ON THIS SPRING DAY
━━━━━ chapter sixteen

━━━━━ THE METAL DOOR was half hidden behind a laundry bin full of dirty hotel towels. AJ didn't see anything strange about it, but Rachel showed them all where to look, and he saw a faint blue symbol etched in the metal.

               "It hasn't been used in a long time," Annabeth noticed, narrowing her eyes to the symbol of Daedalus.

               "I doubt anyone could even see if behind all this shit." AJ crossed his arms. "Besides, I doubt if any mortal could see it, that they'd be smart enough to think ..." He trailed off, glancing Rachel's way. "Er—no offense."

               "None taken," she grumbled. "I tried to open it once, just out of curiosity I guess. It's rusted shut."

               "No." The daughter of Athena stepped forward. "It just needs the touch of a half-blood."

               Sure enough, as soon as Annabeth put her hand on the mark, it glowed blue. The metal door unsealed and creaked open, revealing a dark staircase leading down.

               "Wow." Rachel looked calm enough, but AJ saw the way her eyebrows pinched and she started shifting her feet all so suddenly. Flakes of gold still glittered on her face and red hair as she looked at the three demigods beside her. "So ... after you guys?"

               AJ's smile was amused, but not so happy. "Aren't you the guide?"

               Rachel swallowed and looked at the dark staircase. "... Yeah."

               "Then lead on," Annabeth spoke up with mock politeness, gesturing her hand forward.

               The stairs led down to a large brick tunnel. It was pretty dark, but it didn't necessarily bother AJ. He supposed it had to do with the fact he could just tell nothing dangerous was right in front of them. The others didn't seem so keen on keeping the darkness. As soon as Percy and Annabeth switched their flashlights on, Rachel yelped.

               A skeleton was grinning down at them. It wasn't human. It was huge, for one thing—at least ten feet tall. It had been strung up, chained by its wrists and ankles so it made a kind of giant X over the tunnel. And it had a single black eye socket in the center of its skull.

               "A Cyclops," AJ declared, a small gasp of shock escaping him. Maybe he could tell nothing was waiting to kill them, but he hadn't been able to sense the skeleton waiting to jumpscare them.

               "It's very old." Annabeth swallowed nervously, glancing back at Percy, who suddenly looked green. "It's not ... anybody we know."

               It wasn't Tyson, Annabeth meant. AJ supposed that was for Percy, who was Tyson's older half-brother. But a chill still crawled down AJ's spine—the placement of the skeleton felt like a threat. Whoever could kill a grown Cyclops wasn't someone to mess with.

               For Violet, AJ repeated to himself for the thousandth time. But he knew the moment—and not if he did, but when—he was going to strangle the daughter of Eros for doing something so fucking stupid. But convincing himself going into the Labyrinth was getting harder the longer he stared at the skeleton.

               Rachel swallowed. "You have a friend who's a Cyclops?"

               "Tyson," Percy answered. "My half-brother."

               'Your half-brother?"

               "Hopefully we'll find him down here," he continued. "And Grover. He's a satyr."

               "Oh." Rachel's voice was small. "A satyr."

               "And Violet," Percy added once again.

               Rachel frowned. "And she is ..."

               Annabeth snorted. "A demigod."

               "Oh, okay. Just asking. To make sure." Rachel took one last look at the skeleton. "Well, we better keep moving, then."

               She stepped under the skeleton's left arm and kept walking. Percy and AJ exchanged looks, and the blond shrugged.

               "Don't look at me," said the unclaimed demigod. "This was all your idea."

               "Yeah," Percy took a deep breath, "it was."

               And so, they followed Rachel deeper into the maze.

               After fifty feet they came to a crossroads. Ahead, the brick tunnel continued. To the right, the walls were made of ancient marble slabs. To the left, the tunnel was earth and tree roots.

               Percy pointed left. "That looks like the tunnel Tyson and Grover took."

               Annabeth frowned. "Yeah, but the architecture to the right—those old stones—that's more likely to lead to an ancient part of the maze, towards Daedalus's workshop."

               "We need to go straight," Rachel announced.

               AJ, Annabeth, and Percy all looked at her.

               "What?" asked AJ. "How are you so sure?"

               "You don't see it?" Rachel asked, peering at him. "Look at the floor!"

               He saw nothing except well-worn bricks and mud.

               The blond raised his eyebrows. "Are the bricks and mud speaking to you, or ...?"

               "There's a brightness there," Rachel insisted. "Very faint. But forward is the correct way. To the left, further down the tunnel, those tree roots are moving like feelers. I don't like that. To the right, there's a trap about twenty feet down. Holes in the walls, maybe for spikes. I don't think we should risk it."

               AJ could sense what Rachel was describing—if he focused, that is. It was hard to do so. It was like trying to block out everything else around him—his breathing, Annabeth, Percy, even Rachel, and all the odd, unnerving noises the maze made.

               Some part of him knew what Rachel was saying was correct. And so, he nodded. "Forward, then."

               Annabeth raised her eyebrows at him. "You believe—her?"

               Acting like it was such a crime, AJ thought to himself, fighting back a comment and eye rolls.

               "Yeah." He shrugged. "I can just ... tell."

               Annabeth looked like she wanted to ask questions—or argue, but most likely both. Instead of doing that, she sighed and then waved her hand at Rachel to lead on. Together, they kept walking down the brick corridor. It twisted and turned, but there were no more side tunnels. The four seemed to be angling down, heading deeper underground.

               Part of AJ's stomach churned at the idea, but his brain kept saying that it was all right—familiar territory or something. And then his brain snapped out of it. I'm already losing it, he thought. Maybe ten minutes down here, and my brain is trying to convince me that underground is comforting.

               "No traps?" Percy asked anxiously after some time.

               "Nothing." Rachel knitted her eyebrows. "Should it be this easy?"

               "I don't know," he admitted. "It never was before."

               "So, Rachel," Annabeth broke in, "where are you from, exactly?"

               She said it like, What planet are you from? But Rachel didn't look offended.

               "Brooklyn," she answered.

               AJ frowned. "And your parents aren't going to care you're, like, suddenly out super late?"

               Or if she gets back at all.

               Rachel exhaled. "Probably not. I could be gone a week and they'd never notice."

               "Why not?" This time Annabeth didn't sound as sarcastic. Having trouble with parents was something she understood.

               Before Rachel could answer, there was a creaking noise in front of them, like huge doors opening.

               "What was that?" Annabeth asked.

               "I don't know," Rachel said. "Metal hinges."

               "Oh, that's very helpful. I mean, what is it?"

               Then AJ heard heavy footsteps shaking the corridor—coming towards them.

               "Shit," he cursed. "Run!"

               They turned and fled the way they'd come, but they didn't make it twenty feet before they ran straight into some monsters. Two dracaenae—snake women in Greek armor—leveled their javelins at their chests. Standing between them was an empousa, dressed up like a cheerleader oddly enough.

               "Well, well," the empousa hissed.

               Percy uncapped Riptide, Annabeth pulled her knife, and AJ grabbed his sword. But before any of them could react, the empousa pounced on Rachel. Her hand turned into a claw and she spun Rachel around, holding her tight, with her talons at Rachel's neck.

               "Taking your little mortal pet for a walk?" the monster asked Percy. "They're such fragile things. So easy to break!"

               Behind them, the footsteps came closer. A huge form appeared out of the gloom—an eight-foot-tall Laistrygonian giant with red eyes and fangs.

               The giant licked his lips when he saw the half-bloods. "Can I eat them?"

               "No," said the empousa. "Your master will want these. They will provide a great deal of entertainment." She smiled at Percy. "Now march, half-bloods. Or you all die here, starting with the mortal girl."

🌷

It wasn't AJ's worst nightmare, but it was pretty fucking close.

               The four were marched down the tunnel flanked by dracaenae, with the empousa and the giant at the back, just in case they tried to run for it. Nobody seemed to worry about them running forward. That was the direction they wanted the four to go.

               Up ahead, AJ could see bronze doors. They were about ten feet tall, and emblazoned with a pair of crossed swords. From behind them came a muffled roar, like a crowd.

               "Oh, yesss," said the snake woman on AJ's left; the monster was talking to Percy. "You'll be very popular with our hossst."

               AJ had never got to look at a dracaena up close before, and he wasn't thrilled at the opportunity to do so now. She would've had a pretty face, except her tongue was forked and her eyes were yellow with black slits for pupils. She wore bronze armor that stopped at her waist. Below that, where her legs should've been, were two massive snake trunks, mottled bronze and green. She moved by a combination of slithering and walking, as if she were on living skis.

               "Who's your host?" asked Percy, swallowing nervously.

               She hissed, which might have been a laugh. "Oh, you'll sssee. You'll get along famousssly. He'sss your brother, after all."

               Percy paled. "My what?"

               Immediately, AJ thought of Tyson, But he tried to convince himself that it was impossible—Tyson siding with Kronos, that is. No, he did want to find the sweet Cyclops—and alive—but he just couldn't fathom the idea that Tyson would join Kronos and Luke Castellan. But if it wasn't Tyson the dracaena was talking about, then who? Poseidon did have a lot of monster offspring ...

               The giant pushed past the four and opened the doors. He picked up Annabeth and AJ by their shirts and said, "You stay here."

               "Hey!" she protested, but the guy was twice her size and he'd already confiscated her knife and Percy and AJ's swords.

               AJ writhed in the giant's hold. "Let go of my, dickbag!"

               The empousa laughed. She still had her claws at Rachel's neck. "Go on, Percy. Entertain us. We'll wait here with your friends to make sure you behave."

               Percy's brows furrowed, and he looked at the others. "I'm sorry. I'll get you out of this."

               Rachel nodded as much as she could with a demon at her throat. "That would be nice."

               The dracaenae prodded the son of Poseidon towards the doorway at javelin-point, and hewalked out onto the floor of an arena.

               From what AJ could see ( which was kind of hard as he was dangling by the rim of his shirt ), it wasn't the largest arena he'd ever been in, but it seemed pretty spacious considering the whole place was underground. The dirt floor was circular, just big enough that you could drive a car around the rim if you pulled it really tight. In the center of the arena, a fight was going on between a giant and a centaur. The centaur looked panicked. He was galloping around his enemy, using sword and shield, while the giant swung a javelin the size of a telephone pole and the crowd cheered.

               The first tier of seats was twelve feet above the arena floor. Plain stone benches wrapped all the way around, and every seat was full. There were giants, dracaenae, demigods, telkhines, and stranger things: bat-winged demons and creatures that seemed half human and half you name it—bird, reptile, insect, mammal.

               But the creepiest—grossiest—things were the skulls. The arena was full of them. They ringed the edge of the railing. Three-foot-high piles of them decorated the steps between the benches. They grinned from pikes at the back of the stands and hung on chains from the ceiling like horrible chandeliers. Some of them looked very old—nothing but bleached-white bone. Others looked a lot fresher; red, fleshy, and decaying. AJ's stomach churned as he watched clumps of blond hair from one skull shake as the audience stomped their feet.

               In the middle of all this, proudly displayed on the side of the spectators' wall was a green banner with the trident of Poseidon in the center. And above the banner, sitting in a seat of honor, was one of the biggest pains in AJ's ass.

               "Luke ..." Annabeth murmured under her breath.

               Despite what AJ wanted to do, he betrayed himself and glanced at the daughter of Athena. And it made him a little sick. Annabeth looked almost relieved to see the son of Hermes. If AJ didn't have a monster at his throat, he would've snapped at Annabeth to get rid of the expression. AJ hated the way she still made excuses for Luke; Luke wasn't forgivable, no matter what Annabeth wanted to believe.

               Luke smiled coldly among the crowd. He was wearing camouflage combat trousers, a white T-shirt, and a bronze breastplate. Unlike what would've been sensible as a demigod in a crowd of monsters, the son of Hermes didn't have a sword on him. But then again, these monsters were his allies, not his enemies.

               Next to him sat the largest giant AJ had ever seen, much larger than the one on the floor fighting the centaur. The giant next to Luke must've been fifteen feet tall, and so wide he took up three seats. He wore only a loincloth, like a sumo wrestler. His skin was dark red and tattooed with blue wave designs.

               AJ frowned to himself, racking his mind for all the giants he'd struggled to read about in Ancient Greek. The banner for Poseidon; the fighting arena ...

               Despite himself again, AJ looked at Annabeth and mouthed, Antaeus? And Annabeth nodded; AJ winced to himself, wishing he had it wrong.

               There was a cry from the arena floor, and Percy had to jump back as the centaur crashed to the ground beside him.

               The centaur looked at Percy pleadingly. "Help!" he begged.

               The son of Poseidon reached for his sword, but his hand faltered in his right pocket. He glanced back, eyes wide. Riptide hadn't appeared back in his pocket yet.

               The centaur struggled to get up as the giant approached, his javelin ready.

               The dracaenae held Percy back by his shoulder. "If you value your friendsss' livesss," his dracaena guard said, "you won't interfere. This isssn't your fight. Wait your turn."

               The centaur couldn't get up. One of his legs was broken. The giant put his huge foot on the horseman's chest and raised the javelin. He looked up at Luke. The crowd cheered, "Death! Death!"

               Luke didn't do anything, but the tattooed Antaeus next to him rose. The giant smiled down at the centaur, who was whimpering, "Please! No!"

               Then Antaeus held out his hand and gave the 'thumbs down' sign.

               AJ pursed his lips and looked away as the gladiator giant thrust his javelin. Rachel gave a sharp gasp, seemingly unable to look away. The empousa holding the redhead gave a chilling laugh.

               When AJ looked again, the centaur was gone, disintegrated to ashes. All that was left was a single hoof, which the giant took up as a trophy and showed to the crowd. They roared their approval.

               A gate opened at the opposite end of the stadium and the giant marched out in triumph.

               In the stands, Antaeus raised his hands for silence. "Good entertainment!" he bellowed. "But nothing I haven't seen before. What else do you have, Luke, Son of Hermes?"

               Luke's jaw tightened. AJ could tell he didn't like being called Son of Hermes. He hated his father. But he rose calmly to his feet. His eyes glittered. In fact, he seemed to be in a pretty good mood.

               "Lord Antaeus," Luke said, loud enough for the crowd to hear, "you have been an excellent host! We would be happy to amuse you, to repay the favor of passing through your territory."

               "A favor I have not yet granted," Antaeus growled. "I want entertainment!"

               AJ grew more and more nervous as they spoke. Antaeus was a giant who would challenge anyone to a wrestling match; all of which he won—except for one match. The only person Antaeus lost to was Hercules ( of course it was Hercules ), and the son of Zeus did it by stringing Antaeus off the ground and then crushing him to death.

               Luke bowed. "I believe I have something better than centaurs to fight in your arena now. I have a brother of yours." He pointed at the boy down in the arena. "Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon."

               The crowd began jeering at the young son of Poseidon and throwing stones, most of which he dodged, but one caught him on the cheek and made a good-sized cut.

               Antaeus's eyes lit up. "A son of Poseidon? Then he should fight well! Or die well!"

               "If his death pleases you," Luke said, "will you let our armies cross your territory?"

               "Perhaps!" Antaeus said.

               Luke didn't look too pleased to be given only a Perhaps for an answer. He glared down at Percy, as if warning the boy that he better die in a really spectacular way or he'd be in big trouble.

               "Luke!" Annabeth suddenly yelled. "Stop this. Let us go!"

               Luke seemed to notice her for the first time. He looked stunned for a moment. "Annabeth?"

               "Enough time for the others to fight afterward," Antaeus interrupted. "First, Percy Jackson, what weapons will you choose?"

               The dracaenae pushed him into the middle of the arena.

               Percy stared up at Antaeus. "How can you be a son of Poseidon?"

               Antaeus laughed, and the rest of the crowd laughed, too.

               "I am his favorite son!" Antaeus boomed. "Behold, my temple to the Earthshaker, built from the skulls of all those I've killed in his name! Your skull shall join them!"

               Suddenly, Annabeth's sneaker grazed AJ's leg. She was trying to get his attention. "Warn Percy," she whispered to AJ. "Antaeus's mother."

               "And who is that?" AJ asked in a whisper.

               "Gaea," Annabeth answered. Then, she yelled, "Percy! His mother is Gaea! Gaea—"

               The name made AJ remember. Now he did remember what he read in Ancient Greek—which scrambled around worse than English did—and how it said that Gaea also helped her son by healing him with the earth anytime he got injured.

               The Laistrygonian giant holding them let go of AJ to clamp his hand over Annabeth's mouth. The blond landed on the floor with a loud string of curses, but managed to make out, "Earth heals—" right before a dracaena ripped him off the floor and hissed insults at him.

               Percy watched them for a moment, then he turned back to his brother. "You're crazy, Antaeus," he decided. "If you think this is a good tribute, you know nothing about Poseidon."

               The crowd screamed insults at him, but Antaeus raised his hand for silence. "Weapons," he insisted. "And then we will see how you die. Will you have axes? Shields? Nets? Flamethrowers?"

               "Just my sword," said Percy.

               Laughter erupted from the monsters, but immediately Riptide appeared in his hands, and some of the voices in the crowd turned nervous. The bronze blade glowed with a faint light.

               "Round one!" Antaeus announced. The gates opened, and a dracaena slithered out. She had a trident in one hand and a weighted net in the other—classic gladiator style. This was a common training exercise done at Camp; so in other words, if Percy fucked this up, then they were doomed.

               She jabbed at the son of Poseidon experimentally. Instinctually, he stepped away. She threw her net, hoping to tangle Percy's sword hand, but he sidestepped easily, sliced her spear in half, and stabbed Riptide through a chink in her armor. With a painful wail, she vaporized into nothing, and the cheering of the crowd died.

               "No!" Antaeus bellowed. "Too fast! You must wait for the kill. Only I give that order!"

               "Nice job, Percy." Luke smiled. "You've got better with the sword. I'll give you that."

               "Round two!" Antaeus yelled. "And slower this time! More entertainment! Wait for my call before killing anybody, or else!"

               The gates opened again, and this time a young warrior came out. He was a little older than AJ, about sixteen. He had glossy black hair, and his left eye was covered with an eye patch. He was thin and wiry so his Greek armor hung on him loosely. He stabbed his sword into the ground, adjusted his shield straps, and pulled on his horsehair helmet.

               "Who are you?" Percy asked.

               "Ethan Nakamura," he said. "I have to kill you."

               AJ's stomach dropped. His friend had been reduced to this? Entertainment for the piece of shit Luke?

               "Why are you doing this?" Percy prodded.

               "Hey!" a monster jeered from the stands. "Stop talking and fight already!" The others took up the call.

               "I have to prove myself," Ethan told Percy. "Only way to join up."

               And with that, he charged. Their swords met in midair and the crowd roared. Ethan pressed forward, and Percy seemed to be backing away. He was good. Just as AJ remembered, Ethan was good with a sword—or just good at fighting. He parried Percy's strike and almost slammed the boy with his shield, but Percy jumped back.

               Ethan slashed; Percy rolled to one side. The two exchanged attacks and blocks, but neither got the upper hand. Percy tried to keep to Ethan's blind side, but it didn't help much. He'd apparently been fighting with only one eye for a long time because he was excellent at guarding his left. It only made AJ wonder; Ethan had run away from Camp Half-Blood the winter before, during the winter solstice specifically, and while everyone was in the meeting after the questers arrived back. But AJ had to wonder when—and why and how—Ethan lost his eye.

               "Blood!" the monsters cried.

               Ethan glanced up at the stands. That was his weakness, AJ remembered, Ethan cared just a little too much of what others thought of him. No matter how much he didn't want to admit it. And that was especially evident now—he had to impress the onlookers, Percy just had to get out alive.

               Ethan let out an angry battle cry and charged Percy, but the son of Poseidon parried the blade and backed away, letting Ethan come after him.

               "Boo!" Antaeus yelled. "Stand and fight!"

               Ethan pressed Percy, but the boy had no trouble defending, even without a shield. Ethan was dressed for defense—heavy armor and shield—which made it very tiring to play offense. Percy may be a softer target, but he was also lighter and quicker on his feet. The crowd went nuts, yelling complaints and throwing rocks. Percy and Ethan had been fighting for almost five minutes and there was no blood.

               Finally, Ethan made his mistake. He tried to jab at Percy's stomach and Percy locked Ethan's sword hilt with his own and twisted. Ethan's sword dropped into the dirt. Before he could recover, Percy slammed the butt of his sword into Ethan's helmet and pushed him down. His heavy armor only helped Percy more than Ethan. Ethan fell on his back, dazed and tired. Percy put the tip of his sword on Ethan's chest.

               "Get it over with," the unclaimed boy groaned.

               Percy looked up at Antaeus. His red face was stony with displeasure, but he held up his hand and put it 'thumbs down'.

               "Forget it." Percy sheathed Riptide with a heavy frown.

               "Don't be a fool," Ethan groaned. "They'll just kill us both."

               Percy offered Ethan his hand. Reluctantly, the ally of Kronos took it.

               "No one dishonors the games!" Antaeus bellowed. "Your heads shall both be tributes to Poseidon!"

               Percy looked at Ethan. "When you see your chance, run." Then he turned back to Antaeus. "Why don't you fight me yourself? If you've got Dad's favor, come down here and prove it!"

               The monsters grumbled in the stands. Antaeus looked around, and apparently realized he had no choice. He couldn't say no without looking like a coward.

               "I am the greatest wrestler in the world, boy," he warned. "I have been wrestling since the first pankration!"

               Percy's expression turned a little nervous. "Pankration?" he asked.

               "He means fighting to the death," Ethan said. "No rules. No holds barred. It used to be an Olympic sport."

               "Thanks for the tip," grumbled Percy.

               "Don't mention it."

               For a moment, Percy looked at his friends—who were all watching him. Then he pointed Riptide at Antaeus. "Winner takes all! I win, we all go free. You win, we die. Swear upon the River Styx."

               Antaeus laughed. "This shouldn't take long. I swear to your terms!"

               He leaped off the railing into the arena.

               "Good luck," Ethan told Percy. "You'll need it." Then he backed up quickly.

               Antaeus cracked his knuckles. He grinned, and AJ saw that even his teeth were etched in wave patterns, which must've made brushing after meals a real pain.

               "Weapons?" he asked.

               "I'll stick with my sword. You?"

               He held up his huge hands and wiggled his fingers. 'I don't need anything else! Master Luke, you will referee this one."

               Luke smiled down at Percy. "With pleasure."

               Antaeus lunged. Percy rolled under his legs and stabbed him in the back of his thigh. The giant yelled in pain. But where blood should've come out, there was a spout of sand, like I'd busted the side of an hourglass. It spilled to the ground, and the earth rose up to collect around his leg, almost like a cast. When it fell away, the wound was gone.

               He charged again. Percy dodged sideways this time and stabbed him under the arm. Riptide's blade was buried to the hilt in his ribs. That was the good news. The bad news was that it wrenched out of Percy's hand when the giant turned, and the boy was thrown across the arena, weaponless.

               Antaeus bellowed in pain. He groped for the hilt, pulled out the sword, and tossed it behind him. More sand poured from the wound, but again the earth rose up to cover him. Dirt coated his body all the way to his shoulders. As soon as the dirt spilled away, Antaeus was fine.

               "Now you see why I never lose, demigod!" the giant gloated. "Come here and let me crush you. I'll make it quick!"

               Antaeus stood between Percy and Riptide. Percy desperately looked all around. AJ saw the boy look above his head, where AJ couldn't see.

               Percy tried to skirt around the giant, but Antaeus anticipated his move. He blocked Percy's path, chuckling. He was just toying with the half-blood now. He had Percy cornered.

               Again, Percy looked up above his head. He feinted to the other side, and Antaeus blocked him. The crowd jeered and screamed at Antaeus to finish Percy off, but he was having too much fun.

               "Puny boy," he said. "Not a worthy son of the sea god!"

               AJ saw Riptide shimmer, disappearing into thin air, no doubt placing itself in Percy's right pocket. One advantage Percy had over Antaeus—the only advantage he had over Antaeus, really.

               Percy charged straight ahead, crouching low so he could roll between Antaeus's legs. While the giant was stooping, ready to catch Percy like a grounder, the demigod jumped—kicking off Antaeus's forearm, scrambling up his shoulder like it was a ladder, and placing his shoe on Antaeus's head.

               Antaeus straightened up, and indignantly yelled, "Hey!"

               Percy pushed off, using Antaeus's force to catapult himself toward the ceiling. He caught the top of a chain, and the skulls and hooks jangled beneath him. Percy wrapped his legs around the chain, drew Riptide, and started sawing off the chain next to him.

               "Come down here, coward!" Antaeus bellowed. He tried to grab Percy, but the demigod was just out of reach.

               Percy yelled, "Come up and get me! Or are you too slow and fat?"

               The giant howled at the insult and made another grab for Percy. He caught a chain and tried to pull himself up. While he was struggling, Percy lowered my sawn-off chain, hook first. It took him two tries, but finally, he snagged Antaeus's loincloth.

               The giant yelled loudly. Quickly, Percy slipped the free chain through the fastening link on his own chain, and pulled it taut, and secured it as best he could. Antaeus tried to slip back to the ground, but he stayed suspended by his loincloth. He had to hold onto the other chains with both hands to avoid getting flipped upside down. AJ only silently prayed that neither the loincloth nor the chain would break.

               While Antaeus cursed and flailed around, Percy scrambled through the chain, swinging and cutting like he was some crazed monkey. He made loops with hooks and metal links. AJ had no idea how Percy managed it.

               Within a couple of minutes, the giant was suspended above the ground, hopelessly snarled in chains and hooks.

               Percy dropped to the floor, panting and sweaty. He was rubbing the palms of his hands, looking up at his work.

               "Get me down!" Antaeus demanded.

               "Free him!" Luke ordered. "He is our host!"

               Percy uncapped Riptide. "I'll free him," he agreed easily.

               And he stabbed the giant in the stomach. Antaeus bellowed, and sand poured out, but he was too far up to touch the earth, and the dirt did not rise to help him. Antaeus just dissolved, pouring out bit by bit, until there was nothing left but empty swinging chains, a really big loincloth on a hook and a bunch of grinning skulls dancing above them all like they finally had something to smile about.

               "Jackson!" Luke howled. "I should have killed you long ago!"

               "You tried," Percy reminded him. "Let us go, Luke. We had a sworn agreement with Antaeus. I'm the winner."

               Luke did just what AJ expected. He said, "Antaeus is dead. His oath dies with him. But since I'm feeling merciful today, I'll have you killed quickly."

               He pointed at Annabeth. "Spare the girl." His voice quavered just a little. "I would speak to her before—before our great triumph."

               Every monster in the audience drew a weapon or extended its claws. They were trapped. Hopelessly outnumbered. AJ was going to accept dying at that moment when Percy did something ... odd.

               He pulled out a fucking dog whistle—an ice-blue dog whistle that made no sound when he blew on it. Then it shattered into shards of ice, melting away in the hot arena.

               Luke laughed. "What was that supposed to do?"

               The Laistrygonian giant who'd been holding Annabeth flew past AJ and smashed into the wall. The dracanae holding AJ yelped and let go—AJ scrambled back as a five-hundred-pound mastiff charged past him and for the empousa holding Rachel.

               The empousa screamed as Mrs. O'Leary picked her up like a chew toy and tossed her through the air, straight into Luke's lap. Mrs. O'Leary snarled, and the dracaenae guards backed away. For a moment the monsters, in the audience were caught completely by surprise.

               "Let's go!" Percy yelled at his friends. "Heel, Mrs. O'Leary!"

               "The far exit!" Rachel cried. "That's the right way!"

               Ethan Nakamura took his cue. Together the five raced across the arena and out the far exit, Mrs. O'Leary right behind us. As they ran, AJ could hear the disorganized sounds of an entire army trying to jump out of the stands and follow them.

🌷 OCT. 8TH, 2023 / this chapter was going to be longer but i want to post it now (and because my brain hurts and i can't write anymore)

but if i had continued it until where it was going to originally end, it would have been way too long

i'm really enjoying writing in aj's pov - it's fun to hint at stuff and it's fun to think how different he and vi would react to basically everything

tho i do miss vi, but she's going to come back soon!! (maybe haunting percy's dreams again - but no one's surprised lol)

this chapter lowkey sucks but ,, my head really does hurt so we're dealing

anyways,, thoughts?? opinions??

(not edited and not proofread)