Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Champion of Olympus: Child of the First One

Chapter 14: The Plan

Third Person POV

Manhattan, NY

Two demigods ran through the dark alleys of the city. They kept looking behind them like something was following them. Shadows moved behind them as the sound of footfalls echoed from blocks away. The two young demigods ran across an empty street and stopped under a street light behind a large white van.

The oldest of the two boys looked around nervously. "Do you hear them?" the oldest boy asked.

"Will, I don't see them, but something is wrong, I can feel it," the younger boy said.

"Don't worry Austin, we can out run them," Will reassured.

Austin was breathing heavily as he held his left leg. "My leg, it hurts," Austin complained.

"Let me see," Will said as he bent down to look at his brother's leg. The street light gave just enough light to illuminate his brother's leg. Blood was running down Austin's thigh just above his knee. A long gash ran across his leg. It looked like he had been slashed by an animal claw. Will tore off a part of his shirt and tied it around his brother's leg. "That should stop the bleeding. We need to get back to base and get you fixed up."

"Okay, I don't know how fast I can run with this leg," Austin conceded.

A growl from the alley broke the two demigods away from their conversation.

"What was that?" Will asked.

"I… I think… they found us," Austin said, his voice filled with fear.

Will looked around frantically at their surroundings. "We need to get off the street," he said.

Austin looked up to see a metal fire escape. "We can go up there," Austin said.

"Good thinking." Will pulled on the metal ladder before it slid down to the ground. The sound of the metal echoed down the street. "You go first."

Austin looked up at the ladder and frowned; his leg throbbed with pain. "You better go first; I'm going to need you to help me up," Austin said.

Will stared at his little brother. He was about to protest when he heard several growls from the alley. He climbed up the ladder quickly. He made it to the first level of the fire escape, and then looked down for his brother. "Come on up," Will said.

Austin grabbed the sides of the ladder and began to climb slowly. His body shook as the pain surged through his injured leg. Another growl rang out from the alley.

Will looked down the alley. He could see several shapes jump out of the alley. The creatures were dressed in hospital gowns and some were completely naked. Their skin was so dark that it looked navy blue in color. Some of the creatures had blonde hair and others brown or black. Their white teeth shined as they ran across the street. However, their teeth were jagged like the teeth of a piranha. Time seemed to slow as Will watched the creatures run towards them. Will froze as he looked at them. The creatures were horrible, but their blood red eyes were the worst. They seemed to burn with evil.

Will looked down at his younger brother as he struggled to climb up the ladder with his injured leg. "Austin, you have to hurry," Will yelled.

Austin tried to climb, but his leg wouldn't cooperate. "I can't," Austin said. Will climbed down and reached for his brother's hand. Austin grabbed his hand tightly. Will began to pull him up when his brother screamed in agony. Will looked down and saw that one of the creatures had his brother's leg. "Help me." Will pulled harder. Austin screamed louder as another creature bit into his ankle. More creatures grabbed onto his brother. Austin was pulled out his grip. Will screamed his brother's name. He looked down and the sight made him sick to his stomach. Austin screamed in agony as the creatures ripped him to pieces.

Will finally shook his head to clear the horror of the sight from his mind. He ran up the stairs of the fire escape. He reached the roof top and instinctively he closed the metal grate that sealed the top of the fire escape. He looked around for something to block the grate from opening. There were buckets of tar on top of the roof that were used for repairs. He placed all the buckets he could find on top of the grate. He jumped back as one of the creatures roared as it pushed on the metal grate. Will jumped back on top of the roof. He turned and ran to the edge. He jumped across the roof to the next building landing on his side. He felt two of his ribs break and scratches burned across his skin where he skidded across the roof. He sat on the ground as the pain surged through his side. The tears finally came as he remembered the horrible look in his brother's eyes as the creatures ripped him away.

An hour later…

Travis and Connor Stoll were on scout duty only four blocks from the Empire State Building. They exited a local drug store that had been closed after the evacuation of the island.

"You know, if Annabeth or Thalia find out about this we're dead," Connor said.

"You worry too much. They won't find out, besides it was just a few candy bars, no big deal," Travis said.

"Okay, but I'm blaming it all on you, if we get caught," Connor said. Travis rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Suddenly, they heard someone running towards them. They took out their celestial bronze swords and readied themselves for an attack. They sighed when they saw Will Solace run out of the shadows.

Connor grabbed Will before he could fall to the ground. The two sons of Hermes looked over their friend. Will was covered in bruises and cuts.

"What happened?" Connor asked.

"Austin and I were on scout duty about three blocks from here. These things came out of the shadows and attacked us," Will explained.

"Where's Austin?" Travis asked worriedly.

Will looked down sadly as a few tears leaked from his eyes. "They got him. We tried to fight them, but our swords passed right through their bodies," Will said.

Travis grabbed Will roughly by the shoulders. "Where's your brother?" Travis yelled snapping Will out of his daze.

The tears flowed freely from Will's eyes now. "They… they killed him. It was horrible. I couldn't save him," Will said as he placed his head in his hands and began to sob loudly.

Connor and Travis looked at each other and frowned. They couldn't stand to see their usually cheerful friend, so broken. "Come on, we need to get him back to base," Travis said.

"What about the things that attacked him?" Connor asked.

"We let Annabeth and the others know, but we need to get him to safety. Those things are probably following him," Travis said. The brothers both helped carry Will toward the Empire State Building. As they walked they heard strange noise in the distance. It sounded like a mix of growling and waling. It was a sound that the demigods would be hearing more of over the next several hours. The Draugr were on their way and nothing would stop them from their goal; to destroy and consume.

Mount Olympus

Annabeth and Thalia stood in front of the elevators that would take them down to the lobby of the Empire State Building. At the moment, the two demigods were going over the blue prints of the skyscraper.

"The lobby is the only large open room. We can fight close quarters there," Annabeth said as she pointed to the lobby on the blue prints.

"The second floor mezzanine looks over the lobby. That would be a good place to setup our archers. Zoe and the Hunters along with the Apollo cabins," Thalia said. Thalia looked at her best friend worriedly. "What if they get passed us?"

Annabeth shook her head. She knew that there was little they could do then. "We need to setup offensive positions from the second through the fourth floor windows. We setup archers there. That's where the Hunters and the Apollo cabin should be. They're the best. If they get passed them, then it will be closer range archery and we can have the other campers do that," Annabeth explained.

Thalia nodded. "You didn't answer my question," Thalia said.

Annabeth sighed. "We'll have to blow the elevators," Annabeth said. Thalia stared at her friend in shock.

"How?" Thalia asked.

"Greek Fire," Annabeth said. A broad smile crossed Thalia's face. "I had Beckendorf and Jake Mason bring as much as their cabin could carry."

"Well, aren't you full of surprises, Wise Girl," Thalia said. Annabeth smiled at Percy's nickname for her.

Suddenly, the doors to the elevator opened revealing the two dwarves, Brokkr and Sindri. The two hurried to meet Annabeth and Thalia.

"My ladies," Brokkr and Sindri said as they bowed to the two demigods.

"There is no need to bow to us," Thalia said.

"The sister of our master and the beloved of our master must be respected," Brokkr said.

Annabeth blushed at the dwarf's words. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"We're helping the demigods with their weapons," Sindri explained. "We have enough steel weapons to fight the Draugr."

"Good, so do you need us for something?" Annabeth asked.

"My brother and I know of the Draugr," Brokkr said. Annabeth and Thalia gave him looks that urged him to continue. "They will search out the living and devour them."

"They eat them?" Thalia asked disgustedly.

"The flesh of the living give them strength. They need it to survive," Sindri explained.

"If we cut-off their ability to feed, will that destroy them?" Annabeth asked.

Brokkr and Sindri looked at each other; it was clear that a silent conversation was going on between them. "It is possible, but unlikely," Brokkr said.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.

"They will seek out the living. The powerful scent of the children of the gods will be a magnet for their appetite. They will come here to kill all of you," Brokkr said.

"Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine," Thalia quipped. Brokkr frowned.

"We're only trying to warn you daughter of Zeus. The Draugr are not to be underestimated. Loki picked his weapon well," Sindri said.

Annabeth gave Thalia a withering glare. "I assure you that Thalia didn't mean to insult you Brokkr. She has a tendency to be a little sarcastic, at times," Annabeth said.

Brokkr laughed. "Very much like the master, I guess she really is our Master's sister," he commented.

Thalia smirked. "Not by blood, but many people say we act alike, but I don't see it," Thalia said.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Then, you're a bigger seaweed brain, than the Seaweed Brain," Annabeth retorted. Thalia huffed, but didn't say anything else.

Suddenly, the elevator doors opened. Connor Stoll ran off the elevator. When he saw Annabeth he ran toward her.

"What is it Connor?" Annabeth asked with concern evident in her voice.

"Will and Austin were attacked by some kind of monsters," Connor said.

"Where are they?" Thalia asked.

"Will is down stairs with Travis," Connor said.

Annabeth's eyes narrowed. "Where's Austin?" she asked.

Connor looked down at the ground sadly. "He didn't make it," Travis said.

"It is done. They've tasted the flesh of a demigod. They will be here soon," Brokkr said.

Connor looked at the dwarf curiously. "Who'll be here?" he asked.

"Connor, go down stairs and find Jason, tell him that the enemy is coming. We need to set our plan in motion," Annabeth ordered.

"What enemy? What're you talking about?" Connor asked worriedly. Thalia grabbed the son of Hermes by the arm roughly. "Hey, that hurts."

"Shut your trap. Those things that attacked Will, they're coming here next," Thalia yelled

Connor's eyes grew twice their normal size. "What do we do?" he asked.

"Go with Thalia; she knows the plan," Annabeth said.

Thalia looked at her friend worriedly. "What're you going to do?" Thalia asked.

Annabeth held out a black remote control with a bright red button in the center. "I have someone to talk to before I come down," Annabeth said. The daughter of Athena turned to Brokkr and Sindri. "Go with them." The two dwarves nodded before following Thalia and Connor into the elevator. Annabeth gave them one last look before she walked into the Olympian throne room.

When she walked through the doors of the throne room she saw a twelve year old girl in a mousy brown robe. The girl's eyes were two balls of fire. Annabeth walked over to the girl and bowed before the goddess of the hearth.

"Lady Hestia," Annabeth greeted.

"Yes, my child," Hestia said.

"The Draugr are near; we are prepared as best we can to fight them," Annabeth informed.

"I know child; I have watched you and your fellow heroes," Hestia said.

"Then you know of my backup plan?" Annabeth asked.

Hestia looked into the hearth; the flames grew to twice their normal size. "Yes, you would cut-off Olympus from the mortal world," Hestia said.

Annabeth looked down at the marble floor at her feet. "If we fail, Loki will destroy the world," Annabeth explained.

"I know, but to cut-off the gods from the mortal world would destroy the gods," Hestia said.

Annabeth frowned, but she knew the consequences. "I know, but at least the world would survive," Annabeth defended.

"I'm not judging you my dear. I'm only pointing out the consequences," Hestia explained.

"I wish there was another way," Annabeth said.

"I know you do child, but have faith, my family will be here soon. You're plan will not be needed," Hestia said. Annabeth smiled at the information.

Annabeth stepped toward the goddess and held out the remote control. "I hope that's true, but if not you will have to set off the explosives," Annabeth said.

Hestia stared at the remote control like the device would explode on its own. "You ask a great deal of me," Hestia said.

"You are the last Olympian. My mother taught me much about the gods and you, my lady," Annabeth explained.

"Your mother loves you very much. You make her incredibly proud. It has been many centuries since she has been this proud of one of her children," Hestia explained. Annabeth blushed.

"I'm sorry that you have to be the one to decide," Annabeth said.

Hestia smiled, but it was a sad smile. "I'm always the one to keep the family together, to keep the peace. I do not fight, but I will defend my home," Hestia said as she took the remote control from the demigod before her. "Now go my dear, implement your plan. I pray to Chaos himself that it will succeed." Annabeth nodded before running out of the throne room. Hestia looked at the remote control warily. "I await you Champion of Olympus. Do not allow our family and home to die."

AN: I hope the description of the Draugr was unique enough. Stay tuned for a very different Battle of Manhattan.