The Lost Souls

Bianca and Percy Lie About Wrestling Santa's Evil Twin

Bianca and Percy emerged from the shadows on a beach.

"Where are we?" Bianca asks.

"Shouldn't you know?" Percy questions. "You're the one who shadow traveled us here."

"I was aiming for the bronze angels," Bianca informs. "Something sent us to a different location."

Percy looked around.

"San Francisco," Percy states. "This is the beach where I caught Nereus."

Bianca sits down on the sand. Percy sits down beside her.

"I used to love beaches," Bianca smiles. "Nico and I used to live near one. Maria and I used to argue a lot and every time we disagreed Nico and I would come down to the beach. He was such a hyper kid that he would play in the water while I sat on a nearby rock and read."

"We should call camp," Percy says. "Let Nico know that you're alive."

Bianca smiles.

Percy and Bianca walked down the beach and Percy made a mist, then suddenly two bronze angels soared down and set Rachel, Thalia, Grover and Zoe down on the beach.

"We have to get back over there," Bianca says. "Pretend we caught Nereus and tell them about the Ophiotarus."

They ran over.

"The monster that threatens Olympus is the Ophiotarus," Percy exclaims running over. "We caught Nereus."

"Where is he?" Zoe asks.

"He turned into a goldfish," Bianca says. "He ran... or swam." Bianca pauses. "The Ophiotarus is our main problem right now. If he gets killed and his entrails are sacrificed-"

"Olympus will fall," Zoe finishes.

"We have to protect the Ophiotarus," Thalia says. "The power to over throw Olympus, that's huge."

"Yes it is my dear," said a voice all present recognized except Rachel. "And one of you three will unleash it."

Everyone looked up to find Dr. Thorn, the manticore, standing behind them.

They had been too busy talking that they had allowed themselves to be ambushed.

"This is just pairrr-fect," the manticore gloated. "Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia. I was forced to scrounge for food. I never got to fight any great heroes. I was not feared or admired in the old stories! But now that will change. The titans shall honor me and I shall feast on the flesh of half-bloods."

He had six mortals with him. He motioned for them to get Thalia, Percy and Bianca.

The three made eye contact and cooperated with the mortals.

Zoe, Grover and Rachel were not far away.

Bianca started to focus on getting Rachel a celestial bronze sword.

Zoe notched am arrow and aimed it for the manticore's head.

The other three soldiers aimed their guns towards Rachel, Grover and Zoe.

"Zoe," Thalia, Percy and Bianca exclaim. "Don't."

This time though, the three didn't glare at each other.

"They are correct, Zoe Nightshade," the manticore smiles. "Put away your bow. It would be a shame to kill you before your failure. We will take your friends to the titans."

Zoe meets Bianca's eyes and Bianca nods.

"I refuse," Zoe mutters.

"Zoe," Bianca says with an emotionless face. "You promised."

Suddenly Grover played his pipes and they all took off, Rachel grabbing the sword that had raised just at her feet.

Bianca pauses at the edge of the water.

"The Ophiotarus," Bianca exclaims.

"Grover get into the water," Rachel yells.

"What?" Grover asks.

Thalia and Bianca glance at each other and then they simultaneously push him into the water.

"He'll be fine," Thalia says. "Percy, pray to Poseidon."

Percy muttered a silent prayer.

They all heard a yelp as Grover and the Ophiotarus sank into the water.

"Hold hands," Bianca instructed.

Bianca grabbed Rachel and Thalia's wrists. Thalia grabbed Percy's wrist and Rachel grabbed Zoe's wrist.

Bianca concentrated and they all sank into shadow and when the returned to the light they were standing on top of a mountain.

Mount Orthyrs.

Bianca looked a bit paler than normal, but that didn't stop her from helping Zoe and Percy to their feet.

"This is Atlas's mountain," Rachel says. "Where he used to hold the sky."

"Zoe," Thalia says pointing to the spot where Artemis was.

"My lady," Zoe exclaims.

"Stop!" Artemis says. "It's a trap. You must leave now."

"Ah, how touching," the voice of Atlas booms.

The group, Thalia, Percy, Bianca, Rachel and Zoe, turns.

Atlas and a dozen dracaenae were bearing the golden sarcophagus of Kronos.

Luke looked Rachel, Bianca and finally Thalia in the eyes as he held a gagged Annabeth with a sword to her throat.

His face showed no emotion, but Thalia knew when she met his eyes he feared what would happen to him.

Follow what happened last time, Thalia's eyes told him.

Run, Luke's eyes replied.

Bianca looked at the group and muttered in a mix of Latin, Greek and Italian: "Zoe stay back and fire at Atlas. Percy, you get Artemis free. Rachel, you fight Luke. Thalia, you and I like old times."

Thalia smiles.

Rachel's eyes voice her confirmation.

Zoe nods silently.

Percy looks skeptical and Bianca knows he is going to try to fight Atlas.

Then in one swift moment everything changes.

Bianca raises her hands and a gold maze creates itself.

"Go," Bianca shouts to the others.