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Chapter 10 Breath Mints and Atlas

"So. . . Why does it smell like breath mints?" Kat asked.

"Eucalyptus," Zoe pointed to the trees around them.

"The stuff koala bears eat?"

"That's seriously crossed your mind Percy? Koala bears," Kat teased.

"Monsters eat it to, and dragons," Zoe said, "especially, dragons."

"Okay, why dragons, Huntress?' Kat asked.

"What's up with you and nicknames?" Percy asked.

"Shut it, Kelp Head, I asked the Mistress of the Hunters a question."

"If you had dragon breath you would eat Eucalyptus leaves to," Zoe said.

"Mistress of the Hunters?"

"Percy!"

"Sisters," Zoe said.

"We do not see any sister," one of the girls said coldly, "We see three demigods and a hunter. You shall die."

"No one," Kat began.

"Is going to die." Percy finished, stepping forward.

The girls studied the two,

"Percy Jackson and Katrina Bowes." One of them said.

"The two children of-"

"That doesn't matter at the moment," Kat said, "We really need to get around you."

"We do not see how you two are a threat," Another added.

"Threat?" Percy said confused. Kat's bobby pin turned into a sword in her hand.

"Okay, now we see," another girl announced watching the sword warily.

"Do not speak so loud," the leader said, "thy do not want to wake up Ladon."

"Jeez, Nights, they speak like you," Kat said.

"Thy never had any courage sister," Zoë said, sending a scowl at Kat, "Ladon wake!"

That was exactly the opposite of what Kat thought Zoë would do. The necks and heads began to shake, and turn, and open it's eyes. A few of the heads opened up and yawned. And Kat gagged, Ladon's breath smelled terrible.

"Thalia, go around on the left, Percy go right, Katrina go left after Thalia," Zoë instructed, "I will distract Ladon."

"That doesn-" Kat began.

"Do you have a better one?!"

"No. . ."

"Let's do this."

They were on the other side of the garden. Kat watched Zoë weave through all the heads of Ladon in horror, they lunged, but she always got out of the way in time, but one lunge got her on the side, and Zoë leaped away. She was away from the dragon, and wounded. Her side was ripped and torn, the blood was turning to green, and Zoë's breath came in short gasps.

"You're hurt!" Kat said.

"I'll be fine," Zoë gasped.

"Nights! Let me see!" Kat demanded, her green eyes flashed.

"No, young warrior, not now, Lady Artemis!" Zoë gasped and rushed to the feet of her mistress. Artemis looked terrible. She was straining to hold up the sky, Zoë fumbled with Artemis's chains but couldn't unlock them.

"The sky!" Kat gasped, "she's holding the sky!"

Everyone nodded grimly.

"My heroes it is, it is a trap, get away from here," Artemis gasped in pain.

"My mistress!" Zoë sobbed.

"How touching!" A voice boomed behind them. Kat spun around, the General!

The General stood in a sleek black suit, Luke stood besides him, and half a dozen dracenia were holding a sarcophagus. But what caught Kat's eyes, was a worn down girl, with curly blond hair streaked with grey, and shocking grey eyes. She held herself with pride, despite the fact her hands were chained behind her back, and Luke was holding a knife under her throat. She gave Percy a look, than glanced at Kat. That must be Annabeth, Kat realized.

"Luke," Thalia growled next to Zoë, "Let her go."

"That's the General's decision, Thalia, it is good to see you again," Luke smiled. His smile was tired, weak, and pale.

Thalia spat at him.

"So much for old friends," laughed the General.

"Wait, you are Atlas?" Percy said.

"So even the-"

"Whatever you are going to say, I advise you to word it kindly Atlas," Kat warned.

"I was going to say, even the stupidest of heroes can actually figure something out," Atlas grinned at her. Kat scowled,

"You call that kind," Kat snickered, "someone needs to learn their manners."

"Katrina Bowes and Percy Jackson, I will deal with you later, first I need to deal with this wretched girl," Atlas motioned toward Zoë. Percy and Kat's eyes boiled with anger,

"You are not touching Zoë," Percy spat out angrily.

"Oh? But heroes, I believe this is a family matter," Atlas grinned wickedly.

"Yes, Percy, Atlas is my father," Zoë gasped with pain, and Artemis glanced at her in concern. Zoë and Atlas let that sink in. Kat sighed. Atlas approached,

"So these are the greatest heroes of time?" Atlas chuckled, "weaklings." Kat growled angrily.

"Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon," Atlas mused, "not much of a challenge."

"Fight me and see." Percy said. Kat rolled her eyes.

"Has Chiron taught you nothing? The gods can not fight a mortal directly, we are bound by ancient rules."

"Then you are another coward then." Percy said. Kat snickered. Atlas turned difficulty away from Percy and looked at Kat.

"Katrina Bowes, daughter of-"

"Okay, Gigantor, Let me get this straight, you are Atlas, then why are you not holding the sky. We all know Artemis wasn't going to willingly take your burden for you. So how did you escape?"

Atlas sneered, "Luke took it, than the Athena rag-" Thalia was restraining Percy from attacking Atlas. "- felt pity on Luke and took the sky, than Artemis showed up and held it for the maiden, since Artemis has a heart for maidens."

"Alright then, Gigantor."

"Now my question."

"Shoot ahead."

"Gigantor?"

Kat stared at him in shock, "Gigantor, seriously?" Kat grinned mischievously, "Don't worry, even the stupidest titans figure things out eventually."

Percy snickered.

Atlas turned to Thalia,

"Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, it seems like Luke was wrong about you."

"No, I wasn't," Luke said, his breathing sounded ragged. "Thalia you can still join us, the Ophiotaurus will come to your call." He waved his hand, and a pool appeared nearby.

"Never!" Thalia spat.

"Please, Thalia, then it would be like the three of us again." Luke pleaded. "We are not weak Thalia, look," Luke pointed, and everyone followed his finger. Luke's boat, was emptied, the monsters approached, their footsteps marching up the mountain.

"Thalia, don't, okay?" Kat said.

For a terrible moment Thalia hesitated, she glanced at all of us and nodded. We understood, she wasn't joining Luke.

"Now!" Percy yelled, and the three charged. Except Kat, she knew what she was going to do. Thalia charged for Luke, Percy stupidly charged for Atlas, and Zoë was shooting arrows everywhere. Once Luke's knife disappeared from Annabeth's throat, Kat ran toward Annabeth, who stood there waiting patiently.

"Who are you!?" Annabeth retorted.

"Katrina Bowes," Kat said, her sword changed into her pearl bobby pin. Annabeth gasped,

"Like Percy's sword."

"Yes," Kat picked the chains lock and Annabeth rubbed her wrists.

"Hermes?"

Kat looked at her blankly.

"Your godly parent?"

"Right, undetermined."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Kat flipped her hair back and smiled, "It's fine."

"You must be new."

"Yes, they found me about a few hours after you got captured."

"Oh."

Kat turned and watched Percy fight, suddenly he lifted his sword like it weighed a mountain.

"Something is wrong," Kat whispered. Annabeth watched Percy,

"But what?" Annabeth wondered.

"Ares!" Kat growled. "His curse on Percy's sword. 'When you need it the most your sword will fail you.'"

"How did you know about that?" Annabeth asked.

"We. . . ran into Ares," Kat said, "he reminded Percy."

"That explains," Annabeth stated calmly.

"What's he doing, Kelp Head, is not that stupid!" Kat gasped, "forget that, I guess he is." Percy had taken the sky from Artemis, and it looked like it was crushing him.

"He will never survive that!" Annabeth said.

"You did."

"Barely."

"But you did."

"Still!"

"Oh, shut it, Smart Girl," Kat said, "Percy's strong, he'll survive this. Oh, Artemis, brilliant!"

"The, oh, I get it," Annabeth said, her gaze followed the titan's fight with the goddess.

"The strategy is perfect," Kat breathed, "Percy will survive."

"Maybe you're a daughter of Athena, you caught that plan almost before I did."

"Almost? Really, Chase?" Kat teased.

Annabeth looked surprised that Kat knew her last name, but smiled, and said, "Okay, before I caught it."

Suddenly, Artemis was swept off her feet by Atlas, and she didn't get up. Atlas prepared for the last strike.

"No! Father!" Zoë screeched, she sprang upon Atlas. But he swung his hand out and hit her. She crumpled in a pile of rocks, Kat couldn't see her. Atlas prepared to strike, but Artemis rolled over and sprang on him. He flew backwards and landed right where Percy was holding the sky. Percy loosened his hold on the sky and Atlas struggled to his knees, holding the sky. Percy rolled out from underneath the sky. A grey streak appeared in his hair, matching Annabeth's.

"Now, you are matching, say cheers," Kat held her sword again and charged.

"Father!" Annabeth ran over to Thalia and Luke's fight, lightning crashed around them, and Thalia pushed Luke back with her shield. Annabeth pleaded with them, than Luke said something, and Thalia kicked him.

"Noooo!" Annabeth yelled, but it was to late, Luke fell off the cliff.

Kat slayed the last dracenae, and called,

"Kelp Head! What were you thinking!?"

"Crazy things," he grinned at her, than ran over to Annabeth. The Princess Andromeda's crew were coming up the mountain fast. A Sopwith Camel swooped down and disintegrated a bunch of shocked monsters.

"Stay away from my daughter!" Mr. Chase yelled from the cockpit.

"Dad?" Annabeth looked up in surprise.

"Hello," he called, and shots rang out and more monsters disintegrated.

"That's my dad!" Annabeth gasped.

"Yeah, you have a pretty cool dad, Wise Owl." Kat smirked at Annabeth's face.

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