Lily's POV
The boat is thrown into the shore, and I go flying through the front glass window, landing on the hot sand with a sickening thud. My left leg feels like lead.
Oceanus' shoreline trap…
I turn my head slightly, still a bit dizzy.
"Jason, Piper, Leo! Percy, Annabeth?" I yell as loud as I can, watching as a figure comes running my way. Leo.
"Lily? Oh thank the gods," He shouts, grabbing my hands to help me up. I nearly scream when I finally get on my feet, but I bite my lip.
"Can you walk?" He asks me, sliding an arm around my waist for support.
"Yeah, I'll be fine, I guess…Where is everyone else? Are you hurt?" He smiles as we make our way across the shoreline dogging land as it spurts up into the sky by the water's force.
"I got thrown like you, but it's nothing I can't take." I look up at him for the first time, and notice the huge gash in his forehead.
"We've got to find-Watch out!" He shouts, throwing us both further inland, just as a mine blows up before us.
"Did you just sense that land mine?!" I ask him, as I try to pick myself up, the pain slightly more bearable now.
"Yeah, it's one of the awesome qualities of being Leo Valdez. I have to say, it was poorly built. Even if we had been caught in it, it wouldn't have done more than minor burns. Although, that doesn't much faze me either," He grins, helping me to my feet again.
We keep running until we reach the wreckage of the boat, and Piper and Jason.
"Your both ok, thank goodness!" Piper shouts, the moment she sees us.
"Where are Percy and Annabeth?" I ask, letting go of Leo and making my way closer, calling attention to my probably broken leg. Her breathing hitches when she notices.
"Lily. I'm so sor-" She begins, but I cut her off.
"I just want to know where they are. I'm going to finish this quest, even if it kills me." I say shortly, avoiding Jason's eyes. Instead I glance back at Leo, who I have less hostility towards, at this point. He hasn't completely betrayed my trust, he merely played along with his friends.
"They've got to be further inland, looking for Porphyrion…They got out before Oceanus began attacking us." Jason pauses, "Look, Lily. We're not going to stop you this time…Just be careful, the island has-"
"A cliff on its opposite side, I know. I did my research. I was ready." I nearly shout, reaching into my pocket for my iPod. I press play as I pull it out, watching it grow, before beginning to run further into the island, leaving the three of them there.
The moment I cross into the shade of dense tree foliage, I'm met by monsters.
Stymphalian birds. My mind tells me.
"Bring it on," I mutter, my sword out in front of me. The birds swarm, but as each one swoops in for the kill, I swipe forward, feathers and golden ichor flying everywhere. Only one manages to take a bite out of my thigh before I destroy it.
But they aren't the only ones in the forest, as it seems.
Basilisks.
The group, gone in a matter of minutes. And soon I'm on my way. Gaea has left the forest relatively easy to pass, because she knows that the real challenge is ahead. Porphyrion. King of the Giants.
"Why didn't you trust me," I mumble to myself, as I limp through the forest.
Need a ride?
I stop, turning to face her. Venus, standing between two huge Oaks. I hadn't even heard her coming.
"You came, why?" I ask her, stepping forward to pet her.
You will miss the entire battle should you walk the entire length of the island.
"Thank you Venus. But be honest with me. Did Hera send you?"
No. I came because you are a friend. I am meant to help you arrive at the battlefield.
"Alright then, let's go." I smile, taking a minute to hop on her back, before she take off, rising above the trees.
Venus, I need to apologize. You were right. Percy and Annabeth were lying to me…
The Fates are in control.
"And I have to just let whatever happens, happen."
We fly in silence for another ten minutes before I finally see a clearing in the trees. The end of the island. I can make out one figure, as we land.
Good luck. I hop off of Venus, and run straight into the clearing.
The first thing I see is Annabeth, being kicked like a ragdoll, by the giant. I don't see where she lands, nor do I think I want to.
My first instinct is to run, but I refuse to, and so I go further, ignoring the voice inside my head screaming at me. Ignoring the pictures of my mother, and the thoughts that I'll be killed in a moment's notice. Then…
"Lily!" I hear him yell, my neck whipping in the direction of the voice. Percy.
I've distracted him.
"No, watch out!" I yell, but I'm already too late. The hand is there well before I've run halfway into the clearing.
It picks him up, shaking until his eyes close, and then it starts to squeeze.
The anger wells up inside me.
"Puny girl!" The giant notices me, and I stand no chance. He doesn't even have to charge for me to be swept off my feet. One step shakes the entire clearing.
His cackle makes me feel as if I've already lost.