Chapter 9:
I Can Simply Kill You
Annabeth's POV
"Percy!" I screamed in sheer terror.
The thunderbolt zapped Percy, and the impact sent him flying out of the nearest window with a crash. I sprinted out the door to make sure he was okay, though I knew in my heart that he was dead.
I found him about five yards away from the sword arena, sprawled motionless on the floor.
"Oh my gods, no! Percy!" I cried, kneeling beside him. His eyes suddenly opened, much to my relief. "Percy! Oh my gods, are you okay?"
He looked up at me. "Did that really just happen?"
"Well, if you're talking about Thalia dropping a thunderbolt on you, then yeah." I cried, relieved for the second time that day that he could speak.
He stood up off the ground, and I stood up with him. "That surprised me... but it barely hurt." he muttered, rubbing his chest.
At first I didn't know what he was talking about. I felt my face mold into an expression of confusion. How could a giant lightning bolt dropped on your head not hurt? But then I remembered: he was invulnerable. Of course it didn't hurt him.
I spotted Thalia in the distance, walking out of the sword arena. "How'd that feel, Jackson?" she called. "Maybe that'll teach both of you that love is a useless emotion! You two are wasting your time and energy on it!"
Percy clenched his fists. "Is that what this is about? Just because Annabeth and I are together?" he called back. "I understand that you don't believe in love, being a Hunter and all, but that doesn't mean you should interfere with me and Annabeth!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, Fishface," Thalia called. Jeez, she was in a bad mood.
I looked behind me, and I noticed that something was wrong with the canoe lake. Ten foot waves were forming, and the water swirled angrily. The lake was reacting to Percy's emotions.
"What's your problem, Thalia?" Percy called angrily. "Stop trying to interfere with me and Annabeth!"
"You know what?" she called back, walking over to us. "I think I will stop," she said. "Why would I try to interfere when all I have to do is... simply kill you?"
Suddenly, a familiar sword appeared in Thalia's hands: it was half celestial bronze, half mortal steel.
It was Luke's old weapon: Backbiter.
Chapter 10:
It Wasn't Her
Annabeth's POV
It was Luke's old weapon: Backbiter.
Well, poo.
"What the... oh my gods, Thalia, what's wrong with you?" Percy demanded in shock and disbelief.
Looking for comfort, I grabbed Percy's hand. He looked at me, confused at Thalia's behavior. "Um... Thalia... what's wrong with you? Percy's your friend! I'myour friend! And how did you get that sword?"
Thalia smiled a cold, evil smile. A smile that didn't belong to her. "Well, Annabeth. I'm surprised that you haven't figured it out yet. You were always so intelligent, yet even youdidn't notice."
"Thalia... what..."
Again, she smiled. I studied her expression, and as I stared, her eye color changed, slowly melting into a different color: liquid gold.
My knees buckled in shock. I probably would've hit the floor if Seaweed Brain hadn't caught me. "Y- you're..." I stuttered.
"Luke," Percy spat, uncapping Riptide. I unsheathed my dagger.
Thalia-Luke turned on him, roaring in the voice of the King of the Titans, "Luke Castellan is dead! I am Kronos, Lord of the Titans!"
Thalia began to glow, and Percy and I averted our eyes. When we looked up again, 'Thalia' was gone. In her place was Luke, looking exactly the way he had when he'd betrayed us a few years ago. Except for the eyes.
The weapon in the Titan Lord's hands morphed, becoming something much more threatening: Kronos's scythe.
"Hmmm... well, I suppose I shall let you two and this camp live for another night or two," he claimed. "Be expecting my army, Jackson," he threatened, holding up his scythe in a mock salute. Again, he began to glow, and again Percy and I averted our eyes. When we looked up again, he was gone.
"Oh my gods, Percy," I said, fear in my eyes. "What are we going to do?"
His face was pale. "I don't know. But we have to warn the rest of the camp."
I had totally forgotten about the rest of the camp. How had they not heard anything that had just happened?
I sighed. "I think we should talk to Chiron first."
5 Minutes Later, In The Big House...
"Chiron, we need to talk," Percy said.
Chiron could already tell from our expressions that something was wrong. "Then speak, child."
Percy and I told him the entire story about the River Styx, Thalia going crazy, and Thalia suddenly morphing into Kronos. We also told him about Kronos's warning. We told him every important detail of the day, except of course for the part at the River Styx when Percy kissed me, because, since Thalia was gone, we figured our secret was still safe.
"So, Chiron..." I started, "Why did Kronos look like Thalia? It makes no sense, if he was just going to turn back into himself later." I had to choke back my tears as I spoke, and it showed in my voice. Percy rubbed my back comfortingly. No way Thalia betrayed us.
Chiron wore a serious expression. "Annabeth, I do not believe that was Thalia."
Percy interrupted, "But, if it wasn't her, then how did it look like her? And sound like her?"
"Perseus, do you recall anything that I taught you in my class a few years ago?" he asked with slight humor. "Gods may take on any form that they wish," he reminded me. "I do not believe that Thalia would turn over to Kronos. She's too caring to ever go against her friends. I believe that my father morphed into appearing exactly like her, then went on the trip with you two and Nico, posing as Thalia."
I was actually relieved. Sure, Kronos had been tailing us the entire day, but that meant that Thalia hadn't been with us at all. She hadn't attacked Percy; Kronos had. She hadn't threatened to kill Percy; Kronos had. I don't know which would've been worse. And, best of all, she wasn't evil; Kronos was.
"But Chiron," I asked, "If that wasn't Thalia, then how did Kronos shoot the lightning at Percy?"
Chiron frowned. "I do not know. But, seeing how he is the father of the Big Three, and Zeus, it is possible that he may be able to control thunder and lightning as well, although that is not his job. Perhaps, before the Big Three were born, Kronos had controlled the sky, and he still has the ability now."
"Interesting," I murmured.
Chiron nodded. "However, there is something that I still don't understand about your story," he muttered. "What was it that had made, er, 'Thalia' so upset, causing her to attack Percy with the lightning?"
I wasn't sure who was blushing darker: me or Percy. "Um... just... certain issues. But, if that was Kronos and not Thalia, then why would he get so upset over what he found out?" I asked.
"Well, I don't believe that Kronos actually cared about whatever it was he found out. He was most likely just looking for an excuse to attack Percy, so he pretended to overreact about whatever he found out." Chiron explained. "But, children, what was it that he found out?" he asked. "If you don't tell me, I'll just expect it's something much worse than it is," he threatened. (A/N: Quote from Twilight!) "Honestly, it can't be that bad."
Percy and I locked eyes, not sure whether to tell him or not. An understanding passed between us.
I actually laughed. "Chiron, I believe Percy would like to tell you that story," I said, blushing.
Percy blushed with me. "No, Wise Girl, I believe youwould prefer to explain to him what happened this morning."
"Okay, then," I fake agreed. "Chiron-"
"No, I wanna tell him!" Percy interrupted.
Chiron frowned, but then he chuckled. "Children, please, I can't handle the suspense."
Percy took a deep breath, then said, "I, um... I kissed Annabeth this morning."
I looked down, my face tomato red.
Chiron smiled. "Oh, okay, I understand. And I'm guessing it's a secret, right?"
We nodded.
"You children grow up so fast," Chiron sighed. "Okay, then, I will announce this news about Kronos to the rest of the camp at the dining pavilion tonight."
"Thanks, Chiron," Percy and I said together, causing us to laugh.