A nice long chapter for you this time. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 11: Action Time

Emily POV

I now know how they feel. The pain is almost unbearable, but we've got to fight it. I think Sammy and I know a way to get out of here, and we need to stay strong to put it in action. As we are thrown roughly back into the dimly lit room, the others crowd around us worriedly. Luke passes me some ambrosia, and I eat it gratefully, feeling much better even after just one bite. I savor the flavor of moms shrimp gumbo, thinking of when we last saw her. She screamed loud enough to wake the whole camp, though not because she was afraid, because she knew that no one would find her until the morning otherwise. I say a quick prayer to my godly grandfathers, and also to Apollo, that she can be healed quickly, then pull Sammy over to the corner.

"Powers. That's the answer, isn't it?" I say. "They're immune to imperial gold and celestial bronze, but maybe not demigod powers."

Sammy nods thoughtfully. "If we can get the others in on the plan, we'll be UNSTOPABLE!" He tries for an evil laugh to make me laugh, but he is too sore, and ends up doubled over in pain. I hand him another square of ambrosia and help him up, and we make our way silently over to Luke, pondering the small details of our new idea.

"Luke, Di, can we talk?" I ask them.

Luke stands up, carefully examines Zoë, then decides she'll be okay, and walks over to join us. Diana reluctantly stands, and carefully hands Anza to Bianca, ruffles Tom's hair, and walks over to the other wall.

"Guys, we have a plan," Sammy whispers, so the others don't hear. We don't know the fine points, and we don't want to lift their spirits.

"Well, more of an idea, really," I continue, "but with you guys, especially Luke, we reckon we could put it into action."

Diana's eyes show a bit of interest, but Luke's betray nothing. He doesn't want to get his hopes up either.

"Remember when our parents had to save the world?" I ask, and they nod. "Well, they didn't just use their weapons. They had to burst into flames, summon the dead, breathe underwater, fly, transform into different animals, summon precious jewels, and plan strategically. Maybe that's all we need to do. We need to use our powers!" I say, getting rather excited. I see both of them stand a little taller, hope filling them up, just like it did to us.

"It may not work," I warn them.

"But it's worth a try," the other three finish my sentence.

"Luke, any ideas?" Sammy says, turning to him.

"Well, if Zoë and I combine our power over water, hmmm, maybe Sammy can change into a lion or a bear? Em, how are you going with controlling the earth?"

"I'm getting better. With the adrenaline rush I should be fine."

"Perfect. And Di, you might be able to fly up and distract them."

"What if Bianca does that thing again?" Diana asks.

"Oh yeah! We'll hove to-"

"What thing?" Sammy and I interrupt.

"Oh, right, you weren't there. The mon- Epilates were trying to take little Anza; and- I'm not really sure, actually. Anza just disappeared, and ended up safe in Diana's arms," Luke informs us.

Sammy looks thoughtful. "Maybe she is a demigod, after all. I mean, we just assumed that because she was adopted from a mortal orphanage that she was, well, mortal."
"Yeah," I agree. "Mom thinned the mist around Bianca so that she could see monsters and would be safe, but maybe that wasn't necessary. Maybe she could already see through it."

We all ponder this for a while, until Luke says, "We'll have to bring it up with her Dads if we get back."

"When we get back," I tell him.

"Whatever you say," he sighs. "Anyway, back to the powers idea..."

We spend the rest of the day plotting, only stopping when Zoë, Tom and Bianca are thrown harshly back into the room, a cackling laughter to be heard outside. We give them ambrosia, check them all out, and let them sleep, while we get down to the nitty-gritty of Luke's strategy.

Zoë POV

The four older kids come over to wake us up, looking excited. I can't sleep though, for whichever way I lay it hurts. As Luke walks over to me, I sit up and see a sparkle in his eyes that I haven't seen since we were brought to this place.

"What's going on," I ask. The sparkle disappears a little when he hears how sore I sound, but I try not to complain too much.

"Zo, how close is the nearest source of water? I got about one and a half miles away, but-"

I close my eyes and zone everything else out, trying to sense the water. It's easier than normal, I think because I'm so sore, because water heals my minor cuts and bruises, the same way it does for Luke. Apparently, if Dad's leg is like about to fall off or something, he can jump in the water for it to start to heal before help gets there. I open my eyes and nod.

"Yeah, about one and a half miles. Why?" I ask.

Luke looks around to Bianca and Tom, now sitting up groggily.
"Come over here," he says.

I slowly get up and walk over to where Tom and Bianca were sleeping with Anza between them.

"What's going on?" I say, for all four of the older kids have a similar sparkle in their eyes.

"We have a plan!" Sammy burst out. "With powers and stupid monsters and-"

"It might not work," Luke butts in, shooting a warning glance at Sammy.

"Right, yeah. But it's worth a try, right?"

"Okay. I'm listening," Bianca says, always the optimist.

"Right. Anyway, we think we're approaching this the wrong way," Luke starts.

"How do you mean?" asks Tom.

"I was getting to that. Well, so what if they're immune to celestial bronze and imperial gold. All monsters have to have some sort of weakness," Luke lets it sit for a while. I chew my bottom lip.

"You mean our powers?" I ask.

Sammy nods. "You reckon you could do it?"

"I don't know. The water's pretty far away. I'm pretty weak," I say doubtfully.

"Come on, Zo," Bianca says. "It's worth a shot."

Luke looks at me with pleading eyes. It seems I'm the only one who objects.

"Okay. What's the plan?"

"But guys," I start to say, but am cut off by my older brother.

"Zoë, don't worry about us. We can handle ourselves. Anyway, our parents will be here in no time."

All the older kids nod, but Tom and I exchange a glance. We know better than anyone that our siblings' fatal flaws are hubris, excessive pride.

"Be careful," we warn, in unison.

Sammy smiles. "We'll make sure they're careful," he says with a wink.

"Thanks," I say, as I hear some footsteps in the corridor.

I run to the furthest end of the tiny room, as close to the water as I can possibly get, trying my hardest. Luke comes over too, and together, I feel the water gradually getting closer. I can only imagine what the mortals outside are thinking! Diana hovers just above the estimated eye level of the Ephialtes, Emily starts concentrating as well, Sammy turns into a... grizzly bear? And Bianca is holding onto Anza, trying to remember what she did before. We made the plan allowing for the fact that she might not be able to do it again, but if she can it would make everything go much smoother. A monster bursts in, closer to Luke and I than we expected. I lose concentration for a second, and feel the water start to retreat slightly. I focus again, and grab Luke's hand, nerves finally catching up with me. Finally, after what seems like hours, a drop of water starts trickling through a miniscule hole in the wall. It gets bigger and bigger until there is a strong stream of water flowing through the wall. The monster looks around in surprise and Diana takes the opportunity to jump on top of one of them, screaming a waving her dagger.

"Get off me you stupid girl!" the monster yells, and lets out a strangled sort of howl. I assume it means needing backup, because three more Epilates run into the room. Sammy roars and joins Diana, taking on another monster, and Emily summons small wall of black rock that is gradually growing. We all hold our breaths as Bianca concentrates and just like magic, one of the Ephialtes disappears. I hear it's strangled cry as it is teleported to the inside the small room of rock that Em has made. The stream of water gets stronger until the wall finally gives in. Luke and I wash away another of the Ephialtes so there are only two. When the other cried for backup I assumed there would be more coming, but I guess there were only ever four. We could never tell, they all look the same. Sammy has now cornered a monster, and it is looking around panicked. He lets out another tremendous roar, as starts to slash at the monster with his paw, aiming for the sensitive spots. It's beady eyes, it's mouth...

Suddenly, Bianca and Tom join Luke and I over by the hole in the wall. I give Luke's hand a squeeze.

"Good luck. Stay safe. We'll be back soon," I say, not quite loudly enough for and Ephialtes to hear. He winks at me, and Bianca, Tom, and I climb through the hole in the wall, helping each other out, passing Anza along steadily. I hear an inhumane shout, and a more human like moan, and begin to run, run, run. Sammy, Emily, Diana and Luke's lives depend on it.

Haven't written much action before, so tell me what you think! Constructive criticism is welcome!