I know this is really late but I had to wait till it was my birthday (today) so yeah enjoy!!!!!
From the distance a sound like glass shattering was heard and everywhere the barrier shattered. The monster charged towards us.
Zoe's P.O.V
After waking up in a strange tent and then seeing a cute boy standing over me as I slept, I was pretty frightened, but soon I got over it. As Marco lifted me up to carry me out of the tent my heart fluttered and I was positive that my face was burning red. After Ryan had run up to us I had been awe struck by his appearance, but then as I compared him to Marco, the winner was clear: Marco. He wore a dark blue fitting shirt that showed off his wonderful physique, and his black pants. This time his sword was strapped to his back and his knife was sheathed at his side. I was able to get a better look at the hilt of his sword and noticed that the owl on the hilt was holding a trident. My eyes then traveled up to his hair, as usual it was as though he had woken up and left it like that, but because of the heat it dripped with sweat. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, a few glittering on his long black eyelashes that protected his dark brown eyes.
After our conversation with Ryan, as we ran towards the lightning streaks, I felt awkward and embarrassed, making Marco carry me even though I could walk just fine. After he set me down, I saw the monster. A Minotaur I recognized. Fear bubbled in my stomach. The last time I faced a Minotaur I had had a lot of help, and I mean a lot of help. After all I was a goddess with no control or idea of her powers and my two friends only were able to look amazingly beautiful and tell people what to do. Anyway, as the Minotaur charged us I was so sure that this was all my fault.
Just before the Minotaur reached the first tent, it flew back as though it hit an invisible wall. I turned my head to look at Marco. His expression was just as bewildered as I felt. Suddenly he reached down and grabbed my hand and began to run to a giant tent that was in the middle of the campsite. As we reached the tent Marco lifted up the flap. As we entered I saw around 17 other people including Charlotte and Amy standing around a giant table where a map was laid out.
" Zoe, this is my team: John, a son of Demeter, Nathan, a son of Hermes, Vidya, a daughter of Ares who is blessed by Athena, Dylan, a son of Hephaestus, and Ally a clear sighted mortal blessed by Poseidon," Marco introduced, pointing to each person in turn, " and as you know Ryan, a son of Aphrodite." Everyone had distinct features that showed their parentage, that was everyone except for Marco, which made me wonder who his parents were. " And these people here lead small groups of ten members each. This is Anthony a son of Ares, Abigail a daughter of Aphrodite, Dean a son of Demeter, Aster a son of Apollo, Hillary a daughter of Hephaestus, Hector a son of Hermes, Daisy a daughter of Dionysus, and Aleya a daughter of Athena," as he introduced everyone, I noticed they all wore grim faces.
" I'm Zoe-"
" Yeah we all know who you are," sneered the girl named Vidya. She had glossy black hair that was done in a braid down the middle of her back. She was tanned a golden brown that made her muscles glow, and though she was short, she looked flexible and fast. Instead of wearing a dress or tunic like the others, she wore long black pants with a blood red shirt tucked in, and a long black overcoat. A small dagger was strapped at her side, and a bow and arrow was on her back.
" Oh uh yeah, I guess you do huh," I said embarrassed. Keeping my head down I walked over to where Charlotte and Amy stood. As soon as I reached them they jumped up and hugged me.
" We were so frightened that you- you would not wake up," Amy whispered with a terrified look in her eyes. Both sisters wore dresses in their favorite colors. Amy wore a light green flow dress with a darker green over coat. She had a black golden-buckled belt on with her sword sheathed at her side. Charlotte wore a light purple flow dress with a dark purple overcoat like her sister. Her sword was also sheathed at her side. The two sisters looked like the others: thieves. (To get a better idea, imagine a pirate overcoat, and those dresses, I don't know what they are called.) Marco and the others had gathered around the map and were looking hard, as though contemplating the best action to take. Just as Marco opened his mouth to speak, the ground once again began to shake.
Marco's P.O.V
After Vidya had insulted Zoe like that, anger boiled in my stomach, I mean it was not like Zoe had purposely asked monsters to attack or anything. It was not her fault. As she walked over to her friends I sent Vidya one of my signature death glares, but she just sneered back at me. We all walked over to the big map, I was staring at it and wondering what could have made the Minotaur stop like that, and the best way to take advantage of the situation. I had just opened my mouth when the ground began to shake again. " Ryan, go get Hara and hurry!!!" I shouted at the boy. He nodded and left. Zoe stumbled over to me.
" How are we going to stop him? I mean this is the Minotaur, the only Minotaur, Theseus was able to defeat him easy and then he regenerated. I have fought him before, and it took ten other powerful demigods to beat him. Do you have enough people to stop him before he damages anything?" she asked. Even though she had a calm demeanor I could tell she was freaking out on the inside.
" Don't worry Zoe, everything will be fine, we are safe." Before she could respond Ryan ran back in with a young girl around my age. Her black hair was up in a bun but was quickly coming undone. Her eyes were glassed over, showing that she was blind. Despite that she was a very powerful sorcerers, using her other senses to live her life.
" Hara, did the Hecate children put up a second barrier?"
" Yes, we feared that if a monster were to get through we should have a second one protecting the campers," she replied, showing no emotions.
" Thank you Hara, please go find your half-siblings and prepare some more magic barrier spells," she nodded and ran.
" Okay John, Hector, and Nathan I want you to gather up the newer and less experienced recruits and bring them here. If the barrier fails, a new one will be put up around the tent. Aster and Vidya I want you to gather up all your advanced archery students and station them in the trees, so when and if the Minotaur breaks through you will fire down on him from all sides distracting him. Anthony and Aleya gather up your advanced sword skills students and hide them throughout the camp. After the archers rain down the arrows make sure you quickly attack him from different sides. Dylan and Hillary supply them with your best Celestial bronze swords. Dean and Daisy, make vines and plants grow wherever the Minotaur runs so that he continuously trips and falls making attacks easier. Ryan and Abigail use whatever makeup or anything to cause the Minotaur to lose vision. After John, Hector, and Nathan return with the campers, I want Ally to watch them, and then I need you three to return and help. Everyone understand?" I asked, naturally fitting into the role of a leader. After everyone dispersed to fulfill their parts Zoe and her friends came up to me.
" We want to help to, what can we do?" Zoe asked. My heart began to flutter.
" Well you two are children of Aphrodite right? So you can help Ryan and Abigail and Zoe you can stay with me." The three of them nodded and the two sisters ran after their half-siblings. Zoe and I walked out of the tent and to the armory. There we found Zoe the perfect sword. We then made our way back towards the Big Tent. The entire campsite looked deserted, but I knew where everyone was hidden. I grabbed Zoe's hand, and felt a tingling sensation that I felt every time I touched her. We ran behind a boulder large enough for us to stand behind. Zoe still wore the out fit that I had found her in. Her hair was messy but in a cute way. A slight breeze had started and was blowing her hair back. She stood in a stance; ready to fight. The lightning bolt handle fit in her hand, as though it was made for her. As she stood with her knees slightly bent, a sword out in her hands, and the wind blowing back her black hair, she looked just like I would imagine a warrior princess to look: fierce and beautiful.
From behind our hiding spot, we saw the Minotaur charge the barrier. This time I knew nothing would be able to hold it back, and as it hit, the barrier shattered just as the one before it. The Minotaur charged passed the first tent on the outer edge of the camp. The Minotaur wore silver armor that instead of weighing him down, seemed to give him energy. Just like a bull the Minotaur charged forward head first, using his horns to push aside any tents or anything that lay in his path. From the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of bronze; the first arrow. It embedded itself in the one spot of hide, clear of any armor. I knew that Aster had fired that arrow, being a son of the god of archery he had amazing accuracy. After the first arrow was fired, a volley of arrows rained down from all sides, confusing the monster. All around us, campers were running around slashing at the monster from all sides, carefully avoiding the arrows themselves.
