THE HEALER| Heroes of Olympus

Prologue (The Last Olympian PT2)

The rest of us stared at Clarisse in awe. I had never seen anyone take down such a hugemonster single-handedly. But Clarisse didn't seem to care. She ran back to the wounded girl who'dstolen her armor.

Annabeth undid the fake Clarisses armor. I looked down at the dying face of Silena Beauregard.

"What were you thinking?" Clarisse cradled Silena's head in her lap.Silena tried to swallow, but her lips were dry and cracked.

"Wouldn't . . . listen. Cabin would .. . only follow you."

"So you stole my armor," Clarisse said in disbelief. "You waited until Chris and I went out onpatrol; you stole my armor and pretended to be me." She glared at her siblings. "And NONE of younoticed?"The Ares campers developed a sudden interest in their combat boots.

"Don't blame them," Silena said. "They wanted to . . . to believe I was you."

"You stupid Aphrodite girl," Clarisse sobbed. "You charged a drakon? Why?"

"All my fault," Silena said, a tear streaking the side of her face. "The drakon, Charlie's death. . . camp endangered—"

"Stop it!" Clarisse said. "That's not true."

Silena opened her hand. In her palm was a silver bracelet with a scythe charm, the mark ofKronos.

"You were the spy."

Silena tried to nod. "Before . . . before I liked Charlie, Luke was nice to me. He was so . . .charming. Handsome. Later, I wanted to stop helping him, but he threatened to tell. He promised . .. he promised I was saving lives. Fewer people would get hurt. He told me he wouldn't hurt . . .Charlie. He lied to me."

Clarisse scowled at her cabinmates. "Go, help the centaurs. Protect the doors. GO!"

They scrambled off to join the fight.Silena took a heavy, painful breath. "Forgive me."

"You're not dying," Clarisse insisted. She looked at me desperatly for help. But I had already been trying to heal her. I shook my head, nothing could be done.

"Charlie . . ." Silena's eyes were a million miles away. "See Charlie . . ."

She didn't speak again.Clarisse held her and wept. Chris put a hand on her shoulder.Finally Annabeth closed Silena's eyes.

"We have to fight." Annabeth's voice was brittle. "She gave her life to help us. We have tohonor her."

Clarisse sniffled and wiped her nose. "She was a hero, understand? A hero."

I nodded. "Come on, Clarisse."She picked up a sword from one of her fallen siblings. "Kronos is going to pay."

I'd like to say I drove the enemy away from the Empire State Building. The truth was Clarissedid all the work. Even without her armor or spear, she was a demon. She rode her chariot straightinto the Titan's army and crushed everything in her path.She was so inspiring, even the panicked centaurs started to rally. The Hunters scroungedarrows from the fallen and launched volley after volley into the enemy. 

The Ares cabin slashed andhacked, which was their favorite thing. The monsters retreated toward 35th Street.Clarisse drove to the drakon's carcass and looped a grappling line through its eye sockets.She lashed her horses and took off, dragging the drakon behind the chariot like a Chinese NewYear dragon. She charged after the enemy, yelling insults and daring them to cross her. As sherode, I realized she was literally glowing. An aura of red fire flickered around her. 

"The blessing of Ares," Austin said beside me as we watched her. "I've never seen it in person before."

"I AM CLARISSE, DRAKON-SLAYER!" she yelled. "I will kill you ALL! Where is Kronos?Bring him out! Is he a coward?"