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chapter fifteen ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
015. Meeting the King of Dragon Breath

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Cassie was panicking, only slightly. It wasn't as if Annabeth's life was at stake and at the rate they were going they would never save her in time.

Zoë voiced her concerns, noticing the subtle quickening of the brunette's breathes. "We will never make it. We are moving too slow. But we cannot leave the Ophiotaurus."

"Mooo," Bessie called, swimming beside them as they jogged by the waterside. The group was far from the shopping center and going in the direction of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was just a lot farther and the sun was disappearing in the west already.

"I don't get it. Why do we have to get there at sunset?" Percy questioned, he was confused and worried.

"The Hesperides are the nymphs of the sunset. We can only enter their garden as day changes to night." Zoë answered.

"What happens if we miss it?"

"Tomorrow is winter solstice. If we miss sunset tonight, we would have to wait until tomorrow evening. And by then, the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight."

Or Annabeth will be dead, Percy thought and as if she read his mind Cassie hit him on the backside of his head.

"We need a car," Thalia told them.

"But what about Bessie?" Percy reminded.

Grover halted with a smile. "I've got an idea! The Ophiotaurus can appear in different bodies of water, right?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, he was in Long Island Sound. Then he just popped into the water at Hoover Dam. And now he's here." The son of Poseidon recapped.

"So maybe we could coax him back to Long Island Sound," Grover suggested. "Then Chiron could help us get him to Olympus."

"But he was following me. If I'm not there, would he know where he's going?"

"Moo," Bessie said at the mention of abandoning Percy.

"I... I can show him. I'll go with him." That was really brave of Grover. Cassie watched him proudly, and Percy stared for any sign of reluctance. Grover wasn't a water enthusiast, especially not after the whole Sea of Monsters quest. He wasn't the best swimmer with his goat hooves.

"I'm the only one who can talk to him. It makes sense." Grover continued.

He whispered something to Bessie and the Ophiotaurus shivered and let out a lowing sound.

"The blessing of the Wild. That should help with safe passage. Percy, pray to your dad, too. See if he will grant us safe passage through the seas." The satyr said.

It didn't seem possible for the two to swim all the way back to Long Island from California. But monsters did have a different way of traveling. They had enough experience with that.

Percy focused on the waves, the sea smell, and crash of the tide. "Dad," He prayed. "Help us. Get the Ophiotaurus and Grover safely to camp. Protect them at sea."

"A prayer like that needs a sacrifice. Something big." Thalia muttered, thinking of what they could offer.

Percy knew, he removed his coat from his shoulders.

"Percy. Are you sure? That lion skin... that's really helpful. Hercules used it!" Grover exclaimed.

That's when it hit him. Back in the canoe with Cassie and Zoë. The hero the girls had talked about. Percy did know who he was. The one who'd ruined Zoë's life, gotten her kicked out of her family, and never even mentioned how she'd helped him: Hercules. He had admired him as long as he had lived.

"If I'm going to survive, it won't be because I've got a lion-skin cloak. I'm not Hercules." Percy decided.

He tossed the coat into the water and watched it shift back into its normal form. It shone in the light and sank down into the waves, dissolving in the light. The sea breeze blew stronger.

Grover sucked in a breath. "Well, no time to lose." He dove into the water and immediately started flailing.

Thankfully Bessie calmly swam over and offered himself as a floatie for the satyr who wrapped his arms around the Ophiotaurus' neck.

"Be careful," Percy warned them.

"We will. Okay, um... Bessie? We're going to Long Island. It's east. Over that way."

"Moooo?" Bessie seemed to ask a question.

"Yes," Grover nodded. "Long Island. It's this island.
And... it's long. Oh, let's just start."

"Mooo!"

Bessie leaned forward and slowly submerged inch by inch. Grover called out, "I can't breathe underwater! Just thought I'd mention-" Glub!

They disappeared under the surface and Percy could only hope his father's protection would help with things like breathing.

"Well, that is one problem addressed," Zoë brought her hands together. "But how can we get to my sisters' garden?"

"Thalia's right. We need a car. But there's nobody to help us here. Unless we, uh, borrowed one." Percy wasn't too fond of that idea, he knew this was a life-or-death situation but stealing never ends well. Also the chances of them getting caught were high. So how to get a car?

Cassie furrowed her brows thoughtfully. Who lived in San Francisco that would be willing to help. I mean there was...

"Wait," Thalia's eyes lit up from whatever she was about to say. She shuffled through her backpack searching for something. "There is somebody in San Francisco who can help us. I've got the address here somewhere."

"Who?" Percy inquired.

Thalia brought a crumpled piece of paper out and showed it to them. "Professor Chase. Annabeth's dad."

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Percy didn't know what to expect after hearing Annabeth complain about her father for two years. He was thinking devil horns and fangs, not an aviator's cap and goggles.

Cassie was more prepared to meet Annabeth's dad for the first time. She had the urge to make a good impression... whatever reason that was for. Also, she had seen Annabeth's parents once or twice in the back of an Iris message with the girl.

Mr. Chase looked a little mad-scientist like with his glasses. They made his eyes bulge and startled three of the four who stepped back on the front porch. The daughter of Ares only smiled and laughed a bit.

"Hello," his voice had a friendly tone. "Are you delivering my airplanes?"

Thalia, Zoe, and Percy shared an unsure glance but Cassie shook her head.

"Sorry, but no we're not sir," she replied.

"Drat, I need three more Sopwith Camels," he complained.

The brunette didn't understand a word he said, but she just nodded. "I'm sure they'll come soon, but um sir- We're friends of Annabeth."

"Annabeth?" Mr. Chase tense up quickly, "Is she all right? Has something happened?"

Cassie opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish not knowing how exactly to tell him the news. His questions were met with silence and the expressions on the demigods' faces were enough to give him his answer.

He removed his cap and goggles, revealing his face. He had the same sandy-colored hair as Annabeth and deep brown eyes. He was handsome for an older guy, but not all that put together. He needed to shave his stubble and learn how to button his shirt properly. The collar stuck up higher on one side than the other.

"You'd better come in," he widened the door.

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The Chases seemed pretty settled in to their house already. LEGO robots were left on the stairs and two cats were napping on the living room sofa. Magazines were piled on the coffee table and little boys' winter coats were thrown on the floor. There was a sweet smell of chocolate-chip cookies in the air and jazz music was playing in the kitchen. It was messy and not all together but it was definitely a happy kind of home.

"Dad! He's taking apart my robots!" a young boy whined.

"Bobby," Dr. Chase scolded without really paying attention, "don't take apart your brother's robots."

"I'm Bobby. He's Matthew!" the same boy corrected.

"Matthew, don't take apart your brother's robots!"

"Okay, Dad!"

Matthew was definitely still taking apart Bobby's robots.

Dr. Chase directed them around the house. "We'll go upstairs to my study. This way."

"Honey?" came a woman's voice. Annabeth's dreaded stepmother was actually just a pretty Asian woman, who was a little covered in flour. She had red highlights in her hair which was pulled back in a bun. She had come from the kitchen and was wiping her hands on a dish towel.

"Who are our guests?" she asked.

"Oh," Dr. Chase glanced to the kids. "This is..." He trailed off.

"Frederick," she hit him lightly with the towel. "You forgot to ask them their names?"

The three were still uneasy but Cassie introduced herself first and her friends followed along. Mrs. Chase was surprisingly sweet, even asked if they were hungry. When they admitted they were she offered to bring sandwiches, cookies, and sodas.

"Dear, they came about Annabeth." They waited for Mrs. Chase's reaction. This time Percy expected her to turn into a raving lunatic at the mere mention of her stepdaughter. Instead they were met with concern.

"All right. Go on up to the study and I'll bring you some food." She took the time to smile at the daughter of Ares. "Nice meeting you, Cassie. I've heard a lot about you."

Thalia elbowed the girl lightly, wiggling her eyebrows and she scowled back subtly. Cassie fixed her face and offered a smile back to the older woman. "It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Chase."

Once they were upstairs, they entered Dr. Chase's study and Percy let out a, "Whoa!"

Annabeth certainly was her father's daughter. The walls were lined with endless amount of books but the war toys stood out the most. In the center of the room was a giant table of miniature tanks and soldiers stood on both sides of a blue river. There were even hills, fake trees, and other realistic stuff.

The bi-plane models that hung from the ceiling were awesome. They were angled as if they were in the middle of a dog fight.

Dr. Chase smiled proudly. "Yes. The Third Battle of Ypres. I'm writing a paper, you see, on the use of Sopwith Camels to strafe enemy lines. I believe they played a much greater role than they've been given credit for."

He detached one of the biplanes from it's strings and pretending like it was flying over the battle field. The little airplane engine sound effects were much needed as he hit little German soldiers.

"Oh, right," Percy pretended to understand. Dr. Chase was a professor in military history. There was probably a reason Annabeth never told them he liked to play with his toy soldiers.

Zoë eyes scanned over the whole field and pointed out, "The German lines were farther from the river."

Dr. Chase raised a curious eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"I was there. Artemis wanted to show us how horrible war was, the way mortal men fight each other. And how foolish, too. The battle was a complete waste." Zoë explained, obviously not impressed though when was she ever.

Dr. Chase's jaw dropped in surprise. "You-"

"She's a Hunter, sir," Thalia clarified. "But that's not why we're here. We need-"

"You saw the Sopwith Camels? How many were there? What formations did they fly?" The blonde man rambled, off topic.

"Sir," Thalia interrupted to get his attention. "Annabeth is in danger." That did the trick and he put down the biplane model.

"Of course. Tell me everything."

They were losing time as the afternoon light faded, but they did their best to tell him all that had happened.

When they finally finished recapping everything they could, Dr. Chase was overwhelmed. He laid back in his recliner trying to comprehend it all. Lacing his hands together the man finally decided. "My poor brave Annabeth. We must hurry."

"Sir, we need transportation to Mount Tamalpais. And we need it immediately." Zoë told him, head held high.

"I'll drive you. Hmm, it would be faster to fly in my Camel, but it only seats two."

"Whoa, you have an actual biplane?" Percy gawked.

Dr. Chase proudly nodded. "Down at Crissy Field. That's the reason I had to move here. My sponsor is a private collector with some of the finest World War I relics in the world. He let me restöre the Sopwith Camel-"

"Sir, just a car would be great." Thalia cut him off, "And it might be better if we went without you. It's too dangerous."

That didn't sit well with the professor, "Now wait a minute, young lady. Annabeth is my daughter. Dangerous or not, I... I can't just-"

"Snacks," Mrs. Chase almost sang as she entered with a tray of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, cookies fresh from the oven, and cokes. The chocolate chips looked gooey and delicious. The three minus Zoë practically inhaled a few cookies each.

The lieutenant was more focused on the task at hand, "I can drive, sir. I'm not as young as I look. I promise not to destroy your car."

Mrs. Chase glanced between them curiously. "What's this about?"

"Annabeth is in danger. On Mount Tam. I would drive them, but... apparently it's no place for mortals." Dr. Chase let her know, running a tense hand through his hair. He took a bit to get that last part out.

They were expecting a no from Mrs. Chase since what mortal would actually give four underaged teenagers permission to borrow their car? Apparently Annabeth's stepmother, who nodded. "Then they'd better get going."

"Right!" Dr. Chase leapt to his feet and pat down his pockets. "My keys..."

Seemed to be a common occurrence as his wife let out an exasperated sigh. "Frederick, honestly. You'd lose your head if it weren't wrapped inside your aviator hat. The keys are hanging on the peg by the front door."

"Right!"

Zoë helped herself to a sandwich. "Thank you both. We should go. Now."

The four ran from the office, down the stairs, and towards the front door. The Chases followed after.

"Cassie, honey," Mrs. Chase called to her retreating figure, "tell Annabeth... Tell her she still has a home here, will you? Remind her of that."

The brunette took a moment to glance back and take in the messy living room, Annabeth's half-brothers fighting as the wrestled over LEGOs, the mouth-watering and never-ending smell of cookies. Not a bad place, she had to admit.

"Of course, I'll tell her. Thank you for everything Mrs. Chase," Cassie gave her word and waved by to the nice woman.

She joined the rest of the group by the yellow VW convertible in the driveway. The sun was starting to near the horizon. They had about less than an hour to save Annabeth.

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Cassie couldn't stop her leg from bouncing. This was the closest they had ever been to saving Annabeth. The closest she had been to the blonde in weeks. It felt unreal to her and she was pumped.

"Can't this thing go any faster?" Thalia demanded, stomping her foot impatiently.

Zoë glared and laid on the horn. "I cannot control traffic."

"You both sound like my mother," Percy chuckled. Cassie offered him a silent fist bump. The duo had been forced in the back by the two arguing girls up front.

"Shut up!" they retorted.

Zoë was zigzagging through cars, pissing off random drivers on the Golden Gate Bridge. The sun was about to dip under the horizon when they reached Marin County and exited the highway.

The road narrowed tremendously and winded through forests, up hills, and around the edges of steep ravines. Zoë never slowed down.

"Why does everything smell like cough drops?" Percy asked, nose turning up at the aroma.

"Eucalyptus." Zoë took a hand of the wheel to point at the trees surrounding them.

"The stuff koala bears eat?"

Cassie scoffed but snickered, "Yes Kelphead."

"And monsters. They love chewing the leaves. Especially dragons." the huntress added.

"Dragons chew eucalyptus leaves?"

"Believe me, if you had dragon breath, you would chew eucalyptus too."

"You should probably try it sometimes Perc. Could pass off as good hygiene." Cassie suggested playfully.

"Oh shut up," Percy shoved her lightly.

He decided not to question Zoë, but his eyes were trained on their surroundings. Towering up in front of them was Mount Tamalpais. Relatively small compared to other mountains but it was pretty ginormous as they approached it.

"So that's the Mountain of Despair?" Percy clicked his tongue.

"Yes," Zoë let out through gritted teeth.

"Why do they call it that?"

She stayed quiet for almost a mile thinking of her response. "After the war between the Titans and the gods, many of the Titans were punished and imprisoned. Kronos was sliced to pieces and thrown into Tartarus. Kronos's right-hand man, the general of his forces, was imprisoned up there, on the summit, just beyond the Garden of the Hesperides."

"The General," Percy repeated. The clouds at the mountain's peak appeared to be swirling down as if the mountain was pulling them in and spinning them like a tornado. "What's going on up there? A storm?"

This time Zoë didn't answer. She had to know what the clouds meant, and she didn't like it one bit.

"We have to concentrate. The Mist is really strong here." Thalia announced.

"The magical kind or the natural kind?" Percy questioned.

"Both."

"Great." Cassie muttered, her eyes trailed over the whirlwind of clouds and her palm flickered red almost like a sort of warning.

The dark clouds were even thicker over the mountain and the demigods were driving straight toward them. The forest had cleared and led to a wide open plain of cliffs, grass, rocks, and most importantly fog.

Percy had gazed down to the ocean when they had passed a curve and he jumped in his seat, alarming Cassie.

"What's wrong?" confusion and worry laced her tone.

"Look!" The son of Poseidon shouted. But the ocean was blocked by hills when they turned a corner.

"What?" Thalia asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"A big white ship. Docked near the beach. It looked like a cruise ship." There was only one ship they knew of like that. That mattered at least.

Her electric blue eyes went wide. "Luke's ship?"

He wished he could say he wasn't sure and that it could've been a coincidence, but Percy knew better. The Princess Andromeda, Luke's ship of monsters and Kronos' minions, was the one at the beach. That was why he had ordered them down to the Panama Canal. It was the only way to get by boat from the East to West Coast.

"We will have company, then," Zoe deduced. "Kronos' army."

Before Percy could reply, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

"Stop the car. NOW!" Thalia demanded.

Zoë listened without hesitation, sensing something was wrong. The car spun twice then finally stopped right at the cliff edge.

"Out!" Thalia threw her door open and Cassie followed suit. She dragged Percy out and they landed on the pavement. Before they could even blink: BOOOM!

Lightning struck Dr. Chase's Volkswagen and it exploded. The two would've been killed if Thalia hadn't saved them with her shield. Metal rained down and they were surrounded by the broken pieces of the car. The VW's fender made a mark in the road and the hood was on fire spinning in circles. Yellow metal was everywhere they looked.

"Hopefully insurance covers it...?" Cassie thought aloud.

Percy swallowed down the funny taste, staring at Thalia shocked. "You saved my life."

"One shall perish by a parent's hand," she paced while mumbling under her breath. "Curse him. He would destroy me? Me?"

It dawned on Percy that she must've been cursing her dad. "Oh, hey, that couldn't have been Zeus's lightning bolt. No way."

"Whose, then?" Thalia scoffed.

"I don't know. Zoe said Kronos' name. Maybe he-"

Thalia interrupted, shaking her head furiously. She was angry, stunned, and a whole lot of other things at the moment.

"No. That wasn't it."

"Wait guys," Cassie called to them further up the road. "Where's Zoe? Zoë!"

The two rushed to join her, running around the shredded car. No one inside and nothing either direction of the road. She hadn't fallen off the cliff, or she had and was way far down by now. Still no sign of her.

"Zoe!" Percy yelled.

She was beside him and pulling him after her. Her grip on his arm was tight. "Silence, fool! Do you want to wake Ladon?"

"You mean we're here?"

"Very close. Follow me." the lieutenant beckoned.

There were layers of fog hovering over the street and Zoë disappeared into one. When the fog cleared she was gone. Thalia, Cassie, and Percy shared wide eyes.

"Concentrate on Zoë. We are following her. Go straight into the fog and keep that in mind." were Thalia's words of wisdom.

Cassie nodded and moved after the huntress. The daughter of Zeus was about to go after but Percy stopped her.

"Wait, Thalia. About what happened back on the pier... I mean, with the manticore and the sacrifice-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You wouldn't actually have... you know?"

There was some hesitation before her reply. "I was just shocked. That's all."

"Zeus didn't send that lighting bolt at the car. It was Kronos. He's trying to manipulate you, make you angry your dad." Percy reasoned, he couldn't risk her turning on them.

She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Percy, I know you're trying to make me feel better. Thanks. But come on. We need to go."

The punk girl walked into the fog with Percy trailing after her. When the fog dispersed they were still on the same side of the mountain, but the road was dirt now. The grass beneath their feet seemed thick with each step. Cassie admired the sunset and its blood red color reflecting off the sea.

The summit was much closer and the swirling storm radiated power. There was one path and it led straight up the mountain. But first they had to get through a dense meadow filled with shadows and flowers: the garden of twilight. The daughter of Ares recognized it from her dream.

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The garden was honestly the most beautiful place they'd ever seen. If only there wasn't a giant dragon ruining the view. Somehow the usually plain grass managed to shimmer and the flowers brought a gorgeous pop of color to the place. They were so bright they almost glowed in the dark.

Stepping stones led the way around both sides of the enormous apple tree. The amazing thing was they were made of polished black marble. Well that and the golden apples sparkling in the tree. Cassie had always wanted to see them in person. Not under these exact circumstances.

The golden apples were pure, so rich they pulled you in. One smell and they were so tempted to just take a bite. No doubt it would be the most delicious thing they'd ever tasted.

"The apples of immortality. Hera's wedding gift from Zeus." Thalia remarked.

Cassie kept a tight hold on Percy who was already trying to run up and pluck an apple. Only thing stopping him was the dragon wrapped around the base of the tree.

It wasn't exactly what your typical dragon looked like. It wasn't scary enough. The creature's body was pretty thick and glimmered with reflective scales. He had too many heads to count and they were all piled on top each other as he slept.

All his eyes were shut but it was still disturbing. The shadows before them moved and ghostly singing filled their ears. Beautiful yet creepy. Percy's hand went for Riptide, but Zoë stopped him.

Four figures appeared, they were four young women, who looked a lot like Zoë, dressed in white Greek chitons. Their skin was the same caramel hue and their shiny black hair fell to their shoulders.

Percy never stop to notice just how beautiful Zoë was, but it was much more apparent once he saw the Hesperides. They were all stunning and probably very dangerous, just like the huntress.

"Sisters," Zoë greeted, or at least she tried to.

Her attempt was brushed aside coldly, "We do not see any sister," one glowered at her. "We see two half-bloods and a Hunter. All of whom shall soon die."

"You've got it wrong. Nobody is going to die." Percy denied, stepping up.

The Hesperides scanned him over. Their eyes were vacant and completely black.

"Perseus Jackson," one stated.

Another pondered, "Yes, I do not see why he is a threat."

"Who said I was a threat?"

The first Hesperid looked back towards the mountain peak. "They fear thee. They are unhappy that this one has not yet killed thee." She gestured to Thalia.

"Tempting sometimes," Thalia spoke truthfully. "But no, thanks. He's my friend."

"There are no friends here, daughter of Zeus. Only enemies. Go back." The girl said it like a warning.

"We're not leaving without Annabeth," Cassie argued.

"And Artemis," Zoë corrected. "We must approach the mountain."

"You know he will kill thee. You are no match for him." the girl doubted.

"Artemis must be freed," the lieutenant persisted. "Let us pass."

"You have no rights here anymore. We have only to raise our voices and Ladon will wake." the smirk on her face wasn't reassuring.

"He will not hurt me," Zoë objected.

"No? And what about thy so-called friends?"

Then Zoe did probably the dumbest thing, in Cassie's opinion, and that's coming from Cassie. She cried out, "Ladon! Wake!"

The dragon did exactly that, it began to stir, glimmering in the fading sunlight. The Hesperides shrieked and dispersed. The lead girl, who was doing all the talking, wailed, "Are you mad?"

"You never had any courage, sister. That is thy problem." Zoë shrugged.

Cassie eyed the dragon cautiously. She made her weapon appear and inspected it. Ladon was thrashing around, throwing its heads every which way and tasting the air with its hundreds of tongues. Zoë went in front of them, raising her arms.

"Zoë, don't. You're not a Hesperid anymore. He'll kill you." Thalia worried.

Zoë brushed off concern, "Ladon is trained to protect the tree. Skirt around the edges of the garden. Go up the mountain. As long as I am a bigger threat, he should ignore thee."

"Should. Not exactly reassuring." Percy murmured.

"It is the only way. Even the three of us together cannot fight him."

The sound of hundreds of hisses flooded into their ears. Ladon had opened his mouths and that's when his breath hit them. Cassie's eyes stung and she wanted to puked.

It was an acidic smell like a dead rat but a hundred times stronger. Then there was a little chewed eucalyptus smell mixed in there too. Percy swore to never ask a school nurse for a cough drop again.

He badly wished to draw Riptide, but Cassie shot him a look. It clearly read 'don't do whatever it is you're thinking'. She knew Hercules head-on attack hadn't worked, courtesy of her dream. The daughter of Ares didn't need Percy getting them killed and it was best to trust Zoë's judgment.

Thalia chose to go left leaving the other two with the right. Zoë went right at Ladon.

"It's me, my little dragon. Zoë has come back." she told him.

Ladon stepped forward then back, mouths closing and others hissing. The dragon was evidently confused. The Hesperides shimmered into the shadows, vanishing. Only the whisper of the eldest echoed, "Fool."

"I used to feed thee by hand," Zoë spoke as if she were trying to soothe a baby, making her way closer to the golden tree. "Do you still like lamb's meat?"

There was a twinkle in the dragon's eyes. The other three were halfway around the garden when a individual rocky trail came into view. It lead to the top of the mountain, covered in the storm. They were almost out when it all went wrong.

The shift in Ladon's mood could be sensed, Zoë might've gotten too close, maybe he just wanted a snack. But whatever caused it, the dragon lunged at the huntress.

Her two thousand years of training saved her. She dodged an open mouth with ferocious fangs and rolled beneath another. The lieutenant made her through the dragon's heads and came their way, trying not to gag.

Percy drew his sword.

"No!" Zoë ordered. "Run!"

Ladon managed to get a bite to Zoë's side and the girl cried out in pain. Thalia brought out Aegis and met the hissing monster. Zoë only ran past them and headed up the mountain. The trio followed behind her.

The dragon was smart enough not to chase after them. He threw a fit, but he was trained to guard the tree. Nothing like eating some heroes could lure him off duty.

They dashed up the mountain with the Hesperides song trailing behind them. Their music was something Cassie would add to a playlist for a funeral.

At the peak were gorgeous ruins. The daughter of Ares stumbled over the broken pieces on the trail. There were shattered columns of black marble and granite. Some disfigured bronze statues practically melted in half.

"The ruins of Mount Othrys," Thalia gasped in amazement.

"Yes," Zoë gazed around, "It was not here before. This is bad."

"Haven't you been gone for two thousand years...? I mean it's bound to change." Cassie contradicted.

"That's not the point!"

The brunette raised her hands in mock surrender.

"What's Mount Othrys?" Percy questioned, he always felt so uneducated when he didn't know as much as the rest of them.

"The mountain fortress of the Titans. In the first war, Olympus and Othrys were the two rival capitals of the world. Othrys was-" Zoë paused, grasping her side after wincing.

"You're hurt. Let me see." He said.

"No! It is nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing," Cassie retorted.

"Cassandra!" Zoë groaned. "I was saying... in the first war, Othrys was blasted to pieces."

"But... how is it here?"

Thalia checked their surroundings carefully as they made their way through the remains. They passed blocks of marble sticking from the dirt and smashed archways. "It moves in the same way that Olympus moves. It always exists on the edges of civilization. But the fact that it is here, on this mountain, is not good."

"Why?"

"This is Atlas's mountain. Where he holds-" Zoë's whole body stiffened and her voice broke. "Where he used to hold up the sky."

They were at the summit. In front of them, the gray clouds swirled into a cyclone that twisted down towards the mountaintop, but instead it rested on shoulders of a twelve-year-old girl. Her auburn hair was dirty and her silvery dress was all shredded. Artemis was bound to the rock by celestial bronze chains on her legs.

This was where Cassie's dream had taken place. Artemis had been forced to hold the roof of the world.

"My lady!" Zoë went to run to her, but the goddess called out, "Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now."

She was drenched in sweat and sounded exhausted. This was their first time seeing a goddess in so much pain, but Artemis could not hold the sky for much longer.

Zoë began to sob and approached the goddess against her protests, pulling at the chains.

"Ah, how touching." Percy watched Cassie's face darken. It was the same booming voice from her dreams. She swiveled on her heels, converse trashy from everything they'd been through.

There was the General in his brown suit of silk. Beside him was Luke and six dracaenae who lifted Kronos' golden sarcophagus on their backs.

For the first time in weeks, forest green eyes met stormy gray ones. Cassie felt her knees almost give out at the sight of Annabeth Chase.

She was by Luke's side with her hands cuffed behind her and a gag in her mouth. The daughter of Ares clenched her fist as she stared at Luke's blade pointed at Annabeth's throat.

The thousands of questions Cassie tried to express through their eye contact were met with one message: RUN.

"Luke," Thalia demanded. "Let her go."

Hermes' son mustered a fragile smile, the guy looked like he was on the verge of breaking. Somehow even worse than he did in D.C. "That is the General's decision, Thalia. But it's good to see you again."

Thalia only spat at him.

The General found their reunion amusing. "So much for old friends. And you, Zoë. It's been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."

"Do not respond. Do not challenge him." Artemis managed to say.

"Wait a second, you're Atlas?" Percy asked.

The General rolled his eyes, obviously unimpressed. "So, even the stupidest of heroes can finally figure something out. Yes, I am Atlas, the general of the Titans and terror of the gods. Congratulations. I will kill you presently, as soon as I deal with this wretched girl."

The son of Poseidon narrowed his eyes. "You're not going to hurt Zoë. I won't let you."

"You have no right to interfere, little hero. This is a family matter."

"A family matter?"

"Yes," Zoë admitted morosely. "Atlas is my father."

_________________________________________

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ author's note

yippeeeeee!! we're getting to the good stuff people! cassie meet the in-laws and annie's talked to her step-mom about her??

next chapter is a fun one! (yes i already have it written) yk those blessings of ares 🤫 and cassibeth reunion?? it's the moments we've been waiting for 🥳

so hyped y'all don't even know! 4-5 chapters away from the end of the act!! jumping up and down fr

double update next sunday 💯💯 and the week after that it's back to school for me but we'll finish the official act chapters then

that's the plan! hope this chapter was enjoyable! and thanks for reading <3

- Just Another Overthinker