Chimera, Part 3
"Follow the pentagram. Follow the pentagram…"
Grover ran at full speed, as fast as his legs could carry him, following the marks along the walls. At one point, they split, so Annabeth had taken another path. Meanwhile, he had to find that fireplace as quickly as possible so he could return… and so everyone could escape.
"Do you know a dish called haggis? I heard it's made with a sheep's organs and cooked inside its own stomach. Heart, liver, and lungs… it doesn't sound very appetizing, but right now I kind of want some. What about you?"
A sudden voice startled Grover as he followed the pentagrams. He turned around nervously.
As soon as he did, he saw two familiar figures looking at him with a calm expression.
One of them had slightly long, messy hair, though it looked like part of his style; a bit wild. He wore a black coat that suited him quite well, with a slightly open shirt, and a playful smile… but not entirely.
The other was a muscular man, quite tall and well put together. His face could seem intimidating, but his smile was surprisingly calm.
"Don't scare him," the taller man said calmly.
Of course, Grover recognized them instantly.
Sirius and Luther.
For a moment, he became completely nervous as he remembered they were looking for Harry and Percy after they had run off. But even so, something shone in his eyes… excitement, and also relief at being found by them.
"Yeah, yeah… it's great you got here just in time," Grover said, too quickly; it was obvious how happy he was to see them, even though he should have been anxious and worried, since they were obviously there to catch them and take Harry and Percy back home for leaving the camp.
But at that moment, their presence was exactly what he needed right now
Seeing the goat boy's reaction, both of them frowned slightly.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, losing his playful smile.
…
Meanwhile, on Annabeth's side.
"Why would there be a fireplace here? This doesn't make any sense," Annabeth muttered, observing the strange fireplace placed in the most unexpected spot.
The people passing nearby didn't seem able to see it, even though it was extremely noticeable.
And it was none other than the underground level of the Gateway Arch.
The very place where Annabeth had been guiding the group; a monument created by one of Athena's children in the past.
The worst part was that the fireplace, invisible to normal people, was one of the most striking and horrible things in the place. It didn't match the environment at all. And as if that wasn't enough, right beside it there was a massive, completely black door, with a large pentagram symbol that gave off a slightly ominous feeling, which only made the place look worse.
Even so, she shook her head.
This wasn't the time to focus on that.
She needed to get back as quickly as possible to warn her companions… and, if necessary, help them.
So she turned and ran at full speed.
…
"Huff… huff…"
Harry ran with all his strength, without letting go of his magical tome.
Behind him, the chimera advanced at full speed. Suddenly, it lunged at him, trying to tear him apart with its claws. But as it attacked, it passed right through his body.
Harry turned into mist… and disappeared completely.
That only made the monster even angrier.
The creature began sniffing the air, trying to find him. And whenever it detected the slightest trace, it rushed in that direction without hesitation.
"Impedimenta!"
The shout echoed right where the chimera was jumping.
Suddenly, ropes appeared around the creature's legs for an instant. Just a moment… but enough to destabilize its leap.
The chimera fell right to the side of where Harry was, who reappeared as he dropped his invisibility while rolling across the ground.
His clothes were slightly damaged, covered in dust and sweat. His face showed exhaustion; it was clear how much he had been pushing himself to dodge the monster while drawing it away from where his brother was, giving his companions a chance to rescue him.
His breathing was heavy.
But his gaze remained fixed on the creature.
He gripped his wand tightly in one hand and his tome in the other.
He knew he wouldn't last much longer.
Especially against a beast like that, extremely resistant to magic.
Fortunately, illusions still affected it… and that was the only thing keeping him alive.
Unfortunately, most of his damage was magical. And facing a monster with that level of resistance put him completely at a disadvantage.
If Percy had been in condition… the combination of the two of them would probably have taken down the chimera without much trouble.
But alone, for Harry, it was too much.
Dangerous.
Even so, that didn't stop him from risking himself for his brother's sake.
"GROOOOW—"
The chimera got back up and lunged at him again, not giving him time to think.
Harry, who needed to conserve as much magical energy as possible, couldn't use powerful spells. He was only buying time, waiting for Grover and Annabeth to find the fireplace.
Then… he could use a stronger spell and escape together.
But as time passed and his energy drained, that became harder and harder.
Harry jumped to the side, dodging the creature's strike. As he rolled across the ground, he swung his wand.
A small stone wall rose in front of him.
Small enough not to consume too much… but useful.
The chimera spat a burst of fire.
Harry ducked behind the wall, shielding his head as the edges of his clothes began to burn. An intense heat slammed into him… and the stone wall started to glow as if it were turning into magma.
Even so, Harry raised his wand and aimed at the wall, which looked like it was about to break under the flames.
"Aqua Eructo Duo!"
Suddenly, a powerful stream of water, even stronger than an Aquamenti, shot forward like a brutal blast. The force of the spell shattered his own stone defense and collided directly with the chimera's fire.
Both elements clashed at the center.
Steam spread instantly, covering everything around them.
Harry took advantage of the moment when the flames were pushed slightly back and jumped, just as his spell faded. The fire surged forward again, brushing his hair for an instant.
But it was already too late.
The steam covered everything.
Harry disappeared into the mist, while the only thing that could be heard was his footsteps moving around it.
The chimera stopped breathing fire and began to observe carefully, listening. The fog had reduced its vision, leaving it with nothing but blurred shadows moving around it.
Meanwhile, Harry had hidden himself in a corner. With his wand, he began sending out an illusion to mislead the beast, taking advantage of how the steam dulled its sense of smell.
Several illusions of himself began running around the chimera.
But it wouldn't last long, especially when the creature started unleashing bursts of fire in every direction.
It didn't take long for it to find the real Harry.
And it lunged straight at him.
Harry was completely exhausted at that point.
Even so, he didn't lower his wand.
"Avis!"
A flock of birds shot out from the tip of his wand.
The chimera opened its mouth and caught each of them with brutal bites.
Harry couldn't react in time.
He watched as the beast rushed straight toward him, completely out of control.
For an instant, he didn't react in time; he was too exhausted, and his mind simply didn't respond with the same speed as before.
He couldn't recall a single spell, as if his mind had gone blank.
Just as the chimera's jaws were about to close around him—
A bronze flash cut through the air.
It struck the creature directly in the eye.
The chimera's attack veered off for an instant.
Enough to save Harry.
It didn't seem to have caused much damage… but it did hurt. The beast turned, furious, toward the source of the attack.
Harry did the same. And he couldn't help letting out a breath when he saw him, recognizing the figure standing there.
He didn't need to see him clearly to know who it was.
"Idiot… who told you to risk yourself like that? I'm not done yet," Percy said, even though he was barely standing.
He drew his silver sword, while beside him the hellhound, also wounded, stared at the chimera, ready for the second round.
In the state they were in… It looked more like they had come to die with him than to save him.
But that was Percy.
After all… he had expected too much if he thought Percy would just stand by while he risked himself to save him. Even if he was poisoned.
He should have known.
He's his brother.
"You're an idiot," Harry said, letting out a breath.
But he raised his wand once more.
It seemed that this time…
It was win or die.
And if it was with his brother… then nothing else mattered.