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DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter forty
❛ 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎. ❜

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

AFTER AMARA'S ARGUMENT with Thalia, she joined the Hephaestus cabin in setting up for the next battle. There wasn't much to do though, cabin nine ran out of greek fire while the children of Apollo and hunters of Artemis scavenged for arrows.

There wasn't much fighting left in the remaining campers, hunters, and satyrs. The rest had taken refuge on Olympus, being treated for their injuries. Amara was standing beside Jake Mason when Chiron trotted up with Rachel on his back.

"Your friend here has some useful insights, Percy," the centaur said. Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia had made their way over as well, standing across from the children of Zeus and Hephaestus.

The redhead blushed, scratching her neck. "Just some things I saw in my head."

"A drakon," Chiron said. "A Lydian drakon, to be exact. The oldest and most dangerous kind."

"How did you know that?" Percy asked.

"I'm not sure," Rachel admitted. "But the drakon has a particular fate. It will be killed by a child of Ares and Zeus."

Amara raised her brow while Annabeth crossed her arms. "How can you possibly know that?"

"I just saw it. I can't explain."

"Well let's hope you're wrong," Percy said, his eyes momentarily landing on his girlfriend. "Because we're a little short on children of Ares . . ." He went quiet for a moment and then cursed in ancient greek.

"What?" Amara asked.

"The spy," He explained. "Kronos said, We know they cannot beat this drakon. The spy has been keeping him updated. Kronos knows the Ares cabin isn't with us. He intentionally picked a monster we can't kill."

The brunette's eyes hardened. "Excuse me?"

"What?"

"A monster we can't kill?" Amara moved her finger to point at herself and the eldest Grace. "Two daughters of Zeus, right here."

Percy's eyes widened. "Mara, I didn't mean it like that. But it says a child of Zeus and—"

"Doesn't matter, we can kill it ourselves."

His face fell and Thalia spoke up, saving the couple from an argument. "If I ever catch your spy," she swore. "He's going to be very sorry. Maybe we could send another messenger to camp—"

"I've already done it," Chiron reassured. "Blackjack is on his way. But if Silena wasn't able to convince Clarisse, I doubt Blackjack will be able—"

A roar shook the ground, cutting the old centaur off.

"Rachel," Percy said. "Get inside the building."

"I want to stay."

A shadow overtook the sun, the two hundred foot long drakon slithering down from the side of a skyscraper. It roared once more, a thousand windows shattering from the high pitch noise.

"On second thought," Rachel spoke in a small voice. "I'll be inside."

The enemy army kept advancing down Fifth Avenue, moving easily after the demigods had pushed the cars out of the way. Chiron galloped up and down their ranks, shouting encouragement to the demigods, satyrs, hunters, and party ponies alike.

"I'll take the drakon!" Amara yelled, earning the camper's attention as she swung her sword around to get her shoulder used to the action. "Hold the line against the army!"

Thalia grabbed onto her good arm, spinning her younger sister around. "What are you doing?" She hissed.

"There's no children of Ares," Amara said. "We're the best chance at killing that thing."

The hunters eyes narrowed. "Do you have a suicide wish?"

"Do you want us to die or what?"

The daughters of Zeus had a stareoff, until the eldest Grace sighed. "Fine," Thalia said at last. "I'll provide support and keep the hunters coordinated, but don't die out there."

The brunette nodded, tearing her arm away from the immortal as a loud whistle rang through the air.

"Send him to Hades," Thalia ordered. But the huntress held a smirk, her hand up slightly. "For Zeus."

A smirk curled onto the younger girl's lips, clapping her hand against her sisters as they took off into different directions.

Three stories above the daughter of Zeus, the drakon slithered sideways along the building. She was quick to follow, trying to come up with a way to get it down until a mass of shadow collided with the monster.

Mrs. O'Leary's claws raked harmlessly off the drakon's scales. She bit the monster's throat but couldn't make a dent. Her weight, however, was enough to knock the drakon off the side of the building. It fell awkwardly and crashed to the sidewalk, hellhound and serpent twisting and thrashing.

The drakon tried to bite Mrs. O'Leary, but she was too close to the serpents mouth. Poison spewed everywhere, melting centaurs into dust along with a few monsters, but Mrs. O'Leary weaved around the serpents head, scratching and biting.

Percy appeared, letting out a war cry before plunging his sword deep within the monsters left eye. The darkon hissed, rearing back to strike the demigod but he rolled to the side. Mrs. O'Leary leaped onto the serpent's head, scratching and growling.

Using Percy's and Mrs. O'Leary distraction, she made her way onto the drakon's back. With a quick swipe of her weapon, she drove her sword into an opening in the serpent's scales.

The creature roared, coiling around until it successfully knocked Amara off its back. She crashed into the pavement, unable to stop the gasp that escaped from her shoulder roughly hitting the ground. Percy was at her side in an instant, quickly dragging her out of the way as a lamppost fell right where she had landed.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

"What happened to not playing hero?"

"Yeah, well, move!"

Amara was quick on her feet, shoving her boyfriend down as the drakon's mouth snapped shut where his head had been seconds ago. Mrs. O'Leary charged the creature, earning its attention while the couple rolled out of the way.

A rumbling could be heard in the south, one she had committed to memory by heart and recognizing it to be chariot wheels.

"Ares!" A voice yelled across the battlefield, dozens of war chariots charging into the fight. Each held a red banner with the symbol of a wild boar's head, pulled by skeletal horses with manes of fire.

Thirty children of Ares appeared, their lances lowered and eyes filled with hatred at the enemy army. Leading the campers, was the head counselor of cabin five. Her blood red armor was glistening in the sun, her face covered by the boar's helmet. She held her spear, crackling with electricity as she raised it into the air and let out a war cry.

Half of the Ares cabin charged the monster army, the other half following Clarisse and heading straight for the drakon. The creature managed to finally throw off Mrs. O'Leary, Percy quickly running to the animals side while the drakon got a mouthful of javelins.

"Ares," Clarisse ordered. "To me!" Her voice was shriller than usual, but it gave encouragement as the campers, satyrs, hunters, and party ponies rallied at the doors of the Empire State Building.

The children of Ares' chariots circled the monster, lances breaking against the drakon's skin. Skeletal horses breathed fire, chariots overturned but the warriors would get back up and return to the task at hand.

Clarisse was leading the charge, stabbing her spear into the drakon's face while attempting to take out its other eye. But, things slowly started going wrong. The creature snapped up a child of Ares in one gulp, another knocked aside, poison sprayed on the third who attempted to save his half sibling.

"We have to help," Annabeth shimmered into existence beside the brunette.

"I have to help. Child of Ares and Zeus must kill it, remember?"

"Amara—"

"Relax Beth," Amara reassured. "It'll be fine."

With a wave of her hand, she launched onto the drakon's back and took off for its head in an attempt to get the heat off Clarisse.

"You can do it!" Percy reassured the daughters of Ares and Zeus. "A child of Ares and Zeus together are destined to kill it!"

Amara finally reached the middle of drakon, and was able to get a good look at Clarisse. Through the older girl's war helmet, she could only see her eyes. Her body went rigid as she realized why the daughter of Ares voice had been different, her eyes were shining with fear.

Clarisse La Rue never showed fear, and didn't have baby blue eyes. Those eyes, belonged to Silena Beauregard.

"Ares!" Silena shouted, her voice shrill as she leveled her spear and charged the drakon.

"No." Amara muttered, summoning a wind spirit and trying to reach the daughter of Aphrodite. "Silena, no!"

The monster looked down at the older girl, spitting poison directly in her face. Silena screamed, falling to the ground.

"Clarisse!"

The world around Amara was buzzing. She landed only a few feet from the daughter of Aphrodite, but she was quick to rush to her side while the Ares cabin took over maintaining the drakon.

Silena's hand found the brunette's, gripping onto it tightly while Annabeth attempted to unfasten the war helmet.

"No!" A girl's voice cried, shaken with grief as Clarisse La Rue kneeled on the opposite side of Amara with tears racing down her face. "Curse you, why!"

The dirty blonde was quickly to wrap her arms around the baby blue eyed girl, Annabeth still struggling to remove the helmet while Chris Rodriguez ran over from the flying chariot.

She couldn't make out Chris words of warning, the ear piercing roar of the drakon shaking the ground and nearby buildings silenced the ringing in her ears.

Clarisse and Amara shared a look, the former standing to her feet while vicious storm spirits began circling the latter. "You want death?" Clarisse screamed, grabbing her spear from Silena. "We'll give it to you, come on Grace!"

Demigods moved aside for the daughters of Ares and Zeus, lightning cackling in the sky. Clarisse took off, diving under the monster while Amara kept its attention on her.

She blinked back tears that threatened to spill, moving her hand in a swishing motion and the drakon was thrown backwards. Balls of wind formed in her hand, ones she mercilessly threw against the creature while the La Rue girl made her way to its head.

The drakon roared, rearing its head up only to met with Clarisse driving her spear to through its eye with extreme force. "Now, Thora!"

Amara's eyes flashed, her sword raising to the sky while Clarisse jumped back to the ground. Lightning struck the weapon, before she redirected it to the electric spear. The drakon let out a shriek, electricity arcing across its entire body until the monsters flesh dissolved completely.

The demigods shared a nod, racing their way back to Silena's side. Jake Mason had showed up, Thalia by his side as Amara and Clarisse resumed their original positions.

Annabeth had finally managed to removed the melted helmet. Silena's once perfect and beautiful features, were burned from the poison.

"What were you thinking?" Clarisse asked, cradling the older girls head in her lap while Amara held onto her hands gently.

Silena tried to swallow, but her lips had become dry and cracked. "Wouldn't . . . listen. Cabin would . . . only follow you."

"So you stole my armor. You waited until Chris and I went out on patrol, and pretended to be me." Clarisse glared at her siblings. "And none of you noticed?"

The children of Ares looked to their combat boots, refusing to meet the gaze of their half sister.

"Don't blame them," Silena defended cabin five's campers. "They wanted to . . . to believe I was you."

"You stupid Aphrodite girl," Clarisse sobbed. "You charged a drakon. Why?"

"All my fault," the daughter of Aphrodite said, a tear streaking down the side of her face. "The drakon, Charlie's death . . . camp endangere—"

"Stop it," Amara argued. "That's not true."

Silena opened her hand, a silver bracelet with a scythe charm resting in her palm.

"You . . . You were the spy?" The brunette croaked, earning a look of sympathy from her older sister.

"Before . . . before I liked Charlie, Luke was nice to me. He was so . . . charming, handsome. Later, I wanted to stop helping him, but he threatened to tell." Silena looked to Amara. "He promised . . . he promised I was saving lives. Fewer people would get hurt. He told me he wouldn't hurt . . . you or Charlie. He lied to me."

The battle raged on behind them, earning a scowl from Clarisse as she commanded her siblings. "Go, help the centaurs. Protect the doors. Go!"

The children of Ares didn't argue, scrambling off to quickly join the fight.

Silena took a heavy, painful breath. "Forgive me."

"You're not dying," Amara argued while attempting to keep back her tears. "Do you know what Charles would say?"

"We were so proud of . . . you," Silena attempted a smile and squeezed her hand. "You were like my younger sister, and Charlie . . . he loved you more than anything in this world."

The brunette's grip tightened on the daughter of Aphrodite's hand. "We were supposed to stay together and live through this," Amara's voice cracked. "But I failed you."

"You could . . . never let us down," Silena was able to form one last smile. "Charlie . . . see, Charlie . . ."

The daughter of Aphrodite's hand went limp in Amara's, her baby blue eyes dulled as they stared at the sky. Clarisse wept while Chris put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

With shaky hands, Amara closed Silena's eyes before looking at the campers around her. "She gave her life to help us, we will honor her."

Clarisse sniffled. "Amara's right, she was hero. Understand? A hero."

Nobody argued against the daughters of Ares and Zeus, the girls getting to their feet. Clarisse picked up a sword from one of her fallen siblings. "Kronos, is going to pay."

With that, she got into one of the Ares cabin chariots and drove to the drakon's carcass. Looping a grappling line through its eyes socket, she attached it to her chariot. Clarisse lashed her horses and took off, dragging the drakon behind her while she charged after the enemy and yelled insults.

As the La Rue girl rode, her body began glowing with an aura of red fire flickering around her.

"The blessing of Ares," Thalia spoke. "I've never seen it in person before."

The enemy threw spears and arrows, but the daughter of Ares was untouchable to all attacks.

"I am Clarisse, drakon-slayer!" She yelled. "I will kill you all! Where is Kronos? Bring him out! Is he a coward?"

"Clarisse!" Percy yelled. "Stop it. Withdraw!"

"What's the matter, Titan lord?" She yelled. "Bring it on!"

The enemy army began to fall back behind a dracaena shield wall, and Amara knew the battle was over for now. With one last swing of her sword, it morphed back into her necklace and she slipped it back over her head.

"Ara," Thalia placed her hand on the younger girls shoulder. "I'm so sor—"

"Don't," Amara tore her shoulder free, ready to walk off only to be stopped by Jake Mason standing in her way.

She scowled, her eyes narrowing at the older boy who held a sad look. "Not you too!" Amara said. "I don't need sympathy, if you want to comfort someone help out the children of Aphrodite."

"Am," Jake gave her a small smile. "You need to grieve, you just lost two of the most important people in your life within the matter of days. It's okay to not be okay."

The brunette glared at the son of Hephaestus. "What I need? What I need is to help end this war, grief doesn't fall into that."

Amara began walking off, heading towards her boyfriend and Annabeth who was waiting for her inside the Empire State Building.

"You can't keep bottling this up!" Jake called after the younger girl. "You're a ticking time bomb and eventually it'll become too much for you, Amara, you could die!"

She stopped in place, turning around to look at the children of Hephaestus and Zeus each with a reassuring expression. "Then I die."

The older demigods faces dropped, not expecting that response as she turned and made her way inside the Empire State Building.

When Amara made her way inside the building, she was able to hear the end of Percy's conversation with the Stoll brothers.

"Is it true?" Conner asked. "About Silena?"

Percy nodded. "She died a hero."

Travis shifted uncomfortably. "Um, I also heard—"

"That's it," Amara said. The children of Hermes, Poseidon, and Athena's eyes landed on her. "End of story."

"Right," Travis mumbled. "Listen, we figure the Titan's army will have trouble getting up the elevator. They'll have to go up a few at a time, and the giants won't be able to fit at all."

"That's our biggest advantage," Percy agreed while his hand quickly interlaced with Amara's. "Anyway to disable the elevator?"

"It's magic," The eldest Stoll said. "Usually you need a key card, but the doorman vanished. That means the defenses are crumbling, anyone can walk into the elevator now and head straight up."

"Then we have to keep them away from the doors," Percy ordered. "We'll bottle them up in the lobby."

"We need reinforcements," Travis argued. "They'll just keep coming and eventually they'll overwhelm us."

"There are no reinforcements," Conner complained.

Percy's gaze landed on Mrs. O'Leary, a smile curling onto his lips and he let go of Amara's hand. "Maybe that's not true."

Her boyfriend disappeared outside, leaving the daughters of Zeus and Athena as they stood in silence. Each heartbroken by what they had just witnessed, but also by what it meant.

Percy rejoined them in the lobby, quickly taking Amara's hand in his once more as they made their way to elevator before finding Grover kneeling over a wounded satyr.

"Leneus!" Percy said.

The old satyr looked terrible, his lips were blue with a broken spear impaled into his stomach. His goat legs had been twisted at a painful angle.

"Grover?" The older satyr murmured.

"I'm here, Leneus." Grover was blinking back tears, smiling at the satyr.

"Did . . . did we win?"

"Um . . . yes," their protector lied. "Thanks to you, Leneus. We drove the enemy away."

"Told you," Leneus mumbled. "True leader. True . . ."

The old satyr closed his eyes for the last time. Grover gulped, placing his hand on Leneus' forehead and spoke an ancient blessing. The satyr's body melted, a tiny sapling in a pile of fresh soil taking his place.

"A laurel," Grover said in awe before gathering the sapling in his hands. "Oh, that lucky old goat. I . . . I should plant him. In Olympus, in the gardens."

"We're going that way," Percy said. "Come on."

The demigods and satyr made their way into the elevator, light hearted music playing as the machine rose upwards.

"Percy," Annabeth said quietly. "You were right about Luke." It was the first time Amara had heard the blonde speak since she walked into the building, but she kept her eyes locked on the elevator floors as they neared the three hundred's.

"Annabeth," Percy said. "I'm sorry—"

"You tried to tell me," the daughter of Athena's voice was shaky as she spared Amara a look. "Luke is no good. I didn't believe you until . . . until I heard how he'd used Silena. Now I know, I hope you're happy."

"That doesn't make me happy."

Annabeth rested her head against the elevator wall, avoiding looking at anyone but Amara. The two seemed to have a mutual understanding, one only they could share.

Percy stared at his girlfriend. The moment they entered the elevator she had quickly found a corner to stand in, keeping her distance from everyone before eventually ending up beside Annabeth.

"Grover," he whispered, earning the satyrs attention and pointing at the brunette. "Is she going to be okay? Two deaths in only a matter of days . . . look how long it took her to heal from Thalia's."

"She's lost everyone Perce," Grover gave him a sad look. "It's a miracle by the gods she hasn't lost herself along the way. You just . . . you have to be patient."

The doors dinged, ending their conversation and the group of four stepped onto the aerial walkway.

Depressing isn't a word that usually described Olympus, but it seemed the perfect word in this moment. No fires lit the braziers, the windows were dark. The streets were deserted and the doors were barred.

The only movement were in the parks, which had been set as field hospitals. Will Solace and the other Apollo campers scrambled around, caring for the wounded. Naiads and dryads tried to help, using nature magic songs to heal burns and poison.

Grover went to plant his laurel sapling, Annabeth and Perry went around trying to cheer up the wounded while Amara headed straight for the palace.

When the two demigods and satyr finally joined the daughter of Zeus, they made their way inside. Their footsteps echoed against the marble floor, the constellations twinkled coldly on the ceiling of the great hall.

The hearth was down to a dull red glow. Hestia, in the form of a little girl in brown robes, hunched at its edge shivering. The Ophiotaurus swam sadly in his sphere of water, letting out a half-hearted moo.

In the firelight the thrones cast shadows, like grasping hands. Standing at the foot of her father's throne, looking up at the stars was Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She was holding a greek ceramic vase.

"Rachel?" Percy said. "Um, what are you doing with that?"

The mortal turned her attention on him. "I found it. It's Pandora's jar, isn't it?" The redheads emerald green eyes were shining brighter than usual.

"Please put down the jar."

"I can see hope inside it," Rachel ran her fingers over the ceramic designs. "So fragile."

"Rachel."

Percy's voice seemed to bring her back to reality as she handed him the jar, the demigod quickly taking it.

"Grover," Annabeth mumbled. "Let's scout around the palace. Maybe we can find some extra greek fire or Hephaestus traps."

"But—"

Amara elbowed her protector.

"Right!" He yelped. "I love traps!"

Sparing one last look to her boyfriend, Amara followed Annabeth and Grover out of the throne room aware of Percy's gaze watching her go.

They were gone for a couple of minutes, not having much luck finding anything useful, so they headed back. Amara followed behind her old friends into the throne room, stopping when they saw Hestia, Rachel, and Percy.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked. "Should we, um, leave again?"

He looked at Rachel. "You're not going to do anything stupid, are you? I mean . . . you talked to Chiron, right?"

Rachel gave a faint smile. "You're worried about me doing something stupid?"

"But I mean . . . will you be okay?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "That kind of depends on whether you save the world, hero."

Amara rolled her eyes at the mortal's words, having a hard time concealing her annoyance.

Percy picked up Pandora's jar, holding it out for the goddess. "Hestia," he said. "I give this to you as an offering."

Hestia tilted her head. "I am the least of the gods. Why would you trust me with this?"

"You're the last Olympian," he said. "And the most important."

"And why is that, Percy Jackson?"

"Because hope survives best at the hearth," Percy said. "Guard it for me, and I won't be tempted to give up again."

The goddess smiled, taking the jar in her hands as it began to glow. The hearth began to burn a little brighter.

"Well done, Percy Jackson," Hestia said. "May the gods bless you."

"We're about to find out." He looked at Amara, then Annabeth and Grover. "Come on, guys."

The throne of Poseidon rested to the right of Zeus', but it was nowhere near as grand as the king of the gods. The molded black leather seat was attached to a swivel pedestal, with a couple of iron rings on the side for fastening a fishing pole or a trident.

"Help me up," Percy instructed.

"Are you crazy?" Amara asked.

"Probably," her boyfriend admitted.

"Percy," Grover said. "The gods really don't appreciate people sitting in their thrones. I mean like turn you into a pile of ashes don't appreciate it."

"I need to get his attention," Percy argued. "It's the only way."

"This'll get his attention," the brunette agreed and raised a brow. "Now would you rather get up there yourself or have me use the winds and throw you up there?"

Percy narrowed his eyes playfully at his girlfriend, earning a small smile to lace her lips as Annabeth and Grover boosted him onto the throne. It was silent for a minute as he looked around, until the throne rumbled. When he went quiet, Amara could only assume that meant the connection had worked.

"Amara . . ." Annabeth spoke softy, but the younger demigod shook her head. "It'll be okay Beth."

The blonde held a frown. "What if . . ."

Amara knew where the sentence was heading. What if they were the ones who had to stop Luke? She was angry at the boy, angry beyond measure. But killing him? Even she wasn't sure how to react to that despite him being the reason . . .

Percy slipped down from the throne, drawing her from her thoughts. "Are you okay? You turned pale and . . . you started smoking." Grover said.

"I did not!" Then he looked at his arms and realization flashed across his face.

"If you'd sat there any longer," Annabeth said. "You would've spontaneously combusted. I hope the conversation was worth it?"

"We'll find out soon," Percy said.

The doors to the throne room swung open, Thalia marching inside. Her bow was snapped in half and her quiver was empty. "You've got to get down there," she told them. "The enemy is advancing, and Kronos is leading them."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

When they got back down to the streets, campers and hunters alike were wounded on the ground. Clarisee and her chariot were frozen in a block of ice, the party ponies nowhere to be found.

The Titan army ringed the building, standing a mere twenty feet away from the doors. Kronos's vanguard was in the lead. Ethan Nakamura, the dracaenae queen in her green armor, and two Hyperboreans. Kronos himself stood in front with his scythe in hand.

"Chiron," Annabeth's voice was trembling and it earned Amara's attention to land on the centaur. He had an arrow notched, aiming straight at Kronos's face.

Once Kronos saw the small group, his golden eyes flared and every muscle in her body froze. Then, the Titan Lord's attention returned to Chiron. "Step aside, little son."

"I'm afraid not," Chiron's voice was steely calm, the tone he used whenever he was furious. Amara attempted to move, but her shoes felt like they were nailed to the concrete.

"Chiron!" Annabeth cried. "Look out!"

The dracaenae queen became impatient and charged. Chiron's arrow flew between her eyes and she vaporized on the spot, her empty armor clattering to the asphalt. Their camp director reached for another arrow, but his quiver was empty. He dropped the bow, drawing his sword.

Kronos chuckled. He advanced a step, and Chiron's horse-half skittered nervously. His tail flicked back and forth. "You're a teacher," the Titan sneered. "Not a hero."

"Luke was a hero," Chiron protested. "He was a good one, until you corrupted him."

"Fool!" Kronos' voice shook the city. "You filled his head with empty promises. You said the gods cared about me!"

Amara's heart dropped, catching onto the slip up at the end of the Titan's sentence and it seemed Chiron noticed the same thing.

"Me," the centaur noted. "You said me."

Kronos became confused and in that moment, Chiron struck. It was a good maneuver, a feint followed by a strike to the face, but the Titan was quicker. He knocked Chiron's blade and yelled. "Back!"

A blinding white light exploded between the father and son, Chiron flew into the side of the building with such force the wall crumbled and collapsed on top of him.

"No!" Annabeth yelled and Kronos' spell over them broke. They quickly ran towards their teacher, but there was no sign of him. Thalia and Percy pulled helplessly at the bricks while a ripple of ugly laughter ran through the Titan's army.

Thunder rumbled across the sky as Amara tore her necklace free, a glare forming in her electric blue eyes.

"You!" Annabeth turned on Luke. "To think that I . . . that I thought—" the blonde drew her dagger.

"Annabeth, don't," Percy tried to take her arm, but she shook him off and lunged.

The daughter of Athena plunged her knife between the straps of his armor, into his collar bone. When the blade should've sunk into his chest, it bounced off instead. Annabeth doubled over, clutching her arm to her stomach and Amara could only assume the jolt was enough to dislocate her shoulder.

Amara quick to yank her back as Kronos swung his scythe, slicing the air where she'd been standing. She fought and screamed against the brunette, "I hate you!" Tears streaked the dust on her face as she stared at Luke's body.

"I have to fight him," Percy reminded the girls, stepping in front of them.

Amara's eyes narrowed at her boyfriend. "It's our fight too, Percy!"

Kronos laughed. "So much spirit. I can see why Luke wanted to spare you two. Unfortunately, that won't be possible."

He raised his scythe, Thalia quickly joining her younger sister's side as they spared one another a look. Before Kronos could strike, a dog's howl pierced the air somewhere behind the Titan's army. "Arooo!"

"Mrs. O'Leary?" Percy called.

The enemy forces stirred uneasily. Then, they began to part, clearing a path through the street like something behind them was forcing them to. Soon there was a free aisle down the center of Fifth Avenue.

Standing at the end of the block was Mrs. O'Leary, and a small figure in black armor.

"Nico?" Amara called, her eyes landing on the son of Hades who she hadn't seen since last year.

Mrs. O'Leary bounded towards Percy, ignoring the growling monsters on either side. Nico strode forward, the enemy army falling back from the death that radiated off him.

Through the face guard of his skull shaped helmet, he smiled. "Got your message. Is it too late to join the party?"

"Son of Hades." Kronos spit on the ground. "Do you love death so much you wish to experience it?"

"Your death," Nico said. "Would be great for me."

"I'm immortal, you fool! I have escaped Tartarus. You have no business here, and no chance to live."

Nico drew his sword, the Stygian iron as black as the night sky. "I don't agree."

The ground rumbled. Cracks appeared in the road, the sidewalks, the sides of the buildings. Skeletal hands grasped the air as the dead clawed their way into the world of the living. There were thousands of them, and as they emerged the Titan's monsters got jumpy and started to back up.

"Hold your ground!" Kronos demanded. "The dead are no match for us."

The sky turned dark and cold. Shadows thickened, harsh ear horn sounded. The dead soldiers formed up ranks with their guns and swords and spears, an enormous chariot roared down Fifth Avenue coming to a stop next to Nico.

The horses were living shadows, fashioned from darkness. The chariot was inlaid with obsidian and gold, decorated with scenes of painful death. Holding the reins was Hades himself, Demeter and Persephone riding behind him.

Hades wore black armor and a cloak the color of fresh blood. On top of his pale head was the helm of darkness, a crown that radiated pure terror. It changed shape as she watched, from a dragon's head to a circle of black flames, to a wreath of human bones. Hades smiled coldly. "Hello, Father. You're looking . . . young."

"Hades," Kronos growled. "I hope you and the ladies have come to pledge your allegiance."

"I'm afraid not," Hades sighed. "My son here convinced me perhaps I should prioritize my list of enemies."

He glanced at Percy with distaste, making Amara raise a brow at her boyfriend. "As much as I dislike certain upstart demigods, it would not do for Olympus to fall. I would miss bickering with my siblings. And if there is one thing we agree on, it is that you were a terrible father."

"True," muttered Demeter. "No appreciation of agriculture."

"Mother!" Persephone complained.

Hades drew his sword, a double-edged Stygian blade etched with silver. "Now fight me! For today the House of Hades will be called the saviors of Olympus!"

"I don't have time for this," Kronos snarled.

He struck the ground with his scythe. A crack spread in both directions, circling the Empire Stare Building. A wall of force shimmered along the fissure line, separating Kronos's vanguard, the demigods, and Amara from the bulk of the two armies.

"What's he doing?" Percy muttered.

"Sealing us in," Thalia answered. "He's collapsing the magic barriers around Manhattan, cutting off just the building, and us."

Sure enough, outside the barrier, car engines revved to life. Pedestrians woke up and stared at the monsters and zombies all around the demigods while car doors opened.

"No," Percy said. "Don't . . ."

Amara followed his gaze to the end of the block, her eyes landing on the Jackson family's Prius. Her knees nearly buckled at the sight of Jada Beckendorf, the older woman held a worried look as she met eyes with her adoptive daughter.

Sally Jackson didn't listen to the words of her son, saying something to Paul and Jada before the adults began running towards them.

Thankfully, Hades caused a distraction. He charged at the wall of force, but his chariot crashed against it and overturned. He got to his feet, cursing, and blasted the wall with black energy but the barrier held.

"Attack!" The god roared.

The armies of the dead clashed with the Titan's monsters. Fifth Avenue exploded into chaos, mortals screaming and running for cover. Demeter waved her hand and an entire column of giants turned into a wheat field. Persephone changed the dracaenae's spears into sunflowers. Nico slashed and hacked his way through the enemy, trying to protect the pedestrians as best he could.

"Nakamura," Kronos said. "Attend me. Giants, deal with them." He pointed at Amara and the others, then ducked into the lobby.

The first Hyperborean giant roared, attempting to swat at Amara with his club. She quickly rolled to the side, unaware of her adoptive mother watching her with anxiety as she stabbed her weapon into the monsters back.

The Hyperborean shattered in a pile of ice shards, drawing her attention to Thalia who dodged a blast of frost. The huntress sprinted up the giant's back, slicing her hunting knives across his blue neck and sliding to the ground alongside the shard.

She lightly rolled her eyes at her older sister. "Show off," Amara muttered which earned a smirk from the huntress as they quickly joined the Jackson family's side.

"When did you learn to fire a shotgun?" Percy demanded his mother.

Sally blew the hair out of her face. "About two seconds again. Percy, we'll be fine. Go!"

"Yes," Nico agreed. "We'll handle the army. You have to get to Kronos!"

Amara met glances with Jada, the older woman holding a sword in her hand as she pointed at the Grace sisters. "Watch each other's backs," she demanded. "You will both come back alive."

Thalia nodded, seemingly speechless from the mother's concern while Amara gave a small smile.

"Come on, Seaweed Brain." She called and her boyfriend nodded, his attention on the rubble pile their director was buried under.

"Mrs. O'Leary," Percy said. "Please, Chiron's under there. If anyone can dig him out, you can. Find him! Help him!"

The hellhound bounded for the rubble, while the group of four demigods and satyr quickly raced for the elevators.

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02-06-25

     hello hello ! ugh we only have two more chapters and then days in the sun is over ! my heart hurts, but, i'm currently working on book two so i can try and get it out as soon as possible. thank you all for the support and i'll see you next week !