Linked Demigods (HIATUS)

Chapter 19: Twilight? Where Are You Going?

Percy's POV

We had reached the summit. A few yards ahead of us, gray clouds swirled in a heavy vortex, making a funnel cloud that almost touched the mountaintop, but instead rested on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and a tattered silvery dress: Artemis, her legs bound to the rock with celestial bronze chains. This is what I had seen in my dream. It hadnt been a cavern roof that Artemis was forced to hold. It was the roof of the world.

"My lady!" Zoe rushed forward, but Artemis said, "Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now."

Twilight was behind us. His hand rested above a point above his chest.

"Mom?" he whispered.

"Twilight..." Artemis said, "You must go. This is a trap."

Twilight shook his head, going forward. He began to examine the chains. 

"Could I cut these?" he muttered.

A booming voice spoke behind us: "Ah, how touching."

We turned. The General was standing there in his brown silk suit. At his side were Luke and half a dozen dracaenae bearing the golden sarcophagus of Kronos. Annabeth stood at Lukes side. She had her hands cuffed behind her back, a gag in her mouth, and Luke was holding the point of his sword to her throat.

I met her eyes, trying to ask her a thousand questions. There was just one message she was sending me, though: RUN.

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

Lukes smile was weak and pale. He looked even worse than he had three days ago in DC. "That is the General's decision, Thalia. But it's good to see you again."

Thalia spat at him.

The General chuckled. "So much for old friends. And you, Zoe. Its been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you. "

"Do not respond," Artemis groaned. "Do not challenge him. "

"Wait a second," I said. "You're Atlas?"

The General glanced at me. "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."

"You won't," Twilight said, before we gave a nod to each other. We won't let Atlas hurt Zoe.

The General sneered at him. "You have no right to interfere, little hero. Though, we can talk about a deal later. This is a family matter." 

I frowned. "A family matter?"

"Yes," Zoe said bleakly. "Atlas is my father. "

~~~

The horrible thing was: I could see the family resemblance. Atlas had the same regal expression as Zoe, the same cold proud look in his eyes that Zoe sometimes got when she was mad, though on him it looked a thousand times more evil. He was all the things Id originally disliked about Zoe, with none of the good Id come to appreciate.

"Let Artemis go," Zoe demanded.

Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps youd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest. "

Zoe opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis said, "No! Do not offer, Zoe! I forbid you. "

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.

"Hoo-hoo," Atlas chuckled. "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility. "

I looked at Annabeth. She was desperately trying to tell me something. She motioned her head toward Luke. But all I could do was stare at her. I hadn't noticed before, but something about her had changed. Her blond hair was now streaked with gray.

 "From holding the sky," Thalia muttered, as if shed read my mind. "The weight shouldve killed her. "

"I dont understand," I said. "Why cant Artemis just let go of the sky?"

Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape. " Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."

He approached us, studying Thalia and me. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."