Behind the Shadows

Sapphire hid the gun in her clothes drawer. It was the safest place she could find. Percy and Jake were standing outside huffing loudly every now and then trying to tell Sapphire to hurry up as politely as they could. Fighting armor was always a pain to put on. It took her nearly ten minutes to manage to put on the armor. If Clarisse was in the arena it meant she was already in armor so it was best the Sapphire came prepared.
Sapphire ties her hair back in a ponytail as she steps out of the cabin. The boys glare at her. Sapphire smiles brightly back.
"Ready?" Jake asks.
"I was born ready" Sapphire states boastfully. Percy grins.
"Let's get going then!" Percy chirps. Sapphire and Jake nod before they all set off towards the arena. No one looked their way as they walked along the path. Not a single person. They had just broke into the weapon cabin and stole from it and Sapphire was in fighting armor away to pick a fight with Clarisse. It made Sapphire feel sort of superior knowing she was capable of doing these things without being caught. Percy and Jake were clearly having the same thoughts because sly grins were creeping onto their faces.
As they got closer they were beginning to hear Clarisse screaming at someone. Whoever she is screaming at was not answering.
"Who do you think her victim is?" Jake asks. "My bet is one of Aphrodite's kids"
"You really need to sort out your gambling problem, Jakey boy" Sapphire jokes and pats him on the shoulder. Jake glares, but is does not last as a grin explodes onto his face.
"I do not have a gambling problem. You are worse than me!" Jake states. Sapphire huffs.
"What do you mean?" Percy chimes in. The entrance of the arena appears in sight and Clarisse's screaming continues. Jake looks at Sapphire and swallows nervously when he see's the dangerous glare on Sapphires face.
"Nothing. I was mistaken" Jake mumbles. Percy frowns, but shrugs it off. They all step into the arena and gasp. Clarisse is screaming at a hellhound. The hellhound is racing towards Clarisse with its teeth bared. Sapphire grabs her sword ready to defend herself. Percy and Jake spring into action too. They both run to the side of the arena where there are spare weapons piled up. They are just training weapons but they are better than nothing.
The hellhound crashes into Clarisse and they both clatter to the ground. She strikes it twice with her spear and the hellhound whimpers and springs back. Jake and Percy return to Sapphires side now armed to the teeth.
"I hate hellhounds"Jake groans as he twirls his sword in his hand. The hellhound is back in action again and is targeting Clarisse. Clarisse steps back and looks around the arena. Her eyes catch Sapphire and the boys.
"What the hell are you doing here, Sapphire?" Clarisse shouts. The hellhounds ears twitch and it turns its head towards Sapphire.
"Ready?" Sapphire asks Percy and Jake. They don't respond. Instead they step forward and raise their weapons. The hellhound snarls at them before it charges forward. Sapphire charges forward as well. The boys follow her actions. The hellhound reaches her and attempts to take a chunk out of her with its massive teeth. She dodges it and slashes her sword alongs its left leg. It snarls louder and goes for another bite but misses because Jake steps in front and jams his sword into its jaw. The hellhound screams but does not back down. Jake grunts as he yanks the sword back. He then grabs Sapphires arm and drags her a few metres away. She catches a glimpse of Percy tinkering around with one of the water taps beside the entrance.
"I can handle this!" Clarisse snarls as she jogs over to Sapphire and Jake.
"It didn't look like you were" Jake hisses. Clarisse raises her eyebrows at him like she is trying to challenge him.
"Don't push me, gear brain!" Clarisse argues. The hellhound lunges forward between Clarisse and Jake. It knocks Sapphire to the ground with a painful thud. She gasps from the shock and scrambles to her feet. The hellhound lunges at her again, but she manages steps to the side just in time. The hellhound tries to bite and scratch but misses every time. Jake and Clarisse are still at each other's throats and Percy is kicking the tap over and over again. Sapphire lets slip a sliver of panic knowing she has no help with defeating the hellhound. She dismisses the panic and raises her sword again and slashes it down the side of the hellhounds face. Its like is does not feel much pain. With every slash and cut she creates it only seems to be getting stronger. Sapphire is now cornered face to face with the hellhound. She strikes a blow to the hellhounds chest. It staggers back. Sapphire escapes from her corner and runs towards Percy. She stops half way with empty hands. She left her sword in the hellhounds chest. The panic returns. She picks up her speed and reaches Percy.
"It's not weakening!" She gasps. Percy frowns and kicks the tap harder.
"I need to get this water working but it won't budge!" Percy huffs. Sapphire sighs and turns around. She comes face to face with the hellhound. The panic in her rises and rises. The hellhound snaps its teeth together before it pounces for her. Sapphire raises her arms out to protect her head. Seconds later the hellhound cries out. Sapphire opens her eye slowly. Water is everywhere around her. The hellhound is in the air surrounded by a huge ball of water. Sapphire gasps and looks at Percy. He looks completely lost. Jake and Clarisse stand together in the middle of the arena staring up at the ball of water looking completely stunned.
"How can you do that?" Percy asks. Sapphire frowns.
"I thought you were doing it" Sapphire replies.
"No. I tried to get the water working but it didn't until you raised your arms and then the tap went crazy and water went everywhere" Percy sounds bewittled. A crash sounds as the hellhound clatters to the ground motionless.
"I need full concentration when I control water, but you just did it without knowing" Percy mutters. Looking from Sapphire to the Hellhound.
"I was panicking. Maybe that's what triggered it" Sapphire offers.
"Its dead" Jake shouts from across the arena. Sapphire gasp. She had just killed a hellhound with a power she wasn't even thinking about and with her her eyes closed. Sapphire looks towards Clarisse and it looks could kill Sapphire would already be dead.

Notes