𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐇𝐄𝐌 ✸ 𝐏𝐉𝐎

𝙤𝙤. 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙫𝙚

                                                       chapter seven:

THE UNSETTELING TRUTH LINGERED IN KAI'S PRECEPITATION: the family resemblance was unmistakable. Atlas bore the same regal countenance as Zoë, an echo of her, yet warped into something darker. The frigid, haughty glare in his eyes mirrored Zoë's occasional wrath, but in him, it manifested as a malevolence magnified a thousand fold. He embodied everything Kai had initially found dislikable about Zoë, devoid of the redeeming qualities that had grown on her over time.

"Let Artemis go," Zoë demanded.

Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest."

Zoë opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis said, "No! Do not offer, Zoë! I forbid you."

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers. Atlas chuckled. "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."

Kai and Percy looked at Annabeth. She was desperately trying to tell them something. She motioned her head toward Luke. But all they could do was stare at her. They hadn't noticed before, but something about her had changed. Her blond hair was now streaked with gray.

"From holding the sky," Thalia muttered, as if she'd read their minds. "The weight should've killed her."

"I don't understand," Percy said. "Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"

Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape." Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."

He approached them, studying Thalia and Percy. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us," Percy said. "And let's see."

"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."

"So you're another coward," Percy challenged.

Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred. With difficulty, he turned his attention to Thalia. "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."

"I wasn't wrong," Luke managed. He looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!" He waved his hand, and next to them a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus.