CHAPTER TEN

I MEET THE WOMAN TIME FORGOT

I stared in shock at the monstrous Illya.

I pointed Riptide at her chest.

"Let Silena go now," I said.

Illya looked frustrated.

"Now Percy," said Illya, in a motherly like tone, "dear heart, really, I need her. She is important to my plans."

"What plans?" I asked, nervously.

Illya walked away from me as though I was never going to strike her. She walked, limping slightly, over to the mirror. She looked down at Annabeth, whose hand was incased in ice and trying to rise. Illya pursed her lips and the ice vanished from Annabeth's hand. She got to her and scrambled over to me.

Illya's cruel eyes stared back at her from the mirror and then up at the unconscious Silena. She touched the mirror with her clawed hand and then the beautiful image of the woman I'd seen in my dream appeared.

"What do you plan on doing to Silena?" I asked.

"The most precious gift a god can give their child is the act of the hero," said Illya. "My mother gave me beauty and power. I did her will and how did she repay me? By viciously attacking me with monsters and turning me into this hideous shell of my former self! Love is the greatest gift to this mortal world and it is that I shall take away for eternity. The gift of love is what makes a child of Aphrodite so special. It is our greatest power and greatest ally in the fight against evil.

"I was a hero once. And now I'm something to tear them down for the entertainment of the gods. Why, you may ask, do I need Silena? Why she, out of the other half-blood children of Aphrodite, is important? Well, I shall answer half-bloods. She is the most unique. The eldest and therefore most powerful. Her queenly beauty is like none other since my late sister, Marilyn Monroe. She has a pure heart. And its that pure heart that I need to decimate the world of love. As you can see, her life force and power are draining into the mirror."

I stared in shock and only noticed how flashes of pink light where cutting across the glass of the mirror. Silena was glowing faintly also.

"Aphrodite shall pay," said Illya. "All of the Olympians shall pay once the Lord of Time is in charge. She shall be stripped of her beauty and title as the goddess of love, as she has robbed me of them both! She will fade once love is gone from the world."

"How could you be so evil?" said Annabeth. "You are---were---a hero once! Why do you think Kronos will treat you better then Aphrodite?"

"This world is so cold," breathed Illya. "Everyday its like a constant war."

"And by stealing love anyway you plan on freeing us from that war?" shot Annabeth. "That's ridiculous! You can't keep stealing the love magic Aphrodite took from you."

Illya turned to face us.

"A wise statement from a wise child," said Illya. "Your mother Athena would do best to mind her own children."

"Please," said Annabeth, "I know you don't want to do this. Let Silena go."

"I'm sorry," said Illya, staring up at our friend. "Its done. And by sunrise, the world shall know only hate and torment." She snapped her fingers and about a dozen Artecans appeared, holding spears, their faces etched with anger. "Kill."

I thought we were done for until Beckendorf and Grover pushed through the steel door.

"Its about time," I said, happy to see them.

Beckendorf was holding his sword, prepared to strike. He looked angry as he saw Silena hanging from the ceiling.

The first Artecan hurled her spear like a javelin and Beckendorf sliced it in half. He ran forward and was engaged in battle. Grover, Annabeth and I followed.

An Artecan floated down in front of me with a grin on her face.

"Now, Percy, you don't have do that," said the Artecan. "You can sleep forever, locked in ice, and safe from your prophecy."

"No thanks!" I said, cutting her down before she could even react.

I ran forward, pass my friends who were battling the rest of the ice warriors and up to Illya. I raised Riptide prepared to kill. She raised her hand and a javelin appeared, with a blade as thick as my head, which wasn't that big, really!

"The Titan Lord shall be my ruler," said Illya, "and the world. Time forgot about me and now I'll have nothing but time to for my revenge!"

We battled. I struck with Riptide, but Illya blocked it and there was a loud metallic clank, as my sword went flying from my hands and skipped across the runway. She pointed her blade at my head.

"Now, your at my mercy," said Illya. She held up her hand and sent a ball of light at me. I went flying through the air and crashed into something furry.

"Ouch," mumbled Grover.

"Sorry man," I said.

I got up and felt Riptide back in my pocket. I pulled it out and uncapped my sword. I took the blade and stabbed the runway floor. A jagged crack erupted in front of my friends and I. The room shake violently as I released the fury of my power over earthquakes. I looked up and saw Silena's bonds breaking. Chunks of ice were crumbling to the ground and Illya and the remaining three Artecans screamed in terror and ran for cover. I pulled Riptide from the ground and the shaking stopped.

Silena's eyes fluttered open and she was hanging from one strand of ice about ten feet up.

"Percy?" Then she spotted Beckendorf. "Charlie! Help me!"

"I will," said Beckendorf. He ran underneath her and raised his hands as though to catch her.

Silena wiggled free and free fell.

"Oh no you don't," said Illya, waving her hand and sending Beckendorf flying into the wall.

Silena did an agile twist and landed on her feet. Aphrodite's kids were great gymnist. Their super posed. And super vain! Silena caught her reflection in the mirror. She dabbed at her eye shadow and played with her hair a bit and smiled.

"I still look awesome after being held captive for weeks," she said.

"This is so not the time for that," said Annabeth.

"I'm not through with you yet!" screamed Illya. She grabbed Silena and dragged her with great strength toward the mirror. "Give me the rest of your power!"

"No, you evil witch!" Silena struggled against her.

I ran forward and Silena grabbed my wrist. Illya pulled Silena's arm, who pulled me, and we fell through the mirror into darkness.