𝐒 𝐓 𝐀 𝐑   𝐖 𝐀 𝐑 𝐒   !

⎯ 𝘍 𝘖 𝘜 𝘙 𝘛 𝘌 𝘌 𝘕 ⎯

( 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱 𝔢𝔰𝔠𝔞𝔭𝔢 ! )

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⬩❖⬩ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

                              𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐑𝐔𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐓.

As much as she wanted to, she didn't trust Queen Hylla one bit, nor did she trust the former Queen Otrera. It was hard to do so when one wanted to kill two of her friends and the other wanted to kill all of her friends. Neither option seemed all that great, leaving her with the urge to run like Hades with her friends and never once look back.

Only three of Hylla's guards remained within the room, all keeping their distance from the trio. Aurora studied them carefully, taking in what weapons they bore and what hidden strengths they may have had. She wasn't going to underestimate them.

Hylla was armed with just a dagger. Aurora had Solstice still and Hazel's underground powers would be stronger since they were miles below the surface. She could cause an earthquake or make gems fall down on their enemies or summon a big pile of schist. Aurora could disarm and take down the Amazons. If they could cause a distraction, they would be able to escape and get their friends.

Unfortunately, she'd seen Amazons fight. Even though the queen only had a dagger, Aurora suspected she could use it pretty well. And Aurora was the only one with a weapon.

The queen seemed to be reading her thoughts. "Forget about escape. Of course, we'd respect you for trying. But we'd have to kill you."

"Thanks for the warning," Hazel said.

Hylla shrugged. "The least I can do. I believe you two have come in peace. I believe Reyna sent you."

"But you won't help?" Aurora said."

The queen studied the necklace she'd taken from Percy. "It's complicated," she said. "Amazons have always had a rocky relationship with other demigods—especially male demigods. We fought for King Priam in the Trojan War, but Achilles killed our queen, Penthesilea. Year before that, Hercules stole Queen Hippolyta's belt—this belt I'm wearing. It took us centuries to recover it. Long before that, at the very beginning of the Amazon nation, a hero named Bellerophon killed our first queen, Otrera."

"You mean the lady—"

"—who just left, yes." Hylla cut Hazel's question off. "Otrera, our first queen, daughter of Ares."

"Mars?" Hazel asked.

Hylla made a sour face. "No, definitely Ares. Otrera lived long before Rome, in a time when all demigods were Greek. Unfortunately, some of our warriors still prefer the old way. Children of Ares . . . they are always the worst."

"The old ways . . ." Aurora felt her thoughts from the night before come back again. Rumors of Greek demigods existing had always filtered around camp. Octavian believed they were alive and secretly plotting against Rome. But she never really believed it, until Percy came to camp. She never believed the evil part, because Percy definitely was not evil, even if he didn't have his memories back yet. But she had a feeling, deep in her gut, that he was Greek. All the signs pointed toward that being the answer, and Aurora knew well to trust her gut feelings. "You mean the Amazons are a mix . . . Greek and Roman?"

Hylla continued to examine the necklace—the clay beads, the probatio tablet. She slipped Reyna's silver ring off the cord and put it on her own finger. "I suppose they don't teach you about that at Camp Jupiter. The gods have many aspects. Mars, Ares. Pluto, Hades. Being immortal, they tend to accumulate personalities. They are Greek, Roman, American—a combination of all the cultures they've influenced over the eons. Do you understand?"

"I— I'm not sure," Hazel admitted. "Are all Amazons demigods?"

The queen spread her hands. "We all have some immortal blood, but many of my warriors are descended from demigods. Some have been Amazons for countless generations. Others are children of minor gods. Kinzie, the one who brought you here, is the daughter of a nymph. Ah—here she is now."

The girl with auburn hair approached the queen and bowed.

"The prisoners are safely locked away," Kinzie reported. "But . . ."

"Yes?" the queen asked.

Kinzie swallowed like she had a bad taste in her mouth. "Otrera made sure her followers are guarding the cells. I'm sorry, my queen."

Hylla pursed her lips. "No matter. Stay with us, Kinzie. We were just talking about our, ah, situation."

"Otrera," Hazel guessed. "Gaea brought her back from the dead to throw you Amazons into a civil war."

The queen exhaled. "If that was her plan, it is working. Otrera is a legend among our people. She plans to take back the throne and lead us to war against the Romans. Many of my sisters will follow her."

"Not all," Kinzie grumbled.

"But Otrera is a spirit!" Aurora said. "She isn't even—"

"Real?" The queen studied Aurora before moving her gaze carefully over to Hazel. "I worked with the sorceress Circe for many years. I know a returned soul when I see one. When did you die, Hazel—Nineteen twenty? Nineteen thirty?"

"Nineteen forty-two," Hazel said. "But—but I wasn't sent by Gaea. I came back to stop her. This is my second chance."

"Your second chance . . ." Hylla gazed at the rows of battle forklifts, now empty. "I know about second chances. That boy, Percy Jackson—he destroyed my old life. You wouldn't have recognized me back then. I wore dresses and makeup. I was a glorified secretary, an accursed Barbie doll."

Kinzie made a three-fingered claw over her heart, like most demigods used to ward off bad luck or curses or anything unwanted.

"Circe's island was a safe place for Reyna and me," the queen continued. "We were daughters of the war goddess, Bellona. I wanted to protect Reyna from all that violence. Then Percy Jackson unleashed the pirates. They kidnapped us, and Reyna and I learned to be tough. We found out that we were good with weapons. The past four years, I've wanted to kill Percy Jackson for what he made us endure."

"I feel that," Aurora mumbled to herself. She sometimes got the urge to kill the attractive son of Neptune, too. "But Reyna became the preator of Camp Jupiter. You became the queen of the Amazons. Maybe this was your destiny."

Hylla fingered the necklace in her hand. "I may not be queen for much longer."

"You will prevail!" Kinzie insisted.

"As the Fates decree," Hylla said without enthusiasm. "You see, Hazel and Aurora, Otrera has challenged me to a duel. Every Amazon has that right. Tonight at midnight, we'll battle for the throne."

"But . . . you're good, right?" Hazel asked.

Hylla managed a dry smile. "Good, yes, but Otrera is the founder of the Amazons."

"She's a lot older. Maybe she's out of practice, having been dead for so long," Aurora said in an attempt to boost the queen's confidence in herself.

"I hope you're right, Aurora. You see, it's a battle to the death . . ."

She waited for that to sink in. Aurora remembered what Phineas had said in Portland—how he had had a shortcut back from death, thanks to Gaea. She remembered how the gorgon had tried to re-form in the Tiber.

"Even if you kill her," Hazel said. "She'll just come back. As long as Thanatos is chained, she won't stay dead."

"Exactly," Hylla said. "Otrera had already told us that she can't die. So even if I manage to defeat her tonight, she'll simply return and challenge me again tomorrow. There is no law against challenging the queen multiple times. She can insist on fighting me every night, until she finally wears me down. I can't win."

Aurora glanced at the throne. She imagined Otrera sitting there with her fine robes and her silver hair, ordering her warriors to attack Rome. She imagined the voice of Gaea filling this cavern, sending chills down her spine.

"There has to be a way," Hazel said. "Don't Amazons have . . . special powers or something?"

"No more than other demigods," Hylla said. "We can die just like any mortal. There is a group of archers who follow the goddess Artemis. They are often mistaken for Amazons, but the Hunters forsake the company of men in exchange for almost endless life. We Amazons—we would prefer to live life to the fullest. We love, we fight, we die."

"I thought you hated men."

Hylla and Kinzie both laughed.

"Hate men?" said the queen. "No, no, we like men. We just like to show them who's in charge. But that's beside the point. If I could, I would rally our troops and ride to my sister's aid. Unfortunately, my power is tenuous. When I am killed in combat—and it's only a matter of time—Otrera will be queen. She will march to Camp Jupiter with our forces, but she will not go to help my sister. She'll go to join the giant's army."

"We've got to stop her," Aurora said. "My friends and I killed Phineas, one of Gaea's other servants in Portland. Maybe we can help!"

The queen shook her head. "You can't interfere. As queen, I must fight my own battles. Besides, your friends are imprisoned. If I let them go, I'll look weak. Either I execute you four as trespassers, or Otrera will do so when she becomes queen."

Aurora's heart sank. Hazel frowned. "So I guess we're both dead. Me for the second time."

In the corner cage, the stallion Arion whinnied angrily. He reared and slammed his hooves against the bars.

"The horse seemed to feel your despair," she queen said. "Interesting. He's immortal, you know—the son of Neptune and Ceres."

Hazel blinked. "Two gods had a horse for a kid?"

"Long story."

"Oh." Hazel's cheeks went red and Aurora bit back a laugh.

She couldn't wait to tease Percy about having an immortal horse for a half-brother. Of course, he probably had already guessed that Arion was his half-brother, but Aurora didn't care. She was gonna have fun with this information.

"He's the fastest horse in the world," Hylla said. "Pegasus is more famous, with his wings, but Arion runs like the wind over land and sea. No creature is faster. It took us years to capture him—one of our greatest prizes. But it did us no good. The horse will not allow anyone to ride him. I think he hates Amazons. And he is expensive to keep. He will eat anything, but he prefers gold."

Aurora's eyes widened and she glanced at Hazel. "He eats gold?"

Hazel understood what Aurora was saying immediately and knelt down to the ground. She pressed her hand against the floor. Immediately, the stone cracked. A chunk of gold ore the size of a plum was pushed out of the earth. Hazel stood, examining her prize.

Hylla and Kinzie stared at her.

"How did you . . . ?" The queen gasped. "Hazel, be careful!"

Hazel approached the stallion's cage. She put her hand between the bars, and Arion gingerly ate the chunk of gold from her palm.

"Unbelievable," Kinzie said. "The last girl who tried that—"

"Now has a metal arm," the queen finished. She studied Hazel with new interest, as if deciding whether or not to say more. "Hazel . . . we spent years hunting for this horse. It was foretold that the most courageous female warrior would someday master Arion and ride him to victory, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the Amazons. Yet no Amazon can touch him, much less control him. Even Otrera tried and failed. Two others died attempting to ride him."

That probably should have worried Aurora, but she knew how good Hazel was. If that horse allowed her to get so close to him, she was the one. Plus, Hazel was a born rider. She had the sword of a cavalry rider, and the soft voice meant for soothing horses. Arion would be perfect for her, and finally turn her curse into a blessing of sorts.

Hazel put her hand between the bars again and stroked Arion's nose. He nuzzled her arm, murmuring contentedly, as if asking for more gold.

"I would feed you more, Arion." Hazel glanced pointedly at the queen. "But I think I'm scheduled for an execution."

Queen Hylla looked from Hazel, to the horse, then to Aurora's smug smile, and back again. "Unbelievable."

"The prophecy," Kinzie said. "Is it possible . . . ?"

Aurora could almost see the gears turning inside the queen's head, formulating a plan. "You have courage, Hazel Levesque and Aurora Jake. And it seems Arion has chosen you, Hazel. Kinzie?"

"Yes, my queen?"

"You said Otrera's followers are guarding the cells?"

Kinzie nodded. "I should have foreseen that. I'm sorry—"

"No, it's fine." The queen's eyes gleamed—the way Hannibal the elephant's did whenever he was unleashed to destroy a fortress. "It would be embarrassing for Otrera if her followers failed in their duties—if, for instance, they were overcome by an outsider and a prison break occurred."

Kinzie began to smile. "Yes, my queen. Most embarrassing."

"Of course," Hylla continued. "None of my guards would know a thing about this. Kinzie would not spread the word to allow an escape."

Aurora felt her spirits lifting. She knew what the queen was thinking, and she loved it.

"Certainly not," Kinzie agreed.

"And we couldn't help you." The queen raised her eyebrows at Aurora and Hazel. "But if you somehow overpowered the guards and freed your friends . . . if, for instance, you took one of the guards' Amazon cards—"

"With one-click purchasing enabled," Kinzie said. "Which will open the jail cells with one click."

"If—gods forbid!—something like that were to happen," the queen continued. "You would find your friends' weapons and supplies in the guard station next to the cells. And who knows? If you made your way back to this throne room while I was off preparing for my duel . . . well, as I mentioned, Arion is a very fast horse. It would be a shame if he were stolen and used for an escape."

Aurora felt adrenaline begin to make its way through her veins, filling her body with electricity and energy. She felt Solstice heat up around her finger, the band glowing as it began to react to her powers being activated by the warmth flowing through her body.

"Queen Hylla," Hazel said. "I—I'm not much of a fighter."

"Oh, there are many kinds of fighting, Hazel. I have a feeling you're quite resourceful. As well as your friend, Aurora, who is quite good with her blade I hear." Queen Hylla sent Aurora a look, the girl nodding in agreement. "And if the prophecy is correct, you will help the Amazon nation achieve prosperity. If you succeed on your quest to free Thanatos, for instance—"

"—then Otrera wouldn't come back if she were killed," Hazel said. "You'd only have to defeat her . . . um, every night until we succeed."

The queen nodded grimly. "It seems we have impossible tasks ahead of us."

"But you're trusting us," Aurora said. "And we trust you. You will win, as many times as it takes."

Hylla held out Percy's necklace and poured it into Aurora's hands.

"I hope you're right, daughter of Apollo," the queen said. "But the sooner you succeed the better, yes?"

Aurora slipped the necklace into her pocket. She shook the queen's hand, wondering if it was possible to make a friend so fast—especially one who was about to send her to jail.

"This conversation never happened," Hylla told Kinzie. "Take our prisoners to the cells and hand them over to Otrera's guards. And Kinzie, be sure you leave before anything unfortunate happens. I don't want my loyal followers held accountable for a prison break."

The queen smiled mischievously, and for the first time, Aurora felt jealous of Reyna. She wished she had a sister like this. Instead, she—

No! Not the time! You can think of the past later! Prison break now!

"Good-bye, Hazel Levesque and Aurora Jake," the queen said. "If we both die tonight . . . well, I'm glad I met you."

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⬩❖⬩ ⎯⎯⎯⎯

The Amazon jail was at the top of a storage aisle, sixty feet in the air. Kinzie led them up three different ladders to a metal catwalk, then tied Aurora's hands loosely behind her back and pushed her and Hazel along past crates of jewelry.

A hundred feet ahead, under the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights, a row of chain-link cages hung suspended from cables. Percy and Frank were in two of the cages, talking to each other in hushed tones. Next to them on the catwalk, three bored-looking Amazon guards leaned against their spears and gazed at little black tablets in their hands like they were reading.

"Get moving, girls!" Kinzie ordered, loud enough for the guards to hear. She prodded Aurora in the back with her sword.

While her body moved slowly, her mind was racing with thoughts. Multiple plans were forming and falling apart in her head, reconstructing themselves to work better. She felt as though she was back on the Field of Mars, preparing to infiltrate one of the many forts during War Games. What could she use to bring those Amazons down and aid her friends in escaping?

Kinzie had made sure both she and Hazel could escape their bonds with ease, but that didn't solve the problem of three of her friends being weaponless. Aurora didn't doubt Hazel's skills in hand-to-hand combat, but she wasn't entirely confident in their ability to take down three trained warriors without someone getting hurt on her side. 

Aurora came to a sudden stop as her eyes landed on something, a plan finally snapping into place. Before her was a pallet of crates marked 24-CARAT BLUE TOPAZ RINGS, a similar pallet labeled SILVER FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS sitting beside it. An electronic display next to the bracelets read: People who bought this item also bought GARDEN GNOME, SOLAR PATIO LIGHT, and FLAMING SPEAR OF DEATH. Buy all three and save 12%.

I would appreciate a flaming spear of death right now.

Silver. Topaz. Both were precious metals or gems or things found underground that Hazel could control. And Aurora had her photokinesis to work with, as well as her flaming sword and innate ability to curse people. Together, the two of them had a lot more than they had originally given themselves credit for.

Beside her, Hazel froze as well, gold meeting blue. An understanding passed between the two⎯Aurora would blind them, allowing Hazel to bind them. Then, with them out of the way, the real escape plan would kick in.

"What is it?" Kinzie hissed. "Keep moving! They'll get suspicious!"

"Make them come here," Aurora muttered over her shoulder.

"Why—"

"Please," Hazel insisted.

The guards frowned in their direction.

"What are you staring at?" Kinzie yelled at them. "Here's the third and fourth prisoners. Come and get them."

The nearest guard set down her reading tablet. "Why can't you walk another thirty paces, Kinzie?"

"Um, because—"

"Ooof!" 

Something most people didn't know was that Aurora was actually a wonderful actress. It was a trait she'd gotten from her mother, learning to create scenes within seconds that were so believable, they could trick just about anyone. So, when she saw that the three warriors were hesitant to come her way, she drug up her unused skills and prayed to her father that they would work.

Aurora's body crumpled to the ground, knees hitting the metal harshly as her face screwed up in nausea. "Gods, I'm gonna hurl! You Amazons . . . I can't . . ."

Hazel and Kinzie stared at her in awe, but they quickly steeled their expressions.

"There you go," Kinzie told the guards. "Now, are you going to come take the prisoners, or should I tell Queen Hylla you're not doing your duty?"

The nearest guard rolled her eyes and trudged over. Aurora would've preferred all three warriors, but she'd have to make due with what she had.

The first guard grabbed Aurora's arm. "Fine. I'll take custody of the prisoners. But if I were you, Kinzie, I wouldn't worry about Hylla. She won't be queen much longer."

"We'll see, Doris." Kinzie turned to leave. Aurora waited until her steps receded down the catwalk.

The guard Doris pulled on Aurora's arm. "Well? Come on."

Aurora met Hazel's gaze and immediately got the message: stall for more time. The daughter of Apollo groaned, using her photokinesis to heat her body up, replicating a fever. Her skin turned splotchy red, sweat beading along her forehead. "Water . . . I need water. I'm gonna⎯" 

A perfectly-crafted gag escaped her throat, her eyes clenching shut. She heard the guard yelp indignantly and internally grinned. I should get an Oscar for this.

"You are not throwing up on me," Doris growled. She tried to yank Aurora to her feet, but Aurora went limp, like a kid throwing a fit in a store. Next to her and Hazel, the boxes began to tremble.

"Lulu!" Doris yelled to one of her comrades. "Help me with these two lame girls!"

Amazons named Doris and Lulu? Wow, their parents must have really hated them.

The second guard jogged over. Aurora figured Hazel was almost ready, so she started to focus on the very heat she was using to burn her skin. In her mind, she pictured a ball of pure light forming within her stomach. Slowly, it began to expand toward her skin, slipping through her body like liquid gold. Aurora felt her skin begin to heat up again, but in a different way. A much more powerful way. 

Before the guards could haul her to her feet, she yelled, "Ooooh!" and flatted herself against the catwalk.

Doris started to say, "Oh, give me a—"

Her gut lurched. The cavern flashed white as her body lit up like a nightlight. Golden power seeped from her pores as heat emitted from her skin, the air around her wavering and sizzling. The sudden change in temperature made the guards release her arms, their hands burning bright red. They yelped as the sudden light blinded them, giving Hazel enough time to send the entire pallet of jewelry toppling.

Metal on metal sounded through the cavern as a tidal wave of silver friendship bracelets poured across the catwalk, washing a blinded Doris and Lulu right over the railing.

Seeing that her job was done, Aurora cut her powers off and felt the heat fade, her skin returning to its normal glow. She stood beside Hazel on wobbly legs, suddenly tired from her burst of power. The girls broke their bonds, Hazel simultaneously stopping the guards' fall by wrapping friendship bracelets around their ankles. They now hung upside down from the bottom of the catwalk, screaming at the top of their lungs.

Hazel turned toward the third guard. She picked up one of the fallen guards' spears and handed it to Aurora, who took with with a grin. The girl had much better aim than Hazel did. "Should I kill you from here?" Aurora snarled. "Or are you going to make me come over there?"

The guard turned and ran.

Hazel shouted over the side to Doris and Lulu. "Amazon cards! Pass them up, unless you want me to undo those friendship bracelets and let you drop!"

Four and a half seconds later, Hazel and Aurora held one Amazon card each. They raced over to the cages and swiped the cards. The doors popped open.

Frank stared at the two of them in astonishment. "Hazel,  that was . . . amazing."

Aurora rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Frank. It's not like I just illuminated an entire cavern or anything."

Frank blushed a brilliant red and sent her an apologetic grin. Percy blinked at Aurora in astonishment. "I will never wear jewelry again."

"Aw, not even this?" Aurora pouted and held up his necklace. "Because I kind of liked how this looked on you."

Percy's cheeks heated up a bit and she smiled, her heart skipping inside her chest. She handed him his necklace and he took it with a thankful smile, clipping it behind his neck.

"Our weapons and supplies are at the end of the catwalk," Hazel said. "We should hurry. Pretty soon—"

Alarms began wailing throughout the cavern.

"Yeah," Aurora said. "That'll happen. Let's go!"

She didn't have to tell the boys twice.

The first part of the escape was easy. They retrieved their things with no problem, then started climbing down the ladder. Every time Amazons swarmed them, demanding their surrender, Aurora would send a burst of golden light toward them and Hazel would make a crate of jewelry explode, burying their enemies in a Niagara Falls of gold and silver. When they got to the bottom of the ladder, they found a scene that looked like Mardi Gras Armageddon—Amazons trapped up to their necks in bead necklaces, several more upside down in a mountain of amethyst earrings, and a battle forklift buried in silver charm bracelets. Some had clothes that were smoking while others looked like they had a serious case of sunburn.

"You, Hazel Levesque," Frank said. "Are entirely freaking incredible."

"Thank you, Frank Zhang, for that vote of confidence," Aurora said sarcastically, causing the boy's cheeks to heat up in embarrassment once more. Percy chuckled softly. "Let's go, before we get caught."

They ran back to the throne room. They stumbled across one Amazon warrior who must've been loyal to Hylla. As soon as she saw the escapees, she turned away like they were invisible.

Percy started to ask, "What the—"

"Some of them want us to escape," Aurora said. "I'll explain later, Kelp Head."

The second Amazon they met wasn't so friendly. She was dressed in full armor, blocking the throne-room entrance. She spun her spear with lightning speed, but this time Percy was ready. He drew Riptide and stepped into battle. As the Amazon jabbed at him, he sidestepped, cut her spear shaft in half, and slammed the hilt of his sword against her helmet.

The guard crumpled.

My gods, he is so hot! Aurora thought, grinning.

"Mars Almighty," Frank said. "How did you—that wasn't any Roman technique!"

Percy grinned. "The graecus has some moves, my friend. After you."

They ran into the throne room. As promised, Hylla and her guards had cleared out. Hazel dashed over to Arion's cage and swiped an Amazon card across the lock. Instantly, the stallion burst forth, rearing in triumph.

Percy and Frank stumbled backward.

"Um . . . is that thing tame?" Frank said.

The horse whinnied angrily. Aurora didn't think the horse appreciated being called a thing.

"I don't think so," Percy guessed. "He just said, 'I will trample you to death, silly Chinese Canadian baby man.'"

Aurora bit back a laugh.

"You speak horse?" Hazel asked.

"'Baby man'?" Frank spluttered.

"Speaking to horses is a Poseidon thing," Percy said. "Uh, I mean a Neptune thing."

Aurora met Percy's eyes, and she knew right then and there that she had been right. Percy wasn't a son of Neptune. He was a son of Poseidon. And she didn't care, because that didn't change anything about him other than his heritage.

"Then you and Arion should get along fine," Aurora said with a teasing smirk. "He's a son of Neptune too."

She added emphasis on the name of the god.

Percy turned pale. "Excuse me?"

If they hadn't been in such a bad situation, Percy's expression would have made her laugh. "The point is, he's fast. He can get us out of here."

Frank did not look thrilled. "Four of us can't fit on one horse, can we? We'll fall off, or slow him down, or—"

Arion whinnied again.

"Ouch," Percy said. "Frank, the horse says you're a—you know, actually, I'm not going to translate that. Anyway, he says there's a chariot in the warehouse, and he's willing to pull it."

"There!" someone yelled from the back of the throne room. A dozen Amazons charged in, followed by males in orange jumpsuits. When they saw Arion, they backed up quickly and headed for the battle forklifts.

Hazel vaulted onto Arion's back.

She grinned down at her friends. "I remember seeing that chariot. Follow me, guys!"

She galloped into the larger cavern and scattered a crowd of males. Aurora brought out Solstice and knocked out Amazons alongside Percy, the two of them fighting beside each other as if they had done it for years. Frank swept two more off their feet with his spear. The three of them worked together to ensure Hazel would make it through to where the chariot was safely.

The trio on foot ran after Hazel as she bowled into a patrol of Amazons, who scattered in terror at the sight of the horse. Finally, they reached the chariot. Arion stopped by the yoke, and Percy set to work with the reins and harness.

"You've done this before?" Frank asked.

Percy didn't need to answer. His hands flew. In no time the chariot was ready. He jumped aboard and yelled, "Aurora, Frank, come on! Hazel, go!"

Aurora didn't need to be told twice. She jumped onto the chariot beside Percy just as a battle cry went up behind them. A full army of Amazons stormed into the warehouse. Otrera herself stood astride a battle forklift, her silver hair flowing as she swung her mounted crossbow toward the chariot. "Stop them!"

Frank hopped in the chariot just as Hazel spurred Arion. They raced across the cavern, weaving around pallets and forklifts. An arrow whizzed past Hazel's head. Something exploded behind her, but no one dared look back.

"The stairs!" Frank yelled. "No way this horse can pull a chariot up that many flights of— OH MY GODS!"

Aurora wanted to slap Frank. Thankfully the stairs were wide enough for the chariot, because Arion didn't even slow down. He shot up the steps with the chariot rattling and groaning. Percy gripped onto Aurora's hand to make sure she didn't fall off, Frank's face turning green as he held onto the side of the chariot so hard his knuckles turned white.

Finally they reached the lobby. Arion crashed through the main doors into the plaza and scattered a bunch of guys in business suits.

"Ella!" Hazel shouted at the sky. "Where are you? We have to leave!"

For a horrible second, Aurora was afraid the harpy might be too far away to hear. She might be lost, or captured by the Amazons.

"Surrender!" Otrera screamed.

The forklift raised its razor-sharp tines.

Aurora glared back at the wannabe queen. "Oh, give me a break!"

She flung her hand out, muttered a quick curse, and suddenly, the entire army of Amazons began to sing. Their eyes were wide in shock, but their mouths never stopped moving, the group bursting into a random verse from Beyonce's "Single Ladies."

In a flash of red feathers, Ella landed in the chariot. "Ella is here. Amazons are pointy. Terrible singers. Go now."

"Hold on!" Hazel warned, and Aurora did. Percy grabbed her waist and she gripped both his hand and the side of the chariot, leaning back into Percy's chest. "Arion, run!"

The world seemed to elongate. Sunlight bent around them. Arion shot away from the Amazons and sped through downtown Seattle. Aurora glanced back and saw a line of smoking pavement where Arion's hooves had touched the ground. He thundered toward the docks, leaping over cars, barreling through intersections.

Hazel was screaming in delight while Frank was clutching his stomach and Percy and Aurora were yelping in surprise. Aurora's ears popped and she heard a sonic boom spread across the water as Arion made it to the sea. He tore over Puget Sound, seawater turning to steam in his wake as the skyline of Seattle receded behind them. Aurora held tight to Percy as she watched the city disappear, her heart racing inside her chest.

"Oh, gods."

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⬩❖⬩ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

𝐀 𝐔 𝐓 𝐇 𝐎 𝐑 𝐒   𝐍 𝐎 𝐓 𝐄   !

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⬩❖⬩ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Okay, the second half of the Amazon's is done. I hate Otrera for the life of me, so I had Aurora curse her to sing. Both a badass moment for Aurora and a revenge moment against Otrera. Also, Hazel has finally become her badass self and Frank is a total simp for her. I love Frazel almost as much as I love Percy and Aurora (whatever their ship name is).

Next are the Canada chapters. We'll see Percy and Aurora having a deep conversation in the middle of the night and watch as Frank's heart breaks for his granny, who sadly does not make it. At least, that's what Riordan insinuates near the end of the chapters. Sad boy hours.

Please comment and vote!

Love you all!

~ a.h.