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DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter thirty-two
❛ 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝. ❜

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

      THE DEMIGODS MADE it to the Jackson's apartment around noon, Jada Beckendorf giving the half-bloods a ride. She and Sally Jackson got along good, better than expected. Maybe it was because their children were friends, but Amara could never get the older woman to tell her what she and the eldest Jackson would talk about.

"I told them you were all right," Sally argued, her eyes shining with a smile laced on her lips. She looked as if the weight of sky had been lifted off her shoulders. Jada and Sally sat the teenagers down at the table, handing out cookies while the trio caught the mother's up on their quest.

Percy attempted to water down the harsher parts, but he only made it sound worse with the way the older woman's eyes always widen.

When he got to the part about Geryon and the stables, Sally pretended like she was going to strangle him while Jada immediately searched for the burn on Amara's hand that had healed from the nectar.

"I can't get him to clean his room," The eldest Jackson shook her head with a smile. "But he'll clean a hundred tons of horse manure out of some monster's stables?"

Annabeth laughed, an amused smile twitched at the corner of the Grace girl's lips from the mother's words.

"So," Jada spoke up, eyeing her new daughter with a raised brow. "You wrecked Alcatraz Island?"

"Made Mount St. Helens explode," Sally cut in. "And displaced half a million people, but at least you're safe."

"Yep," Percy agreed. "That pretty much covers it."

"I wish Paul was here. He wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, right. The school." Percy paused. "What did you tell him?"

Sally shook her head. "What could I say? He knows something is different about you, Percy. He's a smart man. He believes that you're not a bad person. He doesn't know what's going on, but the school is pressuring him. After all, he got you admitted there. He needs to convince them the fire wasn't your fault. And since you ran away, that looks bad."

"I'll talk to him," he promised. "After we're done with the quest. I'll even tell him the truth if you want."

The older women's eyes widened, "You would do that?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, he'll think we're crazy."

"Then there's nothing to lose."

"Thank you, Percy. I'll tell him you'll be home . . ." She frowned. "When? What happens now?"

The sound of a cookie breaking in half earned the older duo's attention to land on Amara. A harsh glare was directed towards Percy, her electric blue eyes stormy. "Percy has this plan . . ."

Reluctantly he told his mom.

Jada nodded, "It sounds very dangerous," Sally agreed, finishing the older woman's thoughts. "But, it might work."

"You have the same abilities, don't you?" Percy asked them both. "You can see through the Mist."

The eldest Beckendorf nodded and Sally sighed. "Not so much now. When I was younger it was easier. But yes, I've always been able to see more than what was good for me. It's one of the things that caught your father's attention, when we first met. Just be careful. Promise me you'll be safe."

"We'll try, Ms. Jackson," Amara sent the older women a genuine smile. But, it dropped as she made eye contact with the son of Poseidon. "Keeping your son safe is a big job though." Percy glared at the girl, one she eagerly returned.

"What's going on with you two?" Sally frowned, lightly looking to Jada who managed to keep a neutral face. "Have you been fighting?"

The children of the big three stayed quiet, earning the mother's to give one another a frown.

"Well, remember," Jada spoke up. "Grover and Tyson are counting on you three."

"I know." The three demigods said at the same time.

Sally smiled. "Percy, you'd better use the phone in the hall. Good luck."

Her son nodded, making his way down the hall. The moment he was gone, both Jada and Sally turned their attention to the daughter of Zeus. "What happened between you two, dear?" Sally asked.

"Darling," Jada started, reaching for her adoptive daughter's hand. "I thought Beckendorf had said you two were fine?"

Amara shrugged, taking her hand from the eldest Beckendorf and stuffing it in her jacket. "It's his fault."

"They kissed," Annabeth blurted, earning the brunette's glare and the older duo's eyes slightly widened with smiles.

"Annabeth!"

"What?" The blonde asked innocently. "It's the truth. They kissed, and she's mad because he disappeared for two weeks just to come back and be focused on the mortal Rachel Elizabeth Dare. And he hasn't said anything about the kiss, so all this isn't sitting right with her."

If looks could kill, Annabeth Chase would have been dead a long time ago.

Sally gave Amara a small smile. "It's alright to feel this way dear, nothing to be ashamed of. My son . . . he can be clueless at times. But, I promise he'll come around."

Jada nodded, a gentle smile lacing her lips as she gave the Grace girl's shoulder a squeeze. "It'll just take some time, that's all."

She could only hope the older duo was right, and not getting her hopes up for nothing.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

They had found Rachel Elizabeth Dare in front of the Marriott Marquis and she was completely painted gold, her face, her hair, her clothes. She stood like a statue next to five other kids, frozen in different poses while tourists threw money at the tarp on the sidewalk. There was sign at Rachel's feet.

URBAN ART FOR KIDS, DONATIONS APPRECIATED

The demigods stood there for around five minutes, staring at her as Amara grew a distaste for the mortal before her. "Maybe," she suggested, a cruel smile curling onto her lips. "If we push her over."

Percy side eyed the brunette, but she shrugged with an innocent smile. After a couple more minutes, a kid painted in silver took his place beside Rachel and posed. The mortal unfroze after that, hopping off the tarp with a grin.

"Hey, Percy!" She greeted. "Good timing, let's get some coffee!"

They made their way to a place called the Java Moose on West 43rd, Rachel ordered an Espresso Extreme while the demigods got fruit smoothies. They found a table in the corner, no one batting an eye at the golden girl.

"So," Rachel said. "It's Annabell, right?"

"Annabeth," the blonde corrected. Rachel turned to Amara, the brunette's brow raised at the forest green eyed girl.

"And you're Amari, right?"

She silently groaned, slumping in her seat further as she hated this plan more and more. "Amara," she gave the mortal a hard look. "Do you always dress in gold?"

"Not usually," Rachel said. "We're raising money for our group. We do volunteer art projects for elementary kids cause they're cutting art from the schools, you know? We do this once a month, take in about five hundred dollars in a good week. But I'm guessing you don't want to talk about that. You guys are half-bloods, too?"

"Shhh!" Annabeth said, looking around. "Just announce it to the world, how about you?"

"Okay." Rachel stood up, her hands cupped to her mouth as she spoke., "Hey, everybody! These three aren't human! They're half greek god!"

Amara's eyes momentarily flashed teal as her anger grew. The light grey clouds above began to darken, rolling in waves over the city and more particularly near the daughter of Zeus.

"Hm," Rachel shrugged, sitting back down. "They don't see to care."

"That's not funny," the Chase girl argued. "This isn't a joke, mortal girl."

As if to prove her point, thunder rumbled across the sky and a flash of lightning struck across the city.

"Hold it you three," Percy grabbed Amara's hand, jerking her attention from the mortal in front of her and her eyes flashed to teal once more. "Just calm down."

It was a silent stare off between the children of the big three. "I'm calm," Rachel insisted. "But every time I'm around you, some monster attacks us and now a storm comes outta nowhere. What's there not to be calm about?"

Percy traced light circles on the daughter of Zeus' hand, the storm above dissolving. Earning her a smile from the Jackson boy as he gave her hand a light squeeze.

If she wasn't supposed to be mad at him, Amara would've enjoyed the feeling of her hand in his. But, she was mad. So she tore her hand away, stuffing in back in her pockets.

"Look," Percy said, returning his attention to the mortal. "I'm really sorry about the band room. I hope they didn't kick you out or anything."

"Nah. They asked me a lot of questions about you. I played dumb."

"Was it hard?" Annabeth asked.

"Okay, stop!" The Jackson boy intervened. "Rachel, we've got a problem. And we need your help."

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Annabeth and Amara, the latter mocking the action. "You need my help?"

The blonde stirred her straw in her smoothie. "Yeah," she said sullenly. "Maybe."

Percy told Rachel about the Labyrinth, and how they needed to find Daedalus. He caught her up on what happened the last few times they'd gone in.

"So you want me to guide you," the forest green eyed girl said. "Through a place I've never been."

"You can see through the Mist," Percy said. "Just like Ariadne. I'm betting you can see the right path. The Labyrinth won't be able to fool you as easily."

"And if you're wrong?"

"Then we'll get lost. Either way, it'll be dangerous. Very, very dangerous."

"I could die?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you said monsters don't care about mortals. That sword of yours—"

"Yeah," Percy said. "Celestial bronze doesn't hurt mortals. Most monsters would ignore you. But Luke . . . he doesn't care. He'll use mortals, demigods, monsters, whatever. And he'll kill anyone who gets in his way."

"Nice guy," Rachel said.

"He's under the influence of a Titan," Annabeth said defensively. "He's been deceived."

Rachel looked back and forth between them. "Okay," she agreed. "I'm in."

Amara blinked, the Dare girl's acceptance taking her off guard.

"Are you sure?" Percy asked.

"Hey, my summer was going to be boring. This is the best offer I've gotten yet. So what do I look for?"

"We have to find an entrance to the Labyrinth," Amara explain. "There's an entrance at Camp Half-Blood, but you can't go there. It's off-limits to mortals."

She was surprised, she had just said mortals like it was some sort of terrible condition, but Rachel had just nodded at her. "Okay. What does an entrance to the Labyrinth look like?"

"It could be anything," Annabeth said. "A section of a wall. A boulder, a doorway, a sewer entrance. But it would have the mark of Daedalus on it. A greek L, glowing in blue."

"Like this?" Rachel drew the symbol Delta in water on their table.

"That's it," Amara raised her brow. "You know greek?"

"No," the golden girl pulled a big blue plastic hairbrush from her pocket, brushing the gold out of her hair. "Let me get changed. You'd better come with me to the Marriott."

"Why?" Annabeth asked.

"Because there's an entrance like that in the hotel basement, where we store our costumes. It's got the mark of Daedalus."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

The metal door had been half hidden behind a laundry bin filled with dirty towels, at first they weren't able to find the symbol until Rachel pointed out the faint blue etched in the metal.

"It hasn't been used in a long time," Annabeth explained.

"I tried to open it once," Rachel said, "just out of curiosity. It's rusted shut."

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

The moment 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, but Amara could tell she was pretending. She'd changed into a ratty Museum of Modern Art T-shirt and marker-colored jeans, her blue plastic hairbrush sticking out of her pocket. Her red hair was tied back, but she still had flecks of gold in it and traces of the gold glitter on her face. "So . . . after you?"

"You're the guide," the brunette said with mock politeness, an innocent smile lacing her lips. "Lead on."

The stairs led down to a large brick tunnel, one so dark they never would've been able to navigate it if not for their flashlights. As soon as she switched hers on, the redhead let out a startled yelp.

A skeleton was grinning at them, it was strung up, chained by its wrists and ankles. The single black eye socket seemed to stared Amara down, as if teasing her.

"A cyclops," Annabeth said. "It's very old. It's not . . . anybody we know."

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

"Tyson," Percy explained. "My half brother."

"Your half brother?"

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

"Oh." The mortal's voice was small. "Well then, we'd better keep moving."

She stepped under the skeleton's left arm and kept walking. Annabeth and Amara exchanged looks and the former shrugged, following behind the Dare girl further into the maze.

Around fifty feet later, they arrived at a crossroads. Straight, the brick tunnel continued while the right was filled with ancient marble and the left was dirt 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, toward Daedalus' workshop."

"We need to go straight," Rachel said.

The daughters of Athena and Zeus looked at the mortal strangely.

"That's the least likely choice," Annabeth said.

"You don't see it?" The redhead asked. "Look at the floor."

Amara saw nothing except well-worn bricks and mud.

"There's a brightness there," Rachel insisted. "Very faint, but forward is the correct way. To the left, farther 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."

Percy nodded. "Okay. Forward."

"You believe her?" The electric blue eyed girl asked, talking to the Jackson boy for the first time that day without a glare in her eyes.

"Yeah," He said. "Do you?"

She didn't answer, instead looking to Annabeth who looked like she wanted to argue. But the blonde sighed, waving her hand at Rachel to lead on.

The demigods followed behind the mortal, the brick corridor twisting and turning. They kept heading down, deeper into the underground.

"No traps?" Percy asked anxiously.

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

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

"So, Rachel," Annabeth said. "Where are you from, exactly?"

Amara couldn't hide the smirk that slipped onto her lips, the blonde making it sound as if she were asking what planet are you from?

"Brooklyn," the Dare girl answered.

"Aren't your parents going to be worried if you're out late?" The Grace girl asked this time. She was elbowed in the rib by Percy, but she ignored him.

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

"Why not?" This time Annabeth didn't sound sarcastic.

Before the mortal could answer, there was a screeching noise in front of them like doors opening.

"What was that?" Annabeth asked.

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

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

Then Amara heard heavy footsteps shaking the corridor, coming towards them.

"Run?" Percy asked, his attention on the redhead who wordlessly nodded. The demigods turned and fled the way they'd come, but they weren't able to make it twenty feet before running into monsters.

Two dracaenae leveled their javelins at their chests. Standing between them was a empousa cheerleader with the name Kelli stitched on it.

"Well, well." Kelli said.

She didn't even have time to reach for her necklace before the cheerleader pounced on Rachel, the monsters hand turned into a claw as she spun the mortal around.

"Taking your little mortal pet for a walk?" The cheerleader asked Percy, resting her claws against the redhead's neck. "They're such fragile things. So easy to break!"

The footsteps that was heard before finally came closer, an eight foot Laistrygonian giant appeared with glowing red eyes and fangs. 

The giant licked his lips when he saw them. "Can I eat them?"

"No," the cheerleader argued. "Your master will want these. They will provide a great deal of entertainment."

Kelli smiled at the children of Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon. "Now march, half-bloods. Or you all die here, starting with the mortal girl."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

A dracaenae flanked each of the demigods, Kelli and the giant trailing back to ensure they didn't attempt running. They had arrived in front of bronze doors, ten feet tall embedded with a pair of crossed swords. Muffled roar could be heard behind the door, like a crowd cheering.

"Oh, yesssssss," a snake woman on the left of Amara spoke. "You'll be very popular with our hosssst."

She's never been able to look at a dracaenae up close before, and she would've been fine the rest of her life without the opportunity. The monster could've had a beautiful face, except her tongue was forked and her eyes were yellow with black slits for pupils. The creature wore bronze armor that stopped at her waist. Below that were two massive snake trunks, mottled bronze and green. The monster moved by a combination of slithering and walking, reminding her of moving skis.

"Who's your host?" Percy asked.

She hissed, which might have been a laugh. "Oh, you'll sssseeee. You'll get alone famousssly. He'ssss your brother, after all."

"My what?"

The brunette's mind immediately raced to Tyson, but that was impossible. The giant pushed past them and opened the doors, picked Annabeth up by her shirt and said, "You stay here."

"Hey!" She protested. But the creature was twice her size and he'd already confiscated her dagger and Percy's sword.

The daughter of Zeus had never been more grateful for the necklace her father gifted her, the monsters allowing her to keep it as they viewed her weapon less.

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

He looked at Rachel with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I'll get you out of this."

The redhead nodded as much as she could with claws at her throat. "That would be nice."

The dracaenae prodded him toward the doorway at javelin-point, until it suddenly turned to Amara with a sinister smile. "You musssst go too." An annoyed growl escaped her lips as she sent Kelli a glare, but she followed Percy out the door nonetheless.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

She didn't understand why she was forced to follow the son of Poseidon, it was his fight. It was hard to force herself to stay mad at him, when he seemed bent on staying by her side no matter what.

A dirt floor covered the circular arena, where in the middle a fight raged on between giant and centaur. The latter looked anxious, galloping around the monster with his sword and shield. The giant swung his javelin around, the crowd erupting into cheers.

Her eyes scanned the crowds, taking note of the monsters, giants, dracaenae, telekines, demigods and even stranger creatures. Skulls lined the area, but in the middle was a green banner that hung with the symbol of Poseidon in the center.

"Luke," Percy spoke, earning Amara's attention and she followed his gaze to the son of Hermes sitting above the banner.

The blond had a cold smile laced on his lips, until his bright blue eyes landed on the brunette beside him. A harsh look formed in her electric blue eyes, the older boy's smile was wiped clean as a shock look appeared. He looked stunned, as if it hadn't been apart of his plan.

He wore camouflage pants, white T-shirt, and a bronze breastplate. Next to him sat the largest giant Amara's ever seen, he was easily fifteen feet tall and took up three seats. He wore only a loincloth, like a sumo wrestler. His skin was dark red and tattooed with blue wave designs.

A cry echoed from the arena floor, a familiar hand grabbed onto her arm and she was pulled into him just in time to miss being crushed by the centaur that landed where she had been mere seconds ago.

"Help!"

Percy went to reach for his sword, but it seemed the weapon hadn't returned back to his pocket yet. The giant dragged his javelin along the floor, a cruel look resting on its face.

A taloned hand gripped Amara's shoulder, forcing her away from the Jackson boy as claws pressed against her throat and rested above her heart.

"If you value your friendsss' livesss," the dracaenae hissed, aiming her words for Percy. "You won't interfere. Thisssss isssn't your fight, wait your turn."

A cruel smile slipped onto the monster's face. "If you try to interfere, she will be killed immediately. That'ssss why ssssssshe'sss down here after all, we will kill her if you don't obey."

A cold look appeared in the son of Poseidon's eyes, a look Amara had never seen before. The dracaenae shoved her forward, launching her back into the raven haired boy and he interlaced their fingers immediately.

This time she didn't pull away, but she doubt Percy would let her go by the way he held her hand with the grip he had.

One of the centaur's legs had been broken, the giant finally reached his prey as his foot rested against the half horse man's chest. With a raise of his javelin, he looked to Luke and the crowd chanted, death!

The son of Hermes didn't do anything, an amused look on his face as the giant beside him rose. The centaur began begging, attempting to scurry away but couldn't from the weight of the monster. "Please, no!"

The giant beside Luke held out his hand, giving the creature a thumbs down sign.

As if knowing what it meant, Percy's eyes shut and his head turned toward Amara. But she couldn't find it in herself to look away, the giant thrusting his javelin into the centaur. The half man began disintegrating, leaving only a hoof and the monster took it as a trophy.

Percy finally looked back up, the gate on the opposite end of the stadium opened as the monster made his way out.

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

The older boy's jaw tightened, but he rose calmly to his feet nonetheless. "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!"

The blond bowed. "I believe I have something better than centaurs to fight in your arena now. I have a brother of yours." He pointed at Percy. "Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon."

The crowd began jeering at him and throwing stones, the Jackson boy pushed Amara behind him as he dodged most. One however, caught his cheek resulting in a good sized cut. She couldn't help the anger that swelled within her from the action, but Percy only gave her a soft smile with a clear message. It's okay, calm down.

The giant'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 about the "perhaps." He glared down at Percy, until a certain blonde managed to get his attention.

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

The older boy seemed to notice her for the first time. He looked stunned for a moment, just like he had with Amara. "Annabeth?"

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

The dracaenae shoved Percy into the middle of the arena, forcing his hand to let go of the brunettes as their guard returned her claws to the demigods throat.

"How can you be a son of Poseidon!" Percy demanded, hiding his rage from the monster that held Amara as a hostage.

"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!"

Then, the giant's attention turned onto the daughter of Zeus. "And who's this?"

Percy's eyes widened and he was quick to open his mouth, but their dracaenae guard was faster. "Ssshe isssss to make ssssure your brother doessssssn't try anything funny. If he doessss, we ssssshall kill her!"

Amara didn't notice, but Luke's eyes had widened and his hands curled into a fist. Antaeus let out a hum, as if accepting these conditions. "Percy!" Annabeth yelled at him. "His mother is Gaea! Gae—"

Her Laistrygonian captor clamped his hand over her mouth.

"You're crazy, Antaeus," Percy said. "If you think this is a good tribute, you know nothing about Poseidon."

The crowd screamed insults at the Jackson boy, but the giant 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," Percy said.

Laughter erupted from the monsters, but immediately Riptide appeared in the son of Poseidon's hand, 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 dracaenae slithered out. She had a trident in one hand and a weighted net in the other, a classic gladiator style.

The dracaenae jabbed at Percy. He stepped away and she threw her net, probably hoping to tangle his sword hand. But he sidestepped her easily, slicing her spear in half and stabbing his sword 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 gotten better with the sword. I'll grant you that."

"Round two!" Antaeus yelled, and the crowd began to cheer. "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 Amara, 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 dirt, adjusted his shield straps, and pulled on his horsehair helmet.

Her heart fell at the sight. If Percy couldn't bear the sight of a centaur being killed, how was he supposed to kill a half-blood?

"Who are you?" Percy asked.

"Ethan Nakamura," the half-blood said. "I have to kill you."

The brunette recognized the demigod, he had been one of the unclaimed demigods who stayed in the Hermes cabin before disappearing.

"Why are you doing this?"

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

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

And with that he charged. Their swords met in midair and the crowd roared. He pressed forward. The unclaimed demigod parried Percy's strike and almost slammed the Jackson boy with his shield, but he jumped back. Ethan slashed. The son of Poseidon rolled to one side, exchanging thrusts and parries and she realized Percy was trying to analyze the older boy's fighting style.

"Blood!" the monsters cried.

Ethan momentarily glanced at the stands, before letting out a battle cry and charging Percy again. But the raven haired boy parried his blade, backing away as he left the half-blood come after him.

"Boooo!" Antaeus shouted. "Stand and fight!"

The older demigod pressed Percy, but the younger boy had no trouble defending. It was hard to suppress the pride that swelled within Amara at the sight. They had been sparring together as of late, but his improvement set her mind at ease knowing she'd never have to worry about him not being able to take care of himself.

She was drawn out of her thoughts by a sword dropping to the dirt. Percy slammed the butt of Riptide into the demigod's helmet, pushing him down as he rested the tip of his sword against Ethan's chest.

"Forget it," Percy sheathed his sword, sparing Amara a look.

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

The son of Poseidon offered his hand, helping the unclaimed demigod up.

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

Percy muttered something to Ethan, she wasn't able to catch what while he returned his attention 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 wanted. "I have been wrestling since the first pankration!"

"Pankration?" Percy asked.

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

"Thanks for the tip." The son of Poseidon said.

"Don't mention it."

Rachel was watching with wide eyes. Annabeth shook her head emphatically, the Laistrygonian's hand still clamped over her mouth. Percy's eyes momentarily met Amara's, her dracaenae guard tapping her throat with her claws.

He turned around, pointing his sword 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 him. "You'll need it." Then he backed up quickly.

Antaeus cracked his knuckles. He grinned, and Amara saw that even his teeth were etched in wave patterns, making her grimace.

"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 at that, he was leaning forward in his seat almost eagerly. "With pleasure."

Antaeus lunged. Percy rolled under his legs and stabbed him in the back of his thigh.

"Argggh!" he yelled. But where blood should've come out, there was a spout of sand, like he busted the side of an hourglass. It spilled into the dirt floor, and the dirt collected around his leg, almost like a cast. When the dirt fell away, the wound was gone.

Amara's gaze went to Annabeth, despite her mouth being covered the blonde was still trying to communicate. She pointed at the giant, then the floor, then into the air.

The brunette tilted her head slightly, not understanding what the daughter of Athena was gesturing until she turned to look at Antaeus.

Percy had been thrown across the arena, his sword buried to the hilt in the giant's ribs. But Antaeus pulled out the sword, tossing it behind him as sand poured from the wound. Like before, the earth rose up to cover him and dirt coated his body up to his shoulders. When the dirt fell away, the giant was fine.

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

"Percy!" Amara yelled, earning the boy's attention as it finally clicked in her head what Annabeth had been saying earlier. "Get him off the gro—"

Her dracaenae guard slammed her hand over the Grace girl's mouth, shutting her up before she could finish helping the boy. The monsters talons dug into her throat, giving the daughter of Zeus an uncomfortable feeling as the creature hissed.

"You'd be wisssse to be quiet," the monster said, putting pressure against her throat. "Before I rip out your throat."

The crowd jeered, screaming at Antaeus to finish Percy off. "Puny boy," the giant sneered. "Not a worthy son of the sea god!"

The Jackson boy charged, crouching low as Antaeus attempted to grab him. But Percy had jumped onto him, leaping from his forearm and scrambling up to his shoulder. The demigod had placed his shoe on his head, earning a loud hey! from the giant.

The son of Poseidon pushed off his head, catapulting towards the ceiling. Amara's heart was in her stomach as she watched the boy fly through the air, until he caught the top of a chain. She felt like she could breathe again as he wrapped his legs around the chain, drawing his sword and sawing off the chain beside him.

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

"Come up and get me!" Percy taunted. "Or are you too slow and fat?"

The giant howled, making another grab for the Jackson boy as he caught a chain and began pulling himself up. During Antaeus' struggle, Percy lowered his sawed off chain, snagging onto the giant's loincloth.

The giant bellowed, but the son of Poseidon wasn't done as he slipped the free chain through the fastening link on his chain. Antaeus tried getting back to the ground, but he stayed suspended in the air by his loincloth. He grabbed onto the other chains, attempting not to be turned upside down while Percy scrambled through the chains.

He swung from one after another, cutting them with his sword as he made hooks and metal links with ease. Finally, the Jackson boy dropped to the floor panting and sweating.

"Get me down!" Antaeus demanded, thrashing in his chains.

"Free him!" Luke ordered, glaring at Percy. "He is our host!"

Percy uncapped Riptide, "I'll free him."

With those words, he stabbed Antaeus in the stomach. The giant bellowed as sand poured from the wound, the earth stayed still and didn't save him this time. Antaeus dissolved, pouring out bit by bit, until there was nothing left but empty swinging chains.

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

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

Luke snarled. "Antaeus is dead. His oath died with him. But since I'm feeling merciful today, I'll have you killed quickly."

The blonde pointed at Annabeth, then Amara. "Spare the girls." His voice quavered just a little. "I want those two alive, and unharmed. The others, kill them."

Every monster in the audience drew a weapon or extended its claws.

Percy pulled something out from his pocket. Amara wasn't able to get a good look before he blew it, the creation making no noise before shattering into shards of ice, melting in his hand.

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

From behind the brunette came a surprised yelp. The Laistrygonian giant who'd been guarding Annabeth flew past Amara and smashed into the wall.

"AROOOOF!"

The cheerleader screamed as a five-hundred-pound black mastiff picked her up like a chew toy and tossed her through the air, straight into Luke's lap. Mrs. O'Leary snarled, and the two dracaenae guards backed away from the redhead and blonde duo.

Using the confusion to her advantage, Amara reached for her hidden anklet. She pulled out the dagger, twisting it around in her palm faster than the dracaenae guard could realize as she shoved the blade into its chest.

The creature disintegrated, Percy racing to her side as he quickly grabbed her hand in his. "Let's go!" He yelled to the duo upstairs. "Heel, Mrs. O'Leary!"

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

Ethan Nakamura took his cue. Together they ran across the arena and out the far exit, the hellhound right behind them.

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12-26-24

hello hello ! we have three more chapters and then this act is done, finally ! i'm so excited for you all to see what i have planned and i'll see you next tuesday !