Percy POV
"Kill them?" Crystal gulped. Her coffee brown eyes durned grave. Gaea shot her an agitated look.
"Did I mumble?" Gaea sassed. Leo, Percy, and Nico were silent. The tension in the room was unbearable. Percy couldn't believe that two simple words could change their lives forever; kill them. Crystal's eyes were filled with fear.
"No." She confirmed quickly. "It's just; don't you think that that is a bit much?" She insisted. Gaea rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers. Instantly a large, hairy spider erupted from the ground. Crystal screamed and stumbled back. Gaea snapped her fingers again and a group of soldiers barged into the room. Three of them each held a boy, and two held Crystal by both arm. Their grip was tight and uncomfortable.
"Foolish girl. How on Earth are you a daughter of Athena?" Gaea expressed. Crystal looked down at her feet. How could Percy not have seen it sooner? The swirling grey in her eyes, her natural debate skills. "Now, follow your orders. Kill them," Gaea commanded. Crystal's eyes began to swell with tears. She nodded and pulled her sword.
"Great!" Nico whispered. "She can use a bow and arrow, a dagger, and now a sword?" The soldier shoved Nico harshly. The militaries released Crystal and she walked to the group. She lifted her sword. When it was in the perfect position to kill…she dropped it.
"No," she retaliated. Gaea sat up straighter.
"Excuse me?" Gaea retorted. Crystal turned to face her.
"No!" She screamed. "I won't be your puppet anymore! For the first time, I'm going to do what is right. And you can't do anything about it!" Gaea's eyes burned with rage.
"I should've killed you and your inane brother when I had the chance," Gaea uttered. Crystal stood straighter instantly.
"Leave my brother out of this! Justin had nothing to do with anything!" Crystal argued. Percy and Leo exchanged a nervous look at the name. They were both thinking the same thing. Just from Camp Jupiter? The one that almost hurt Piper? Crystal and Gaea looked at each other for a long time. The silence was like a crashing of drums. Finally Crystal broke the stare to pick up her sword. She charged toward Gaea. Gaea blocked it with a wall of rocks, and used her power to make Crystal fall to her knees. Percy wanted to help her, but he knew what he had to do first. He twisted out of the soldier's grip. He unleashed the Riptide and stabbed him in the stomach. The man fell to ashes instantly. Percy then realized that these men weren't people, they were monsters. Percy sliced the other two monsters restricting Leo and Nico. They all exchanged a look and knew what they had to do. Nico pulled his sword and slashed through the two monsters that held Crystal. Leo took out a hammer and nails and made sure that the door stayed shut. Percy ran to help Crystal. She was on her knees trying to get up. Crystal had no control of her body. Gaea had full power over her. It reminded Percy of Luke and Kronos.
"Let her go!" Percy ordered. Gaea looked up while still keeping Crystal on the ground. She was wailing in pain and agony. "I demand you to let her go!" Then, she controlled Crystal to pick up her fallen sword and stand. Crystal still had no power over herself. Her dark hair hung carelessly everywhere. She swung the sword. Her eyes widen with fear, but Gaea controlled her to do her every command. She and Percy began to duel. The sound of clashing swords filled the room. Nico was now helping Leo secure the door. Crystal kept swinging aimlessly. Tears were pouring down her face. Then she moved away from Percy…and towards Leo. "Leo watch out!" Percy warned. Leo turned and his eyes widened.
"Whoa!" He yelled. But it was too late. She was about to slice him when the sword stopped in midair. Her arm began to shake. Percy realized that she was fighting against Gaea. Tears were still streaming down her face. That when Percy understood that Crystal couldn't hurt Leo, because she loved him. Percy ran towards Crystal and snatched the sword from her hands. Gaea yelled with rage. Finally she stood. At first we stumbled, but slowly she found her balance. She started to walk to Percy. Her eyes possessed with anger and hate. When she reached Percy she pushed past him and continued walking…toward Crystal. Leo noticed it before Crystal did. "No!" He yelled. He got in front of her. She turned and her face didn't tense with fear, it stayed collected. Nico looked at Crystal for a moment and they exchanged a meaningful glance. He grabbed a hammer from the ground and began to unnail the door.
"Leave," She told the group. Then turned to Leo.
"No! Not without you!" Leo screamed. Crystal looked hurt and tired.
"Leo, this is my fate. I can't change it. I am the Mark of Athena. Please, Leo," Crystal explained. Then he grabbed her neck gently and kissed her. She kissed him back. Soft lips pressed together in harmony. When they pulled away they starred at each other for a moment. "I love you." Leo took a deep breath.
"I love you too." They smiled at each other. Then Crystal remembered the mission at hand.
"Go! I'll be fine. Trust me," She assured. Leo hesitantly nodded. He, Percy, and Nico ran out and slammed the door. When they were outside they heard a scream. Leo began to run back but Nico and Percy held him back. He fought against them, but they wouldn't let him go. Finally, Leo stopped struggling. He was holding back tears.
"The one girl who actually likes me…and now she's gone," Leo confided. "Let's just go," He demanded. He began to walk towards the exit. Nico and Percy exchanged a melancholy glance. Leo didn't look back. Not once. And to be honest, Percy didn't think any of them would. When something so pure and amazing get' snatched away, you don't want to remember it. Nico and Percy followed behind. Leo led the way the whole time. He knew exactly where to go. When they could finally see the exit, Nico was overcome with emotion.
"Stop!" He yelled. Leo turned and so did Percy. "Don't you trust her? She told you she would be fine," Nico accused. Leo's eyes turned angrier.
"Shut up! I want to trust her, I really do! It's just…the scream and the past…when they add up, the outcome is not good," Leo retorted. Nico's expression softened.
"I know what it is like to trust someone, and be let down," Percy looked down. He knew what Nico was talking about. He promised he would keep Bianca safe, but he failed. And Nico had to suffer. "Being son of Hades, I can feel when someone dies. I didn't feel her die. She is alive," Nico reassured. Leo looked down. He looked overwhelmed, like this was too much to take in at one time. He turned and continued walking to the door. Suddenly Leo abruptly stopped. He turned and starred into the distance. Then he ran. He ran back to Gaea temple. Percy and Nico exchanged a worried look and chased after him. "Leo!" Nico screamed after him.
"Leo, stop!" Percy commanded. But he didn't he continued to run and Nico and Percy continued to follow. They kept calling for him, but he wouldn't obey. Percy grabbed Nico's shoulder. "Were you for real, did she really not die?" Percy whispered. Nico just nodded.
"I honestly didn't feel it," Percy's eyes brightened a bit. Percy gave a small nod and continued to run after Leo. When they reached the temple Leo tried to open the door, but it was locked. Leo grunted. He kicked it and it fell straight down. "Damn!" Nico gasped. "Can he teach me how to do that?" Percy just followed into the building and Nico trailed behind. Leo stopped suddenly. He saw Crystal lying on the ground. His eyes blazed with rage. He ran and grabbed Nico's sword. He ran to Gaea, who was sitting on her throne. When he was about to hit her she made a wall of earth as a shield. He bounced off and flung to the floor next to Crystal.
"Leo…" She grunted. Leo looked at her in awe. He put his arm around her protectively.
"You're going to be okay. Trust me," Leo reassured. She nodded weakly. He turned to Gaea. "You're going to pay!" Leo yelled. Suddenly each demigod's arms were constricted by dirt cuffs. All weapons suddenly flew out of their reach and by Gaea throne. She grinned and snapped her fingers. A group of the armed monsters came in. They each grabbed one of the half-bloods. Crystal and Leo were yanked off the ground harshly.
"Take them away," Gaea ordered. All the men nodded simultaneously and dragged the prisoners out. They were thrown into an earth cage. They were all stuffed into one. The monsters locked the door and walked away. The group just sat in silence. They were all exhausted. All of a sudden a girl with choppy brown hair was added to the group.
"Piper?" Percy asked. The girl looked up revealing flawless skin and beautiful kaleidoscope eyes. That's when it hit Percy. Gaea plans to capture and imprison each destined demigod until it dwindles to just one…Annabeth.