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chapter thirty-one
( battle of the labyrinth )
❝ the god complex
part two! ❞

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    I found out the stupid empousa was named Kelli, and I couldn't help but think that of course she'd be called Kelli. She had been there when Percy blew up the gym, and so she may perhaps have a slight monsterly grudge over the killing of her sisters. As we were marched down the tunnel flanked by dracaenae, with Kelli and the giant at the back (you know, just in case we ran for it), I shared an uneasy glance with Annabeth. Nobody seemed to worry about us running forward━that was the direction they wanted us to go.

    If I squinted my eyes, I could see bronze doors up ahead. As we got closer, I could see that they were about three and a half metres tall, emblazoned with a pair of crossed swords. From behind them came a muffled roar, like a crowd.

    "Oh, yessssss," said the snake woman on Percy's left. "You'll be very popular with our hossssst."

    Percy looked very disgusted to see a dracaenae up close. "Who's your host?" he asked.

    The snake woman hissed━which might've been a laugh. "Oh, you'll sssssee. You'll get along famousssly. He'sss your brother, after all."

    Annabeth immediately frowned, trying to think through Greek Mythology for another son of Poseidon that we might be facing. I also wracked my brain━I could think of some ... but why would they be here?

    Percy's brows rose up high, "My what?

    The giant pushed past us and opened the doors. He picked Annabeth and I up like we were rag dolls and said, "You two stay here."

    "Hey!" Annabeth protested, while I struggled and said a few (not so very nice words). But this guy was twice our size, and he'd already confiscated our knives, Percy's sword and my necklace. It would be unwise to use my power right now, as well, especially with Rachel still in the claws of Kelli the Empousa.

    Kelli laughed. "Go on, Percy. Entertain us. We'll wait here with your friends to make sure you behave."

    He looked at Rachel. "I'm sorry," said Percy. "I'll get you out of this."

    She nodded as much as she could with a demon at her throat. "That would be nice."

    The dracaenae prodded Percy towards the doorway at javelin-point, and he walked out onto the floor of an arena. It wasn't the largest arena. The dirt floor was circular, just big enough that you could drive a car around the rim (if you turned really sharply). In the centre of the arena, a fight was going on between a giant and a centaur. The centaur looked panicked. He was galloping around his enemy, using a sword and shield, while the giant swung a havelin the size of a telephone pole and the crowd cheered.

    The audience were made up of an assortment of monsters and half-bloods━every seat was filled with giants, dracaenae, demigods, telkhines and stranger things: bat-wing creatures that seemed half human and half you name it━bird, reptile, insenct mammal ... some of them I think were harpies ... I think ...

    The edge of the railing of the arena was ringed to the brim with skulls. Metre-high pikes of them decorated the steps between the benches. They grinned from pikes at the back of the stands, and hung from chains up; dangling down off the ceiling. Some fresh, some older, and some ... yeah, let's not ...

    In the middle of all this, proudly displayed on the side of the spectators' wall, was the green banner with the trident of Poseidon in the centre. And above the banner, sitting in a seat of honour, was Luke.

    My breath hitched. I felt sad━I always felt sad. But I also had fresh anger━or perhaps a desire to run out there and scream at him that I've moved on, that he held no control over me anymore. That I've let go of his betrayal. But then again, doing that might also say otherwise. (It's confusing, okay?).

    Percy was surprised to see him as well, "Luke?"

    He smiled coldly. He was wearing camouflage combat trousers, a white T-shirt and a bronze breastplate. His sword, Blackbiter was nowhere to be seen, which made me frown. I pushed past it however, my gaze flickering over to the person who sat beside him and my brain did a big, fat, oh, no.

    I know what 'brother' of Percy's they had been referring to. And, like, seriously, it could have been any of the others. Like Idas, he was a cool hero, or Bellerophon. But of course, it would be one of his giant siblings. And the son of Gaea, nonetheless. (Oh, I hate Gaea. No, I'm serious. She isn't all pretty with birds and leaves in her hair with a gentle flower crown. Oh, no. She's evil. She can't die━ever. If she died, we'd all die, no matter how much of a terrible person she is. So, she's only asleep, which is both the scariest and most badass thing ever).

    Antaeus stood at least five metres tall, easy, and was so wide he took up three seats. He wore nothing except for a loincloth, like a sumo wrestler. His skin was dark red and tattooed with blue wave designs. I knew this was bad for Percy━extremely bad.

    (Also, this is off track━blame the ADHD━but why the hell would Poseidon ever birth a child with Gaea? Like, she's evil ... but they're gods, aren't they? I guess that just explains everything).

    There was a cry from the arena floor, and still in the gaint's hand, my eyes darted back to the centaur as he crashed to the ground beside Percy. "Help!" he cried. Percy reached for his sword, only to realise he didn't have it. The centaur struggled to get up as the giant approached, his javelin ready.

    The centaur couldn't get up. One of his legs was broken. The giant put his foot on the horseman's chest and raised the javelin. He looked up at Luke. The crowd cheered, "DEATH! DEATH!"

    Luke didn't do anything━or perhaps couldn't do anything. Antaeus stood up instead, and smiled down at the centaur who was whimpering, "Please! No!" Antaeus held out his hand and gave the 'thumbs down' sign.

    I watched the javelin thrust down into the centaur's chest, and he crumbled to dust. I couldn't help but see Chiron in his place instead, and I had to look away. All that was left was a single hoof, which the giant took up as a trophey and showed to the crowd. They raored their approval.

    A gate opened at the opposite end of the stadium and the giant marched out in triumph.

    Antaeus raised his hands for silence. "Good entertainment!" he bellowed. "But nothing I haven't seen before. What else do you have, Luke, son of Hermes?"

    Luke's jaw tightened at the mention of being called the son of Hermes. He hated his father. But he rose calmly to his feet. His eyes glittered. "Lord Antaeus," he said, loud enough for the crowd to hear, "you have been an excellent host! We would be happy to amuse you, to repay the favour of passing through your territory."

    "A favour I have not yet granted," Antaeus growled. "I want entertainment!"

    Luke bowed. "I believe I have something better than centaurs to fight in your arena now. I have a brother of yours," he pointed at Percy. "Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon."

    The crowd began to jeer at him and throwing stones. Most of which he doged, except one, that caught him on the cheek and made a good-sized cut. I struggled in the giant's hold, but it was no use.

    Antaeus's eyes lit up. "A son of Poseidon? Then he should fight well! Or die well!"

    "If his death pleases you," said Luke, "will you let our armies cross your territory?"

    "Perhaps!"

    Luke didn't look too pleased with perhaps as an answer. He glared down at Percy, as if warning him that he'd better die in a really spectacular way or he'd be in big trouble. Beside me, Annabeth tried to get out of the giant's grip as well.

    "Luke!" she yelled out. "Stop this. Let us go!"

    He froze, recognising her voice. He looked over, and in seeing me as well, he was stunned for a moment. "Annabeth? Claire?"

    "Enough time for the females to fight afterwards," Antaeus interrupted. "First, Percy Jackson, what weapons will you choose?"

    The dracaenae pushed Percy into the middle of the area. He stared up at Antaeus, and asked, "How can you be a son of Poseidon?"

    (This boy).

    Luckily, Antaeus laughed, and the rest of the crowd followed his example. "I am his favourite son!" he boomed. "Behold, my temple to the Earthshajer, built from the skulls of all those I've killed in his name! Your skull shall join them!"

    "Percy!" Annabeth yelled at him. "His mother is Gaea! Gae━"

    Our Laistrygonian captor clamped his hand over her mouth, and mine, too, for good measure. I just hoped Percy would connect the dots. He was smart when he wanted to be, he just needed to act stupid first for it to hit him.

    "You're crazy, Antaeus," Percy said. "If you think this is a good tribute, you know nothing about Poseidon."

    (Like I said, will act stupid first).

    The crowd screamed insults at him, but Antaeus raised his hand for silencce. "Weapons," he insisted. "And then we will see how you die. Will you have axes? Shields? Nets? Flamethrowers?"

    "Just my sword."

    Laughter erupted from the monsters, but immediately, Riptide appeared in his hands, and some of the voices in the crowd turned nervous. I resisted a smirk. Go blow 'em away, Drool Boy.

    "Roud one!" Antaeus shouted. The gates opened, and a dracaenae slithered out. She had a trident in one hand, and a weighted net in the other━quite the normal gladiator style for battles back in Roman times (Annabeth once told me they used to be able to flood the Colleseum to recreate the naval battles━).

     She jabbed at Percy experimentally. He stepped away. She threw her net, possibly hoping to tangle his sword hand, but Percy had her easily. He just sidestepped easily, sliced her trident in half and stabbed Riptide through a chink in her armour. With a painful wail, she vaporised into nothing, and the cheering of the crowd died.

     "No!" Antaeus bellowed. "Too fast! You must wait for the kill. Only I give that order!"

     Percy glanced over his shoulder nervously at Annabeth, Rachel and I. I tried to give him an encouraging nod, but perhaps it went unseen.

    "Nice job, Percy," Luke smiled. "You've got better with the sword. I'll grant you that."

    "Round two!" yelled Antaeus. "And slower this time! More entertainment! Wait for my call before killing anybody, or else!"

    The gates opened up again, and my eyes widened to see a young warrior come out. He was a little older than us, almost sixteen, perhaps. He had glossy black hair, and his left eye was covered with an eye patch. His greek armour hung on his thin body loosley, but he stabbed his sword into the ground, adjusted his shield straps and pulled on his horsehair helmet.

    He and Percy had a faint, and quick discussion that I didn't here before the warrior charged. Their swords met in midiar and the crowd roared. I know Percy was an amazing fighter━perhaps the best swordsman to ever walk into Camp Half-Blood (better than Luke himself)━but still, I felt my stomach lurch in fear that he'd make one wrong step, or get distracted for a split second and have the kid's blade in his gut.

    I watched, praying he notice all the moves that I did. The warrior pressed forward. He was good. But I've never seen him at Camp Half-Blood, I don't think ... He parried Percy's strike and almost slammed him with his shield, but Percy jumped back. He slashed. Percy rolled to one side. They exchanged nurmerable thrusts and parries, getting a feel for each other's fighting style. I could tell Percy was trying to keep to the kid's blind side, attacking primarily his left, but whoever this was, he's been fighting with only one eye for a long time, because he was excellent at defending his left.

    "Blood!" the monsters demanded.

    Percy's opponent glanced up at the stands before yelling out an angry battle cry and charged at Percy. But he just parried his bade and backed away, letting the kid come after him.

    "Boo!" Antaeus cried. "Stand and fight!"

    But I knew what Percy was doing. Yes! You genius! Oh, you stupid, genius, I want to kiss you━um ... you didn't hear that.

    While the kid pressed him, Percy was perfectly find at defending, even without a shield. The half-blood was dressed for defence, which made it very hard for him to fight offence with his armour and shield weighing him down. Percy was a softer target, yes, but he was lighter and faster, and he was using this well to his advantage.

    Finally, the kid made his mistake. He tried to jab at Percy's stomach, and he locked his sword hilt with his own, and twisted. The kid's sword dropped into the dirt, and before he could retrieve it, Percy slammed the butt of Riptide into his helmet and pushed him down. He fell onto his back, dazed and tired. Percy put the tip of his sword on his chest.

    There was a second of silence, or maybe I had just imagined it. I don't know why, but Percy keeps surprising me with how dangerous he can be. Right now, he held this demigod's life in his hands. With one single thrust, and his blade will penetrate his heart.

    But while Antaeus held up his hand and put it 'thumbs down', Percy still sheathed his sword and and offered his openent his hand. When he relucantly took it, Percy helped him up, and I felt a proud flutter in my stomach. Hades is wrong.

    "No one dishoners the games!" Antaeus bellowed. "Your heads shall both be tributes to Poseidon!"

    Percy muttered something to the half-blood before turning back to Antaeus and raising his voice, "Why don't you fight me yourself? If you've got Dad's favour, come down here and prove it!"

    (This boy).

    The monsters grumbled in the stands. Antaeus looked around, and realised he had no other choice. He couldn't so no without looking like a coward. "I am the greatest wrestler in the world, boy," he warned. "I have been wrestling since the first pankration!"

    I hated how this bloody giant still had his hand over my mouth, because I wanted to shout at Percy that Antaeus was a son of Gaea which meant he was better on ground. I tried to tell Percy with my eyes, shaking my head violently, but I don't think he understood.

    Instead, Percy pointed his sword at Antaeus. "Winner takes all! I win, we all go free. You win, we die. Swear upon the River Styx."

    He was making a dangerous gamble. Antaeus laughed. "This shouldn't take long. I swear to your terms!" he lept off the railing into the arena.

    Percy listened to another mutter from the demigod before he backed up quickly. Antaeus cracked his knuckles and grinned━even his teeth were etched in wave patterns. "Weapons?" he asked.

    "I'll stick with my sword. You?"

    He held up his huge hands and wiggled his fingers. "I don't need anything else! Master Luke, you will referee this one."

    Luke smiled down at Percy. "With pleasure."

    Antaeus lunged. Percy rolled under his legs and stabbed him in the back of his thigh. Antaeus yelled, but I wasn't relieved. He was on the ground, he'll just reform straight away━the sand that fell from the wound in his leg met the earth and reconfigured as if he was never wounded. Percy stared, surprised. I struggled, trying to shout for him to get Antaeus off the ground, but it was still no use. He charged again, and Percy dodged sideways this time and stabbed Antaeus under the arm, hilt deep into his ribs. My mind screamed, no, no, no, NO! OFF THE GROUND! GET HIM OFF THE GROUND, IDIOT!

    The sword was wretched out of Percy's hand and he was thrown across the arena, weaponless. Antaeus bellowed in pain, but once again, the Earth healed him. "Now, you see why I never lose, demigod!" Antaeus gloated. "Come here and let me crush you. I'll make it quick!"

    Percy glanced to either side, desperate. Antaeus stood between him and his sword. His eyes caught Annabeth's and mine, and both of us tried━equally as desperate━to tell him how to defeat his brother. Something flashed across his eyes━oh, please let it be realisation.

    Percy tried to skirt around him, but Antaeus anticipated his move. He blocked his path, chuckling. He was just toying with him now. Use that to your advantage, I pleaded. Use it! Percy glanced up at the skulls on the chains, and I saw his crazy idea face.

    He feinted to the otherside. Antaeus blocked him. The crowd jeered and screamed at Antaeus to finish him off, but the giant was having too much fun. "Puny boy," he said. "Not a worthy son of the sea god!"

    Percy gritted his teeth and charged straight ahead. He crouched so low I thought he would roll between his legs again. But while Antaeus stooped, ready to catch him like a grounder, Percy jumped. Soaring up, he kicked off the giatn's forearm, scrambled up his shoulder like it was a ladder, placing his shoe on his head. I let out a scoff of disbelief at Percy's actions, watching him catapult towards the ceiling. He caught the top of a chain, and the skulls and hooks jangled down beneath him. YES! I screamed in my mind. YES! YES! YES!

    Percy wrapped his legs around the chain and drew Riptide to begin sawing off the chain next to him.

    "Come down here, coward!" Antaeus bellowed. He tried to grab Percy, but he was just out of reach.

    "Come up and get me!" Percy shouted back. "Or are you too slow and fat?"

    (This boy).

    Antaeus howed and made another grab for Percy. He caught a chain and tried to pull himself up. While he struggled, Percy lowered his sawn-off chain, hook first. It took him two tries, but he finally snagged Antaeus's loincloth. As he yelled in protest, Percy quickly slipped hte free chain through the fastening link of his own chain, pulling it taut and secured it. Antaeus tried to slip back to the ground, but his bottom stayed suspended by his loincloth. He had to hold on to the other chains with both hands to avoid getting flipped upside down. While Antaeus cursed and flailed, Percy scrambled around the chains, swinging and cutting like he was Tarzan. He made loops with hooks and metal links, tangling everything up around the giant within a couple of minutes, and Antaeus was hopelessly suspended above the ground.

    Percy dropped to the floor, breathless and beaded with sweat.

    "Get me down!" Antaeus demanded.

    "Free him!" Luke ordered. "He is our host!"

    Percy uncapped Riptide. "I'll free him."

    And he stabbed the giant in the stomach. He bellowed out in pain, and sand poured out, but he was too far up to touch the earth, and the dirt did not rise up to help him. Antaeus just dissolved, pouring out bit by bit until there was nothing but empty swinging chains, a really large loincloth on a hook and a bunch of grinning skulls dancing above Percy.

    "Jackson!" seethed Luke. "I should have killed you long ago!"

    "You tried," Percy reminded him. "Let us go, Luke. We had a sworn agreement with Antaeus. I'm the winner."

    "Antaeus is dead," Luke sneered. "His oath dies with him. But since I'm feeling merciful today, I'll have you killed quickly." He pointed at Annabeth and I. "Spare the girls," his voice quavered just a litte. "I would speak to them before━before our great triumph."

    I frowned. I wondered what he meant by that, but there was no time. Every monster in the audience drew a weapon or extended its claws. We were trapped, and terribly outnumbered.

    Percy took something out of his pocket━a dog whistle. He blew it, but it made no sound as it shattered into shards of ice, melting in his hand. Luke laughed, "What was that supposed to do?"

    "AROOOOF!"

    I let out a surprised yelp. Out of nowhere, Mrs O'Leary whacked the Laistrygonian gaint who'd been guarding Annabeth and I with a single strike of her paw, and he flew past Percy and smashed into the wall. Kelli the empousa screamed as Mrs O'Leary picked her up like a chew toy and tossed her through the air, straight into Luke's lap. The hellhound snarled, and the two dracaenae guards backed away. For a moment the monsters in the audience were caught completely by surprise.

    "Let's go!" Percy yelled at us. "Heel, Mrs O'Leary!"

    "The far exit!" cried Rachel. "That's the right way!"

    The half-blood Percy had fought took his cue. Together, we raced across the arena and out of the far exit with Mrs O'Leary right behind us.

° ° °

    a/n: i love percy so gods dam much, he's so badass. also imma not lie, there is most likely a misspelt dracaenae in there somewhere. 

    by the way, i'm disappointed. y'all didn't come up with any headcannons last chapter. take two, okay, come on, i wanna know what you imagine with percy and claire:

    (pls?)