THE doors dinged and Thalia stepped out tentatively, jaw clenched. She couldn't understand what had just gone down, but she led the dizzy Grover out of the elevator with her left hand, onto the aerial walkway.

Both she and the city of the gods looked depressed. Luke had been vanished away, by some Hecate magic, and Thalia was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, worry for her friend overriding her system. But she had impaled the mist form, although she was a few seconds too late, and her lips curled in anger as she threw the torn up pieces of paper over the side of Mount Olympus with her free hand.

She glanced around, eyes glinting, head pounding. Was Luke dead? What had Alabaster's mist form done to him? Where had he vanished to? Thalia wanted to scream. How was she supposed to face off against Kronos when her best friend was missing, possibly dead, her boyfriend wasn't bothering to call, and her forces were reduced to a few demigods, hunters and horses who were ready to die from exhaustion?

Thalia exhaled, exchanging a glance with Grover as they walked inside. No fires lit the braziers in Olympus. The windows were dark. The streets were deserted and the doors were barred. The only movement was in the parks, which had been set up as field hospitals. Will Solace and the other Apollo campers scrambled around, caring for the wounded. The wounded were so, so many. Naiads and dryads tried to help, using nature magic songs to heal burns and poison.

She was a bit distracted, as Grover planted the laurel sapling, watching the injured people around her. Thalia couldn't help but think she had led them all to their deaths. Had she seriously thought they could fight thousands and thousands of monsters and Titans, and come out unscathed? She spotted a satyr with a broken leg, a demigod who was bandaged from head to toe, and a body covered in the golden burial shroud of Apollo's cabin. She didn't want to know who was underneath.

She caught sight of Dionysus's son Pollux propped up against a tree. He had a broken arm, but otherwise he was okay; except for the clear fatigue written on his face.

When Grover was done, he stood. "We have to find out what happened to Luke."

Thalia's breath stuttered. 'What—what if he's…"

"We could ask Bianca," Grover said, dubiously. "She would know, right?" She hated the fact that they were talking about their best friend like he was already gone.

Grover, and Thalia kept walking toward the palace. That was where Kronos would head. As soon as he made it up the elevator—and deep within her, Thalia knew that he would—he would destroy the throne room, the centre of the gods' power, and kill all those who resisted him, if she didn't beat him.

The bronze doors creaked open at her touch. Their footsteps echoed on the marble floor. The constellations above them twinkled lowly, as if they were afraid to shine. They looked dead. The hearth was down to a dull red glow. Hestia, in the form of a little girl in brown robes, hunched at its edge, shivering. The Ophiotaurus swam sadly in his sphere of water. He let out a half-hearted moo when he spotted them approaching.

The throne room was gathering dust, and despite the fire, Thalia suddenly felt cold.

Standing at the foot of her dad's throne, looking up at the stars, was Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She was holding a Greek ceramic vase.

"Rachel?" The daughter of Zeus called, shock in her voice. "What are you doing with that?"

She focused on Thalia, blinking slowly as if she were coming out of a dream. "It appeared in front of me, in the elevator. It's Pandora's jar, isn't it?"

Her eyes were brighter than usual and Thalia frowned. "Please put down the jar," She told the other girl.

"I can see Hope inside it." Rachel ran her fingers over the ceramic designs. "So fragile."

"Rachel," Her voice was hard, and it seemed to jar the redhead back into reality. She held out the pithos, and Thalia took it. The clay impossibly felt colder than the room.

"Where's Luke?" Rachel cocked her head in question. Thalia exhaled, face crumpling. "We were attacked in the elevator," She informed the girl. "He vanished."

Rachel frowned, eyes growing distant. "He's gone already? Something else is happening. Somewhere far from here. Luke…Luke is there, with the flying boy. Without him, death will subdue them."

Over by the fire, Hestia was huddled in her robes, rocking back and forth. Thalia glowered. She was getting tired of Rachel's random words and visions, which always came without meaning. She didn't bother asking the girl what she was trying to say.

"Come on," She sighed, motioning to her two companions. "I want you to meet someone."

They walked slowly to sit beside the goddess of the hearth. "Lady Hestia," Thalia bowed.

"Hello, Thalia Grace," the goddess murmured. "Getting colder. Harder to keep the fire going."

"I know," She pursed. "The Titans are near."

Hestia focused on Rachel, the familiar flames in her eyes lighting up. "Hello, my dear. You've come to our hearth at last."

Rachel blinked. "You've been expecting me?"

Hestia held out her hands, and the coals glowed. Thalia saw images in the fire: She, Luke and Annabeth around the campfire at Camp Half- Blood, singing songs and roasting marshmallows, then she was in a park, running around Beryl Grace, a blond haired menace—Jason—chasing after her. She and Percy, leaning against each other on the shores of the Camp Half-Blood lake, glancing up at the sky and pointing out the constellations.

She felt the tension leave her shoulders. Grover sighed, the worry running from his eyes. Rachel released a breath, looking relaxed. "To claim your place at the hearth," Hestia told the other girl, "you must let go of your distractions. It is the only way you will survive."

Rachel nodded. "I . . . I understand."

"Wait," Thalia was still confused. "What is she talking about?"

Rachel took a shaky breath. "Thalia, when I came here . . . I thought I was coming for you. And for Luke. But I wasn't. What I said, the message I delivered, it's not wrong, you aren't the hero. And Luke… Luke and I—we don't work, we never will." She shook her head.

"Wait. Now Luke's a distraction? I thought you liked him?" Grover had arched a brow at her.

"I do," she stuttered. "I like him a lot. He's a sweet person, and he was the nicest to me, from all your friends. I was drawn to both of you because…because you opened the door to all of this." She gestured at the throne room. "I needed to understand my true sight. But me and Luke, that wasn't part of it. Our fates aren't intertwined. I think he's always known that, deep down. I know he'll understand, when he gets back."

Thalia stared at her, pretty sure the mortal had just dumped her best friend.

"So…what," I said. '"Thanks for bringing me to Olympus. See you.' Is that what you're saying?"

Rachel stared at the fire.

"Thalia Grace," Hestia said. "Rachel has told you all she can. She and your friend will sort out their differences when he returns from where he has been taken. Her moment is coming, but your decision approaches even more rapidly. Are you prepared?"

Thalia huffed. The pressure was getting to her, and she knew she was far from prepared.

She glanced at Pandora's jar, and for the first time, she had an urge to open it. Hope seemed pretty useless to her right now. So many of her friends were dead. Luke was gone. Percy hadn't contacted her. Annabeth was hosting a homicidal Titan lord. A monster army surrounded the building. Olympus was on the verge of falling, and she had seen so many cruel things the gods had done, throughout the years. But she had come too far to stop fighting for them now.

She could hear Prometheus in her ear, telling her to surrender, to open the pithos, to save Camp Half-Blood and all those left.

Then Thalia looked at Hestia. Her red eyes glowed warmly. She remembered the images she had seen in her hearth—her friends. Her family.

And then she remembered something Chris Rodriguez had said, when he'd been talking to her and Luke: 'There's no point in defending camp if you guys die. All our friends are here.'

And she remembered her dream of Nico, standing up to his father, Hades: 'If Olympus falls, your own palace's safety doesn't matter.'

She pursed her lips. Thalia knew what she would do when the time came. She was ready now. The black haired girl glanced at Rachel. "You're not going to do anything stupid, are you? I mean…you talked to Chiron, right? Luke seemed pretty worked up about your visions."

She managed a faint smile. "Yes, I spoke to Chiron. I know what I have to do. And I think, you do too." Thalia stared at her friend, remembering how she had almost run her through with a spear two years ago.

"Will you be okay? You…you won't go insane, will you?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "That kind of depends on whether you save the world, doesn't it?"

Thalia nodded. She picked up Pandora's jar. The spirit of Hope fluttered inside, trying to warm the cold container.

"Hestia," She said, "I give this to you as an offering."

The goddess tilted her head. "I am the least of the gods. Why would you trust me with this?"

"You're the last Olympian," Thalia told her, recalling the goddess' words from days ago. "And the most important."

"And why is that, daughter of Zeus?"

"Because Hope survives best at the hearth. Hope belongs at home. And home is where the hearth it," She said, softly. "Guard it for me, and I won't be tempted to give up again."

The goddess smiled. She took the jar in her hands and it began to glow. The hearth fire burned a little brighter. "Well done, Thalia Grace," she said. "May the gods bless you."

She turned to Grover, who had remained silent throughout the whole exchange. "Come on," She said. "Get a prism, and some drachmas. I have to talk to my boyfriend."

-X-

LUKE groaned as he came to, blinking rapidly. He shot up, hand going to his side, and visibly relaxed when he felt Soul Reaper beside him. He was lying in a soft bed, and the son of Hermes frowned in confusion, wondering what had happened.

He remembered Lou, and her magic hands, and he remembered seeing Zoë and other armoured kids. But he knew he didn't know them, and their armour was pure gold, unlike Camp Half-Blood's, which was mostly leather and celestial bronze.

He placed his hands in his head, wincing as he tried to move off. His insides ached. Luke gritted his teeth, then suddenly stiffened when he heard footsteps. His hands moved to his sword, ready to strike.

But he visibly relaxed when Zoë Nightshade marched in, a glare on her face. "Castellan," She said, in a low voice. "You are awake."

He nodded, arching a brow. "So I'm not dead?" The huntress snorted, not deigning him with an answer.

"What in Diana's name are you doing here?" She demanded instead.

Luke frowned. "Who's Diana?" The girl frowned, muttering a string of curses in what Luke knew was Latin.

"Zoë, what's wrong?" He asked slowly. "Where are we? Bianca said you were on a special mission for Lady—"

He was interrupted by another set of footsteps, and Luke shut up quickly when two people, the same ones he'd seen before, marched in. They stood upright, and walked stiffly, head held high, hands on their weapons. The dark haired girl met his eyes, and he saw the mild surprise and curiosity in them. She turned back to Zoë and said, "Miss Nightshade, Praetor Michelle has requested your presence at the front lines. Saturn's monsters are regrouping, and we are preparing another attack."

Zoë nodded, waving her hands. "Okay, Centurion Reyna. I shall be there in a few minutes."

"What are we going to do about him?" The boy spoke. Luke frowned. The boy had blue eyes, much like Thalia's and he had unruly blond hair. His nose was familiar, and his chin…it was exactly like Thalia's.

"I told you already, Jason," Zoë frowned. Luke choked. "He's a friend of the Hunt, and he is under our protection. None of you are to touch him. I can vouch for his credibility. He shall join the fight."

Luke's eyes had widened at Zoë's words, but the others didn't seem to notice. He watched, stunned, as the two marched out. When they were gone, he stood, and whirled on the hunter. "Is that Thalia's brother?" He hissed.

"Keep it down," Zoë snarled right back.

"Thalia's brother is alive!" He whisper-yelled. He remembered, the sad stories his best friend had told him and Annabeth, about how Jason had disappeared and what had happened after. He remembered how broken she had been.

The huntress sighed, pressing the bridge of her nose. She came closer, leaning down so she could speak in his ear rapidly. "These are Roman demigods. Another aspect of the godly world. When we get you out of here, I shall explain more. But there is a battle going on right now, and if you let it slip that you are a Greek, you shall be publicly executed. I told them you have helped the Hunters fight down monsters in the past, and that you are a wandering son of Mercury, and you shall do well to stick to that story."

She pulled away, and ignoring his wide eyes, the immortal girl said, more loudly. "You're good enough to fight with us, right?"

He nodded, dumbly. Zoë's eyes were dark, and she muttered, "Good. Come, now. Today we take Othrys. You're going to help us destroy the Throne Room of the Titans."

XMX

HE followed Zoë through what seemed like a camp, weaving through tents, and passing by other scurrying hard-faced Roman fucking demigods. It all seemed like a joke, but he was seeing it now, and he knew the lieutenant of the hunt didn't joke.

He recognised the place. He'd been here twice already, but he still couldn't stop the bitter feeling which engulfed him when he looked up at the mountain, with the palace seated on its apex. They were in the fields which surrounded Mount Tam, and the Romans were smart, because they'd avoided the Hesperides' garden and the dragon all together.

"Be quick," Zoë called. He scrambled to follow after her, glancing around as they passed by an armoury-tent. It was huge, and it was fucking stocked, with more weapons and gold than Luke had ever seen.

They passed by another tent, this time filled with people. Luke could smell blood and alcohol, and his nose wrinkled in distaste and he hurried past the makeshift infirmary.

And soon, he saw the army in the distance. Luke stared in open-mouthed shock. There were so many demigods, nearing five hundred, a lot more than he had ever seen in one place. Each of them was dressed head to toe in golden armour, complete with the helmet, and they were decked with golden rectangular shaped shields, and holding golden tipped spears. Swords and knives hanged from their sides, and they were arranged in lines, bloody organised, like a sort of ancient army.

"These are the cohorts which form the legion," Zoë motioned to them. Luke could hear the whispers and he could feel the stares as he walked by. He was used to it. He remembered the first day they'd gotten to Camp. It had been just like this. They continued marching, until they were at the front of the columns of soldiers.

Luke caught sight of a group of people in front of the demigods. They were twelve in total, and Zoë herded him to them.

"So, the son of Mercury is awake," A buff looking girl said, staring blatantly at him with suspicion. She carried herself like Clarisse did, a permanent scowl etched on her face. Her golden breastplate was decorated with several badges, and she stood ramrod straight.

"He shall fight with us, Michelle," Another older boy berated her. "New campers come everyday." He also had the same badges.

"Well, they don't just appear out of thin air, Praetor James," A well built boy snorted.

"Shut up, Primus Pilus," The Praetor rolled his eyes. He turned to another scrawny boy with blond hair. "Centurion Octavian. After this battle, you shall consult the gods and verify this demigod."

The boy nodded in acceptance, although there was a bit distrust on his face. Luke cocked his head to the side. Verify? Yes, Zoë had said they thought he was Roman. Perhaps they thought he intended to join their army? He spoke up. "Uh, sorry, I don't think there'll be any need for that. I don't intend to stay long." The hunter's eyes flashed.

Luke met the dark haired girl—Reyna's—eyes again. She looked intrigued, and he felt himself flush at the intensity at which she was staring at him. Her eyes then widened, and he could see the recognition in them, although he was sure he had never seen her before.

"Enough useless chatter," Zoë cut in. "The Titans army approaches. What is the plan?" They all glanced up, and Luke blanched, watching the army descending down the mountain—dragons, dracaena, telkhines, empousa, hellhounds and giants. He could see two impossibly buff and glowing beings making their way down the mountain. Luke didn't recognise them but he knew they were some of the rogue Titans.

"The usual. We fight like we always do," Praetor Michelle said. "Centurions, you lead your cohorts, as usual. You know how it goes. For the Titans, Michael and Larry, you take teams of ten from the first and second cohort to handle them before they do too much damage. Bring them down. You guys are our best fighters."

There were nods of assent from around them. Luke glanced around, then spotted the hunters, climbing trees, preparing arrows and aiming for monsters.

He turned back to the others.

"Okay, Jason," Praetor James turned to Thalia's fucking still alive brother. The shock of it was still making him dizzy. Why hadn't Jason reached out, then?

James was still talking. Luke still didn't know what a praetor was, but he inferred that these two were the leaders of the Roman demigods. "You, Reyna, Hank are going to infiltrate the palace. We'll push back their lines, force them back up the mountain, and when we get to the top, you get inside, while we distract the army. You two are to get him to Saturn's' palace," James motioned to Reyna and a hunky guy called Hank. "Then you destroy the entire thing. Blast it to pieces with the power of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Understood?"

Reyna and the other two saluted.

"At ease," James waved them aside.

The three relaxed. Reyna glanced at him again, and spoke up. "The Mercury kid comes with us." Luke frowned. He knew Mercury was roman for Hermes but being called that was…different.

The others seemed confused, a put thrown off by her request. "That's odd—"

But Reyna cut James off before he could continue, and Luke was too stunned to speak. "We have to prove ourselves before being accepted into the Legion. This is as good a chance as any."

Jason frowned. Michelle looked contemplative. Finally, she nodded. "As long as you don't get him killed, then sure."

"You'll join me, with my cohort for this battle," Reyna said, smartly. "If you survive this, maybe you'll have a place among them."

"Good luck then, Centurions," James saluted them. The others did the same. Luke was still reeling from it all. It was giving military school.

"They're here," Zoë spoke. Luke watched, as they dispersed, towards their cohorts. He saw Reyna and the others moving, and he made to follow them, but Nightshade grabbed his hand. "Don't do anything stupid." He nodded, and she let go. Without looking back, he raced after the two centurions of the third cohort.

-X-

BY THE time they got to the street, it was too late.

Campers and Hunters lay wounded on the ground. Clarisse must've lost a fight with a Hyperborean giant, because she and her chariot were frozen in a block of ice, her hand raised, sword outstretched. The centaurs were nowhere to be seen. Either they'd panicked and ran or they'd been disintegrated. Thalia felt panic engulf her. She had just spoken to Percy about Typhon, and immediately she had cut the IM, Pollux had rushed in to tell her Kronos was attacking again.

The Titan army ringed the building, standing maybe twenty feet from the doors. Kronos's vanguard was in the lead: Ethan Nakamura, Alabaster Torrington, a sickly looking Aphrodite, Athena, the dracaena queen in her green armour, and two Hyperboreans. She didn't see Prometheus or Lelantos, but there was another Titan, with stark white hair and blue eyes. Beside him was Kronos himself with his scythe in hand.

The only thing standing in his way was…"Chiron," Grover said, his voice trembling.

If Chiron heard, he didn't answer. He had an arrow notched, aimed straight at Kronos's face.

The Titan looked looked unamused. "Out of the way, child," Annabeth sneered. Hearing Annabeth call Chiron a child was weird, but the contempt in her voice made Thalia feel like he meant it as an insult.

"I'm afraid not." Chiron's tone was steely calm, the way he got when he was really angry.

"Chiron!" Grover called. "Look out!"

Kronos' eyes snapped towards them, and flared gold. Every muscle in her body froze as she stiffened. Then the Titan lord turned his attention back to Chiron, an eerie smile forming on his face. Thalia tried to move, but her feet felt like concrete. Grover, and Bianca were straining too, but they were just as stuck in time as her.

The dracaena queen became impatient and charged. Chiron's arrow flew straight between her eyes and she vapourised on the spot, her empty armour clattering to the asphalt. Chiron reached for another arrow, but his quiver was empty. He dropped the bow and drew his sword. Thalia knew he hated fighting with a sword. It was never his favourite weapon. She struggled, eyes widening. She had to intervene. If Chiron charged Kronos, he would be killed.

Kronos chuckled. He advanced a step, and Chiron's horse-half skittered nervously. His tail flicked back and forth.

"You're a teacher," Kronos sneered. "Not a hero."

"Annabeth was a hero," Chiron said. "She was a good one; one of the best I had ever taught," He paused, meeting Athena's eyes. "until you both corrupted her."

"FOOL!" Kronos bellowed. "You filled her head with empty promises. You lied to her about the gods. Athena showed me what true knowledge is. Athena showed me the new golden age!"

"Me," Chiron noticed. "You said me."

Kronos looked confused, and in that moment, Chiron struck. It was a good manoeuvre—a feint followed by a strike to the face. Luke would have been perfect at it, and Chiron had taught him. But Kronos was quick. He had all of Annabeth's fighting skill, which was a lot—Luke had taught her for years. He knocked aside Chiron's blade and yelled, "BACK!"

A blinding white light exploded between the Titan and the centaur. Chiron flew into the side of the building with such force the wall crumbled and collapsed on top of him.

"No!" Grover wailed. The freezing spell broke. They raced toward their teacher, but there was no sign of him. Grover and the blue eyed girl pulled helplessly at the bricks while a ripple of ugly laughter ran through the Titan's army.

Kronos raised his scythe, preparing to advance. Thalia whirled around, activating Aegis, and got ready to defend, but before Kronos could strike, a dog's howl pierced the air somewhere behind the Titan's army.

The enemy forces stirred uneasily. Then a wave of shouts surged through their ranks and they began to part, clearing a path through the street like something behind them was forcing them to. Thalia watched in mild shock as monsters were jerked to the side by invisible forces.

Soon there was a free aisle down the centre of Fifth Avenue. Standing at the end of the block was a giant dog, and a small figure in black armour. Mrs. O'Leary barked and bounded toward them, ignoring the growling monsters on either side. Nico strode forward, piercing dark eyes glinting. The enemy army fell back before him like he radiated death, which of course he did.

Through the face guard of his skull-shaped helmet, he smiled, passing by Kronos and his inner circle breezily. "Got your message, Thalia. And hello, Bianca. Is it too late to join the party?"

"Son of Hades." Kronos spat, twirling his scythe. "Do you love death so much you wish to experience it?"

"Your death," Nico said, voice suddenly loud, "that would be a great birthday present for me, yes."

"I'm immortal, fool! I have escaped Tartarus. You have no business here, and no chance to live."

Nico drew his sword—three feet of sharp Stygian iron, black as a nightmare. "I don't agree." Thalia grinned as he continued. "See, I didn't know Annabeth. Not as well as the others. So I have no qualms with running you through." He snapped his fingers.

The ground rumbled. Cracks appeared in the road, the sidewalks, the sides of the buildings. Skeletal hands grasped the air as the dead clawed their way into the world of the living. There were thousands of them, and as they emerged, the Titan's monsters got jumpy and started to back up. Thalia had thought Bianca's powers were sick. But Nico's was on a whole other level. Unlike his sister who barely used her powers, due to being in the Hunt, Nico had left Camp years ago to train with his father in the Underworld.

"Hold your ground!" Kronos' voice reverberated across the entire city. "The Dead are no match for us!"

But they are endless, Thalia thought. They would just keep on coming. Until the monsters were dead.

The sky turned dark and cold. Shadows thickened. A harsh war horn sounded, and as the dead soldiers formed up ranks with their guns and swords and spears, an enormous chariot roared down Fifth Avenue. It came to a stop next to Nico.

The horses were living shadows, fashioned from darkness. The chariot was inlaid with obsidian and gold, decorated with scenes of painful death. Holding the reins was Hades himself, Lord of the Dead, clad in obsidian armour and a cloak of blood, hair billowing around him. On top of his head was the helm of darkness, pulsing and radiating pure terror. It changed shape, from a dragon's head, to a circle of black flames, then a wreath of human bones. Thalia glanced away, feeling its power reaching into her mind, igniting her deepest fears. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole, and she knew the Titan army felt it worse. Demeter and Persephone rode behind the god, and beside her, Bianca grinned.

Only Kronos's power and authority kept his ranks from fleeing.

Hades smiled coldly. "Hello, Father. You're looking…feminine. Identifying as a teenage bimbo now?"

"Hades," Kronos growled. "I hope you and the ladies have come to pledge your allegiance."

The god snorted, ignoring the Titan King's words. He met eyes with the white haired Titan. "Uncle Koios. I always thought you were the wise one. But I see I was wrong." The other immortal scoffed at him.

"I shall kill you, then," Annabeth declared. "Just like how I will kill your brothers and sisters."

Hades' grin widened. He drew his sword, a double edged blade of Stygian iron, etched with silver. A set of keys hung from its hilt. Thalia recognised it. Persephone had tasked her, Nico and Luke to find it a few months ago. "Then fight me," He announced. "For today, the House of Hades will be called the Saviours of Olympus!"

"I don't have time for this," Kronos snarled. He struck the ground with his scythe. A crack spread in both directions, circling the Empire State Building. A wall of force shimmered along the fissure line, separating Kronos, Ethan, the giants, Bianca and Grover, and Thalia from the bulk of the two armies.

"What is he doing?" Bianca sounded horrified.

"Sealing us in," Thalia growled. "He's collapsing the magic barriers around Manhattan—cutting off just the building, and us."

Sure enough, outside the barrier, car engines revved to life. Pedestrians woke up and stared uncomprehendingly at the monsters and zombies all around them. Car doors opened. Hades roared, and he charged at the wall of force, but his chariot crashed against it and overturned. He got to his feet, cursing, and blasted the wall with black energy. The barrier held.

"ATTACK!" he bellowed.

The armies of the dead clashed with the Titan's monsters. Fifth Avenue exploded into absolute chaos. Mortals screamed and ran for cover. Demeter waved her hand and an entire column of giants turned into a wheat field. Persephone changed the dracaenae's spears into sunflowers. Nico slashed and hacked his way through the enemy, trying to protect the pedestrians as best he could.

Athena launched herself onto Demeter. Aphrodite and Persephone circled each other midair. Hades and Koios clashed swords in a flurry of sparks.

"Giants, deal with them," Kronos waved to Thalia, Bianca and Grover. "Nakamura, with me."

Thalia watched, a bit stunned as Kronos completely ignored her, like she wasn't worth the trouble. And then her confusion faded, replaced by anger. How dare he?

The first Hyperborean giant smashed at them with his club, and that spurned her into action. The demigod rolled between his legs and stabbed her spear into his backside. He shattered into a pile of ice shards. The second giant breathed frost at Grover and Bianca, but the Hades girl was fast. She sprinted up the giant's back like a gazelle, sliced her hunting knives across his monstrous blue neck, and the body fell to its knees as the head toppled off.

"We have to get to Kronos!" Grover yelled. "Come on!" Her heart twisted, wondering where Luke was now. She had always thought he would be by her side when she finally fought Kronos.

"Mrs. O'Leary," She called. "Chiron's under there. Find him! Get him help!"

The hellhound bounded to the pile and started to dig. Bianca, Thalia and Grover, raced for the elevators.

XMX

THE bridge to Olympus was dissolving. They stepped out of the elevator onto the white marble walkway, and immediately cracks appeared at their feet.

"Jump!" Grover said. He sprang to the next slab of stone while the one Thalia and Bianca were on tilted.

"Gods, I hate heights!" She yelled as she and the daughter of Hades leaped.

"Keep moving!" Grover tugged her shoulder. They sprinted across the sky bridge as more stones disintegrated and fell into oblivion, darting down the path quickly. Her heart was thudding when they made it to the edge of the mountain, just as the final section collapsed.

Thalia glanced back, looking back at the elevator, which was now completely out of reach—a polished set of metal doors hanging in space, attached to nothing, six hundred stories above Manhattan.

"We're on our own," she said, sombrely.

Grover bleated nervously as he said, "The connection between Olympus and America is dissolving. If it fails— "

"The gods won't move on to another country this time," Bianca said, jaw clenching. "This will be the end of Olympus. The final end."

They turned, and ran through streets. Mansions were burning. Statues had been hacked down. Trees in the parks were blasted to splinters. They followed the winding path toward the palace of the gods, and Thalia gritted her teeth as they ran. The path seemed never ending. She guessed Kronos was making time go slower, or maybe it was just dread slowing her down. The whole mountaintop was in ruins—buildings were desecrated, fires engulfing gardens and parks.

A few minor gods and nature spirits had tried to stop Kronos. What remained of them was strewn about the road: shattered armour, ripped clothing, swords and spears broken in half.

Somewhere ahead of them, Kronos's voice roared, resounding across the entire mountain, feminine and loud, "Brick by brick! That was my promise. Tear it down BRICK BY BRICK!"

A white marble temple with a gold dome suddenly exploded. The dome shot up like the lid of a teapot and shattered into a billion pieces, raining rubble over the city.

"That was a shrine to Artemis," Bianca snarled. "He'll pay for that."

They were running under the marble archway with the huge statues of Zeus and Hera when the entire mountain groaned, rocking sideways like a boat in a storm.

"Look out!" Grover yelped. The archway crumbled. Thalia looked up in time to see a twenty-ton scowling Hera topple over on them. Swearing, she slammed into Bianca and pushed them away. They rolled forward, and the statue missed them by inches.

Thalia could hear Kronos laughing as he approached the hall of the gods. More buildings exploded. Dread filled her.

A fireball erupted on the side of the mountain, right near the gates of the palace. "We've got to run," Thalia said, voice hard.

"I don't suppose you mean away," Grover murmured hopefully.

She sprinted toward the palace, Bianca and Grover right behind her.

The doors of the palace were big enough to steer a cruise ship through, but they'd been ripped off their hinges and smashed like they weighed nothing. Thalia jumped and hopped over broken gold and marble, and finally, they were inside.

Kronos stood in the middle of the throne room, his arms wide, staring at the starry ceiling as if taking it all in. His laughter echoed even louder than it had from the pit of Tartarus.

"Finally!" he bellowed. "The Olympian Council—so proud and mighty. Which seat of power shall I destroy first?"

Ethan Nakamura stood to one side, trying to stay out of the way of his master's scythe. The hearth was almost dead, just a few coals glowing deep in the ashes. Hestia was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Rachel. Thalia's heart fell. She hoped the other girl was safe, but she had seen so much destruction and death, already wrought by Kronos, that she was afraid to think about it. The Ophiotaurus swam in his water sphere in the far corner of the room, wisely not making a sound, but it wouldn't be long before Kronos noticed him.

Bianca, Grover, and Thalia stepped forward into the torchlight. Ethan saw them first.

"My lord," he warned.

Kronos turned and smiled through Annabeth's face. Except for the golden eyes, she looked just the same as she had years ago. Thalia made a painful sound in the back of her throat; she felt like someone had punched her.

"Shall I destroy you first, Thalia?" Kronos asked. "Is that the choice you will make—to fight me and die instead of bowing down? Prophecies never end well, you know."

She bared her teeth. "I'm going to smash your head in. And then I'll feed you to Mrs. O'Leary." The Crooked One gave her a crooked grin. And then he charged.

-X-

LUKE didn't know why he was suddenly feeling nervous. It wasn't the first time he had fought in a battle. But these were unfamiliar allies, and he wasn't sure they fought the same way. He pursed his lips, risking a glance to the glaring girl at his side.

He looked up again, watching as the monsters streamed down the mountain side in disarray. He could see the two glowing beings leading them, taller than the usual humans, and armed to the teeth. His sword pulsed in his hand.

"I remember you, you know," Reyna's voice broke him out of his thoughts. He shot her a confused look. Reyna glared at him from the side of her eyes.

"You were there, with the other girl, on Circe's Island," She snapped. "You were turned into guinea pig."

He winced as the memory resurfaced. But he didn't recall meeting Reyna when they'd been in the sea of monsters. Reyna exhaled, and he could feel the anger radiating off her. "You released the Pirates. You destroyed our home." She gave him a sideways glance. "But I suppose I must thank you. Without you, I might not have managed to reach the Legion."

"Uh, you're…welcome?" Behind them, he heard a booming voice—James—speaking rapidly in latin, but Luke translated it easily, Archers, fire!

From behind the rows of soldiers, flaming arrows soared through the sky, whizzing through the air. They exploded in contact with the advancing monsters, engulfing them in flames and wrapping them in fire. And then the mountainside was alight with flames, making Luke blink.

"Ready the onagers!" Michelle roared. Luke's eyes were blown wide. He knew what onagers were, although he hadn't seen them in action before before. He watched as from behind the lines of soldiers, the siege weapons were prepared and stocked, and then released. They hurled glowing boulders, coated with gold into the sky, and slammed into the mountain, right smack into the oncoming monsters.

But they kept on coming. Like back in New York, Kronos' forces were endless.

"Get behind me," Reyna barked. The cohort was standing at attention, and along the row of soldiers, Luke heard the Centurions shout out more orders in latin. Pilums, ready.

Shields went up, spears—pilums—poking out from behind them. Luke watched, as the first lines of monsters vapourised on contact with the gold weapons. Reyna was barking orders rapidly, shouting for them to hold the line behind her own shield. Through her face guard, Luke could see the ferociousness on her face as she stabbed an empousa with her weapon. He felt himself flush and he glanced around again.

The monsters were here now, right in front of them, and Luke wanted badly to charge forward and start fighting. But the shields and lines of romans prevented him, and he watched, as the nearest demigods hurled up grappling hooks, wrapping around the closets giants—hyperboreans and laistrygonians—and pulling them forcefully to the ground. Rose, Reyna's counterpart shouted an order in latin, and several pilums went up, running through the falling giants.

The onagers were still firing, towards the dark palace on the mountain top, and Luke watched in amazement as the first wall around Othrys crumbled.

"Forward!" James roared in latin. Luke's caught him advancing, in front of the first Cohort, behind a shield. The first line of demigods pushed forward, pilums tearing through monsters. From the trees around them, silver arrows flew, catching monsters and giants by surprise.

Luke advanced with them. "Hold your lines!" Michelle was yelling. "Hold—" She was cut short when a laistrygonian reached over the lines of soldiers, batting away grappling hooks. Luke watched in horror as the Praetor was grabbed from behind her shield and thrown into the open mouth of the giant.

"No!" Jason yelled.

"Hold your lines!" James shouted. "Do not break formation—" The alarm which had was caused by the Praetor's death had caused disarray, and Luke watched in dismay as the first line of the fourth and fifth cohorts were broken. Monsters advanced, talons raking, spears tearing through flesh. As more soldiers came forward to replace them, hellhounds jumped from behind the monster forces, into the Roman legion's lines, and demigods scattered, breaking the formation.

Giants swept demigods aside with their hands, and Luke heard a muttered curse from Reyna. He glanced up, a bitter taste entering his mouth. The Titans had finally gotten down the mountain. One held a spear, and one held twin swords. They both had crazed grins on their rugged faces, advancing, their presence alone causing demigods to falter. The temperature dropped.

James' bellowed over the roar of the monsters, "Brace! Ue!" Luke snorted, at how absolutely ridiculous he sounded. Thunder boomed above them as storm clouds gathered. Rain started pouring. Luke spotted Jason, raising a golden eagle on a pole into the sky. Lightning arched from overhead, slamming into it and shooting towards the enemy lines; Thalia's brother was using it as a conduit.

The Praetor yelled, "Swords!" Reyna quickly placed her spear in a strap on her back, pushing forward with her shield and slamming it into an errant dracaena.

"Attack! Impetum!" James ordered. "FOR ROME! TWELFTH LEGION FULMINATA!"

There was an answering cry from around them, shaking the entire Mount Tamalpais. "TWELFTH LEGION FULMINATA!"

And then all hell broke loose.

XMX

THE SON OF HERMES slashed at a hellhound, causing it to explode into dust, and just as quickly spun, driving his blade through the chest of an empousa as it prepared to jump on Reyna.

He didn't know how long they had been fighting, but the girl nodded to him in reluctant thanks, and continued fighting vigorously in front of her cohort, sword in one hand, knife in the other. She whirled around like a tornado, cleaving a path of destruction through the never-ending monsters.

His heart was thumping from the thrill of battle, but that feeling of horror was also there—knowing he'd be killed any moment from now—and he dodged a swipe from a laistrygonian, slicing his sword through its neck. He had seen Praetor James, moving to the bigger Titan, and another roar of outrage had surged through the Roman ranks when he had been cleaved in two.

But Luke found he didn't know them enough to be particularly pained about it. He was panting, and his leather armour was already shredded from his previous battle. He could see Thalia's brother, in the sky.

The boy was fucking flying. And his sister was scared of height.

"Rose!" Reyna yelled for her counterpart. "Handle the cohort! The Praetors are dead!" Luke understood what she was saying. Someone needed to step up, or else the Legion would crumble.

Reyna moved, forward, her voice impossibly loud as she shouted, "First and Fifth cohort, regroup!" Her hair was whipping around her as she ran, cutting through monsters. Luke found himself following after her, darting through telkhines and empousa.

The cohorts were listening to her thundering voice, forming another phalanx, and Reyna yelled once more, "Man the onagers!" Demigods scrambled to follow her orders. "FIRE!" Orbs of flames soared through the sky, slamming into the coming streams of monsters.

"Cohorts two, three, four!" Reyna boomed. "Scale the mountain!" They surged forward, like a well oiled machine, the cohorts of the twelfth legion marched, cutting down monsters, throwing pilums and firing arrows.

He saw hunters, in their silver and black gear, darting through the lines, tearing through beasts and nimbly jumping on giants to bring them down with their hunting knives. Luke locked blades with a telkhine, and twisted, before lopping its head off. A talon raked across his shoulder and he winced, crying out lowly as blood streamed out.

He backhanded his assailant, and she staggered back. Quickly, he drove his sword through the dracaena's chest.

The son of Hermes looked up. Their plan had gone to shit almost immediately, with the praetor's deaths. No plan survived contact with the enemy.

He knew that firsthand.

Luke dodged as a hellhound leaped over him, and it landed, right on Zoë's outstretched blades. The girl didn't wait for his thanks, and dove forward, leaping over monsters. She landed in front of a Titan, just as he slashed through a roman demigod.

"Nightshade," The Titan's eyes flashed. "I will take pleasure in killing you."

Zoë bared her teeth, and her knives flashed. "We shall see, Perses. One of us shall die today, and it won't be me." With a roar, the Titan charged her.

Luke turned. He knew Zoë could handle herself. He raised his sword and blocked an oncoming blade, pushing a telkhine back. He saw Hank, Reyna and Jason, who was now on the ground, thankfully, speaking over the roar of the battle as they fought side by side, and he remembered he was supposed to go with them.

Luke rushed over. The second Titan was still barrelling forward, and he heard Hank say they had to take care of him. Luke skidded to a stop in front of them, huffing. "I can fight him," He volunteered, the words tumbling out of his mouth. "I've battled Titans before. I know their weaknesses."

Reyna sent him a surprised glance, releasing her knife with a throw. It sank into the head of a hyperborean stumbling towards them who had been about to grab the son of Hermes.

"I'll organise the legion," The girl barked. "Hank, you're with me. Jason—" She looked up, eyes widening. "We have another problem." Luke followed her gaze, and swore, when he saw another Titan, marching out of the crumbling palace. He wore a ram horned helmet, and he was far huger than any other immortal on the battlefield.

"I'll deal with it," Jason's eyes glowed, and he spun, driving his golden lance into an oncoming hellhound. The blond haired roman threw the lance into the sky, and as it fell, he rose to catch it, and it shifted into a sword. Without waiting, he sailed past them with a gust of wind, towards the apex of Mount Tam. Like a blond superman.

Luke heard Reyna roar another order, and he raced forward, sliding under a giant's legs. The battlefield was littered with bodies and blood and dust. Zoë was locked in combat with Perses, and Luke jumped up, slashing in an arc and killing more monsters. He continued fighting, until finally, he was in front of the dual wielding Titan.

The immortal's eyes flashed when he recognised his sword. "So you are the one." He bared his teeth. "I am Menoetius, mortal, and we shall see, if you are truly worthy of my uncle's sword or not." Luke scoffed, swinging his sword.

Without further delay, he leaped off the ground, bringing Soul Reaper down in an overhead strike.