Ch46

Annabeth gripped her sword tightly as she blocked the attacks of the demigod, he was the child of a minor god and his skills were improving but still lacking. She parried his attacks and slashed at his arm causing the demigod to curse and drop his weapons.

"Not bad," Kronos said from his chair. "Annabeth Chase you are excelling in combat but I fear your skills lie elsewhere."

"Thank you sir," she said softly doing a stiff bow. Her opponent got up and bowed as well before he was dismissed.

She looked up at Kronos trying to find any remnant of Luke but every time she saw his eyes she just at the cold abyss that was Kronos. Luke where are you?

The door opened and a familiar woman walked in. "Yo I'm back," Caenis said with a cruel smirk. "Beat those shit sons of Poseidon, took all my might to not kill them though."

Kronos frowned, "I need them alive, especially Percy Jackson."

"Don't worry I just scared them enough to shit their pants," Caenis said with a laugh. The female warrior's gaze turned to her, "Hey blondie still learning how to use that sword?"

"Y-Yeah," she said not wanting to fall into Caenis's taunts. For whatever reason Caenis despised her and other women.

Caenis laughed, "Figures a girl like you can't use a sword. You should go back to learning how to sweep what girls like you are made for."

She clenched her fists, "I'm not like other girls," she retorted. Caenis was strong but she wasn't going to have this girl bully and push her around. "I am more than capable of fighting with a sword."

I don't know why you hate women so much when you are one. She knew the story of how Caenis was raped by Poseidon and turned into a man so that it would not happen to her again. Maybe deep down she hates what happened to her? Maybe some sort of internal misogyny.

"Oh really? You aren't like other girls?" Caenis asked drawing her spear. "Lets try sparring right now and see what you can do."

She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked over at Kronos who looked amused. "Fine do it," Kronos said folding his arms. "Don't hurt her too badly though she is our main strategist."

Great me and my big mouth. She took a deep breath and gripped her sword as Caenis approached her with her spear. Calm down I can do this. Clenching her sword she swung at Caenis who easily blocked it with her spear.

The two began to exchange blows. She slashed and hacked at Caenis with her sword, trying to find an opening but even when she managed to land a hit her blade could not cut through her skin.

She has strong skin if I remember correctly. This isn't going to be easy. She continued to try and search for an opening, any kind of weakness she could find but Caenis merely smirked at her and blocked all of her efforts.

She's playing with me. Caenis gazed at her like a predator stalking its prey and her movements were cold and calculating as she blocked her attacks. Gripping her sword she attempted to land another hit but Caenis easily blocked it.

"Is that all you got little girl?" Caenis sneered as she thrusted her spear at her.

She managed to dodge the hit but Caenis began to move master. Using all of her strength she tried to keep up with her blows but was soon disarmed and kicked to the ground.

"I yield," she said quickly as Caenis pointed her spear at her.

Caenis laughed, "Yield? We are barely beginning."

Putting her spear away Caenis knelt down and gripped her throat tightly. Her eyes widened as she tried to break free from her grip. "You say you aren't like other girls but I bet you cry just like them," Caenis laughed as she hoisted her up by the throat.

She tried to pry Caenis's fingers off of her throat while trying to kick her. No gods no. She gasped for air as Caenis glared at her with a sadistic grin.

"Are you going to cry?" Caenis mocked as she threw her to the ground.

The wind was knocked out of her but she had little time to react as Caenis was soon on top of her. "I'll show you how a real warrior fights little girl."

She let out a scream as Caenis hit her in the eye before turning her around and grabbing her hand. "NO PLEASE!" She begged as Caenis gripped her hand tightly.

"Begging just typical of a woman," Caenis said grabbing a finger and pulling it back.

She screamed, tears falling down her face as pain coursed through her. Looking up at Kronos she only saw apathy in his eyes. "Please help me! Luke!" She screamed as Caenis broke the remainder of her fingers. "Luke help me!"

Caenis then forced her hand back in an unnatural way sending waves of pain throughout her body. She screamed loudly tears falling down her face.

"Enough!" Kronos yelled. Yet the voice sounded more like Luke's. Looking up she saw the Titan Lord was on his feet his body shaking his eyes were no longer golden.

"Caenis cease this nonsense this instant," Kronos growled.

"Fine whatever," Caenis sighed as she let go of her arm. "Women make the least interesting opponents anyways."

"There are monsters you can sparr against if you wish but I need this girl for summer," Kronos growled.

"Fine I'll be elsewhere," Caenis said as she turned around and left the room.

Her body shook as she nursed her injured hand. Luke I heard him, he is there still! Tears fell down her face, despite all the injuries Caenis inflicted on her the fact that there was a piece of Luke deep down inside of him made her day. I can still save him then.

"Rest well. We shall discuss our plans for summer later," Kronos said motioning for her to leave.

"Yes my lord," she said softly. Her legs trembled as she tried to stand so two guards came and helped her to the infirmary.

Luke if you can resist him I'll help you get free I swear it. She drank some nectar that was given to her as a medic treated her wounds. I knew you were down there. The only matter is how can I can get you out of there.

Her mind raced through the various possibilities, this would not be an easy task to do but she would do anything for Luke. We are family I can't just abandon you. I won't leave you to this cruel fate.

"Hey are you alright?" Alabaster asked as he walked into the infirmary. "Heard Caenis was rough wit you."

"I'm fine now," she said rubbing her recovering arm. "I don't get why she has it out for women though."

Alabaster shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe some internalized misogyny or something? Either way she will be of great help to our cause." A smile spread across the son of Hecate's face. "I heard she put the sons of Poseidon on the defensive, we'll defeat them this summer I know it."

"Yeah that's great," she muttered as she rested on the pillow. Deep down she was conflicted about both the sons of Poseidon, she knew that they saw her as an enemy and wouldn't hesitate to kill her or Luke but deep down she wondered if she could reason with them.

"Anyway we don't have much intel on the camp these days," Alabaster said as he sat down next to her bed. "But no worries we will overwhelm them through sheer force if necessary. We'll show those mobsters the consequences of their actions."

"I know," she said the usual sense of numbness then washed over her. "It will all come to an end soon."

To her surprise Alabaster grabbed her non injured hand, "Don't worry I'm sure some of your friends and family will join us. If not I'm sure Lord Kronos will spare them."

She was surprised to hear actual sincerity in Alabaster's words his eyes were also calm and sympathetic. "Th-Thank you," she said softly.

"No problem," Alabaster said patting her hand. "If you ever need to talk come to me. We can hang out or something." The son of Hecate avoided her gaze his face turning slightly red. "Anyway I better get going, I have a lot of things to do spell to cast you know how it is."

"R-Right see you around," she said. Alabaster gave her one final smile before turning around and leaving.

Deep down she knew he was a good guy even if he did have a deep hatred for the Olympians. Can he change though? It was something she wondered, people do change for example she though Luke would never betray the gods but here he was hosting Kronos.

Then there is me I'm basically his second in command. Her body became numb at that thought. I'm going against everything I believed in. She shook her head, she no longer had tears to spare for what could have been. But I won't go down easily. I will make it through all of this alive. I'm a survivor I won't go down easily. I'll get through this ordeal one way or another.

Taking a deep breath she gingerly held her wounded hand and closed her eyes. Thank you Luke please continue to protect me I promise I will help you.

She left her tent headed down towards the meeting room where Kronos usually held his meetings. As soon as she approached the monsters guarding it made way for her and opened the door. Her heart raced in her chest as she walked into the room.

Kronos sat at the head of the table overlooking a map. "Lord Kronos what do you require?" She asked with a bow.

"Ah Annabeth come closer dear," Kronos said beckoning her with his hand.

Carefully walking over she looked at the camp on the table. It was a huge map or New York City with various pins on it.

"My dear we shall Olympus while the gods deal with Typhon," Kronos said gesturing towards the army units around a circle where the Empire State Building was. "No one will be guarding it we shall raise it to the ground."

She swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded. "I-I see. What will you have me do?"

Kronos smiled at her with Luke's face she wanted to beg Luke to come back and reject Kronos but all she saw was the golden abyss that was Kronos. Luke please come back.

"My dear you and me shall march on Olympus," Kronos said as he took her hand in his. "You shall make sure that whatever defenses they have they shall be destroyed at all costs."

"U-Understood," she said softly. She knew she would be leading this operation, leading this campaign against Olympus to raise it to the ground. Her body was numb to that idea, but she knew better than to protest.

"I imagine those foolish demigods shall march on us," Kronos said. "Perhaps you can persuade them to rejoin us? Either way we shall fully destroy the camp this time."

The Titan Lord motioned to the map, "What do you think of everything so far?"

Calm down I have to prove my worth. Taking a deep breath she looked at the map. "Any form of sea crossing is useless with the sons of Poseidon fighting against us," she said noticing a few boats in the rivers. "They can easily bribe the water deities. It would be good to remove any obstacles that the enemy may use to assist them."

"I see," Kronos said looking down at his map. "I'll take those into consideration. A pity Silena was caught, no worries though a few extra demigods are nothing." The Titan Lord turned to her and smiled. "I expect great things from you dear."

She forced herself to bow, "Yes sir. I'll do my best."

/

In her unconsciousness Thalia Grace dreamt of her time with Luke and Annabeth before they arrived at camp. All their fun adventures as they did their best to stay alive.

However, as much as she could wish to rest in her dreams she felt the child grow inside of her. It grew and grew until one day she woke up in pain unlike she had ever felt before.

She screamed in pain as her eyes shot open. Her vision span as she noticed various doctors around a hospital room. "Just keep pushing," they said over and over.

Oh gods. The pain continued, tears fell down her face as she pushed and pushed. She didn't know how long it took, eventually she collapsed on the bed as she heard the crying of a baby.

Luke. Yet as she looked at the child and held it in her arms the only thought that came to her mind was to protect it. I will protect our child and make sure it is free from Kronos's influence. Her heart raced as she held it tightly, for once in a long time she had something worth fighting and dying for.