I do not own Percy Jackson nor Heroes of Olympus, they belong to Rick Riordan.
Chapter Eighteen - Carlos
The look that Alyx got on her face when she held the statue scared the living daylights out of him. Her eyes paled almost to white, and glazed over. Her lips turned into a frown.
And then she snapped out of it and threw the statue across the yard. Liam retrieved it and gave it back, and then she did it again. While she was out of it, the ground rumbled, like an earthquake. The giant rose from the pile, covered in Celestial Bronze, steel and all kinds of appliances.
After he shook her out of her stupor, she looked at the giant and visibly paled.
"Run!" He yelled, grabbing her wrist and bolting. Liam ran next to him, pale as well. They dove behind a small hill of crates, panting. Liam shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his bow, the cube transforming into the elegant bow. His quiver appeared on his back. Alyx pulled out Riptide and he pulled out his own sword.
"I wish my sword could turn into something…" He pouted as Alyx uncapped the pen.
"Really? Now is the time to wish that?" She asked, shoving the statue into her pocket. The giant looked around for them, letting out a low rumble when he didn't find them. Liam pulled out a regular arrow, loading it and cocking it. He stared at the giant for a moment before letting go, the arrow seeming to go in a right place.
It bounced off harmlessly as soon as it hit the metal. Liam paled, pouting.
"Keep me covered." Alyx said.
"Wait, what?" She ran around as she let out a battle cry, running towards the giant at full speed.
"Oh my gods, she is so stupid." He face palmed, Liam nodding along. Alyx dodged the giant's punches and swings of his legs, but eventually she would wear out.
"Alyx, you can't fight him yourself!" She looked over, and he immediately regretted saying anything. The giant swing his fist, and she bowling into a pile.
"Alyx!" He cried and gave up their location. The giant turned toward them, raising his fist to slam into them.
"Uh oh…" He said, grabbing Liam's sleeve. Liam grabbed his waist and bolted out of the giant's punch, and Carlos squeezed his eyes shut until he realized he wasn't dead. He opened his eyes and looked around, trembling a bit.
He nearly screamed.
They hovered above the giant's head.
"You can fly?!" He yelped. Liam blushed brightly and nodded. He looked down and saw a figure standing in the rumble.
"Lower me." Liam lowered him down, keeping him away from Alyx and from the giant. "I meant to Alyx." He frowned and shook his head. He crossed his arms. Liam moved out of the way, pointing at her. He followed his finger, and what he saw shocked him.
She stood, unscathed, black lightning sparking around her. Riptide was nowhere to be found. A shadow was over her face. The giant took notice, and turned toward her. He bit his lip, trying to come up with a plan, and froze.
It felt like the simulator he took in his sophomore year of high school. It was a battle simulator and you drove this giant metal lion and it would aim at the target with precision.
That's what it felt like now. The aim appeared in his vision and spots on the giant appeared on his field of vision.
"His weak points…" He whispered. Liam raised his eyebrow. He coughed.
"What…" He managed out.
"Alyx!" He yelled and she looked over. He was startled at her features. She had taken off her sweater in the car before they came inside the junkyard, and the faint glow like the other day was under her bandages. Her face had purple veins on her face, bright like a light.
"I have a plan! Distract it until Liam takes the shot!" She nodded and pulled out her dagger, running at full speed. He grabbed Liam's arm and pointed at the spots.
"His hips, knees, and ribs are wide open. That's where you need to shoot." Liam raised his eyebrow, and looked up, saw where he was pointing and nodded, pulling out an explosive arrow. He pulled it back, his eyes concentrated. Alyx was doing all sorts of crazy flips and rolls to avoid the giant's punches and swings, sometimes jumping onto his arms and running up his arms, driving her dagger into him.
Liam let the arrow fly. It landed in his ribs, Alyx jumping off. There was a beeping noise and an explosion made the giant roar and tilt. Liam loaded another and shot, this time in his knee, and again in his hip. The explosions happened simultaneously and the giant fell sideways, electricity sparking on him. Alyx landed in front of them, sheathing her dagger and tilting her head.
"Nice shot." She said, turning to them. The weird veins had vanished and the glowing had stopped. She patted both pockets and sighed.
"Both are in. Let's get out of here-"
"Hold!" He looked up to see a giant ship lowering. They immediately pulled on their masks, but their hoods were inside the car.
"Stay there!" It was Leon's voice, the girl that they saw at AutoZone and in his dream. The ship landed, a ramp lowering and people pouring down it. They huddled close around Alyx, because… Because…
"What?" She hissed quietly.
"I don't know." He hissed back. "I just feel like we need to protect you."
"I do not need protecting." He scowled, glaring as a girl came close. She held an Imperial Gold spear, dressed in jeans, boots and a t-shirt that said SPQR on it.
Liam quickly grabbed their waists, making them yelp. He launched off the ground, the people gasping, one yelling:
"Phillip! Get him!" Alyx looked over his shoulder and he did the same. A dark skinned, dark haired guy was advancing on them, carrying an Imperial Gold sword.
"Um, go faster!" He yelped. Liam nodded and bolted, and they landed at their car. He set them down and they loaded in.
"Drive!" Alyx yelped. Liam put the key in the ignition and turned it on, pulling out of the parking lot. "Let me have your bow!" He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to her, putting his foot on the gas. She opened the sun roof and popped out, pulling an arrow from the quiver, which was thankfully a regular one. She pulled it back, aiming at the guy. She narrowed her eyes, and he faltered for a second, giving her a chance. She let go and it flew, landing in his shoulder. He heard a yell of pain, and looked back, seeing him roll on the road, the arrow sticking out of his shoulder. She came down, the bow reverting back into its cube sized. They reverted their masks, panting.
They drove all night, only stopping for gas once. Eventually they made it into Nashville. Apparently the receptionist took pity on them because they looked extremely exhausted, which they were, and she gave them the largest suite.
He opened the door, his eyes widening.
"Wow." Alyx said.
Wow was right. The walls were blue and gold paisley, the floors a dark brown carpet and a large flat screen TV. Three king sized beds were in the bedroom, and the bathroom was big as well. A plush couch was in the living room and it had a kitchenette. Liam immediately went to the nearest bed, set his backpack down and laid down, smacking his lips together.
"Let's take a bath and get to bed."
They took a bath together, not once mentioning the weird glowing or the people after them. They washed each other, ate a small snack since the fight had taken a lot out of them, and Alyx rewrapped Liam's throat and gave him a dose of nectar.
"You should be able to talk in the morning." She said. "Or afternoon." She narrowed her eyes then patted his chest. "Get some rest, Liam. You did great today." He gave her a smile and happily crawled into bed, hugging his pillow close and immediately falling asleep. He crawled into bed, snuggling down under the covers and watching her go to her bed, her weapons laid out along with the statue. She sat cross legged, staring at them with sadness and longing. He knew that look. He saw it every time he looked in the mirror.
"We'll get your family back, Alyx." He said. She nodded, waving her hand and they disappeared. He looked at her in amazement. "When did you learn that?" She shrugged, and the worry lines appeared on her face.
"Sleep, okay?" She nodded and snuggled under the covers, her eyes closing.
When he woke up, Alyx was pacing, Liam on his bed and tiredly rubbing his eyes like the way Pearl use to do when she was a toddler. He sat up.
"What's wrong?" He asked sleepily.
"The statue is gone!"
To Be Continued...