Cleo
Cleo stood next to the moon pool, legs trembling, as she watched Antaeus stare up at the sky through the opening of the volcano. She only had a sliver of hope left that her friends would come and save her. The moon was creeping over the edge of the volcano now and all she could think about was losing her powers. They'd been a part of her life for so long, she couldn't imagine her life without them. And Cleo could tell Antaeus was getting antsy. He was pacing the pool, well, he was trying. Antaeus was so big that he could only walk a few steps before having to turn around again. It probably would have been funny to Cleo if she wasn't scared out of her wits.
"UGH! I wish that brainless goddess would hurry up!" Antaeus groaned, pulling himself out of the water. He narrowed his eyes at Cleo.
"You are the only thing I have to entertain me…" the giant trailed off. "You have powers, don't you? Show me." Cleo turned to the water, holding out a shaky hand. She didn't dare disobey him. She made a ball of water hover over the moon pool. Antaeus's eyes narrowed in interest. Cleo turned it into a star. Then she raised it higher into the air.
"Your power is like Jackson's," the monster said resentfully. "He is Father's favorite. Just because he is a mortal. I must do this to show Poseidon he is worthless. That insolent boy killed me a few years ago. It took me that long to reform. Now he thinks he can beat me like he did last time. But I have gotten smarter, stronger. My mother has made sure no puny demigod can kill me alone. You see, they would need the help of a Titan-" Antaeus was cut off as the moon pool started to bubble. He smiled evilly before grabbing Cleo and jumping in. He laughed as Cleo's legs turned into her tail but slowly began returning to legs. Cleo thrashed around, desperate to get out of the water, to no avail. She could feel the power seeping from her body.
Wouldn't it suck if I ended it there? Haha, I almost did because I'm that lazy…
Suddenly, six demigods and two mermaids burst into the cave. Percy, Annabeth, Frank, Hazel, Clarisse, Chris, Emma, and Rikki all stood at the water's edge and looked in horror at the scene before them. Then, Jason came flying down from the volcano opening, casting shadows on Cleo's face. They landed next to everyone else. As Cleo struggled in the giant's hand, she couldn't help but think of Charlotte. She, Emma, and Rikki did this to Charlotte. She used to think Charlotte had deserved it but now… she almost felt bad for her.
Then, she felt hands on her. They grabbed her wrists and she was lifted from the water. Somehow she was no longer in Antaeus's grasp. Cleo was set down on the sand and Emma and Rikki swarmed her. Their questions were a blur to her. She wasn't even sure if she answered them. Cleo was too much in shock. She could vaguely hear Percy shouting at Antaeus in the background.
"Titan!" Cleo yelled. That was the only thing she knew at the moment. They needed to know. "Need… Titan!"
Emma put her hand on Cleo's forehead. "Are you okay?" Cleo wasn't sure why it was so important but she needed one of the demigods to hear her.
Cleo shook Emma off and shakily stood up. "You need… a Titan to kill… him!" she shouted, making her way over to Annabeth, who was standing next to Percy, trying to keep Antaeus occupied.
She turned towards Cleo. "What did you say?"
"You need a Titan to kill him. His mother made it that way, whoever she is," Cleo explained, regaining her strength. Annabeth paled.
Suddenly, the wind started to blow rapidly, almost knocking Cleo over. Annabeth turned back around to find Antaeus with his hands outstretched and an evil grin on his face.
"My plan has worked, puny demigods," the giant caused the water around him to swirl. "Now nothing can stop me!"