misplaced || l. valdez

32 || the big battle happens- oh wait, no it doesn't

° ~ •. ♆ chapter thirty-two ♆ .• ~ °
"the big battle happens— oh wait, no it doesn't"

Of course the plan went wrong almost immediately. Piper scrambled along the ridge, Mari closely following behind her while Leo, Jason, and Hedge walked straight into the clearing.

Jason summoned his golden lance. He brandished it over his head and yelled, "Giant!"

As good and confident as it sounded, Mari wasn't really sure if that was the best distraction. She had been thinking of something more along the lines of 'let's toss a stick over there and hope that the giant gets distracted and walks away', but this could work too.

It didn't.

Enceladus stopped chanting at the flames. He turned to the trio, and Mari and Piper ran even faster.

"Well." The giant rumbled. "What a nice surprise."

Mari didn't like the sound of that. That was before Coach Hedge started talking.

"Let the movie star go, you big ugly cupcake! Or I'm gonna plant my hoof right up your—"

"Coach." Jason said. "Shut up."

Enceladus roared with laughter. "I've forgotten how funny satyrs are. When we rule the world, I think I'll keep your kind around. You can entertain me while I eat all the other mortals."

"Is that a compliment?" Hedge wondered aloud. "I don't think that was a compliment."

"Scatter!" Leo yelled.

Mari had no idea what was going on at this point, but she followed Piper behind a bush just as the mountain shook. The shockwave knocked both of them over. Mari blinked a couple times, black spots dancing in her vision and the ringing in her ears coming back.

Just as Mari finally regained her senses, the giant turned to their hiding spot.

"I see you, Piper McLean!" he bellowed.

The two girls scrambled to get away as fire shot towards the bush they were hiding behind. They both ran into the clearing, dazed but unharmed. Leo and Jason looked unharmed, but Coach Hedge was on the ground, knocked out cold.

Enceladus laughed. "I'm happy that you've arrived. I see you brought me my prizes as well."

Mari paled. This was the moment Piper had warned them about. They'd played right into Enceladus's hands.

The giant must've read Mari's expression, because he laughed even louder. "That's right, daughter of Neptune. I didn't expect you all to stay alive this long, but it doesn't matter. By bringing you here, Piper McLean has sealed the deal. If she betrays you, I'm as good as my word. She can take her father and go. What do I care about a movie star?"

Mari could see Piper's dad more clearly now. He wore a ragged dress shirt and torn slacks. His bare feet were caked with mud. He wasn't completely unconscious, because he lifted his head and groaned. He had a nasty cut down the side of his face, and he looked thin and sickly.

"Dad!" Piper yelled.

Mr. McLean blinked, trying to focus. "Pipes...? Where..."