▬▬▬ CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN ▬▬▬

https://youtu.be/Q_dtR775pLE

ESMERELDA WOKE UP FEELING NOT so very refreshed, which was the last thing she needed right now during wartime. Her head was still aching a little, her limbs were sore, and she felt downright filthy. She washed up and changed her clothes, but even then she still felt like shit.

The shitty feeling only worsened in the late afternoon, where Thalia stormed into the hotel with a glower on her face demanding that someone woke up Percy. Esmerelda, unfortunately, was the only one who knew where he had been sleeping so she had to wake him up.

"Percy?" She knocked a couple of times. "Percy, wake up! We've got a problem!"

The door swung open. Percy looked frazzled about something, then he saw her and looked even more freaked out.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I—I had this dream," he blurted out. "You were in it and... and Hades, uhh..."

She furrowed her brows. "What?"

He swallowed thickly. "Essie, um... about Bianca... I'm really sorry. Please, you have to understand that I didn't... If I could go back, I'd change it..."

Something tight constricted around her heart. "Percy," she began quietly, trying to keep her voice from wavering. "...Why are you talking to me about Bianca?"

The color drained from his face. He hesitated, but then shook his head. "Just... just keep what I said in mind, okay? What did you want to talk to me about?"

She regarded him warily. Something about him mentioning Bianca made her want to breakdown, but she couldn't afford to do that now. 

"A Titan came by with a message from Kronos. He wants to see you." She replied.

Whatever Percy had dreamt about was no longer important to him. He got dressed quickly and soon enough, she, Percy, Thalia, and Grover, were about to have a supposedly 'peaceful' conversation with a goddamn Titan.

She could see the white flag from half a mile away. It was as big as a soccer field, carried by a thirty-foot tall giant with bright blue skin and icy gray hair.

"A Hyperborean," Thalia grunted. "The giants of the north. It's a bad sign that they sided with Kronos. They're usually peaceful."

"You've met them?" Percy asked.

"Mmm. There's a big colony in Alberta. You do not want to get into a snowball fight with those guys."

As the giant got closer, Esmerelda could see three human-size envoys with him: a half-blood in armor, an empousa demon with a black dress and flaming hair, and a tall man in a tuxedo. The empousa held the tux dude's arm, so they looked like a couple on their way to a Broadway show or something—except for her flaming hair and fangs.

The group walked leisurely toward the Heckscher Playground. The swings and ball courts were empty. The only sound was the fountain on Umpire Rock.

"The tux dude is the Titan?" Percy was unimpressed.

Grover nodded nervously. "He looks like a magician. I hate magicians. They usually have rabbits."

"Ummm..." Esmerelda glanced at him.

Grover realized his mistake. "Oh no, I mean regular mortal magicians. I don't think your kind uses rabbits... right?"

"Uh, yeah!"

Esmerelda decided not to tell him about the rabbits her class had to use for their transfiguration lessons.

"Hold on, you're scared of bunnies?" Percy stared at him.

"Blah-hah-hah! They're big bullies. Always stealing celery from defenseless satyrs!"

Thalia coughed.

"What?" Grover demanded.

"We'll have to work on your bunny phobia later," Percy said. "Here they come."

The man in the tux stepped forward. He was taller than an average human—about seven feet. His black hair was tied in a ponytail. Dark round glasses covered his eyes, but the rest of his face was exposed, showing all the scratches on his skin like he'd been attacked by a small animal—a really, really mad hamster, maybe.

"Percy Jackson," he said in a silky voice. "It's a great honor."

The empousa let out a vicious hiss.

"My dear," the man said to her. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable over there, eh?"

She released his arm and drifted over to a park bench.

Esmerelda watched her in distaste. So far the only cool empousa she had ever met was Serephone and that was years ago.

I really miss her. I hope she's not here... She thought miserably, her eyes trailing over to the armed demigod.

She froze.

It was Ethan. She hadn't noticed it was him because of the helmet he was wearing, but he was already staring at her. When he noticed that she was looking, he turned away, but Esmerelda already saw his face. She also saw his nose. It looked as if someone had violently bashed him in the face.

Percy must have noticed him too because he said in a shit-eating voice, "Hey, Ethan," he smiled. "You're looking good."

Ethan glared at him.

"To business." The suited man extended his hand. "I am Prometheus."

Percy blinked. "The fire-stealer guy? The chained-to-the-rock-with-the-vultures guy?"

Prometheus winced. He touched the scratches on his face. "Please, don't mention the vultures. But yes, I stole fire from the gods and gave it to your ancestors. In return, the ever merciful Zeus had me chained to a rock and tortured for all eternity."

"But—"

"—How did I get free? Hercules did that, eons ago. So you see, I have a soft spot for heroes. Some of you can be quite civilized."

"Unlike the company you keep," Percy said with disdain, looking over at Ethan.

Prometheous apparently thought he meant the empousa.

"Oh, demons aren't so bad," he said. "You just have to keep them well fed. Now, Percy Jackson, let us parley."

He waved him toward a picnic table and they sat down while Esmerelda, Thalia, and Grover stood behind him.

The blue giant propped his white flag against a tree and began absently playing on the playground. He stepped on the monkey bars and crushed them, but he didn't seem angry. He just frowned and said, "Uh oh." Then he stepped in the fountain and broke the concrete bowl in half. "Uh oh." The water froze where his foot touched it. A bunch of stuffed animals hung from his belt—the huge kind you get for grand prize sat an arcade.

Prometheus sat forward and laced his fingers. He looked earnest, kindly, and wise. "Percy, your position is weak. You know you can't stop another assault."

"We'll see."

Prometheus looked pained, like he really cared what happened to them.

"Percy, I'm the Titan of forethought. I know what's going to happen."

"Also the Titan of crafty counsel," Grover put in. "Emphasis on crafty."

Prometheus shrugged. "True enough, satyr. But I supported the gods in the last war. I told Kronos: 'You don't have the strength. You'll lose.' And I was right. So you see, I know how to pick the winning side. This time, I'm backing Kronos."

"Because Zeus chained you to a rock," Percy guessed.

"Partly, yes. I won't deny I want revenge. Esmerelda, your own mother is the goddess of crossroads, do you know what that means? She can see multiple paths that this present can follow, and she chose the one with the highest probability of happening. Even she believes that Kronos will win."

Esmerelda smiled coldly at the mention of Hecate.

"Yes," she agreed in a soft, but icy tone. "But she also thought that I would one day become the host of Kronos, yet here I am. So she's really not much of a crossroads goddess if you ask me. She's probably defective."

Ethan looked like he had to bite back a laugh.

Prometheus only smiled. "I see. Hecate always mentioned how rebellious you are."

Esmerelda glared. She didn't like how he made her sound like some sort of child throwing a tantrum.

"Now, let me get to the point of this meeting," he began. "Hopefully, you all will listen to reason."

He drew a map on the table with his finger. Wherever he touched, golden lines appeared, glowing on the concrete.

"This is Manhattan. We have armies here, here, here, and here. We know your numbers. We outnumber you twenty to one."

"Your spy has been keeping you posted," Percy said coldly.

Prometheus smiled apologetically. "At any rate, our forces are growing daily. Tonight, Kronos will attack. You will be overwhelmed. You've fought bravely, but there's just no way you can hold all of Manhattan. You'll be forced to retreat to the Empire State Building. There you'll be destroyed. I have seen this. It will happen."

"I won't let it happen," he said firmly.

Prometheus brushed a speck off his tux lapel. "Understand, Percy. You are re-fighting the Trojan War here. Patterns repeat themselves in history. They reappear just as monsters do. A great siege. Two armies. The only difference is, this time you are defending. You are Troy. And you know what happened to the Trojans, don't you?"

"So you're going to cram a wooden horse into the elevator at the Empire State Building?" He said sarcastically. "Good luck."

Prometheus smiled. "Troy was completely destroyed, Percy. You don't want that to happen here. Stand down, and New York will be spared. Your forces will be granted amnesty. I will personally assure your safety. Let Kronos take Olympus. Who cares? Typhon will destroy the gods anyway."

Percy wasn't buying it. "Right. And I'm supposed to believe Kronos would spare the city."

"All he wants is Olympus," Prometheus promised. "The might of the gods is tied to their seats of power. You saw what happened to Poseidon once his undersea palace was attacked."

He winced.

"Yes," Prometheus said sadly. "I know that was hard for you. When Kronos destroys Olympus, the gods will fade. They will become so weak they will be easily defeated. Kronos would rather do this while Typhon has the Olympians distracted in the west. Much easier. Fewer lives lost. But make no mistake, the best you can do is slow us down. The day after tomorrow, Typhon arrives in New York, and you will have no chance at all. The gods and Mount Olympus will still be destroyed, but it will be much messier. Much, much worse for you and your city. Either way, the Titans will rule."

Thalia pounded her fist on the table. "I serve Artemis. The Hunters will fight to our last breath. Percy, you're not seriously going to listen to this slimeball, are you?"

Prometheus wasn't fazed by the insult. He just smiled. "Your courage does you credit, Thalia Grace."

Esmerelda had never heard Thalia's last name before, but hearing it now made her sound so painfully normal...

Thalia stiffened. "That's my mother's surname. I don't use it."

"As you wish," Prometheus said casually, but he had effectively gotten under her skin.

"At any rate," the Titan continued. "You need not be my enemy. I have always been a helper of mankind."

"That's a load of Minotaur dung," Thalia scoffed. "When mankind first sacrificed to the gods, you tricked them into giving you the best portion. You gave us fire to annoy the gods, not because you cared about us."

Prometheus shook his head. "You don't understand. I helped shape your nature."

A wiggling lump of clay appeared in his hands. He fashioned it into a little doll with legs and arms. The lump man didn't have any eyes, but it groped around the table, stumbling over Prometheus's fingers.

"I have been whispering in man's ear since the beginning of your existence. I represent your curiosity, your sense of exploration, your inventiveness. Help me save you, Percy. Do this, and I will give mankind a new gift—a new revelation that will move you as far forward as fire did. You can't make that kind of advance under the gods. They would never allow it. But this could be a new golden age for you. Or..." He made a fist and smashed the clay man into a pancake.

The blue giant rumbled, "Uh oh."

Over at the park bench, the empousa bared her fangs in a smile.

"Percy, you know the Titans and their offspring are not all bad," Prometheus said. "You've met Calypso."

Percy's face turned slightly red. "That's different."

"How? Much like me, she did nothing wrong, and yet she was exiled forever simply because she was Atlas's daughter. We are not your enemies. Don't let the worst happen," he pleaded. "We offer you peace."

Rather than addressing him, he turned to Ethan. "You must hate this."

"I don't know what you mean." He replied curtly.

"If we took this deal, you wouldn't get revenge. You wouldn't get to kill us all. Isn't that what you want?"

His good eye flared. "All I want is respect, Jackson. The gods never gave me that. You wanted me to go to your stupid camp, spend my time crammed into the Hermes cabin because I'm not important? Not even recognized?"

"Your mom's the goddess of revenge," Percy's voice rose. "We should respect that?"

"Nemesis stands for balance! When people have too much good luck, she tears them down."

"Which is why she took your eye?"

"It was payment," he growled. "In exchange, she swore to me that one day I would tip the balance of power. I would bring the minor gods respect. An eye was a small price to pay."

"But that wasn't the only price you paid," Percy glared, standing closer to Esmerelda.

Ethan tensed up, then let out a shaky breath as he avoided looking in her direction. "At least she keeps her word, unlike the Olympians. She always pays her debts—good or evil."

"Yeah," Percy replied stonily. "So I saved your life, and you repaid me by raising Kronos. That's fair."

Ethan grabbed the hilt of his sword, but Prometheus stopped him.

"Now, now," the Titan said. "We're on a diplomatic mission."

Prometheus studied Percy as if trying to understand his anger. Then he nodded like he'd just picked a thought from his brain.

"It bothers you what happened to Luke," he decided. "Hestia didn't show you the full story. Perhaps if you understood..."

The Titan reached out. Thalia cried a warning, but before anyone could react, Prometheus's index finger touched Percy's forehead.

"Percy!" Esmerelda gasped, catching him before he could slip off his chair. He fell limply in her arms, but she could see his eyes moving rapidly underneath his eyelids.

She looked up to glare at Prometheus. "What did you do to him?!"

He answered calmly, "I only showed him a different perspective. The truth."

"Yeah right," Thalia growled, readying her bow. "What. Did. You. Do?"

Ethan took out his sword and Esmerelda turned to him in warning. He hesitated to raise his sword at her.

"He feels confused," Grover muttered, using his Empathy Link. "I don't know what he did to him, but Percy's not feeling any pain."

"See?" Prometheus smiled. "I did no harm. Percy will wake up soon. For now, Esmerelda, I'd like to have a word with you."

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What do you want?"

His expression turned pitiful. "After everything Zeus has done to you... you can't still want to fight for him, do you?"

Not this again, she internally rolled her eyes.

"Him trying to kill me was years ago. He was outvoted." She droned.

"Oh I wasn't talking about that," he smiled slyly. "I meant the tragic incident that occurred years and years before that. You truly wish to fight for his side after what he's done to you? What he's done to your children?"

Ethan actually dropped his sword.

"My what?" She cried out.

"Her what?" He also cried out.

Grover and Thalia's jaw dropped.

"Did I hear you wrong?!" The latter demanded.

Grover seemed to be malfunctioning by the onslaught of emotions he was feeling from everybody.

"I don't have any—I don't have any kids!" Esmerelda stammered, thoroughly flustered. Was this his was of trying to catch her off-guard? Because it was working!

But something cold coated her stomach as his words echoed in her head. Her children... Hearing him say that made her want to fall to her knees and cry in despair. The hole in her heart, a hole that had already been carved out from the loss of her siblings, suddenly grew so much bigger.

Her lips began to tremble. "You... just what do you..."

Percy woke up with a gasp.

Thalia jumped back. "Percy!"

Ethan quickly scrambled to grab his sword, but he was still sending glances at Esmerelda. It looked like she wasn't the only one who was spooked by Prometheus' words.

"Ah, you're back," Prometheus said, as if he hadn't just dropped a metaphorical bomb on everyone. "Appalling, isn't it? The gods know what is to come, and yet they do nothing, even for their children. How long did it take for them to tell you your prophecy, Percy Jackson? Don't you think your father knows what will happen to you?"

Whatever Percy saw kept him too stunned to answer.

"Perrrcy," Grover warned. "He's playing with your mind. Trying to make you angry."

Grover could read emotions, so he probably knew Prometheus was succeeding.

"Do you really blame your friend Luke?" The Titan asked him. "And what about you, Percy? Will you be controlled by your fate? Kronos offers you a much better deal."

Percy clenched his fist, rising up to his feet. "I'll give you a deal. Tell Kronos to call off his attack, leave Luke Castellan's body, and return to the pits of Tartarus. Then maybe I won't have to destroy him."

The empousa snarled. Her hair erupted in fresh flames, but Prometheus just sighed.

"If you change your mind," he said, "I have a gift for you."

A Greek vase appeared on the table. It was about three feet high and a foot wide, glazed with black and-white geometric designs. The ceramic lid was fastened with a leather harness. Grover whimpered when he saw it.

Esmerelda's eyes widened, and she took a wary step back. "No way...!"

Thalia gasped. "That's not—"

"—Yes. You recognize it. This belonged to my sister-in-law," Prometheus explained. "Pandora."

Percy looked sick. "As in Pandora's box?"

Prometheus shook his head. "I don't know how this box business got started. It was never a box. It was a pithos, a storage jar. I suppose Pandora's pithos doesn't have the same ring to it, but never mind that. Yes, she did open this jar, which contained most of the demons that now haunt mankind—fear, death, hunger, sickness."

"Don't forget me," the empousa purred.

"Indeed," Prometheus conceded. "The first empousa was also trapped in this jar, released by Pandora. But what I find curious about the story—Pandora always gets the blame. She is punished for being curious. The gods would have you believe that this is the lesson: mankind should not explore. They should not ask questions. They should do what they are told. In truth, Percy, this jar was a trap designed by Zeus and the other gods. It was revenge on me and my entire family—my poor simple brother Epimetheus and his wife Pandora. The gods knew she would open the jar. They were willing to punish the entire race of humanity along with us."

For some odd reason, Percy turned to Esmerelda. At first she thought he wanted to ask her about something, but he looked more deep in thought. When they locked eyes, she gave him a confused look and he guiltily turned away.

"Only one spirit remained inside when Pandora opened it." Prometheus said.

"Hope," Percy answered.

Prometheus looked pleased.

"Very good, Percy. Elpis, the Spirit of Hope, would not abandon humanity. Hope does not leave without being given permission. She can only be released by a child of man."

The Titan slid the jar across the table.

"I give you this as a reminder of what the gods are like," he said. "Keep Elpis, if you wish. But if you decide that you have seen enough destruction, enough futile suffering, then open the jar. Let Elpis go. Give up Hope, and I will know that you are surrendering. I promise Kronos will be lenient. He will spare the survivors."

Yeah, Esmerelda doubted that.

"I don't want the thing," Percy growled.

"Too late," Prometheus shrugged. "The gift is given. It cannot be taken back."

He stood. The empousa came forward and slipped her arm through his.

"Morrain!" Prometheus called to the blue giant. "We are leaving. Get your flag."

"Uh oh," the giant said.

"We will see you soon, Percy Jackson," Prometheus promised. "One way or another."

Ethan gave Percy one last hateful look. Then the truce party turned and strolled up the lane through Central Park, like it was just a regular sunny Sunday afternoon.

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Grover was right when he called Prometheus 'crafty'. It had already been about an hour since their meeting with Ethan and the Titan, and his words about her apparently having children still rattled her.

I don't have any kids, she told herself. That's just impossible. I'm literally fifteen!

Her statement had more logic than Prometheus', but she still could hear the doubt in her own mind.

Painful pictures kept appearing in her head. There was a staircase... a gloved hand holding on to a railing, then an explosion.

Esmerelda hunched over on her bed, letting out a pained cry as if she could feel the burns all over her body. The mild headache she had been suffering through since this morning was worsening drastically. It felt like she was being incinerated from the inside. 

She clutched the sides of her head, eyes clenched shut.

"No, no, no..." She whimpered, before blindly stumbling out of bed.

She reached for her backpack, clumsily bringing out a baggie of ambrosia. She shoved two whole squares in her mouth from the desperation. The pain in her head subsided, but the burning sensation running through her body increased.

She let out a groan before crawling back into bed and ditching the covers.

Sleep, she told herself, hoping that she'd feel better in a few hours.

Darkness welcomed her, and she was brought to a dream.

When she opened her eyes, she knew at once that she was seeing the enemy camp. Like Ethan had told her so long ago, it was massive. What was worse was that their soldiers were in a far better state than her own.

"Essie?" A surprised voice called out to her.

She turned and saw Percy.

"Percy... So we're sharing a dream then?"

"I guess so..."

"Where are we?"

He looked around, recognition lighting up in his eyes as he took in the forest scene. "I've been here before, on my first quest. We're in the backwoods of New Jersey and..."

He trailed off, his eyes hardening.

Esmerelda followed his line of sight. She saw a crumbling road lined with run-down businesses and tattered billboard signs. A trampled fence ringed a big yard full of cement statuary. The sign above the warehouse was hard to read because it was in red cursive, but she knew what it said: AUNTY EM'S GARDEN GNOME EMPORIUM.

She recognized that name.

"We're in Medusa's lair..." She breathed out.

He turned to her. "How do you know about Aunty Em's?"

She grimaced. "Lady Persephone gets her garden statues from here."

"Ah."

The place was clearly abandoned. The statues were broken and spray-painted with graffiti. A cement satyr had lost his arm. Part of the warehouse roof had caved in. A big yellow sign pasted on the door read: CONDEMNED.

Hundreds of tents and fires surrounded the property. She mostly saw monsters, but there were some human mercenaries in combat fatigues and demigods in armor, too. A purple-and-black banner hung outside the emporium, guarded by two huge blue Hyperboreans.

Ethan was crouched at the nearest campfire. A couple of other demigods sat with him, sharpening their swords. The doors of the warehouse opened, and Prometheus stepped out.

"Nakamura," he called. "The master would like to speak to you."

Ethan stood up warily, and while he wasn't showing it, Esmerelda could see the slight spark of fear in his eye. "Something wrong?"

Prometheus smiled. "You'll have to ask him."

One of the other demigods snickered. "Nice knowing you."

Ethan readjusted his sword belt and headed into the warehouse. Esmerelda and Percy followed after him.

She saw a bunch of statues of terrified people standing frozen in mid-scream. In the snack bar area, the picnic tables had been moved aside. Right between the soda dispenser and pretzel warmer stood a golden throne. Kronos lounged on it, his scythe across his lap. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, and with his brooding expression he looked almost human. Then Kronos saw Ethan, and his face contorted into a very inhuman smile. His golden eyes glowed.

"Well, Nakamura. What did you think of the diplomatic mission?"

Ethan hesitated. "I'm sure Lord Prometheus is better suited to speak—"

"—But I asked you."

Ethan's good eye darted back and forth, noting the guards that stood around Kronos.

"I... I don't think Jackson will surrender. Ever."

Kronos nodded. "Anything else you wanted to tell me?"

"N-no, sir.

"You look nervous, Ethan."

"No, sir. It's just..." He trailed off, trying to think of a good enough lie. "I heard this was the lair of—"

"—Medusa? Yes, quite true. Lovely place, eh? Unfortunately, Medusa hasn't reformed since Jackson killed her, so you needn't worry about joining her collection. Besides, there are much more dangerous forces in this room."

Kronos looked over at a Laistrygonian giant who was munching noisily on some french fries. He waved his hand and the giant froze. A french fry hung suspended in midair halfway between his hand and his mouth.

"Why turn them to stone," Kronos drawled. "When you can freeze time itself?"

His golden eyes bored into Ethan's face. "Now, tell me one more thing. What happened last night on the Williamsburg Bridge?"

Esmerelda sucked in a breath and shot Percy a panicked look.

"No..." He muttered, looking understandably worried.

Ethan trembled. Beads of perspiration were popping up on his forehead.

"Please..." Esmerelda whispered, but she knew he couldn't hear her. "Please, please don't tell..."

"I... I don't know, sir." Ethan replied hesitantly.

"Yes, you do." Kronos rose from his seat. "When you attacked Jackson, something happened. Something was not quite right. The girl, Annabeth, jumped in your way."

"She wanted to save him."

"But he is invulnerable," Kronos said quietly. "You saw that yourself."

"I can't explain it. Maybe she forgot."

"She forgot," Kronos repeated dully. "Yes, that must've been it. Oh dear, I forgot my friend is invulnerable and took a knife for him. Oops. Tell me, Ethan, where were you aiming when you stabbed at Jackson?"

"Fuck," Percy cursed. "Ethan might not know, but now Kronos is already suspicious."

Ethan frowned. He clasped his hand as if he were holding a blade, and mimed a thrust. "I'm not sure, sir. It all happened so fast. I wasn't aiming for any spot in particular."

Kronos' fingers tapped the blade of his scythe. Esmerelda hoped she wouldn't use it to hurt Ethan.

"I see," he said in a chilly tone. "If your memory improves, I will expect—"

Suddenly the Titan lord winced. The giant in the corner unfroze and the french fry fell into his mouth. Kronos stumbled backward and sank into his throne.

"My lord?" Ethan started forward.

"I—" The voice was weak, but it wasn't his own.

"That's Luke's voice...!" Percy exclaimed in shock.

"He's still in there?!" Esmerelda couldn't believe it.

But their surprise was short-lived. Kronos's expression hardened. He raised his hand and flexed his fingers slowly as if forcing them to obey.

"It is nothing," he said, his voice steely and cold again. "A minor discomfort."

Ethan moistened his lips. "He's still fighting you, isn't he? Luke—"

"—Nonsense," Kronos spat. "Repeat that lie, and I will cut out your tongue. The boy's soul has been crushed. I am simply adjusting to the limits of this form. It requires rest. It is annoying, but no more than a temporary inconvenience."

"As... as you say, my lord."

"You!" Kronos pointed his scythe at a dracaena with green armor and a green crown. "Queen Sess, is it?"

Percy turned to Esmerelda for help. "Queen Sess?"

She frowned. "I think I heard of her... There was a Dracaena Queen mentioned a couple times in Hercules' myths."

The dracaeana slithered forward. "Yesssss, my lord."

"Is our little surprise ready to be unleashed?"

The dracaena queen bared her fangs. "Oh, yessss, my lord. Quite a lovely sssssurprissse."

"Excellent," Kronos said. "Tell my brother Hyperion to move our main force south into Central Park. The half-bloods will be in such disarray they will not be able to defend themselves. Go now, Ethan. Work on improving your memory. We will talk again when we have taken Manhattan."

Ethan bowed, and the dream finally ended.

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

"You WHAT?" Esmerelda nearly shrieked.

Travis flinched.

"You sent my sister out to face Hyperion?!" If he wasn't such a dear friend of hers, she would've reached out to snap his neck.

"I didn't send her out," he corrected weakly, keeping a good grip on his shoulder where an arrow was currently sticking out of it. "But a Hunter came here demanding for reinforcements and Lou Ellen was one of the campers who agreed."

"Where's Percy?" She fretted.

"He hasn't gotten back from his own mission yet. We don't know when he'll arrive but—where are you going?"

"I'm going over there to help," she muttered, already brandishing her labrys.

"What? Wait, no! Essie come back!"

But she was already sprinting out the doors of the Plaza. 

Lou Ellen was literally the only sibling she had left who didn't hate her—aside from Étienne, but he wasn't in any danger at the moment. She already lost so many of her friends, witnessed the deaths of other campers, and even had a hand in a hundred innocent mortal lives.

Her mind was already breaking apart at the seams, but she knew if anything else happened to the little loved ones she had left, she was certain that she was going to finally break. 

Or maybe she already had, a long time ago. Who knew at this point. She couldn't tell the difference between all her traumas anymore, it all felt the same—they all hurt the same. 

She made it just a few blocks away from the hotel when a figure appeared before her in a poof of green. She sensed the magic coursing through the air and automatically knew who it was.

Hecate appeared from the mist, and she didn't even blink when she saw the knife heading her way. It stopped just a mere inches from her face, glowing in green.

"Esmerelda..." Hecate greeted, looking guilty. She no longer radiated with a powerful air. Her eyes were down and weary, her hair and clothes weren't flowing majestically, and the Titanic glow she had was dull. It reminded Esmerelda of Dionysus when his son died. 

But unlike with Dionysus, Esmerelda felt no sympathy for her mother. 

"What's with that look on your face?" Her voice was cutting. "Why do you look so guilty, mother? Did you finally realize you were in the wrong? It only took you fifteen dead kids, huh? How dare you... how dare you show yourself to me like that as if you made some 'stupid little mistake'."

Hecate's voice was soft, "Esmerelda, I..." 

"This is all your fault," she seethed, breathing heavily. She felt something within her about to explode. "You know that, don't you? Their deaths—it's all on you! YOU made them join Kronos, YOU did, mother! It wasn't me, it wasn't Alabaster, IT WAS ALL YOU! YOUR CHILDREN'S DEATHS ARE ON YOUR HANDS!"

Hecate's face crumbled. "I—"

"—DON'T YOU DENY IT!" She cried out hoarsely, tears running down her face. "You're the goddess of crossroads, mother, you should've known, you should've fucking known!"

"But I didn't," Hecate said in an equally pained voice. "I didn't know. Esmerelda, please, you have to understand, if I had known what would happen to them, I wouldn't have—"

"—It doesn't matter!" She screamed, her face hot and wet. "You're a mother, you're not supposed to be sending your kids out to war! You're not supposed to make them leave the only safe haven they have, or—or use them to become the host to some crazy Titan! None of us wanted this, but you made it all happened! This is your fault, this is all your fault!"

I wanted you to care! She wanted to scream. I wanted you to care about me and be proud, but all you did was take everything away from me!

"I know that," Hecate admitted. "You, Alabaster and Lou Ellen are all I have left now... I cannot lose anymore of my children. That's why I'm here now. I need you to turn back, Esmerelda. Do not face Hyperion."

Esmerelda's lips trembled with anger. There was a bitter feeling in her heart.

"Even now you're still like this..." She scoffed, wiping her face.

"Please," Hecate said, and that was when she realized that the word sounded so foreign coming from her lips. Had Hecate ever used the word 'please' before?

"I've seen many paths in your life, Esmerelda," Hecate continued. "This is the worst one. Please do not fight."

"Why? Will I die?" She asked bitterly.

"No," Hecate replied, much to her shock. "You will live. And with help, you will even defeat him. But this path is short, Esmerelda. Very short."

"I don't care," she glared at her. "Besides, you're full of crap anyways. How can I believe you when you let all my siblings die?"

"Esmerelda—"

"—I'm going," she growled. "Now get out of my way."

Hecate gave her one last sad look, before Mist traveling away.

Esmerelda stood there all alone, the glare in her eyes dropping and showing a face full of pain. She let out a short sob, before harshly biting her lip to stop.

Her mother's words rang in her ears: This path is short, Esmerelda. Very short.

She really didn't care anymore.

She found the rest of the hunters and recently deployed demigods at the Reservoir. She found the incoming army there too.

The noise was like a cannon barrage combined with a football stadium crowd—like every Patriots fan in New England was charging us with bazookas. At the north end of the reservoir, the enemy vanguard broke through the woods—a warrior in golden armor leading a battalion of Laistrygonian giants with huge bronze axes. Hundreds of other monsters poured out behind them.

"That's him," Lou Ellen said in a small voice. "The one in the golden armor—Hyperion."

The Lord of Light. The Titan of the East.

Next to Atlas, he was the greatest Titan warrior. In the old days, four Titans controlled the four corners of the world. Hyperion was the east—the most powerful. He was the father of Helios, the first sun god.

Esmerelda grasped Lou Ellen's shoulder tightly and forced her to look at her.

"Don't fight him, alright?" Esmerelda told her firmly. "Stay out of his path. Focus on the other soldiers. I'll... I'll deal with Hyperion. Or at least, I'll stall until Percy gets here."

Suddenly, someone shouted: "They're coming!"

Esmerelda turned forward and inwardly cursed. The army was heading after them, and Hyperion was already leagues ahead.

In the woods on the right, the Hunters sent a volley of silver arrows into the enemy line, destroying twenty or thirty dracaenae, but more marched behind them. Thalia raised her arm, and a bolt of lightning crackled out of the sky and fried a Laistrygonian giant to ashes.

Grover raised his pipes and played a quick tune. A roar went up from the woods on both sides as every tree, rock, and bush seemed to sprout a spirit. Dryads and satyrs raised their clubs and charged. The trees wrapped around the monsters, strangling them. Grass grew around the feet of the enemy archers.Stones flew up and hit dracaenae in the faces.

The enemy slogged forward. Giants smashed through the trees, and naiads faded as their life sources were destroyed. Hellhounds lunged at the timber wolves, knocking them aside. Enemy archers returned fire, and a Hunter fell from a high branch.

The Titan in the gold armor wasn't waiting for his forces to advance around the sides. He was charging forward, walking straight over the top of the lake. A Greek firebomb exploded right on top of him, but he raised his palm and sucked the flames out of the air.

Obviously, Esmerelda would need some water power to go against that guy, but the most she could do was use Aguamenti and that had enough power to rival a garden hose, which she was pretty sure wasn't gonna beat him.

Hyperion swept his sword around him like a sideways arc. Nobody was near him, but the force of his swing was so powerful that several people—even those from his side—were thrown back several meters. Esmerelda avoided the hit by Mist traveling behind him. She moved forward to strike his unarmed back, but he burst into a column of flames.

She jumped back.

"Ah shit," she mumbled when he turned to face her. "Knew that wasn't gonna be easy..."

"Daughter of Hecate," he mused. "You're the one Atlas trapped under the sky."

She smiled dryly. "Yes. I try not to think about it though, so if you could just never mention that again..."

He lunged at her, sword raised. Esmerelda Mist traveled away again, appearing just a few feet away from him, heart racing. He was insanely fast. An unstoppable blur. 

"You witches and your tricks," he said in amusement. "You hope to stall me, don't you? I'll play your game, as long as you make it entertaining."

Esmerelda was so glad villains liked to talk a lot because while he was speaking, she had already levitated a nearby bench and slammed it against him from behind, bending the metal to wrap itself around his body. She kept it wrapped around him as tight as she can get it.

"Stop fighting," she told him. "You don't want to hurt me. Leave."

Hyperion staggered away from her, but she kept talking. "Leave." She repeated more firmly.

"You—" He growled, but a piece of metal wrapped itself around his mouth.

"Leave, Hyperion! Turn around and leave now!"

He shook his head wildly, before letting out a muffled cry. Fire returned to his body and he forced his arms out. She lost her hold on the metal bindings and cried out when a piece of it flew directly to her head. She fell to the ground in a daze.

She heard his battle cry and knew he was coming.

"No...!" She raised a hand, and a magical shockwave shot out of it. Hyperion was pushed back, but the force of her attack wasn't enough to send him down. But it gave her enough time to scramble back up to her feet, her head bleeding profusely.

Oh fuck, she thought dazedly.

She was seeing three of him. Not because he had copied himself or anything, but because she was literally dizzy. There was a pounding in her head from when she had been smacked by the metal bench and her usage of magic was only making it grow worse.

Percy get here quickly, I could really use your water powers about now!

"You will pay for trying to control me, daughter of Hecate! Prepare yourself!" He barked, and she thought it was kind of nice of him to give her a heads up.

He—they, whatever—charged at her, but she put her hand up and conjured a shield. He pressed on, and she could see bits of her shield cracking and burning away. She pushed outward, sending him back several feet while she used that chance to unpin her brooch.

CLANG!

Their blades met, and the air smelled heavily of ozone.

"You will burn, witch!" He hissed.

She spat at his eye in response. 

He let out an angered cry, eyes clenched. She arched her labrys in the air, disconnected their blades, and successfully slashed at the inside of his bicep. Gleaming ichor spilled from the wound, and she Mist traveled away again before he could retaliate.

"I tire of your games," he growled, darting for her again and this time, she was too tired to move out of the way.

He raised his sword, but then another figure appeared to block the hit.

Her eyes widened in relief. "Percy...!"

"Sorry, I'm late," he said, before summoning a jet of water to smack Hyperion in the face. He was sent back at least a hundred feet away from them.

Percy stepped back until he was side-by-side with her.

"Grover and I have a plan," he muttered to her. "I need your help, we have to find a way to—"

"—Watch out!" She shouted, pushing him back while jumping the other way. Hyperion returned quickly, his sword jabbed forward. Had Esmerelda not gotten themselves out of the way, it would've stabbed one of them—or, well, her in this case, since she didn't have invulnerability like Percy did.

Percy ended up falling into the water, but he got up and actually stood on the surface like he was Jesus or something.

"I really hate it when you Titans do that." He commented.

Hyperion, thank gods, turned away from Esmerelda and closed on him with blinding speed. 

Hyperion attacked. He was powerful and fast, but he couldn't seem to land a blow. The ground around his feet kept erupting in flames, but Percy kept dousing it just as quickly. And then he started to rise.

Esmerelda's jaw dropped at the scene. "Holy shit..."

He was standing on top of his own personal hurricane. Clouds of water vapor swirled around him, winds so powerful they buffeted Hyperion and flattened the grass in a twenty-yard radius. Enemy warriors threw javelins at him, but the storm knocked them aside.

"Stop it!" The Titan roared. "Stop that wind!"

Hyperion stumbled like he was being pushed away. Water sprayed his face, stinging his eyes. The wind picked up, and he staggered backward.

"Percy!" Grover called in amazement. "How are you doing that?"

Either Percy didn't hear him, or he had no idea what he was talking about. Either way, his attacks grew even more powerful.

Lightning flickered around him. The clouds darkened and the rain swirled faster. He closed in on Hyperion and blew him off his feet.

"Guys!" Grover called again. "Bring him over here!"

Percy slashed and jabbed and Hyperion could barely defend himself. His eyes kept trying to ignite, but the hurricane quenched his flames. It was the coolest thing Esmerelda had ever seen... but then she started realizing that the attacks were weakening the longer he continued to use them.

"Essie!" He called out, and that was when she knew she needed to make the final push.

Ignoring the agonizing pain in her head, she got ready to use her telekinesis. Her eyes glowed, and a ring of green energy wrapped itself around Hyperion's ankle. She moved her hand, and Hyperion was propelled across the field like a ragdoll, straight to where Grover was waiting.

She let out a haggard breath, feeling blood leak from her eyes, nose, and probably even her mouth. She collapsed to the ground, no longer able to move as her mind was enveloped in pain. Her body and mind felt like jelly.

"I will not be toyed with!" Hyperion bellowed, and Esmerelda weakly cracked an eye open to witness the next attack.

He managed to get to his feet again, but Grover put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play. Leneus joined him. Around the grove, every satyr took up the song—an eerie melody, like a creek flowing over stones. 

The ground erupted at Hyperion's feet. Gnarled roots wrapped around his legs.

"What's this?" He protested. He tried to shake off the roots, but he was still weak. The roots thickened until he looked like he was wearing wooden boots.

"Stop this!" He shouted. "Your woodland magic is no match for a Titan!"

But the more he struggled, the faster the roots grew. They curled about his body, thickening and hardening into bark. His golden armor melted into the wood, becoming part of a large trunk. The music continued.

Hyperion's forces backed up in astonishment as their leader was absorbed. He stretched out his arms and they became branches, from which smaller branches shot out and grew leaves.The tree grew taller and thicker, until only the Titan's face was visible in the middle of the trunk.

"You cannot imprison me!" He bellowed. "I am Hyperion! I am—"

The bark closed over his face.

Grover took his pipes from his mouth. "You are a very nice maple tree."

Several of the other satyrs passed out from exhaustion, but they'd done their job well.

The Titan lord was completely encased in an enormous maple. The trunk was at least twenty feet in diameter, with branches as tall as any in the park. The tree might've stood there for centuries.

The Titan's army started to retreat. A cheer went up from the Athena cabin, but their victory was short-lived.

Because just then Kronos unleashed his surprise.

— author's note —

If I were you 👀 I'd take extra note of Hecate's warning 👀 and maybe try to figure out what she means 👀

Update on my foot: I'm so fucking devastated you guys, it's so bad I can't even wear my favorite fuzzy socks with the bunny ears anymore 😭 😭 😭