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Chapter 6: Human Flame Throwers Fix Almost Everything
Camp Half-blood had been flooded with water. Camp Jupiter was flooded with snakes. All was calm on their side of the Little Tiber River, but the river itself seethed with scales. Unfortunately the bridges had all been dimolished leaving only a pile of rocks on either side of the bank. Hundreds upon hundreds of snakes slithered, swam or flew all over Camp Jupiter. Legionnaires yelled and sliced at the creatures. The snakes weren't fighters, but Percy was sure that it would only take one lucky fang to put a legionnaire down. Some of the snakes, of course, had to be even more dangerous than the black mambas circling a standard bearer. They breathed fire or spitting acid.
"Seriously? Why do all magical creatures seem to either spit acid or breathe fire? Come on!" Austin complained. He took out his saxophone, ready to play the snakes into submission just like he did with the cercope.
Annabeth stopped him. "No point. These snakes don't have the best hearing. Also each species of snake hears, senses the vibrations, or focuses on the sound waves differently. We can't guide these creatures with music. It's too unpredictable."
"Let me try," Austin said, and before Annabeth could stop him he played the happy birthday song. Some of the red and black snakes still kept attacking; others like a yellow one with black and white stripes curled into balls in fell asleep. Unfortunately most of the snakes seemed more energized, especially the cobras hissed more definitely and stuck at an even faster speed at a daughter of Ceres.
Annabeth yanked the instrument away. "Stop. We need a plan." Austin glared at her and Annabeth returned his saxophone. "We need to find out who led this attack. There are too many snakes for us to simply kill them all."
"First we need to get across the Little Tiber. I won't be able to help this time though." Percy scowled at himself. He hated being this weak still. "I haven't gotten my powers back yet."
The hair on Percy's arms stood on end. There was a crack of lighting from the clear morning sky. Percy smiled, "But I think I have a solution. We need to find a way to get Jason's attention."
Annabeth, of course, was ready with a plan of her own. "Austin, do you have a blunt arrow?"
Austin gave her one. "But how will that help? It will give nice bruises but it won't stop the snakes. I use those for capture the flag."
Annabeth handed him the arrow back. "Good, we wouldn't want to kill Jason."
Austin looked at her warily. "You want me to shoot the Son of Jupiter when he flies in the air?"
"Just to get his attention," Annabeth said lightly. "Then he can get us over the river full of snakes."
Austin drew his bow out and nocked the arrow. He pointed it in the direction of where the lightning had come from. They waited. Thunder boomed and Jason flew up over the hordes of monsters. Austin let the arrow fly. True to his father's gifts, the arrow sailed through the arrow and hit Jason below the eye.
The blond boy spun around angrily. Percy gave a wave. Jason flew over to the Greek demigods, one hand over his eye. "Seriously, you couldn't find another way to get my attention? We already knew you were coming."
"How?" Percy asked, watching a bruise begin to form under Jason's eye.
Still scowling, "Malcolm and Chiron iris messaged us. They said you have a new prophecy. We never get a break. Is this Austin?"
Austin raised his hand, "Sup. Sorry about the eye. I can heal that."
"It's fine. You need to conserve your strength for fighting later. So why do you need me right now?" Jason asked rubbing his bruise.
"We need a way over the Little Tiber," Percy said. "I am unable to control water for at least another couple hours. Stuff happened," Percy said in answer to Jason's frown.
"No problem. We'll catch up later. So everyone just run at the river and when you get close jump and I'll have the winds push everyone over to the other shore."
They all took off running as fast as they could to the riverbank. The moment Percy's feet left the ground he could feel the wind pick him up and dump him on other side of the bank. He rolled to his feet, uncapping Riptide as he went to slice at a cobra. He decapitated it. The head rolled to where Annabeth was getting to her feet. She grabbed the head and threw it at a black mamba that was slithering toward her.
"So," Percy said as he looked over at Jason who had landed next to him. "How'd this happen?"
Jason swung his gladius at an overgrown lizard that spat blue acid. A gash appeared on its head. "Last night, a woman killed two of our legions at the entrance. She melted down the doors."
"I saw. Who is she?"
"Echidna. She summoned all these monsters and reptiles. Reyna and the first cohort have been fighting her the whole time."
Percy scowled. He remembered meeting Echidna and her chihuahua on top of the St. Louis Arch back when he was twelve. "I've met her. This is not good. Can you lead me to where Reyna is?"
Jason nodded, "Annabeth, Austin, can you go to the infirmary. They said they needed more support. Percy and I are going to help Reyna."
Annabeth nodded. "I think I remember where that is." She stole a quick kiss from Percy and dashed off in the direction of the forum.
Jason led the way, and Percy sprinted after him toward the Field of Mars. "Have you seen the thing in the sky?"
"Yeah, we got a prophecy about it. Apparently Hera has something to do with it."
Jason grimaced. He also had a really bad history with Hera, or Juno, as he knew her. His mother had abandoned him to Juno, who then sent him on dangerous quests and then in thanks, wiped his memory. "Of course it's her." He beheaded a golden flying snake.
"Apparently this monster is hatching from an egg. Do you know any Roman myths with monsters hatching from eggs?"
Jason frowned. "Reyna might." They stopped talking as a hoard of fire breathing snakes struck at them. Jason stuck out his hand and a ball of lightning formed. He threw it at the monsters. The electricity ball spun, hissing and crackling. It was almost too bright to look at as it rolled in zigzag patterns frying everything within a foot long radius. Jason grabbed Percy's hand and launched them into the sky.
Percy gasped in surprise. Having nothing but air supporting him was unnerving. He looked down at the scene of destruction. The buildings of new Rome were burning or being ripped apart. Legionnaires were outnumbered 5-1, swarmed by colorful snakes, lizards, and a few small drakons that were the size of a Subaru Forester. He could see the Little Tiber writhing with snakes. It was almost beautiful the way the sun glinted off the scales of the beasts. Blood, both hero and monster, splattered the grass and stone buildings like liquid rubies.
A disturbing feeling rose inside Percy, a flash of bloodlust. He wanted Jason to put him back on the ground, to spread carnage, to make these monsters that were destroying his second home bleed rivers of blood. He opened his mouth to tell Jason to let him down when Jason said, "Can you spot her?"
"Wah, who?" Percy shook himself.
"I just told you, we're up here to see if we can find Reyna faster," Jason sounded slightly annoyed. Beads of sweat dripped down his cheek. It must be taking a toll on him to be lifting them off the ground for so long.
"Oh, right," Percy scanned the ground looking for a purple cape. A familiar roar caught his attention. He had first heard this roar on his first quest for Zeus's lightning bolt. Percy looked toward the sound. Sure enough he spotted the chihuahua and its evil mother. Percy blinked, and the chihuahua morphed into a familiar looking creature with a viper as tail and two heads, one lion and one goat. It was the Chimera. Echidna stood by the monster's side laughing like a mad woman. Her twin serpent tails, in place of her feet, wiggled like worms. A flash of purple caught Percy's eye. Reyna was dodging the Chimera's tail. She stabbed at the Chimera's goat head. The Chimera snarled and retreated a step before blowing flames at the praetor's head. Reyna flattened herself against the ground. The flames hit a centurion's shield, which melted. The centurion dropped the shield in dismay. The first cohort was trying to get close to Reyna, but Echidna sent hoards of serpents after them. None of the centurions could get close enough to help Reyna.
Jason followed Percy's gaze and cursed. "Styx, we need to get in close. Is that the Chimera?"
"Yep, the snaketail is poisonous and the goat breathes fire."
"Of course it does," Jason sighed. "Alright, here's the plan. We are going to dive down there. You take care of Echidna, while I get to Reyna."
"Sounds good. I've wanted a rematch with the snake lady."
Jason and Percy flew towards the battle. They dropped inside the circle of space in between the two fights. Percy landed on Echidna' shoulder's. "Hey, remember me?" Percy asked, then tried to impale the top of her spine with Riptide.
Echidna dropped onto her back, wriggling on the ground to dislodge Percy. All the air whooshed out of him as the monstrous lady's weight nearly smashed his lungs. They rolled, Percy twisting to avoid Echidna's claw-like nails from digging into his eyes. From under Echidna's elbow, Percy saw Jason trying to get behind the Chimera.
The snake hissed at the newcomer. Needle sharp fangs as long as a butter knife stuck at Jason. "I'll distract the tail. Can you handle the two heads?"
"Of course, no problem," Reyna wheezed.
As Percy was trying to figure out a way to use Riptide in such a short distance, he wondered how long Reyna had been fighting. He had never heard her sound exhausted. His foot struck Echidna's throat. She rolled backwards. They both got unsteadily to their feet. Percy lunched at Echidna again slashing at her hands.
He could see how this fight, this whole battle could go on for days without either side giving up. But they didn't have days. They were supposed to be getting their fourth quest member then heading out to... somewhere. Suddenly the Chimera roared in pain. Everyone, including Echidna turned toward the sound. Protruding from the lionhead's eye was a small silver knife.
The Chimera pawed at its eye, tears of blood flowed down the lion's face. Reyna yanked the knife out, a grim smile on her face. But she was so focused on the lion's head, that she didn't notice the goat head reaching back readying a fireball.
Percy noticed, but there was nothing he could do. He tried to dodge around Echidna but she laughed. Her laughter sounded like breaking ice. Jason also saw that Reyna was too preoccupied with the lion's head but the snakehead was preventing him from helping. The two boys watched in horror as the goat head blew bright blue and orange flames straight at Reyna's head.
"No!" Percy couldn't bear watching another of his friend's die. He slashed desperately at Echidna. He could see the flames licking at her form, but something was off. Reyna didn't collapse in agony. The flames were being sucked away.
A smaller figure stood in front of Reyna. A girl with raven black hair, no older than ten with arms had her outstretched protectively. With a gulp, the last of the flames disappeared into her mouth. The whole battle froze. Staring at the little girl who had just eaten fire. The Chimera's two heads and tail all had their mouths open in shock. The goat head exchanged looks with the lion head, whose eye still dripped blood. The lion's look said, "Can you believe this?"
The goat shook its head, "Demigods these days, they keep getting upgrades."
Smoke began to rise from the girl's form. She coughed and black smoke came out. Reyna had the presence of mind to yell, "Jason! Get out of the way!"
Jason ran on one side, just as the girl screamed. The fire she had consumed poured back out of her. Fire blazed around the Chimera. The smell of burned lion, goat and extra crispy snake wafted over Percy. Nothing but monster dust and ashes were left once the flames died out again. The centurions who had witnessed the defeat of monster cheered. They banged their weapons against their shields.
Echidna howled in anger. She took a step toward Reyna and the now unconscious demigod, ignoring Percy.
Then the sky turned dark. Hail began to fall. The cheers of the legion died as a slimy green tongue dangled out of the clouds. "GHHHHAH."
Like a thousand elephants screaming, the voice that erupted from the clouds sent everyone to their knees, clutching their ears. Some of the monsters disintegrated as their delicate ears drums exploded. Percy's own ears rang. He heard his heartbeat pounding in time with the dull ringing that reverberated his skull.
"No!" Echidna hissed. "Destroy them now, why wait? Do not let you pride-"
"GAAHHHHRRRRR."
"I am your mother." Echidna screamed back.
"HAHAHAHA." The tongue wagged back and forth splaying the field drops of saliva that hissed in the cold air. Hail still fell, growing to the size small acorns. The fighting had creased. Many monsters had been slains, and the few that remained were just focused on the family spat.
"Okay, your stepmother, but Hera cares nothing for you. When you have hatched, I will care for you."
"BLLAAAHHRRR." A bloodshot eye poked out from the clouds.
"Fine," Echidna spat. "On your head, be it." The monster in the clouds retreated. The hail stopped. Citizens of New Rome cheered as snakes and drakons, and all the other monsters that had been attacking them for hours slowly disappeared or slithered away to parts unknown.
Percy barely registered their win as Echidna turned toward him with a gruesome smile. "Demigod, I commend your success so far. But your greatest success will be the world's downfall. Soon you will have wish that I had killed you on that arch the first time we met. The gods are not your allies. The Queen of Olympus's own child will destroy this world and make it anew." She came closer to Percy. So close that he could feel her snake legs coil around his ankles, keeping him in place. Her snakey breath enveloped him. "Come and join us. The gods do not care for you. They let you and your love fall into Tartarus. Now you have been sent on a doomed quest to fix another one of the gods' mistakes. How long can you keep this up?"
Percy hated the sense of understanding. Echidna was right. The gods had done nothing to prevent them from tumbling into the pit. Heck, Athena had done all but push them into the most feared place on earth. Was this how Luke felt after his failed quest at the Garden of the Hesperides? Luke? Annabeth. A tingling in the small of his back, where his Achilles Heel had once been, brought him back to his sense.
"For as long as I need to." He slashed at Echidna's throat.
Echidna laughed as she exploded into fire, like she knew what Percy had been thinking. "Poor lost little hero. We shall see." Tiny green scales and ash fell over him. He kicked dirt over them angrily, stomping on the pile, and then jumped on the remains as if that would fix all his problems.
A hand touched his shoulder. He jumped and aimed the point of Riptide at Jason's face. "Woah. Relax. It's just me."
Percy lowed his blade.
"Reyna has called for an emergency senate meeting. All the Greeks are invited. It starts in an hour after all the injured have been moved to the infirmary."
Jason turned to go, but Percy grabbed his arm. "Who's that girl, who breathed fire?" Percy had seen her before. Not in real life, but in his dreams.
Jason pursed his lips. "Enya, she's new, daughter of Vulcan. She grew attached to Reyna after she saved her from a few evil centaurs that had gotten past the guards. Other than that, I don't know anything else. I didn't even know she could do that stuff with the fire. Why do you ask?"
"She is the fourth quest member."
Note: Enya means fire in Irish.
Please leave a comment, or click one of the two buttons below if you liked what you read. The next few chapters will be formatted differently. I am switching POVs. Just a heads-up, I will now be posting about once a month.