❦𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓒𝓻𝓲𝓶𝓮❦ - 𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓬𝔂 𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼𝓸𝓷

𝒳𝒱𝐼𝐼. 𝑀𝓇. 𝒟 𝐵𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀𝓈 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓈

𝓩𝓸𝓮 looked up. They'd been so busy talking, they'd allowed themselves to be ambushed.

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. Basically he didn't look much better than Crusty Santa Claus.

"Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia," the manticore started monologuing. "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, mercenaries probably. Two more stood on the next boat dock over, just in case the quintet tried to escape that way. There were tourists all around—walking down the waterfront, shopping at the pier above them—but Zoe knew that wouldn't stop the manticore from acting.

"Where... where are the skeletons?" Percy asked Dr. Thorn.

He sneered. "I do not need those foolish undead! 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."

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

"Wait!" Percy said. "Nightshade, don't!"

The manticore smiled. "The boy is right, Zoë 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. It made terrible sense. Thalia was only two days away from turning sixteen. She was a child of the Big Three. And here was a choice, a terrible choice that could mean the end of the gods. It was just like the prophecy said. Zoe wasn't sure if she felt horrified or disappointed. Doomsday was happening right now.

Zoe waited for Thalia to tell the manticore off, for her to yell at him or start fighting, but she hesitated. She looked completely stunned.

"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," Zoe said, "snap out of it!"

The daughter of Zeus looked at the brunette the same way she had the morning she woke up on Half-Blood Hill, dazed and uncertain. It was almost like she didn't know her. "I... I don't—"

"Your father helped you," Zoe pleaded. "He sent the metal angels. He turned you into a tree to preserve you."

Her hand tightened on the shaft of her spear.