Chapter 16: Harpies and the One in Power

Cecilia's POV

3 Weeks Later

It took us 3 weeks to figure out who the One in Power was. Let's just say we're not the brightest demigods in the world. We're probably the stupidest.

"I got it" Percy screamed that day.

"Got what?" I ask

"I know who the one in power is." He yelled

"Well who is it?" Thalia said.

"Polyphemus."

"Of all the monsters." Will muttered.

"So he's here?" I ask.

"Yup, we just got to find out where."

Emmett's POV

It's been three weeks since Cecilia left. Her aunt was freaking out and I was worried. I didn't know if she was okay or not because she was with him. I hated the idea of them together, alone. I had to know if she was okay but she doesn't have a phone. What 17 year old doesn't have a phone? "A demigod you dumbass, she explained it," that little voice in my head was annoying the shit out of me. I had to go find her.

I walked to Carlisle's study and knocked on the door.

"Come in," A voice said softly.

"Carlisle, I have to go find her."

"Do you know where she is?"

"Yes, I just have to know if she's alright."

"Of course." The minute he said that I ran to my jeep and started the engine. Soon I was on the highway, heading towards Barrow.

Cecilia's POV

We stared at each other then I finally spoke up. "We are the stupidest demigods. Ever."

"What do you mean?" Nico asked.

"It took us three weeks to figure it out." I said. They all nodded.

"Guys, there is something I need to tell you," Will said.

"What?" Thalia asked as she put her bow down.

"It's mostly about Cecilia and me but you all should know. There was one more line to the oracle's prophecy."

"What is it?" I asked

"The last line was; And a child of war's last breath will be drawn." He looked down at the table. Everyone was silent. Nobody needed to explain. A child of war's last breath will be drawn. It meant that I was going to die. All eyes were on me and I didn't know what to do. I stood up; tears were welling in my eyes, and walked out of the room.

I walked to a secluded bench, sat down, and cried. How could he not tell me? How could he not tell me that if I came on this quest, I was going to die? Footsteps came from behind me. I looked back and saw Percy.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"What do you think? I was just told I'm going to die. How do you think I feel?" I said sarcastically.

"Sorry. Will should've told us. If he told us then none of us would've put you up to it if he had said something."

"What do you mean?"

"We all said that you should come because you are the best fighter."

"That's sweet but soon I'll be with hades in the underworld."

"Don't worry, we will all protect you."

"But the oracle's prophecies always come true."

"Well, we are going to change that." I smiled and hugged him.

"Thanks, Percy. You're a great friend. And can you do me a favor."

"Anything."

"If I do die-"

"Don't think like that."

"But if I do, tell Emmett I'm sorry."

"You really love him."

"Yes, I do."

"Alright, I promise."

"Thanks, want to go get some food."

"Yeah." For the next few hours we just sat in a local café and talked. He told me how he and Annabeth were doing and I told him about Nome. We finally made our way back to the room and the last thing I wanted to do was see Will. I walked up to the door and heard Thalia screaming.

"HOW COULD YOU! I THOUGHT SHE WAS YOUR FRIEND. DO YOU WANT HER TO DIE? YOU DON'T WELL BY THE LOOKS OF IT YOU DO!" I walked in and saw Thalia screaming and Will with a black eye.

"Cecilia I'm so sorry." He said

"Save it," I said.

"Wait what?" he asked

"You heard me, save it. How could you do this to me? I thought you were my friend."

"I didn't know,"

"Oh don't pull that shit with us. You knew the child of war meant a child of Ares. You knew that if I came it meant that I would die." I turned to Thalia and said, "Where's Nico?"

"He punched Will and left." She said.

"Find him and bring him back here. We are going to find out where Polyphemus is." She nodded and went out the door.

"Are you okay?" Will asked, standing beside me.

"What does it matter, I'm going to die anyway."

"Cecilia,"

"Don't. Just don't." Thalia and Nico walked in right after that. Nico looked like he was on a warpath and Thalia just looked plain pissed. Thalia gave Will the death stare, before he moved she whispered something in his ear and sat next to where I was standing. Nico sat on a bed and starting polishing his black sword.

"Alright," I said. Everyone looked up at me, "We need to find out where Polyphemus is."

"But you're going to be killed if we do," Thalia said

"And if I'm killed then I'm killed. If I'm to die, I want to die fighting, no other way." They all looked down.

"Well how do we find him?" Percy asked.

"He'll probably be somewhere secluded, like the mountains."

"How about an abandon warehouse on the other side of town where no one lives." Will said. Everyone looked up.

"I thought I told you not to talk," Thalia said.

"Wait Thalia," I said, "What do you mean?"

"I thought I was told not to talk." Ok is he really going to play this game? I took out my knife and quickly threw it at him. It landed an inch from his head.

"I repeat," I walked over and pulled my knife out of the wall, "What do you mean?"

"After Nico punched me, I started thinking about where Polyphemus would stay. I remember that old warehouse we passed when we came into town."

"Alright, we'll try there in the morning." I looked at the clock and saw it was almost midnight. "Let's head to bed." They all nodded and we took our usual spots. Me on the chairs, Thalia on a bed, Will on the other, Percy on the floor and Nico on the pull out bed.

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The next I woke up at six. I woke everyone up and we made our way across town to the warehouse. We walked in and it was huge inside. Nico let out a low whistle and soon five furies came out. Each of us drew our weapons and attacked them. I quickly dodged the claws of one and slashed my knife through the air. The fury quickly dodged and came out me. One of the claws caught my face. I felt the blood trickle down my face. I dodged another and jabbed my knife into its torso. The fury let out a high pitched scream then turned to dust. I quickly ran to help Thalia. I took out my bow and we started shooting arrows. Finally one of my arrows pierced its skin causing it to turn to dust.

A loud rumbling erupted and soon a giant, he was huge. Just plain huge. He had a green eye that was scarred. Thalia, Percy and I ran up to him.

"Not you again," he said before quickly swiping Percy to the side. Thalia and I quickly readied our bows and soon arrows were flying everywhere. Some would hit him but he would just pull them out and nothing would happen. Soon Nico and Percy started fighting. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Will climbing a ladder, trying to get to Polyphemus. He made a jump towards him but Polyphemus just swiped him. He landed on his head. I ran towards him and saw he was bleeding. Then it hit me. A child of war, Athena was the goddess of warfare. A child of war, it meant that Will was supposed to die, not me.

"This was what I was trying to tell you. A child of war could've meant me or you. I guess it was me." He winced in pain as he said those words.

"Will I'm so sorry. I never knew. Oh gods, you can't leave me. Not now, not ever."

"It looks like I am. I'll say hi to hades for you." His hand went limp in mine. I couldn't believe he was gone. Sorrow was replaced with anger. I picked up my sword and ran to the ladder that Will had climbed. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Emmett, he was looking at me. His topaz eyes were wide. I looked down as I was running and saw a light red ring around me. The blessing of Ares I thought. I climbed the ladder and jumped onto Polyphemus's back. I plunged my sword into his back and he instantly collapsed. I jumped off and landed on my shoulder. I felt a huge crack and I knew It was at least dislocated. Polyphemus turned into dust and soon everyone surrounded me.

"Cecilia," Emmett said, "Are you okay?"

"Just peachy." I say through gritted teeth. I looked over to Will's body. Thalia gasped. Nico and Percy looked down.

"I thought it was a child of war," Thalia said.

"His mother was the goddess of warfare." I looked down, "That's what he was trying to tell me. That it could've been either one of us."

"We need to send an iris message to Chiron," Nico said.

"I'm already on it," Percy said, "We should get you outside." I nodded and Emmett picked me up carefully.

"The huntresses are in the woods. We can take her there," Thalia said, "Percy, you can meet us there."

"Ok," Percy said and soon we were off to the huntresses.

**I know I killed off Will. Who was sad? (Counts hands) Stayed tuned for more action KAPOW!**