LEO
Leo was not at all surprised that his measly little fireball was about as helpful as a tennis ball would have been in distracting the titan. Therefore, he was slightly annoyed when the hurtling seashell projectile seemed to do the trick. He was even more annoyed when he saw who had thrown it.
Triton was standing smugly at the waterline, arms crossed at his chest and the glinting, silver trident hooked under his elbow.
"Drop something, Jackson?"
The snake attached to Oceanus' arm was still recovering from the shock of the conch shell's sharp tip, a deep red welt torn into its cheek. Leo thought it looked like it was bleeding, but it was hard to tell while it was thrashing its head back and forth like a bee-stung dog.
Oceanus meanwhile was stony faced and immobile. His grip on Percy didn't seem to have lessened any, but his indifferent gaze was now locked onto Triton and the trident planted at his feet.
"You know, I would, under different circumstances, be the first to say that Perseus Jackson is worth more to me dead than alive, but as it is he and I have some unfinished business. I would greatly appreciate if the Lord of the Waters would grant me the opportunity to finish the mortal myself." He spoke calmly, formally, respectfully, and Leo couldn't quite tell if he was joking or not.
He thought it was more likely the Lord of the Waters would blast Triton off his little rock than let Percy go, but somehow, the green faced god's words seemed to work and slowly, Oceanus removed his hand from Percy.
Uncertain, the demigod got his feet back under him and took a hesitant step away from the still raging serpent.
Leo felt Annabeth relax - well, get less tense, beside him and she let out a tiny half breath of relief.
They still had to see what Triton was playing at.
He still defiantly wielded the trident directed out at the other immortal and nodded expressionlessly as Percy took his leave of the angrily spitting snake.
Percy stopped halfway between the two mermen and seemed to be trying to watch both at the same time. Leo thought he looked like he was trying to decide which was the lesser evil.
He put is hand in his pocket and removed it again just as quickly, his expression tightening and his jaw set. It would seem Riptide had yet to reappear. Leo half considered sending another fireball over the rift, but he realized that now it would be doubly pointless.
"What is the meaning of this?" Koios hissed from his corner. Leo had nearly forgotten about him and the titan's brittle white hair reminded him that they had three rather powerful problems to deal with now. "Have you forgotten your place, young god or do you simply seek to disrupt your betters?" His voice was dangerous and low, his mouth curled up to reveal a row of pointed teeth. It was obvious that his temper wouldn't hold for much longer.
"Oh, of course I would never wish to undermine the efforts of your greatness. I merely thought you of all would understand my desire to finish what I started with this mortal." Triton spoke with an uncharacteristic sweetness, even daring a smile at the snarling Koios. "If I was wrong than of course - "
But Koios warily returned the smile and raised a hand to Oceanus who was still staring pointedly at Triton. "Of course, son of the sea, of course. Retribution for one's offenses is by all means necessary. It matters not how the Jackson boy is dealt with. Do with him as you wish."
"Thank you, Lord Koios. Your generosity is truly great."
Koios grudgingly bowed his head in false deference and slipped back into the shadows, his bitter glow the only reminder of his carefully watching eye.
Triton locked his gaze on Percy and pointed the trident, his expression merciless and unamused. Leo waited for the blast, waited with bated breath for the god to destroy his friend who he was unsure would be able to do much about it. He waited, and Annabeth beside him, while they helplessly watched Percy's set jaw and firm expression.
And Triton swung the weapon to his side, lowered it as if to hurl it over his head like a spear - which, Leo supposed, it was - and projected a torrent of silver water where Percy had been standing.
Simultaneously, Koios let loose a roar that allowed Leo to understand what it felt like to stand next to an erupting volcano. He swept his hand aside to redirect the blow, but wasn't quite quick enough. The wave hit the titan square in the chest, knocking him back a few feet sputtering angrily through a mouthful of water.
"God!" he cried (a choice of words which Leo found rather amusing given their current situation), raising a hand and advancing more quickly than before on Triton.
Leo couldn't see what had gone wrong. Percy had dodged Triton's attack, but it all seemed too easy. Triton's aim was flawless, or so he'd thought - but he looked to have just missed an admittedly easy target. Percy also was now standing beside Triton, the one who had just tried to kill him…
Or that's what he wants us to think, Leo thought.
Percy sidestepped another rather weak and still disoriented shot from Koios and in the space of a second had both a smile on his face and a sword in his hand.
The game now seemed to be somewhat matched if not even, and Koios was beginning to realize this. Oceanus looked about as uninterested as though the fight breaking out in front of him was between a group of annoying five year olds he had somehow found himself in charge of. He clearly wanted nothing to do with the situation, but Koios hissed something at him and his eyes swept over Leo and Annabeth still positioned across the break in stone from the action.
For a moment, Leo realized he had been so sucked into the strangeness of the whole thing he'd forgotten he and Annabeth were actually a part of it. It felt a little like watching an MMA fight go terribly wrong on television, only they were indeed in the middle of it even if they didn't think so. He also realized what was about to happen if they didn't do something.
Annabeth had gone blank, in awe of what was unfolding before them, and Leo tapped her casually (terrified) on the shoulder. "We should go."
She snapped back instantly and caught sight of Oceanus, now taking several agonizingly slow steps in their general direction.
"Yeah, we should go now."
She nodded and drew her sword. "Leo, get to Festus." She wasn't looking at him, but he had the feeling she didn't need to in order to see the confusion on his face. "See what you can do. Get him up. He's our escape route right now."
Had she gone crazy? Was Koios somehow manipulating her mind? She obviously had lost perspective of their situation. Besides that and no matter how little he wanted to think it, Festus looked horrible. Like, beyond just a little out of it. He looked - no he wasn't going to. Not yet. If his dragon was their way out, then Leo would just have to make that happen. Festus had never given up for him. Now was certainly not the time for Leo to do so.
He gave a sideways glance at Annabeth, saw the scary determination only the daughter of Athena could possess, and made a beeline for Festus.
Apparently, Oceanus didn't have any faith in Leo's ability to revive the cold bronze either as he didn't make any move to stop him from splashing into the frigid saltwater alongside the dragon.
I'm not sure if I should be grateful or insulted, Leo thought, reaching around and hoisting himself up between the freezing shoulder-plates. It's just like before, "It's just like before," and he pressed his hands tight against the sides of the dragons' thick neck. He'd have to warm more this time, he knew. Festus was just too cold for a simple head massage. That also meant it would take more time, and that was one thing they were sorely lacking.
The sharp clang of metal and a harsh screech echoed across the chamber, and for one horrible moment, he thought he had done it. Then, he realized with dread, it had come from behind him and he turned to find that Oceanus had reached Annabeth and was lashing out, albeit slowly, with his fist.
She deflected each blow with the flat of her sword, pushed back into the rocks and towards the water's edge with each titanic impact.
Oceanus wasn't trying to kill her though, or at least he wasn't making a very big effort. He's not trying to kill her directly, Leo thought. He's going to push her over the edge.
Annabeth staggered under his pressure and regained her stance quickly, catching Leo's eye and nodding in reassurance. Leo forced his attention back onto Festus. There was no time to worry about Oceanus - Annabeth could handle herself. At least, she'd have to.
He set his hands back to the horribly cold plating beneath him, feeling a new determination he imagined could only be of the Athenian variety. He'd get this dragon up again if it killed him, which he sincerely hoped it wouldn't. Not dying for a second time right off the bat would be a major plus.
"Okay, buddy. Let's get to work."
