Chapter 9
Percy had a strange dream.
At first, he found himself standing at the edge of a massive cliff. Far below, the sound of wails rose from the depths, cries so deep and despairing that they would make even the coldest heart tremble. An overwhelming sense of loneliness hung in the air.
Soon after, the scene changed. He was standing before a colossal mountain, whose height seemed to challenge the sky. In the middle of this mountain, there was a gigantic crack that stretched from the base to the top, an immense fissure that seemed to have been caused by some kind of blade imbued with monstrous power. The edges of the crack were scorched, as if the blade that had caused it had been hot enough to burn the solid rock.
Looking at the crack, Percy shivered. He knew he didn't want to meet whoever or whatever could have done that.
Despite this, something urged him to approach. Each step he took toward the mountain felt right, almost inevitable. Then he saw something glowing inside the crack: a pair of blades.
The blades were a masterpiece of war, but they also exuded a menacing beauty. Their twin blades were curved and wide, made of a metal that seemed to shimmer with a reddish glow, reflecting the last vestiges of a bloody twilight. The chains attached to the hilts were heavy, made of black steel with inscriptions Percy couldn't read, but which seemed to carry an ancient and brutal history. The handle of each blade was adorned with grotesque figures that seemed to scream silently, as if the weapons carried the souls of their defeated enemies.
They radiated power. Power and destruction.
Percy stood still for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know if he should run and find his mother or dive into the crack and claim the blades for himself.
After a brief moment of conflict, his instincts decided for him.
He ran toward the blades.
Each step brought him closer, his body filled with an inexplicable yearning. But just as he was about to grab the blades, a voice echoed around him, distant yet close at the same time:
"Not yet, my warrior… it is not yet time."
The desire to grab the blades vanished as quickly as it had appeared. It was as if a spell had been broken, allowing him to think clearly again. He was about to ask who was speaking when, suddenly, he woke up.
...….
It was night when Percy opened his eyes, with the sensation of having been pushed back into reality. He looked around and realized that his small candle had gone out. Without the soft warmth of the flames, the cave was now icy cold. He shivered, the biting cold seeping into his bones.
Jumping to his feet, he reached for his backpack but stopped midway. A chill ran up his spine.
He knew that feeling.
A monster had found him.
Percy turned toward the entrance of the cave, quickly uncapping his pen. In his hands, the pen transformed into his celestial bronze sword, Anaklusmos, which faintly glowed in the dark, casting a soft bronze light on the cave walls.
"Well, well… what do we have here? A young man all alone, seeking company…" The voice was melodious, but there was something dark and menacing behind the words. It was like hearing a song full of promises of death.
Percy shivered. He recognized the tone. It was the sound of a predator.
He slowly turned around, only to see a female figure standing at the entrance of the cave. She was incredibly beautiful, in an almost hypnotizing way, with pale skin and red eyes gleaming in the darkness. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her red lips were curved in a predatory smile. But what caught Percy's attention the most were her teeth — two elongated fangs, gleaming with subtle menace.
A vampire.
She slowly approached, her movements fluid and graceful, as if she were dancing with the very darkness around her.
"I smelled you from afar, demigod. Your blood… it's different. Stronger. Warmer…" She licked her lips, her voice full of desire.
Percy knew he had to act quickly. He had no intention of becoming a meal for this creature. But before he could move, the vampire took a quick step forward, almost invisible in her speed, lunging straight at him.
Percy had little time to react, but he had been developing a combat style that allowed him to use his regeneration to his advantage. He didn't have to worry about mortal wounds like a normal person would. He had thought about this for some time, and now was the moment to test his strategy.
He calculated the vampire's movement and, instead of dodging completely, leaned back just enough to avoid her fangs hitting his neck. However, he allowed her claws to pierce his chest, sinking into his flesh.
The pain was immediate and brutal, but Percy ignored it. He knew his regeneration would take care of it. Using all his strength, he flexed the muscles around the wound, trapping the vampire in a lock. Now, she was stuck, unable to pull her claws out of his body.
The vampire struggled, trying to free herself, but it was in vain.
"You… damn… what are you trying to do?!" she screamed, her face contorted in rage.
Percy ignored her insults. With a quick motion, he plunged Anaklusmos directly into the vampire's chest. The celestial bronze blade pierced through her as if cutting through butter.
The vampire let out a high-pitched scream before disintegrating into dust.
Percy fell to his knees, panting, blood still dripping from his chest. Even with his regeneration, the pain was unbearable, but within seconds, the wound began to close. His skin regenerated, and soon, the only sign he had been injured was the blood on his shirt and on the cave floor.
"Damn…" Percy muttered, the pain still echoing in his voice. His body could heal, but the pain was always real.
He slowly stood up, looking around. There were no spoils of war, no treasure left behind by the vampire. With a tired sigh, he walked to the corner of the cave and sat down, positioning himself facing the entrance.
He knew this wouldn't be the last fight of the night.