❝Don't read the last page,
But I stay when it's hard, or it's wrong, or we're making mistakes.❞
Book 1 of 'The Blue' duology.
Percy Jackson x Fem!Oc
TTC - TLO
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KATHLEEN WAS HORRIFIED BY HOW SIMILAR THEY WERE. Atlas had the same regal expression as Zoë, the same cold proud look in his eyes that Zoë sometimes got when she was mad, though on him it looked a thousand times more evil.
"Let Artemis go," Zoë demanded.
Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest."
Zoë opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis said, "No! Do not offer, Zoë! I forbid you."
Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.
"Hoo-hoo," Atlas chuckled. "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."
"I don't understand," Percy declared. "Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"
Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape." Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."
He approached the kids, studying Kathleen, Thalia, and Percy. "So these are few of the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."
Kathleen frowned. What heroes of age? Her? Sure, Percy and Thalia were one of the greatest demigods. But Kathleen was only starting her path.
"Fight us," Percy said. "And let's see."
"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."
"So you're another coward," Kathleen scowled.
Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred. With difficulty, he turned his attention to Thalia. "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."
"I wasn't wrong," Luke managed. He looked weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. Kathleen did not feel bad, and she didn't think she ever would. "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!"
He waved his hand, and next to them, a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus. Kathleen could imagine Bessie in that pool. The more she thought about it, the more she was sure she could hear Bessie mooing.
And as much as she was afraid of cows, she didn't truly want Bessie to end up being killed or sacrificed.
"Anything but Bessie," Percy whispered suddenly, scooting closer to her. "Think about something else. Anything but Bessie."
