Indigo Eyes

Chapter 118

Percy's timing really was horrible. Because he chose now to have a conversation with Blackjack as to why pegasi gallop as they fly. At least until Cressida smacked his head before she and him climbed onto Blackjack and Annabeth onto Porkpie.

It was well after midnight, but the lights on the bridge were blinding as they were able to make out individual fighters.

Apollo campers were retreating. They would hide behind cars and snipe at the approaching army, setting off explosive arrows and dropping caltrops in the road, building fiery barricades wherever they could, and dragging sleeping drivers out of their cars to get them out of harm's way. 

But the enemy kept advancing. An entire phalanx of dracaenae marched in the lead, their shields locked together, spear tips bristling over the top. An occasional arrow would connect with their snaky trunks, or a neck, or a chink in their armour, and the unlucky snake woman would disintegrate, but most of the Apollo arrows glanced harmlessly off their shield wall. About a hundred more monsters marched behind them.

"There!" Annabeth called from her pegasus. Cressida had never seen the Minotaur before and she was definitely intimidated when she did. From the waist down, he wore standard Greek battle gear – a kilt-like apron of leather and metal flaps, bronze greaves covering his legs and tightly wrapped leather sandals. His top was all bull – hair and hide and muscle, leading to a head so large he should've toppled over just from the weight of his horns. A double-bladed axe was strapped to his back. 

As soon as he saw them circling overhead, or probably sniffed him out, the monster reached for a white limousine. He couldn't possibly...

"Blackjack, dive!" Percy yelled as his grip on Cressida tightened as Blackjack dived while Porkpie swerved to the left. "Drop us behind the lines with the Apollo cabin," he told Blackjack. "Stay in earshot but get out of danger!"

Blackjack didn't look as if he was going to argue as the three of them disembarked and Michael Yew ran up to them.

He had a bandaged cut on his arm. His ferrety face was smeared with soot and his quiver was almost empty, but he was smiling like he was having a great time. "Glad you could join us," he said. "Where are the other reinforcements?"

"You're sort of looking at them," Cressida said.

"Then we're dead."

"Hey!" Cressida exclaimed, quite offended.

"You still have your flying chariot?" Annabeth asked.

"Nah," Michael said. "Left it at camp. I told Clarisse she could have it. Whatever, you know? Not worth fighting about anymore. But she said it was too late. We'd insulted her honour for the last time or some stupid thing."

"Least you tried," Percy said.

Michael shrugged. "Yeah, well, I called her some names when she said she still wouldn't fight. I doubt that helped. Here come the uglies!"

Michael shot a sonic arrow that made cars explode and monsters drop their weapons as they held their ears in pain, a few disintegrating.

"We have to fall back," Michael said. "I've got Kayla and Austin setting traps further down the bridge."

"No," Percy said. "Bring your campers forward to this position and wait for my signal. We're going to drive the enemy back to Brooklyn."

Michael laughed. "How do you plan to do that?"

Percy only drew his sword.

"Percy," Annabeth said, "let me come with you."

He shook his head. "Too dangerous. Besides, I need you to help Michael coordinate the defensive line. I'll distract the monsters. You group up here. Move the sleeping mortals out of the way. Then you can start picking off monsters while I keep them focused on me. If anybody can do all that, you can.'