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DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter twenty-three
❛ 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚣𝚎𝚞𝚜'𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚍. ❜

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     THE TOWN OF Gila Claw had vanished, including the taco shop and abandoned houses as the group of six stood in the middle of the junkyard. Percy had been the one to explain that Aphrodite was the women in the car, the hunters especially looking less than pleased upon hearing the news.

"Well," Bianca eyed the duo who the goddess of love had specifically request. "What did she want with you?"

Amara tuned out the di Angelo, her mind still thinking over what Aphrodite had told her. To fully trust her feelings, let her guard down, and trust Percy? She spared the raven haired boy a glance as they met gazes but it wasn't for long as they quickly looked away.

"And thee?" Zoë asked. "What did she ask of thee, Amara?"

"Yeah," Thalia agreed, raising a brow. "But what's with the new outfit? It's nice and all, but . . ."

A huff escaped her lips, she knew the goddess was right. She was starting to accept her Beauty and the Beast prophecy without realizing it, the first being calling a certain someone Beasty. "Nothing," she stated. "Just another attempt to throw something I can't control in my face."

As if sensing her anger through her dry words, they quickly dropped it and changed the topic. "So," Percy said. "How do we get out of here?"

"That way," Zoë pointed her finger towards the distance. "That is west."

"How can you tell?"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Urea Major is in the north," she said. "Which means that must be west."

"Oh, yeah," Percy realized. "The bear thing."

"Show some respect," The eldest hunter held an offended look. "It was a fine bear, a worthy opponent."

"You act like it was real."

"Guys," Grover stopped the argument before it could escalate. "Look!"

They had reached the crest of the junkyard, filled with gold, silver, weapons, and much more spread out for them all to see. "Whoa," Bianca gasped. "That stuff . . . some of it looks like real gold."

"It is," Thalia said grimly. "Don't touch anything. This is the junkyard of the gods."

"Junk?" A scoff of disbelief escaped from Grover as he held up a crown made of gold, silver, and jewels all over. "You call this junk?"

"Seriously?" Amara narrowed her eyes at the satyr, quickly smacking the junk out of his hands. "What did she just say?"

"Look!" Bianca earned the duo's attention as she ran down the hill, picking up a bow that shined bright silver in the moonlight. "A Hunter's bow!" The weapon quickly morphed, becoming a hair clip which created the shape of a crescent moon. "Just like Percy and Amara's weapons!"

"Leave it, Bianca."

"But—"

"It's here for a reason, anything thrown away in the junkyard stays here," Amara explained, giving the girl sad smile as she dropped the hairclip. "Which means it's defective, or cursed."

"I don't like this place," Thalia muttered, gripping and regripping the end of her spear. Percy arched a brow, an amused look in his sea green eyes. "You think we're going to get attacked by killer refrigerators?"

"Zoë is right, Percy." The former tree gave him an annoyed look. "Things get thrown away here for a reason, now let's get across the yard."

She walked ahead of him, meeting up besides the Nightshade girl as Amara walked with Percy. "That's the second time she's agreed with Zoë," he mumbled only to earn a helpless shrug from the brunette.

They stayed by each other's side as they made their way through the junkyard that seemed to drag on forever in her opinion. But finally, she was able to make out the edge of the junkyard with lights of the highway. The only problem was something blocked their path, something big

"What is that?" Amara questioned, her brow arched.

A metal mess layer ahead of them, as long as a football field and as tall as their goalposts. At one end, ten thick metals were forged tightly together.

Bianca frowned. "They look like—"

"Toes," Grover finished.

The hunter nodded. "Really, really large toes."

Zoë and Thalia exchanged looks once more, a clear agreement being made. "Let's go around," the latter instructed. "Far around."

"But the road is right there," Percy argued against the older girl. "Quicker to climb over."

A hollowed ping reached the group's ears as Zoë and Thalia drew their weapons, Amara taking the time to lightly smack the boy in the arm. "Ow," he muttered, sending her a look. "Stop hitting me."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll stop hitting you when you stop making idiotic decisions, which by the looks of it . . ." She paused, a smirk twisting onto her lips as she finished her sentence. "Won't ever happen, now let's go Seaweed Brain."

He rolled his eyes, staying quiet for a moment before an idea came to mind. "Whatever you say, Beauty."

She froze, her eyes landing on him as his lips held a small smirk. "Seriously?"

"You gave me the name Beasty, so I think it's only fair." She grabbed onto his arm, dragging him behind her as she pushed down the blush that threatened to show and followed after the eldest huntress and daughter of Zeus. Finally, after a few more minutes of walking they reached the highway where more abandoned buildings awaited them.

"We made it out," Zoë let out a sigh. "Thank the gods."

But the gods weren't in their favor, instead the sound of metal reached their ears. "You just had to jinx it," Amara shot the huntress a glare.

She didn't get a response from the immortal, instead Zoë's attention was locked on whatever was rising behind the youngest Grace. She spun around, only to see a metal giant dressed in greek battle armor rise to the height of a skyscraper.

"Talos," she mumbled, taking a step back as her words earned Percy's attention.

"Who," He spared Amara a look. "Who is Talos?"

"One of Hephaestus's creations." Thalia explained. "But that can't be the original. It's too small. A prototype, maybe. A defective model."

The metal giant didn't like the word defective, it's arm instantly going to it's weapon as it raised it in an attacking position. "Someone took something," Zoë's tone was filled with anger and panic mixed. "Who took something?"

Her gaze landed on Percy, but Amara didn't let him get any words out before she was defending him. "It wasn't him, he was with me the entire time and besides, Percy's not a thief."

The son of Poseidon's eyes widened at the action, not even a year ago the girl would have let the huntress chew him out. But instead, she stood in front of him and fought against the immortal girl in his honor.

The ground shook, disrupting the Jackson boy from his thoughts as the metal giant closed half the distance between them and it. "Run!" Grover yelled, and they all instantly took off in different directions.

Thalia took off down the highway, the giant swinging his sword at the power lines in her direction as sparks of electricity scattered her way. Amara ran besides Zoë, the latter shooting arrows that bounced harmlessly against the monster's metal skin.

But it's target had been Grover, who was climbing up a mountain of metal before the giant caused an avalanche and scrap metal collapsed onto the satyr. He continued to be buried until the point where he was no longer visible to Amara.

"No!" She yelled, ripping her necklace free as it morph into her hand. She charged the metal creation, successfully slicing the giant's foot with her sword. But despite Talos letting out a creaked noise, no damage had been made.

Talos had it's foot raised, preparing to step on her faster then she could realize what was happening. Luckily, a blue arch of lightning was shot at the creation and successfully knocked it off it's feet.

"Move!" Thalia's voice reached Amara's ears as her eyes met older dark electric blue irises. "Before it gets back up!"

The brunette nodded, quickly summing a wind spirit and giving herself a boost as she lunged to the side. The monster had made it's way back onto its feet, as she did the same. Bianca suddenly rushed past, heading for the creation's left foot.

"What are you doing?" Amara yelled, quickly chasing after the girl as they ran towards the creature together. "Just trust me," the huntress yelled back. "And get it to raise it's foot!"

She nodded at the girl, quickly running ahead of the di Angelo as she attempted to gain the monster's attention. "Hey, freak!" She yelled. "Come and get me," with that, she swung her sword in a wide arch and successfully cut off it's big toe.

Her plan worked as Talos's gaze landed on her, his foot rising to squish her like she was an insect in it's path. A body slammed into hers, sending the two tumbling as arms quickly wrapped themselves around her before they came to a complete stop after a few more rolls.

"You're welcome," Percy's voice reached her ears as she looked up at the boy who hovered above her. "That's twice in one day, you're losing it Grace."

She had to resist the urge to smile at his attempt of quoting her, using the same words she had said back to him in the sea of monsters. "Yeah, yeah."

The sound of Thaila's war cry breached their ears,
Amara's attention focusing back on the battle at hand as the creation moved itself in front of them. Talos was moving funny to the girl, his arms and legs stretching oddly before he began punching himself. "Go, Bianca!" Percy cheered, earning a horrified look from the brunette besides him. "She's inside that thing?"

Thalia and Zoë appeared next, their arms wrapped around an unconscious Grover as they ran towards the highway. The daughter of Zeus didn't hesitate to follow, chasing after the older duo as Percy quickly followed behind.

"How will Bianca get out?" Zoë yelled back to the raven haired boy, Talos hitting itself in the head.

Bianca made the creation hit itself in the head once more, dropping it's sword as it began staggering toward the power lines. "Look out!" Thalia yelled, but she was too late.

Flickers of electricity shot up the giant's body, the creation's right hand falling off as it's left arm and rest of the limbs came loose. After that, Talos took off running.

"Wait!" Zoë cried, chasing after the robot as the other three followed behind. At least, until Amara stopped in her tracks and began using wind spirits to guide the falling parts a different direction other than her quest members.

The creation had began crumbling, his head, chest, and legs all collapsed. The group of demigods began scouring through the wreckage, screaming Bianca's name as they desperately searched through the vast hollow pieces. They searched until sunrise, where Zoë had seemed to lost hope as she fell to her knees and silently cried.

Amara's fingers curled into a fist, her mind racing back to the conversation she just had with the newest hunter. "If anything happens to me," her smirk dropped at Bianca's words. "Then can you look out for Nico for me, be there for him and take care of him?"

Wordlessly she bent down to the di Angelo's level, but when their gazes met she could tell the younger girl was serious. "Okay," Amara finally said. "Only if something happens to you, I'm gonna try my best to get you back to Nico."

Instead of trying her best to help her get back to Nico, she played a hand in making sure she didn't see her brother again. She threw a piece of gold as far as she could muster, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall as Percy's voice reached her ears.

"We can keep searching," he said. "It's light now. We'll find her."

"No we won't." Grover said miserably. "It happened just as it was supposed to."

"What are you talking about?" Percy demanded.

"The prophecy," The satyr looked up, his eyes filled with tears. "One shall be lost in the land without rain." The once six member group had been turned into a group of five, Bianca di Angelo now lost to them forever.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Thalia was the first to compose herself together, guiding the others into an old abandoned tow truck as she navigated them through the desert. Amara had claimed the front seat, preferring the company of her older sister as she was the second to compose herself.

She glanced through the rear-view mirror, meeting sea green eyes before they looked away from her and to his hands instead. "It should've been me," she felt her heart dropped at the son of Poseidon's words. "I should've gone into the giant."

"Don't say that!" Grover voiced his and her inner feelings once more. "It's bad enough Annabeth is gone, now Bianca. Do you think I could stand it if . . ."

Amara looked through the rearview mirror once more, catching a glimpse of tears beginning to form in the corner of her eyes. She blinked them away quickly, swallowing harshly as she tried to clear her mind about the possible thought of Percy and Bianca trading places.

Her small actions caught the attention of the raven haired boy, who did well to hide his shock. He's never seen her so emotional before, much less involving him. But she was doing well to hide it, he wouldn't have caught on if not for her slightly red eyes looking back at him.

If Amara was being honest with herself, if it had been Percy who the prophecy was talking about, she might have lost it back in the junkyard. Never seeing his sea green eyes again, shining so bright regardless of the time of day. The way a smile would curl onto his lips when he was being a tease, or even when he was being genuine.

Her fingers gripped onto his hoodie, the smell of salt, the sea, and cookies suddenly overwhelming her senses as Aphrodite's words ran through her head all over again. This once, trust in him and never doubt your feelings for him.

She didn't know if the goddess of love was pulling her leg or being serious, but she knew she probably would never be able to live without Percy Jackson by her side.

For the rest of the drive she was quite, her knees pulled up to her chest as she stayed inside her head. Occasionally she would get glances from her older sister who didn't exactly know why the younger girl had suddenly shut down, but sent her reassuring smiles regardless.

She was only brought out of her head when the truck ran out of gas, Thalia slamming the door and causing a tire to blow from her actions. "Great," the raven haired girl mumbled. "What now?"

There wasn't much to see as Amara scanned the horizon, deserts, barren mountains, with a canyon and river not far off. "There's a path." Grover pointed out. "We could get to the river."

"That's a goat path," Amara stated, looking at a tiny ledge down the cliff side.

"So?"

"The rest of us aren't goats."

"We can make it," The satyr reassured. "I think."

"No," Percy argued, sparring Thalia a look who had suddenly gone pale. "I think we should go farther upstream—"

"But—"

"Come on," the Jackson boy interrupted. "A walk won't hurt us."

Thalia and Zoë led the way, the former's face returning to her natural color as they followed the river. Meanwhile, Amara's face had slightly paled at the thought of following the body of water. But Percy had been quick to make his way to her side, allowing her to grab his wrist in a deathly grip as he led her behind the others.

They had stumbled upon a canoe rental not long afterwards, Zoë leaving a stack of golden drachmas as she pushed the two vessels into the water. "We need to go upstream," the huntress instructed. "The rapids however, are too swift."

"Leave that to me," Percy said, guiding Amara into a canoe while the other three quickly grouped up together in the other. Her grip tightened once she felt the naiads help drift then upstream, but everytime she held on more to the son of Poseidon she was sent a gentle smile.

Glares were sent her way by the naiads, but with a swift look from Percy they quickly stopped whatever they had been planning. The canoes came to a slow stop, the river ahead of them blocked by a dam the size of a football stadium.

"Hoover Dam," Thalia breathed. "It's huge."

"Seven hundred feet tall," Percy said.

"Built in the 1930s." Amara added.

"Five million cubic acres of water." Grover sighed.

"Largest construction project in the United States." The eldest Grace added.

Zoë stared at them. "How do you all that?"

"Annabeth," They said in unison. "She liked architecture." Percy continued.

"She was nuts about monuments." Thalia said.

"Spouted facts all the time." Grover sniffled. "So annoying."

"She'd kill to be here right now," Amara finished.

"We should go up there," Percy decided. "For her sake, just to say we've been."

"You are mad," Zoë countered. "But that's where the road is." She pointed to a parking garage besides the tip of the dam. "And so sightseeing it is."

After leaving their canoe's behind, they walked around for almost an hour before they finally found a path to lead them to the top. They climbed the side of the mountain, Thalia's hand gripping onto Amara's wrist as her older sister stayed in the middle of the road. One side of the canyon had the river they just boated through, the other, water churning from the dam's vent to a seven hundred feet drop and waterfall.

They were quiet, the only sound being Grover's constant sniffing. "How close are they?" Amara asked.

"Maybe not close, the wind in the dam and the desert all around us . . . the scent can carry for miles," He shook his head. "But it's coming from several different directions, I don't like that."

"There's a snack bar in the visitor center." Thalia said.

"You been here before?" Percy asked.

"We," the brunette corrected. "But once, to see the guardians." She pointed a finger to the two bronze statues, each craved into the side of the cliff.

"They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built," Thalia explained. "A gift from Athena."

"What are they doing?" The Jackson boy asked, his gaze locked on the tourists looking at the statues feet.

"Rubbing the toes." The eldest Grace said. "They think it's good luck."

"Why?"

"Mortals get crazy ideas, Seaweed Brain," Amara gave a shrug. "They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."

"When you were here last, did they talk to you or anything?"

"No. They don't do anything," Thalia's expression had darkened. "They're just big metal statues."

"Let us find the dam snack bar." Zoë said. "We should eat while we can." A smirk curled onto the younger electric blue eyed girls lips, holding back the snicker that threatened to slip.

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"

Zoë blinked. "Yes, what is funny?"

"Nothing." The satyr said, trying to keep a straight face. "I could use some dam french fries."

Thalia's dark expression turned light as she smiled at their protector. "And I need to use the dam restroom."

Laughter escaped from Percy, soon being joined by Grover and Thalia while the huntress looked at the trio with a confused look. "I do not understand."

"I want to use the dam water fountain." Grover said.

"And . . ." Thalia tried to catch her breath. "I want to buy a dam t-shirt."

The trio continued to laugh, Amara watching with an amused expression while Zoë held a confused one. At least, until Percy suddenly stopped laughing and he quickly held the same expression as Zoë. "Did I just hear a cow?"

"A dam cow?"

"No," the Jackson boy shook his head. "I'm serious."

"Well," Thalia gave a shrug. "I don't hear anything."

"You guys go ahead," his focus was on something in the distance. "I'll be right in."

The others didn't question it, Thalia led Zoë and Grover into the gift shop as the old friends continued to make dam jokes. Amara stayed behind for a moment, eyeing the raven haired boy who looked like he was having a mini war with himself.

"Percy," she called, earning his attention to be pulled back towards her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he waved her off, stuffing his hands into his back pockets. "I . . . I just need a minute, to think."

She didn't question him after that, instead letting him believe she thought he was telling the truth. With a small shake of her head, Amara turned and made her way into the gift shop as the son of Poseidon took off in another direction.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

After exploring the gift shop, Grover's stomach had directed them to their next destination as the group of four sat around a table with food. At least, until Percy came running from across the room heaving. "We need to leave," he gasped, his hands resting on his knees. "Now!"

"But we just got our food!" Thalia complained.

"He's right," an ancient greek curse slipped from the hunter's lips, her gaze locked in the distance. "Look!"

Amara's electric blue eyes landed on the skeleton army heading their way, five blocking the east and west passages as three more appeared on the stairs behind them.

"Elevator!" Grover instructed, leading the group of demigods towards their new destination. However, his plan was quickly ruined as the doors opened only to reveal three more of the undead army. With a quick thrust of his arm, the satyr launched a gucamole grande at the nearest undead warrior. "Burrito fight!"

Amara didn't know how their protector managed it, but he ensured chaos throughout the cafeteria and creating the perfect diversion. Thalia and Percy lunged, tackling two skeletons and sending them flying into a condiment table. Her and Zoë fought back to back, the hunter shooting arrows at the undead while the former sliced at them with her sword.

After a short moment, there was enough of a distraction for them to take off running down the stairs with food flying overhead. "What now?" Amara wondered, shoving open the doors to the outside as they made their way through. Her question didn't get answered, instead, they continued running across the street until they found her father's statues.

The group of five turned around, their back to the mountain and seven hundred foot drop that awaited for them if they fell. The skeleton army began forming a crescent around them, their batons raised as the undead slowly advanced.

"Four against eleven," Zoë muttered, raising her bow. "And they cannot die."

"It's been nice adventuring with you guys." Grover said, his voice trembling.

"Whoa," Percy spoke, interrupting Amara's focus from the miniature army. "Their toes are really bright."

"Percy!" Thalia scowled. "This isn't the time."

"Thalia," he turned his attention onto the eldest Grace. "Pray to your dad."

She glared. "He never answers."

"Just this once," the Jackson boy pleaded. "Ask for help. I think . . . I think the statues can give us some luck."

The former tree hesitated, giving the undead army a chance to advance further on the group with their weapons raised. "Do it!" Percy yelled.

"No!" Thalia argued. "He won't answer me."

"This time is different!"

"Who says?"

"Athena," he hesitated. "I think."

"Try it," Amara reasoned, giving her older sister a look who held a scowl. Finally, the raven haired girl listened as she made a silent prayer only to be met with silence.

When the youngest Grace came to the realization their father would be of no help, she raised her weapon defensively. At least, until a shadow of an angel wing came into view and swept the baton-wielding skeletons to the aside as if they were mere flies. The other half, instantly fired on the group with their guns. But the bullets had missed their shot, instead shooting at the bronze statues as the presents to Zeus covered the demigod with their wings.

"Man," one of the angels spoke up, twisting it's body to the side lightly. "It feels good to stand up!"

"Will ya look at my toes?" The other pointed at it's foot. "Holy Zeus, what were those tourists thinking?"

While the angels chatted away, the skeletons had begun to reform and attempted to grab for their weapons.

"Trouble," Amara reminded them.

"Get us out of here!" Thalia yelled.

Both angels looked down at her. "Zeus's kid?"

"Yes!"

"Could I get a please, Miss Zeus's kid?" The first angel asked.

"Please!"

The statues looked at each other and shrugged. "Could use a stretch."

With that, the first angel plucked up Percy and Thalia as if they weighed nothing while the other did the same for Zoë and Grover. But they made no move to get the youngest Grace, earning a frown from the eldest.

"What's wrong?" Thalia slightly demanded, narrowing her eyes at the statues. "She's a daughter of Zeus too, so grab her!"

"Yeah, we know," the second angel shrugged. "Sorry, we've never been able to hold more than two each."

The brunette felt her eye twitch, slightly wondering in her head why her father had sent them to help in the first place. Her gaze landed back on the forming skeleton's, a slight idea popping into mind.

"You're crazy," Thalia snapped. "I won't leave her behind, she's my little sister!"

"Yeah," Percy agreed. "We're not leaving without her, so either we all go or—"

"Leave," Amara ordered, cutting off the son of Poseidon.

"What?" Percy questioned, his eyes wide as the statue suddenly tightened its grip so he couldn't free himself.

"You heard me," she turned her back to the group, her sword spun within her grasp as she kept her eyes locked on the enemy ahead.

"Amara, we're not going to leave without y—"

"Didn't you hear me," she turned back around, her eyes flickering teal for a moment. There was no sign of amusement or joking, she held a serious expression in both her eyes and face. "Go, now."

The angel holding the children of the big three nodded, giving off a smile. "You're a tough chick, good luck Zeus's kid."

"Amara!" The Jackson's boy voice reached her ears, along with the sound of flapping wings and Thalia's yells. "You can't—you could be—Amara, please!"

She didn't turn around, instead she summoned a wind spirit to the sole of her shoes and used the boost to launch herself at the army. With a swipe of her sword, half of the skeletons had been dismantled while the others charged. But she managed to stay on her toes, ducking under the batons and using the wind to push bullets into different directions.

Her quest companions watched from afar, Thalia demanding to be let go in order to help but the statues had refused. They came up with a compromise instead, allowing the demigods and satyr to watch the battle go down and only leave once it was over. At first, they had been sure Amara had a strategy in mind. But as they watched her fight, it seemed more like a sacrifice.

Her moments were becoming slower, her strength diminishing as she felt the need to fight disappearing. So she came up with an idea, one she hadn't completely thought all the way through but had seemed like a good idea at the time. She prayed to her father, asking him to give her the strength to finish what she had started. With that, her eyes flashed furiously as she swiped her sword in a wide arc.

Instead of the skeletons being pushed away, she changed the direction of the wind to push the undead towards her. She spared her fellow demigods and satyr one last look, electric blue meeting sea green irises as the former's orbit became immersed completely in teal. Blue electricity sparked from the girl's cavum as she offered a smile towards the boy, one she hoped he would be able to see.

At least, until a bolt of lightning engulfed his vision as the yellow electricity struck where the daughter of Zeus and undead army stood. Within a matter of seconds, the bright light disappeared as the brunette and the rest of the skeletons stumbled to the edge.

Her grip on her sword loosened, her energy and will completely shattered as she felt her foot hit the edge of the cliff. A seven hundred foot drop beneath her, an open lake, waterfall, and mist all awaiting. Her foot took another step and she was met with air, some skeletons fell first as she almost joined them.

"Amara!" Percy's gut-wrenching scream reached her ears, the last thing that filled her head as she began her free fall with the rest of the army towards the endless water waiting below. Thalia let out a cry, watching as her sister's body disappeared into the mist of the waterfall. The angels took that as their cue to leave and flew away with a distraught daughter of Zeus, sobbing satyr, saddened huntress, and disbelief Perseus Jackson.

The last thing he had seen was her smile, the first time in years he had ever seen one of those grace her lips. The image was buried in his mind, constantly replaying as he came to the realization he wouldn't be able to see it again. He squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to block the tears but failing as they flowed freely down his cheeks. Amara Grace was gone, and there was nothing he could've done to stop it.

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7-18-2023

     hello hello ! i hope you all enjoyed this chapter as i much as i enjoyed writing it, especially the end :) anyway, thank you all so much for the comments, votes, and support ! it means more than you'll ever know and i'll see you all thursday <3