Born To Die

We both "die"

The battle on top of Mount Othrys was as chaotic as the storm that surrounded it. Thalia's lightning sparked through the dark, cracking against stone pillars, while Zoe Nightshade's arrows cut through the night with deadly precision. Percy swung Riptide, his movements fierce and desperate as he fought to protect Annabeth.

But none of them knew my secret. My real body remained safely on the ship, eyes closed in deep concentration as my spirit form weaved through the fray. I felt the tremors of battle echo through my projection, each clash of sword and roar of monsters vibrating against my ethereal body. Only Luke knew I was there, and his eyes flicked to me for the briefest moment, the glint in them sharper than any blade.

I stood behind Annabeth, the tip of my sword pressing lightly against the nape of her neck. She was struggling, eyes wild and furious, but my hold was steady. She didn't know it was just a projection; to her, it felt real, solid, and threatening.

"Drop your weapons," I said, my voice carrying with a ghostly resonance that sent a shiver down Annabeth's spine. The chaos around us seemed to dim for a heartbeat as all eyes turned our way.

Percy's expression shifted from determination to raw fear as he took in the sight of his friend being held captive. His knuckles whitened around Riptide, but he didn't move, torn between charging forward and protecting Annabeth. Thalia's electric blue eyes blazed with rage as she realized who was behind the threat.

"Isla, let her go!" Percy shouted, his voice cracking as he took a cautious step forward. The desperation in his tone stirred something in me, a memory of days at camp, laughter by the fire, the innocence we'd lost.

But I buried it, keeping my gaze cold and unwavering. "Not another step, Jackson," I warned, feeling the power of my voice reverberate through the space between us.

Luke stepped forward then, the embodiment of command and ruthlessness. "You heard her," he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Drop your weapons, or Annabeth's fate is sealed."

Zoe's bow trembled in her grip, her eyes darting between me and Annabeth. Thalia's lightning faded, her fists clenching and unclenching as she measured the risk. The air felt taut, ready to snap at any moment.

Annabeth met my gaze, eyes filled with defiance even as her breaths came in ragged gasps. "You don't have to do this," she whispered, almost pleading. But I didn't respond. I couldn't.

Inside, my true body trembled with the weight of the moment, the power I held, and the choices that loomed before us all.

The battle erupted in chaos once more as Annabeth twisted and used the brief distraction to break free from my grasp. I could feel the shudder of her movement, the sharp intake of breath as she lunged forward. Before I could react, Thalia's voice roared through the storm.

"Luke, this ends now!" she shouted, electricity crackling around her like a wild tempest. In one fierce motion, she sent a bolt of lightning that cracked the very air, hitting Luke square in the chest and propelling him backward. His eyes widened in shock and betrayal as he stumbled, his fingers clawing at the empty space before he was sent tumbling off the cliff's edge, disappearing into the dark abyss below.

"No!" My voice tore through the battle, a raw sound that ripped from my throat as if a part of me had been ripped away with him. My projection faltered for a moment, flickering under the strain of grief and rage, but I pushed myself to stay. I needed to stay.

Annabeth turned, her eyes steely with determination as she raised her dagger, glinting under the storm's fractured light. Before I could react, she plunged it forward, piercing my projection's side. Pain, sharp and biting, flared through me as if it were real. The magic sustaining my presence faltered, and I staggered back, clutching the wound as my vision wavered.

To the others, it must have looked like a victory. Percy's eyes softened in relief, Thalia's face hardened with cold satisfaction, and Zoe readied her bow once more. They believed the battle had turned in their favor.

But they had no idea. The wound in my projection burned, echoing in my real body back on the ship. I gasped, the pain drawing me from my trance, and as I blinked back to reality, I knew that neither Luke nor I were truly defeated. We had been battered, yes, but this was far from over.

With a final look at the battle scene, my projection dissolved into thin air, leaving only the echoes of thunder and the tremble of the mountain to mark its departure. The others believed they had won a small victory, but in the depths of the mountain's shadow, our fight was just beginning.