Hey readers!
Reallly srry for not posting for such a long time :(
Srry *sheepish grin*
but...hope you like the new chapter!
we're reaching our climatic point
and a happy new year!

Chapter 18: Daughter of Sea and Stone

Hector POV

Awkwardly, I gripped Percy's hand, as he led us through the fog. I spotted a glimpse of Annabeth leading Queena through, before the thick curtain of mist obscured my sigh. Hard rock beneath my feet turned to soft grass as the air gradually cleared. A brilliant garden met my eyes and I stood swaying for a moment, dizzy from the sudden return of my sight. I put my hand above my eyes, squinting against the blinding red sun. Sunset blazed across the skies.

"It's just like it was last time," Percy muttered.

The garden was beautiful and surreal. The luminous flowers reflected the unreal crimson light of the sunset. A towering apple tree drooped with the boughs of glittering golden apples. The apples of immortality. I could catch the faint perfume of the godly fruit with the thick mint of eucalyptus. The bright sun cast lengthening shadows across the glowing garden.

The beauty of the clearing couldn't hide the fact that there was a huge dragon wrapped around the tree. Ladon.

Despite all the reading I had done before on Ladon, I still stepped back when I saw him. His copper scales glinted with a wicked sharpness. All hundred heads lifted slightly with the deep breathing of sleep.

"That's a big dragon," Queena said, her voice tinged with awe.

"Yup," Sherman, a scrawny satyr, said intelligently.

"Now can we sacrifice Percy?" Queena said.

"No!" I said. I turned to Percy. "Will the Hesperides let us through?"

"They're not dangerous," he said, waving his hand. His voice sounded a bit uncertain, but then he shook his head. "Don't worry about them; we got a dragon the size of a rocket in front of us."

The dragon was still sleeping but I doubted we could tip toe past it. I had a vague thought that he knew we were there right now. I rubbed my nose. Hopefully my plan would work…
As quick as a trick of an eye, light seemed to bend. The Hesperides materialized from the shadows and studied us scornfully, their arms crossed. One said, "It's Perseus Jackson again."

Another sighed and then said, "Let's leave."

They nodded and turned around, melting into the shadows.

"Uh…" Nicholas said, pretty much summarizing everybody's reaction.

"Well, we got one thing out of the way," Annabeth commented.

I gazed at the enormous dragon and his bright gleaming teeth. Would the plan really work?

"Wide," Annabeth said quietly.

Queena, Nicholas, Sherman, Felix, and I moved behind the orchard of trees lining the path left of the garden. The dragon stirred. Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, Grover, and Tria began to move to the right. A few of Ladon's heads stretched.

"Hurry," I hissed, pushing them forwards.

Three head raised, their golden eyes blinking now. I brought my hand to my forehead. The satyrs, Sherman, Felix, and Grover, lifted their reed pipes and played an eerie tune that somehow seemed desperate.

Queena and Nicholas broke off into a sprint as Ladon finally roused. He roared, thrashing, as the vines twisted to the melodies of the music. The thick vines lashed against Ladon, holding him down. On the other side of the meadow, I watched Annabeth shove Percy forward. Sherman and Felix stumbled forward, struggling to play their pipes and run at the same time. I headed after them, doing my best not to panic. Now awake, Ladon seemed monstrous. His eyes flashed with golden fury and a hundred heads gnashed their deadly teeth together. Ladon roared a blood-curdling cry. My eyes stung from his venomous breath.

A few trees flew by as I ran. The vines quivered, holding down the struggling beast. Mount Tam grew larger. A few vines snapped.

"It's not enough," I whispered.

I glanced up. Queena and Nicholas had already made their way to the stone path of the mountain. Sherman and Felix's run, however, had slowed and their reed pipes song quavered. I looked across the meadow. Tyson had slung Grover over his shoulders and were right behind Queena and Nicholas. Percy and Annabeth were close behind. Tria was trailing behind, and looking back at us. I wanted to scream at her to run, but I was afraid to attract Ladon's attention. I realized that it was getting hard to breathe. Each breath was becoming shorter and more ragged. I quickly identified the source. Fear.

Suddenly, there was a sickening snap. I looked back in horror to see Ladon fling himself from his bonds. All hundred heads swung towards us. I drew my sword, vaguely realizing my hands were shaking. Sherman dropped his reed pipes in panic. He began to pick them up.

"Don't worry about them!" I shouted. "Run!"

Without a second thought, he turned and fled. I pulled an explosive out of my pocket and activated the impact reaction. I realized Felix was still standing besides me.

"What are you-?" I began.

I stuttered to a stop as he undid his club's bindings.

"Byron is still out there fighting," Felix said, almost listlessly. "The least I can do is fend Ladon off until…"

"No," I said. "This was my plan. If it fails, it's my fault…"

"How selfish are you?" Felix interrupted. "We all agreed on it. Agreed to risk our lives. I'm wasting my time arguing."

I almost my mouth to, well, argue, when he ran away. Towards Ladon.

"Felix!" I shouted.

A Huntress had fallen to Ladon's teeth a few years back, there was no way Felix could survive. I sprinted after him. My feet beat against the soft grass and my grip tightened around my sword. The sour smell in the air intensified. I pulled my shirt up around my mouth and nose. Felix swung his club, knocking one of Ladon's heads aside. Another head knocked him to the ground. Five heads swung in. I rushed in and yanked Felix out of the way. Ladon turned toward me, snarling and hissing. I brought my sword up in an upward arc and rapped a head aside. I slid an explosive disk underneath Ladon's feet and rushed away. Felix stumbled to his feet and followed me. I plugged my ears as the jarring explosion shook the ground.

It's not enough, my thoughts echoed in my mind.

It has to be! It will be! I shoved the negative thoughts aside.

Just to the mountain path. If we got far enough, Ladon wouldn't follow. I panted, unable to think of anything except for escape. A sharp cry shattered my thoughts. I spun around. Felix was on the ground and Ladon's hundred heads reeled in anger above him. He was unharmed and even angrier. In a split second decision, I threw my sword forwards. It spun and knocked a few heads aside, but I knew it wasn't enough. I was now unarmed. Felix flung himself to the side as Ladon lunged. The satyr cried out and curled over.

"Ladon!" a female voice called.

Confusion flooded me. The figure had flowing black hair and caramel skin. Her hair seemed to be fluttering in the breeze. There was no wind, though. Was she a Hesperide? They seemed hostile enough to me; I didn't think they would try helping. No! The person was Tria! What was she doing? Ladon spun around, his muscles coiled for another attack. I rushed forward, not knowing how I would help. Then, I stopped in the middle of my tracks. Ladon froze in the middle of his attack. I stumbled backwards as frost spread across Ladon's copper scales. Soon, Ladon was an ice statue. His eyes were frozen silver orbs.

Percy rushed towards Tria. He came in a few feet to her before stopping abruptly. I hurried towards them. Annabeth came up besides him and gasped.

"Tria, wha-?" I heard Percy say.

I came closer and realized her hair was moving. Coiling and squirming in the air. Then, I realized why.

They were a bed of ebony snakes.

"Medusa?" Annabeth whispered.

Tria shook her head in denial. She was trembling and crying, covering her face with her hands. Tears dripped from her hands, but landed on the grass with solid impact. Carefully, I ventured forward and picked up one. It was cold. Ice.

Thoughts raced through my mind.

The frozen tear sparkled in my hand. Shaken, I dropped it.

Ice. Solid water. Water and stone.

A mural of Poseidon riding the waves flashed in my memory.

Water. Poseidon. Stone. Medusa.

I suddenly remembered Thalia's shield. The image of the terrifying Gorgon engraved into it. Her serpent hair.

The first monster is the leader, Proteus. He is the son of Poseidon and Medusa, Athena's voice echoed in my mind.

A sentence from my memory roared full force. I pieced together the final bit of the puzzle.

Queena's words pounded in my head.

And he…he had a sister.

Well! Hope you liked it!
and I wish you guys a happy new year!