white color like pure snow. But they paled before the majesty of the beauty of the fourth pegasus. It had an onyx-black color, and strong muscles that denoted its strength and speed. Black pegasi were incredibly rare.

He had to catch that pegasus by any means. His queen would be immensely pleased if he presented her with this beautiful and rare specimen.

But they underestimated the black pegasus. He was fast, skilled, and above all, very cunning. He had evaded their traps and attempts to catch him with grace and beauty, only adding even more to Amber's desire to catch this beautiful specimen.

Unfortunately for them, they were unable to do so. The pegasus had flown away on its large wings. Amber had wanted to beat up her fellow Amazons for their incompetence.

She let out a long sigh. There was no point in regretting the past. At least, they had caught those three white pegasi. She would not return empty-handed to her queen, that would have been an absolute shame for her. She only wished she had something unique to present to her so that her queen would not regret entrusting her with such a delicate task.

One of the Amazons trotted up to Amber. She stopped in front of her and stood up straight.

-The pegasi have been secured- the Amazon reported.

Amber acknowledged her report with a nod. The Amazon, Sasha, a daughter of Apollo, was one of the newest additions. She had only joined six months ago, but she showed promise, diligently fulfilling her role as the group's medic.

- Perfect. Get ready to go. We have to...

She was interrupted by a loud neigh. At first, Amber thought it was one of the pegasi she had captured again, but when she turned towards the sound, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the same black pegasus that had escaped from her a few hours ago.

Blackjack charged quickly toward the cargo truck holding his companions and, with a loud neigh, slammed his front paws into one of the truck's unlocked cargo doors, breaking it off its hinges.

Amber, being the most experienced Amazon, recovered first.

- Catch that pegasus! - he ordered with authority. - Don't let him get away again! If you fail, you'll spend the next three months cleaning latrines and not having sex!

That seemed to motivate the Amazons. No one wanted to clean the latrines, but above all, no one wanted to spend two months of sexual abstinence. It was their best way of coping with the stress of the constant work they had.

The Amazons quickly took out their nets and prepared to catch the elusive pegasus. With each attempt, the pegasus skillfully evaded the nets, increasing the Amazons' frustration.

In a moment of carelessness and impatience, an Amazon got too close to her and because of that, she was hit hard with one of Blackjack's wings, sending her flying and crashing into the cargo truck.

"Jenny!" a girl exclaimed worriedly. She turned to the pegasus, who had retreated to the edge of the clearing, and with a mocking whinny, she turned and ran into the woods. "He's getting away again!"

- Don't let him out of your sight! - Amber exclaimed. - Sasha! Stay here and take care of Jenny! Cleare, Madison, follow me! We'll catch that bastard!

With her orders, Amber quickly made her way through the forest undergrowth, following the footprints left by the pegasus in its attempt to escape. If she hadn't been so intent on catching Blackjack, she would have noticed that the pegasus was galloping slowly so they wouldn't lose sight of him, or that he didn't fly away from them as he had done before.

The three Amazons watched as the black pegasus entered the bushes, briefly disappearing from their sight. They followed without hesitation, crossing the same bush, and saw with a mixture of satisfaction, surprise, and confusion that the black pegasus had stopped, but it was not alone.

The pegasus stopped beside a boy who looked no older than fifteen. He had disheveled black hair and worn-out clothes. Everyone was surprised when they saw the pegasus docilely lower his head to let the boy gently caress his face.

"Well done, my friend," said the boy in a soft voice. "I'll take care of the rest."

Amber, being the leader, was the first to speak.

"Get away from that pegasus, boy," she demanded authoritatively, stepping forward. "We Amazons have claimed him as our prize."

"Stay out of our way," Cleare warned, less patiently. "And we'll consider letting you go."

Percy slowly turned around and looked directly at Amber, his cold, piercing green eyes had a dangerous glint in them.

Unconsciously, Amber tensed her body. Ready for battle.

-Pegasi aren't objects, Percy said, frowning. -They don't belong to anyone. They're free creatures. So you'd better set them free.

Madison scoffed at his words with an amused snort.

- And what are you going to do on your own? You're just a boy. You can't handle us.

Percy reached into the back of his jeans and pulled out his hellhound's tooth knife.

-We'll see about that.

"It's three against one," Amber said, but she readied her spear in case she needed it. She had a bad feeling about this boy. "You don't stand a chance. Hand over the pegasus, and I won't kill you right here for your insolence. I'll just make you my prisoner."

Percy raised an eyebrow in amusement, though his body language made it clear he was ready for a fight.

- When did I say I was alone?

That caught the Amazons off guard. Cleare and Madison couldn't react in time as Thalia burst out of the bushes, like a tiger pouncing on its prey, and slammed the edge of her shield straight into Madison's stomach, causing the Amazon to double over in pain and leaving her wide open to a knee to the face from the daughter of Zeus.

The familiar snap of bone breaking was heard and Madison was thrown back several feet, completely unconscious.

- Madison! - Cleare exclaimed in alarm, then frowned deeply and attacked Thalia angrily, who was waiting for her with a defiant smile. Her spear and shields at the ready.

Amber attempted to go help Cleare and avenge her fallen sister, but had to quickly raise her shield when a leg threatened to slam into her stomach. The force of the blow sent vibrations throughout her crescent-shaped shield and numbed the arm holding it.

"I think I'll be your opponent, Amazon," Percy said, stopping Amber from helping her partner who was being overwhelmed by Thalia.

"Who is this boy?" Amber thought, studying Percy. " He managed to take me by surprise. I mustn't underestimate him."

She had over six years of experience and training since she decided to join the Amazons at the age of twelve. But she felt that she had to give her all against this opponent if she wanted to emerge victorious.

Luke glided along without making a sound with one goal in mind, to free the caged pegasi. He felt a little sad seeing these beautiful creatures being captured. He had a feeling that it shouldn't be like this. These creatures should be able to fly free in the skies, not be displayed as some kind of trophy.

With that feeling in his heart, he sneaked into the Amazons' small camp and headed for the cargo truck containing the pegasi. Luckily, Blackjack had broken through the back doors, which was convenient for Luke. He just hoped that the remaining Amazons wouldn't notice his presence, but that was why he sent Annabeth, Sammy, and Grover to distract them in case it was necessary.

With the stealth of a worthy son of Hermes, Luke quickly climbed into the truck. The first thing he noticed was the three cages lined up in the middle. The pegasi were inside, one of them was biting the bars trying to get out, another had fallen asleep with a half-eaten apple in its mouth while the last one was just lying on its legs looking depressed.

As he approached the pegasus's lock that was chewing on the bars, it nearly bit his fingers off.

- Wow! Easy there, buddy- Luke soothed, in the softest voice he could muster. If there was one thing he learned from pegasi, it was that they were very intelligent and capable of understanding human language. Blackjack had confirmed that-. I'm here to free them. We ran into the black pegasus, Blackjack, and he asked us to help them.

The pegasus studied him for a few seconds, as if doubting his words. Then, he stepped back slightly from the bars. Apparently, he believed in Luke. The son of Hermes gave him a comforting smile and set to work on the lock. It took him about thirty seconds before he heard a "beep" and the red light turned green. The locks slid open and the door opened.

The pegasus wasted no time in quickly opening the door with his head and exiting the cage. He quickly walked to the truck's exit door and stepped out into the open air, spreading his wings. Before galloping off into the woods, he turned and looked at Luke. He bowed his head in gratitude and respect and ran off into the woods, disappearing into the trees.

Luke smiled at that, but it wasn't time to linger. The Amazons left at camp might have seen the pegasus flee, and he had two more pegasi to free.

With that in mind, he set about opening the other locks. Next up was the depressed-looking pegasus, who looked up when he heard the "beep" of the lock, along with the sound of the cage opening. There he saw Luke, smiling at him encouragingly before moving on to the last cage.

While he was focused on getting rid of the last lock and freeing the last pegasus, he didn't notice a figure positioning itself behind him until it was too late and everything went dark.

- Are you sure what you're doing, Annabeth? - Grover asked, nervousness in his voice.

"No," the little demigoddess admitted, but she didn't stop what she was doing. "But I don't need to know, I just need to cut some wires on the dash to stop the car from starting."

"Then you'd better hurry up," Sammy said. "That Amazon just healed her companion."

"Maybe you could do a better job," Annabeth growled, as she tried to open the board with the bronze dagger Percy had given her.

She had been both shocked and doubtful that Percy would give her a gun, she was just a kid! What if she accidentally poked out her eye? But the confidence Percy had had in giving it to her erased any doubt she had about herself. Percy had that effect on people.

Sammy didn't say anything at her friend's outburst, she just kept looking in the rearview mirror at the Amazon who had stayed behind at the camp. If she was honest with herself, she was a little nervous. None of the three of them were good at combat, and they wouldn't be able to do anything if the Amazon found them trying to sabotage her car.

"Luke or Percy would be more ideal for this job," Grover said, biting his nails as he looked around.

"They have their own jobs," Annabeth said, concentrating on her work. "And they're trusting us to do ours. And I won't let them down. Plus, we already let several tires off the truck. Once we finish this, our job is done."

With that said, he managed to uncover the plastic of the dashboard with a sharp movement. A proud smile graced Annabeth's features when he succeeded.

- Way to go, Annabeth! - Sammy encouraged her friend in a whisper.

- Quick! Cut the cables! - Grover hurried.

With a single swipe of her knife, Annabeth cut all the wires in the car. Maybe she had cut one of the ones that was in charge of starting the engine, or maybe she had only cut the wire for the lights and the air conditioning, she didn't know and she didn't have time to check.

- We have to go! She's coming this way! - Sammy warned, seeing the Amazon approaching in the rearview mirror.

Annabeth quickly placed the dashboard back in place as well as she could before getting out of the driver's seat. They closed the driver's door and as quietly as possible left the place, heading to the meeting point they had agreed upon with the others.

-Sabotage mission successful- Sammy whispered with a slight, excited giggle.

-Now we have to wait for the others. I hope they are okay- Annabeth said, worried.

"They will be," Sammy assured him, no doubt. "No one can beat Percy."

Annabeth and Grover could only smile, touched by the confidence Sammy radiated in his voice.

¨ Who the hell is this guy!? ¨ Amber thought. Panic flooding her mind as she dodged a cut that had slashed her eye, but she couldn't avoid the kick that crashed into her stomach. She spat out saliva mixed with blood as she was thrown several meters with surprising force, landing hard on the grass with a groan of pain.

The proud Amazon tried to stand, but a foot planted hard on her wounded stomach prevented her from doing so. She groaned in pain and raised her head to meet Percy's cold gaze. A shiver ran down her spine when she saw those eyes and a primal fear settled in her heart as he placed his knife to her exposed neck, feeling a stab of pain that drew a little blood.

-Give up. I don't want to have to kill you- Percy demanded, without taking his eyes off her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cleare being disarmed with a deft move from Thalia, placing the tip of her spear into the Amazon's chest as she panted heavily trying to catch her breath.

Seeing the cornered situation they were in, Amber bit her lip in frustration, glaring at Percy but acknowledging defeat as she dropped her spear.

Percy's gaze softened slightly, but he still remained alert as he grabbed the spear so the Amazon couldn't continue fighting. He took out her shield, leaving her completely unarmed.

-I see you're done- Thalia said, walking over to Percy and poking Cleare with the tip of her spear, causing the Amazon to growl in annoyance, but she didn't do anything-. But I win. I defeated two, while you only defeated one.

Percy raised an eyebrow, an amused expression on his face.

"But I faced the leader," he said. "And I didn't need a surprise attack to defeat her."

Thalia grumbled at that.

-Anyway, tell me. Now, what do we do with them? I don't have to kill them.

Percy nodded.

-We don't have to. Just make sure they don't try anything while we free the pegasi. Luke will have finished the job by now.

Amber growled at that. They were tricked. These two were just a distraction, there was a third party involved. And if she was as strong as those two, then Sasha wouldn't stand a chance, and Jenny was out cold.

A bitter taste settled in his mouth as he realized he had been playing right into the palm of her hand this whole time. They had lost.

damn

Blackjack trotted up to the small group, with an unconscious Madison hanging from his jacket by the pegasus's strong teeth and a backpack on his back.

Percy smiled slightly as the pegasus released the Amazon, causing her to whimper in pain.

"Well done, buddy," Percy said, stroking the pegasus's head. "We wouldn't have done as well as we did without you."

Blackjack whinnied in pleasure at the compliment, as he pushed his face into Percy's, causing him to chuckle in amusement.

Percy grabbed the backpack Blackjack had on his back and pulled a couple of ropes out of it, throwing one to Thalia.

-Percy... you didn't know you had a fetish for tying people up- Thalia said, mockingly.

"Maybe I'll give you an up-close-and-personal demonstration later," Percy said, returning the taunt. "But right now we need to pin down the Amazons. I don't want to have to fight again if I don't have to."

As they both tied their arms behind the Amazons' backs, Amber couldn't help but groan in discomfort at her injuries. Percy was hitting... hard. She had no doubt that he had several bruises forming where she had hit him.

"They'll regret this," Cleare growled angrily. "No one attacks the Amazons without suffering the consequences."

"The only thing I regret now is not having duct tape to seal your mouth," Thalia commented, unfazed by the threat as she placed the unconscious, bound Madison on Blackjack's back.

"We could always gag her with your smelly socks," Percy said with a smirk as he finished tying Amber up.

Thalia made a face of disgust.

-Not even I'm that cruel... but I'll consider it if you don't shut your mouth.

Cleare wisely kept silent, but still glared at the two, especially Thalia.

As Percy, Thalia, and Blackjack led the defeated Amazons away, Amber glanced at Percy. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious about the boy. He had defeated her without much effort despite being younger than her.

Amber had years of training on her part, but Percy had none. He had no pattern or training when it came to attacking. He was unorthodox, his movements were completely unpredictable and that's why he was so dangerous.

- Who are you? -Amber asked, sounding more docile than she intended.

The question was more directed at Percy than Thalia, as Amber asked it while looking directly at him.

Percy just gave him a sidelong glance, but replied anyway:

-We are like you; demigods.

Amber and Thalia's eyes widened in surprise.

- How do you know I'm a demigoddess? - Amber asked, curious to know how this boy could recognize her.

-It was the way you fought- Percy replied, dismissing it. -No normal human being would have reflexes like you do. Your strength, speed, and spear handling are not ordinary. You could defeat Thalia without much effort.

-Oh, my. We have a son of Athena among us- said Cleare with sarcasm and mockery.

Thalia gave Percy a disgusted look.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Chief Alga," she said, her voice sour.

-Don't take it the wrong way, Thalia- Percy said, with an apologetic smile- You're strong, there's no doubt about that, but you don't have proper training- he pointed with his thumb at Amber- She on the other hand, has years of training. I could see that when we fought. The only reason I was able to beat her was because she underestimated me and didn't know the way I fight.

Thalia scoffed at that, but didn't say anything. She simply looked away, still feeling rather grumpy about his comment.

Amber was a little impressed by the boy's deduction, studying him with new eyes. Percy began to feel a little uncomfortable about his situation, but continued to advance through the forest trying to ignore the tense silence that there was, except for Blackjack's amused snorts.

As they reached the edge of the clearing where they had decided to meet the others, they saw Grover, Annabeth, and Sammy looking at the Amazon camp with concern. Percy's instincts kicked in when he didn't see Luke anywhere and he quickly made his way to his friends, leaving Thalia and the captured Amazons behind.

- What's wrong? - Percy asked urgently.

Annabeth turned to look at him, concern adorning her childish face.

"Luke isn't back yet," she said, her voice shaking.

Percy narrowed his eyes at that. He looked at the Amazon camp and couldn't see anyone there, which was strange and worrying.

- Are you guys okay? - Grover asked, alternating his gaze between him and the bound Amazons.

-Yeah, it was nothing- said Thalia, approaching the group with a cocky smile- I told you I'd show them who's boss.

- It was just a stroke of luck! - Cleare exclaimed, still grumpy from her defeat - We were caught by surprise, that's all! Next time I'll kick your ass, you tomboy!

Thalia frowned sharply at that and gritted her teeth in annoyance. Percy could see a vein sticking out on Thalia's neck and made a mental note to never call her that name again.

The angry daughter of Zeus slowly approached the Amazon, who began to get a little scared by the look Thalia was giving her.

-I warned you- was all Thalia said,

He sat down and took out one of his black boots.

Cleare watched in fear and pale face as Thalia removed her socks and brought them closer to her face.

-No... Please... No! -Cleare pleaded, though Thalia didn't stop-. I'm sorry! Don't do it! For the love of...! Uhgag! -Her pleas were literally drowned out by Thalia's sock that filled her entire mouth.

Cleare could only wrinkle her face in disgust, while small tears appeared on her face, whether it was because of the taste of the sock or because of the humiliation, she did not know.

Amber looked at her fellow Amazon with pity, but a part of her knew the girl had brought it on herself. One should never incite the enemy when one is at their mercy.

-Well, now that the nuisance has been silenced, we need to find Luke- said Thalia, ignoring Cleare's muffled sobs-. Any idea where he might be?

"I didn't see Luke get out of the cargo truck when he got in," Grover said.

"He was most likely taken by surprise and captured," Annabeth deduced.

-Yes, I think the same- he said seeing that only two pegasi were released. I never saw a third.

Percy and Thalia frowned at that. They didn't think Luke had been captured so easily, as far as they knew there were only two other Amazons, and one of them was injured. But all indications were that their friend had been captured.

- What do we do? We can't just leave him- Thalia asked Percy, who was staring at the camp. Then she saw the tied-up Amazons and an idea flashed in her mind.

"It's simple," Percy said, a smile forming on his lips. "We'll make a trade."

-It won't work- said Amber, as she was pushed by Percy to the camp of the lost pegasi that we came to look for because of you, and they attacked us. Don't think we will accept this.

There was a hint of menace in her voice, and Percy noticed it, but he didn't flinch as she strode into the camp without hesitation, followed by Thalia, who had her spear in hand. Ready in case negotiations failed.

"Maybe we can come to an agreement," Percy said. "Not everything has to be resolved with violence."

"As a daughter of Ares, I have to disagree," Amber said, slightly surprising Percy with the revelation. "Violence and war are in my nature. If I have the option to resolve a conflict by fighting, rest assured I will do so."

- And where has that led you? Being captured by the enemy and used as a bargaining chip. Violence is not always the solution.

-It's funny that someone as strong as you would say that. You could impose your demands by force instead of using words- she said, but then smiled in resignation- But as a daughter of Ares, I respect strength above all else. And you are strong, so I will respect your perspective, even if I don't agree with it.

"I've been told I'm good with words," he said. He looked at Amber with an arched eyebrow, slightly intrigued. "You're quite understanding."

-Only with those I consider strong-she gave Percy a look he couldn't identify.

-If you're done flirting, can we just end this? -Thalia asked, standing between them and looking annoyed at both of them, especially Amber.

When they were in the middle of the camp, Percy looked around, but saw no sign of the other Amazons or his captured friend.

He let out a long sigh before speaking.

- I know you're here, Amazons! - Percy's voice was heard throughout the clearing, if there was someone there, they would definitely hear him - We've captured your leader! And we know you have our friend captured! Come out, and let's talk! Let's resolve this peacefully!

For a few seconds, no one answered. The clearing fell silent and Percy was about to scream again, until a movement caught his attention.

Behind the cargo truck where the pegasi were being held, Luke emerged, stumbling and falling to his knees on the ground. He was unable to stop his fall because his hands were cuffed behind his back.

Percy studied his friend. There were no visible injuries, except for a bit of dust on his clothes. He looked upset though, perhaps at having been captured.

- Did you get captured again, Luke? - Percy asked, deciding to tease his friend. - Apparently, this is becoming a habit. I see you like to play the role of damsel in distress.

-I just like being saved by my Prince Charming in shining armor, riding a white steed- Luke said with a cheeky smile, not feeling threatened by the position he was in-. Are you my brave and handsome prince, Percy? That man who makes his enemies tremble with his gaze and wet women's panties while they sigh with desire?

"Gods, I'm surrounded by idiots," Thalia said in exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to calm herself.

-You love us, Thalia. And you know it-Luke said.

-Yeah, when I save your ass I'll show you how much I 'love' you, she said, cracking her knuckles menacingly, causing Luke to gulp audibly.

"Let's get this over with," Percy said impatiently. "Get out, Amazons!"

Percy expected a group of women to emerge from the same place Luke came from, what he didn't expect was a group of six boys, all dressed in the same orange prisoner clothes and chains on their hands and feet.

-But... What the hell?... You are...- Thalia stammered, completely bewildered.

Percy narrowed his eyes.

-So... that's how it is- he said-. You're not prisoners against your will, are you?

"Yes, that's right," said one of the prisoners, taking a step forward, or as much as he could with the chains limiting his movements. "We have decided to serve the Amazons. They offered us a future, a life. If we are to work hard, we will gladly accept that kind of life."

-A life of chains and servitude. A life that doesn't even belong to you- said Percy, with contempt that surprised Thalia and Luke.

- Can you blame us for that?! - another prisoner asked, this one with blond hair styled in a book shape that Thalia found ridiculous. - We had nothing, nowhere to go. We were just dogs in the street waiting to die.

- So you decided to put on a collar and wag your tail for a little recognition? - Percy looked at them all, disgust seeping into his voice. - You're pathetic. All of you. You couldn't do anything for yourselves, so you abandoned your pride and dignity so you could live a little better.

Some prisoners looked upset by this, while others lowered their heads in shame.

-Maybe so...- admitted the same boy who stepped forward-. But we have made our decision, and we will live with it. Even if it is shameful and they treat us like animals, we will keep our word.

"Although I like being treated like that," said another prisoner, without a hint of shame.

Percy sighed wearily.

"At least I can respect that, except for that fucking masochist," he said, although he still looked at the prisoners with displeasure.

"If you're done with your deep philosophical talk, can we do the swap?" Luke asked impatiently. "These cuffs hurt my wrists. My nose is itchy, and I need to go to the bathroom. I don't think my bladder can hold out much longer."

-Okay, okay. Gods, you do act like a little girl sometimes, Percy said. He looked at the prisoner who stepped forward, assuming he was the leader. -The thing is simple; free our friend and the last pegasus they have caged and we'll free the three Amazons we've captured.

The prisoners began to murmur worriedly upon hearing that.

- At three?

- Didn't they just capture Mrs. Amber?

- Did they also capture Mrs. Cleare and Madison?

- What do we do?

-Unfortunately, we can't do that- the leader said, surprising not only Percy and Thalia, but Amber as well. -Your friend here freed two of the pegasi we worked so hard to capture. So we won't be releasing the last pegasus we have. Free our three ladies, and we'll free your friend and forgive him for ruining our mission.

- That's not fair, you masochistic bastards! - Thalia shouted, annoyed.

She took a step forward, frightening the prisoners as they saw the flash of fury in her eyes, but was stopped by Percy, who held out an arm in front of her.

Percy frowned, looking at the leader with cold, hard eyes.

-I think you don't understand the position you're in, so I'll explain it slowly so that an idiot like you will understand- he said, taking out his knife and pointing it at her-. We've defeated three of your ladies, all of them are strong warriors. They were armed and trained... but you... are just simple prisoners. Not to mention that you're chained, and you won't be able to face us since you don't have any weapons. So I'll say this one last time; release my friend and the last pegasus. Then I won't have to cut off each of your fingers and make you swallow them.

All the prisoners shivered slightly at Percy's gaze. His eyes were cold and he didn't seem to have any remorse at having to carry out his threat. Thalia was still surprised at how Percy could be so scary and so kind at the same time. She was glad to have him on her side.

¨I think Luke was right when he said that he makes his enemies tremble with his gaze¨ Thalia thought to herself ¨And the thing about the panties... No! Don't think about that, damn it! You're not a pervert like Luke!¨

A light, amused laugh broke the silence and baffled everyone present. They all looked at Amber, who, despite her hands being tied, was laughing quietly. She was looking at Percy closely, as if she had found a new toy that fascinated her. Thalia didn't like that look at all. Not one bit.

-You are truly unique, - Amber said. - You are right. We are in no position to demand anything. As I told you before, you could force us to comply with your demands, but... then what? Once we free your friend and you leave, what will stop us from continuing to search for those pegasi and cage them again?

Percy narrowed his eyes at the Amazon.

"I could force each of you to swear an oath by the River Styx. It would take time, but I would eventually get there," he said, his voice icy.

Amber's blood ran cold at that. She hadn't thought of that possibility. As strong as he was, Percy looked like a reasonable person who would rather avoid fighting unless necessary. She had realized that from talking to him and from the way he fought her. But in the end, a wolf is still a wolf, even if it dresses like a sheep.

"But as I said before, I want to avoid violence," Percy said, the coldness in his eyes fading a little. "If we can come to an agreement, then I will choose that path."

"We have a mission to accomplish," Amber said, composing herself. "We can't go back empty-handed. If a pegasus is all we have, then we'll hold on to it."

Percy was silent for a few seconds, considering his options. One side had to be willing to give something up. He wouldn't give up his friend for anything, but he wouldn't give up the pegasus either. He had made a promise to Blackjack, and he planned to keep it. But the Amazons wouldn't give up the pegasus, it was important to them because of its rarity.

"Wait... The Amazons want pegasi because they are rare to find, but... what if I offered them something even rarer?"

A sly smile spread across her lips as she found an answer.

Amber was startled when she saw him smile. She thought she had pushed Percy too hard. She had poked a dangerous animal too hard. And that was never good.

Thalia, on the other hand, recognized Percy's smile. It was the kind of smile he had when he was about to do something stupid, like when he dragged her and the others out into the rain and they played until they got tired, or when he had a plan in mind. She hoped it was the latter.

-So... How about I offer you something even rarer than a pair of pegasi? - Percy asked.

This visibly puzzled Amber, but she still remained cautious.

- What do you have in mind? - he dared to ask.

Percy removed the backpack he was carrying on his back and rummaged through it. With a triumphant smile, he pulled out a long, pointed object that was the same length and width as his forearm.

-A... horn? -Amber asked, confused.

Thalia opened her eyes in surprise when she recognized the object her friend held in his hands.

-Percy... is that...?

Percy nodded excitedly. He showed it to Amber so she could get a better look.

"You said you were looking for something weird, so here it is," Percy said. "Free my friend and the pegasus and don't chase them again, and I'll give you this."

Amber frowned in contemplation as she looked at the horn. It was large, there was no doubt about that. It was cleanly cut at the base and had a dark stain that had dried on the tip.

- What's so special about this? It looks like a simple horn.

-Maybe it is, but what's so weird about this horn is who it belonged to, Percy said. I'm sure it's one of a kind.

Amber stared at the horn. It was curved and bulky, so it couldn't possibly be a unicorn's. Maybe it was a satyr's horn, but theirs were much more curved and smaller. But that couldn't be it either, satyr horns weren't rare, they were fairly easy to find. The possibilities were many, but she never expected the answer she received.

- What monster did it belong to? - she asked, curious.

-The Minotaur- he replied. I faced him a few months ago. I managed to cut off one of his horns before turning him into dust.

Amber gasped at that. This... boy... he defeated one of the most legendary monsters in all of Greek mythology? That couldn't be possible... Or maybe it was? Percy was strong, there was no doubt about that. Could he possibly be telling the truth? She needed to know.

"Prove it," Amber demanded. "Swear it by the River Styx. If it is true, then we will abide by your terms. Your friend and the pegasus will be free, and we will not pursue him."

She had to check it out. If it turned out to be true, forget about pegasi. Her queen would be immensely pleased to be presented with such a unique item. It would sell for an incredibly high price and would contribute to the cause of the Amazons. She might even get promoted by being put in charge of one of the branches spread across the country.

- Don't do it, Percy! It's too dangerous! - Thalia said, alarmed. - You don't have to...

-I swear by the River Styx that I killed the Minotaur, and what I have in my hands is his horn- said Percy, without hesitation.

A distant rumble of thunder echoed across the clearing, startling everyone present and drawing a greedy smile on Amber's lips as she saw that Percy was still unharmed, proving that he was telling the truth.

- Idiot! -Thalia scolded him, hitting him on the back of the head-. That was really stupid, even for you!

"It was necessary..." Percy grumbled, while rubbing the place where Thalia had hit him.

- I'll need to kick you in the ass later!

- Can you two stop fighting like an old married couple and set me free? - Luke asked in exasperation, shifting uncomfortably. - I'm the damsel in distress here, remember?

Percy looked at Amber, an eyebrow raised.

- Will you keep your end of the bargain? - he asked. - It's up to you. I can give you the horn and free you and your companions, but only if you keep your end of the bargain.

"Done," Amber said without hesitation. Eager to get her hands on that horn. A leader always looked out for the best interests of his subordinates and their mission. Percy's proposal was too juicy to not accept. It was a win-win situation for both of them.

Percy nodded and moved behind Amber. He used his knife to cut the ropes holding her, causing the Amazon to massage her slightly red wrists.

-Release the boy- Amber ordered the prisoners, who happily obeyed upon seeing their mistress freed-. I must say, I wasn't expecting this turn of events. You're quite the surprise, a lot... no... Percy. That's your name, isn't it?

Percy simply nodded, not really paying attention to the Amazon's words as he watched the prisoners free Luke, while another entered the cargo truck to free the pegasus.

-Rest assured that the Amazons will be grateful for your... donation- said Amber, she approached Percy and she lifted his chin with a finger so that he could look her directly in the eyes, due to her being a little taller than him-. You are truly a remarkable man. Strong, loyal, selfless... and very handsome now that I look closely at you. You would look very good in an orange suit and a necklace around your neck.

She licked her lips before moving closer to Percy's face and, in front of the stunned eyes of everyone present, she kissed Percy passionately on the lips.

Everyone's eyes widened, completely shocked by what they were seeing, but no one was more shocked and stunned than Percy, who didn't even know how to react. It was his first kiss, dammit! He could almost hear Luke whisper " Lucky bastard" and feel Thalia's glare on the back of his head, along with a guttural growl.

Finally, after what seemed like minutes, Amber pulled back with a soft moan of satisfaction. She brought her fingers to her mouth and seductively licked her lips.

-Mmm, you taste very good- she said, mischievously.

Percy was about to say something, but was interrupted when a hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed it... hard. So hard that he winced slightly in pain. He slowly turned around, and wished he hadn't.

The expression on Thalia's face really terrified him, but he felt a little relieved to know that it wasn't directed at him, but at Amber.

- What the hell do you think you're doing? - she said, her voice low and dangerous.

There was a strange pressure in the environment that caused the skin of those present to tingle.

- Oh? Does that bother you, girl? - he asked with a smug smile as he crossed his arms. - I'm not afraid to do what I want to do. Percy has caught my attention, something no man under our command has done.

- So you go and kiss every man you're interested in? - Thalia asked, with an expression of contempt and anger.

"Oh, of course not," Amber dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I know several strong, loyal men, but that wasn't what drew me to Percy. It was his eyes."

-His... eyes? - Thalia didn't know how to react to that. Percy had very beautiful eyes. Eyes you could stare at all day long and not get tired of. But... was that enough for this Amazon to have the nerve to kiss him? And in front of her, no less!

-Yes, all the men under our command have that look of submission and obedience in their eyes- the Amazon explained-. They would follow any order given to them without question, and that is very boring to me- a smile stretched across her lips as she looked at Percy-. Percy, on the other hand, has that fire in his eyes that no other man I know has. He has the look of a free man who does not think of bending to anything or anyone. Just thinking about having him under my feet, under my complete control, with a collar around his neck while he looks at me defiantly is... very... exciting... - she finished looking at Percy with a predatory smile, while she licked her lips, savoring the remaining essence of their previous kiss.

"Okay, I said the panty-wetting thing as a joke, but... apparently it's true. That, or the Amazons are crazier than I thought," Luke thought, finding the whole scene quite funny.

Thalia stomped her foot, drawing everyone's attention as electricity erupted from her foot and burned the grass beneath her feet. It was a rather impressive and fascinating sight.

-I don't care if you want to gang bang those prisoners, you fourth-rate whore- Thalia spat scathingly-. But keep your claws away from Percy, or I'll electrocute your ass so hard that there will be permanent marks ugly enough that no one will ever want to fuck you again.

To demonstrate his threat, he raised his right hand and electricity sparked throughout his arm, mainly concentrated in his hand. His blue eyes looked even brighter, and his hair stood up slightly, giving him a terrifying appearance.

Amber looked a little warily at the demigoddess in front of her, but in the end, simply dismissed her threat with a wave of her hand.

-Big words for such a... small girl- he said, looking at Thalia haughtily-. Now, step aside and let the older ones negotiate.

Thalia gritted her teeth in irritation. She was about to electrocute the dog in front of her, but was stopped by Percy, who placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her an awkward smile.

"Okay, let's calm down a bit," he said in a soothing tone.

- You're taking her side!? - she asked, incredulous. - Did you like it that much when this bitch kissed you?

-Hey, I never wanted that-Percy frowned a little at that-. All I want now is to avoid an unnecessary fight.

-She asked for it... - Thalia grumbled.

- Why does it bother you so much? - Percy asked. - It was just a kiss. Luke was kissed by that mortal months ago and you didn't get upset back then. I don't understand why you're upset now.

Thalia opened her eyes for a second, not knowing what to say. She frowned and clicked her tongue, feeling incredibly annoyed.

"You really are an idiot," she said irritably. She turned and started to walk away. "I'm going to untie the other Amazons. If you want to make out so badly, go to one of those pegasus cages."

¨That idiot... Why did he let that bitch do... that? And he dares to defend her! ¨Thalia thought angrily ¨When this is all over, I'm going to kick his ass so hard that there will be a permanent mark from my boots...¨

Percy watched his friend disappear into the bushes towards where the other Amazons were being held captive. He had an unpleasant feeling in his chest and the pit of his stomach and he didn't understand why. But he decided to ignore it for the moment.

"It seems someone isn't being honest with themselves," Amber said cryptically with a mocking smile, causing Percy to raise his eyebrow in confusion. "Let's continue with the negotiations. I think you owe me a nice Minotaur horn."

The greed that flashed in his eyes surprised Percy a little.

The walk through the forest towards the Evil Machine was calm, but there was a tension in the air. Everyone was glancing at Thalia, who had a displeased expression on her face as she walked quickly ahead of them.

Percy saw that his friend was quite tense, if the way her shoulders were raised was any indication, along with her clenched fists and quick, forceful steps.

He decided to remain silent so as not to aggravate his friend's mood any further. He had a feeling, a hunch, a male intuition... that it was his fault.

Luckily for Percy, it wasn't him who decided to break the tense silence, but his blond friend with a somewhat unexpected comment.

"It's good to see the Amazons are a bit more reasonable than the hunters," Luke said, rubbing his wrists where the shackles had previously been. "Though they had to be bribed for that."

-Although that slight 'alliance' we had was almost thrown into the trash when Thalia electrocuted their leader- said Annabeth, giving the punk girl a sidelong glance.

Thalia just grumbled and kept walking without looking back. She didn't feel the slightest bit sorry for electrocuting Amber when they "shook" their hands in a gesture of farewell and "respect."

"That bitch deserved it," Thalia spat, disgust in her voice as she remembered what she had done.

"Well, they gave you some dirty looks," Sammy recalled. "Especially the blonde. I think it was because of the sock you stuck in her mouth."

- I warned her! It's her fault for being stupid and not taking my words seriously.

That was something they had all learned from Thalia. Her threats were always... always ... real.

-You should stop making enemies of every person we meet- Luke advised. -Percy... Hal... your father... and now the Amazons too. I should start making a list. If you keep this up, you might end up angering every monster and god we meet.

Thalia threw him an annoyed look over her shoulder.

-I don't want to hear that from someone who was about to fight with the hunters.

This time it was Luke who looked at his friend in an annoyed manner.

- That stupid bitch deserved a punch in the face for being so sexist! And you know it! - Luke snapped.

- Well, this stupid girl deserved it too! - Thalia shouted, referring to the Amazon.

- Why!? Because she kissed your beloved Percy!?

- Yes!... I mean... No!- she ended up shouting with red cheeks, turning around, and hitting Luke on the shoulder.

She turned to Percy, uneasy, intending to excuse herself in some way. But Percy wasn't around, he had stopped at the side of the road, staring grimly at the forest. He had an intense, worried look in his green eyes, a concern that was transferred to Thalia.

She walked over to him, stood beside him, and stared intently at the forest. There was nothing there, but she had a strange feeling in her heart. And if there was one thing Thalia believed in, it was her and Percy's intuition.

-Hey, Chief Seaweed, what's wrong?- she asked, trying to appear unconcerned.

"I think... there's something there," Percy said, not taking his eyes off the forest.

- A giant French fry? - she asked, trying to be funny.

-No... something bad.

Before Thalia could question him further, Grover's voice rang out loudly, alarming everyone.

- Guys! Something... Something is coming, and fast! - he exclaimed, panicked. His eyes reflected genuine fear.

"Monsters?" Luke asked, reaching for his sword-turned-necklace.

-Just... just one, but... its scent is very strong! It means it's very dangerous! We have to go!

The fear in his voice seemed to put everyone on alert and realize the gravity of the situation. Grover had never reacted like that, not even when a pack of hellhounds had chased them.

And speaking of hellhounds, Ms. O'Leary, who had previously been sleeping and standing guard at the car, had risen and was leaning her head out of the window, growling with her hair standing on end as she looked toward the woods.

Everyone looked at the forest in anticipation, hearts pounding in each of their chests. Thalia felt a drop of cold sweat run down her temple and her mouth strangely dry. She unconsciously brought her hand to her wrist, where Aegis was in its bracelet form.

But I certainly wasn't prepared to deal with the situation that occurred seconds later.

There was a loud, piercing hiss that put everyone on alert. From between the bushes and trees on the side of the road, a creature none of them had ever seen before peeked out, but its appearance was enough to identify it.

The monster stood on its hind legs like a person, but that creature had not a shred of humanity. The legs it stood on were similar to Grover's, looking like a goat with hooves, but it was completely hairless. Its arms were long and thin, ending in claws capable of cutting through flesh like paper. In the middle of its lean, muscular torso, there was a gruesome and menacing lion's head, surrounded by a thick mane. It looked at everyone with malice and hunger in its bloodshot eyes. On top of its body, above the lion's head, were the large, prominent horns of its goat's head. At the back, the body of a snake measuring over two meters in length loomed. Like the lion's head, the snake looked at the group with malice, while poison dripped from its long, pointed fangs.

Thalia and Percy, who were closest to the monster, looked on in shock and fear as a shared thought floated through their minds.

Oh shit

-No... it can't be... - Grover muttered, afraid at the sight of the legendary creature. He took a step back, not taking his eyes off the beast. - The... the Chimera.

- What's a monster like him doing here? - Annabeth asked fearfully, hiding behind Luke.

- Has our scent attracted him? - Luke asked, alarmed.

- Why don't you ask him? - said Thalia, looking at the monster with surprise and fear - Maybe he will answer you.

The beast let out a warning growl, but it wasn't at the group, but at one person in particular. Percy looked at the creature in surprise, but also with obvious annoyance.

"He's here for me," Percy said, to everyone's surprise. "I killed his fat mother, Echidna, a long time ago."

The Chimera, or rather the snake head, hissed in hatred without taking its eyes off Percy, who slowly moved his hand to the back of his jeans where his knife was.

-Thalia, I need you to prepare to release your shield on my signal- ordered Percy, without taking his eyes off the monster-. The rest of you, go to the car and get ready to leave as quickly as possible.

Sammy quickly tried to protest.

- But, Percy...!

- Now! - he shouted, his tone brooking no argument.

He hated having to yell at them, especially Sammy, but his main concern was keeping his friends safe. He wouldn't let an old enemy he couldn't kill cause any of their deaths.

Sammy looked visibly distressed, and seemed to be on the verge of tears. Percy bit his lower lip, reaffirming his resolve.

-Go away... now- he ordered again, this time in a softer voice.

Reluctantly, Luke pushed the others towards the truck, slowly so as not to draw the Chimera's attention. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, the monster didn't take its eyes off Percy. Its gaze promised a slow and painful death.

- Are you ready, Sparky? - Percy asked, giving his friend a sidelong glance.

She gave him a slight glance before giving one of her signature smiles, her hand ready to release Aegis like Percy had told her earlier.

-I'm always ready for a fight, Chief Seaweed- she said, fearlessly.

Which struck her as odd. She was about to face one of the most feared monsters in all of Greek history, but she felt no fear at all. Maybe because she was standing next to Percy? It was strange, but he seemed to give her an unknown confidence. At his side, she felt like she could face anything. Just like they had done in the past.

Percy smiled back. Pleased with her answer.

-Get ready. It will all happen in an instant- he said, his voice serious. -When you stun him with your shield, aim for the lion head's eyes. That bastard can spit fire through them. Don't worry so much about the goat head, its eyesight is horrible, but be careful with the snake, if it bites you, its venom will kill you in a matter of minutes.

There was no time to be shocked by that revelation. The Chimera advanced towards them on all fours, causing its lion head to face the ground. As it did so, Percy and Thalia could clearly see the goat head of the Chimera. Its dark brown fur contrasted with the light brown of the lion head. Its curved horns, larger and longer than a normal goat's, pointed directly at them as the goat head stared hungrily at them with cloudy eyes. Drool slowly dripped down its putrid snout.

Thalia began to feel uneasy as she watched the Chimera get closer and closer. If it weren't for Percy's hand on her shoulder, she would have attacked.

-Not yet...- Percy whispered close to her ear, making her shudder. She wanted to believe it was because of the threat posed by the Chimera that was getting closer and closer, but the slight blush on her face revealed otherwise.

"Stop thinking about that, damn it," Thalia scolded herself. "There's a legendary monster in front of you that wants to devour you alive. This is not the time to think about sentimental things. You look like a stupid teenager in love with an older boy."

"Maybe it is..." said another part of herself.

be quiet

The loud bleating of the goat's head brought him out of his reverie. The Chimera lunged at them like a cat, ready to impale them with its claws.

- Now, Thalia!

- Aegis! - Thalia's scream was loud and clear.

The Chimera, not expecting to come face to face with the infamous Medusa face, let out a shriek of terror as it reared up on its hind legs, exposing its lion-like face. It was only a second, but Percy and Thalia took advantage of it as they pierced its eyes with their weapons. Thalia's spear gave her the advantage due to its length, not having to get too close to the monster. Instead, Percy fearlessly lunged forward with his knife, slamming it into the lion head's exposed eye. He twisted the knife roughly to cause more damage and then abruptly pulled it out, staining his hands and shirt with the beast's warm blood. The Chimera's lion head was now permanently blinded.

The snake head lunged for a bite, but Percy dove out of the way at the last second, avoiding a bite that would have been lethal.

- We have to go! Now! - Percy shouted to Thalia.

Thalia nodded and ran to the truck where the others were waving for her to hurry up. She turned around for a few seconds, watching the Chimera writhe in pain as it tried to get its bearings. He was exposed... she could finish him off with a well-placed blow from her spear, or a bolt of lightning that could fry his brains. She just needed to...

-Don't do it- Percy said, breaking her out of her thoughts. -I know what you're thinking. You won't be able to kill him with just a bolt of lightning, and you won't be able to get close enough to him to finish him off with his snake tail. He'll bite you before you know it.

- But you were able to escape its death! So can I! - Thalia demanded - Let's kill that thing before it comes back for us!

-I was able to escape because I knew he would attack me. Last time I wasn't so lucky...- Percy lightly massaged his right arm.

Thalia looked at him, curious. Had the snake bitten him? Percy had faced the Chimera before and come out alive to tell the tale, but... how did he survive if the Chimera's venom was lethal? Yet another mystery to add to the enigma that was Percy, the Seaweed Chief.

- You're both crazy to face the Chimera! - they were greeted by Grover's hysterical screams as they entered the car -. You're lucky, blessed by Tyche, to be able to survive a fight with that monster! Do you know how many demigods have died for trying to face it!?

- Now is not the time for your crazy bitch screams! - Percy scolded and looked at Luke, who was behind the wheel. - Speed ​​up, Luke! We have to lose that fucking son of a bitch!

- At your command! - Luke responded, noticing the urgency in his friend's voice.

Without waiting another second, he floored the accelerator. Tires screeched against the asphalt as the car accelerated rapidly, leaving the dazed beast behind. Percy stuck his head out the window and saw with relief that the Chimera wasn't chasing them. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and leaned back against the backseat of the car.

"That was close..." he muttered, but was brought out of his state of relief by Sammy's constant pounding on his chest.

- Idiot! Fool! Stupid potato addict! - she yelled at him, while hitting him. - Do you want to die!? Why do you have to fight every monster we meet!?

The blows stopped and Sammy gripped Percy's blood-stained shirt tightly, almost desperately. She was sobbing and shaking with her head on his chest, tears streaming down her face.

-I can't lose you too... - she whispered, her voice choked. - I couldn't bear it. You're all I have left...

Percy slowly and lovingly stroked Sammy's head in an attempt to console and comfort her while allowing her to vent.

"I did what I had to do, Sammy," Percy said softly. "We had to stop that monster, or it would come after us. Now, with any luck, it'll be too hurt to do that."

"I doubt he can do it when we pop his eyes like a balloon," Thalia said, trying to lighten the mood.

- They did that? - Annabeth asked in amazement, as she looked at Percy and Thalia with admiration shining in her eyes.

- But they shouldn't have put themselves in danger like that! - Sammy shouted. - Why do they always put themselves in danger like that?

"We do this so that you are not in that danger," said Thalia, with a harsher voice than she intended.

That seemed to surprise Sammy. She shuddered slightly and tightened her grip on Percy's shirt.

-Sammy... please look at me- Percy said. She did so, her eyes red from crying and her cheeks soaked with tears. She even had a slight trail of snot sticking out of her nose, but Percy didn't care about that as he gently wiped her face with his thumb. -From the first moment we began traveling together, my only duty was to protect you from anything, no matter the cost. Now, that duty extended to more people- he briefly glanced at the others with a small smile- It's my responsibility, my mission, and what gives me the strength to face anything, even the gods. As long as you can survive and be safe, I wouldn't mind giving my life.

- But I don't want you to die! - Sammy exclaimed, a sentiment shared by everyone present, even Grover, whom they had only known for a short time.

-And neither do I, Percy said. -But there are times when you have to face danger in order to protect what you care about, what you love most. And for me, that's all of you.

Sammy didn't say anything, she simply hugged Percy again with fervor and fear in her heart that she might lose him.

The others looked at Percy in shock. They all had a slight blush on their cheeks as they stared at him in shock. Annabeth had slight tears welling up in her eyes. Luke stared at the road, blinking to keep from crying. Grover had a pained expression on his face, as he looked at Percy with new eyes.

And Thalia... she had one hand pressed tightly to her chest. She couldn't look Percy in the eyes, she felt like she would break down if she did. Instead, she decided to stare at her feet, while trying to calm the strong and rapid beating of her heart.

"Maybe he was right..." she thought. "Maybe... Percy... I..."

[T/N: I'll be honest, i have no idea of the quality of this chapter, if you find mistakes and you care enough, just comment it and I'll fix it. If you like this chapter then leave a comment, drop some stones, and write a review! If you want to read some advanced chapters then check out my Patreon!]

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