Hello, world. I'm back to writing after like two years! College is evil.

This story I've had in my head for months. I've been working on it, revising it, rewriting, testing it, etc. since like New Year's.

Remember everyone who reviews with an account will get a clip from the next chapter a week before I post.

Enjoy!

Percy Jackson and the Master of Magic

When Percy and Annabeth are asked to stop a monster by Reyna, they think it will be an easy last quest before retirement. But when the mission goes horribly wrong, Percy Jackson finds out just what kind of monster he could become.

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or its characters, Rick Riordan does.

Reminder: This story is AU as of The Burning Maze. In this AU, it's been two years, and the defeat of Nero, Commodus and Caligula will remain mysterious save for the fact that Percy and Annabeth participated in the defense of Camp Jupiter. I kinda wanna stick away from Trials of Apollo for the most part, since this is my thing.

Chapter 1: Fire of Unknown Origin

…

Lamia walked down Green Street, whistling. The mortals could not perceive her true form through the Mist. All they saw was a middle-aged lady, walking and whistling the tune to Friends. They didn't realize how badly the day was going to turn.

They couldn't see that she was a monster.

Lamia sniffed, titling her head towards Coit Tower. She sensed her prey. She was close. Saliva dripped down her fangs as her claws extended. The mortals still didn't notice her. Shame. The Mist took the fun out of being a man-eater.

…

"Percy, please." Annabeth fake pleaded. "Reyna just needs our help one last time."

"She said that when that Emperor attacked Camp Jupiter." Percy reminded her. It had been two years since the battle, since Jason's death, and Percy and Annabeth were now attending New Rome University. Percy had even recently had thoughts about the question.

But now Reyna wanted veterans Percy and Annabeth to take down a monster prowling around Telegraph Hill. The Eagles had spotted her, and as a Greek monster, Percy and Annabeth were best suited to take her down. They were the only Greek demigods on the West Coast.

"Come on, Percy, it'll be fun." Coaxed Annabeth.

Percy sighed, pulling Riptide out of his pocket. "You and I have very different definitions of fun."

…

Alabaster Torrington and Dr. Claymore sat at Maggie McGarry's. Dr. Claymore was drinking Irish beer, while Alabaster was eating the in-house BLT.

"You're quiet today." Dr. Claymore noted. "Still working on the spell that he gave you?"

"I'm just studying it." Alabaster said, peering over his book and scribbled notes and drawings. "And I think…I think it'll work. The ingredients are strange, and hard to get, but the right demigod, merging Greek and Egyptian magic…"

"Wait!" Dr. Claymore said. "Do you hear that?"

Alabaster stopped, and listened, his heart beating fast. He was hearing what Claymore's MistForm ears were detecting. It was her.

She was whistling the tune to Friends while mortals were screaming down the street.

Alabaster jolted up, as if he had been electrocuted.

"Doctor, we have to go!" He yelled wildly, shoving his books and papers in a backpack. "She's coming!"

…

Lamia strolled down the street. Her hypersensitive ears made her aware that her prey had detected her presence. It made no difference.

Lamia grinned. It would make the hunt even more fun. For four years, she had been chasing Alabaster, the supposed Master of Magic. Today was his last day on Earth.

"Hey, you." Someone yelled at Lamia from behind.

Lamia turned and found a young man with black hair and green eyes running towards her, bronze sword in hand. A blonde woman was tying a chariot pulled by two pegasi to a nearby parking meter. A gold sword was strapped to her side.

Lamia snarled and raked her claws against the boy' sword, throwing him to the side. Then she shrieked as she recognized the burn of Celestial Bronze.

She turned her head to see the boy and the Mistform abandoning a bar. She snarled.

"I don't have time for this!" She snapped at the dazed and obviously out of practice demigod. She ran lightning fast towards Alabaster and Dr. Claymore. Alabaster drew a Celestial Bronze sword and Annabeth chased after Lamia.

Lamia grabbed Dr. Claymore and ripped his Mistform in half. Alabaster shrieked and slashed wildly at Lamia, but she caught his sword and hit him in the head with the flat of the blade.

As Alabaster fell to the ground, Lamia sensed the girl running at her from behind. She turned and snarled grabbing the girl and disarming her. Annabeth cried as her wrist was snapped against the pavement.

Annabeth punched Lamia as Percy stumbled towards the two of them, arm bleeding from the cuts Lamia gave him. Percy pointed Riptide at her as Alabaster crawled to a nearby building, watching.

Watching Lamia hold Annabeth in shield motion and her claws extended towards her back. Mortals around them screamed and ran, sirens wailed around them.

"Wait!" Percy shouted.

"Not one more move!" Lamia shrieked in response. "Or I will gut the girl, right here and now."

"You must be new in town." Percy said, stalling until he could think of a way to get Annabeth away from the monster.

"And what makes you say that?" Lamia asked.

"Because if you knew who we were, you would be running, not fighting."

"And who are you?" Lamia purred, saliva dripping down her chin.

"My name is Percy Jackson." Percy said simply. "And that is Annabeth Chase."

Lamia's eyes widened.

"So, you have heard of us." Percy said, noticing. "We defeated the Titans, the giants, Gaea. We helped some magicians stop a god from merging Greek and Egyptian magic, we helped Apollo take down the Emperors. How do you think this will end?"

Lamia seemed absolutely terrified, for just a moment. Then a look of glee replaced the terror, and a horrible smile took her face.

"It looks as if I won't survive this encounter." Lamia said. "Regardless of what I do. Alabaster," she said, smiling sickly, to the boy, "this isn't over. And as for you, boy," She said to Percy, "it seems as if you and the girl are long overdue for a failure."

Lamia raised her clawed hand.

Percy's eyes widened. "No, stop!" he yelled desperately, running towards her.

"Percy?" Annabeth started and then shock fell upon her face as Lamia's talons penetrated her sternum. She saw Lamia's hand in front of her, covered in blood. That was odd, wasn't it? Annabeth could have swore the monster was behind her. Annabeth laughed, delirium replacing her shock.

Lamia removed her hand and Annabeth collapsed as Percy sliced Lamia from hip to shoulder with Riptide. The monster crumbled to dust, and Percy caught Annabeth, dropping the sword.

"Annabeth, no, no, no, no." He said, panicking, wrapping his jacket around her wound. She had passed out.

"Come on, Annabeth!" Percy shouted. Alabaster watched, anger and shock hardening on his face.

Percy looked at him desperately. "Come on, man. Do some hoodoo magic and help her!"

"I'm sorry." Alabaster said. "I don't know any magic that can help her now."

Percy grimaced. The wound Lamia had given him had gone numb, but he didn't care. Annabeth was dying.

Percy bowed his head. "If any of you gods have your ears on, this is Percy Jackson. I know our relationship has always been kind of rocky, but please. I need your help." Percy opened his eyes and saw nothing. No gods.

"Well, you can go to hell, then!" Percy shouted. He picked up Annabeth and ran over to the chariot.

The sirens had gotten closer. Percy turned and saw that Alabaster was gone. Dr. Claymore's body remained on the pavement.

Percy untied the chariot and brought Annabeth into it. She gasped and woke for just a moment. She felt herself bleeding out. She put her hand on Percy's chest. She knew the end was coming.

"Percy…" She said.

"It's okay, Annabeth." Percy said. "Save your strength. You're gonna be okay, someone at Camp Jupiter, they'll be able to fix you."

"I know…they will." Annabeth said. "But if they can't, I…I love y-"Annabeth passed out.

"Annabeth!" Percy shouted as the chariot shot into the air, for Camp Jupiter.

…

…

…To Be Continued?