The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

sixteen

FIGHT

Scattering was the easy part. They did that very well.

Miranda, Cecil and Ellis ran in different directions, screaming insults at the Colossus and waving their arms.

This bought the rest of them a few seconds as they sprinted for the dunes, but Ariana suspected the Colossus would soon enough come after Apollo.

Apollo pointed towards Sherman Yang's chariot, which was still circling the statue's legs in a vain attempt to electrocute its kneecaps. "We need to commandeer that chariot."

"How?" Kayla asked.

Ariana was about to shadow travel when Will slapped her across the head. The daughter of Hades mouth opened to shout at him.

"You've already shadow travelled seven people." Will lectured. "If I find out you pull a Nico move I'll kill you myself."

"Bro?" Ariana gawked, "you do realise I am literally nearly eighteen years old right and you're basically five."

"You turned seventeen like seven months ago," Will argued, "and im not five!"

Nico di Angelo grabbed Will's hand and stepped into his shadow. Both boys evaporated.

Austin shuddered. "I hate it when Nico disappears like that. What's our plan?"

"You three are my backup." Apollo said. "If I miss, if I die ... it will be up to you."

"Whoa, whoa." Kayla said. "What do you mean if you miss?"

He drew his last arrow "I'm going to shoot that gorgeous gargantuan in the ear."

Austin and Kayla exchanged looks, perhaps wondering if he had finally cracked under the strain of being mortal.

"A plague arrow." He explained. "I'm going to enchant an arrow with sickness, then shoot it into the statue's ear. Its head is hollow. The ears are the only openings. The arrow should release enough disease to kill the Colossus's animating power... or at least to disable it."

"How do you know it will work?" Ariana asked.

"I don't, but -"

Their conversation was ruined by a sudden heavy downpour of Colossus foot. They darted inland, barely avoiding being flattened.

Behind them, Miranda shouted, "Hey, Ugly!"

Ariana glanced back. She raised her arms, causing ropes of sea grass to spring from the dunes and wrap around the statue's ankles.

The Colossus broke through them easily, but they annoyed him enough to be a distraction.

Meanwhile, Ellis and Cecil stood on either side of the Colossus, throwing rocks at his shins. From the camp, a volley of flaming ballista projectiles exploded against Mr Gorgeous's naked backside, which made Ariana clench in sympathy.

"You were saying?" Austin asked.

"Right." Apollo twirled the arrow between his fingers. "I know what you're thinking. I dont have godly powers. It's doubtful I'll be able to cook up the Black Death or the Spanish Flu. But, still, if I can make the shot from close range, straight into its head, I might be able to do some damage."

"And . if you fail?" Kayla asked. Ariana noticed her quiver was also empty.

"I won't have the strength to try twice. You'll have to make another pass. Find an arrow, fry to summon some sickness, make the shot while Austin holds the chariot steady."

Ariana caught a flash of movement in the sky. This time, instead of a Colossus foot, it was Sherman Yang's chariot, minus Sherman Yang.

Will brought the pegasi in for a landing, then dragged out a half-conscious Nico di Angelo.