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chapter sixteen ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
016. Cassie Shoulders the Weight of the World

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CASSIE SHOULD'VE SEEN IT COMING.

The family resemblance was impeccable. That regal expression Zoë always seemed to hold, Atlas had it too. Then the same cold yet proud gleam shining in the titan's eyes reflected Zoë's when she got mad. Though he had a way of making it look thousands of times more evil. He was everything Percy had detested about the huntress at first, and he had none of her redeeming qualities.

"Let Artemis go," Zoë insisted to her father.

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

Zoë went to reply, but Artemis interrupted, "No! Do not offer, Zoë! I forbid you."

The titan grinned at that and crouched, trying to grab Artemis' chin. Instead the goddess closed her teeth on his hand, almost taking off his fingers.

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.

"Hoo-hoo. 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." He explained, spilling his plans.

Cassie glanced to Annabeth who was hopelessly attempting to tell her something. She was tilting her head toward Luke, but Cassie could only stare at her. The daughter of Ares took in the girl's appearance, noticing a change. Her usual soft and fluffy blonde hair was grimy and streaked with gray.

"From holding the sky," Thalia mumbled, reading Cassie's mind. "The weight should've killed her."

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

Atlas found hilarity in his confusion. "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." a sick smile grew on his face. "Unless someone else takes it from you."

Cassie's eyes flickered to the goddess, breaking out of her daze. Her gaze wandered back to Atlas who was nearing them and inspecting the three demigods.

"So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us and let's see." Percy remarked.

"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."

Cassie let out a breathy laugh, "So what I'm hearing is you're another coward."

Atlas narrowed his eyes and scowled with hatred. Warily, he shifted his attention to Thalia. "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."

"I wasn't wrong," Luke denied. He was having trouble keeping himself upright. Each word seemed to cause him pain. Maybe if Cassie didn't want to just take her sword and run it straight through him, she might've felt bad but that wasn't the case. "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!"

With a wave of his hand, a pool of water was made. It was outlined with black marble and the right size for the Ophiotaurus. Percy could imagine Bessie being in the pool and the more he thought of it the clearer Bessie's mooing got.

Don't think about him! Grover cried out, using the empathy link. Percy could feel his panic. I'm losing Bessie. Block the thoughts!

The son of Poseidon tried to focus on anything but Bessie. Basketball players, skateboards, all the different candy types in his mom's shop, anything.

"Thalia, call the Ophiotaurus," Luke repeated. "And you will be more powerful than the gods."

"Luke..." Thalia's voice trembled, full of pain. "What happened to you?"

"Don't you remember all those times we talked? All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!"

The daughter of Zeus only shook her head. "Free Annabeth. Let her go."

"If you join me, it can be like old times. The three of us together. Fighting for a better world," Luke smiled lightly at the distant memories. "Please, Thalia, if you don't agree..." His mouth went dry. "It's my last chance. He will use the other way if you don't agree. Please."

Cassie's eyebrows furrowed. She didn't know what 'the other way' was, but Luke sounded genuinely afraid. Almost as if he was in danger and she began to believe he was. His life was resting on Thalia's decision and if she believed him too... things would not be good.

Zoë shut down any wavering thoughts the punk girl had. "Do not, Thalia. We must fight them."

Luke waved his hand again, and a fire appeared. A bronze brazier, like the one in the dining pavilion: a sacrificial flame.

"Thalia, no." Percy pleaded.

The golden sarcophagus behind Luke started glowing. It depicted the possible future: walls of black marble reforming, the ruins completing themselves, a horrible and beautiful palace surrounding them based on fear and shadow.

"We will raise Mount Othrys right here," Luke prophesied, his voice was so strained they couldn't recognize it as his. "Once more, it will be stronger and greater than Olympus, Look, Thalia. We are not weak."

Cassie didn't know what caused it but she had this feeling in her gut. It was tugging at her, trying to warn her. Maybe it was Luke's fault as he pointed in the direction of the ocean.

They had a great army, that was once in the Princess Andromeda, flooding up the mountain side. Dracaenae, Laestrygonians, monsters, half-bloods, hell hounds, harpies, and so much more.

The ship must've been emptied cause the number of monsters was much more than last summer. There were hundreds marching towards them. In just a few minutes they'd be here too.

That or maybe it was all the feelings hitting her, seeing Annabeth finally. Whatever it was Cassie knew that what was about to go down with Atlas and Luke, she wouldn't be able to handle it alone. She wouldn't have the strength, but there was something she could do about it.

Blocking out the world around her, Cassie sucked up every inch of her pride and closed her eyes. She frowned as she did it, but nonetheless she prayed. She prayed to Ares for his blessing, it was finally time.

'Hey, dad? I have no clue what I'm doing right now. This might even be a waste of a blessing who knows. But I need your help. So please? Just this once... well out of five.' The daughter of Ares clasped her hands as she tried to connect with her dad. How was she supposed to know if this works?

"This is only a taste of what is to come. Soon we will be ready to storm Camp Half-Blood. And after that, Olympus itself. All we need is your help." Luke spoke, stretching out a hand.

Cassie still had her eyes closed tight and Annabeth was watching her as if she were insane. No one paid attention to the two, too focused on Thalia. The daughter of Zeus hesitated, like she was considering it. She stared at Luke, eyes full of pain. She really wanted to believe him, but she leveled her spear.

"You aren't Luke. I don't know you anymore," Thalia told him.

"Yes, you do, Thalia" he begged. "Please. Don't make me... Don't make him destroy you."

The daughter of Ares opened her eyes, but nothing happened. She glanced down at her hands, looking for any sign of the blessing working. Nothing. When she actually needed him, Ares failed her. Maybe she should join Kronos just to spite him. Cassie quirked a smile, finding herself hilarious, as if she would ever do that.

She met Annabeth's eyes knowing they were running out of time. They stood no chance if the army got to the mountain top. The blonde nodded her head and Cassie glanced to the rest of her friends. She could be happy to die fighting with friends like Percy, Thalia, and Zoë. Pretty cool death.

A scowl graced her lips at the thought of her father's abandonment. Cassie decided to use that anger to fight. That and her built up hatred towards these assholes for kidnapping Annabeth.

"Now," Percy said. Together, they charged.

Thalia went for Luke. Her shield was so mighty that his dragon-women accomplices ran away in terror. They had dropped the golden coffin and stupidly ran right in Percy's direction. The son of Poseidon was left to deal with them.

Luke was still quick and skilled, even on the verge of what looked like death. He ragged like a wild animal and slammed his sword, Backbiter into Aegis. A ball of lightning sparked where they met, zapping the air.

Now Cassie, she did the dumbest thing she could've, and she had done a lot of dumb things. Cassie ran right for the Titan Lord Atlas. He mockingly laughed, not taking the young demigod as much of a threat. A giant javelin appeared in his hands and his suit melted away to show off Greek battle armor.

"Go on, then!" Atlas taunted.

Two could play at that game. Cassie glared up at him, sword poofing into her hand.

"Cassie!" Zoë shouted. "Beware!"

The brunette knew what Zoë's warning meant. Chiron had reminded her many times that immortals are restricted by ancient rules. That's what made heroes so good, they could anywhere and challenge whoever as long as they had the courage.

Once she attacked Atlas, he could attack back and with all his strength. Cassie swung, but was smacked in the stomach by the shaft of the titan's javelin. She was sent flying and slammed into a black wall. It had solidified in the Mist, the palace was forming. Dust covered the daughter of Ares leaving her hidden. Annabeth had watched the whole thing in horror. She screamed Cassie's name but it was muffled by the gag.

"Fool!" Atlas insulted, blocking an arrow shot by Zoë. "Did you think, simply because you're the child of that petty war god, that you could stand up to me?"

The mention of Ares sent a jolt to Cassie's stomach. She grimaced and clutched where a bruise would likely form. Her vision went out for a moment before she was hit with the the most energy she had ever had. Cassie held her head at the overwhelming sensation. She felt every bone in her body gain strength. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and the pain faded from her stomach.

'Let's show this punk just what the child of the petty war god can do!' Her father's voice growled in her head.

Cassie picked up her sword which was crackling with electricity, much more powerful than before. Power radiated off the girl and she was surrounded by a red glow. She felt invincible and she was going to kick Atlas' ass.

Annabeth stared at the spot the brunette had disappeared. The daughter of Athena caught a flicker of red, then all the smoke shone red. Cassie emerged and the determined look on her face brought a smile to Annabeth's.

The daughter of Ares dodged a slash from Atlas' javelin and she cut the point off its shaft. Her sword felt lighter than it had ever been. Cassie grinned as the titan cursed. Atlas tried to make another javelin appear but he turned just in time to meet Cassie's sword strike with the shaft.

Cassie pushed against Atlas with all her might. The titan huffed, feeling himself being walked back. He almost lost his balance when the girl let up, but he didn't have enough time to regain it, being stabbed in the side.

"Ugh, curse you stupid half-blood." Atlas snarled, swinging his broken javelin.

It struck the demigod right on her cheek and her hand shot up to clutch her face. Cassie expected pain and some blood, but there was none. Just a tingly sensation in her cheek. She smirked at the titan's failed attempt.

"At least I'm not a weak titan," She jabbed. Both with her words and with her sword.

Atlas now had matching cuts on either of his sides and was filled with a whole lot of anger. He roared, getting a new javelin and rapidly stabbing near Cassie, missing each time. She sliced that one in half too and attacked the titan lord. Landing blow after blow, Atlas was wearing out and Cassie had never felt more alive.

She could've gone forever, but this was getting them nowhere. Cassie could kill Atlas except killing him would do no good. Her eyes darted to where Artemis was still straining beneath the sky's weight. The goddess wouldn't be able to hold the sky endlessly.

Then she observed Luke and Thalia still fighting crazily, lightning going everywhere. Percy had taken care of half of the dracaenae with difficulty and Annabeth was on the floor watching while trying to free her hands.

"Child, watch out!" Artemis exclaimed.

While she was distracted, Atlas had gotten up and raised his javelin to impale her. "Die, little hero."

"No!" Zoë shouted, landing a volley of her silver arrows in her father's armpit chink in his armor.

"ARGH!" He groaned in pain, shifting his attention to his daughter.

Cassie flipped her sword in her hand debating what to do. She could fight Atlas again but that seemed pointless, just like all his spears now. A chill went down her spine reminding her of one of the prophecy's lines: The Titan's curse must one withstand. It wasn't her job to defeat the titan, it was someone else. Someone whose job the daughter of Ares had to take over.

The brunette ran to Artemis, locking eyes with the goddess. "The sky, I'll take it."

"No, Cassandra," Artemis forbade, metallic sweat dripping from her forehead. "You don't know what you're asking. It will crush you!"

"Annabeth held it!"

"She barely survived. She had the spirit of a true huntress. You may not last so long."

"I'd die eventually anyway. Hand over the sky, please!' Cassie didn't wait for her response, cutting off Artemis' chains. She kneeled down beside the goddess bracing herself. With the help of her father's blessing Cassie reached up and touched the heavy, cold clouds. They supported the weight together for a moment. It wasn't too bad the brunette thought, but that was mostly the blessing speaking.

She could manage this, and then Artemis slipped out and she took on the burden alone. Ok, big understatement. Cassie didn't know how much the goddess was really helping until she was gone. The daughter of Ares almost blacked out from the pain, sucking in a deep breath. You got this. Just have to whole the weight of like a thousand trucks. Easy peasy.

Cassie should've learned to shut her mind off earlier. Instantly after reassuring herself, something began to change. The power that once coursed through her, surrounding her in that red glow was fading away. First from her hands, then down her back until it all disappeared.

'You've got this kiddo,' a voice from her head spoke.

Didn't feel like she 'got this'. In fact Cassie couldn't even explain what she felt anymore. All her muscles were set a flame, and her bones were melting from the heat. She wanted to cry out, but she couldn't even open her mouth. The sky pushed her closer and closer to the ground, crushing the brunette.

'Don't disappoint me!' her father's dumb voice chuckled.

Cassie focused on her breathing, she just needed to keep this up long enough for Artemis to kick Atlas' ass. She thought about Bianca, who sacrificed herself to get them here. If she was willing to do that for them, Cassie could hold the sky. In her honor.

The girl's vision went blurry and everything was painted in red. Normally Cassie would've appreciated the tint of color, but right now all she could do was glimpse at the battle. Nothing was clear.

Atlas was still all bloody and bruised but he laughed maniacally as he fought. He stabbed with his javelin at the silver blur Cassie decided was Artemis.

Squinting, the daughter of Ares could make out the outline of Artemis' two hunting knives, longer than her arm. They looked awesome and the goddess slashed rapidly. She managed to dodge and leap around with extraordinary grace.

Artemis changed forms as she pranced around. It could've been Cassie's mind messing with her but the goddess was a tiger, then gazelle, then bear, and a falcon.

Zoë continued firing arrows at her father, aiming for any slits in his armor. He yelped each time one hit the right spot, but the pain could compare to a bee sting for the titan lord. They only angered and encouraged him to keep fighting.

Thalia and Luke were still sparring, spear on sword. Lighting flashing around them each hit. Thalia was pushing Luke back with just the appearance of her shield. Even he was slightly intimidated. He backed away, wincing and huffing in irritation.

"Yield!" Thalia commanded. "You never could beat me, Luke."

The son of Hermes scowled. "We'll see, my old friend."

Cassie was drenched in sweat. Her hands were getting clammy too. Don't get her started on the pain in her shoulder, they'd be screaming if they could. It felt like every vertebrae in her spine was being blowtorched and squeezed together.

Atlas began to press Artemis, her speed couldn't combat his strength. He impaled the earth, leaving a crack in the surface and missing the goddess. The titan hopped over it and continued after her. She lead him backward in Cassie's direction.

Get ready, the goddess alerted in the brunette's mind. How many immortals would telepathically speak to her in one day? Cassie was losing her ability to form complete thoughts over the pain. Her response was not a comprehendible one.

"You fight well for a girl." Atlas admitted, before scoffing. "But you are no match for me."

He feinted with the point of his javelin and Artemis sidestepped out of the way. Cassie saw his plan but she couldn't warn the goddess. Artemis was swept off her feet and to the floor by the javelin. When she fell, the titan raised his weapon to kill.

"No!" Zoë shouted. She jumped between them and landed an arrow right in her father's forehead, like a unicorn horn. He yelled in rage and swatted his daughter aside, sending her soaring into the black rocks.

Cassie wanted to call out to the huntress and run to help her, but she couldn't speak or move. From her position under the weight of the sky, where Zoë had landed wasn't even visible.

Atlas triumphantly smirked at Artemis. The goddess seemed to be wounded and motionless, making no attempt to get up.

"The first blood in a new war." Atlas bragged, stabbing downwards.

Artemis got a hold of his javelin's shaft and as it stuck the floor she pulled backward using the weapon like a lever to kick the Titan and throw him over her head.

Cassie saw him flying at her from above and knew what was about to happen. She let go of the sky as Atlas slammed into her, not trying to hold on. The brunette was shoved out from beneath it and rolled with her remaining energy.

The sky's weight landed onto Atlas' back, pushing him almost flat to the floor. He was able to push himself to his knees, desperate to get out of his burden. But it was too late.

"Nooooo!" He belted, shaking the mountain. "Not again!" Atlas was back to his old punishment.

The daughter of Ares attempted to get up but she collapsed, weak from the pain. Her body was still lit aflame. Percy came into her frame of view, heading her way.

Thalia was busy backing Luke to the cliff's edge and yet the two were still fighting, right beside the sarcophagus. Thalia was blinking back her tears and Luke had a nice bloody gash stretching through his chest. His ghostly pale face was covered in sweat.

Percy had bent down and took both of Cassie's arms in his own. He helped the girl off the floor and let her lean on him for support. The daughter of Ares grimaced, cracking her neck and trying to move her stiff muscles. She disregarded her sword and wrapped an arm around Percy's shoulders.

"Thanks Perc," Cassie offered a pained smile.

The son of Poseidon barely glanced at the brunette but he matched her small smile. "Couldn't just leave you there Casanova."

The duo trained their eyes on the two old friends fighting. Luke had lunged at Thalia and was met with her shield slamming into him. The blonde's sword left his hands and clattered on the rocks. Thalia pointed her spear at his throat.

The silence was deafening.

"Well?" Luke asked, though he tried to hide it, his fear was evident.

Thalia shook with fury. Annabeth meet the two, finally free from her bonds. Her pretty face was bruised and dirty. "Don't kill him!"

"He's a traitor," Thalia emphasized. "A traitor!"

Only then did Cassie notice Artemis had left, running off to where Zoë had fallen.

"We'll bring Luke back," Annabeth reasoned. "To Olympus. He... he'll be useful."

"Is that what you want, Thalia? To go back to Olympus in triumph? To please your dad?" Luke mocked, scornfully.

Thalia didn't know what to do and while she was hesitating, Luke made a grab for her spear.

"No!" Annabeth screamed. But there was nothing she could do. Thalia kicked Luke back without a second thought. He stumbled, losing his balance with horror writer all over his face before he fell.

"Luke!" the daughter of Athena called out.

Percy rushed with Cassie, as fast as they could with the brunette's current state, over to the cliff's edge. The great army had come to a halt, staring amazed at Luke's corpse on the rocks. No matter how much they hated him, the two could've believe he was dead. That fall was at least fifty feet and he showed no signs of life.

A giant turned to look up at them, barking out, "Kill them!"

Thalia stood motionless with grief, tears pouring down her face. Cassie let go of Percy to drag the daughter of Zeus away as a javelins rained down on them. The four ran for the rocks, Cassie offering Atlas the middle finger as they passed. He spewed curses and threats but could do nothing.

"Artemis!" Percy yelled to her.

The goddess gazed at them approaching, the same look of grief on her own face. Zoë was resting in the goddess' arms, eyes still open. But she wasn't doing so good...

"The wound is poisoned," Artemis informed them.

"Atlas poisoned her?" Percy questioned.

"No. Not Atlas." The auburn-haired girl revealed the wound in her lieutenant's side. Her scrape from Ladon had slipped their minds, it was way worse than what she told them.

Cassie grimaced and looked away. Zoë had to be the bravest person she knew. She ran into the fight against her own father with a terrible cut impacting her strength. She really was an exemplary huntress.

"The stars," Zoë whispered. "I cannot see them."

"Nectar and ambrosia. Come on! We have to get her some." Percy pleaded.

No one moved, grief filling the air. Kronos' army was almost here, but no one could be bothered. They could've met their end atop Mount Tamalpais except a strange buzzing sound hit their ears.

Right when the monster army appeared at the top, a
Sopwith Camel swooped down from the night sky.

"Get away from my daughter!" Dr. Chase told the monsters, and with that said his machine guns let loose, sending bullets flying everywhere. The monsters panicked and scattered.

"Dad?" Annabeth spoke, baffled.

"Run!" he instructed, voice fading away as the biplane swooped again.

Artemis was brought from her grief, eyes trailing on the plane which curved to set fire again.

"A brave man," Artemis praised, he had earned her approval grudgingly. "Come. We must get Zoe away from here."

She brought her hunting her to her lips and blew sending a clear loud sound through the valleys of Marin. Zoë's eyes began to flutter.

"Hang in there! It'll be all right!" Percy promised.

Dr. Chase's Sopwith Camel dived by again. Some javelins thrown by the giants flew at it, one heading straight for the wings. But the machine guns still fired at the monsters. Cassie's eyes widened in awe at the realization that Dr. Chase had gotten his hands on celestial bronze to make his bullets. The snake woman were blown to yellow powder by the guns.

"That's... my dad!" Annabeth gaped.

There wasn't time to admired Dr. Chase's piloting skills. The army had gotten over their shock and Annabeth's dad would be in a lot more danger soon.

The moon cast bright rays down on them and a silver chariot came soaring out of the sky. It was pulled but the most stunning deer and landed beside them.

"Get in," Artemis demanded.

Annabeth assisted Cassie with getting Thalia on board while Percy helped Artemis with Zoë. They covered the huntress in a blanket and Artemis tugged on the reins. The chariot flew off the mountain into the sky.

"Like Santa Claus's sleigh," Percy admired.

Artemis shot him a look. "Indeed, young half-blood. And where do you think that legend came from?"

The group nodded and in the middle of the silence, Cassie couldn't hold back, launching herself on the blonde. "You absolute idiot! You should have warned me before getting kidnapped for like a year." Her arms trapped the daughter of Athena in a hug, ignoring the pain shooting through her.

Annabeth welcomed the embrace, needing and missing it more than she knew. "No need to exaggerate, but it's cute seeing you this worried about me."

"Pft- I am not cute," Cassie huffed but she didn't dare break their contact. Not after suffering without it for so long.

The two lightly smiled into the hug and the brunette watched Dr. Chase turn his plane to follow after them. It was certainly a strange sight. Santa's sleigh a bit too early being trailed by a Sopwith Camel.

The angered roars of Kronos army was left behind them from the summit of Mount Tamalpais. The loudest was Atlas' voice as he cursed the gods, strained beneath the weight of the sky.

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ author's note

the climax of the act 🤩 what did you guys think? i tried to do my best to make the fight scene cool! only took cassie 3 acts to finally use a blessing

platonic percassie, a friend-ship name courtesy of ml are literally my favs!! percy is there for cassie when annie's too distracted with her little family drama 😬

but ahhhhh!! my poor bby suffered this chapter so hopefully her and annie reuniting made up for it 😍😍

also lemme just:

prepare yourselves guys but thanks for reading ofc! and check out the other update today! ❤️

-Just Another Overthinker