Percy POV
A couple months later, Alex, Killian, and I were found by Kasey, the son of Janus. Kasey had apparently proposed an idea to Alex. One that even the son of Poseidon was not very willing to do.
"Kasey, I don't know," Alex said. "It seems pretty extreme."
"You've got Typhon coming in, what . . . a week?" Kasey said. "Most of the other Titans are unleashed now and on Kronos's side. Maybe it's time to think extreme."
"Typhon is free?" Killian asked, fear written all over his face.
I nodded to Alex and he gathered water from a nearby pond.
"Killian, fire." I said. He nodded and lit his hand on fire. Alex raised the water over the fire and mist started to billow upwards. I fished a golden drachma out of his pouch, tossed it through the mist, and muttered, "O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, show us the threat."
The mist shimmered. We saw the familiar image of a smoldering volcano—Mount St. Helens. As we watched, the side of the mountain exploded. Fire, ash, and lava rolled out. A newscaster's voice was saying "—even larger than last year's eruption, and geologists warn that the mountain may not be done."
I knew all about last year's eruption. Killian had caused it. But this explosion was much worse. The mountain tore itself apart, collapsing inward, and an enormous form rose out of the smoke and lava like it was emerging from a manhole. I hoped the Mist would keep the humans from seeing it clearly, because what I saw would've caused panic and riots across the entire United States.
The giant was bigger than anything I'd ever encountered. Even my demigod eyes couldn't make out its exact form through the ash and fire, but it was vaguely humanoid and so huge it could've used the Chrysler Building as a baseball bat. The mountain shook with a horrible rumbling, as if the monster were laughing.
"It's him," Kasey said gravely. "Typhon."
I simply nodded. "The most horrible monster of all, the biggest single threat the gods ever faced. He has been freed from under the mountain at last. But this scene is from two days ago. Here is what is happening today."
I waved my hand and the image changed. We saw a bank of storm clouds rolling across the Midwest plains. Lightning flickered. Lines of tornadoes destroyed everything in their path—ripping up houses and trailers, tossing cars around like Matchbox toys.
"Monumental floods," an announcer was saying. "Five states declared disaster areas as the freak storm system sweeps east, continuing its path of destruction." The cameras zoomed in on a column of storm bearing down on some Midwest city. I couldn't tell which one. Inside the storm I could see the giant—just small glimpses of his true form: a smoky arm, a dark clawed hand the size of a city block. His angry roar rolled across the plains like a nuclear blast. Other smaller forms darted through the clouds, circling the monster. I saw flashes of light, and I realized the giant was trying to swat them. I squinted and thought I saw a golden chariot flying into the blackness. Then some kind of huge bird—a monstrous owl—dived in to attack the giant.
"Are those . . . the gods?" Alex said.
"Yes, Alex," I said. "They have been fighting him for days now, trying to slow him down. But Typhon is marching forward—toward New York. Toward Olympus."
"How long until he gets here?"
"Unless the gods can stop him? Perhaps five days. Most of the Olympians are there . . . except your father, who has a war of his own to fight."
"But then who's guarding Olympus?"
Kasey shook his head. "If Typhon gets to New York, it won't matter who's guarding Olympus."
I looked back toward the camp. Even from this distance I could hear the Ares and Apollo campers fighting again, yelling curses and spouting bad poetry.
"They're no match for the Titan army," Kasey said. "You know that. This comes down to you and Luke. And there's only one way you can beat Lace." Alex looked at the ocean. "We can give you the same power. You heard the Great Prophecy. Unless you want to have your soul reaped by a cursed blade . . ."
I wondered how Kasey had heard the prophecy— probably from some other worldly being, I don't know.
"You can't prevent a prophecy," Alex said.
"But you can fight it." Kasey had a strange, hungry light in his eyes. "You can become invincible."
"Maybe we should wait. Try to fight without—"
"No!" Kasey snarled. "It has to be now!" I stared at him. I hadn't seen his temper flare like that in a long time.
"Um, you sure you're okay?"
He took a deep breath. "Alex, all I mean . . . when the fighting starts, we won't be able to make the journey. This is our last chance. I'm sorry if I'm being too pushy, but two years ago my sister gave her life to protect you. I want you to honor that. Do whatever it takes to stay alive and defeat Kronos."
Kasey had a point. If Kronos attacked New York, the campers would be no match for his forces. We had to do something. Kasey's way was dangerous—maybe even deadly. But it might give Alex a fighting edge.
"All right," Alex decided. "What do we do first?"
"You need a mother's blessing," I said. "We need to go visit your mother, Alex." I turned to Killian. "Kill, go tell Nico that it's happening again. I'm going with just in case." Killian nodded and took off towards camp.
Kasey waved his hand and a door appeared in thin air. He flicked his hand and it opened, revealing Alex's mom's apartment.
Kasey walked through, Alex and I going after him.
"Alex?" his mom asked. "Percy? Who is this?"
"Kasey, ma'am," the son of Janus introduced himself. "We need your permission for something.
Alex his mom about Typhon, and the gods, and the battle that was sure to come. Then he told her Kasey's plan.
His mom laced her fingers around her lemonade glass. She was wearing her old blue flannel bathrobe, and her hair was tied back.
Behind her at the kitchen window, silvery moon lace glowed in the flower box. Killian had brought the magical plant back from Calypso's island last summer, and it bloomed like crazy under Alex's mother's care. The scent always calmed me down, too, but it also made me sad because it reminded me of lost friends.
Alex's mom took a deep breath, like she was thinking how to tell us no.
"Alex, it's dangerous," she said. "Even for you."
"Mom, I know. I could die. Nico explained that. But if we don't try—"
"We'll all die," Kasey said. He hadn't touched his lemonade. "Ms. Mare, we don't stand a chance against an invasion. And there will be an invasion."
"How can this titan get his army into New York?" she asked.
"I don't know," I admitted. "I don't see how Kronos could just march into Manhattan, but the Mist is strong. Typhon is trampling across the country right now, and mortals think he's a storm system."
"Ms. Mare," Kasey said, "Alex needs your blessing. This has only been done successfully twice before. Both times, the mother had to give her blessing. She had to be willing to let her son take the risk."
"You want me to bless this?" She shook her head. "It's crazy. Alex please—"
"Mom, I can't do it without you."
"And if you survive this . . . this process?"
"Then we go to war," he said. "Me against Kronos. And only one of us will survive."
He didn't tell her the whole prophecy—about the soul reaping and the end of his days.
"You're my son," she said miserably. "I can't just . . ."
I could tell he'd have to push her harder if he wanted her to agree, but he didn't want to.
He locked eyes with me, and some kind of understanding passed between us.
"Sally." I set down my lemonade glass. "I can't claim to know what you and Alex have been going through all these years. But Alex is doing something noble. He has immense courage to be okay with doing this."
Alex's mom stared at her lemonade. She looked like she was trying not to cry.
"Alex," she said, "I give you my blessing."
No magic glow lit the kitchen or anything else that showed he was different.
I glanced at Kasey.
He looked more anxious than ever, but he nodded. "It's time."
"Alex," my mom said. "One last thing. If you . . . if you survive this fight with Kronos, send me a sign." She rummaged through her purse and handed him her cell phone.
"Mom," he said, "you know demigods and phones—"
"I know," she said. "But just in case. If you're not able to call . . . maybe a sign that I could see from anywhere in Manhattan. To let me know you're okay."
"Like Theseus," I suggested. "He was supposed to raise white sails when he came home to Athens."
"Except he forgot," Kasey muttered. "And his father jumped off the palace roof in despair. But other than that, it was a great idea."
"What about a flag or a flare?" Sally said. "From Olympus—the Empire State Building."
"Something blue," Alex said.
"Yes," she agreed. "I'll watch for a blue signal. And I'll try to avoid jumping off palace roofs."
She gave Alex one last hug. Then Kasey, Alex, and I walked to the front door. Kasey waved his hand and the door glowed briefly before swinging open. On the other side was the underworld.
We stepped through and the door closed behind us.
The River Styx's current swirled with strange objects—broken toys, ripped-up college diplomas, wilted homecoming corsages—all the dreams people had thrown away as they'd passed from life into death. Looking at the black water, I could think of about three million places I'd rather swim.
"So . . . I just jump in?" Alex said.
"You have to prepare yourself first," I said, "or the river will destroy you. It will burn away your body and soul."
"Sounds fun," Alex muttered.
"This is no joke," Kasey warned. "There is only one way to stay anchored to your mortal life. You have to . . ."
He glanced behind me and his eyes widened. I turned and found myself face-to-face with a Greek warrior.
For a second I thought he was Ares, because this guy looked exactly like the god of war—tall and buff, with a cruel scarred face and closely shaved black hair. He wore a white tunic and bronze armor. He held a plumed war helm under his arm. But his eyes were human—pale green like a shallow sea—and a bloody arrow stuck out of his left calf, just above the ankle.
I stunk at Greek names, but even I knew the greatest warrior of all time, who had died from a wounded heel.
"Achilles," Alex said. I backed up so that the two could face each other.
The ghost nodded. "I warned the other one not to follow my path. Now I will warn you."
"Lace? You spoke with Lace?"
"Do not do this," he said. "It will make you powerful. But it will also make you weak. Your prowess in combat will be beyond any mortal's, but your weaknesses, your failings will increase as well."
"You mean I'll have a bad heel?" Alex said. "Couldn't I just, like, wear something besides sandals? No offense."
He stared down at his bloody foot. "The heel is only my physical weakness, demigod. My mother, Thetis, held me there when she dipped me in the Styx. What really killed me was my own arrogance. Beware! Turn back!"
He meant it. I could hear the regret and bitterness in his voice. He was honestly trying to save Alex from a terrible fate.
Then again, Lace had been here, and he hadn't turned back. Neither had Lukee in the last timeline.
That's why Lace had been able to host the spirit of Kronos without his body disintegrating. This is how he'd prepared himself, and why he seemed impossible to kill. He had bathed in the River Styx and taken on the powers of the greatest mortal hero, Achilles. He was invincible.
"I have to," Alex said,apparently thinking the same way I was. "Otherwise I don't stand a chance."
Achilles lowered his head. "Let the gods witness I tried. Hero, if you must do this, concentrate on your mortal point. Imagine one spot of your body that will remain vulnerable. This is the point where your soul will anchor your body to the world. It will be your greatest weakness, but also your only hope. No man may be completely invulnerable. Lose sight of what keeps you mortal, and the River Styx will burn you to ashes. You will cease to exist."
"I don't suppose you could tell me Lacee's mortal point?"
He scowled. "Prepare yourself, foolish boy. Whether you survive this or not, you have sealed your doom!" With that happy thought, he vanished.
"Alex," Kasey said, "maybe he's right."
"This was your idea."
"I know, but now that we're here—"
"Just wait on the shore. If anything happens to me . . . Well, maybe Janus will get his wish, and there won't be a child of the prophecy after all."
He didn't look pleased about that, but neither Alex or I cared.
Before he could change my mind, he stepped into the river.
Less than a minute later, he burst out of the river. He collapsed on the sand, and Kasey scrambled back in surprise.
"Are you okay?" he stammered. "Your skin. Oh, gods. You're hurt!"
His arms were bright red. He probably felt like every inch of his body had been broiled over a slow flame.
He looked around for something that wasn't there.
"I'm fine . . . I think." The color of his skin turned back to normal.
"Do you feel stronger?" Kasey asked.
Alex looked at his hands. "A little." He looked up at me. "Do you think it worked?"
"Let's test it out." I summoned Azure. "You didn't pick your hand, right?" He shook his head. "Great." I slammed the blade down on his hand and he screamed.
Azure bounced right off.
I smiled down at Alex while he stared at his hand in amazement.
"Congratulations, you're invincible. Now come on." I hauled him up. "We need to get to the other demigods. Kronos is attacking soon and you need to practice with this." I nodded to Kasey and he stretched out his hand.
Before he could create a doorway to Camp Half-Blood, an Iris Message appeared. Well, sort of. Michael and Beckendorf have been attempting to combine the ways of communicating in the mythological world and the modern world. They created an app called Iris Message on Michael's phone so that he could call people when there wasn't any rainbows around.
The Iris Message showed Michael running towards somewhere. He held it in his hand as steady as he could so that we could see the bottom of his chin and face.
"Percy!" he shouted, making me jump. "You need to get back here ASAP! Kronos launched his attack already. The whole of Manhattan is asleep and us demigods are racing to the Empire State Building. Monsters are roaming the streets and they will alwa—shit!"
The screen blurred and I heard a roar from the other side. A few flashes blinded us but after a moment Michael was panting. He held the camera parallel to his face. He was covered in monster dust and his hair was disheveled. He had blood on his face from a cut above his cheek bone.
"There are monsters everywhere." Michael continued. "It's less than an organized attack. It's more like hunt and kill. Like from The Most Dangerous Game, except that it's demigods that are being hunted. I was separated from my group three minutes ago and that was the fifth time I've been attacked. The gods have barely slowed Typhon down. If he gets here, we are going to have to help them. You know that."
"Where's Estelle, Alexios, and Andy?" I asked.
"With an old friend," Michael said. "You don't know everything I do. His name is Adam and I trust him." I nodded. Then I noticed a hellhound bounding up behind him.
"Behind you!" Alex shouted. Michael turned and cursed.
"Get to the Empire State Building. That is where we are meeting. I'll see you there." He cut off the connection, but not before I saw the hellhound jump at him, teeth bared.