Ta-da! Chapter Two! ~Ali

Chapter Two

They fought through the hearth, kicking up coals and sparks. Kronos slashed an armrest off the throne of Ares, but then he backed Percy up to his dad's throne.

"Oh, yes," Kronos said. "This one will make fine kindling for my new hearth!"

Our blades clashed in a shower of sparks. He advanced with blinding speed.

Percy sidestepped and jabbed under Kronos's guard. It was a good trick. Unfortunately, Luke knew it. He countered the strike and disarmed Percy using one of the first moves he'd ever taught him. Percy's sword skittered across the ground and fell straight into the open fissure. Kronos slammed the hilt of his sword into Percy's back and Percy collapsed to the ground.

"STOP!" Annabeth came from nowhere.

Kronos whirled to face her and slashed with Backbiter, but somehow Annabeth caught the strike on her dagger hilt. It was a move only the quickest and most skilled knife fighter could've managed.

"Luke," she said, gritting her teeth, "I understand now. You have to trust me."

Kronos roared in outrage. "Luke Castellan is dead! His body will burn away as I assume my true form!"

Kronos pushed against her, trying to dislodge his blade, but she held him in check, her arms trembling as he forced his sword down toward her neck.

"Your mother," Annabeth grunted. "She saw your fate."

"Service to Kronos!" the Titan roared. "This is my fate."

"No!" Annabeth insisted. Her eyes were tearing up, weather from sadness or pain. "That's not the end, Luke. The prophecy: she saw what you would do. It applies to you!"

"I will crush you, child!" Kronos bellowed.

"You won't," Annabeth said. "You promised. You're holding Kronos back even now."

"LIES!" Kronos pushed again, and this time Annabeth lost her balance. With his free hand, Kronos struck her face, and she slid backward.

Kronos loomed over Annabeth, his sword raised.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked, "Family, Luke. You promised."

Before Percy could get anywhere close to Annabeth, Kronos staggered.

He stared at the knife in Annabeth's hand, the blood on her face. "Promise."

Then he gasped like he couldn't get air. "Annabeth…" But it wasn't the Titan's voice. It was Luke's. He stumbled forward like he couldn't control his own body. "You're bleeding…."

"My knife." Annabeth tried to raise her dagger, but it clattered out of her hand. Her arm was bent at a funny angle. She looked at Percy, imploring, "Percy, please…"

Percy surged forward with newfound strength and scooped up her knife. He knocked Backbiter out of Luke's hand, and it spun into the hearth. Luke hardly paid him any attention. He stepped toward Annabeth, but Percy put himself between him and her.

"Don't touch her," Percy said.

Anger rippled across his face. Kronos's voice growled: "Jackson…" Was it my imagination, or was his whole body glowing, turning gold?

He gasped again. Luke's voice: "He's changing. Help. He's… he's almost ready. He won't need my body anymore. Please-"

"NO!" Kronos bellowed. He looked around for his sword, but it was in the hearth, glowing among the coals.

He stumbled toward it. Percy tried to stop him, but Kronos pushed him out of the way with such force he landed next to Annabeth and cracked his head on the base of Athena's throne.

"The knife, Percy," Annabeth muttered. Her breath was shallow. "Hero… cursed blade…"

Kronos grasped 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. An image of Hestia flickered in the ashes, frowning at Kronos with disapproval.

Luke turned and collapsed, clutching his ruined hands. "Please, Percy…"

Percy struggled to his feet. He moved toward Luke with the knife.

Luke 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.

"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. Percy handed Luke the knife and stood there, defenseless.

Luke 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.

His eyes glowed like lava. The throne room shook, throwing everyone off their feet. An aura of energy surrounded Luke, growing brighter and brighter.

When the light died, Percy and Annabeth staggered over to Luke. His eyes were blue again, and he looked around brokenly for his old friends.

Percy grasped Luke's hand. Luke's breath rattled. "I'm s-sorry…. You were always right, Annabeth…"

Annabeth had tears in her eyes.

Luke grimaced in pain and squeezed his eyes shut. His grip tightened on Percy. A weak, evil laugh escaped his lips. He opened his eyes, and they were gold again.

Percy's eyes widened in alarm. He tried to frantically pull his arm from the Titan Lord's grip but was unsuccessful. Kronos laughed again and in a blinding flash of light, disappeared.

Percy's scream ripped through the air.

When the light dissipated, Annabeth looked around frantically for her best friend. Annabeth fell to her knees and howled, letting out all of the pain.

Kronos was gone. But the price was Perseus Jackson.