A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

XIII| truce party

The white flag, impossibly large, dominated the horizon. Even from half a mile away, its sheer size was staggering, a stark symbol against the vibrant green of Central Park. It was easily the size of a soccer field, held aloft by a creature that seemed ripped from legend – a thirty-foot tall giant, its skin a shocking, unnatural blue, crowned with a cascade of icy grey hair. Theo felt a surge of anxiety, a knot tightening in his stomach. He scanned the approaching figures, desperately hoping, yet dreading, to see Daphne among them.

"A Hyperborean," Thalia said, her voice tight with apprehension. "The giants of the north. It's a bad sign that they sided with Kronos. They're usually peaceful."

"You've met them?" Percy asked, his brow furrowed.

"Mmm. There's a big colony in Alberta. You do not want to get into a snowball fight with those guys." A dry, humorless chuckle escaped her lips.

As the giant lumbered closer, revealing the individuals walking in its shadow, Theo's gaze sharpened. Four beings escorted the giant, each more unsettling than the last. Two were clearly demigods, clad in full battle armor, their faces grim and unreadable. Beside them strode an empousa demon, a vision in a sleek black dress that clashed horribly with her flaming hair and the predatory gleam in her eyes. She held the arm of a tall, slender man in a tuxedo, creating a tableau of bizarre normalcy – a couple on their way to a Broadway show, perhaps, if one overlooked the fiery hair and razor-sharp fangs. The group moved with an almost leisurely pace, their arrival a stark contrast to the ominous tension that filled the air. They headed directly toward the Heckscher Playground. The swings hung motionless, the ball courts eerily empty. The only sound was the gentle murmur of the fountain on Umpire Rock, a sound that did little to soothe the growing unease.

Percy nudged Grover, his voice hushed. "The tux dude is the Titan?"

Grover nodded nervously, his large eyes wide with apprehension. "He looks like a magician. I hate magicians. They usually have rabbits."

Theo stared at him, a slight smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "You're scared of bunnies?"

"Blah-hah-hah! They're big bullies. Always stealing celery from defenseless satyrs!" Grover puffed out his chest, trying to appear brave, but failing miserably.

Thalia coughed, a sound that clearly telegraphed her amusement.

"What?" Grover demanded, his voice defensive.

"We'll have to work on your bunny phobia later," Percy said, stifling a grin. "Here they come."

The man in the tux stepped forward, separating himself from the group. He was taller than an average human, nearing seven feet in height. His black hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, emphasizing the sharp angles of his face. Dark, round glasses hid his eyes, lending him an air of scholarly detachment. But it was the skin on his face that truly captured Theo's attention. It was crisscrossed with a network of thin, angry scratches, as if he'd been attacked by a small animal – a really, really mad hamster, maybe.

"Percy Jackson," he said, his voice smooth and silky, like expensive velvet. "It's a great honour."

The empousa hissed, a sound that vibrated in the air, betraying her hatred. She'd probably heard how Percy had destroyed two of her sisters last summer.

"My dear," Tux Dude said to her, his tone dismissive. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable over there, eh?" She released his arm with a sulky grace and drifted over to a park bench, her flaming hair casting dancing shadows on the ground.

Theo glanced at the two armed demigods behind Tux Dude, his heart lurching with a sickening mix of dread and anger. He hadn't recognized them at first, their faces obscured by their new helmets, but now the truth slammed into him with the force of a physical blow. It was Daphne Evans, and Ethan Nakamura. His heart stuttered, catching in his throat. He noticed Ethan's nose squashed and crooked from their fight on the Williamsburg Bridge.