Last Shadow || Deception Book III

Chapter 15

A/N: So like, yes, I know today's Tuesday, but I'm going to publish this anyways because I couldn't do this on Saturday. I just got back from Europe, so yeah, this one's a few days late. But I hope you enjoy it :)). 

I mean, as much as you can enjoy this chapter at least. :')) 

I will be updating again this Saturday again as usual, but I do want to say that I'm flying off again for China next week on Friday for a month, so I'll be so real, I'm not sure how consistent my updates will be for that period. I might publish everything before, or publish everything after, but we'll see. I'll keep you guys updated. 

Anyways, have fun and I love you all. Thanks for reading :)). 

***

Luke 

"I guess he's dead, then," I whispered to Ri as Percy stabbed Antaeus in the stomach with his sword and the giant dissolved into sand which drifted down towards the arena floor. He left behind nothing except the empty loincloth and grinning skulls that swayed eerily from the ceiling, almost as if there had finally been some entertainment to laugh about.

"So much for my much anticipated fight," she smirked. "Well, good riddance, anyways."

I smiled to myself and then turned back to Percy. "Kill him."

"Let us go," Percy retorted as he dropped back to the floor. "We had an agreement."

"With Antaeus, not me. And he's dead now. Kill them quickly," I ordered. "We have places to be."

Percy scowled, his hand slipping inside his pocket. For Riptide?

"Wait, that's not his sword," Ri murmured, standing up as he lifted something out of his pocket and blew into it. "Is that...a whistle?"

"What was that supposed to do?" I asked in confusion, a bewildered laugh springing out of me. And then I heard it: a distant howl from the depths of the maze.

Suddenly, there was a giant flying towards the wall and a screech as a giant black hellhound bounded through the doors, picked up Kelli, and flung her towards us.

Ri yanked me up and we stepped out of the way as the empousa crashed into the stone bench we'd been sitting on seconds ago. "She deserved that," Ri muttered quietly.

I snorted silently then spun around. Percy. We had to deal with Percy- "Shit," I muttered as I saw them run out of the arena, the hellhound guiding their way.

"Well, they're gone," Ri said. "With that demigod too." She hid it well, but I could still hear the tinge of relief in her voice at the demigod's absence. A little longer of a delay for the end that was fast approaching us. I fought down the urge to bury my head in her hair and lose myself in her embrace. Not now. I'd hidden our relationship from the rest of the army for so long, from Kronos for so long, and I would not give in until the last moment.

"What do we do now?" Ally called. "Should we go after them?"

I shoved the creeping fog from my mind. Now was not the time, not in front of the army. "We continue on as planned," I said, forcing the words out my throat.

I couldn't bear to look at Rianna, who was silent and stone-still at my side. "Alabaster, you're in charge. You and Nicole lead the army towards camp using the string. Oh, also, find Kampe."

"I'd forgotten about that demon," Ri muttered, her fingers reflexively twisting around her silver bracelets. "She gives me the creeps."

"It was a bad idea," I agreed quietly. "But Atlas commanded it. So that's what we have to do."