Down seemed to be the only direction allowed in Tartarus. If Brielle backtracked even a step, she felt tired and heavy, as if gravity were increasing to discourage her. Assuming that the entire pit was the body of Tartarus, Brielle had a nasty feeling they were marching straight down his throat.
She was so preoccupied with that thought, she didn’t notice the ledge until it was too late.
Percy yelled, “Whoa!” He grabbed for her arm, but she was already falling.
Fortunately, it was only a shallow depression. Most of it was filled with a monster blister. She had a soft landing on a warm bouncy surface and was feeling lucky — until she opened her eyes and found herself staring through a glowing gold membrane at another, much larger face.
She screamed and flailed, toppling sideways off the mound. Her heart did a hundred jumping jacks.
James helped her to her feet. “You okay?”
She didn’t trust herself to answer. If she opened her mouth, she might scream again, and that would be undignified. She was a daughter of Apollo and a former hunter of Artemis, not some shrill girlie victim in a horror movie.
But gods of Olympus. . . Curled in the membrane bubble in front of her was a fully formed Titan in golden armor, his skin the color of polished pennies. His eyes were closed, but he scowled so deeply he appeared to be on the verge of a bloodcurdling war cry. Even through the blister, Brielle could feel the heat radiating from his body.
___________________________________________
Suddenly Bob stopped. He raised his hand: Wait.
“What?” Percy whispered.
“Shh,” Bob warned. “Ahead. Something moves.”
They strained their ears. From somewhere in the fog came a deep thrumming noise, like the idling engine of a large construction vehicle. Brielle could feel the vibrations through her shoes.
“We will surround it,” Bob whispered. “Each of you, take a flank.”
For the millionth time, Annabeth wished she had her dagger. She picked up a chunk of jagged black obsidian and crept to the left with Brielle. Percy went right, his sword ready, along with James.
Bob took the middle, his spearhead glowing in the fog.
The humming got louder, shaking the gravel at Brielle's feet. The noise seemed to be coming from immediately in front of them
“Ready?” Bob murmured.
Annabeth crouched, preparing to spring. “On three?”
“One,” Percy whispered. “Two — ”
A figure appeared in the fog. Bob raised his spear.
“Wait!” Brielle shrieked.
Bob froze just in time, the point of his spear hovering an inch above the head of a tiny calico kitten.
“Rrow?” said the kitten, clearly unimpressed by their attack plan. It butted its head against Bob’s foot and purred loudly.
It seemed impossible, but the deep rumbling sound was coming from the kitten. As it purred, the ground vibrated and pebbles danced. The kitten fixed its yellow, lamp-like eyes on one particular rock, right between Annabeth’ s feet, and pounced.
The cat could’ve been a demon or a horrible Underworld monster in disguise. But Brielle couldn’t help it. She picked it up and cuddled it. The little thing was bony under its fur, but otherwise it seemed perfectly normal.
YOU ARE READING
Shimmer
Fantasy{#2 On GREEK DEMIGODS} A "Heroes of Olympus" story. What happens when two teenagers find out that they are part of a Prophecy to save the world from the Earth? This book is an AU!Heroes of Olympus book, and the credits for the original storyline go...
