Six

Okay, so maybe I had left out a few details, not just about the spy, but about other things, like how Luke was able to host Kronos. Some of those memories were just too much for me to handle, too much for me to go over. Also, within them held such intimate moments, I didn't feel comfortable revealing them to a big group of people. Which would explain why Nico was inquiring about Luke's dip and what he did before for Percy.

It would also explain why Percy disappeared after we burned Beckendorf's funeral pyre and didn't resurface until about a whole day later.

I wouldn't have to worry about what my next, next move was because that day later in the afternoon Annabeth got a cryptic message on her phone from Percy, followed by another cryptic message from the boy himself over the phone to bring everyone from camp to the Empire State Building. I don't think she wanted me along, but the group was big enough—40 demigods in total—that she couldn't exactly pull me aside to start a fight. Also, whatever Percy had said was nagging at her and she wanted to know what was going on, her curiosity won out over her mistrust. For now.

So we donned our armor, grabbed our weapons, and piled into the three vans that usually carried strawberries into the city and started toward New York. When Annabeth had announced we'd be heading to the city, Michael had decided to give the chariot over to Clarisse. Too little, too late, unfortunately. I was annoyed that the Ares cabin wouldn't be joining us, but was glad that Michael finally came to his senses and realized there were much bigger things at stake than a stupid chariot.

The ride was terrible and I was restless as usual. I had a feeling that we were going to hit the tipping point soon and the war would start, so that got my adrenaline going. I bounced my leg as we rode, my mind going a mile a minute, thinking about everything and nothing. No one in our van spoke, probably sensing that something was about to give, too.

I was glad when we finally arrived, glad to be able to stretch my legs. I was one of the first ones out and as the rest of the campers flowed out from the vans and crowded on the already crowded sidewalk in front of the Empire State Building, I looked up at sky and thought about what this was for. If we were at the entrance to Olympus, I had a guess it had something to do with Olympus, but what were 41 demigods going to do there? The gods were fighting Typhon.

"Thanks for coming, everybody," Percy announced once we had all gathered. I stood near the back, figuring someone would find a way to start a fight if I stood too near the front. "Chiron, after you." He looked at the centaur, in his wheelchair form, but Chiron was shaking his head.

"I came to wish you luck, my boy," he said. "But I make it a point never to visit Olympus unless I am summoned."

"But you're our leader," Percy objected.

Chiron smiled at this. "I am your trainer, your teacher. That is not the same as being your leader. I will go gather what allies I can. It may not be too late to convince my brother centaurs to help. Meanwhile, you called the campers here, Percy. You are the leader."

Percy looked panicked for a second, then opened his mouth as if to protest, but he glanced at the group and Annabeth before realizing that he had become the leader.

"Okay," he finally said, turning to face the group. "Like I told Annabeth on the phone, something bad is going to happen by tonight. Some kind of trap. We've got to get an audience with Zeus and convince him to defend the city. Remember, we can't take no for an answer."

He turned to Argus and requested he watch Mrs. O'Leary. Then he turned back to Chiron, who shook his hand. Chiron told him something that made Percy look uneasy for a few seconds again, but I couldn't hear what because I was near the back and there was too much noise from traffic and people, and general New York life.

Percy didn't say anything back. Instead, he turned toward us again and said, "Let's go."

I stayed near the back as we entered the lobby of the building. I was too far to hear what was going on up front, but we'd stopped. It looked like the security guard wasn't going to let us through. But Percy leaned across the desk and said something that got the gears turning in the guard's head. Finally, he hit something on the desk and jerked his head to the elevator doors.

It took two trips to get everyone up. I was in the second group. The ride up was just as bad as the ride in the vans, but worse somehow. Though it was shorter, we were getting closer to the coming war. Percy had said tonight, the tension was building, pressing against my chest. I felt breathless.

And there were too many people crammed in this small space. I didn't like it. It was making me claustrophobic. Worse still, my brain had gone into do-or-die mode. I was analyzing what everyone was holding, where there were weak spots or open spots in their armor. And how many people there were—too many, it was too crowded. If a fight broke out (which I knew, rationally, wasn't possible) I wouldn't be able to defend myself.

Finally we came to a stop and the doors opened. Since I'd been one of the last ones in, I was one of the first ones out.

As usual, Olympus managed to take my breath away. I'd always liked it better during the night, because it glittered underneath the stars and it was just beautiful in all its gold and whites against the darkness of the night sky. It was still beautiful during the day, just not as dazzling, in my opinion. Only now, everything was still and silent. So unlike how it usually was. It was eerie, like a pristine, just abandoned ghost town.

The group started moving, I waited to bring up the rear again. I was trying to go unnoticed and unseen, not cause a riot; just do my duty like a good little demigod.

As we passed through the silent, empty streets, the only noise 41 pairs of feet as we walked, I looked around at all the buildings. The shops were closed, window shutters shut tight. The parks were completely empty. We did pass a couple of Muses sitting on a bench, strumming their flaming lyres, but they seemed distracted. There was a lone Cyclops sweeping the streets. And I saw someone duck inside of their home, quickly closing their shutters, but that was all.

We were just passing under a marble archway with statues of Zeus and Hera on either side when Pollux cried, "Look!" and pointed toward the horizon. "What is that?"

The whole group froze and followed his gaze. Blue lights streaked across the sky toward Olympus, coming from every direction. But as they got close to the mountain, they fizzled out and disappeared. We watched them for several minutes, they didn't seem to be doing anything.

"Like infrared scopes," Michael commented. "We're being targeted."

Everyone shifted uncomfortably at that.

"Let's get to the palace," Percy said.

I'd been to the hall of the gods before, but like Olympus it always took my breath away. The moving constellations on the ceiling, the size and array of different thrones that represented each god's individuality. It was always fascinating to me, as much as I didn't exactly like them.

We had no trouble entering, no guards or anything, just giant gold-and-silver doors standing open. Our footsteps echoed throughout the room as we came through. The room was big enough, though, that it didn't sound like an avalanche rolling by.

In the corner was a new addition, though. There was a globe of water the size of a house with the Ophiotaurus swimming around inside of it. I was a little surprised to see it here, still alive. When Percy greeted it, I then realized why. My gaze strayed back to the creature, my heart aching, remembering what had happened during that winter.

"Hello again, Percy Jackson," a woman's voice said as we approached the thrones. "You and your friends are welcome."

A woman in simple brown robes, with eyes filled with the firelight of Christmas Eve, stood by the hearth of the fire in the middle of the U of thrones. She was poking at the flames with the stick.

Percy bowed. "Lady Hestia."

The group followed his example.

Hestia's eyes stayed on Percy. "I see you went through with your plan. You bear the curse of Achilles."

The rest of the campers started whispering to each other about what Hestia just revealed while I realized it'd taken Percy a long time to get his mother's blessing and then go to the Styx. I had to wonder why. And I wondered where Nico was, too. Surely he was going to help in this war? Then again, I didn't remember hearing that Hades was helping the gods fight Typhon, either. That didn't mean Nico couldn't help. He'd already helped Percy with his Achilles endeavor.

"You must be careful," Hestia warned. "You gained much on your journey. But you are still blind to the most important truth. Perhaps a glimpse is in order."

Annabeth turned her head slightly to Percy and murmured something I couldn't hear. Percy didn't answer. A second passed before Percy suddenly nearly collapsed. Annabeth caught him exclaiming, "Percy! What happened?"

He straightened up and asked her something, but again, it was too low for me to make out. They exchanged a few words before Percy turned back to Hestia.

"Um, Lady Hestia," he said, "we've come on urgent business. We need to see—"

"We know what you need," a man's voice interrupted. Beside Hestia another god shimmered into existence, like a mirage. I took a deep, steadying breath. He was a little younger than when I'd last seen him two years ago near the camp's beach, maybe mid-twenties. But this time he was dressed in a military pilot's flight suit, with tiny bird's wings fluttering on his helmet and his black leather boots. In the crook of his arm was his object of power, the caduceus.

And even though he didn't have blonde hair, he looked so much like Luke. Especially because of the fact that he was near Luke's age now.

"I will leave you now," Hestia said. She bowed to Hermes, who didn't look happy, before disappearing in a puff of smoke. I wanted to do the same, but it become so deadly silent, I was afraid that they'd all hear me trying to leave with the armor I was wearing and my sword hanging from my side, not to mention my quiver full over arrows.

"Hello, Percy." The messenger god furrowed his eyebrows, his lips turning down into a small frown as he looked at the son of Poseidon. Then, and I may have imagined it because it happened so quickly, his eyes flickered up to meet mine for a split second before going back to Percy.

Percy bowed a little awkwardly. "Lord Hermes." The snakes started talking to him and he had a short conversation before addressing Hermes again. "Um, Hermes, we need to talk to Zeus. It's important."

"I am his messenger," Hermes said coldly, his eyes flashing. "May I take a message?"

I saw the group shift nervously and whisper to themselves.

"You guys," Percy said, catching their attention. "Why don't you do a sweep of the city? Check the defenses. See who's left in Olympus. Meet Annabeth and me back here in thirty minutes."

"But—" Silena started to object.

"That's a good idea," Annabeth said. "Connor and Travis, you two lead."

The Stolls perked up at this and straightened up, too.

"We're on it!" Travis said before the two brothers started herding the rest of the crowd outside.

Travis and Conner then split us up into two groups, with one brother leading one group and the other brother leading the other group. Each group would do one side of the mountain and meet back at the doors of the throne room in thirty minutes.

I was with Conner's group, along with half of each of the cabins. This also included Silena, much to my disappointment. I hadn't talked to her since yesterday and I had a feeling she was avoiding me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to clear the air or just continue to sit in the fog. Silena had been mad enough to tell me that she had wished I was dead, that's pretty mad in my book, so I wasn't sure how to approach this anymore.

As we were patrolling, which I'd figured out was a way to get us out of the throne room and give Percy and Annabeth some time to talk to the messenger god alone because this was pointless, we passed the park that I'd gone and sat down in the fateful night three gods had come and visited me. I slowed, staring down the pathway that'd led to the bench I'd spent who knows how long on, talking with gods.

The group passed me, paying me no mind. I contemplated about whether or not I should stay with them or just join back up with them when the thirty minutes was over. They were several yards away from me when I finally glanced back at them to make sure they were still not paying attention to me. Thankfully the group was big enough, they couldn't keep an eye on everyone.

I slipped between the bushes and walked down the path to the bench, sitting under a street lamp. It was glowing this evening, which I found a bit odd, but sat down anyway. I wasn't expecting some kind of epiphany or huge revelation, or for a god to visit me (because they were off fighting Typhon), but it was nice to be away from it all for a little while.

Even though sitting probably wasn't the best option for my fidgety body, I'd seemed to calm down enough, away from all the chaos, to be able to sit. At least for now.

I closed my eyes and tried to just let the night air and sounds of the crickets flow over me. Of course, I kept my senses on high alert, something I probably was never going to be able to get rid of, but I also tried to meditate in some kind of way. A way only a demigod with ADHD can.

I don't know when I finally noticed it, but when I did, it was unnerving. Too silent. Just the crickets chirping, the cool night breeze rustling the leaves of the bushes and trees. But that was it. There was something missing though….

I stood up from my bench and looked around, scanning my surroundings, grabbing the hilt of my sword. Something was off, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly what. I sneaked around the little area, trying to see if there was something hiding, perhaps.

The coast was clear, yet my alarm bells were going off majorly. All was silent—

My back went ramrod straight and I realized why everything felt so strange, so off. It was silent. Too silent.

I ran from my bench, further into the park where I knew there were sight-seeing binoculars that sat right on the edge of the mountain, behind a guardrail. I didn't have a drachma with me, however, I didn't need one to hear that thousands of feet below me the city of New York, the city that never slept, was completely and utterly silent.

I sprinted out of the park to go look for my group. When I finally found them and told them what happened, they raced back to the park to check it out. Conner told me to go find Travis's group and bring them over here. It didn't take me too long to find them, thankfully, and soon all the demigods were gathered at the guardrail talking in concerned murmurs.

I went to the guardrail again as the Stoll brothers went to report to Percy and Annabeth in the throne room.

The four of them reappeared a few minutes later, going straight up to the guardrail. Their confused faces slowly changed into ones of horror as their brains put the pieces together.

"I don't…hear anything," Annabeth said.

Percy looked stricken and sick. His jaw was taught, though, and his eyes glittered with anger.

"What did they do?" he asked in a strained voice. "What did they do to my city?"

Percy pushed Michael away from one of the binoculars to take a look. Michael looked a little disgruntled. We exchanged a look and I shrugged. He sighed and shrugged back. For a time things were silent as Percy inspected the city.

"Are they dead?" Silena finally asked.

Percy pulled away from the binoculars, realization on his face as he straightened up.

"Not dead," he said. "Morpheus has put the entire island of Manhattan to sleep. The invasion has started."

Things moved quickly, then. We went back down to the ground floor of the building and gathered on the sidewalk again, stepping around the bodies of sleeping New Yorkers. We found a clear spot to gather around Annabeth's shield/monitor and discussed plans and battle tactics to hold Manhattan.

Kronos's army had grown. He'd recruited a lot more mercenaries, and even more who could fund him with things like tanks. My heart ached thinking about Luke….

It seemed impossible for only 41 demigods to hold a city, but Percy was determined. He stationed cabins at certain entrances/exits, talking strategy with them quickly and concisely. And, I suppose, it was almost was impossible, but the Hunters had good timing.

I almost felt hopeful, then caught a glimpse of Silena and my hope died like a candle flame in the howling winter winds. All this planning, all this strategy wasn't going to do us any good if Kronos knew.

But I wasn't sure how I was supposed to help anymore. I'd already sworn on the Styx I wouldn't reveal her secret. I couldn't exactly pull her away while they strategized, she was a head counselor, so Percy would give her orders so she could tell her cabin what to do. Add that to the fact that she hated my guts and it wasn't looking like pulling her away was going to work.

"You're the greatest heroes of the millennium," Percy said, pulling me from my thoughts. "It doesn't matter how many monsters come at you. Fight bravely, and we will win." He raised Riptide, and shouted, "For Olympus!"

The rest of the campers echoed his cheer, but not only was I feeling kind of hopeless, I also wasn't feeling this "for Olympus" thing either. I didn't like the gods, not after everything that'd happened between me and my father, and what Luke had told me happened to him. But I did know that the gods were better than the Titans. Maybe not by much, but they were better.

Still, I didn't feel like I was doing this for Olympus, so I didn't echo his cheer.

As the cheer died among the silence and the cabins departed to their separate stations, I glanced back up at the sky. I couldn't see Olympus, but I knew it was up there, floating above the Empire State Building, anchored to it.

I hope this is worth it, I thought. Not just this war, not just defending Manhattan while the gods dealt with Typhon, but my decision to stay alive for Luke. I looked down to see the backs of my siblings quickly disappearing among the bumper-to-bumper traffic as they made their way to the Williamsburg Bridge. I quickly caught up with them, glancing back at the Empire State Building.

We were at war. It already wasn't worth it.

When we finally arrived at the bridge, we went to work quickly. Michael had apparently been thinking of strategies and battle tactics the whole way to the bridge, because as soon as we got there he briefed us on what we were going to do and where we were going to be stationed.

First, set up traps. Well, one in particular. We had a stash of caltrops, but we were saving them as a last resource. The first line of defense was going to be a web of Celestial bronze metal as thin as a spider's thread, but still strong enough to dust monsters if they ran into them, unable to see or detect until it was too late. The reason why it was our first line of defense, was because the enemy would have weapons that could easily cut through celestial bronze anything. At the very least, it would get rid of one or two lines of monsters before the rest figured out what was going on and sliced through them. It also took time to set up.

We had them connected to special quivers of arrows Michael had brought with us when we left for the Empire State Building this afternoon. We picked a spot a little more than half-way across the bridge to set up, where we were going to hold the army as best we could. Then, two of our best-of-the-best shots (hi—Cressida says hi, too) stood on opposite sides of the bridge making the webbing while the rest moved sleeping New Yorkers from the first few rows of cars and to a safer area. We didn't have time to move all of them because as soon as we'd finished with the netting, we heard the army.

Michael whistled, signaling for us to move into position.

We ran to our stations, which was scattered and staggered throughout the cars on the bridge, not all in a straight line—too easy a target that way, considering we didn't have shields. We could hide behind the cars and the car doors, but it was still too risky to stand in a straight line and not smart.

In the distance, I could see a line marching toward us, with Lastrygonian giants in the lead. Based on what I knew of Kronos's battle tactics, behind them would be draceanae. Then the telkhines and hellhounds, then demigods. Of course, they could've changed now that the titan had a physical form. And I didn't know who was at command because there were so many different monsters that Kronos could've picked. Any one of them could be leading this army while the others lead the other armies.

It reminded me too much of the Battle of the Labyrinth, but it was dangerous to think about that. Especially now. Not only were those memories horrid and guilt ridden, but they also reminded me that we'd lost Lee during that battle.

This was a war. There were going to be casualties.

As the army approached and my siblings readied their bows, looks of determination etched on their faces, not doing anything to hide the fear in their eyes, a cold stone formed in the pit of my stomach. Any one of them, even me, could be killed tonight.

With that happy thought, the army descended.

The first trap worked perfectly. Almost the entire row of Lastrygonians turned to sulfurous dust before they even knew what was happening. Three remained, smart enough to not take a step further. The whole army hesitated then, not sure what to make of it. They looked confused and alarmed that we hadn't fired anything, yet had still managed to get rid of their first line of monsters.

We used this time to try and take out the dracaenae before they figured out what was going on. When they did, the draceanea with swords and the telkhines behind them easily hacked through the webbing. It wasn't long before they reached us. I was stationed near the front because of my capabilities with a sword. I did have to shoulder my bow and engage with my sword, but that wasn't a problem.

The rest of the night was a blur of switching from my sword to my bow and arrows. Explosions, cars catching fire, the screams of the enemy, battle cries from the Apollo cabin. The night filled with smoke and the bridge filled with light from the burning cars. There were moments when we had to pull back while pulling sleeping drivers from their cars and out of the firing range, and moments when we managed to push forward, push them away from the city.

And just when it seemed we'd dusted the last monster, we saw another army along the horizon. The beast leading this wave wasn't hard to miss because he towered above them, being half-ox and all. The Minotaur himself was leading and we were all tired and weary and almost out of arrows, having to scrounge up usable ones from the previous army while we still had time. We also took this time to treat any wounds that'd been inflicted. Mostly grazes and scratches here and there. I did a quick head count, against my better judgement, and noticed Melody was missing. I swallowed hard and ignored the feeling of the cold stone growing in the pit of my stomach. I had to concentrate.

Michael found a phone and called Annabeth before running up next to us to meet the second wave.

This time we didn't have a choice, we had to retreat. This army was larger than the last and we were already spent, in energy and arrows. Thankfully we saved our explosive arrows and caltrops for this type of situation, but it wasn't enough. As hard as we tried to even slow down the advancing army, our barricades of fire and caltrops weren't doing much. If a monster exploded into dust, they were quickly replaced by another one. The wall of dracaenae at the front line with their shields locked together and spears bristling over the top (preventing me from engaging), was not helping in the slightest.

So we retreated, trying to dust monsters when we could, create barricades, and pull sleeping drivers from their cars, but mostly we pulled sleeping people and retreated. I didn't know what we were going to do if they reached the other side of the bridge. I also wondered where Annabeth and Percy were and if they were ever going to show up with our backup or if they'd gotten occupied with some other battle more important than ours.

I stayed near Michael the entire time at his request. I don't know why he wanted me with him, but I obliged. I felt after that raid in Philadelphia we'd grown closer as friends and half-siblings. Michael had really come to trust me and it felt nice to have someone, several someones, who didn't always look at me with suspicion or disgust or anger.

I tried not to go running after the hellhound that grabbed Aaron. I steeled my emotions, locking them away, and continued to fire at the approaching enemy. Though, I did start targeting the hellhounds that leapt over the wall of dracaenae with a vengeance.

Michael and I had just ducked behind an overturned school bus—it happened with the first wave—when I heard the Minotaur suddenly roar. I snuck a peak just in time to see the monster pick up and easily launch a white limousine into the air. I followed its flight path to see two pegasi and on those pegsi was our backup. Hopefully more would follow.

I looked back at the ever-approaching line of snake-woman and sniped at another hellhound as it leapt over their defense before turning and hiding behind the bus again. A spear clipped the side, hitting where I'd just been as the pegasi flew in, dropped their riders, and flew off again.

Michael ran up to meet them, but still behind the bus, and I turned back to snipe a few arrows at the enemy.

"Glad you could join us," I heard Michael say. "Where are the other reinforcements?"

"For now, we're it," Percy answered. I tried not to wince. If Percy had the Curse of Achilles, then that might give us some kind of edge. I hoped. I dusted another hellhound, keeping one ear on the conversation, wanting to know what the plan was.

"Then we're dead," Michael deadpanned as soon as Percy had finished speaking.

"You still have your flying chariot?" Annabeth asked.

"Nah," Michael explained. "Left it at camp. I told Clarisse she could have it. Whatever, you know? Not worth fighting about anymore. But she said it was too late. We'd insulted her honor for the last time or some stupid thing."

"Least you tried," Percy encouraged.

I managed to dust another dracaena, but another simply replaced her. I cursed quietly in Ancient Greek. I glanced over to my left at the group for a second before turning back to the army, wondering when they were going to talk about strategy, because the enemy was advancing and quickly, too.

"Yeah, well, I called her some names when she said she still wouldn't fight," Michael said. I rolled my eyes. "I doubt that helped. Here come the uglies!"

Michael whistled and I ducked behind the bus again, looking to him for an order. He pulled his last sonic arrow from his quiver and we locked eyes. He nodded as he notched his arrow. I nodded back, getting my own arrow ready. I was running low—again—but I'd have enough for this last small assault.

He stepped past me and launched his arrow. It whizzed by, screaming, literally. As soon as Michael had launched it, I turned, stepping away from the bus, taking Michael's place as he ducked back behind the bus. Michael's arrow landed, releasing a blast like that from a power chord on an electric guitar, magnified tenfold. Cars nearest the arrow exploded as the blast of energy hit them. Monsters dropped their weapons, others ran, some burst into dust. I shot at the ones who were clasping their ears and running.

"That was my last sonic arrow," Michael sighed.

"A gift from your dad?" Percy asked, sounding impressed. "God of music?"

"Loud music can be bad for you. Unfortunately, it doesn't always kill."

I reached for another arrow only to find I had none left. I quickly got back behind the bus, resting a hand on my sword, but not drawing it yet.

"We'll have to fall back," Michael told him. "I've got Kayla and Austin setting traps farther down the bridge."

"No," Percy objected. "Bring your campers forward to this position and wait for my signal. We're going to drive the enemy back to Brooklyn."

Michael laughed incredulously. "How do you plan to do that?"

Percy drew is sword, not answering, but I suppose the motion in itself had been his answer.

"Percy," Annabeth objected, "let me come with you."

"Too dangerous," he said. "Besides, I need you to help Michael coordinate the defensive line. I'll distract the monsters. You group up here. Move the sleeping mortals out of the way. Then you can start picking off monsters while I keep them focused on me. If anybody can do all that, you can."

Michael snorted and rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot."

Percy ignored him, keeping those piercing green eyes on Annabeth.

She finally nodded reluctantly. "All right. Get moving."

"Don't I get a kiss for luck? It's kind of a tradition, right?" Percy asked. It was my turn to roll my eyes.

Annabeth drew her knife and looked at the advancing enemy. "Come back alive, Seaweed Brain. Then we'll see."

Percy went to meet the army as Annabeth turned toward me and Michael. She gave me a distasteful glare, but didn't say anything else. I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore this. We were in the middle of the battle, there were more important things to be thinking about than this petty feud that'd formed between me and the daughter of Athena.

"All right, you heard, Percy," Annabeth said, addressing mostly Michael. "Gather the rest of the Apollo cabin. We'll get the sleeping mortals out of the way and then go help Percy. I'll keep an eye on his progress and tell you when to start helping him push the enemy back."

"All right," Michael agreed, sounding a little reluctant. He turned toward me. "Call 'em in."

We'd worked out this system of whistles. Being the children of the god of music, among other things, we could all whistle pretty loudly. Only Will could do a sonic whistle, but the rest of ours weren't too bad, either. So, of course, we had to capitalize on this skill. We'd developed a code, almost like Morse code. If we had the time and energy it could become a new language, as it was, learning Greek was hard enough, we didn't need to add another language on top of that.

As I was saying, though, we had developed a code. We all knew the code and could all whistle it if needed, but I think Michael told me to because he wanted to show Annabeth that I could be trusted. I wasn't sure Annabeth was going to buy it, but it wasn't like I was going to disobey our cabin leader's order.

I whistled as loud as I could, three short, sharp notes. A second later the rest of our cabin converged behind the bus. Michael told them the plan and we broke into groups of two to pull the people from their cars. I glanced up occasionally to mark Percy's progress. The first few times, he was engaging the Minotaur. At one point, he charged into a sea of monsters, stabbing and slashing, dust swirling around his feet as he advanced.

Michael whistled then, calling the Apollo cabin to him. We finished moving the people we were currently holding before going to him and then following him and Annabeth into the melee, behind Percy. Because I was out of arrows, I used my sword. I did, however, pick up spare arrows along the way. That was how much of the army Percy was taking care of before we even followed behind.

I looked up at him once after dusting a telkhine and almost forgot what I was doing because watching him was something incredible. The Curse of Achilles protected him from their weapons, his own weapon easily slicing through them and sending them back to Tarturus. If hurricanes were actually people, it would look like Percy in battle—he had become one of very things his father was known for.

With him disrupting their flow and taking out a majority of the army at a time, and our cabin keeping them from rallying, we managed to push this army of at least two hundred back toward Brooklyn.

Soon enough, there were only maybe twenty left, who turned and fled when they realized they weren't going to survive if they tried to hold the line. Percy followed them as they retreated. We ran after him.

"Yes!" Michael whooped. "That's what I'm talking about!"

When we got close to the Brooklyn side of the bridge Annabeth called out to Percy. In the east, the sky was slowly lightening.

"Percy!" she yelled. "You've already routed them. Pull back! We're overextended!"

Percy didn't listen to her, but came to a stop suddenly. We were right behind and stopped where he stood, looking out at what he was. There was a mass at the base of the bridge, not as big as the last two waves, but big enough that they could easily overwhelm our forces (seeing as we'd been fighting all night) composed of demigods in battle armor, mounted on skeletal horses. A purple banner with a black scythe design rested in the mass.

The lead horseman trotted forward, out of the throng, and took off his helm. The breath left my lungs as I saw the face of Luke, with his golden eyes. I didn't think I'd ever get used to seeing Luke like this….

Kronos had come to greet us.

The monsters we'd been pursuing reached the crowd and disappeared, protected.

Kronos's gaze swept over our small group, struggling to protect an entire bridge, and I swear he smiled. Just as in my dreams: cruel and cold.

"Now," Percy said, "we pull back."

The silence was broken as the enemy pulled their swords and charged, their horses' hooves thundering on the pavement. I sheathed my sword and, along with my siblings, shot a volley of arrows into the attacking army. It managed to take several out, but they just kept coming.

"Retreat!" Percy ordered. "I'll hold them."

We tried, but it was only seconds before the third wave was on us. I pulled my sword again and engaged, trying not to kill anyone, only wound them bad enough they wouldn't be able to fight any longer. I just couldn't get myself to kill.

Slowly, we retreated, fighting off enemy warriors and skeletal horses. I stayed near Michael, watching his back. At one point, the entire bridge shook, but I couldn't look to see what had caused it. All I was focused on was getting back to the other side of the bridge and making sure my siblings did the same.

We had made it to the last stretch, almost to the end. The rest of the Apollo cabin managed to break free from the army and were making their way to the end. I stayed with Michael, incapacitating the last few demigods when a blast of energy hit us. It was more like a gust of wind, really, because of how far away we were from it, but I still had to turn slightly and shield my eyes as it passed over me.

When I looked again, I saw Percy lying in the street, a few yards away. Michael recuperated much faster than Percy, his eyes darting over the bridge. I followed his gaze and looked at all the fissures in the pavement, with patches melted by Greek fire.

"It's weak," Michael muttered. "It's weak!" He ran over to the edge of the bridge and started climbing up onto the suspension cables. I followed him, but stopped at the railing.

"Michael," I called up to him as he notched an arrow. "What are you doing?"

"Michael, Tori, go!" Percy yelled. I looked behind me to see he'd gotten to his feet.

"Percy, the bridge!" Michael called back. "It's already weak!" Percy gave him a confused look before glancing around at the bridge. "Break it!" Michael continued. "Use your powers!"

Percy gripped his sword, looking uncertain, before stabbing it into asphalt. It sunk hilt-deep and water spouted from where he stabbed. Percy pulled his blade out and stepped back, the fissure growing in size quickly. The whole bridge began to shake and crumble. From where Percy stood, house-sized chunks fell into the East River, along with the cars sitting on top of them.

The whole structure jerked suddenly, causing me to lose my balance and I careened into the guardrail. Pain shot up my arm and I cried out, dropping my sword. My haze of pain cleared just in time for me to hear Michael let out a gasp. The bridge was still shaking.

I looked up in time to see him lose his balance and fall, his bow flying out of his hands, which were desperately grabbing for some kind of handhold. Time seemed to slow, though I don't think Kronos was doing anything to cause it. He fell right past me and I reached out, grasping for his hand, but I was too slow. Our hands missed by an inch. My breath left me as I followed him, leaning over the guardrail, pressing my body flush against it, stretching my arm out as far as it would go, ignoring the flare of pain in my right arm.

But Michael was falling too fast.

"Michael!" I shrieked as he continued to fall toward the waters below. His body hit the water and disappeared, but I continued to stare at the spot he went under, tears streaming from my eyes. I slumped against the railing, sobbing, unable to hold it back anymore. "No, Michael…"

I managed to pull myself away, slowing the flow of tears. We were still at war. I needed to concentrate. I had to do it for the rest of my siblings, to protect them. Because this was my fault. If I had just sacrificed myself….

I glanced to my left and noticed Michael's bow, lying a few feet away from me. I shuffled over to it, collapsing to the ground and grasping it in my good hand. More tears threatened to spill over.

"Michael!" Percy's voice sounded, followed by pounding footsteps toward me. I looked up as he came over. "Where—what?" He glanced at the bow in my hands before his eyes went back to me.

I shook my head, unable to say anything.

Percy took a few steps back, his eyes going back to the bow, looking stricken. He spun, suddenly, letting out a cry of anger and frustration.

"No!" he screamed, running his hands through his hair and letting out another cry. I looked back at Michael's bow and gripped it harder in my hands, Michael's body falling into the river playing over and over again in my head.

I vaguely registered the sound of a phone ringing. Percy was speaking again, but it was much quieter, more restrained, but still angry.

"Will," he called to my siblings who'd crept forward, onto the bridge again. I glanced up as Will jogged toward Percy. "I need you to come with me, quickly!" Will nodded, but not before throwing me a worried glance, and together they ran off. The rest of my siblings came over to me, inquiring about Michael.

I tried to explain what happened with broken sentences and through tears. And to my surprise and relief, they didn't seem to blame me. Someone took his bow from my hands while Austin and Cressida helped me to my feet, telling me I needed to get my arm treated.

I was later told I kept apologizing quietly, through my tears, but I don't remember it. I don't even remember seeing the fifty-foot chasm that Percy had created in the bridge. All I remember was not being quick enough to save Michael.

Guess who's back? And with a twelve page chapter for my return party! I mean, kind of emotional, but…hey, this is war, right? And this is where I left off, after all. But, good news everyone! I'll be updating either every night or every other night (comment/message me and choose) because I've completely finished this story. Now it's all a matter of posting.

Also, just assume, because Tori had a bunch of chances to save Luke that the exchange between Annabeth and Hermes went a little differently. I wanted to write something where he gets angry at Tori, but I couldn't find a good place to fit it into the story. It just wasn't working, so I left it out.

As always, I hope you enjoyed!

The title's meaning is kind of vague, but I didn't want to put the whole "I've got your six" as the title, which is what it's based off of. If you don't know, it's something they say in the military, meaning I've got your back (because six, as in six o'clock on an analogue). I thought it really fit this chapter, seeing as they're at war, and even though Michael still died (sorry, I'm keeping these big deaths because I think they're important for Percy's story arc; and while this story isn't about Percy, his story arc is still taking place), Tori was by his side until the end, so, yeah.

To FadedSunset: Yeah, I think I was writing it so that you could understand why Silena was angry, but also being a little harsh (wishing her dead instead of Beckedorf and all). And I completely agree, if I do say so myself ;) And thanks for the encouragement! I appreciate it. I had a wonderful time in China. But it's also good to be home again.

To Anon31: And all I can say to your review is: Wow. I'm so glad that my writing pulled at your heart-strings and that you're enjoying it that much. And thank you for those wonderful compliments! That means a ton to me! I'm glad that she's a believable character, especially with her being an OC. They're always hard ones, especially with the stigma behind them (Mary Sues). Well, you'll just have to wait and find out ;) But, thank you so, so much for such lovely compliments! ^_^ China was amazing, and I had such fun and learned a lot. And once again, thank you for the compliments! I'm totally just grinning and giddy right now, so thank you! :D

And thanks to everyone who waited out the 3 and half month hiatus! Hope to hear from you and what you think! We're nearing the end…

Thank you for reading,
TheBrightestNight