The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4)(3)

“Oh, yeah, I would,” I promised. “I know you can see through the Mist.”

“The what?”

“The Mist. It’s…well, it’s like this veil that hides the way things really are. Some mortals are born with the ability to see through it. Like you.”

She studied me carefully. “You did that at Hoover Dam. You called me a mortal. Like you’re not.”

I felt like punching a bongo. What was I thinking? I could never explain. I shouldn’t even try.

“Tell me,” she begged. “You know what it means. All these horrible things I see?”

“Look, this is going to sound weird. Do you know anything about Greek myths?”

“Like…the Minotaur and the Hydra?”

“Yeah, just try not to say those names when I’m around, okay?”

“And the Furies,” she said, warming up. “And the Sirens, and—”

“Okay!” I looked around the band hall, sure that Rachel was going to make a bunch of bloodthirsty nasties pop out of the walls; but we were still alone. Down the hallway, I heard a mob of kids coming out of the gymnasium. They were starting the group tours. We didn’t have long to talk.

“All those monsters,” I said, “all the Greek gods—they’re real.”

“I knew it!”

I would’ve been more comfortable if she’d called me a liar, but Rachel looked like I’d just confirmed her worst suspicion.

“You don’t know how hard it’s been,” she said. “For years I thought I was going crazy. I couldn’t tell anybody. I couldn’t—” Her eyes narrowed. “Wait. Who are you? I mean really?”

“I’m not a monster.”

“Well, I know that. I could see if you were. You look like…you. But you’re not human, are you?”

I swallowed. Even though I’d had three years to get used to who I was, I’d never talked about it with a regular mortal before—I mean, except for my mom, but she already knew. I don’t know why, but I took the plunge.

“I’m a half-blood,” I said. “I’m half human.”

“And half what?”

Just then Tammi and Kelli stepped into the band room. The doors slammed shut behind them.

“There you are, Percy Jackson,” Tammi said. “It’s time for your orientation.”

***

“They’re horrible!” Rachel gasped.

Tammi and Kelli were still wearing their purple-and-white cheerleader costumes, holding pom-poms from the rally.

“What do they really look like?” I asked, but Rachel seemed too stunned to answer.

“Oh, forget her.” Tammi gave me a brilliant smile and started walking toward us. Kelli stayed by the doors, blocking our exit.

They’d trapped us. I knew we’d have to fight our way out, but Tammi’s smile was so dazzling it distracted me. Her blue eyes were beautiful, and the way her hair swept over her shoulders…

“Percy,” Rachel warned.

I said something really intelligent like, “Uhhh?”

Tammi was getting closer. She held out her pom-poms.

“Percy!” Rachel’s voice seemed to be coming from a long way away. “Snap out of it!”

It took all my willpower, but I got my pen out of my pocket and uncapped it. Riptide grew into a three-foot-long bronze sword, its blade glowing with a faint golden light. Tammi’s smile turned to a sneer.

“Oh, come on,” she protested. “You don’t need that. How about a kiss instead?”

She smelled like roses and clean animal fur—a weird but somehow intoxicating smell.

Rachel pinched my arm, hard. “Percy, she wants to bite you! Look at her!”

She’s just jealous,” Tammi looked back at Kelli. “May I, mistress?”

Kelli was still blocking the door, licking her lips hungrily. “Go ahead, Tammi. You’re doing fine.”

Tammi took another step forward, but I leveled the tip of my sword at her chest. “Get back.”

She snarled. “Freshmen,” she said with disgust. “This is our school, half-blood. We feed on whom we choose!”

Then she began to change. The color drained out of her face and arms. Her skin turned as white as chalk, her eyes completely red. Her teeth grew into fangs.

“A vampire!” I stammered. Then I noticed her legs. Below the cheerleader skirt, her left leg was brown and shaggy with a donkey’s hoof. Her right leg was shaped like a human leg, but it was made of bronze. “Uhh, a vampire with—”

“Don’t mention the legs!” Tammi snapped. “It’s rude to make fun!”

She advanced on her weird, mismatched legs. She looked totally bizarre, especially with the pom-poms, but I couldn’t laugh—not facing those red eyes and sharp fangs.

“A vampire, you say?” Kelli laughed. “That silly legend was based on us, you fool. We are empousai, servants of Hecate.”

“Mmmm.” Tammi edged closer to me. “Dark magic formed us from animal, bronze, and ghost! We exist to feed on the blood of young men. Now come, give me that kiss!”

She bared her fangs. I was so paralyzed I couldn’t move, but Rachel threw a snare drum at the empousa’s head.