AUTHOR'S NOTE
Sorry I have not updated in so long. I haven't been well (in hospital twice) and was not in the mood to write. Thankfully the last month or so I have been motivated to write and you have a new chapter to read. I have also started the next chapter before posting this one, which I don't usually do.
Thank you to all my old readers who have stuck around and hello to all my new readers. I enjoy getting new favourites and followers to my stories. I enjoy reviews as well, so if you want to discuss anything in my story just let me know. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
The Arena
"The metal door entrance to the labyrinth was hidden behind a laundry bin of dirty clothes. It hadn't been used in a long time," said Percy with a chuckle.
"It was rusted shut. I had tried to open it once out of curiosity. Not realising that you needed to be a half-blood to open it," admitted Rachel.
"The metal door unsealed and creaked open revealing a dark staircase leading down as soon as I touched the mark," said Annabeth.
"So Rachel is going to lead a quest dressed in gold?" questioned Aphrodite.
"No she had changed into a ratty Museum of Modern Art T-shirt and her regular marker-covered jeans. Her red hair was tied back but she still had flecks of gold in it and she had traces of gold glitter on her face. Sticking out her back pocket she had a blue plastic hairbrush," described Percy.
"If I had realised that being the guide meant that I lead, therefore entered the Labyrinth first, I might have contemplated it more because…." sighed Rachel.
"You would walk into danger first," said Apollo.
"Percy and Annabeth switched on their flashlights and in the glow was a skeleton, and it wasn't human," said Rachel.
"The skeleton was at least two and a half metres tall and had been strung up by the wrists and ankles so it made a giant cross over the tunnel. What really sent a shiver down my back was a single black eye socket in the centre of its skull," Percy advised the group.
"Thankfully it was very old, so it couldn't be Tyson," said Annabeth relieving those gods mind, who have developed a soft spot for the cyclops.
"I was surprised to find out that Percy and Annabeth had a friend who was a cyclops," admitted Rachel.
"Even more so when I informed her Tyson was my half-brother," sniggered Percy.
"We hoped to find him and Grover while we were in the maze," commented Annabeth.
"We walked about fifteen meters before we came to a crossroad. Ahead the brick tunnel we were currently walking through continued. To the left the tunnel was made of earth and tree roots, to the right the walls were ancient marble slabs," described Percy.
"Percy thought the left tunnel looked like the one Tyson and Grover took. Annabeth thought the one on the right would be more likely to lead to Daedalus's workshop as the architecture was old stone. We however needed to go straight," said Rachel.
"How did you know?" asked Clarisse.
"Further down the tunnel on the left the tree roots were moving like feelers. On the right there was a trap about seven meters down. Holes in the wall, maybe for spikes, and I didn't want to risk it," said Rachel. "On the floor of the middle corridor there was a type of brightness, although very faint."
"I couldn't see anything Rachel was describing but agreed to go forward," said Percy.
"We continued down the brick corridor which twisted and turned although angling down heading deeper underground, there was no more side tunnels," said Annabeth.
"There was a creaking noise in front of us, like huge doors opening. We could hear heavy footsteps shaking the corridor coming towards us," added Percy.
"We decided to flee and ran back down the tunnel the way we had come. Straight into two dracaenae, their javelins levelled at our chest," complained Annabeth.
"Standing between them was the empousa Kelli," groaned Percy causing groans from the group.
"By the time Percy and Annabeth had their weapons out, Kelli had me held with her hands as claws, a talon at my neck," stated Rachel.
"Welcome to Percy and a demi-god's world," exclaimed Travis.
"A huge three meter tall Laistrygonian giant with red eyes and fangs came from the corridor behind us, and asked if he could eat us," informed Percy.
"Thankfully Kelli wouldn't allow that as his master would want us. We would provide a great deal of entertainment," said Annabeth.
"Who is the Master they talk of?" asked Zeus.
"Hey Missy your so fine, your so fine you blow my mind," sang Chris softly, clearly a Doctor Who fan.
"It is most likely Luke," reminded Athena.
"We were marched down the tunnel flanked by the dracaenae with Kelli and the giant at the back in case we tried to run for it," said Annabeth.
"No one was worried you would ran forward?" asked Demeter.
"Clearly it is the direction they want them to go," said Artemis.
"Up ahead there were bronze doors. They were about three and a half meters tall, emblazoned with a pair of cross swords. Behind the doors came the muffle roar of a crowd," described Rachel. Only Annabeth, Percy and Rachel noticed Chris pale. Clarisse edged closer to Chris when the grip on her hand tightened.
"The dracaenae to my left declared that we would be very popular with their host," said Percy.
"Describe the dracaena, describe the dracaenae," begged Travis and Connor.
"Yes Percy, describe the dracaena," pleaded Hermes and Apollo.
"Fine. She would have had a beautiful face except her tongue was forked and her eyes were yellow with black slits for pupils. She wore bronze armour that stopped at her waist. Below that where her legs should have been, were two massive snake trunks, mottled bronze and green. She moved by a combination of slithering and walking, as if she were on living skis," described Percy.
"Skiing, I haven't been skiing in so long," reminisced Rachel.
"Who is the host, she talked of?" asked Zeus.
"The dracaenae hissed a laugh as she told me that I'll get along famously with him as he was my brother after all," said Percy.
"Brother?" questioned most of the residents in the room.
"Tyson, no that is impossible," said Hera. No one noticing Poseidon pale as he knew who they were talking about.
"The giant pushed past, opened the doors and picked me up by the shirt, telling me that I stayed there. Kelli still had her claws at Rachel's neck," Annabeth explained.
"Kelli was going to wait with us to ensure Percy behaved. She then sent Percy out to entertain," said Rachel.
"I was prodded out the doorway and walked onto the floor of an arena," described Percy. "It wasn't the largest arena I've ever been in but it seemed pretty spacious considering the whole place was underground. The dirt floor was circular and was just big enough that a car could drive around the rim."
"Only if you pulled it really tight," exclaimed Rachel.
A giant and a centaur were in the centre fighting. The first tier of seats weas four metres above the arena floor," Percy informed the group.
"Every seat of the plain stone benches were full of giants, dracaenae, demigods, telekhines," said Annabeth before Percy interrupted her.
"And strange bat winged demons and creatures that seemed to be half human and half bird… reptile, insect and mammal."
"Did someone decide to join humans and animals together to make the Ultimate human but failed miserably?" asked Rachel.
"The creepiest thing about the arena was the skulls. They were everywhere!" exclaimed Annabeth as Percy, Rachel and Chris nodded.
"The skulls ran around the railing, they decorated the steps with metre high piles between the benches. They grinned from pikes at the back of the stands and hung from the ceiling, on chains like horrible chandeliers. The arena was full of them. Some looked very old while others were a lot fresher," described Percy.
"In the middle proudly displayed on the side of the spectators wall was a green banner with a trident of Poseidon in the centre," informed Annabeth.
"What is that doing in that place?" asked Will. Poseidon looked regretful and guilty.
"Above the banner sitting in a place of honour was Luke, He looked just like he did in my dream. He still wasn't wearing his sword," informed Percy.
"He wasn't wearing his sword!" exclaimed Zeus.
"You would have to be crazy to be in that situation without a weapon," pondered Dionysus.
"Unless he had exceptional trust in his army ….. Or is underestimating the enemy's ability," pronounce Athena.
"Next to Luke was the largest giant I'd ever seen. He was easily five metres tall and so wide he took up three seats. He wore a loincloth like a sumo wrestler. His skin was dark red and tattooed with blue wave designs," reported Percy.
"Has Luke gotten a body guard?" asked Zeus.
"Percy, would you ever get a tattoo?" Chris asked.
"I don't know. What would I get?" asked Percy.
"A trident," suggested Nico, clearly thinking about what he would get.
"Do I want to advertise that I am a son of Poseidon?" replied Percy "I mean, whatever I choose will become a defining factor of who I am. I don't think I could decide what would be the most important image to permanently display on my body."
"I thought about getting one," admitted Rachel "but I couldn't decide which of my designs I wanted."
"And your parents would disown you if you got one," Annabeth pointed out.
"Sorry Nico, NO one will tattoo a twelve year old, especially without parental approval," stated Chris smiling apologetic at Nico. "And before you two offer to help him get one….Let me REMIND you what CHIRON and Mr D did the last time SOMEONE organise TATTOOS," his glare directed towards the Stoll brothers.
The brothers looked panicked "Sorry Nico, can't help you," both of them said with a shudder as although they hadn't been old enough to contribute to the action they remembered the punishment.
"The fighting centaur crashed to the ground in front of me. He asked me to help him. The dracaena warned me not to interfere if I valued my friends' lives. It wasn't my fight and to wait my turn," said Percy directing the conversation back to the story.
"The centaur couldn't get up. The giant he had been fighting put his huge foot on the horseman's chest and raised the javelin. They both looked up at Luke as the crowd cheered for Death," said Annabeth.
"Luke didn't do anything but the sumo dude did, giving the thumbs down sign. The gladiator giant thrust his javelin and the centaur disintegrated into ash with a single hoof left as a trophy for the giant," described Percy.
"The sumo dude raised his hands for silence from the crowd. He told Luke it was good entertainment but it was nothing he hadn't seen before," stated Rachel.
"Luke thanked Lord Antaeus for being an excellent host. That they were happy to amuse him to repay the favour of passing through his territory," said Annabeth.
"A favour that he was yet to grant. Antaeus wanted entertainment," muttered Percy.
"Luke declared he had something better to fight. He pointed at Percy introducing him as a son of Poseidon and a brother of Antaeus," remarked Annabeth.
"The crowd began jeering me and throwing stones, I managed to dodge most of them but one caught me on the cheek and made a good size cut," Percy informed the group.
"Antaeus was pleased with 'A son of Poseidon'," reported Rachel using air quote gestures "Apparently he would either fight or die well."
"Luke asked if Percy's death pleased him would Antaeus let their armies cross his territory," Annabeth advised the gods.
"He wasn't happy with the response of perhaps. He glared down at me, as if warning me that I better die a really spectacular death," stated Percy ignoring the eye rolls that occurred of disbelief.
"I tried to reason with Luke to let us go," admitted Annabeth.
"Annabeth and Luke had a moment," Rachel gossiped.
"No we didn't," barked Annabeth.
"Luke had a moment. He was stunned for a moment when he noticed Annabeth was there," reported Percy.
"She is the leader of the quest, where else was she going to be?" questioned Athena.
"Antaeus interrupted Luke's moment by stating that Annabeth and I could fight afterwards," remarked Rachel.
"It seems that Antaeus is not expecting to grant the favour Luke wants," said Zeus.
"Who would win that fight?" questioned Will.
"Annabeth. Rachel had no training in fighting," mentioned Clarisse.
"Rachel would win," argued Nico "Rachel is mortal and our weapons don't harm her," he reasoned.
"But Annabeth would unarm Rachel quickly, giving her an advantage," objected Ares.
"Could you stop discussing our deaths," pleaded Rachel "besides Percy would never had let it happen."
"Antaeus informed me to choose my weapons. I questioned how he could be a son of Poseidon," informed Percy.
"Antaeus declared that he was Poseidon's favourite son. The arena was his temple to the Earthshaker, built from the skulls of all those he had killed in Poseidon's name," Annabeth explained.
"I couldn't understand why the temple was for my dad. My dad was a nice guy," said Percy looking at Poseidon "He had never asked me for a Father's day card, much less someone's skull."
"Can you image giving someone a skull for a present," asked Katie.
"Why does Poseidon get a temple of skulls dedicated to him? I want a temple like that," whined Ares looking at his daughter who was distracted with Chris who was quietly trying not to have a panic attack.
"Antaeus is not my favourite son," declared Poseidon.
"No that would be Triton," whispered Apollo to Hermes and Dionysus.
"What would you give your father for Father's Day?" asked Rachel.
"A new shirt," suggested Zeus "or a tie."
"Great, I know what to get you for Father's day next year," said Thalia.
"You do realise that they are all going to want presents next year," pointed out Annabeth.
"Well at least we have time to organise a present," grumbled Chris.
"And no Ares is not going to get a temple of skulls," bellowed Clarisse glaring at her father.
"Why not?" questioned Ares.
"Because your children are not builders," responded Hephaestus.
"And we don't have access to any skulls," admitted Clarisse shaking her head slightly at the son of Hades. She was not going down that path.
"Thank the gods," said the majority of the demi-gods.
"Annabeth tried to tell me that Antaeus's mother was Gaea but her captor clamped his hand over her mouth," said Percy bring the discussion back to the story. "I knew that information was important, but not sure why, just that it would be harder to kill him."
"I didn't realise Antaeus's mother was the earth goddess, Gaea," gasped Rachel.
"Why would that be a problem?" questioned Aphrodite.
"It is just wrong," exclaimed Rachel. "I thought Zeus marrying his sister and Hades marrying his niece was wrong; but Poseidon takes the cake."
"What ARE you talking about?" asked some annoyed Gods and Goddesses with everyone looking at Rachel, however Nico understood where she was coming from.
"Gaea was Kronos's mother; Kronos is Poseidon's father…" explained Nico.
"POSEIDON had an AFFAIR with his GRANDMOTHER," cackled Connor.
"And I have regretted it," admitted Poseidon.
"Do you do everyone in a skirt?" asked Athena glaring at Poseidon.
"Thanks for pointing that out," groaned Percy to Rachel.
"No problem. So where were we? …. Antaeus asked Percy to choose his weapon," replied Rachel.
"I naturally chose my sword and only my sword which amused the crowd but they soon became nervous when Riptide appeared in my hands," boasted Percy.
"Antaeus announced round one and a dracaena slithered out. She used a trident and net," Annabeth informed the group.
"Classic gladiator style, we've been training against those weapons for years. That's going to be an easy fight," said Clarisse.
"It was easy and quick. But I got into trouble as I hadn't waited for his order to kill," grumbled Percy.
"Luke admitted that Percy had improved the sword," stated Annabeth.
"What did he expect, he has been sending monsters after me for years," muttered Percy.
"Antaeus called for round two, but Percy had to fight slower and wait for his call before killing," said Rachel.
"A young warrior about sixteen entered the arena. He had glossy black hair and his left eye was covered with an eye patch," informed Percy.
"There is a pirate?" asked Hermes.
"No it was Ethan Nakamura and he had to kill me to prove himself, so he could join up," answered Percy.
"Tough initiation," said Demeter.
"Ethan charged, our swords meeting in mid-air. The crowd loved it. I didn't want to fight to entertain a bunch of monsters," admitted Percy.
Ethan Nakamura- the name sounds familiar," questioned Chris.
"You're right," replied Connor.
"I think he was in our cabin," said Travis.
"He was an undetermined camper," Annabeth informed the group honestly.
"I could tell Ethan had some training and he was good. We parried and thrusted getting the feel of each other's fighting style. I tried to keep to his blind side, but he apparently been fighting with one eye for a while as he was excellent at guarding his left side," explained Percy.
"For my first time seeing a sword fight between two people it was interesting, although nerve racking," admitted Rachel. "Ethan however kept looking up at the stands."
"Why is he looking up to the crowd?" asked Dionysus.
"He needs to impress Luke to join their army," answered Athena.
"That was Ethan's weakness, he needed to impress them. I didn't," admitted Percy.
"Ethan gave a battle cry and charged at Percy who parried his blade and let Ethan came after him. Antaeus was not impressed wanting him to stand and fight," remarked Annabeth.
"Ethan pressed me but I had no trouble defending, as he was dressed for defence which made it tiring to play offence," said Percy.
"Percy was a soft target but he was lighter and faster," said Annabeth.
"The crowd was throwing rocks and complaining, because they had been fighting for five minutes and there had been no blood," Rachel informed the group with an eye roll.
"They complained because there had been no blood after five minutes, but for round one there were complaints that it was too quick," criticised Katie.
"They are monsters, they are only happy while they are eating, fighting or watching fighting," grumbled Hades.
"Ethan finally made a mistake and tried to jab my stomach. I locked his sword hilt in mine and twisted," said Percy.
"Ethan dropped his sword into the dirt and before he could retrieve it, Percy had slammed the butt of his sword into his helmet and pushed him down," explained Annabeth.
"Ethan fell onto his back, tired and dazed, his heavy armour helping me more than him. I put the tip of my sword to his chest," Percy told the group.
"Antaeus's displeasure was shown on his stony face as he held up his hand with the thumbs down gesture," said Rachel.
"So does that mean kill or not kill?" asked Will "Academics and Archaeologists have been debating whether thumbs up means to kill or if thumbs down means to kill."
"In this case thumbs down meant to kill," replied Percy.
"Percy is going to refuse to kill this demi-god," accused Hermes.
"This is Percy, of course he is going to refuse to kill him," muttered Clarisse.
"Wouldn't Antaeus just kill both of them?" questioned Artemis.
"Percy, after sheathing his sword offered his hand to Ethan," said Rachel.
"Admittedly he was reluctant to accept my hand," responded Percy.
"You dishonoured the game," gasped Ares.
"Which was why both their heads would be tributes to Poseidon," stated Annabeth.
"I informed Ethan, that when he saw his chance, to run," said Percy.
"I like that you still think you are going to survive," chuckled Dionysus.
"Well he has come out of a dozen scapes before and lived," pointed out Hermes.
"And they get out of this one too, by the look of it. If you be quiet we can find out how," said Athena glaring at her siblings.
"Percy goaded Antaeus into fighting him, saying that if Antaeus had Poseidon's favour than to go and prove it," accused Annabeth.
"Antaeus would look like a coward if he said no to a fight with you," gasped Ares.
"Antaeus bragged that he was the greatest wrestler in the world, and had been fighting since the first Pankration," informed Rachel.
"Pankration?" questioned Connor.
"It means fighting to the death, no rules, and no holds barred," said Ares with glee.
"It used to be an Olympic Sport," added Annabeth.
"You used any method possible to get your opponent to submit. A competitor held up a finger to submit," explained Ares.
"There was a competitor named Arrichion who was caught in a choke hold but managed to dislocate his opponent's toe, who then submitted defeat but not before Arrichion had been strangled to death. Despite his death he was awarded the match," Athena informed the demi-gods.
"Thank goodness the officials now protect their participants," commented Katie.
"We should have an Olympics at camp," proposed Will.
"Percy would win the swimming, Travis in running, Clarisse the javelin throw," grumbled Nico.
"It is a bit predictable," sniggered Thalia.
"Clarisse wouldn't win the javelin, she doesn't like to throw her weapon away," said Will ignoring the glaring daughter of Ares.
"What do you think capture the flag about… competing between participant groups," said Athena.
"And the best competitors are the Hunters of Artemis," boasted Thalia.
"Next time we will win," argued Annabeth.
"In your dreams, Wise Girl, in your dreams," replied Thalia.
"Percy pointed his sword at Antaeus stating that the winner would take all, if Percy won, we were free to go, otherwise we would all DIE," stated Rachel defusing the Hunter versus campers debate.
"I also made him swear on the River Styx," admitted Percy.
"Antaeus agreed to Percy's terms, and leapt off the railing into the arena, declaring that the fight wouldn't take long," informed Rachel.
"How did you beat Antaeus? I know you won as you are alive but how did you beat him?" pleaded Poseidon.
"Wait and see," replied Percy. "Ethan wished me luck and backed away. Antaeus cracked his knuckles, as he grinned and I saw that his teeth were etched in wave patterns."
"That must make brushing after meals a real pain," mumbled Nico.
"Says the person who doesn't brush his teeth," laughed Will.
"I brush my teeth," declared Nico glaring at Will.
"Yes, but you "forget' every second day," hinted Annabeth as Nico pouted.
"Did you clean your teeth this morning," asked Hestia. Nico nodded,
"Yes he did," Percy said deciding not to admit that he had prompted and reminded the younger boy.
"Antaeus told Percy to choose his weapon, naturally Percy decided on his sword. Antaeus held up his hands and wiggled his fingers; stating he didn't need any other weapons," Rachel informed the group.
"He is going up against a sword with nothing but his bare hands. Is he stupid?" questioned Chris.
"No he is a son of Poseidon, they have big heads," commented Hades.
"At least my children are not psychopaths," replied Poseidon glaring at Hades, with both gods positioned to fight.
"SHUT UP, and LISTEN!" yelled Hera.
"Antaeus asked Luke to referee the match," said Rachel ignoring the two angry gods.
"Luke doesn't like Percy," said Katie "How will he make a fair call?"
"A sword verse no weapons, I wouldn't have called it fair in the first place," commented Thalia.
"The match was never going to be fair in the first place. They are monsters and the enemy, I doubt they care for even or fair fights," suggested Travis.
"Antaeus lunged and I rolled under his legs and stabbed him in the back of the thigh," said Percy.
"Antaeus screamed but where blood should have fallen; it was a spout of sand," informed Annabeth.
"It was like I had busted the side of an hourglass, however the earth rose up to collect around his leg. It was almost like a cast, but the wound was gone when the earth fell away," described Percy.
"Antaeus charged at Percy again who dodged sideways and stabbed him under the arm. Riptide's blade was buried to the hilt in his ribs," reported Annabeth.
"Unfortunately the sword was wrenched out of my hands when Antaeus turned and I was thrown across the room without my weapon," mumbled Percy.
"And Antaeus disintegrated, a direct hit and by a celestial bronze blade had to have destroyed his essence," stated Clarisse.
"NO, Antaeus pulled out the sword tossing it behind him. More sand poured from him but again the earth rose up to cover him. Dirt covered most of his body, but once again when the dirt spilled away he was fine," sighed Rachel.
"No wonder he never loses, the earth keeps healing him," cried Chris.
"I realised that although Antaeus was Poseidon's son, Gaea, his mother, the earth mother was keeping him alive. I couldn't hurt him as long as he was touching the ground," admitted Percy.
"Antaeus was blocking Percy from getting to his sword and he kept doing so, the crowd screaming and jeering for him to finish Percy off; however Antaeus was having too much fun," reported Annabeth.
"I had a plan. When I felt Riptide return to my pocket, I put my plan into action. Antaeus thought I was trying to reach my sword in the dirt behind him, and I used this to my advantage," said Percy ignoring the groans and cheers when he mentioned having a plan.
"Percy charged straight at Antaeus, crouching low, like he was going to roll between his legs. Antaeus was stooping ready to stop him, like you would in football," described Rachel. "Somehow Percy jumped onto Antaeus and scrambled up his shoulder and placed his foot onto his head."
"You climbed up Antaeus!" exclaimed several gods and goddesses.
"Antaeus straighten up and I pushed off his head using the force to catapult me towards the ceiling. I caught a chain and wrapped my legs around the chain, like I use to do at the rope course in gym class," explained Percy.
"Percy drew Riptide and sawed off a chain near him. Antaeus bellowed for Percy to come down, trying to reach him, but he was just out of reach," said Annabeth.
"Percy yelled at Antaeus to come and get him, or was he too slow and fat," chuckled Rachel.
"Percy would insult him," said Will.
"What did you expect? He is very good at insulting monsters," laughed Thalia.
"Antaeus made another grab at Percy before he caught a chain and tried to pull himself up," explained Rachel.
"While he was struggling Percy lowered the chain he had sawn off, hook first; and after two tries, snagged Antaeus's loincloth," continued Annabeth.
"I quickly slipped the free chain through the fastening link on my own chain and pulled it taut, securing it the best I could," explained Percy.
"Antaeus tried to slip to the ground but his butt stayed suspended by the loincloth. He had to hold onto the other chains with both hands to avoid flipping upside down," sniggered Annabeth as the room broke into chuckles as they imagined the scene being described.
"I hope that is a good quality loincloth," said Artemis.
"So did I. I scrambled around the chains and made loops with hooks and metal links and within minutes the giant was suspended above the ground, hopelessly entangled in chains and hooks," admitted Percy.
"It was like watching a crazed monkey," joked Rachel. "I don't know how he did it."
"Sally always says he has a gift of getting stuff tangled up," giggled Annabeth.
"I dropped to the floor as Antaeus demanded me to get him down. Luke ordered me to free Antaeus," said Percy.
"Percy uncapped Riptide and stabbed the giant in the stomach. He bellowed as sand poured out but he was too far up to touch the earth and the dirt did not rise up to help him," described Annabeth.
"Antaeus just dissolved, pouring out bit by bit until all there was left was a really big loincloth and a bunch of grinning skulls on swinging chains," said Percy.
"Luke screamed that he should have killed Percy a long time ago," sniggered Rachel.
"He tried and failed," cackled Ares.
"Luke refused to let us go, even though Percy had a sworn agreement with Antaeus," explained Annabeth.
"I had expected this, as Luke explained that Antaeus's oath had died with him, but he was feeling merciful and would kill us quickly," informed Percy.
"Luke pointed at Annabeth telling his minions to spare the girl," stated Rachel.
"Why would he want to spare Annabeth?" questioned Hera.
"Because Luke loved her," squealed Aphrodite.
"He wanted to speak to me before their great triumph," said Annabeth rolling her eyes.
"We never really found out why he wanted to talk to you," said Rachel looking at Annabeth. Nico and Percy exchanged looks but kept quiet.
"Every monster in the audience drew their weapons or extended their claws," said Percy.
"You are outnumbered and trapped. How do you escape?" questioned Zeus.
"I felt a freezing sensation in my pocket that kept growing colder and colder," responded Percy.
"The dog whistle," exclaimed Demeter.
"I had been advoiding using Quintus's gift for days. Sure it was a trap but I now had no choice. I took it out and blew. It made no audible sound as it shattered into shards of ice and melted in my hand. Luke laughed wondering what it was supposed to screamed do, when behind me came a surprised yelp and the Laistrygonian giant who was guarding Annabeth flew past me and smashed into the wall," said Percy.
"Kelli screamed as the two-hundred- kilogram black mastiff picked her up like a chew toy and tossed her through the air and into Luke's lap," said Annabeth.
"Is Mrs O'Leary really two hundred kilograms?" asked Will.
"Yes," answered Thalia.
"How do you know that?" asked Zeus.
"We may have weighed her during one of our family outings," admitted Nico quietly.
"You weighed Mrs O'Leary?" questioned Annabeth.
"At one of those heavy vehicle weigh stations," replied Percy.
"How those two talk me into it, I have no idea," groaned Thalia shaking her head.
"Thankfully the monsters were caught completely by surprise. Percy yelled for us to go and told Mrs O'Leary to heel. I guided Percy to the far exit and we all run including Ethan Nakamura, with Mrs O'Leary right behind us. As we ran we could hear the disorganised sounds of an entire army trying to get out of the stands to follow us," said Rachel.