O_o. I just realized how long it's been since I last updated and I'm so sorry! Anyways, I'll probably update two chapters in a row to make up. Don't kill me. Oh and I want to drop the bombshell :P
I glared at Arachne. Annabeth squeaked heroically and hid behind me. I tried to strike a heroic pose and maybe score some points with Annabeth, but my legs crumpled under me. Arachne hissed/gurgled. I'm pretty sure that was her version of a laugh. "Pathetic demigods. You will never defeat Gaea. You will never get out of Tartrus alive." I scowled at her. "You wanna bet?" I challenged, raising my sword. It was really awkward from a sitting position and I completely failed and gave up on my heroic image.
I gathered my strength and launched myself at her. I would have cut her in half, but I was still dizzy and light-headed. She shot some webs at me and I fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding awkwardly chest-bumping Arachne. I really didn't want to know where the webs came from. Annabeth was still frozen with fear. Jeez. Thanks for all your help. -_- I struggled against the webs, but they were surprisingly tight, unlike those delicate strands from normal, non-demented crazed killer type of spiders. I'm pretty sure Arachne does not count as normal.
"Annabeth. A little help," I managed to grunt. Still frozen. I wondered if Kronos had somehow frozen her in time or something, or if she got paralyzed or something. "Why don't I how you my castle while we wait for my mistress?" Arachne purred. "Nah. I think I'll pass." I answered, not wanting to see the rest of this creepy web castle. I thought Annabeth of all people would be running around like a demented fan-girl studying the architecture and some sort of weaving and the way it holds up and all that shit. Arachne grinned, revealing her mandibles. "Okay we'll go with option 2: I'll eat your precious girlfriend. Her soft flesh looks so tempting." "Where do we start?" I asked barely containing my eagerness. Note the sarcasm.
Arachne untied me so I could walk. I grabbed Annabeth and hauled her behind me. She wouldn't budge, still frozen with fear. "Stupid arachnophobia," I grumbled, hoisting her over my shoulder. Oh, the things I would do for her. By the time we got to the main hall-way, Annabeth snapped out of it and started ooohhhhing and ahhhhhing over the walls and stuff. Personally, I didn't see what was the big whoop. Any special-effects master would take about 10 minutes to come up with this.
Throughout the entire "tour", Arachne clung onto my arm, trying to flirt with me. Fortunately, Annabeth was too busy drooling over the architecture. Good, cause if she weren't she would have my head. I did my best to ignore both of them, and my head was pounding like crazy.
My legs ached. I still can't believe that I still have both my legs. I don't get it. How was it even possible. I probably needed like a million dollars worth of surgery and treatment and prosthetics just to stay alive and function relatively normally. This doesn't seem right. Something was fishy and I'm positive it's not my breath or my brain no matter what Annabeth of Thalia say.
"Arachne!" A voice called. Beautiful, ancient, and pure evil at the same time. Gaea. Arachne pulled me to I guess it would be called main hall where Gaea was waiting. "Stay alive and I'll find you later," she purred in a supposedly seductive voice. Annabeth finally noticed. Great. A pissed girlfriend and an evil Pridomal. Like I don't have enough to worry about.
"Hello young demigods," Gaea purred. "What do you want bitch?" Annabeth growled. Great. Now you choose to talk. Such perfect timing. Gaea's eyes flashed angrily. "I have come to claim something that is rightfully mine." She answered. "What's that?" Annabeth sneered.
"My son," Gaea answered staring directly at me. No. This has got to be a joke. No. Not possible. I felt numb. This is something to knock me off my feet. To get us off track. Yeah. That's it. It has to be. Apparently, while I was having a mental breakdown, Annabeth was voicing my thoughts. "How are you Percy's mother? He's a demigod. He can die. He doesn't have ichor." Gaea grinned evilly. "You're a daughter of wisdom are you not?" she purred. "Figure it out."
There. I'll post the next chapter tomorrow morning after Chinese school. Don't worry. There will be an explanation chapter.
