3266 words

Raiden P.O.V.

"We must hasten and enter the garden at sunset," Zoë said. "Otherwise, we shall have to wait until tomorrow evening. By then, the Council will have concluded. We shall rescue Lady Artemis and Ainsley tonight."

We were hurrying to the Golden Gate Bridge, although, it was still a long distance away. We'd never make it in time at this rate.

"The Ophiotaurus isn't safe here," I pointed out. "We need to get him to safety."

"Okay, so what do we do?" Percy asked.

Grover stopped running. "I have an idea! The Ophiotaurus can show up in various lakes and stuff, right?

"That sounds right," Percy said.

"Okay, so let's get him back to Long Island Sound. And then Chiron could help me get him back to Olympus."

"There's a problem, Grover." I fidgeted with my axe. "You can't breathe underwater. Only Orion, Percy, or I could."

Orion shook his head, and everyone looked up sharply at him. "I'm sorry but my leaving is out of the question. I'm not leaving my daughter."

"Same here," I agreed.

Percy nodded. "Me too."

"What do we then?" Thalia asked.

"Call on to thy father, Percy," Zoë suggested. "He should assist."

"We'll need a sacrifice," Orion said. "Poseidon likes that. Something huge."

"Every god does," Percy muttered. "But what exactly?"

Orion removed his jacket—the Nemean Lion skin and held about to Percy. "Use this."

Percy gazed warily at Orion. "You sure?"

"Yes. I don't need it to protect myself."

The son of Poseidon accepted the pelt and lifted the pelt into the air. His lips moved in a silent prayer and then he tossed the skin into the sea. It appeared to melt into the sunlight as it vanished beneath the water. Grover inhaled deeply and plunged into the ocean. He started to submerge, so the sea cow swam over and gently supported the satyr so he didn't drown.

"Good luck," I told Grover. "You got this."

He smiled weakly. "Yeah, yeah. I got this. Okay, Bessie, we're heading to Long Island. That's. east."

Bessie mooed and began to submerge himself and Grover.

The satyr gulped. "Wait, Bessie, I-"

Glub. The pair vanished underwater.

"Well, we solved that problem," Percy said. "But how are we supposed to get to the garden?"

Orion unzipped the pocket of his backpack and rummaged around in it. "I could Iris Message my parents. They'd help us." He removed a drachma from his pocket. "I can't carry all of you again like I did at Hoover Dam. I'm too tired after that and the..." He didn't finish, but we all knew what he'd been about to say: blood manipulation.

"Point is," he continued, "my parents could help."

"That would be a foolish decision," Zoë said sharply. "You are quite aware of what their...colleagues think of us. The consequences could be disastrous."

Orion sighed and put away his coin. "Good point. We don't need anymore, uh, conflict."

Thalia frowned. "What conflict are we talking about here exactly?"

"Doesn't matter. If my parents can't help, then we'll need to get transportation from somewhere else. A car, maybe."

"As fun as stealing a car sounds," I said, "we don't have to answer to the police. So, I guess I can't help, either."

Percy arched his eyebrows at me. "Are you implying that you've stolen a car before?"

"Bold of you to assume it was only one."

"We can borrow one." Thalia rummaged around in her backpack before removing a crumpled piece of paper.

"How?" I asked. "Who in their right mind would let us borrow a car? And what're you holding?"

"The address of the guy who'll help us: Professor Chase, Annabeth's father."

I wasn't close to Annabeth, but I still considered her a friend. Since Ainsley and I encountered Aidan on the Princess Andromeda six months ago, I hadn't departed from the Hunt and the couple days every few months when I'd visited Camp Half-Blood had stopped. However, when I did visit camp, I'd always hang out with Annabeth, and she'd complain incessantly about her father. (She knew I understood daddy issues better than anyone.)

I didn't exactly know what to expect from Annabeth's father (All I had was Titan daddy issues, not mortal daddy issues). Would resemble a demon? Maybe Zeus? Ares?

He was none of those.

Dr. Chase had passionate hazel eyes and flaxen hair like Annabeth. He sported an aviator's cap and goggles that made him appear to be an ostrich.

"Good evening," he said. "Do you have my airplanes?"

We all glanced at each other.

"Uh, we don't," Percy said.

Dr. Chase cursed and muttered something about needing more Sopwith Camels.

"Listen," I said, "we need your help."

He frowned. "My help?"

"Annabeth's in danger," Thalia said.

"And Ainsley and Artemis," Orion added.

Dr. Chase stiffened. "Annabeth's in danger? What's going on?"

No one responded, but he understood from Orion's bitter expression and my knuckle-white grip on my axe.

"This is serious." He opened the front door wider. "Come inside."

The house was a mess but still cozy. There were LEGO blocks and toy bricks scattered all over the floor. Soft Christmas music drifted from the kitchen, and a pair of cats snoozed on a couch. Snow yelped as she stepped on a stray LEGO helicopter and the bricks stuck into her paw.

Stupid modern-day toys! she growled. This is why I miss the 1800s! At least then the kids stayed out of the way in Church and didn't leave their toys all over the place!

Orion lifted his wolf into his arms. "Chillax, Snow." He began removing the LEGO bricks from her paws.

"Sweetheart?" A woman of Asian descent with crimson-highlighted hair pulled back into a bun and exited from the kitchen. She was Annabeth's stepmom, I guessed. She smiled at us. "Who are you all?"

"I..." Dr. Chase glanced around at us.

"Fredrick," she scolded. "Did you really forget who they are?"

All of us introduced ourselves, (although Orion introduced Snow). Mrs. Chase offered us snacks, and we accepted, so she promised to bring us some. Afterward, Dr. Chase led me upstairs to his office.

The entire study was crammed wall-to-wall with books, and a massive table exhibited midget combatants and tanks battling on an artificial landscape. Antique biplanes were suspended from the ceiling on strings at askew angles, as though they were locked in a heated aerial battle.

Dr. Chase noticed me studying the scene and smiled. "This is the Third Battle of Ypres, fought between the Allies and the Germans in World War 2. It's-"

"Dr. Chase," Thalia interjected, "we need to borrow a car ASAP to get to Mount Tam. We need to rescue Artemis and Ainsley."

He frowned. "What happened?

We tried our best to explain the situation.

"So," I finished, "we need your car."

"Okay," Dr Chase said. "I can drive you."

Orion shook his head. "I'm sorry, Dr. Chase, but it's not safe for you to come. It's dangerous for demigods, but a mortal there...that would be fatal."

"I have to go!" Dr. Chase protested. "Fatal or not, I have a daughter and-"

He was interrupted when his wife arrived, transporting a tray of PB&J sandwiches, sodas, and chocolate cookies fresh out of the oven. I wolfed down a few cookies and a PB&Js, while Orion chugged two sodas.

"I'll drive," I announced. "I'm sixteen. I'll do my best not to destroy your car?"

"Why do they need the car?" Mrs. Chase asked.

Orion finished a third soda. "We need to get to Mount Tam, and it's not safe for Dr. Chase to come with."

"Then you'd better leave quickly. Sweetheart, where are your keys?"

Dr. Chase fumbled with the pockets of his jeans. "They're in here somewhere."

"Fredrick," Mrs. Chase exasperatedly. "Your keys are hanging on the peg by the front door."

"Thank you," I said.

We bolted down the stairs. I seized the keys, wrenched the door open, and jumped into the driver's seat of the 2005 Red Jeep sitting in the driveway. Zoë hopped into the front passenger's seat, and the other four piled into the backseat.

"Head toward the Golden Gate Bridge," Zoë instructed.

"Got it!" I started the car and slammed my foot on the accelerator.

"Can you go any quicker?" Thalia snarled.

"I'M DOING MY BEST!" I yanked the steering wheel to the right and zipped around a semi.

I careened around the cars on the Golden Gate, pounding the horn. Finally, we hurtled out of the highway in Marin County. The sun was touching the western horizon now, and the desire to pummel a monster was skyrocketing inside me.

The streets were ridiculously slender, curving through dense woods and climbing up the slopes of hills. My foot was beginning to cramp as I continued to slam on the accelerator.

As we approached Mount Tam,  it became enveloped in even heavier smoky clouds. We'd departed from the forest and entered a vast expanse of cliffs, grass, rocks, and fog.

"Oh, gods," Percy muttered.

"What?" I glanced back at him and nearly drove off the cliff.

"Luke's cruise ship...it's down by the ocean."

"No." In the rearview mirror, I could see Thalia turn pale. "Oh, gods."

"Oh, good," Orion muttered. "More enemies to deal with." Then he shouted, "STOP! NOW!"

I sensed a change in the air. The hairs on my arms quivered on end. I smashed on the brakes, and we skidded to a stop at the cliff edge.

"EVERYONE OUT!" Thalia bellowed.

I seized Zoë's arm, yanked her over the arm separating our seats, kicked the door open, and dashed out. Orion grasped Snow under one arm and tackled Percy and Thalia out of the Jeep. We all landed on the pavement.

Next moment, BOOM! Lightning blazed in front of us, and Dr. Chase's Jeep exploded. Shrapnel sailed everywhere. I was about to will time to slow when a shadow passed over me. I heard several grunts of pain, and I realized Orion was shielding all of us in the form of a dragon.

"Orion!" I jumped to my feet.

I'm fine. He transformed back into a human. The sleeves of his jacket were tattered, and his arms were covered in bleeding lacerations. My stomach lurched as I realized that I could see his elbow bone. "I'm fine."

I rushed over to him. "Let me get you some Ambrosia or something. I-" Then I realized we'd left our backpacks in the car which was now a twisted hunk of metal. "Dam it!"

Percy turned to Orion. "You saved us. Thank you."

"Don't mention it, Percy." Orion gritted his teeth and clutched his elbow. He closed his eyes and concentrated, and the blood on his arms scabbed over. "Let's just keep moving."

"Wait a minute, where'd Zoë go? Zoë!"

"Percy, shut up!" I hissed. "You'll wake Ladon!"

"Indeed." Zoë emerged from the fog and grasped my arm. "Raiden is correct.  I shall lead us up, but you must grab another's arm. We must remain together and silent."

"C'mon, Snow," Orion muttered, and the wolf jumped in his arms.

I grasped Orion's shoulder, and he grabbed Percy's arm. Thalia was last, and she gripped Percy's wrist like her life depended on it...which it did.

Zoë moved forward as fog drifted across the road, and she vanished. I looked back at Orion. He nodded, Snow under his right arm. I followed Zoë into the fog.

When we emerged on the other side, the road turned to packed earth. Orion placed Snow back onto the ground, pulled on his bracelet, and grasped his sword. I unsheathed my axe. The mountain peak appeared nearer, enveloped in gray clouds and radiating destructive and evil energy. My tattoo began to pulse painfully, and I shuddered at the memories of my father and the energy brought. The only route to it lay directly in front of us, surrounded by a verdant landscape of shadows and vibrant blossoms.

A towering apple tree as tall as a skyscraper was flanked by polished ebony marble stepping stones. Each branch was adorned with resplendent golden apples with such a pleasant aroma that my mouth watered. I wanted to seize one and wolf it down, but I stopped when I registered the dragon.

The dragon-it was more of a hydra/serpent combo-had a body as broad as five blue whales, shimmering with russet scales. He had innumerable serpent heads that were coiled together on the ground in a scaly spaghetti pile, as though he was asleep.

"Ladon," Orion murmured.

Suddenly, chilling singing filled the air, and four women materialized from the shadows. They resembled Zoë with caramel skin, silky black hair, and Greek chitons adorning their bodies.

"Hello, sisters." Zoë stepped forward.

"You are no sister to us," one Hesperide said icily. "You are a Hunter. That is all we see: a trio of Hunters and a pair of half-bloods who shall shortly perish."

I pointed my axe at the face. "No one is gonna perish, my dear cousin."

The four girls studied me with sable eyes as harsh as the River Styx.

"Raiden Kairos," one said.

"Daughter of Kronos," another remarked. "A traitor to her family like thee." She nodded at Zoë. "I do not know why they consider thee a danger."

"Because I'll pummel anyone who gets in my way," I spat, "which includes you, cousin."

Zoë laid a hand on my arm. "Do not act rashly, Raiden."

I continued to glare at the Hesperides, but I lowered my axe.

"We need to head up there," Orion moved forward. "My daughter and Artemis must be rescued."

Snow growled. So move aside, or I'll bite your head off.

"Tell thy wolf to hush," the lead girl ordered. "Otherwise, we shall raise Ladon."

"I am safe from his attacks," Zoë countered. "I shall be safe."

"Perhaps. And have you considered thy supposed friends?"

Orion growled, like actually made a sound like the snarl of a lion. Zoë shot him a warning glance, and he retreated behind her with a scowl. Then, she did something shocking. She yelled, "Awaken, Ladon!"

The dragon stirred, and the four girls yelped and scattered.

Orion gripped Zoë's shoulder. "Zoë, let me do this. Snow and I can distract him or-"

"No," Zoë interrupted firmly. "Go around the garden borders. Ladon will not bother thee there." She met my gaze. "Raiden, do not try to fight him. Even you cannot stop Ladon."

Before Orion or I could stop her, Zoë approached the dragon and spoke to it in a soothing tone. Percy gestured frantically for us to move. Orion followed me to the right, while Percy and Thalia proceeded to the left. Shortly, in front of us, a single rocky trail emerged up to the dark mountain peak.

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. I was so close to Ainsley, so close to recovering my sister. Suddenly, my senses began tingling. Something was wrong, and Ladon was now prepared to attack.

He pounced at Zoë, hundreds of teeth snapping. She darted around that head, zigzagging to avoid the other fangs.

Orion hurled his common sense out the window and charged at Ladon, slashing with his sword. "STAY AWAY FROM HER, YOU UGLY SNAKE THING!" He sliced at an incoming head.

"Orion, don't!" Zoë shouted.

The monster lunged at her, and she yelped. Orion spun around at Zoë's shout and raced toward her. I glared at the dragon, and he growled. In his second hesitation, Zoë dashed past us, followed by Orion.

"Let me heal you," he panted.

"I am fine," Zoë gasped. "Come. We must continue."

We bolted up to the mountaintop. Crumbling black marble and granite surrounded us, along with shattered columns. Bronze sculptures were half-submerged into the ground and scorched, as though they'd been blasted by lightning. 

"Mount Othrys," I murmured. My throat had gone parched dry, and my snake tattoo throbbed. "No."

"What's that?" Percy gazed at me with concern. "Are you okay, Raiden?"

"No." I gulped and tried to steady my breathing. "This shouldn't be here. This isn't good; this isn't good at all."

Orion stepped over a broken column. "Mount Othrys was the stronghold of the Titans. It moves with Western civilization like Mount Olympus. It's been here since before I was a kid."

"This isn't good," Thalia muttered.

"Why is it not good, other than the fact that it's Titan base?" Percy stepped sideways to avoid being impaled by a broken statue.

"It's Atlas's mountain," I mumbled, trying not to vomit. I clutched my tattoo.

"Where he lifts-" Zoë stopped in her tracks. Her voice trembled. "Where he once lifted the sky."

We had arrived at the crest of the mountain. I followed her petrified gaze. Several yards ahead, spiraling stormy clouds comprised a leaden vortex, creating a funnel cloud that nearly reached the summit.

Instead, it settled on the shoulders of a fourteen-year-old girl with auburn hair in shredded clothes, covered in bruises and gashes. In front of her prowled a huge crimson wolf the size of a carthorse. It was Ainsley, her legs chained to the barren ground by celestial bronze.

"Ainsley!" I rushed forward.

Agro barked as I raced past her. She's not in good shape, Raiden!

Ainsley glanced up, and I recoiled at her face. It was even worse than it'd been in my dream a couple of days prior. Her unscarred eye was still swollen shut, but now it was surrounded by a deep shade of plum. The bruises on her face were deep shades of blue and purple. There was also a streak of gray-white in her hair.

"Oh, gods." I seized the chains and yanked with all my strength, but they wouldn't budge.

"Ray..." Ainsley's voice was barely audible and extremely strained. I had to lean closer to hear her. "Trap. Leave."

Orion raced forward, concern and fury fighting for dominance in his eyes. "Kid!" He gazed at Ainsley's injured face then raised his sword. "Don't worry; we're gonna get you outta here."

"Ah, isn't this sentimental?" a voice boomed behind us.

Orion and I spun around. In front of us stood Annabeth, gagged and with her hands bound behind her back, with Luke's sword at her throat. Six dracaenae were to their left, lifting the sarcophagus of my father. As I stared at it, I felt as though a scalding spearpoint had just been pressed to my tattoo.

Aidan stood to Luke's right in bronze armor, drumming his fingers on his sheathed sword. I noticed that his upper arms were bandaged and his nose was swollen and bruised. In the middle was a towering, muscular man with a cold but regal face, stony eyes, caramel skin, and sleek dark hair, sporting a fine hazel suit.

I knew who he was. My snake tattoo throbbed again.

"Atlas," I snarled, unsheathing my axe. "Where's Artemis?"

The Titan laughed (although I glimpsed traces of apprehension in his eyes) and snapped his fingers. A pair of armored demigods emerged from behind our enemies, dragging the enchained goddess. Artemis's eyes roved from Zoë to her wounded daughter, and her expression hardened.

"Release her," Zoë said.

"I am afraid that won't be happening," Atlas replied. "I see you are doing well, my little traitor. Destroying you shall be fun."

"You're not hurting her," Percy snarled.

Atlas scoffed. "This is a familial affair, puny hero. Stay out of it."

Percy knit his eyebrows. "A familial affair?"

"Indeed," Zoë said heavily. "This is my father."