The Blazing Fate

Chapter Twenty-Two

The plan went wrong almost immediately. Piper scrambled along the ridge, trying to keep her head down, while Astrid, Leo, Jason, and Hedge walked straight into the clearing.

Jason summoned his golden Lance. He brandished it over his head and yelled, 'Giant!'

Enceladus stopped chanting at the flames. He turned toward them and grinned, revealing fangs like a saver-toothed tigers.

'Well,' the giant rumbled. 'What a nice surprise.'

Astrid knew that wasn't a good sign.

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 Leo. 'I don't think that was a compliment.'

Enceladus opened his mouth wide, and his teeth began to glow.

'Scatter!' Leo yelled.

Astrid, Jason, and Hedge dove to the left as the giant blew fire. She and Jason struggled to their feet at the same time and charged the giant. Hedge bleated angrily, 'I liked that outfit!' and then Astrid could hear hoofs hitting the ground.

Before they could get very far, Enceladus slammed his spear against the ground. The entire mountain shook.

The shockwave sent Astrid sprawling. She blinked, momentarily stunned. She landed next to Jason who was staggering to his feet. Hedge was out cold. He'd fallen forward and hit his head on a log.

The giant bellowed, 'I see you, Piper McLean!' He turned and blew fire at a line of bushes. Piper ran into the closing like a flushed quail, the underbrush burning behind her.

Enceladus laughed. 'I'm happy you've arrived. And you brought me my prizes!'

Astrid's gut twisted. Jason stepped forward but Astrid stopped him. There was a plan going on here. They had to wait it out.

Leo must've had some expression because Enceladus laughed even louder. 'That's right, son of Hephaestus. 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, I'm as good as my word. She can take her father and go. What do I care about a movie star?'

'Dad!' Piper yelled. Astrid couldn't really see Tristan McLean, but Piper was pulling out her dagger. 'Let him go!'

'Of course, dear,' the giant rumbled. 'Swear your loyalty to me, and we have no problem. Only these others must die.'

Piper looked back and forth between Leo and where her dad was tied up.

'He'll kill you,' Leo warned. 'Don't trust him!'

'Oh, come now,' Enceladus bellowed. 'You know I was born to fight Athena herself? Mother Gaea made each of us giants with a specific purpose, designed to fight and destroy a particular God. I was Athena's nemesis, the anti-Athena, you might say. Compared to some of my brethren—I am small! But I am clever. And I keep my bargain with you, Piper McLean. It's part of my plan!'

Astrid and Jason were fully on their feet now, and both were getting tired of this giants yapping. But before they could act, Enceladus roared—a call so loud it echoed down the valley and was probably heard all the way to San Francisco.

At the edge of the woods, half a dozen ogre-like creatures rose up. Astrid realized with nauseating certainty that they hadn't simply been hiding there. They'd risen straight out of the earth.