Hey guys, enjoy this chapter!
Replies:
IWantColouredRain: Heh, I hope you enjoy the battles to come.
Undeath9087: Percy just adopting every single younger demigod she meets who needs someone to look out for them: These are my babies and I love them. Touch them and I break you.
Sally, watching with a proud expression: Awe, look at my baby girl, she's so much like me! And honestly the romantic connection thing is partially because it is a very good way to try and get close to someone like that in Alina's case.
DualEquinox: It would be funny but no lol. And I don't plan on bringing in the MC books. I love them but I am willing to admit that as much as I do love them I never felt as connected to them- I was always obsessed with Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythology when I was younger, especially Egyptian when I was young. Do not ask why because honestly I don't know. But maybe someday!
avaatje: Percy VS Zeus, coming to a fic near you soon. And I'm not sure, it depends on how the story flows.
Ryan Fowler: Ironically she doesn't get to let loose as much as you might like.

Percy had been right about the spell making it simple enough to get past the sleeping dragon. Though there had been a near miss when Grover had been distracted halfway to the path up the mountain by the smell of the apples- which Percy was willing to admit did smell delicious.

Still, she did not want to have to smell roasted Grover so she'd thought it was pretty smart to grab the Satyr and drag him back when he tried to take a detour. All in all it could have been a lot worse than it was, though Thalia had given him a judicious zap as punishment for his ridiculous near death stupidity.

Though a part of Percy did wonder if he'd done it on purpose, to stop them all from getting caught up in the anxiety of what was to come. And there was anxiety of course. Percy found herself leading the way up the rocky trail. Sure Zoe probably knew it better but Percy was the leader, though she did notice that Zoe and Grover were close behind her- and behind them were Thalia and Bianca, occasionally helping one another when the rough trail got tricky.

And soon enough they could see the top of the mountain, see the reforming ruins- was it a little more built than it had been when Percy had last been there just days before? It was hard to tell, truth be told. It could be, but she'd been in such a rush, so desperate to escape from the enemies that she'd only been able to take so much.

"This is Mount Orthys?" Even Thalia's mentally projected voice sounded small, not like a whisper but… afraid almost.

"It is." Zoe's mental voice was grim. "I did believe but I did not truly until now. My mistress-"

"Is going to be fine." Percy cut her off. "I know you're scared but we are going to save her. I swear to you Zo."

"I know."

They picked past the rubble, past blocks of marble and broken archways. And then they were at the summit once more. Percy could hear a chanting as she peered across the summit.

And Percy heard Zoe's breath catch at the sight of Apollo. He looked somehow worse than he had last time Percy had seen him. He looked exhausted beyond belief. He was straining under the weight of the sky, head bowed low, sweat beading on his brow and dripping down his face.

"That's lord Apollo." Bianca's mental voice was stunned, "He- he looks-"

"He looks weak." Thalia sounded almost breathless in Percy's mind. "They made Artemis Mortal and they did this to Apollo and we're going to have to fight them?"

"Yes." Percy's response was simple as she looked around- it wasn't chanting- not exactly. Not words at all. A sort of humming maybe? She turned her head, gaze focusing on the group on the other side of the summit.

Atlas was there in his brown silk suit- she could still see the red welts on his hand that almost certainly led up his arms, the worst of the damage hidden under the suit.

At his side were two dozen Dracaenae, guarding five bound and gagged but very familiar figures, sat on the floor.

Percy lashed out, grabbing Zoe's arm to stop her from rushing at them.

None of their friends looked great. They were all bound and gagged. Tied tightly to prevent any attempts at escape. Luke looked most battered, but Sadie looked most out of it, slumped heavily against Artemis' side, the goddess doing her best to offer support.

Her gaze- much like Piper and Annabeth's was focused on- Percy followed the gaze and her breath caught in her throat.
Alina. Alina, the golden sarcophagus, a large golden vase which was glowing, a ribbon of gold twisting out of the open mouth and towards the sarcophagus- which was also glowing.

Artemis' grace. Her godhood it had to be there was nothing else it could be.

And Carter, strapped down to a stone table between the Sarcophagus and the vase. Fuck. Fuck the ritual was clearly underway. And Atlas was between them and Alina.

"What do we do?" Grover sounded almost frantic, "How do we stop it?"

"We have to get to it first." Percy gritted her teeth, mind racing. Could she get to Alina without anyone noticing- she spotted something over Alina's shoulder and her stomach dropped.

No. No she couldn't because Setne was there, sat cross legged floating in the air behind Alina. And oh but she wanted to kill him all over again. She was sure he'd see through the invisibility spell.

As if he was reading her mind he turned his head, smug gaze focusing on her as he aimed a wink in her direction. He was fucking playing with them.

"Well, if I had a blender I know what my first move would be." She mentally snarled before, "Unfortunately I don't right now so we go for plan B."

"What is plan B?"

"Grover, do you have a knife or something."

"I do but I'm not the best fighter-"

"You don't need to be. I need you to cut everyone free. Starting with Luke." Percy wasn't sure why but something made her think that it was important for Luke to be freed. And she trusted her instincts most of the time.

"Oh, I mean I can do that. I hope. But what about Atlas and the monsters?"

"Zoe, I know it's a lot to ask but you're long range. Can you start taking out the monsters?"

"But my father-"

"Until we take Atlas out I cannot get to Alina to stop the ritual. And you cannot fight your father-"

"But Percy-"

"No. I know it's personal for you but he is a Titan. I'm only willing to take the risks I'm willing to take because I've faced him before. And I don't plan on facing him entirely alone? Thalia I want you to help Zoe- use your powers to zap the monsters. Bianca-"

"What do you need from me?" And Percy really did appreciate the total faith Bianca had in her.

"I need you to use your control over the shadows. I want him distracted and off balance, use the shadows to pin him in place if you can- but stay out of reach. You're a good fighter but not that good. And do not feel bad I only need you to keep him in place for a moment or two when the fight starts and then when I say again I need you to pin him."

"What is your plan."

"You'll see-"

"Is it reckless and dumb?"

"Why Thalia… you know me so well." Percy shot the daughter of Zeus a devilish grin. "You just focus on your part of the plan Thals. Bia-"

"I'm ready." The daughter of Hades gave a small nod.

"Good. Then when I give the signal we move." Percy raised her hand, holding it up as the others moved- Grover slipping around to the side so that he could get to their friends easier, gripping a knife tightly with shaking hands.

Zoe and Thalia followed, though they kept back a little, Zoe notching her arrow and drawing it back, ready to let it loose towards the monsters, and Percy could see the electricity crackling down the spear that Thalia had summoned from… well, from something. Percy hadn't actually seen her pull it out. And Percy drew her own blade, uncapping the pen and flourishing her sword- twitching slightly when Setne started humming a familiar tune-"

"Is that-" Bianca's whisper was harsh and Percy twitched.

"Yes, yes it's Ariadne's theme from the movies." The one that played every time she was about to do something dangerous or badass. Generally it was both at once.

Though it was almost worth it for the way Annabeth and Piper both stiffened, eyes widening slightly.

"Oh those two have watched those movies way too often."

"Bianca. Not now."

"I'm just saying."

"Let's just do this." Percy raised her sword into the air and rushed forward. Which apparently was just a perfect signal because Grover was instantly sawing at the restraints around Luke's wrists and Zoe and Thalia started shooting arrows and zapping the monsters that were closest to start with.

And Percy charged towards Atlas as Bianca focused.

Shadows pooled out of the ground at Atlas' feet even as he twisted to try and see what was suddenly attacking his monsters.

"What-" his voice was stunned as he found that his feet were encased in shadows, and then Percy was on him, his surprise giving her the chance to slice across the back of his legs, hamstringing him and making him bellow in pain, lashing out behind him, catching Percy with his flailing blow, sending her skidding several feet away, her grasp on the spell slipping as she hit the ground, sparks flashing across the magic that was concealing them.

"Who dares!" Atlas had his sword in his hand and he was tearing his feet free from the shadows that a moment before had been binding them.

"Oh? That would be Princess Percy." Setne's voice was jaunty- "Whoops. Guess she used an invisibility spell. I thought you could see her-"

"I will crush you spirit-"

"Well you know, ghosts don't crush well-"

"SHUT UP!" Percy and Atlas yelled the words in unison- which Percy honestly was a little ashamed of. Seriously, in sync with a Titan, Setne really did irritate her. And she'd given away her position because Atlas was lunging at her- and Percy let the invisibility spell go, dancing backwards, away from Atlas, making sure his gaze was on her.

"Whoops! Ya missed me." Her voice was sing song, mocking.

And she could see out of the corner of her eye that Zoe and Thalia had taken out seven of the monsters already, and Grover had freed Luke, who was helping him untie the others, Luke stopping every few seconds to fend off monsters- and- he was calling something- what was he calling?

And yes, yes there she caught the words through the chaos. "There's more monsters coming." Which… fuck was not good.

And past Atlas Percy could see Alina, still chanting, the golden ribbon of Artemis' power was still swirling around the sarcophagus and in. She hadn't stopped.

Of course not stopping a spell like this mid spell? Yeah that could be explosive to say the least. Though Percy could see that Alina's teeth were gritted, fingers curled into tightly clenched balls, eyes shining with fury.

She didn't focus on that though, she had to focus on Atlas, ducking and diving away as he lunged for her, fury building as she managed to avoid his sword, occasionally catching it with her own blade- and that sent pain shooting through her arms whenever it happened.

But her plan was working, she was angering him, enraging him, making him stupid.

Her gaze flicked to Apollo- who was still pinned in place, crushed under the weight of the sky. He didn't look like a teenager now, he looked older now that she was closer, his face drawn tight in pain as he held the weight.

He lifted his head slightly, eyes meeting hers for just a second before flicking to Atlas.

He might not know what it was but she could see that Apollo was realising that she had a plan.

And she did- poking and prodding, subtly moving so that she was stood in front of the point where the sky would meet the earth if Apollo weakened, mocking him in a singsong voice.

Until he let out a furious bellow, charging towards her, and Percy turned, sprinting away from him, and coincidentally towards Apollo, hissing a spell- one Felix had taught her, one he used all the time to turn the ground beneath their feet to slick ice and dropping, sliding across the ice, beneath the sky, and she heard Atlas skid, heard him hitting the ground, not expecting the slippery ice, so that he too was under the sky that Apollo was holding.

And she heard him skidding, a glance over her shoulder had Percy resisting the urge to cheer.

"BIANCA! Hold him in place! And shadows were pooling around him, pinning him down as Percy reached Apollo, flinging out and arm.

"Let go!" and Apollo did, letting her knock him down flat and slide the rest of the way out from under the sky.