¹𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀. percy jackson

XV.

ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

LUCIAS MIND WENT ON OVERDRIVE and the worst thing about it all was that she 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 eviler. Regardless of appearance, Lucia knew that Zoe was nothing like the man who stood in front of them she was good, strong, honorable, and most importantly—she was her friend.

"Let Artemis go," Zoe demanded.

Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd 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."

Annabeth looked to be trying to desperately tell Percy something. She motioned her head toward Luke but Percy only stared at her in worry. Lucia hadn't noticed before, but her blond hair was streaked with gray.

"From holding the sky," Thalia muttered as if she'd read her mind. "The weight should've killed her."

"I don't understand," Lucia questioned. "Why can't 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."

"That's extreme" Lucia muttered

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

"Fight us," Percy challenged. "And let's see."

"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."

"So you're a coward," Lucia raised an eyebrow.

Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred. "He put in a good word for you Daughter of Apollo, told me about your blessing. Your use for us in the future is the only reason I won't smite you as we speak." With difficulty, he turned his attention to Thalia. "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."

"Wait hold on wh-" Lucia began but was immediately cut off

"I wasn't wrong," Luke managed. He looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. If everyone didn't hate his guts so much, Lucia almost would've felt sorry for him. "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!"

He waved his hand, and next to us a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus. Lucia could swear she heard Bessie mooing for a moment.

"Thalia, call the Ophiotaurus," Luke persisted. "And you will be more powerful than the gods."

"Luke..." Her voice was full of pain. Lucia felt herself wanting to comfort her "What happened to you?"