ᴾʰᵒᵇᵒᵖʰᵒᵇⁱᵃ [ᴶᵃˢᵒⁿ ᴳʳᵃᶜᵉ]

xx.

Aza felt like shit. It would have been nice if Bacchus had healed her shoulder and her nose (or just one, she wasn't picky) before he forced them to fight the giants in a gladiator arena, but the gods were never particularly kind. Her spear, however, had been returned to her back. She wiped the blood from her nose and chin; the stream had become a steady trickle. She'd have to deal with that later; same with her shoulder, which ached and felt like someone stabbed her every time she moved.

And, Aza was angry. She was tired, and wounded, and she had honestly hoped that Bacchus would help immediately. But of course, that was silly to wish for - the gods spent nearly every opportunity showing the demigods how small and worthless they thought them to be. Gladiators fighting for their entertainment - fighting to impress Lord Bacchus, so that he would aid them.

But she didn't have much of a choice. The gods were all powerful, and she had to fight the twin giants - not just to survive, but so she could save her friends.

The twins attacked. They picked up a fake mountain as tall as a skyscraper and hurled it at the demigods - Aza grabbed their sleeves, doing her best to ignore the stabbing in her shoulder, and they bolted, diving into the nearest trench. The mountain shattered above them, and she covered her face with her arms to protect it from the plaster shrapnel, which stung her skin and made her wince.

The crowd jeered above them, "Fight! Fight!"

Jason called over the noise, "I'll take Otis again? Or do you two want him this time?"

Aza cracked her knuckles, "I want Ephialtes's shirt. I'm gonna pry it off his corpse."

Percy was silent for a few moments, but he shook his head slowly and chewed on the inside of his lip before deciding, "We attack together. Otis first, because he's weaker. Take him quickly and move to Ephialtes. Bronze and gold together, three-on-two - maybe that'll keep them from re-forming a little longer."

Jason's smile looked slightly forced, but he shrugged and nodded, "Why not? But Ephialtes isn't just going to stand there and wait while we kill his brother. Unless–"

"Aza wants his shirt," Percy smiled, "and we can back her up. There's good wind today. And there're some water pipes running around the arena."

Jason laughed, but Aza held up her good hand and protested, "I don't need any back-up, Prissy-boy."

Her best friend scowled at the name, and he pointed first to her nose, and then to her shoulder, "You're hardly in the best shape. We've got your back just in case, Aza-Ev."

She grimaced but nodded, and readied her sword. Jason placed a hand on the small of her back and gave her a tight smile that she understood immediately: please, try not to die. She gave him the same smile as he asked, "On three?"

"Too long," Aza shot out of the trench. The twins had lifted another plaster mountain and were waiting for a clear shot; they raised it over their heads, preparing to throw, but Percy caused a water pipe to burst at their feet and Aza took their moment of distraction to charge forward. Jason sent a burst of wind against Ephialtes's chest and he toppled backwards; Otis lost his grip on the mountain, which collapsed on top of his brother.

"Hey Otis!" Percy called somewhere from behind Aza as she dashed towards Ephialtes, still under Otis' radar, "The Nutcracker bites!"

"Ahh!" Otis snatched up his spear and threw it, but he was too angry to aim straight; Aza glanced over her shoulder to see Jason deflect it over Percy's head.

The plaster mountain exploded in front of Aza, and she skittered to a stop, clutching her sword with her good hand. He bellowed with rage and pointed his spear at her, "You!"