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Chapter 10: Eternal Rest
The lion ran towards Zoe, and she shot an arrow at the angry animal. It bounced off of its fur and it roared, lunging for Zoe.
She rolled away quickly, and Bianca ran to the lion, and shoved her dagger into its neck.
"Big mistake, Bi," I spat, and the lion tackled Bianca, holding her under his claws.
She cried out as the lion leeringly peered over her, and opened its mouth to-
WOOSH! Snacks flew over to the lion, whacking it on the head and body. Phoebe, Zoe and Nico darted around to make continuous aims.
The lion roared angrily, and got off of Bianca. Looking traumatized, Bianca fixed her eyes on me and ran to me.
I sighed in annoyance and rolled my eyes. Bianca looked enraged.
"How could you?" she hissed, venom dripping from her voice.
"Do we have to talk about this again?" I demanded angrily, jabbing my sword at her. She sidestepped and we began to duel.
"Yes!" Bianca cried, and she faked a right and lunged left.
With the butt of my sword, and I hit her head and she fell to the ground like a rag doll. Vines wrapped around her and she was lifted up, slowly being brought to Grover.
"Stupid satyr," I mumbled, and cut and vines and pulled Bianca to me. Insistently, thicker vines pulled out and grabbed Bianca, and I stabbed her shoulder before letting the vines take her.
"THEE DARE?" Zoe bellowed, and she ran to me with wicked speed. "Phoebe, Nico, stay back! Distract the lion!"
"Dare what?" I retorted. "Mess with a girl? Because you guys are, oh so worthy?"
"Immbecile!" Zoe cried, and shot arrows at me.
I deflected them, but one pierced my chest. Groaning, I pulled it out as blood spurted out of the wound.
A loud roar caught my attention. I turned around and saw the lion sinking to its knees with something in its mouth.
"Power of astronaut food," Bianca said proudly, and I growled, lunging at her. I totally let my guard down. She screamed and fell as we tumbled down.
I raised Hellfire, and she squeaked, terror visible in her eyes. Something in my heart froze.
She was afraid. Afraid. Of me. She thought I would kill her. But I would never. Never in a million years, even if she had betrayed me.
Do it Jackson! Kronos hissed in my head. Do it now, before it's too late!
I raised my sword before pain erupted in my head. I fell backwards, and I saw Zoe's angry glare at me. She had hit me with something hard, and probably with what she was holding, it was a golf club.
"I told you I would end you, Perseus," Zoe snarled, and aimed an arrow at my throat. She pulled it to the tighest string.
They would kill me. I would die.
"Stop!" Bianca cried, and Zoe stared at her in disbelief.
"What?! Bianca, we need to kill him." Zoe said sternly.
"I know...but please," Bianca muttered.
I stared at her hazily, her eyes were a shade a hazel, but she broke my heart. Was that even considered breaking my heart?
"He's the enemy!" Zoe exclaimed.
"He'll be killed sooner or later," Bianca reasoned. "The fates will allow his death."
"Only if you knew," I said internally.
Zoe stared at Bianca before relenting with a angry sigh. She stormed off.
"Just because she wanted to spare thee, doesn't mean we will be as lenient next time," Zoe growled, "Get out my sight." Zoe stormed off.
I got up angrily and stared at Bianca. "Just because you spared my life, doesn't mean I'll forgive you. Ever. I've had enough people betray me. Although I can apologize for not coming to help you and Nico. It was a stupid and unforgivable mistake on my part."
I stormed out and made my way back to the museum as I punched in the secret code for the entrance. The door wooshed open as all talking ceased and eyes trained on me.
"How did it go?" Atlas asked standing upright.
"Their numbers were too many," I replied, "They found the lion's weakness and finished him off. I was almost killed, but Bianca spared my life."
Atlas just stared at me.
"So you're telling me that they're all alive," he said patiently, "You didn't manage to wound any of them and they are off to save Artemis."
"Well I managed to stab Bianca in the shoulder," I replied, wincing. Although I was now a cold blooded warrior, the thought of me hurting Bianca still brought some kind of pain to me.
"I wouldn't call this attempt a total loss though," Luke told Atlas, "We managed to slow them down and know their position."
"Bah," Atlas hissed in response, "They are most likely headed to Gila Claw, Arizona, where Hephaestus' junkyard is located. By luck, they will awaken the beast that will tear them apart."
From the moment he said that, I felt my gut tighten.
"We need to head there also," I told everyone.
"Why do you say that?" Atlas asked.
"I have a plan," I replied in response, "We split into two groups. One goes to where Artemis is being held while the other group follows me to Arizona. I-I think I know how to lure Bianca to me. When she comes to me, I will kill her. With Bianca gone, I will have no problem killing the rest of the people there."
Atlas considered this. "Not bad, Perseus. But don't hesitate that time."
"I won't," I said curtly.
"Alright then," Luke said, clapping his hands, "Percy, since you gave us this idea, why don't you call out who will go to Arizona with you."
"Willow. Definetely," I said.
Willow blinked, as if she had never been much in the team.
"I'll go," Willow nodded, and I flashed her a dry smile and turned back to the group.
"I need her to take care of the stupid satyr. And Thalia."
Luke nodded curtly. "Atlas, Bob, and I will go to Mt. Othrys."
"Then it's settled," Atlas clapped. "Kelli, prepare the pegasi for Percy. Make sure they're well fed and can go on nonstop."
Kelli smiled flirtatiously at Luke and sashayed to a pair of pegasi in the corner. They knickered nervously and I could hear on black one's thoughts.
Scared. Mistreatment. Green. Black. Orange shirt. Sword. Bad sword. Sugarcubes.
"They're all rested up, so they can leave any time," Kelli said, still staring at Luke.
"Good. Take off now and good luck to you," Atlas told us as he gave us a nod.
"They're coming for us!" the black one whinnied in shock.
"I'm scared," the white horse nickered.
"Now now Guido, that guy with black hair doesn't seem so bad," Blackjack said.
I was stunned. How could I hear them?
"Uh so how are you?" I asked the pegasus as he whinnied in shock.
"Wow, you could talk to me?" the black one asked, "Are you Poseidon's kid?"
"Yeah, I actually am," I replied.
"Cool! What's up boss? Got any sugar cubes?" the black one asked.
"I don't have any sugar cubes. What's your name?" I said.
"I'm Blackjack boss. Then, do you have any donuts? I love donuts and sugar cubes," Blackjack answered.
"Sugarcubes," Guido said dreamily, "A horse's favorite food."
"Does anyone have any sugarcubes?" I asked as everyone besides the pegasi looked at me wierdly.
"What? Why would you ask about sugar cubes?" Luke replied.
"Theses pegasi crave sugar cubes," I said, "They want sugar cubes."
"Bah!" Atlas told us, "Go."
I mounted on BlackJack as Willow and Thalia were deciding who to ride.
"Who do you guys want?" I asked Guido and the other pegasus.
"Give me the girl that smells suspiciously like tomatoes and plants," Guido told me as the other pegasus snorted.
"Willow, that white horse wants you to ride him," I told Willow as she stared at me.
"Ok..." she awkwardly trailed off as she mounted Guido.
Thalia sighed and got on the other pegasus as we flew trotted out of the Museum.
"Destination, Gila Claw, Arizona," I ordered the pegasi as they snorted.
"Sure thing boss," Blackjack replied as we flew off into the sky.
"Why did you warm up to me so quickly?" I asked them.
"Any children of the sea god are friends of us," Blackjack said.
I nodded and stood silent. Tall buildings flew past by us as I looked at Willow and Thalia. Willow was calmly staring ahead, possibly thinking about how life is turning out for her. Thalia shut her eyes tightly as if she were scared of something.
"You okay there Thalia?" I asked as Willow turned to look at Thalia.
"Yeah. Of course. Duh. Why wouldn't I be?" she replied as I cracked a grin at her antics.
"Your closing your eyes shut. Are you afraid of something? Don't worry, we won't die. We'll make it out alive," I reassured her.
"Oh that's not it. Never mind. Just please, leave me alone right now," Thalia pleaded as I sighed and nodded.
We were all silent as sleep overcame me. I rested my head on Blackjack's mane as I fell asleep.
I was woken with a thud as Blackjack landed on the ground. I realized how I was the only one to fall asleep. I felt something trickling down my mouth as I looked at a smirking Thalia and Willow. I braced for those five words.
"You drool when you sleep," Willow stated as I rolled my eyes.
"First Annabeth then you," I sighed.
"Whatever. Where are we?" Willow asked as I looked around me.
"We have to go boss. Give us a whistle whenever you need us alright?" Blackjack asked as I nodded, "Stay safe boss."
They flew off as I stared at them.
"Don't call me boss!" I yelled up as moments later, a glob of brown stuff hit my face.
The moment I smelled it, I knew it was feces.
"BLACKJACK!" I yelled to the sky as Willow rolled over the floor laughing. Thalia laughed also, but not as dramatically as Willow.
"Who said that?" I heard a voice as Willow, Thalia, and I ran away to hide.
I saw Bianca, Nico, Zoe, Grover, and Phoebe approach the junkyard. Bianca looked better as she revealed her face more. She looked more at peace, smiling. My heart couldn't help but flutter, but I quickly pushed that thought out of my head.
"Bianca, what are you holding?" Zoe asked as Bianca lifted her hands.
It was some sort of statue. I realized it looked like one of Nico's game statue. What was it? Mythomagic.
"Oh, it's just a Hades mythomagic statue. The only figurine Nico doesn't have," Bianca replied as Zoe paled.
"Please don't tell me you picked it up," Zoe gulped worriedly.
Bianca slowly nodded as the whole place shook. A huge statue emerged out of the wreckage. It was about 50 feet, but when I thought it stopped growing, it growed another 150 feet. It roared as it smashed its large hands at Bianca. She yelped and rolled out, moments before the hand crushed anything under it.
"Talos!" Zoe yelled.
That's when we struck. Giving out a bloodcurdling yell, we charged, brandishing our weapons. The 5 looked at us in shock before they did the worst thing possible at the moment. They ran away. Thalia got out her bow and arrow...wait what?
I looked at Thalia questioningly as she mouthed, 'I'll tell you later.'
I nodded. While Phoebe, Zoe, Nico, and Grover ran one way, Bianca veered to the left, Talos following her.
"I got Bianca!" I told Thalia and Willow, "You guys get the rest!"
They nodded as I followed Bianca. I saw Bianca on the ground, clutching her legs as Talos towered over her. I could see a single tear that dripped down her eyes all the way to her chin. The tear rested there momentarily before it dripped down to the ground. She closed her eyes awaiting death as Talos approached her. I went against Atlas' orders and took out Hellfire.
"Hey! Metal dude!" I yelled as Talos turned to me.
Bianca stared at me in shock as Talos roared and ran after me. I made my way to some power lines and ran underneath. Apparently machines weren't that smart because it smashed into lines. Volts of electricity seemed to dance over Talos as he shuddered and groaned. The whole robot blew apart as it fell to the ground. I looked up and saw Talos' head moments away from me, but I rolled away just in time. I lay on my back, panting until I saw another object falling down. I tried rolling away, but I was too late as a piece of him got me right in the groin. Pain. Pain you could never imagine. I cursed so much that I'm sure that my mom would have smacked the life out of me. Literally. After moments of beautiful, agonizing pain, I got up and went to Bianca, sword in hand.
I approached her as she closed her eyes as if saying, Go ahead. Kill me. I deserve it. What I did next surprised her. I extended my hand. She looked at me, tears threatening to fall. I smiled and nodded at her as she took my hand. She rose up just fine, no pain evident on her legs. I raised my eyebrow. She just shrugged.
"Why'd you do it?" she asked.
"Because I didn't want you to die by Talos. That would've been horrifying," I told her as she laughed for the first time.
"No Percy. Why'd you not kill me right now?" she asked.
"I don't know," I replied, "I just wanted to think that we might both make it out alive and start our life all over."
She looked at me sadly.
"You know that's not possible," she said softly, "For plently of reasons. I'm a hunter, first of all. Second, we're on different sides and the gods, well, they don't like you. My father really loathes you, but remember, I don't."
"You know, I'm pretty good at making the impossible, possible," I told her, "I know there will be a way. I just made that stupid mistake."
She smiled, "If we make it out alive and we somehow manage to make peace, I'll be waiting for you, but in the meantime...try not to get yourself killed."
She saluted me and walked off. I stared at her and sighed. That was when I heard a yell. I raced over to find Thalia and Willow towering over the hunter, Phoebe.
"We got her Percy," Thalia panted, "Those idiots didn't even realize that Phoebe had tripped. They just kept running."
I chuckled as I approached her. She was held down by vines as she tried struggling.
"The prophecy," she managed to say.
"Excuse me?" Thalia asked.
"One of the lines in the prophecy said that one shall perish in the land without rain. Looks like I'm the one," she gasped.
"No your not," I replied as she glared at me. Ignoring her, I continued, "The prophecies are not true. Heck, The Great Prophecy is not true. The fates don't control what happens in this war."
She looked at me questioningly.
"This information will give you migranes. More migraines than Willow," I said as Willow gave out an indignant hey!
"Go to sleep Phoebe. You'll need your eternal rest," I told her as I severed her neck. Her head rolled away from her body as a dark crimson pool began forming.