XXIII

Percy

Through his ears, Percy could hear the hissing of snakes. Medusa had taken off her turban. Even though his eyelids were shut, he still could feel the heat coming on them by the stare of Medusa.

He heard her walking up to him, and felt the tiny bites the snakes in her hair were giving him. "Now, now," she cooed gently, running her fingers down his cheeks. "You wouldn't want to refuse a poor, old woman like me, would you?" she breathed down his neck, her fingernails gently twirling his hair around.

Percy easily resisted the urge. He'd resisted the urge before. He felt the pressure lessen as she moved on to a different target.

"Annabeth." She murmured. "You feel weighed down, don't you, poor thing! You should just open your eyes and stay with me! All your problems, gone. All… you… need… to do… is… look."

Annabeth gripped Percy's hand so tight that he started to feel droplets of blood on his skin. "No, Medusa." She said. "I'm fine with the life I have."

Medusa cackled a little. "Or so you think." She said.

And so it carried on, Medusa trying to seduce them into opening their eyes. Percy didn't dare open them, for he was afraid that he might look straight into her eyes.

None of them were about to open their eyes. Percy slowly reached into his pocket and took out his pen… only it wasn't there.

He felt a cold, metal object move along his neck, tracing out a cut. He felt Medusa lift it off.

"Open-your-eyes." She said. "Or you die."

Annabeth tightened her grip. "Don't listen to her, Percy!" Suddenly, Percy heard the hollow bong. Annabeth had probably pulled out her sword. "Now, now." Medusa tutted. "Percy, you have three seconds. One…"

Percy's mind was out of ideas. Frank might be able to shoot her, but he had no idea if she was looking at him, and Frank needed to be able to aim so that he wouldn't shoot him. Hazel might, but this was the coast. There would probably not be any gemstones lying below them. Jason couldn't summon lightning without water filling the dome up, Piper's charmspeak wouldn't work on Medusa, and both he and Annabeth had no weapons.

"Two…"

Carter. But he pushed the idea out of his mind. If Carter did anything like he'd done, they would know who he was. And that could never happen-it would open up a giant feud that had been going on for millennia.

"Three…"

"Don't do it, Percy!" Annabeth yelled.

Percy had no choice now. If he revealed the secret, there was no going back. Besides, if the Egyptian gods were real and Carter could host one of them, they would know eventually. Why not now?

"Carter!" he yelled. As he felt the wind from the blade, Medusa's grip loosened on his back. He heard the clang of metal against concrete. "Don't open your eyes yet!" He yelled at the others. "Cut her head off first."

He advanced slowly, perfectly aware that his sword was still lying on the ground. Judging by what he had seen, Carter had probably used the giant fist spell. But nonetheless, he was glad to be alive.

He felt his pen reappearing in his pocket. "Guys, come over!" he yelled. He felt the body beneath his feet, still squishy and alive. He was about to slice down when he suddenly felt two hands around his eyes, forcing them open.

He stared right into Medusa's eyes, feeling a slow coolness creep up his body. It started at the eyes, which meant he couldn't see, then his arms, so he couldn't move.

He heard a spurt of blood through his barely working ears, then the coolness continued up to their tips. He was deaf now.

Then it continued down, towards his chest. Then, he felt it reach his heart.

And he fell into darkness.

Time stood still.

Percy felt weightless. He felt like he was in space, just floating about. Everything was black. When he tried to feel himself, all he felt was thin air; everything just felt surreal.

He kicked, and he went up. Flipped around, kicked, and he went down. Unlike space, Percy could feel a sense of position. He also felt a sense of calm, like he could live here forever.

He did this for a very long time. So long that he had no clue as to how long he had been like this.

Then he realized he had no idea who he was.

Where am I? he thought. How do I leave?

Suddenly, two giant slits opened up in front of him. A blinding light seeped through them, filling the room up. He could see every nook and cranny. Yet, it was completely empty.

Percy…

Percy… He heard the voice calling him again. What was it? He started to feel his arms again…

Percy, come back!

He floated in midair, not sure what to do. What was happening?

Come on, you're so close…

Percy concentrated. Where had he heard those voices before? Names started to rush into his mind: Frank. Hazel. Jason. Piper. Nico. Reyna. Carter.

He started to feel his limbs. He started to feel warmth course through his whole body.

Percy!

Annabeth's voice gave Percy a jolt of strength. He would get out of this.

He'd never realized he'd been paralyzed until now. All the kicking around- had that been a dream?

He started to move his fingers. Toes. Knees.

And he burst out of the stone.