***Hi guys. So sorry this chapter is a day late, life has been hectic the past few days and I didn't have time to do my final edit and post it. Again, sorry about that. Good news, though, Chapter 30 will be up on Friday the 13th . It features Leo's POV and should have some fun moments. Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!***

XXIX. HAZEL

Hazel came to just as Gaea and Porphyrion disappeared into the ground. She assumed she had a concussion, because that image made no sense whatsoever. What she could understand, though, was Alcyoneus and a pack of monsters attacking Jason, Piper, and Annabeth.

Hazel pushed herself to her feet, even though every muscle in her body protested the movement. Her head was swimming from slamming against the pillar and she felt like throwing up, but she forced herself to take in what was happening in the Parthenon. Jason was flying around Alcyoneus, dodging the giant's attacks and occasionally stabbing him with his sword, much to the giant's annoyance. Piper seemed to be injured, because she was standing with all her weight on her right leg, but she was holding her own against several dracaenae, who were getting in each other's way with their wild spear swinging. In her other hand, Piper had the cornucopia, which she was using to shoot cheeseburgers into the air. Hazel realized the brilliance of this strategy when she saw that the gryphons shrieking above them were much more interested in the burgers than the demigods, diving to snatch the food out of the air.

Closer to Hazel, Annabeth was slicing through some Cyclopes, trying to get to Percy, who was lying on the ground, barely moving. Before Hazel could move to help any of her friends, a Cyclops charged towards her. Hazel raised her cavalry sword just in time to cut the monster's legs out from under him and he crumbled to dust before he even hit the ground. One down, she thought.

Looking around, Hazel saw that there were less than half a dozen monsters left. That, she knew, they could handle. The real issue was Alcyoneus. The giant was still roaring in anger, flailing around and trying to snatch Jason out of the air, but not having much luck. They needed to take him out. And Hazel thought she might actually know how to do that. But she needed help.

She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled, as loudly as she could. Please hear me, please hear me, she thought desperately, crossing her fingers. Her heart leapt as she saw a tan blur come streaking across the hills and down the streets. Arion trampled down the final three dracaena and a Cyclops before stopping in front of Hazel and whinnying proudly.

She climbed into the saddle and patted his neck. "Good horse. Now let's take down this giant again. You remember how we did it in Alaska?"

Arion neighed and reared up on his hind legs, which Hazel took for a yes. She pulled the rope she, Percy, and Piper had used while climbing the Acropolis from her backpack. "Okay, let's go!"

They charged forward so fast Hazel was able to loop the rope twice around the giant's legs before Alcyoneus realized what was happening.

"What is this?" The giant tugged at the rope, then glared at Hazel. He lunged towards her, but he was no match for Arion's speed. The horse dodged nimbly out of the way and added a kick at Alcyoneus's face for good measure.

Hazel secured one end of the rope around Arion's saddle, then tossed the other end to Jason. "What's the plan?" he asked.

"We have to get him over the water," Hazel said. "Alcyoneus is only immortal in the land in which he's reborn."

Jason grinned. "Let's go!"

Jason summoned the wind and Hazel spurred Arion, who took off like a shot. Alcyoneus howled as he was dragged forward. There was a dull thunk as his head hit a pillar, but he kept on yelling, cursing Hazel, Jason, and their friends and describing the different tortures he would make them suffer when he was free.

Talk all you want, buddy, Hazel thought as they sped through Athens, the bay rapidly growing closer. This ends now.

They got to the water and Hazel cut the rope tying the giant to Arion at the same moment Jason let go of the end he was holding. Alcyoneus skipped across the surface like a stone, then began to sink like one. The gold and gems covering his body dimmed like a flame inside the giant had been snuffed out. He glared at Hazel as he flailed in the water. "This isn't over, demigods. You will never defeat Gaea or my brothers. When the Earth Mother rules, the Underworld will be mine. And then, Hazel Levesque, your soul will burn for eternity."

Hazel looked at Jason. "I am sick of listening to this guy talk."

Jason nodded. "Let's shut him up."

He raised his sword and thunder rumbled. Lightning arced off the Imperial gold blade and blasted Alcyoneus in the chest. Before the giant could recover, Arion raced over. Hazel leaned down from the horse and plunged her sword right through the giant's heart. Alcyoneus disintegrated with a final, anguished wail.

Annabeth, Percy, and Piper were waiting for them when they got back to the Acropolis. All three looked like they'd had some ambrosia. Hazel was relieved to see Percy back on his feet.

"Are you okay?" she asked him as she slid off of Arion.

He nodded. "Took a chunk of marble to the head. I don't recommend it."

Annabeth looked from Hazel to Jason. "Alcyoneus?"

"Rubble," Jason said.

Piper bit her lip. "What about Frank and Leo?"

Fear crashed into Hazel, choking her. In the chaos, she had almost forgotten what Gaea had said about causing a cave-in and crushing them. "Oh gods."

Percy put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll find them."

"I'll make a quick pass around the Acropolis," Jason volunteered. "That way we don't waste time looking in the wrong place." He summoned the winds and disappeared over the side of the cliff.

They waited in silence for him to come back. Arion whickered softly and nuzzled Hazel. She stroked the horse's nose mechanically, fighting to keep the panic at bay. After only a few minutes, Jason returned. Hazel's heart twisted when she saw the grim look on his face.

"I found the right cave," he said. "But we have a serious problem."

It was obvious that there had been a cave-in. Boulders, loose stones, and dirt spilled from the mouth of the cave, completely blocking the entrance. The sight made Hazel nauseous and judging by her friends' pale faces, they felt the same way.

"It might not be as bad as it looks," Annabeth managed to say. "Maybe—maybe just the entrance is blocked. They could have been further back and just been trapped."

Piper's chin trembled. "Either way, we have to clear the entrance."

"Can you move all of these rocks?" Percy asked Hazel.

"I think so." Hazel thrust out her hands, willing the stones to move aside, to create a tunnel so she could rescue her friends.

Nothing happened. It was like the earth itself was resisting her. With a shock, she realized that it was. Gaea was trying to keep her from saving her friends.

Rage like she had never known filled Hazel. She hated Gaea. She hated her for taking away her mother, her first life, Sammy, everything. But the earth goddess was not taking Frank and Leo.

The ground shook. Against her anger, this pile of rocks was nothing. Hazel screamed. Boulders burst into gravel. Stones flung themselves out of the way, clearing a path straight into the heart of the cave.

Hazel fell to her knees, dizzy with the effort.

Percy pulled her to her feet, his eyes wide. "That was terrifying."

"Come on," Hazel said. "We need to find Frank and Leo."

The cave was shallow. Twenty feet in they found Frank and Leo sitting up, coughing from the dust and covered in bruises, but alive.

Such powerful relief washed over Hazel it made her knees wobbly. She half-tackled Frank, throwing her arms around him. "You're alive!"

"Yeah, well, it's nice to have a friend who can turn into an elephant when the roof collapses," Leo said as Jason held out a hand and helped him up. "Zhang here held the rocks back long enough to slow the cave-in and keep us from being completely crushed. I assume we have Gaea to thank for that one?"

"Yep," Piper said as she hugged Leo.

"Great," Frank grumbled as he and Hazel stood up. He looked at Jason and Annabeth. "At least the rescue worked out and you were able to keep Gaea from waking up."

Percy winced. "Yeah, about that—"

The earth trembled. Hazel closed her eyes and willed the rocks around them to stay in place. After a moment, the earthquake died down.

"Let's get back to the ship," Hazel suggested. "It sounds like we have a lot to discuss."