Disclaimer: I don't own PJO
Ariella's POV
I landed next to Ethan who was crouched at the nearest campfire. A couple of other demigods sat with him, sharpening their swords. The doors of the warehouse opened, and Prometheus stepped out.
"Nakamura, Ariella," he called. "The master would like to speak to you two,"
Ethan stood up warily. "Something wrong?"
"What does he need?" I ask worried
Prometheus smiled. "You'll have to ask him."
One of the other demigods snickered. "Nice knowing you two."
Ethan readjusted his sword belt and headed into the warehouse.
I snapped my wings shut and followed Ethan as he went inside. I went to stand in the shadows, while Kronos spoke to Ethan.
Kronos lounged on a couch, his scythe across his lap. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, and with his brooding expression he looked almost human. Then he saw Ethan, and his face contorted into a very inhuman smile. His golden eyes glowed.
"Well, Nakamura. What did you think of the diplomatic mission?"
Ethan hesitated. "I'm sure Lord Prometheus is better suited to speak—"
"But I asked you."
Ethan's good eye darted back and forth, noting the guards that stood around Kronos. "I . . . I don't think Jackson will surrender. Ever."
Kronos nodded. "Anything else you wanted to tell me?"
"N-no, sir.
"You look nervous, Ethan."
"No, sir. It's just . . . I heard this was the lair of —"
"Medusa? Yes, quite true. Lovely place, eh? Unfortunately, Medusa hasn't re-formed since Jackson killed her, so you needn't worry about joining her collection. Besides, there are much more dangerous forces in this room."
Kronos looked over at a Laistrygonian giant who was munching noisily on some french fries. Kronos waved his hand and the giant froze. A french fry hung suspended in midair halfway between his hand and his mouth.
"Why turn them to stone," Kronos asked, "when you can freeze time itself?"
His golden eyes bored into Ethan's face. "Now, tell me one more thing. What happened last night on the Williamsburg Bridge?"
Ethan trembled. Beads of perspiration were popping up on his forehead. "I . . . I don't know, sir."
"Yes, you do." Kronos rose from his seat. "When you attacked Jackson, something happened. Something was not quite right. The girl, Annabeth, jumped in your way."
"She wanted to save him."
"But he is invulnerable," Kronos said quietly. "You saw that yourself."
"I can't explain it. Maybe she forgot."
"She forgot," Kronos said. "Yes, that must've been it. Oh dear, I forgot my friend is invulnerable and took a knife for him. Oops. Tell me, Ethan, where were you aiming when you stabbed at Jackson?"
Ethan frowned. He clasped his hand as if he were holding a blade, and mimed a thrust. "I'm not sure, sir. It all happened so fast. I wasn't aiming for any spot in particular.'
Kronos's fingers tapped the blade of his scythe. "I see," he said in a chilly tone. "If your memory improves, I will expect—"
Suddenly the Titan lord winced. The giant in the corner unfroze and the french fry fell into his mouth. Kronos stumbled backward and sank into his throne.
"My lord?" Ethan started forward.
"I—" The voice was weak, but just for a moment it wasn't Kronos's. The his expression hardened. He raised his hand and flexed his fingers slowly as if forcing them to obey.
"It is nothing," he said, his voice steely and cold again. "A minor discomfort."
Ethan moistened his lips. "He's still fighting you, isn't he? Luke—"
"Nonsense," Kronos spat. "Repeat that lie, and I will cut out your tongue. The boy's soul has been crushed. I am simply adjusting to the limits of this form. It requires rest. It is annoying, but no more than a temporary inconvenience."
"As . . . as you say, my lord."
"Ariella!" Kronos barked toward the shadows.
"Yes, my lord." I ask as I step into the light
"Who was your godly parent and what are your powers if the demigods at the camp were so afraid of you?" Kronos said harshly
"My father is Thanatos, I have complete control of my shadows, and when using enough of my powers I can lose my physical body. When that happens I can walk/fly right through an ally, but I can still fight an enemy. I can hold that form for 12 hours, but then I pass out for 5 hours." I explain quickly.
"Interesting, can you demonstrate." He commands
"O-of course my lord. Can you ask the demigods in your army to group together, so that I can show you, my lord?" I stutter.
"Come with me." He says
"Demigods, group together in front of me, now!" He bellows. The demigods rushed to stand in front of him.
"Is this better?" Kronos growls at me.
"Y-yes my lord." I reply.
I shoot into the air about 400 feet high and take all the shadows within 200 feet with me. Once again my eyes turn completely black, and my form starts to flicker as I lose my physical body. When my physical body disappears, I fly straight down and level out 3 feet from the ground and shoot straight toward the demigods. I go straight through all of them, but I have to much momentum and also end up going straight through a building. I slowly flew back and landed in front of Kronos.
"Interesting, you will be an asset to our army against the gods. Regain your physical form, there is work to be done." Kronos commanded
"I-I'm sorry my lord, I don't know how to c-change back, the pull of my shadows are to strong. I've only been able to with a direct beam of l-light hitting me." I say fearfully
"Hyperion!" Kronos bellows.
Hyperion appears in a flash of light. "My king," he bows
"This girl needs a beam of light to help her change back to her physical form. Do it." He commands
Hyperion studied me for a moment and then shot a blindingly bright beam of light towards me. Only this time my shadows try to push the light back, I must have called to many, eventually though Hyperion's light still causes my shadows to fail. I collapse to the ground and slowly look up at Kronos and Hyperion.
"Thank you, my lords." I say
"My King, she is strong, if she had called anymore shadows to her she could have held me back. She may even have the strength to hold you back, if only for a while. She cannot be allowed to rejoin the gods." Hyperion said to Kronos
"Ariella, you are not to leave my side until the final battle, even then you will fight with me. Is that understood?" Kronos commands as he turns to looks at me.
"Of course my lord." I reply.
"You!" Kronos pointed his scythe at a dracaena with green armor and a green crown. "Queen Sess, is it?"
"Yesssss, my lord."
"Is our little surprise ready to be unleashed?"
The dracaena queen bared her fangs. "Oh, yessss, my lord. Quite a lovely sssssurprissse."
"Excellent," Kronos said. "Hyperion move our main force south into Central Park. The half-bloods will be in such disarray they will not be able to defend themselves."
"Ariella, come with me." Kronos commands, as he walks back into the warehouse.