Hey everyone!

First of all I would like to thank Sora Loves Rain for her continued support in all of my stories! I really appreciate it! Also thanks to everyone else who commented! I will be writing a christmas at camp half blood story, and Ill hopefully post it tonight! Watch out for it! Without further adue, here is part 2 of Hostage!

Percy

We could see the white flag from half a mile away. It was as big as a soccer field, carried by a thirty-foot-tall giant with bright blue skin and icy gray hair.

"A Hyperborean," Thalia said. "The giants of the north. It's a bad sign that they sided with Kronos. They're usually peaceful."

"You've met them?" I asked.

"Mmm. There's a big colony in Alberta. You do not want to get in a snowball fight with those guys."

As the giant got closer, I could see three human-size envoys with him: a half-blood in armour, an empousa demon with a black dress and flaming hair, and a tall man with a tuxedo. The empousa held the tux dude's arm, so they looked like a couple on their way to a Broadway show or something-except for her flaming hair and fangs.

The group walked leisurely toward the Heckscher Playground. The swings and ball courts were empty. The only sound was the fountain on Umpire Rock.

I looked at Grover. "The tux dude is the Titan?"

He nodded nervously. "He looks like a magician. I hate magicians. They usually have rabbits."

I stared at him. "You're scared of bunnies?"

"Blah-hah-hah! They're big bullies. Always stealing celery from defenseless satyrs!"

Thalia coughed.

"What?" Grover demanded.

"We'll have to work on your bunny phobia later," I said. "Here they come."

The man in the tux stepped forward. He was taller than an average human-about seven feet. His black hair was tied in a ponytail. Dark round glasses covered his eyes, but what really caught my attention was the skin on his face. It was covered in scratches, like he'd been attacked by a small animal-a really, really angry hamster, maybe.

"Percy Jackson," he said in a silky voice. "It's a great honor."

His lady friend the empousa hissed at me. She'd probably heard how I'd destroyed two of her sisters last summer.

"My dear," Tux Dude said to her. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable over there, eh?"

She released his arm and drifted over to a park bench.

I glanced back at the armed demigod behind Tux Dude. I hadn't recognized him in his new helmet, but it was my old backstabbing buddy Ethan Nakamura. His nose looked like a squashed tomato from our fight on the Williamsburg Bridge. That made me feel better.

"Hey Ethan," I said. "You're looking good."

Ethan glared at me.

"To business." Tux Dude extended his hand. "I am Prometheus."

I was too surprised to shake. "The fire-stealer guy? The chained to-the-rock-with-the-vultures guy?"

Prometheus winced. He touched the scratches on his face. "Please, don't mention the vultures. But yes, I stole fire from the gods and gave it to your ancestors. In return, the ever merciful Zeus had me chained to a rock and tortured for all eternity."

"But-"

"How did I get free? Hercules did that, eons ago. So you see, I have a soft spot for heroes. Some of you can be quite civilized."

"Unlike the company you keep," I noticed.

I was looking at Ethan, but Prometheus apparently thought I meant the empousa.

"Oh, demons aren't so bad," he said. "You just have to keep them well fed. Now, Percy Jackson, let us parley."

He waved me toward a picnic table and we sat down. Thalia and Grover stood behind me.

The blue giant propped his white flag against a tree and began absently playing on the playground. He stepped on the monkey bars and crunched them, but he didn't seem angry. He just frowned and said "Uh-oh." Then he stepped in the fountain and broke the concrete bowl in half. ""Uh-oh." The water froze where his foot had touched it. A bunch of stuffed animals hung from his belt-the huge kind you get for grand prizes at an arcade. He reminded me of Tyson, and the idea of fighting him made me sad.

Prometheus sat forward and laced his fingers. He looked earnest, kindly, and wise. "Percy, your position is weak. You know you can't stop another assault."

"We'll see."

Prometheus looked pained, like he really cared what happened to me. "Percy, I'm the Titan of forethought. I know what's going to happen."

"Also the Titan of crafty counsel," Grover put in. "Emphasis on crafty."

Prometheus shrugged. "True enough, satyr. But I supported the gods in the last war. I told Kronos: "You don't have the strength. You'll lose. And I was right. So as you see, I know how to pick the winning side. This time, I'm backing Kronos."

"Because Zeus chained you to a rock," I guessed.

"Partly, yes. I won't deny I want revenge. But that's not the only reason I'm supporting Kronos. It's the wisest choice. I'm here because I thought you might listen to reason."

He drew a map on the table with his finger. Wherever he touched, golden lines appeared, glowing on the concrete. "This is Manhattan. We have our armies here, here, here, and here. We know your numbers. We outnumber you twenty to one."

"Your spy has been keeping you posted," I guessed.

Prometheus smiled apologetically. "At any rate, our forces are growing daily. Tonight, Kronos will attack. You will be overwhelmed. You've fought bravely, but there's just no way you can hold all of Manhattan. "At any rate, our forces are growing daily. Tonight, Kronos will attack. You will be overwhelmed. You've fought bravely, but there's just no way you can hold all of Manhattan. You'll be forced to retreat to the Empire State Building. There you'll be destroyed. I have seen this. It will happen."

I didn't know what to say. He said it with such certainty that it was hard not to believe him.

"I won't let it happen," I said.

Prometheus brushed a speck off his tux lapel. "Understand, Percy. You are refighting the Trojan War here. Patterns repeat themselves in history. They reappear just as monsters do. A great siege. Two armies. The only difference is, this time you are defending. You are Troy. And you know what happened to the Trojans, don't you?"

"So you're going to cram a wooden horse into the elevator of the Empire State Building?" I asked. "Good luck."

Prometheus smiled. "Troy was completely destroyed, Percy. You don't want that to happen here. Stand down, and New York will be spared. Your forces will be granted amnesty. I will personally assure your safety. Let Kronos take Olympus. Who cares? Typhon will destroy the gods anyway."

"Right," I said. "And I'm supposed to belief Kronos would spare the city."

"All he wants is Olympus," Prometheus promised. "The might of the gods is tied to their seats of power. You saw what happened to Poseidon when his undersea palace was attacked."

I winced, remembering how old and decrepit my father looked.

"Yes," Prometheus said sadly. I know it was hard for you. When Kronos destroys Olympus, the gods will fade. They will become weak, and will be easily defeated. Kronos would rather do this while Typhon has the Olympians distracted in the west. Much easier. Fewer lives lost. But make no mistake, the best you can do is slow us down. He day after tomorrow, Typhon arrives in New York, and you will have no chance at all. The gods and Mount Olympus will still be destroyed, but it will be much messier. Much, much worse for you and your city. Either way, the Titans will rule."

Thalia pounded her fist on the table. "I serve Artemis. The Hunters will fight to our last breath. Percy, you're not seriously going to listen to this slime ball, are you?

I figured Prometheus was going to blast her, but he just smiled. "Your courage does you credit, Thalia Grace."

Thalia stiffened. "That's my mother's surname. I don't use it."

"As you wish," Prometheus said casually, I could tell Thalia had gotten under his skin. "Anyway, Percy if you change your mind. Here."

Prometheus gave me a jar. "This is Pandora's Pitho's. In it is a spirit."

"Hope," I immediately said.

"Very good, Elpis the spirit of Hope." Prometheus said. "If you decide to surrender later on, open the pithos and give up hope. I will convince Kronos to spare Manhattan."

I stared at the jar in distaste. "Take it back." I demanded.

"Too late, it cannot be given back." He said, as he stood up, and the empousa slipped her arm through his. "If you do not surrender, I'm afraid the girl won't be spared." And with that the group disappeared, leaving me with the jar.

Kronos

I paced the room. Jackson and girl had known each other since they were 12. That was about all I could get out of my spy. I decided to pay the girl another visit.

She was sleeping on the ground. I decided to have a little fun with her, so I traced my scythe along the brick, which made a screeching noise. The girl shot straight up, and immediately went into attack mode. When she realized it was me, she dropped her stance, but only a little bit.

"What do you want now?" she demanded.

"To see you, why else?" I said.

I started to step forward. She looked around trying to find a way out.

"Stay away from me!" she screamed.

My plan was working. I smiled victoriously and advanced.

I pressed her up against the wall again, and whispered in her ear.

"I know your little secret."

Annabeth

"What secret?" I asked innocently.

"That you had a crush on Castellan, and now Jackson." He replied, smiling cruelly.

"Gee is it that obvious?" I smirked.

Kronos pushed me up against the wall further and leaned in. I tried to slap him, but my hands were glued to my sides, and he KISSED me!

I eventually got myself untangled from him, taking my knife that was on his belt with me. Kronos spun around and laughed.

"Really girl?" he chuckled. "A knife against the lord of time?"

"It's Annabeth," I sneered at him.

"Annabeth, then. Your life has been pretty cruel hasn't it?" He chuckled some more.

While Kronos was in his fit of giggling, I raced out of the open door. I think he realized I'd escaped because I suddenly had guards gaining on me. I ran past some statues, knocking them over in the process. The stupid guards just jumped over them, and I was surrounded into a corner. There was no way out.

Cliffhanger! I know what your thinking...Kronos is such a creep! If you have read this chapter pretty please comment on it! I love hearing your responses! Ill post part 3 tomorrow!