RECLUSE - (n) a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people.
MAISIE ELLIOT WAS ANGRY.
Angry at the world.
Angry at the Gods.
Angry at the demigods who seemed to move on too fast.
And when forced onto a quest with three stranger...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
EVERYBODY WORDLESSLY KNEW THE PLAN.
Jason ran to Enceladus, Piper ran to her father, Leo ran to the tree harvester, and Maisie launched herself into battle with the Earth-borns.
It was more difficult fighting a monster with six arms than one with two, but she was figuring it out. Her axe sliced an arm on one and decapitated another and she twirled around her opponents.
Leo had swung the crane into the bonfire, sending burning logs and hot coals into the many giants that surrounded her. She looked to Leo and he appeared to be doing fine in his own, so Maisie left him to deal with the Earth-Borns. She ran to help Jason with Enceladus.
The giants spear thrust and jabbed in the direction of the blonde and Maisie ran at him from behind to slice his uninjured ankle. The giant's attention was temporarily shifted to the girl as she dogged a blow from his weapon. Jason's lance had broke and he visibly looked tired. He began to slow and breathe roughly.
Both Maisie and Jason took off in separate directions to confuse the giant. They both found faintly hear the shouts and defiant yells of Piper and Leo, signaling they were still alive.
"I'm not just a minor monster." Enceladus snarled. "I am a giant, born to destroy gods! Your puny weapons cannot kill me!"
Jason held up his javelin to block an oncoming strike from the giant— big mistake. He managed to deflect it but it grazed his shoulder, making it numb.
He almost tumbled over a burning log as he retreated to the edge of the clearing. The giant followed. Maisie attempted to slow his assault by attacking his injured legs, trying to bring him to his knees.
Instead of blocking the attack with her weapon like Jason, she used her own arm. Her arm was enveloped in gold and stopped the spear from piercing her body.
"Nice trick, demigod!" He called out, using brute force to shove her back into Jason. "Unfortunately it won't be enough."
Jason and Maisie tiredly regained their fighting positions as the giant laughed at them mockingly.
"The mighty Jason Grace," he taunted. "Yes, we know about you, son of Jupiter. The one who led the assault on Mount Othrys. The one who single-handedly slew the Titan Krios and toppled the black throne."
Jason seemed to freeze in place as Maisie tried to tug him back farther. "What are you taking about?" He asked. He realized his mistake when Enceladus breathed fire.
Maisie had noticed before him and was able to launch him behind her to safety as she was thrown into the flames. She tried to focus on absorbing it, but she had no time to prepare before the flames covered her completely.
Panic rang through her mind and her concentration was lost. It was too much for her to handle.
She was blasted backwards as she could feel the flames lick at her face. She could faintly hear a call of her own name as she hit the ground. She was blinded by the ash and smoke, choking as she tried to breathe. Her body shook in pain as she felt warm all over. It wasn't like Leo's warmth. This was hot. She felt like she was chucked straight into the core of a volcano.
