The Titan forces race up the hill to meet Reyna, who still stands at the front.
"Iacite pila!" She calls, and the entire back line throws their pilums. Not a single pilum doesn't find a enemy.
The attack takes out the front line of the Titan forces, but many more still sprint at them.
"Contendite vestra sponte! Advance!"
The Romans pour down the hill to meet them. I quickly begin dragging an unconscious Calypso to my cabin, hoping to get her to safety and retrieve my sword. Her blood smears the floor of my cabin as I clear a bed off. Sounds of battle rage outside as the two sides clash.
I set her on the bed and try to straighten her jaw while she's still unconscious. The bone shifts and a fresh torrent of blood pours from her mouth. She stirs, an agonized groan building in her throat. An Apollo camper takes over and I bolt out of the cabin, eager to escape the grotesque wound. The sight of battle is no less grisly.
Oddly enough, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Krios do not fight, instead they're hunkered behind the amphitheater doing something.
Percy and I fight alongside each other, and even with his leg injury we make a fearsome team. Every time I down an enemy, I stop for a second to relish the look of fear and shock in their eyes. What? I'm not invincible? Oh no! A girl is about to kill me! Sure, I wasn't always like this, but something about being tortured, humiliated, and painfully slaughtered makes it hard to conjure any mercy. So I don't. I kill indiscriminately, taking off heads, arms, legs, and anything else my sword finds.
When you're doing something hard yet monotonous, time becomes fluid. You just lose track of it. In reality, I'm not exactly sure how long I've been fighting. Thirty minutes maybe?
It feels like we haven't progressed at all. When I look around me, I really can't tell who's ahead of who in terms of numbers. There was the initial dropping of troops like flies, but now everyone spars and battles, and the deaths are sparse.
That's not to say we aren't trying to kill each other, just that it's not a quick process, nor is it an easy one.
After a while, I begin to grow suspicious of Hyperion, Iapetus, and Krios, who still haven't joined the battle. I'd assume they're still behind the amphitheater, doing gods know what.
A warm gold glow comes from behind the amphitheater.
Wait a minute...
I separate from the engagement I was battling in. Everything is sore, and several small cuts ache, but I'm uninjured for the most part.
I jog past the chaos of the battle and towards the amphitheater. I'm not too concerned with Reyna, because the Legion is holding it's own, and most of the campers have been liberated from their cabins already. I need to see what the Titans are doing.
As I approach the stage, my palms become cold and clammy. Chills run down my spine. Something is here... Something that should not be... Something evil...
When I peek behind the amphitheater to see what's happening, my brain tries to deny what I'm seeing.
It isn't real. It just couldn't be real. There's no way that Kronos's coffin could be there, surrounded by the other three titans, right? No, it couldn't be.
A figure sits up out of the coffin and looks straight at me. A shriek escapes me, and I feel like I'm looking down the barrel of a loaded gun in the hands of a murderer.
I try to turn and run, but time itself freezes, and I can't move a muscle.
The figure steps out of the coffin and walks toward me leisurely. I'm completely frozen, immobilized in time itself. I begin to hunger for air, unable to draw breath. As the figure comes closer, I recognize the face. Michael Varus - the roman Praetor, the son of Janus who lost the fifth cohort's eagle in Alaska and died there - stands In front of me.
He almost killed Jason two years ago with a gold sword. Now, his eyes are solid gold and his voice is definitely not his own.
"Annabeth. How defiant are you now?" Kronos's rasping voice - now much louder and closer - questions me.
Time slows even more, leaving me in a near complete standstill. My lips slowly form a scream of terror, but the scream leaves my mouth one wisp of oxygen as a time, being exhaled in such slow motion that it's inaudible. He approaches me until we're face to face.
"Hmm. I would kill you now, but you deserve much worse than that. I don't have time to torment you as I'd like, so perhaps watching me destroy your camp will have to suffice for now."
Every molecule in my body fizzles and burns, as if his very presence and proximity is incinerating me slowly. He raises a hand and flicks me in the chest with a single finger. There's an explosive flash of light, and my vision becomes a blur as I'm blasted back through the air. My body hits a tree and I stop flying, violently tumbling to a stop.
My clothes sizzle, and there's a taste in my mouth reminiscent of gunpowder. Judging by that familiar searing throb, I've broken some ribs. How accustomed to that sensation I've become.
"Remember that you denied me, Annabeth Chase. I will raze this camp before your very eyes! And after all of your friends are gone, nobody will hear you scream when I rend the flesh from your bones and cast your soul into chaos. Nobody defies me!"
I drag myself to my feet again, but I feel like I'm watching the world end as Kronos twirls his Scythe and approaches the battle, the other Titans behind him. His old scythe was melted in Hestia's hearth, and this one looks different. It's made of a silvery green material, wickedly serrated.
Within minutes, the three Titans turn the tide of the battle completely. Sure, Hyperion is fearsome, and Iapetus's spear rarely misses, but Kronos? His body is a blur now, his scythe spinning around him like a massive sawblade.
We are forced to retreat by the sheer number of half bloods that are Incapacitated by the Titans in very little time.
"To the beach!" Percy yells.
We all sprint away, heading for the water. Glancing back, I can't help but feel sickened at how many we're leaving dead. Some sound like they're still dying...
When we hit the water, it's as if we're running on a solid surface. When the pursuing enemy tries to follow us, Percy's control does not extend to them and they just sink beneath the waves like normal.
Just looking around, I can tell we've lost a lot of soldiers between campers and the Legion. When we're a safe distance away, we slow to a walk, stumbling over waves that are solid underfoot.
We walk for about five miles until we find a small island surrounded by beach that gives way to grassy plains.
"Percy where are we?" I ask wearily, walking next to him as we step onto the beach.
"Connecticut. I think this is one of the Norwalk Islands."
"There's nobody here." I note. He nods, looking back to make sure the army makes it across Long Island Sound.
"There's a bunch of smaller, uninhabited islands surrounding the mainland. We should be safe to regroup here."
We set up and treat the wounds we can with the meager supply of medical kits from the Apollo campers. Those with scythe wounds fill the cool morning air with agonized moans.
"Did you see his new scythe?" Percy asks, "It's made of some sort of green crystal."
I nod dejectedly.
"The wounds are just like stygian iron wounds. Burning, smoking, some sort of magic." He continues.
I couldn't possibly care less about the Titan's new weapon. No, I'm thinking about our options here. The fact that the gods helped us with the giant war, yet refuse to help us now seems ridiculous. If I could just talk to them...
"Percy I need to send an Iris message. It's important." I say suddenly. He doesn't object, closing his eyes and raising the sea foam into a fine mist.
I toss a drachma in and close my eyes.
Fleecy, do me a solid. I think. Show me the Olympian throne room.
A series of pops, clicks, and rushing wind enters my mind.
I... Uh... I don't speak nebulae, Fleecy.
Oh! Right, Her voice answers. Look, I could connect you to the throne room, but the gods typically don't appreciate unannounced messages. She warns.
That's fine. As long as you won't be in danger, go ahead and connect me. It's urgent. I pray.
Alright. Thought I'd forewarn you.
The mist shimmers and the Olympians become visible. Only several gods sit, and Zeus is in a heated argument with Athena, who seems to be trying to reason with him.
Poseidon sees me first and starts to try and point out the message to Zeus, who seems frustrated with the argument. He whips around and snaps at Poseidon.
"Do not interru-" He sees the Iris message.
When his wrathful eyes meet mine, I have to avert my gaze because my entire body tingles and itches, as if his very anger is shocking me through the message.
"Annabeth. Exactly what business do you have sending this unsolicited message? See? This is what I was talking about, Athena. They-"
I speak quickly before he can talk himself into smiting me.
"Lord Zeus. Please forgive me but we are In grave danger, and so are you. All of you are."
" 'All of us.' Please do explain, girl."
"The Titans have overtaken camp," I begin, and he opens his mouth in mock surprise. Until I get to the part about Kronos, that is.
His eyes narrow in disbelief when I tell him the Titan lord is back.
"Lies. Would you presume to say as much to my face? He was dispersed into nothing."
Athena clears her throat and speaks up carefully, trying not to further anger him.
"Father, I was trying to tell you that I sensed-"
Zeus turns to her rapidly.
"Enough of that! I will hear no more of this nonsense."
When he raises a sparking hand to silence her, Athena flinches in a manner that would seem dramatic to anyone who didn't know Zeus. I don't appreciate seeing my mom flinch at this bully.
"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself. I'm looking at campers dying of scythe wounds!" I say angrily.
I was trying to control my tone, but his look tells me I've gone too far. I try to step back.
"This is no joke, my lord. I value my life too much to joke with gods." I add quickly.
He scoffs at that, but I don't get split by a lightning bolt, so I guess it worked.
"Hmm. I have received word that Atlas is no longer trapped at Mount Orthys, so it's not entirely impossible. Even so, we cannot interfere. It's a law we cannot break."
Judging by Athena's look of distaste, that's what they were arguing about. I decide to pitch my request.
"My lord, there's five Titans and a small army. Remember what happened last time you left us alone to defend?"
"We were battling Typhon!" He protests. I continue.
"You've already had to help us with the giants. After that, abiding by that arbitrary law is..." Retarded. I think, but I catch myself. "...Redundant."
He is silent for a while, mulling over my proposal.
"How is Atlas back? Who took the sky from him?" I ask Athena tentatively.
"An Eidolon possessed mortal took his burden. From there he was able to escape before the mortal died and the sky came down on the mountain. Mount Orthys is destroyed, but Atlas is free." She explains.
"I cannot just let them slaughter you all, I suppose." Zeus's tone suggests he wouldn't mind watching such a thing.
By now, all of the Olympians have joined and now watch with varying expressions.
"All in favor of interfering and engaging in battle?" Zeus reluctantly announces. All hands - excluding his own - raise to the air.
"Thank you, Lord Zeus." I say gratefully, swallowing my contempt. "How fast can you be here?" I ask.
"In about three seconds."
Just then, there's a flash of light behind me.
"One second." Hermes's voice corrects.
The other Olympians flash along behind him, each one ten foot tall and wearing full battle armor. All of the campers and legionaries promptly kneel, myself included.
As Apollo heals everyone he can, Ares slashes the air with his massive sword, miming various attacks. Percy is with his father, and Hera is talking to Zeus.
Of all the gods, only Zeus, Athena, Ares, Hermes, Apollo, Dionysus, Poseidon are suited up for combat.
As Athena approaches me, I try to suppress my contempt for the Olympians that grows daily. Now they interfere? After all that we've been through?
"You were very brave to try and reason with Zeus." Athena says, her eyes scanning mine. I peer around her look nervously at the king of the gods.
"Does he hit you?" I ask quietly, referencing Zeus. I half expect her to act defensive, but instead she just sighs.
"There are boundaries that - when crossed - punishment occurs, Annabeth. That's just how things are."
That's just how things are.
My vision begins to tunnel. My knees tremble. I stare blankly at the ground, trying to remember where I am, what I was doing.
Athena continues, but I'm not even paying attention anymore. I've fallen into a stupor in which my own mind antagonizes me. It happens at random.
No! I think, falling to my knees in front of Athena. You're not in the dark anymore! Snap out of it!
Athena pauses, looking at me concerningly. "Annabeth...?"
I was angry with the gods for standing idly while Korren tortured me for weeks on end, but now the full, cruel reality sets in. Perhaps seeing them now triggers it.
Inexplicable anguish builds in my chest and I fall to my side, my mind trying to pinpoint exactly what's hurting me.
What's wrong with me?
"Daughter... What's wrong?" Athena says softly, kneeling by my side and putting an arm around me as sobs start to escape me.
I appreciate the comforting arm, but I also want to fucking snap it. They watched it all happen. They watched me endure unimaginable pain, disgusting tortures that no person should ever have to feel, all because of some arbitrary law. That's horrible enough, but then they decide to break that law on a whim after a few minutes of discussion?
"What the hell were you waiting for?" I cry, sobbing on the ground now.
Everyone glances at my form, and Percy jogs to my side. He attempts to soothe me, but I'm locked in my own world, curled up on the sand crying as unexpected mental distress eats me alive from the inside out.
Sure, I was hurt that the gods didn't save us from captivity, but now that they swoop down from Olympus in mere seconds, it makes me feel as if there *was* help, it was just... Withheld.
Their "law" is a sick joke that is only applicable when it's convenient for the bastards. I was sliced... Burned... Shocked... Beaten bloody... Broken... Maimed... And they watched.
They sat and watched because it was convenient to abide by their pointless law.
They watched as Leo was speared through the neck. They watched as Jason and Piper were killed helplessly. Nothing happened when I screamed for them as Percy died in my arms. Then I was slaughtered in the mud like an animal, and not a single immortal finger was raised.
Now, for the sake of my camp, I must force myself to fight by their side, as if I owe any allegiance to them.
So I will.
I force myself to my feet slowly, and Mr. D studies me. He turns to Athena.
"They were interrogated for information, yes?"
She nods slowly, and I imagine she is the only one who understands my thoughts. Her face betrays deep sorrow, her eyes apologetic. Not that it matters, of course.
"I would imagine she is suffering from acute post traumatic-"
"I'm fine." I snap, wiping my eyes and avoiding everyone's gaze. I imagine it's not too convincing, considering I'm still trembling and tears still stream down my cheeks.
I make a quick getaway.
I'm sitting on a sand dune staring out across Long Island Sound when the army begins to cross the sound again, heading back towards camp, the gods leading the charge.
Yes, I will fight this war, with the hopes of surviving and returning to Rome with Percy. Then, I can cut off connection with these gods forever. We can live a marginally normal life, have kids, and live in peace - void of the suffering and calamity I've known all my life.
I pick up the pace, advancing with the army, motivated by the life in store for me.
This world will reduce me to a helpless victim no longer. I will win this war, and reap the benefits of a life without constant adversity and trial.
This war will set me free.