THE PLAN WENT WRONG, of course. Piper scrambled along the ridge, trying to keep her head down, while Leo, Violet, Jason, and Coach Hedge walked straight into the clearing.
Jason summoned his golden lance. He brandished it over his head and yelled, "Giant!" Which sounded pretty obvious to Violet, but it got his attention anyway.
Enceladus stopped chanting at the flames. He turned toward them and grinned, revealing fangs like a saber-toothed tiger's.
"Well," the giant rumbled. "What a nice surprise."
Violet disagreed. Leo stepped sideways, edging his way toward the bulldozer, and she prayed that — for once — the boy would practice the art of subtlety.
Coach Hedge shouted, "Let the movie star go, you big ugly cupcake! Or I'm gonna plant my hoof right up your—"
"Coach," Jason said. "Shut up."
Enceladus roared with laughter. "I've forgotten how funny satyrs are. When we rule the world, I think I'll keep your kind around. You can entertain me while I eat all the other mortals."
"Is that a compliment?" Hedge frowned at Violet. "I don't think that was a compliment."
"It could go both ways, Coach," Violet said.
Enceladus opened his mouth wide, and his teeth began to glow.
"Not a compliment," she yelled, "Scatter!"
Violet dove left with Jason and Hedge as the giant blew fire—a furnace blast so hot even Festus would've been jealous. Leo dodged behind the bulldozer before he ran to the right, heading for the tree harvester.
Violet and Jason exchanged a nod before charging the giant. Coach Hedge ripped off his canary yellow jacket, which was now on fire, and bleated angrily. "I liked that outfit!" Then he raised his club and charged, too.
Before they could get very far, Enceladus slammed his spear against the ground. The entire mountain shook.
The shockwave sent Violet sprawling. She blinked, momentarily stunned. Through a haze of grassfire and bitter smoke, she could see Jason staggering to his feet not far away.
Coach Hedge was knocked out cold. He'd fallen forward and hit his head on a log. His furry hindquarters were sticking straight up, with his canary yellow pants aroundhis knees—a view Leo really didn't need.
The giant bellowed, "I see you, Piper McLean!"
He turned and blew fire at a line of bushes. Piper ran into the clearing like a flushed quail, the underbrush burning behind her.
Enceladus laughed. "I'm happy you've arrived. And you brought me my prizes!"
Violet's gut twisted. This was the moment Piper had warned them about. They'd played right into Enceladus's hands.
The giant must've read her expression, because he laughed even louder. "That's right, Violet Monet. I didn't expect you all to stay alive this long, but it doesn't matter. By bringing you here, Piper McLean has sealed the deal. If she betrays you, l'm as good as my word. She can take her father and go. What do I care about a movie star?"
Violet scoffed. "As good as your word, yet you're an evil, fire-breathing, kidnapping giant with bones in your hair. Yeah, I think we're all good on the trusting-you thing."
The giant just laughed. Violet could see Piper's dad more clearly now. He wore a ragged dress shirt and torn slacks. His bare feet were caked with mud. He wasn't completely unconscious, because he lifted his head and groaned. He had a nasty cut down the side of his face, and he looked thin and sickly.
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HORIZON ⸺ jason grace
FanficViolet Monet knows what they all say ⸻ "electricity and water don't mix." She's just never been much of a listener. © J 2024. [ cover by @ tisiix ] ༄ ˚. *ೃ‧ ₊˚✧