This Dark Night ― Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase¹

―ix. zoë bullies naomi into submission

NAOMI DREAMT AGAIN THAT NIGHT. She was back in that barren cave, the ceiling heavy and low above her. Annabeth was kneeling under the weight of a dark mass like a pile of boulders. She was too tired to even cry out. Her legs trembled. Any second, Naomi feared she'd run out of strength and the cavern ceiling would collapse on top of her.

"How is our mortal guest?" a male voice boomed.

It wasn't Kronos—that much Naomi was sure about. This voice was deeper and lower, like a bass guitar. Its force made the ground vibrate.

Luke emerged from the shadows. He ran to Annabeth, knelt beside her, then looked back at the unseen man. "She's fading. We must hurry."

The deep voice chuckled. It belonged to someone in the shadows, at the edge of the dream. Then a meaty hand thrust someone forward into the light—Artemis, her hands and feet bound in celestial bronze chains. Her silver dress was torn and tattered. Her face and arms were cut in several places, and she was bleeding ichor, the golden blood of the gods.

"You heard the boy," the man in the shadows said. "Decide!"

Artemis's eyes flashed with anger. She looked at Annabeth, and her expression changed to concern and outrage. "How dare you torture a maiden like this!"

"She will die soon," Luke said. "You can save her."

Annabeth made a weak noise of protest. Naomi's heart made a home in her throat, constricting her breath. She wanted to run to her, to do something, but she was frozen.

"Free my hands," Artemis said.

Luke brought out his sword, Backbiter. With one expert strike, he broke the goddess's handcuffs.

Artemis ran to Annabeth and took the burden from her shoulders. Annabeth collapsed on the ground and lay there shivering. Artemis staggered, trying to support the weight of theblack rocks.

The man in the shadows chuckled. "You are as predictable as you were easy to beat,Artemis."

"You surprised me," the goddess said, straining under her burden. "It will not happen again."

"Indeed it will not," the man said. "Now you are out of the way for good! I knew you could not resist helping a young maiden. That is, after all, your specialty, my dear."

Artemis groaned "You know nothing of mercy, you swine."

"On that," the man said, "we can agree. Luke, you may kill the girl now."

"No!'" Artemis shouted.

Luke hesitated. "She—she may yet be useful, sir... Further bait."

"Bah! You truly believe that?"

"Yes, General. They will come for her. I'm sure," Luke said. "Lord Kronos wants the Persephone girl secured. She'll come for her friend. It's the perfect opportunity."

"You've tried and failed to secure her three times, am I not mistaken?"

Luke's expression flickered with anger. "But she would not be able to escape you, General."

The man considered it. "That is true," he conceded. "Have the dracaenae guard the girl here. Assuming she does not die from her injuries, you may keep her alive until winter solstice. After that, if our sacrifice goes as planned, her life will be meaningless. The lives of all mortals will be meaningless."

Luke gathered up Annabeth's listless body and carried her away from the goddess.

"You will never find the monster you seek," Artemis said. "Your plan will fail."