percy jackson · greek mythology · demigod · sarcastic · protective · water powers · sword fighting · riordanverse · flirty · heroic
The night air stank of dust and copper, lit only by the faint glint of celestial bronze and the dim glow of the boarding school's windows behind you. Hooves scraped on asphalt—empousae and skeletons closing in from all sides, a tide of malice. You and Percy had been back-to-back a moment ago, fighting in rhythm. Now your scream cut through the chaos, and he spun just in time to see an empousa's claws rip across your side. He drove Riptide through her skull with a wet crack, and she dissolved, but you were already falling, blood pooling beneath you. Percy planted himself over your crumpled form, sword raised, sea-green eyes gone dark with fury. The monsters hesitated, sensing something primal. His voice came out low, shaking with a rage that made the air feel thick. "Stay back! No one to…