Present Day

Thalia's POV

It had finally happened. After years of suspicion, anxiety, and endless speculation, Kronos had finally emerged to storm Olympus. The gods had scattered. They had no choice. His attack was sudden and they were not prepared.

Rain dropped in heavy sheets and wind whipped across the streets. Hermes had sent a broadcast as far as anyone could hear. He was following the Titan lord, a dangerous move on his part, but Kronos was making his way towards New Rome with a violent fervor.

By now, everyone knew what was occurring and just like all those years ago people began to disappear underground. The network of tunnels had been reworked to support everyone in time of a crisis and they would serve their purpose once more.

But as much as I loved running I couldn't keep up. The cold water and the wind was making it difficult for both my arm and leg to function properly. The metal work, though expertly done by Leo, could only withstand weather so well. The joints kept catching at involuntary moments making the simple movement of running awkward and painful.

"Fuck." The curse slipped out on accident. I'd been trying to hide the struggle but Reyna skidded to a halt in an instant.

"What is it?" With an irritated hand she wiped the rain from her face. Reyna's brows creased in worry but her eyes flicked about nervously.

"Nothing. I can fix it." But I wasn't so sure. Stooping down I attempted to pull up my pant leg but the rain soaked fabric was being difficult. With an irritated tug it slid up the slick metal to expose the carefully designed segment functioning as a knee.

"Shit." A look of realization passed across Reyna's face. "I should have known."

"What?"

"It's no different than Hylla's hand. The joints have a natural lubricant that lets them move but exposure to too many elements can wash it away." Reyna knelt despite the puddle pooling in the road to examine the structure. "It happened to her in Florida. Her hand ceased up. It wouldn't move."

"Will you be okay?" Reyna worried.The logic behind the problem made sense but it wasn't any less frustrating.

"I can make it to the tunnels," I insisted.

"Thals, if you keep trying to make it work you'll damage things more." Reyna hesitantly adjusted my pant leg so that it covered my leg once more.

"We have a Titan Lord on the loose. I don't have much of a choice." With a set jaw and a grunt of pain I pushed back up to a standing position; my leg was unhappy. "He may find us hiding but it'll be a lot easier if we aren't sitting like ducks. I'm making it to the tunnels."

"Alright," Reyna nodded, and in an instant shifted to my side. Her arm hooked around me in an attempt to help support some of my weight.
— — —
Reyna dropped into the tunnel first before helping me down. Both of us knew the impact could very well have ruined my leg had I dropped down on my own.

With a grunt, she pulled the manhole cover back into place. When the slab of metal settled in place the newly installed lights turned on in the tunnel. "Not much farther."

"I know," I sighed. Catching my breath, I leaned even more on her for support. It was slow going but the lights guided our path towards the main chamber.

The closer we got the more I picked up on other voices. Many of the  civilians would have followed the green lit paths- which lead to exits from camp- and places to stay for the time being.

As soon as we crossed the threshold of the main chamber Reyna helped ease me to lean against the wall. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm alive so that counts," I quipped.

"Thank gods!" Frank's relieved remark drew our attention. "We thought-well...what happened?"

"Leg," I noted.

"Right," he nodded. "Well ,I'm glad you're both okay."

Emily, who stood off to the side, was biting nervously at her thumbnail. Hazel was making an attempt to comfort her daughter but in a situation like this there was only so much that could be done.

"As far as I know everyone is accounted for." Leah's voice echoed in the chamber as her wet shoes squeaked on slick stone. "Now, what to do we do?"

Reyna glanced at me for a moment and in her expression I saw the old call of leadership. She'd stepped aside from her position as praetor but her experience outweighed everyone else's including Frank's. "Don't give me that look, you're more equipped than anyone, help her out."

"Love you." A faint smiled graced Reyna's lips before she stood and made her way to Leah.

"I'm getting really angry about everything trying to kill us," Frank sighed, his hand running through his damp hair.

"Yeah," I agreed. It seemed a bit cynical but part of me wanted Kronos to show his ugly face. It was clearer now than ever before that the incident in New Athens was his doing and more importantly he's the one that killed my daughter. If I had the chance I was going cut off his dick and shove it down his throat.

All talk died down as a loud bang sounded from above. It resembled the sound of an earthquake and the aftershocks caused the walls to tremble.

"Looks like king douchebag arrived," I frowned. Grunting, I leaned heavily against the wall and slowly stood. My hip muscles strained from over use.

"You're not going out there." Reyna's voice was firm.

"Never said I was." Shaking my head, I judged the height of the ceiling. It was reachable. "I have a plan if he gets close. I'll need your help Frank."

"Of course." He nodded in understanding.
— — —
The silence was excruciating. If I listened close enough I was certain I could hear everyone's pulse and heartbeat sky rocket at the sound of another distant bang.

"I hate this," Frank mumbled. "We're sitting ducks."

"Never met a duck in the sewer before." The joke was dumb but it helped lighten the mood a tiny bit.

Another bang. Closer this time.

"Frank, I'm going to need you to lift me up so I can touch the ceiling." A brief look of confusion flashed on his face but at the sound of another threatening noise he scrambled to his feet.

I was lifted with ease and rested comfortably on his shoulders. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and let my hands traverse the ceiling. I needed to find the path of least resistance. "Move a bit to the left please."

"Thalia what are you-" Reyna started.

"Shhh." The best spot was just where I'd predicted. Making sure my hands were placed firmly against the giant stone I concentrated on the atmosphere. The air tasted of iron and with a mumbled curse the room exploded with bright light.

Lightning coursed through the stone ceiling and up into the ground above with a hungry vengeance. Part of me hoped I wasn't killing any innocent people still left outside but there was no real way of knowing. The stone sparked and sizzled as the electricity hopped from path to path pouring ever upwards.

The noises stopped at last but I didn't let up. A bead of sweat trailed down the back of my neck and a tightness in my shoulders signaled that I would have to let up soon. After another handful of seconds I released contact with the stone.

Frank grunted, shifting me to his arms before setting me on the ground again. Silence settled once more and when the sounds up above didn't return a sigh of relief echoed through the chamber.

Reyna's eyes closed for a moment and I knew she was searching for a powerful aura. "She's bought us time but he'll be back eventually. He needs to find the most susceptible victim for now. His powers aren't as primed as we believe."

"So what do we do?" Emily asked. "Do we sit and wait until he comes back?"

"No." Leah shook her head. Her eyebrows scrunched in thought for a moment. "We can't. Like Frank noted, we'd be sitting ducks."

"What's the suggestion then?" Emily asked politely.

"I need to talk to an old friend." Leah determined. "He knows what we should expect."

"They're in no position to-"Frank started.

"It's the only way," Leah insisted. Frank glanced to Reyna who nodded in agreement with Leah.

"If you're wondering about Luke," I sighed, "he's not here. He left a week ago."

"What?" Leah frowned.

"I didn't think much of it. He said he needed to finish something. That he needed to find someone," I explained. The brief discussion was foggy in my mind.

"Andy? Marianna?" Leah questioned.

"They went with him too."

A devastated aura filled the room until Reyna hesitantly proposed an idea, "We could always talk to the boy."

"His mental state is too fragile," Emily insisted.

"It might be the only choice we have," Leah insisted. "We'll be gentle."

Emily's face shifted into an expression of conflict. "Okay. His gift is stronger than Anthony's was. Anthony said you'll have to be patient with him ."

"Thank you," Leah smiled kindly.

"I'll get him. But you need to do this elsewhere, just the two of you," Emily explained, before turning on her heel and running off down one of the tunnels.

Leah's attention turned back to me. "Did Luke say what he was looking for?"

"No," I couldn't recall any of the specifics, "just that it was time to undo the mirage, whatever that means. He said it was a dream."

"Well, whatever he's in search of it better be the best thing since sliced bread because we're gonna need it," Leah sighed. "Otherwise..."

She didn't need to finish the sentence. All of us filled in the gaps on our own. Each person thought of a different grotesque image.

In the silence I closed my eyes and let my mind wander before thinking a silent prayer. There were too many people elsewhere, friends, family, and more who were in danger. I hoped that they had found a safe place, that they would be alright, and if it came down to it they would at least perish in a blaze of glory.