"The knife, Percy," Annabeth muttered. Her breath was shallow. "Hero . . . cursed blade . . ."
When my vision came back into focus, I saw Kronos grasping his sword. Then he bellowed in pain and dropped it. His hands were smoking and seared. The hearth fire had grown red-hot, like the scythe wasn't compatible with it. I saw an image of Hestia flickering in the ashes, frowning at Kronos with disapproval.
Luke turned and collapsed, clutching his ruined hands. "Please, Percy . . ." I struggled to my feet. I moved toward him with the knife. I should kill him. That was the plan. Luke seemed to know what I was thinking. He moistened his lips. "You can't . . . can't do it yourself.
He'll break my control. He'll defend himself .Only my hand. I know where. I can . . . can keep him controlled." He was definitely glowing now, his skin starting to smoke.
I raised the knife to strike. Then I looked at Annabeth, at Grover cradling her in his arms, trying to shield her. And I finally understood what she'd been trying to tell me.
You are not the hero,Rachel had said.It will affect what you do."Please," Luke groaned. "No time."If Kronos evolved into his true form, there would be no stopping him. He would make Typhon look like a playground bully. The line from the great prophecy echoed in my head:A hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. My whole world tipped upside down, and I gave the knife to Luke .Grover yelped. "Percy? Are you . . . um . . ."
Crazy .Insane .Off my rocker .Probably.
But I watched as Luke grasped the hilt.
I stood before him—defenseless.
He unlatched the side straps of his armor, exposing a small bit of his skin just under his left arm, a place that would be very hard to hit. With difficulty, he stabbed himself.
It wasn't a deep cut, but Luke howled.
I then saw Luke 'eyes widen as I felt a pressure on the small of my back .I stood there as pain surged through my body. I managed to look back and saw my wise girl holding riptide with my blood on it. She was snickering. Then she said out loud ", Bye Percy, don't worry about Grover, he won't be sad ''. With that she stabbed Grover. Grover yelled a PANIC and Annabeth fell back near me . And turned into a shrub 12 flashes appeared .the gods busted out with full armor. Annabeth craddelled my head and pretended to cry . I could see Annabeth cry . I asked her "why", and she whispered "For power honey".