The Underworld's Child

30 | Round 2

Another chapter's up!

Standing behind them, his two-color eyes gleaming wickedly, was Dr. Thorn, the manticore himself.

"This is just pairrr-fect," the manticore gloated.

He was wearing a ratty black trench coat over his Westover Hall uniform, which was torn and stained. His military haircut had grown out spiky and greasy. He hadn't shaved recently, so his face was covered in silver stubble.

"Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia," the manticore said. "I was forced to scrounge for food on the edges of the world, hiding in forests, devouring insignificant human farmers for my meals. I never got to fight any great heroes. I was not feared and admired in the old stories! But now that will change. The Titans shall honor me, and I shall feast on the flesh of half-bloods!"

On either side of him stood two armed security guys, some of the mortal mercenaries she'd seen in D.C. Two more stood on the next boat dock over, just in case we tried to escape that way. There were tourists all around-walking down the waterfront, shopping at the pier above us-but she knew that wouldn't stop the manticore from acting.

"Where... where are the skeletons?" Percy asked the manticore.

He sneered. "I do not need those foolish undead! Easy picking for the daughter of Hades. The General thinks I am worthless? He will change his mind when I defeat you myself!"

"We beat you once before," Percy said.

"Ha! You could barely fight me with a goddess on your side. And, alas... that goddess is preoccupied at the moment. There will be no help for you now."

Zoe notched an arrow and aimed it straight at the manticore's head. The guards on either side of them raised their guns.

"Wait!" he said. "Zoe, don't!"

The manticore smiled. "The boy is right, Zoe Nightshade. Put away your bow. It would be a shame to kill you before you witnessed Thalia's great victory."

"What are you talking about?" Thalia growled. She had her shield and spear ready.

"Surely it is clear," the manticore said. "This is your moment. This is why Lord Kronos brought you back to life. You will sacrifice the Ophiotaurus. You will bring its entrails to the sacred fire on the mountain. You will gain unlimited power. And for your sixteenth birthday, you will overthrow Olympus."

No one spoke. She waited for Thalia to tell the manticore off, but she hesitated. 

"You know it is the right choice," the manticore told her. "Your friend Luke recognized it. You shall be reunited with him. You shall rule this world together under the auspices of the Titans. Your father abandoned you, Thalia. He cares nothing for you. And now you shall gain power over him. Crush the Olympians underfoot, as they deserve. Call the beast! It will come to you. Use your spear."

"Thalia, snap out of it!"

"As for you, Elora, your friend wants you nearby," the manticore said. "You will be given everything and you'll be under his protection. You don't even have to fight anymore." 

"A tempting offer," she said, "but tell him I said no."

Thalia looked dazed and uncertain. "I... I don't-"

"Your father helped you," Percy said. "He sent the angels. He turned you into a tree to preserve you."

Her hand tightened on the shaft of her spear.

Grover raised his pipes to his mouth and played a quick riff.

The manticore yelled, "Stop him!"

The guards had been targeting Zoe. Before they could figure out that the kid with the pipes was the bigger problem, wooden planks sprouted branches and tangled their legs. Zoe let loose two quick arrows that exploded at their feet in clouds of sulfurous yellow smoke.