ENTRAPPED ₂

114

MADELEINE TRIED VERY HARD NOT TO PANIC ABOUT HER FRIENDS, BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG. The others looked as anxious as her, and perhaps too soon, Leo was pulling the Argo II into the air for one last flight.

The scene in the Acropolis was heinous. About a dozen giants were running around, roaring and shouting, as three very small mortals fought them. Annabeth was on the ground, a cut slashed into her thigh, a trail of blood bubbling up behind her. Percy was fighting Porphyrion, and Piper was standing over Annabeth, trying to hold the giants off with her sword.

Porphyrion swatted Percy and he tripped hard, rolling over the ground. Annabeth struggled to her feet and retrieved a massive hunting knife from the ground―a giant's weapon. But she could barely stand upright, much less fight. Each time a drop of her blood hit the ground it bubbled, turning from red to gold.

Percy tried to stand, but he was obviously dazed. He wouldn't be able to defend himself.

Piper seemed to realize this. She stood up straight and yelled, "Come on, then! I'll destroy you all myself if I have to!"

Madeleine felt such a sharp swell of affection in her chest. She couldn't believe she had ever hated Piper McLean. This girl was twice the person Silena Beauregard had been.

This was the sister that Drew had deserved. This was the sister that would comfort Drew after Madeleine was gone. At least Madeleine had that to believe in.

Jason had flown to the nearest colonnade, his sword gleaming gold in the sun. Frank buzzed to his side as a bee and appeared there, his bow drawn. Over at the next colonnade, Madeleine flew over, carrying Hazel. Hazel whistled, and Arion appeared there. She mounted the horse and drew her blade as Madeleine turned her rings into knives.

With a deafening blast, a white-hot bolt arced from the sky, straight through Jason's body as he leaped, wreathed in lightning, at the giant king.

⎯⎯ ୨ entrapped ୧ ⎯⎯

For the next three minutes, life was great. So much happened at once that only an ADHD demigod could have kept track.

Jason fell on Porphyrion with such force that the giant crumpled to his knees―blasted with lightning and stabbed in the neck with a golden gladius.

Frank unleashed a hail of arrows, driving back the giants nearest to Percy.

The Argo II rose above the ruins and all the ballistae and catapults fired simultaneously. Leo must have programmed the weapons with surgical precision. A wall of Greek fire roared upward all around the Parthenon. It didn't touch the interior, but in a flash most of the smaller monsters around it were incinerated.

Leo's voice boomed over the loudspeaker: SURRENDER! YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY ONE SPANKING HOT WAR MACHINE!

The giant Enceladus howled in outrage. "Valdez!"

WHAT'S UP, ENCHILADAS? Leo's voice roared back. NICE DAGGER IN YOUR FOREHEAD.

"GAH!" The giant pulled Katoptris out of his head. "Monsters: destroy that ship!"

The remaining forces tried their best. A flock of gryphons rose to attack. Festus the figurehead blew flames and charbroiled them out of the sky. A few Earthborn launched a volley of rocks, but from the sides of the hull a dozen Archimedes spheres sprayed out, intercepting the boulders and blasting them to dust.

"PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!" Buford ordered.

Madeleine flew down from the colonnade and met Annabeth on the ground. She dragged the other girl to her feet, allowing Annabeth to balance against her for a moment.