Kronos turns away from Ethan's body as Lila struggles on the ground. As he turns toward her, Percy lunges at the Titan Lord, clearly trying to distract him from Lila bleeding out, and Annabeth on the floor. Grover's currently feeding her ambrosia - while Kronos is distracted, he tosses a piece to Lila, who manages to roll onto her side and reach it with her fingertips, shoving it into her mouth as fast as she can. It brings back a little of her strength, but the wound can't heal while there's a spear stuck in it.
Her fingers feel for the wound - there's a wooden piece sticking out from her stomach, piercing her further with every inhale and exhale of her diaphragm.
Okay, think clearly. She instructs herself, inhaling again, ignoring the stinging at her stomach. First she needs to get that stupid stick out of her. Her hand manages to wrap around it - with a wince, she tugs it out of her stomach. Blood, fresh blood, pours immediately from the wound, dizzying her.
She casts a glance over to Percy. Kronos slashes an armrest off Ares's throne, then backing him up to Poseidon's. "Oh, yes," he snarls. "This one will make fine kindling for my new hearth!"
Their blades collide - Percy pushes him back with renewed strength, slashing Riptide across his chest it cuts the armour, Celestial Bronze splitting.
Lila's beginning to get more dizzy. She needs to stop the bleeding, and quick. She looks around for a knife - all that she has is Ethan's, the one he used to cut her. It's all there is, now her spear his broken, so she grabs it and used it to cut the bottom of her T-shirt off. Half of it is soaked in blood, the other in dirt, but there's nothing better, so she slices it into a thin strip and wraps it tightly around her side, hoping it will slow the blood loss at least for a little longer.
Kronos looks over just as Lila gets to her feet, and suddenly she's rooted to the ground, frozen in time as he turns back to Percy. All that effort, only to be incapacitated by a literal time-out.
"It's too late, Percy Jackson," he says to Percy smugly. "Behold."
He points to the glowing embers. The images are directed for Percy, but Lila sees them too - Nico and Percy's parents, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Hades fights from his chariot, summoning zombies, but they collide uselessly with the Titan's army. Around them, Manhattan is a beacon of destruction. Mortals are running in terror, cars colliding with each other, and other people.
The scene changes. Towards the Hudson river, a huge pillar of literal storm approaches, gliding over the shore. Around it circle tiny chariots, dwarfed by the size of the monster - only flickering golden lights surrounding a titan.
Lila makes out lightning. Arrows of gold and silver - Artemis and Apollo. The clouds begin to rip apart, and Typhon's face comes into view.
For a moment, Lila swears that she's seen that face before. Then, with horror, she realises it's just the face of every monster she's ever seen, constantly evolving. Typhon is all those monsters, and worse. His face shifts every second, much like Aphrodite's, only while hers was beautiful, each face of his was more grotesque.
His body is almost as grotesque. His skin is green, covered with huge blisters and burns, probably from being beneath a volcano. He's humanoid, but also inhuman, so monstrous Lila can't bear to look at him.
"The Olympians are giving their final effort." Kronos laughs. "How pathetic."
Zeus throws a thunderbolt, and the entire world shakes. But Typhon just staggers a little, before returning to his advance. He steps into the Hudson River, it barely reaching halfway up his calf.
Then, a conch horn sounds - from the picture. Lila doesn't recognise the sound, but Percy does, for his eyes light up.
Around Typhon, the river erupts, huge waves bursting from the banks. Out of the water appears a new chariot - pulled by hippocampi. Poseidon rides in a circle around the giant's legs - the God of the sea glows with power, his long black hair flying around him. With every trident swing, the river responds, a cloud surrounding the monster.
"No!" Kronos bellows. "NO!"
"NOW, MY BRETHREN!" Poseidon's voice echoes across the throne room, like he's right there with them, despite being across the city. "STRIKE FOR OLYMPUS!"
His army bursts from the river, on sharks, dragons, sea horses. A legion of Cyclopes - led by...
"Tyson!" Percy yells.
Lila stares open-mouthed at her friend. It's been a year since she saw him, and now he's grown to thirty feet tall (she hopes that's not permanent). He's wearing full battle armour, and it fits him perfectly, while before all Lila could imagine from him was a huge, cuddly, teddy bear. Behind him is Briares.
The Cyclopes hold long, thick, black chains - with grappling hooks. They swing them, beginning to trap Typhon, tying his legs and arms, the tide swirling around him to stop him from breaking free. He shakes and pulls at them, but there are so many chains, and so many Cyclopes, that their weight begins to pull him down. Poseidon throws his trident, and it impales the monster in the throat, golden ichor squirting everywhere.
The other gods return to their attack. Ares stabs Typhon in the nose. Artemis pierces his eyes with silver arrows, while Apollo sets his loincloth on fire. Athena flies in with her spear, cutting into his other eye. Zeus continues his lightning attacks, relentless and merciless. The water begins to rise, wrapping Typhon, until he begins to sink. He yells and thrashes out, water soaking building around the Bridge, but it does nothing. Poseidon raises his trident, opening a tunnel at the bottom of the river - Lila looks into that pit, and sees only death. It goes straight to Tartarus. The giant sinks, and sinks a little more, until he's gone.
"BAH!" Kronos screams. He slashes through the smoke, the image dissipating.
Lila can't help her relieved laugh. That's one problem sorted, one that's haunted her nightmares for weeks - maybe even months. It feels like a weight is taken off her chest.
"They're on their way," Percy says. "You've lost."
The other source of her nightmares hisses in fury. "I haven't even started."
With inhuman speed, he advances. Grover tries to step in front of Percy, but Kronos just tosses him aside like a doll. Lila raises Ethan's knife and lunges at Kronos's back, but the Titan whirls around with a snarl, knocking the blade out of her hands. "Stupid girl," he snaps. "I told you to stay out of the way."
Percy tries to get his attention, but he's frozen in place by the time-slowing trick. Unarmed, Lila steps backwards uneasily.
"Just because you're blessed by my mother, you think I won't kill you?" he laughs, raising his blade. Lila presses her foot into the ground, and another fissure opens up between them, stopping him from reaching her. Frustration colours his features for a second, before he shrugs, freezing her in time, before turning to Percy.
Percy raises Riptide just in time to defend himself against Kronos. He sidesteps the blade, jabbing under his guard. Kronos is faster, countering and disarming Percy with a flick of his wrist, Riptide falling into the fissure Lila just created.
"STOP!" Annabeth screams. Lila didn't even notice her getting to her feet.
Kronos whirls to face her, slashing with Backbiter. Somehow, Annabeth catches the strike with the hilt of her dagger - an incredibly hard move, requiring a ridiculous amount of strength. Lila's really not sure how she does it. She steps closer until they're face to face, blades crossed.
"Luke," she grits her teeth, "I understand now. You have to trust me."
Kronos roars. "Luke Castellan is dead! His body will burn away as I assume my true form."
Lila tries to press against her binds, but Kronos's power is too strong. He presses against Annabeth, but she holds his blade, arms trembling as he forces his sword closer to her neck.
"Your mother," Annabeth grunts. "She saw your fate."
"Service to Kronos!" the Titan roars. "This is my fate."
"No!" Annabeth's eyes are teary. "That's not the end, Luke. The prophecy: she saw what you would do. It applies to you!"
"I will crush you, child!" Kronos bellows.
"You won't," Annabeth says. "You promised. You're holding Kronos back even now."
"LIES!" Kronos pushes again, and this time, Annabeth falls backward onto the steps before Athena's throne. Kronos looms over her, his sword raised. It's an image that will burn itself into Lila's memory for the rest of however long she survives. Annabeth, lying at the mercy of this monster.
Blood trickles from the corner of her mouth as she croaks, "Family, Luke. You promised."
Percy and Grover are struggling to move, too. Grover is bleeding from a wound at his head that looks like it needs medical attention, pronto. It doesn't matter - Kronos staggers back a step.
He stares at Annabeth. "Promise." Then he gasps, like he's drowning. "Annabeth . . ." But it's Luke's voice. He stumbles forwards like he can't control his own body. "You're bleeding. . . ."
"My knife." Annabeth tries to raise he dagger, but it falls from her hand, her arm bent at an unnatural angle. "Percy, please..."
He lunges forward, grabbing the knife and knocking Backbiter from Luke's hands. It falls into the hearth, surrounded by embers - Lila sees a flash of Hestia's eyes in the flame, before she disappears. Luke steps toward Annabeth, but Percy steps into his path. "Don't touch her."
Kronos's voice says "Jackson..."
His body is beginning to glow. Lila can see golden lines appearing, like veins flowing with ichor.
He gaspes again, returning to Luke's voice. "He's changing. Help. He's . . . he's almost ready. He won't need my body anymore. Please—"
"NO!" Kronos bellows. He looks for his sword, stumbling toward it. Percy tries to stop him, but he pushes him out the way forcefully, landing him beside Annabeth.
"The knife, Percy," Annabeth says. "Hero . . . cursed blade . . ."
Lila frowns. She doesn't understand - but she still can't move, frozen in time while her friends suffer. The wound at her side is beginning to hurt more now, her temporary bandage becoming too blood-soaked to be much help. Yet, as her bonds weaken, she manages to find enough strength to drag herself over to Annabeth and Percy, blood dripping onto the floor. She tries to cradle Annabeth's broken arm, wincing at the bone protruding from her skin.
Kronos grabs his sword - then he yells in pain, dropping it. His hands are scarred and burnt. Hestia flickers in the ashes, frowning.
Luke turns and collapses, clutching his ruined hands. "Please, Percy . . ."
Percy somehow gets to his feet, moving toward him with the knife in his hand.
"You can't . . . can't do it yourself. He'll break my control. He'll defend himself. Only my hand. I know where. I can . . . can keep him controlled."
He's still glowing, his skin now smoking like it can't withstand much more.
Percy raises the knife - then he turns to Lila, and Annabeth cradled in her arms. Understanding flickers in his eyes.
"Please," Luke groans. "No time."
Percy gives the knife to Luke.
Grover yelps. "Percy? Are you . . . um . . ."
Lila remembers the prophecy. A single choice shall end his days, Olympus to preserve or raze. This seems like the choice. Percy's choice, the one that should determine all their fates.
But Luke grasps the hilt, facing Percy - who stands unarmed.
But Luke grasps the hilt, facing Percy - who stands unarmed. Luke unlatches the straps of his armour, exposing the skin below his left arm, usually covered by his armour and his skin. With difficulty, he turns the knife towards himself, shoving it towards that bit of exposed skin.
It's not a deep cut, but he screams, eyes beginning to glow gold-red, tinted with blood. The throne room shakes, fissures widening. Around him, energy begins to emit, getting brighter and brighter.
"Shut your eyes," Lila says quickly, and Percy follows her instruction as they turn away. A force like an explosion sounds from where Luke stands, and then there's only silence.
Lila doesn't dare open her eyes, until she hears Percy moving forward. At the hearth, Luke is lying on the ground, a black circle of ash surrounding him. Kronos's scythe is molten, trickling into Hestia's hearth, feeding the flames. Luke's left side is covered in blood as if from a mortal wound.
"Good...blade," he croaks.
Lila helps Annabeth to her feet, pulling her over to where Luke lies, kneeling at his side.
Luke stares at Annabeth. "You knew. I almost killed you, but you knew . . ."
"Shhh." Her voice trembles. "You were a hero at the end, Luke. You'll go to Elysium."
He shakes his head. "Think . . . rebirth. Try for three times. Isles of the Blest."
Annabeth sniffs. "You always pushed yourself too hard."
He holds up a hand, half - burnt, and Annabeth touches his fingertips.
"Did you . . ." Luke coughs, blood splattering onto his chin. "Did you love me?"
Annabeth wipes her tears. "There was a time I thought . . . well, I thought . . . You were like a brother to me, Luke. But I didn't love you."
He nods, looking over to Lila. "Li - I'm sorry."
Lila reaches out and wipes some of the blood from his cheek. "It's okay, Luke. You saved us in the end."
"No," he splutters. "I'm sorry - about Silena. I don't ... I didn't mean for... I - she was ...my friend too ...."
She squeezes his hand. "I hope she's with Beckendorf now, happy."
A smile graces his lips as he stares at something behind her, as if the lights of Elysium are already summoning him home. "I hope so, too." Then he looks back to Lila. "Do - can you forgive me?"
She wets her lips nervously. He's dying, she knows. She can sense the life leaving his body. "Yes," she lies, just so he'll have peace.
He coughs. "I know you're lying. It's okay ... I just need you to know..."
"Maybe one day," Lila promises, and he nods, before wincing.
"We can get ambrosia," Grover offers. "We can—"
"Grover," Luke gulps. "You're the bravest satyr I ever knew. But no. There's no healing. . . ." Another cough.
Then he grips Percy's sleeve. "Ethan. Me. All the unclaimed. Don't let it . . . Don't let it happen again." He pleads angrily.
"I won't," Percy says. "I promise."
Luke nods, and then the light leaves his eyes.
A few minutes later, the gods arrive in full armour, summoning lightning and storms alike. They must expect a battle of some kind - instead, they find Annabeth, Grover, Percy and Lila kneeling beside the bleeding body of a half blood, Hestia watching from the fire.
"Percy," Poseidon calls, "What . . . what is this?"
Percy turns to the Olympians.
"We need a shroud," His voice cracks. "A shroud for the son of Hermes."
atw 10 min version is luke and annabeth's SONG
am very tired so unedited ... 2 more chapters
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