𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗘 ━━ l. valdez

xvii ━━ we been on a winning streak

04. chapter seventeen

━━━━━━━━ ( 💫 ) ━━━━━━━━

IF THE GIANT HAD RUN AWAY SCREAMING, I would've been grateful. Then we all could have taken the rest of the day off.

Clytius disappointed me.

When he saw the goddess's torches blazing, the giant seemed to recover his wits. He stomped his foot, shaking the floor and almost stepping on Annabeth's arm. Dark smoke billowed around him until Annabeth and Percy were totally hidden. I could see nothing but the giant's gleaming eyes.

"Bold words." Clytius spoke from Leo's mouth. "You forget, goddess. When we last met, you had the help of Hercules and Dionysus–the most powerful heroes in the world, both of them destined to become gods. Now you bring... these?"

Leo's unconscious body contorted in pain.

"Stop it!" I yelled.

It hurt so much to see him like that. It was stupid, but I tried running at the giant before Hazel caught me by the arm.

"No!" I shouted. But suddenly, Leo dissolved. He reappeared at Hazel and I's feet, along with Percy and Annabeth. The Mist whirled around us, spilling over the stones and enveloping us. Where the white Mist met the dark smoke of Clytius, it steamed and sizzled, like lava rolling into the sea.

Leo opened his eyes and gasped. "Wh-what...?"

I dropped to the floor and grabbed Leo's hand. His eyes met mine. The moment was picturesque in a depressing way.

Annabeth and Percy remained motionless, but I could sense their heartbeats getting stronger, their breath coming more evenly.

On Hecate's shoulder, Gale the polecat barked with admiration.

The goddess stepped forward, her dark eyes glittering in the torchlight. "You're right, Clytius. Hazel Levesque is not Hercules or Dionysus, but I think you will her find just as formidable."

Through the smoky shroud, I saw the giant open his mouth. No words came out. Clytius sneered in frustration.

Leo tried to sit up. "What's going on? What can I–"

I grabbed his face with both of my hands, just holding it gingerly. I inspected him, like checking for anything that could possibly be wrong. I wasn't sure why, but it just felt like something I needed to do.

"Watch Percy and Annabeth." Hazel drew her spatha. "Stay behind me. Stay in the Mist."

I argued, "But—"

The look Hazel gave us must was severe. I nodded.

Leo gulped. "Yeah, got it. White Mist good. Black smoke bad."

Hazel advanced. The giant spread his arms. The domed ceiling shook, and the giant's voice echoed through the room, magnified a hundred times.

Formidable? the giant demanded. It sounded as if he were speaking through a chorus of the dead, using all the unfortunate souls who'd been buried behind the dome's stelae. Because the girl has learned your magic tricks, Hecate? Because you allow these weaklings to hide in your Mist?

A sword appeared in the giant's hand–a Stygian iron blade much like mine and Nico's, except five times the size.

I do not understand why Gaea would find any of these demigods worthy of sacrifice. I will crush them like empty nutshells.

Hazel screamed. The walls of the chamber made a crackling sound like ice in warm water, and dozens of gems streaked towards the giant, punching through his armour like buckshot.