Chapter Twenty-Two

I Kill My Husband's Ex

ANNABETH POV

My brain was empty as I traveled closer to the Empire State Building. This was an abnormal thing for me. Due to my ADHD and being a child of Athena, my thoughts were usually traveling, for lack of a less cliché phrase, a million miles a minute. Also, the cab driver was very talkative and that drowned out any thoughts I tried to have. Once the driver turned on 34th Street, though, my mind began reeling. A large green cloud circled the Empire State Building. A large flame flickered on the side of the building, slowly carving an image into its side. Ran hovered beside the fire, admiring her handiwork.

"You said ESB, right? Eh, I think you can walk it from here." The cab driver said, stopping the car. I threw some money in the front seat and hopped out. I approached cautiously, glancing in every direction for enemies or help. Gods, I wished Percy were here. I drew my dagger and swept my hair from my eyes as I noticed the green mist seemingly stretch itself towards me. As it engulfed my body, Ran turned towards me.

"Ah, Annabeth. You have come to stop me, but you don't have the means to do so. Your strength lies in planning, not combat."

"I can hold my own a lot better than you think," I called back.

She simply smiled, then quickly threw her arms out and upwards. The flame disappeared.

"I can worry about that Nid later," she spoke cooly. "Have you not deduced that by coming here alone this is the end for you? I know about the Prophecy. I know how these things work. No matter what happens here – whether I kill you or you kill me – this is the end of all things as you know it."

Her voice dripped with vitriol and hatred.

"You're placing Nids over the god's homes in hopes that it will give you power over them."

"Oh, there's no hope, my dear. I know it works."

She gestured forward and a shining light erupted momentarily beside me. Out of the light stepped Rachel Dare. Her red hair curled down below her waist, appearing ratty, as though she hadn't washed it in weeks.

"Rachel?" I asked. She didn't respond, her eyes glazed over like a zombie. As I observed her spontaneous appearance, I noticed a glowing mark on her forward. A Nid.

"You see Annabeth? That's why these mortals are in a panic. That's why everyone can see the symbols I'm carving. I already obtained the power I needed to complete my goal. I control Achlys. The Mist is mine to do with as I see fit."

My stomach churned. Though I wouldn't admit it to her face, Ran was right. I didn't stand a chance taking this challenge on. Suddenly, 5 more figures appeared beside me. I held my dagger up to the closest one's throat before realizing who it was. Magnus, Alex, Blitz, Heath, and Sadie Kane stood beside me and my knife was at Blitz's throat.

"You're the smart one, right?" Blitz said nervously. "I think it would be rather smart of you not to kill me. I can be quite useful." Hearth raised an eyebrow and made a meh sign with his shoulders.

"Sorry about that. I can't begin to express how happy I am to see you guys."

Ran interrupted me before we could have a reunion.

"Magic won't save you either if you cannot trust your eyes. I control what you and the mortals see."

Ran made several wild movements with her hands the entire landscape changed to a barren wasteland. A sandstorm loomed in the distance. New York City had been replaced by cacti. The only semblance of the city that remained was the Empire State Building. Rachel's body floated away and came to rest beside Ran. The Mist swirled faster, and I saw eyes appear in the smoke. The Prophecy started coming back to me. I knew what I had to do and I didn't like it. I turned to my friends.

"I need all of you to keep her busy. Sadie, I need you to get me next to Rachel's body. She's that redhead."

"Say no more," Blitz cried excitedly. "I have just the runes for this scenario. "Come Hearth!"

He sauntered off, pulling items from his bag.

"Jack and I can keep her occupied for a while," Magnus said, giving a nod to Alex. Alex remained silent, choosing to transform into a giant eagle and flying away. I wondered if they knew how badass that looked.

"Okay, Sadie. Where's Carter?"

"He's busy fighting gods out of his brain."

"Fair enough. Well, if you're all we got, it's going to have be enough. Listen, the Prophecy says gods and magic will prevail. I need to get me close to Rachel so I can find a way to break that spell and I need you to unload all the magic you can on Ran."

Sadie nodded, her blue eyes piercing into me. "Okay, I can push you through the Duat, but it's going to be weird with his being your first time. Get ready."

"Weird how?" I asked. Before I could get a response, the world disappeared, and I felt my arms and legs being squished inward. It was as if I was being forced into the tiniest box of all time. This lasted a few seconds before everything reappeared and I was free falling ten feet above Rachel. I reached out my arms and latched on, desperately hoping I wouldn't lose my grip. I felt nauseous but didn't have time to dwell on that. I found some footing and inspected Rachel's mark. I immediately felt disheartened. The Nid had been carved into her forehead. It made me angry simultaneously.

"I told you it was pointless," Ran whispered into my ear. "She is mine."

I gulped, as the reality of what I needed to do sunk in. I hoped Rachel could forgive me.

"Not for long," I said, plunging my knife into Rachel's heart