THE HEALER| Heroes of Olympus

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I watched in horror as the giant king rose to his full height – almost as tall as the temple columns. His face was green as bile, with a twisted sneer, his seaweed-colored 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!"

He 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 Jackson'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.

"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, I could barely hear myself think, but I replayed Enceladus's words: these two would lead the assault. 

My heart raced.

The giants had expected Percy and Annabeth. They didn't expect me.For once, being Eliana Corbyn, the daughter of Apollo, the one everyone thought was dumb blonde sunshine girl, the one nobody took seriously, might play to my advantage.

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 a 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!"

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

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

"Mother Gaia ..." His voice was impossibly deep, shaking the ruins, making the metal scaffold resonate under my 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, I leaped from the scaffolding. I sailed over the heads of the Cyclopes and ogres, landed in the center of the courtyard and pushed my way into the circle of giants. As Thoon rose to use his cleaver, I raised my bow and sent an arrow flying at his hand. The arrow took off Thoon's hand at the wrist.

The old giant wailed. The cleaver and severed hand lay in the dust at my feet. I felt my Mist disguise burn away until I was just Eliana again – one girl in the midst of an army of giants, my golden bow and silver dagger looked like toothpicks compared to their massive weapons.

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

I followed my gut. I attacked.

My advantages: I was small, I was quick, and I was absolutely insane. I drew my knife and threw it at Enceladus. I've never missed before, and I hoped that it was going to stay that way. I veered aside without witnessing the results, but, judging from the giant's painful howl, my aim didn't fail me.