Annabeth's Pov
On the way to the place Elisa pointed out by train, I observed Elisa for a bit. She was around 20 years old, had fair skin and black hair. Her eyes were an unnatural yellow color, I guessed she was wearing contact lenses or it was her Nemesis's genetics. I leaned towards the latter.
-I'm sorry, I just... lost your spear when I fought the Chimera..I'm sorry, please forgive me.
Percy said, there was a hint of guilt in his voice. Well, that's right, he just melted Elisa's spear and stuck it in the Chimera's mouth. It was also the way to kill the Chimera in mythology. Maybe he quickly remembered.
-Ah... it's okay!!
Elisa said. She seemed nervous and tense. She kept looking at me, Percy, Grover, then around the box and out the window. I think she was worried about her teammates, and at the same time felt guilty and suspicious for asking 3 12 year old kids (Grover is 28 but he ages twice as slow as normal people) to rush into the monster's nest.
- So the plan is simple, go to Saint Louis, chase away Edchina's horde, and save the Amazons? Elisa, do you know how many monsters and what kind of monsters there are besides Edchina? And how many people are in your team?
Percy said, he asked Elisa.
-I was so confused that I don't remember how many or what kind of monsters there were. There were only four people in your team to deliver the goods.
Elisa said, her face looking quite down. Percy nodded. He checked his knife again. Now I had time to look closely at his knife, I didn't know what kind of knife it was, but it was golden.
-So can you tell me about the Amazons?
Percy looked up, his face looking interested in the subject.
-We are independent warriors not under the control of Olympus or any other power. Our leader is the queen, the current queen is Allison, daughter of Apollo. Currently we operate mainly as a delivery service to earn income but we are still warrior women. Our headquarters is in Seattles, Washington.
Elisa said, she sounded quite serious, I could tell she loved the Amazons very much.
-Apollo's daughter? I thought the amazon queen should be the daughter of some war god.
Percy asked, his voice curious.
-Many people think so too, Queen Allison ascended the throne due to her predecessor's will, so she received a lot of criticism and opposition. But after a while, people began to acknowledge her talent.
Elisa said, her voice filled with a bit of admiration.
-How did you join the Amazons?
Percy asked, I could see that Grover was quite curious too. I couldn't blame him, I was just as curious.
-Hmm...Because I'm the child of a minor god, normal monsters don't come to me. My father is a lawyer. About 8 years ago, he was assassinated because someone wanted to take revenge on him. I would have died if Miara, a senior in the Amazon, hadn't come in time to help me. From then on, I joined the Amazons. That's all.
Elisa said, her face growing sadder. Percy was speechless, probably feeling guilty for asking such a sensitive question. He was about to apologize.
-But don't go near the Amazons normally.
Elisa said, smiling, making Percy look a little dumbfounded.
-Do you guys hate men? Percy asked, a worried look on his face.
-No, no, it's the opposite. Dia..i mean Artemis's huntress, are the ones who swear to turn their backs on men and tend to hate men. However,We just want to show them who's boss.
Elisa said, shrugging her shoulders. Her hand kept hitting the chair, perhaps a symbol of the pressure, stress, guilt, and a little bit of hyperactivity she was carrying around? Percy immediately understood what she was trying to say and sat closer to Grover.
From what I understand, the Hunters of Artemis are basically an immortal army that doesn't engage in love and many of the members have a bad history with men so they tend to hate guys but still consider them equals at least in most ways. The Amazons, on the other hand, consider themselves above guys in every way you can think of. That's the difference I've drawn after interacting with both.
If you ask me which one I like better? I'd say the Amazons, even though they sound worse, but so far, I have a much better impression of them than I do of the Hunters of Artemis.
Grover and Percy whispered something to each other that I couldn't hear. Then Percy went to the bathroom, he ran all the way to the bathroom at the end of the train car. I turned to look at Elisa. She had her head down, her eyes were quite red, it seemed like she was holding back tears from streaming down her cheeks. I can understand that feeling, when you feel so helpless, knowing that it's your fault but can't do anything. If an Amazon warrior like her was pushed to the point of asking for help from two boys, she must be desperate. I feel sorry for her.
I want to say something to comfort Elisa but I don't know what to say. If I joke or something, she might think that I'm taking this as a joke. And if I touch her like patting her shoulder to comfort her, it's really strange, because we haven't known each other for more than 30 minutes.
I'm confused, not knowing what to do, maybe silence is a good option. But is it really good? I don't know. Feelings are strange. Sometimes, when I'm sad, I just want to be alone, but then I want someone to come and comfort me. Sometimes I don't understand myself anymore.
I quietly look out the window.

After a few hours we arrived at Saint Louis. It was a strangely designed building to me. But it looked pretty cool. Percy had eyes that were as bright as car headlights. I didn't know anything about his living conditions, but I could easily guess that this was his first time here. I had passed by here once before, but this was my first time inside. Elisa said that she heard Echdina screaming that she would wait for her to come and deliver that black box to her at the top floor of Saint Louis or her teammates would be dinner for monsters right before she ran away. So we came here. Percy and I were the only ones with weapons. Percy had lent Elisa his knife. His hand was glowing with fire. Grover was walking behind us. I'm sure to mortals we would look like a bunch of debt collectors.
We were taking the elevator to the top floor. Let's be honest, it was incredibly crowded. And three of the four were demigods. And you know what that meant? Yeah, a bunch of hyperactive people in a space that barely had any room to move. It was torture for me, Percy, and Elisa.
I held onto the Stygian sword, which I didn't bother to name. Maybe I'll name it later. I prayed to Hades a little. Well, he was still my dad no matter what. Although he probably saw me as more of a pawn. But I was his trump card, so maybe he could give me some power?
-The smell of monsters... not many, probably only one or two. Maybe Echdina has left somewhere.
Grover said, he breathed a sigh of relief. I also wanted to breathe a sigh of relief but then stopped. Before coming up here, Percy and I drank a few bottles of energy drinks to gain strength to continue fighting. I was fine. But I was more worried about Percy, he was not a fighter but was always pushed into situations where he had to use violence.
The elevator door opened. I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in my heart. When I arrived at the place where Grover smelled the monsters. There were indeed two monsters and they were guarding three unconscious girls. When I was thinking about how to save the three girls. Suddenly a knife slashed through my hair.
I was startled, looked behind and saw Percy pointing his hand at Elisa. My mind went blank for a short second. Based on this scenario, Elisa threw a knife at me and Percy deflected it. It's not like I haven't thought about what if this was a trap. But I couldn't believe that Elisa's (I'm not sure if that's even her name) emotions, expressions and tone of voice were acting, it was too real. Oscar should have a category for Elisa. Perhaps the three girls lying there were just bait too.
-You guessed this? That it was all a trap?
Elisa asked, her face cold.
-Yes. The Chimera attack on the train was definitely staged. I was starting to suspect it because the Chimera was so easy to kill.
Percy said. Sweat was pouring down his face. And his body was trembling slightly. He was pointing a gun-shaped finger at Elisa.
-Oh, you stupid kid. If you knew that, why did you come here? Surely you could guess that someone was about to die, right?
Suddenly, a voice came from behind us, it sounded strangely demonic. I didn't need to turn my head to guess whose voice it was. It was Echdina.
Percy was visibly tense, Grover was trembling. I turned my head and saw a snake-bodied woman, her hair was red, making me think of blood, and her strange black eyes. With her were those two damn monsters from earlier. Oh, I hate snakes so much.
Her skin was pale green and her fingernails were abnormally large. You could tell she was a monster. Echdina was known as the mother of monsters, she was the one who tested heroes on their journeys. Fun fact, Echdina was the wife of Typhon, the most feared monster in Greek Mythology. This couple..well The husband attacked Mount Olympus and is now imprisoned under the mountain, while the wife is always wandering around throwing monsters at the children of Olympus.
-If you're so smart. You've probably already figured out what color coffin you'll choose, right? Oh no, you won't even have a body left!
Echdina said, her voice filled with disdain. She laughed blandly.
- Is that so? I think you should be the one choosing where to bury your body. Oh, sorry. You and your children will turn into pathetic dust particles that will fly into the air and be imprisoned in Tatarus, not have the luxury of lying on the ground!
Percy replied. Even though his face was sweating, he still made a sarcastic tone. I couldn't tell if it was reckless or brave. But it clearly succeeded in irritating Echdina. I wasn't sure if this was part of his plan.
- I came here because the mighty Zeus assigned me to test that daughter of Hades, I don't care about something as cheap as you. But you worthless thing deserves to be punished!
Edchina shouted.
-You and Grover fight Elisa! I'll take care of Echdina and her monsters!
I shouted, it seemed like both of them agreed so we rushed off, doing our own thing. Since it was 1 vs 3, I was at a clear disadvantage. I used Shadow to hold off Edchina and her children.
Actually, I thought I could only buy time to escape or something, but defeating Echdina sounded like asking me to design an airplane! It was impossible, and if it was possible, it would probably happen in another universe.
Echdina also wanted to rush towards me, she and her children all looked like they wanted to eat me (which was highly likely true). I raised my sword to attack. But they blocked it, forcing me to retreat.
If I was on the ground, I could do more with my power, but no, fate forced me to fight far from the ground.
I took a breath and focused my strength on my sword. The Echdina were trying to escape from my Shadow and sooner or later they would succeed. I shadow traveled to Echdina's head. Trying to gather cold air around me. Echdina screamed and she raised her hand and scratched at me. Her children were also preparing to raise their hands to hit me. I felt. A feeling of heat on my left hand.
I jumped up and swung my sword, cutting off the arms of all three of the monsters. Then I pulled Echdina's hair, making her scream. But then I was thrown away by one of her children. I picked up my sword.
Echdina's horde had escaped from my shadow. Truly legendary monsters. But at least I managed to disable their arms. I raised my sword and was about to strike again when I heard a scream behind me. I quickly turned around.
I saw that Elisa, Grover, Percy, and the other three girls had been captured by two monsters that I didn't know where they came from. So it was 1 vs 5? And why was Elisa captured too? Wasn't she on the monsters' side?
- Now, daughter of Hades, you've been forced into a corner. Hmm, another hero has fallen to me, huh?
Echdina said, her voice mocking. I wanted to argue that I wasn't a hero, but this wasn't the time to talk about such things.
- Your target is me, right? And all this is just to lure me into a trap, right? Then let them go. If you do anything to them, it'll be like making enemies with Haephatus, Nemesis... right?
I said, I could feel Percy's surprised eyes fixed on me. What was he so surprised about? I wanted to avoid as few casualties as possible.
-Hmm~? Ha, what a bunch of heroes! All idiots, dying soon and still worrying about others. Do you think I will accept?
Echdina said, she seemed to laugh at me.
I raised my sword to my neck, surprising everyone.
- Make a deal with me, or I will kill myself. If I die by your hands, Hades will have no right to do anything to you, but if I kill myself because of your psychological influence, that's a different story! Mother of monsters. You don't want to make enemies with Hades, right? Answer me.
I said. Well, I don't know why I did it, it just popped into my head. I'm going to die anyway. But it was enough to make Echdina speechless, she was definitely considering my offer. Fine.
- You can kill me in the most brutal way you want but you have to let them go. Think about it, Echdina.
I'm betting that killing a "hero" in the most gruesome way and bringing glory to the monsters is worth more than a demigod meal with consequences.
-Wrong, kid. I never wanted to kill you in the first place. But that's a very surprising choice.
Echdina said, smiling slyly. What the hell!? I lost this bet?? No way.
-Looking at your face, you don't understand how many factions want you, do you, Annabeth Chase? Haha, the lord of the sea will pay a higher reward for you than hell.
Echdina said. Poiseden wants to capture me? How desperate is he, I can't possibly be the lightning thief!? And Zeus, he definitely wants to capture me alive and then beat me to death on the spot!
I gritted my teeth. Suddenly I was picked up by the monster guarding Percy's group. Then it smashed the door and threw me out the window to the river.
I don't know if I'll die from the water pressure or not, but this is how they transport "goods" for the sea lord!? Aren't they afraid of breaking it?
I closed my eyes, fear welling up in my heart. Suddenly I stopped falling. Why? Have I already arrived at Atlantis? I opened my eyes and saw a woman with blonde hair, blue eyes and tanned skin. The girl was wearing a vest, behind her was a bow. I guessed she was Apollo's daughter, she looked to be around 35 to 40 years old. She caught me while flying on a Pegasus!?
I froze, not knowing how to react. The woman just smiled and flew the Pegasus above where I had just been thrown. Then I saw a group of other girls. All of them were fully armed and they rushed to fight Echdina and her children.
Could these be the Amazon warriors!? I sighed in relief but still wasn't completely reassured. The Amazon warriors fought wildly like beasts but at the same time were extremely orderly.

About 10 minutes later, everything was settled thanks to the female warriors. But the problem was that my head was still a bit confused. But Percy and Grover didn't look surprised at all (well, actually Grover was, but he wasn't surprised by the female warriors, but by the fact that we were still swinging our arms and legs and weren't dead). Now that I think about it, they were whispering to each other the whole time on the train.
-So what's going on? Was it all in your plan?
When I got to the ground, I turned to Percy and asked.
- I was starting to get a little suspicious because we defeated the Chimera so easily. Then when I heard Elisa's story I wondered why she didn't call the Amazons, I already thought she was a monster but when I asked Grover she was still a demigod and then when I saw her nervous and kept looking down at the box that was supposed to be her protector to make sure she didn't do anything out of control, I guess she was threatened by Echdina so she did that. Grover felt guilty inside her. And then she used Morse code to signal for help so I ran to the bathroom to send an Iris message to the Amazons. That's all.
Percy replied.