Disclaimer: don't own percy jacts on, Ricok Riordan does

Chapter two

Nico's POV
I burst trough my shadow door, and everyone snapped their heads back to look at me. I ran past them to Percy, silently asking for the reason of the sound; hoping it was anything but her. Percy shrugged helplessly and glanced sideways at Annabeth, wanting an answer. My foot tapped as she answered.
"We don't know which path she took!" Annabeth half-wailed at me, her voice desperate. "We didn't see her go but where would she leave to!"
Racking my brain, I combed through all the spots on the forest she took before. The answer hit me like a bullet, (I would know what that feels like), she went to our waterfall. I ran behind her cabin and sure enough there was a small Thalia-sized opening in the trees.
"Follow me." I called over my shoulder, already starting to sprint into the woods and smash through the brush; not waiting for them to get here.
My feet were quick and quiet as I raced across the terrain, the dead leaves barely making a sound under my light steps. I felt a presence close in tow, probably Annabeth. Shadows were bending towards me, and I dived into the darkness. I felt someone grab my hand right before I was swallowed out of sight, and was dragged in with me. We flew through the darkness and Annabeth's hand squeezing mine. We tumbled out of the monster world right out of sight from the clearing, Percy just reaching us, not even breathing hard.
We peered into the clearing, staring at the scene and my heart stopped. Thalia was up in the air, dangling over the waterfall, with the monsters hands around her neck. She was scraped up badly, slash marks on her arms, right leg not looking to pretty, and her mouth dripped blood. The creatures that were surrounding her were ones I have fought many times in my lifetime, (trust me, that's along time,) but Thalia was unarmed and visibly drained. My blood boiled.
I turned to Annabeth, she always knew everything, "Do you have a plan?"
Percy had a strange emotion on his scrunched up face. Annabeth bit her lip, thinking. I glanced back and the monsters were advancing.
"Annabeth!" I whispered urgently.
Thalia's hand twitched and moved. Annabeth's eyes were fixed on the flicking fingers. She nodded slowly, and Thalia mouthed 'one, two, three,' she looked at me and winked. I widened my eyes as she opened her mouth a bit down on the hand holding her. The demons drew their hands away, letting Thalia drop like a rock to the land below. I lunged forward, but Annabeth grasped my hand tightly, eyes silently pleading me not to leave. A part of me wanted to ignore her, but I trusted Annabeth; she hasn't been wrong before. I stood still and followed Thalia's figure descend and disappear into the spray of mist.
Percy leapt into the clearing scaring the furies, Annabeth and I close behind him.
"Son of Poseidon, Daughter of Athena, not wise of you to approach us." They hissed at us, boney wings flapping haphazardly.
Percy protectively stepped in front of Annabeth and the furies cackled. I cleared my throat and one of them turned to me making the others squawk in surprise.
"Son of Hades, why do you fight with this scum? Were you trying to protect the pretty girl?" They taunted, malice clouding their features, "Did you know that daughter of Zeus?"
My lip twitched, marring my expressionless face, "Alecto, shut your mouth before I shut it for you." The threat was heavily laced in my words.
The kindly ones smiled, "Aw, poor thing, did we strike a nerve?"
They opened their mouthed again, but a disturbance stopped them. The sky grew thick with shadows, flocking the sun from sight. The ground shook, and cracks appeared. Skeletal hands were crawling up to the surface, groaning and clacking. The dead grew in size, grabbing at the kindly ones feet.
"Go." They ground out, their bone jaws creaking like hinges.
The furies cursed, flying away and disappearing into the dark. The splits in the earth squirmed and closed up. Immediately, Annabeth and I threw ourselves to the edge of the cliff, straining to catch sight of the bottom of the chasm. Percy stood at the forest, watching for more monsters.
Annabeth crossed her fingers, "Please let her pull through, please let her be strong enough."
"What was the plan between you two?" I pressed.
Her eyes flickered to me before replying, "We had this escape diversion plan back with, you know," she swallowed.
"Luke?"
She grimaced, but nodded, "Yes, and we had a sign that meant Thalia would do an up, up, and away to cause a distraction. We never tried it, Lu-Luke wouldn't let Thalia go jump off a cliff and try to fly, so I don't know if she has the strength to pull it off; it takes a lot of effort, physically and mentally." She trailed off, worry in her eyes. We watched on silence, Annabeth occasionally sniffing.
"Heads up, guys, we've got trouble." Percy's whisper floated in our ears. We turned our heads around to see...great another one of my 'friends.' Hellhounds.
Annabeth snarled, her knife already out, and slashing away. Percy jumped behind her and they fought back to back like old times. I summoned my sword and hacked at the beasts in front of me. My actions went into auto pilot, slicing and dicing whatever came into my path.
"On your left An!" I called, moving out of the way of a crushing paw.
She flung herself to the side, nimbly dodging a snapping jaw and Percy swung riptide through he monster, killing it in one sweep. I froze for a minute, surveying the area and the fight. There were still about five Hellhounds left and Annabeth had a gash in her leg, and Percy had a scrape on his arm. I felt pain flare in my foot and I glanced down to see a baby monster nipping at my toes. I stabbed it in the face.
"Nico watch behind you!" Percy yelled.
I turned to feel the fiend ram into me and throw me off the cliff. I gasped as the wind was knocked out of me. Twisting and turning I fell in slow motion, the water soaking my shirt. Strangely, I had no fear of dying or free-falling. I found myself closing my eyes, my arms spreading out like a skydivers. I waited for the impact, but it never came.
A strong force knocked into me, shooting me upwards. My eyes snapped open and landed on the ground, the air rushing out of my lungs. Percy and Annabeth had almost everything under control save a few Hellhounds. I rolled over to see who saved me, and gasped.
Surrounded by a blue glow, Thalia hovered off the ground. Almost invisible wings sprouted from her back, and a scary expression had fallen on her face. The monsters focused on her and attacked, teeth bared, claws extended. Thalia's hand slammed on her bracelet and Agieus spiraled out. The Hellhounds flinched back at the sight of medusa's head towered above them, but they pushed ahead. She wielded her dagger, and flew to recounter.
I struggled to stand, but my broken ankle screamed in protest. I groaned, and Percy rushed to help me. Annabeth froze. Her face had turned a sheet of white, her hands at her side trembling.
"Move!" Percy called, "Help her!"
Annabeth's grey eyes unfocused, as if in a dream. She didn't move.
"Go to her." I gasped, "I'll be fine."
He studied me for a moment, before nodding once and rushing to Annabeth's side. She gripped Percy's hand in a death grip, her breathing becoming rapid. I forced myself into a standing position, swaying slightly from my ankle. A shadow curled itself around my ankle, fighting off the pain.
I lunged into battle, but there no monsters were there to fight. Thalia slowly landed on the ground, her blue glow fading. Her hand lightly landed on her stomach.
"Thalia." I breathed, stretching out my hand to greet her, but something wasn't right.
There was no smile on her face, no look of triumph. Her eyes squeezed shut, mouth twisting. Her dagger fell to the ground as the hand that held it went slack. The hand in her stomach curled inwards, tightening.
I watched as Thalia tumbled to the ground to the ground.

sorry for not updating sooner, I had school and I broke my foot, and have been back and forth to doctors