invisible string | f. zhang

xl. Tartarus

"I will push the button," Bob volunteers.

"Bob, we can't ask you to do that. You want to go through the Doors too. You want to see the sky again, and the stars, and —"

"I would like that," Bob agrees, "But someone must push the button. And once the chains are cut . . . my brethren will fight to stop your passage. They will not want the Doors to disappear."

Maribelle gazes at the endless horde of monsters. Even if they let Bob make this sacrifice, how could one Titan defend himself against so many for twelve minutes, all while keeping his finger on a button?

This was the moment she had been waiting for. She glances at Percy, then to Annabeth. They didn't deserve to stay behind, this was where she deserved to be, surrounded by the rest of the monsters, to find Gabe and live out their punishment together.

For a moment, she thought how easily she could sacrifice Bob, agree that he should hold the button and the three of them escape to safety. She didn't care what would happen to him.

"Belle?" Percy startles her, she refuses to look at him, "First things first," Percy says, "Let's cut those chains.

"IAPETUS!" Hyperion bellows, "Well, well. I thought you were hiding under a cleaning bucket somewhere."

Bob lumbers forward, scowling. "I was not hiding."

Percy crept toward the right side of the Doors. Annabeth and Maribelle sneak towards the left. The Titans gave no sign of noticing them, but she took no chances, crouching low, and stepping as quietly as possible. The lesser monsters kept a respectful distance from the Titans, so there was enough empty space to maneuver around the Doors.

"Hyperion and Krios. I remember you both," She hears Bob say.

"Do you, Iapetus?" The golden Titan laughs, glancing at Krios to share the joke. "Well, that's good to know! I heard Percy Jackson turned you into a brainwashed scullery maid. What did he rename you . . . Betty?"

"Bob," snarls Bob.

"Well, it's about time you showed up, Bob. Krios and I have been stuck here for weeks—"

"Hours," Krios corrects, his voice a deep rumble inside his helmet.

"Whatever!" Hyperion says. "It's boring work, guarding these doors, shuffling monsters through at Gaea's orders. Krios, what's our next group, anyway?"

"Double Red," says Krios.

Hyperion sighs. The flames glow hotter across his shoulders. "Double Red. Why do we go from A-22 to Double Red? What kind of system is that? This is no job for me — the Lord of Light! Titan of the East! Master of Dawn! Why am I forced to wait in the darkness while the giants go into battle and get all the glory? Now, Krios I can understand —"

"I get all the worst assignments," Krios mutters, his thumb still on the button.

"But me?" Hyperion says. "Ridiculous! This should be your job, Iapetus. Here, take my place for a while."

Bob stares at the Doors, "The four of us held down our father, Ouranos, Koios, and me, and the two of you. Kronos promised us mastery of the four comers of the earth for helping with the murder."

"Indeed," Hyperion says. "And I was happy to do it! I would've wielded the scythe myself if I'd had the chance! But you, Bob . . . you were always conflicted about that killing, weren't you? The soft Titan of the West, soft as the sunset! Why our parents named you the Piercer, I will never know. More like the Whimper."

Maribelle frowns.

"I can still pierce," Bob says, his voice low and even. "You brag too much, Hyperion. You are bright and fiery, but Percy Jackson defeated you anyway. I hear you became a nice tree in Central Park."