CHAPTER NINETEEN

THE ARROW OF LIGHT

Jason could tell Polybotes wasn't happy about the newcomer. The giant looked tense and he wore a smug expression, but he quickly shook it off.

Artemis jumped down from the chariot and landed on the ground. She started walking toward him and began firing arrows point blank. They were streaks of silver that cut through their group and struck every last daemon and reduced them to nothingness. Jason was so amazed by her. He knew this was perfect timing and he glanced at Piper.

She looked a mess. Her hair was messy, she had a cut on arm, and her cheek was bruised and she looked beautiful! She was smiling and her multicolored eyes were shimmering in the moonlight. Jason was tempted to kiss her, but the redhead wasn't too far away. And he didn't know what she meant to him yet.

"This is against the ancient laws, Artemis!" screamed Polybotes.

"Last I check, Giant," she said, "all wild things are within my sphere and you are definitely a wild thing!"

Polybotes grimaced and punched the ground. Suddenly, more two dozen daemons rose up.

"Take care of the demigods," he screamed, "the goddess is MINE!"

The thirty foot giant charged the tiny goddess. She was lost in his shadow and Jason was once again in battle with these ugly humanoid fish monsters. He raised his sword and blocked the first strike of it's claws and he kicked it back. Then, he flipped over it and plunged his sword through its back. The daemon fell to the ground and burst into ash.

Polybotes yelled in agony and Jason watched as the goddess sprinted up is arm and fired several streaks of silver into his face. Piper rushed over to him, holding Katoptris and ready to kill.

"You we're amazing!" he said, staring at her, breathlessly.

"Thanks," she said, turning a little pink around the ears. "I had a dream that Artemis would come to our aid. I just needed to summon her with my voice. My mom's gift to me saved our lives!"

"Brilliant," said Jason.

The battle raged on around them and Jason saw something out of the corner of his eye. A camper and a daemon were locked in fierce combat, but the water daemon was getting the upper hand. Jason sprinted toward him while Piper ran off to defend another camper.

Jason kicked the daemon and helped the camper to his feet. He literally froze. The camper was Percy Jackson.

"Thanks," said Percy, but Jason didn't seem to hear him.

"Yeah," he said, suddenly, jerking himself out of his daze. "No prob."

"Do I know you? I saw you with that girl….Annabeth…"

"No," Jason responded. "But I know of you. I'm Jason Grace."

"Percy Jackson," he said and automatically held out his hand. For a moment, Jason was hesitant to take it: shaking hands was something rarely done at Camp Jupiter. But he grasp Percy's firmly and he could've sworn thunder rumbled overhead. Or maybe it was just the giant, Polybotes, grunting after having been shot in the head by one of Artemis's silver arrows and now looked like a thirty foot tall unicorn.

"We have to stop that thing," said Percy, looking at the giant and silver spec that was the goddess.

"I know," said Jason. "But only a god and a demigod together can stop the Giantes. That's what happened before."

"Before what?" asked Percy. He looked seriously confused and Jason thought this is what he must've been like to his new friends at Camp Half-Blood.

"Never mind, I'll explain later, but I think I have an idea."

"Listening," said Percy.

And Jason leaned and told him his plan.

Of course, something went wrong instantly.

Jason ran toward the Polybotes and Artemis but was immediately intercepted by two daemons. He struck one down easily with gladius, but the second wouldn't go done so easily. It slashed at him, but Jason had been trained. He blocked, jabbed, and rolled just like he had been taught at Camp Jupiter: legion style.

"Child of Rome," hissed the daemon. "You fight for the wrong side. Join us and you will be spared. You're comrades will be spared."

"Right," said Jason, coolly. "I'm supposed to trust a fish out of water? I don't think so!" He raised his sword and struck the air like he had done before. He felt a tug in his gut, the sky began to rumble, and a bolt of lightning ignited from the blade tip. It hit the daemon with such force, it instantly burst into ash.

Jason looked over and saw Dakota and Leo working together as team along with Camp Jupiter and Half-Blood combined. He felt a rush of affection for his two homes and knew this is what was needed to battle Gaea and her Giantes.

Percy was running up on his rear, holding his bronze sword, which was pretty cool from Jason's point of view. He hoped Percy could pull of the intricate part of the plan. All he kept remembering was the line from Rachel's prophecy which seemed to had been told weeks ago: Campers combined will be put to the test.

Well, here it goes…

Percy struck his blade into the ground and it seemed to sink like it was made of butter. His eyes closed, tremors exploded through the valley. Everyone stopped and Jason steadied himself to hold his ground. He began to concentrate. He could feel the wind wrapping around his legs and down to his ankles. Pressure began to build underneath his feet.

Polybotes shook violently like a skyscraper about to topple over.

And that's when Jason flew into the air. He soared like a rocket and sent a silent prayer to his dad to lend a hand. He plunged gladius into the giant's shoulder, but there was no divine lightning. No godly aid. Golden ichor flowed down like enormous rain drops and the giant yelled in rage, swatting Jason out of the sky like a pesky fly.

"NO!"

The voice rang out sharp and clear, but he had no idea if it had been the redhead, Reyna or Piper.

He crashed into Percy and they both rolled.

"Sorry, Percy," said Jason, rubbing his own head.

"Imagine a giant hellhound trying to hug you," murmured Percy. "You were kinda like that."

Jason helped him to his feet.

"I don't even know how I would know that," Percy said, absently.

Dakota rushed toward him.

"I only have one arrow left and the daemons keep coming!" she said, her eyes were determined yet alight with fear. Jason knew campers we're taught to keep their cool and trust their instincts in battle but that was when the enemy didn't reform seconds after you've killed them.

Jason scanned the scene and then saw a shimmering silver glow fall about ten feet away. He rushed over to the goddess, but she looked different to him then she had before. Her auburn hair was darker, her toga was covered by an Imperial gold breastplate. Her eyes were bright with malice and anger, as a cut on her left cheek trickled ichor. His eyes followed to her bow, which she had gripped.

"Diana," he called.

The goddess turned to him. She rose to her feet.

"Dakota," Jason turned to her. She came over and looked between the goddess and Jason. He knew what they needed to do.

"This is against all ancient laws," said the goddess, staring at Jason, obviously reading his mind.

"Artemis would do it," Percy responded. He seemed to know exactly what Jason was thinking. Weird.

The goddess looked affronted, but nodded.

"You are brave demigods," she said to Jason and Percy. "Let us hope you're courage isn't in vain."

Jason didn't know what that meant or cared. He was glad he was able to unite them, at last.

Diana turned to Polybotes.

"Ready for another assault, moon goddess?" asked the giant, with a laugh.

Diana and Dakota stood together. Dakota kneeled since she was a little taller than Diana and notched her final arrow. Diana steadied the bow and placed her other hand on Dakota's firing arm. The Imperial gold arrowhead began to glow.

"One arrow won't destroy me!" shouted Polybotes, stepping forward.

"Dad," called Dakota, "please help me and your sister, Diana! Guide my arrow to it's target!"

The arrowhead glowed with the light of the sun and moon. Dakota released it and Jason watched as the arrow soared across the valley toward the giant. It's brilliant light fell upon the daemons and they all seem to burst into ash by the light of day compressed into the arrow.

Polybotes yelled as the arrow found a chink in his armor. It glowed like the sun had risen inside him.

"THIS….ISN'T….OVER!" screamed Polybotes. His skin exploded with bright light and he vanished.

Hopefully back to Tartarus, Jason thought.

When the light died, the valley was cast into a blanket of darkness.