𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

170

Hadrian watched in horror as the giant king rose to his full height – almost as tall as the temple columns. His face looked just as Hadrian remembered – green as bile, with a twisted sneer, his seaweed-coloured hair braided with swords and axes taken from dead demigods.

He loomed over the captives, watching them wriggle. "They arrived just as you foresaw, Enceladus! Well done!"

The giant bowed his head, braided bones clattering in his dreadlocks. "It was simple, my king"
The flame designs gleamed on his armor. His spear burned with purplish fire. He only needed one hand to hold his captive. Despite all of Percy's power, despite everything he had survived, in the end he was helpless against the sheer strength of the giant – and the inevitability of the prophecy.

No no no no no no

No no no no no no no no

Hadrian felt like he was the one that was captured, just watching Percy in pain and hurt was enough to feel his heart twist inside his chest. He was going to rip Enceladus apart, atom by atom.

"I knew these two would lead the assault" Enceladus continued. "I understand how they think. Athena and Poseidon... they were just like these children! They both came here thinking to claim this city. Their arrogance has undone them!"

Over the roar of the crowd, Hadrian could barely hear himself think, but he replayed Enceladus's words: these two would lead the assault. His heart raced.

The giants had expected Percy and Annabeth. They didn't expect him.

Annabeth tried to say something, but the giantess Periboia shook her by the neck. "Shut up! None of your silver-tongued trickery!"

The princess drew a hunting knife as long as Annabeth's sword. "Let me do the honors, Father!"

"Wait, Daughter." The king stepped back. "The sacrifice must be done properly. Thoon, destroyer of the Fates, come forward!"

The wizened grey giant shuffled into sight, holding an oversized meat cleaver. He fixed his milky eyes on Annabeth.

Percy shouted. At the other end of the Acropolis, a hundred yards away, a geyser of water shot into the sky.

King Porphyrion laughed. "You'll have to do better than that, son of Poseidon. The earth is too powerful here. Even your father wouldn't be able to summon more than a salty spring. But never fear. The only liquid we require from you is your blood!"

Hadrian was going to take this giant's blood and make him drink it.

He scanned the sky desperately. Where was the Argo II?

Thoon knelt and touched the blade of his cleaver reverently against the earth.

"Mother Gaia..." The giant's voice was impossibly deep, shaking the ruins, making the metal scaffold resonate under Hadrian's feet. "In ancient times, blood mixed with your soil to create life. Now, let the blood of these demigods return the favor. We bring you to full wakefulness. We greet you as our eternal mistress!"

Without thinking, Hadrian leaped from the scaffolding. He sailed over the heads of the Cyclopes and ogres, landed in the centre of the courtyard and pushed his way into the circle of giants. As Thoon rose to use his cleaver, Hadrian sent an arrow aimed at his eye.

The old giant wailed and clutched his bloody eye or what was left of it. The cleaver lay in the dust at Hadrian's feet. He felt his Mist disguise burn away until he was just Hadrian again – one boy in the midst of an army of giants, his bronze bow like a toothpick compared to their massive weapons.

"WHAT IS THIS?" Porphyrion thundered. "How dare this weak, useless creature interrupt?"

Hadrian followed his gut. He flipped off the giant and attacked.