Chapter 39

Reyna signalled, then the three of them burst from their hiding place, across the cavern Reyna could see Annabeth and Markos doing the same, the large Greek barrelling like a football player into a couple of sirens, taking them down, Annabeth took a more subtle approach but was just as effective.

Damien bolted towards the wall, using his momentum to launch himself up the wall, stretching his limbs as far as they would go to get the most height before pushing himself off the icy wall and towards the ledge, his hands latching onto the edge as the siren turned, shrieking as she did, warning the others,

Damien hauled himself up as she took an arrow, what Damien didn't plan on was that she began to use it as a blade rather than an arrow, he dodged her initial attack, but she was fast and thrusted it at him, his instincts took over as she went for his throat, he threw out his hand as the tip embedded itself into his palm rather than his jugular.

He hissed in pain and kicked out, knocking her off balance, just enough time to yank the arrow from his hand before she was trying to attack him again, swiping another arrow towards him, he ducked and sliced at her leg with the arrow tip, making the siren screech in pain, the sound ran through his brain like nails down a chalkboard, he felt as though his brain was being pierced with needles but he stayed focused.

Damien jabbed upward with his fist, connecting with her jaw, forgetting that he had injured his knuckle earlier from punching his way through an icy wall, he gasped in pain and retracted his hand, giving the siren the opening to attack, she responded by clawing at his face, he felt the bite of her talons on his skin, tearing it, but he couldn't get distracted by it before she lashed out again, he dropped his entire body the to the floor, scissor kicking her legs so she toppled down with him, he took the arrow again from her leg and with all his force, jammed it into her black eye.

A scream echoed as she crumbled into dust, the force of the sound pushing against him, he shook his head as the ringing in his ears began, he could feel something warm trickling down from his ear, that with the claws marks down his face proved that he wasn't the greatest of fighters but he was still alive.

He didn't have time to celebrate his victory as the rest of the world came into focus, he looked out across the cavern, seeing the others fighting against the sirens, his eyes instantly going to Reyna as she pirouetted slicing through the throat of a siren, it tumbled into non-existence, she didn't pause as she took on another, what she didn't see was Marsyas walking up behind her, something in his hand, Damien couldn't see what exactly it was but he was going straight for Reyna

You never think things through

Her words echoed through his mind as he stood, his mind thinking through the situation, he stood, the sirens bow in his hand, arrow in his bloodied hand as he notched it, pulling back on the string, ignoring the pain in his hand as he aimed for the faun, who was too distracted with Reyna to notice Damien, he took a breath before releasing the arrow, it flew through the air, it was slightly off target seen as Damien was aiming for his head, the arrow brushed his ribs, but still it was enough for him to falter, he growled allowed angry eyes searching for the source of the arrow, his glare finally landing on Damien.

Reyna spun at the noise, seeing the injured faun, she quickly glanced up seeing Damien standing there, bow in hand, blood covering his feature but he was alive and that made her heart leap, she then went on the offensive not giving Marsyas a chance to compose himself, putting the faun on the back foot, he removed his hand from his ribs, ignoring the blood that dripped to the floor, he backed away from the Praetor.

Damien wiped his brow, pulling his hand away, to see his skin smeared with blood, the siren's talons had ripped through his skin, he could feel four long open wounds across his face. He shook his head ignoring the pain, he took the bow in his hand again and fired arrows towards more sirens that invaded the space, his accuracy wasn't close enough to kill any of them but at least he could slow them down, he just made sure that he wasn't aiming too close to any of his friends.

Something caught his eye, something or someone moving in the shadows near Reyna, Damien wiped more blood from his eyes, clearing his vision but only slightly, there was someone down there with Reyna, a glint of metal flashed as Thamyris stepped from the shadows, he was facing Reyna.

Damien dropped the bow, he was out of arrows and Thamyris was getting closer and closer to Reyna, he focus on the battle with the faun,

His golden eyes took in the scene before his injured body's instincts kicked in and he leapt from the high icy balcony, his body hurtling towards the ground between Thamyris and Reyna's back, his feet hit first sending a shockwave of pain up his leg as he rolled, the ice causing him to slide a little but he recovered quickly and drew his sword on Thamyris, he cast a quick glance to Reyna, she nodded to him.

Damien's eyes fell onto the being in front of him, taking deep breaths to deal with the pain that echoed through his body, his sword hand shook slightly with his injury, why did he have to use his right hand with the ice earlier?

"It's such a shame" Thamyris said, looking past Damien to Reyna "I was going to spare you, only the men needed to die, but alas you have become a thorn in my side" he shrugged, then lunged for Damien, blade out stretched

Damien blocked clumsily, his hand flaring up in pain as the metal blades connected, he made the decision and swapped sword hands, using his left instead which made him slower, he only hoped he could hold out long enough for Reyna to defeat Marsyas. This guy was strong and speedy, Damien could barely keep up with the attacks, not to mention continually wiping the blood from his eyes, he could hear Reyna battling Marsyas behind him.

Damien's body was beginning to tire as he continued his defensive movements, his arm slowing and Thamyris knew it, a smile creeping over his face, how the hell did a blind guy fight like this

"You are not long for this world boy" he sneered "Your mortal body is failing you"

Damien hit back harder, unconsciously blocking Reyna with his body

A knowing look crossed the blind man's face "My eyes may have been taken but even I can see your feelings for this girl"

Damien slashed at Thamyris, his temper getting the better of him and with his mistake Thamyris swung, catching Damien's outstretched arm and slicing deep, his blade clattering on the floor, then in one swift move Thamyris grabbed and twisted his arm, placing his own sword around Damien's neck, pressing hard enough to pierce Damien's throat, but went no deeper, her was just holding him like a hostage, Damien silently cursed himself for being so careless

"Trust me on one thing" Thamyris muttered into Damien's ear "Love is a weakness"

His grip tightened around the demigod's throat as Damien gasped for air, his eyes on Reyna who was still battling Marsyas, unaware that he was in the grips of Thamyris

"Trying to keep your loved one safe even at the cost of your own life" he chuckled darkly "Foolish boy"