The King

Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Did she get it from me?

Percy's POV

We both got up and ran around the blasted VW. Nothing inside. Nothing in either direction down the road. I looked down the cliff—no sign of her.

"Zoe!" I called out.

Then she was standing right next to me, pulling me by my arm. "Silence, fool! Do you want to wake Ladon?"

" I was just worried about you, idiot, You're not allowed to die, remember?"

I snapped back at her, and she stared silently at me before Thalis spoke up.

"You mean we're here?"

"Very close," she said. "Follow me."
Sheets of fog were drifting right across the road. Zoe stepped into one of them, and when the fog passed, she was no longer there. Thalia and I looked at each other.

"More magic bullshit," Thalia advised. "We are following her"

"Like we have a choice, I can take you back to camp and solo raid this place."

"It would be quick efficient and only my life would be on the line"

I offered, That might be the safest bet, but no one would want to leave after coming this far.

"Yeah, I'm not leaving you"

Stubborn girl, did she get that from me?

"I just wanted to make sure no one dies."

"You won't let us die, right?" She smiled, certain she wouldn't die. "Plus, I'm your daughter, I'm not that weak."

I changed the topic

"Zeus didn't send that lightning bolt at the car. It was Kronos. He's trying to manipulate you, make you turn against the Gods, you are important to the plot"

She took a deep breath. "It doesn't matter if I am against them or not, as long as I'm with you."

She stepped into the fog, into the Mist, and I followed.

When the fog cleared, I was still on the side of the mountain, but the road was dirt. The grass was thicker. The sunset made a bloodred slash across the sea. The summit of the mountain seemed closer now, swirling with storm clouds and raw power. There was only one path to the top, directly in front of us. And it led through a lush meadow of shadows and flowers: the garden of twilight.

If it hadn't been for the enormous dragon, the garden would've been the most beautiful place I'd ever seen.

The grass shimmered with silvery evening light, and the flowers were such brilliant colours they almost glowed in the dark.

Stepping stones of polished black marble led around either side of a five-story-tall apple tree, every bough glittering with golden apples, and I don't mean yellow golden apples like in the grocery store. I mean real golden apples. I can't describe why they were so appealing, but as soon as I smelled their fragrance, I knew that one bite would be the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted.

"The apples of immortality," Thalia said.

"Hera's wedding gift from Zeus."

"I want some." Not for myself, just in case I wanna make anyone immortal in the future.

"The Ladon will kill thee."

"Tch, if you guys weren't here, that thing would be dead"

Now, I don't know what you think of when I say dragon. Whatever it is, it's not scary enough.