Chapter 9

The burning sun saves us

The grown split opened, a 50 foot giant rose up from the opening. A loud voice boomed, "I am Alkyoneus, Lord of the giants. I shall have my revenge Heracles! I shall have my revenge! I will reunite with my brother, Porhhyrion and bring destruction to the Olympians!"

Suddenly the earth sealed itself, in another large earthquake, suddenly, a blinding light appeared, everyone looked away. A sports car appeared, and a man with dark glasses looked out. "Hey Perce, how's it going?"

I had a flashback, I saw a redhead girl, and she was lying in my hands. I knew I had strong feelings for her but I didn't quite understand it. I looked up and saw Apollo. "Lord Apollo," I said after the flashback.

"Yes it is me, so Perce, want a ride?"

"Hold on, I don't mean any disrespect but what was that," Reyna asked.

Apollo looked at her, "He is a threat to me, I don't know how he was awakened, but you guys have done something." Apollo looked at the destroyed monument behind us. "I see, the hydra has been killed. The hydra was the guardian, once it was killed, the giant's bond to the earth weakened. It is only a matter of time before he breaks out of its hold." He looked at me, "Percy, do you know why this was built here?"

"No," I said.

"Zeus asked Athena to seal away this monster after Heracles killed it. This temple is enchanted; the Hydra was the defender of it. If you noticed, no one was here, this place was declared off limits once the hydra was awakening from his slumber last year. After it was petrified by medusa's head, it was bought outside once it was found. It began to rain and it rampaged. No one had visited this temple ever since. Now that the hydra is dead, and the temple is falling, the giant will rise again."

I stared at Apollo, completely in shock. "What will happen then?"

"There will be another war, this time with Gaea," Reyna said, like it was obvious.

"Correct, daughter of Minerva." Apollo took his car out of sports car mode and it grew into a van. "Get inside; I will bring you to your next destination."

"Umm, Apollo," Hazel said, "How did you know we were going to be here?"

"I am the god of the oracle; I see the future as it happened in the past. I realized that my sister, no doubt, would interfere and bring you here. Now I must take you away, before he stirs more, I will bring you to your next destination. Don't worry I travel faster than Diana, I can go east."

"Umm. Why couldn't Artemis go east, she said only West?"

"Diana is the Roman form, she follows the rules strictly, in her Greek form though, she can travel freely. I am currently in my Greek form."

The others stared, just realizing what had happened with the recent visit with the Gods. They probably realized that Neptune came as Poseidon, Mercury came as Hermes, and Diana came, as well Diana. They were completely confused. "In due time," Apollo said, "Your answers will be answered very soon.

"Why are the Gods coming in their Greek forms?" Reyna asked

"In due time, you already know too much." Apollo replied, "I can only take you here." Apollo stopped outside an abandoned warehouse. "Look for the door to the Labyrinth. You must travel to find Kampê."

"Kampê," Gwen asked, "as in the jailer of the Cyclops?"

"Yes, Percy, you rescued Briares, the last of the hundred handed one." Apollo said, "2 years ago, Briares saved you from death, but now he is in the forges of the God, and Kampê has come back. It is up to you."

"How do we kill it?" I asked

"You must find it first, he will not be able to kill you, you must hope for the best. The monster is found in New York but you must take the Labyrinth, it is the only way to find it. Kampê is sleeping, regaining energy, but you must slay it. Also, after Daedaulus' death, the Labyrinth crumbled, at least most of it. We are still mystified on why part of the Labyrinth still lives. Go now"

Apollo got back into his chariot and yelled something in Ancient Greek and flew away.

"What was that all about? Bobby asked.