Selenomancy, Percy Jackson

Chasing Shadows and Shouting Matches

As much as I wanted to stay awake, I had been up on my feet for too long, so when I got in the backseat of the car I passed out cold.

I stood at the edge of the shadows, my gaze fixed on Annabeth, who was crumpling beneath the crushing weight of a dark mass.
Annabeth's legs trembled violently, her strength fading by the second.
I watched in silence.

My eyes flicked to the shadows, where I knew Luke would soon emerge.
I had predicted much of what was happening here—I knew Luke had something drastic in mind, something that would push the limits of what even he considered acceptable.

"How is our mortal guest?" Atlas spoke.

"She's fading. We must hurry." Luke got out of the shadows and knelt next to Annabeth.
I knew he cared about her, but seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn't quite believe it.
How could he truly care for her when he was the one who tricked into taking the burden?

Then a meaty hand thrust someone forward into the light—Artemis—her hands and feet bound in celestial bronze chains.
Her silvery dress was torn and tattered.
Her face and arms were cut in several places, and she was bleeding ichor.

"You heard the boy." said the titan. "Decide!"

Artemis's eyes flashed with anger.
The goddess looked at Annabeth and her expression changed to concern and outrage.
"How dare you torture a maiden like this!"

"She will die soon." Luke said. "You can save her."

Annabeth made a weak sound of protest.
"Free my hands." Artemis said.

Luke brought out his sword, Backbiter.
With one expert strike, he broke the goddess's handcuffs.

Artemis ran to Annabeth and took the burden from her shoulders.
Annabeth collapsed on the ground and laid there shivering.
Artemis staggered, trying to support the weight of the sky.

Atlas chuckled. "You are as predictable as you were easy to beat, Artemis."

"You surprised me." the goddess said, straining under her burden. "It will not happen again."

"Indeed it will not." He said. "Now you are out of the way for good! I knew you could not resist helping a young maiden. That is, after all, your specialty, my dear."

Artemis groaned "You know nothing of mercy, you swine."

"On that." the man said. "We can agree. Luke, you may kill the girl now."

"No!" Artemis shouted.

Luke hesitated. "She—she may yet be useful, sir. Further bait."

"Bah! You truly believe that?"

"Yes, General. They will come for her. I'm sure."

He considered. "Then the dracaenae can guard her here. Assuming she does not die from her injuries, you may keep her alive until winter solstice. After that, if our sacrifice goes as planned, her life will be meaningless. The lives of all mortals will be meaningless."

Luke gathered up Annabeth's listless body and carried her away from the goddess. "You will never find the monster you seek." Artemis said. "Your plan will fail."

"How little you know, my young goddess." the man in the shadows said. "Even now, your darling attendants begin their quest to find you. They shall play directly into my hands. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a long journey to make. We must greet your Hunters and make sure their quest is... challenging."