Annabeth's Point of View

The Last Olympian - Final Fight

The first thing I seen was the back of him. It was so familiar to me – I had practically grown up watching the back of him as he trained in our camp arena. The way his sandy, golden hair spiked up a bit in the back, and the way his torso drew in all the way down to his hips in a graceful, inward slope, and the way he always held himself – two feet apart, always ready for a fight.

For a moment, I wished that he would stay like that, so I could pretend he was Luke. But then he turned around, and Kronos smiled.

He looked just like Luke, except he looked so much different. The scar that most girls found attractive stretched and the corners of his eyes lifted – yet they weren’t Luke’s usual handsome blue. They were golden – unreal, un-human, and so not Luke.

I felt like someone had punched me. I could have stopped this – I could have killed him when he came to me for my help. Now he was doomed to die at the hand of someone he had risked everything for – Kronos.

"Shall I destroy you first, Jackson?” Kronos asked. "Is that the choice you will make—to fight me and
die instead of bowing down? Prophecies never end well, you know."

"Luke would fight with a sword," Percy said bravely, glaring at the titan. "But I suppose you don't have his skill."

I watched helplessly as Kronos sneered. This was it – Percy made it final; they were going to fight, and Percy’s soul would be reaped.

Kronos’ scythe slowly changed into Luke’s new favorite weapon – Backbiter. It was half-steel and half Celestial bronze, so that it could damage both mortals and immortals. My mind was whirling as I started at Luke’s blade – the blade that will be the end of Percy’s soul.

Luke’s blade.

Kronos didn’t care for Luke. He didn’t care for any of his honor. He would fight Percy, but he wouldn’t care what weapon he’d use. But Luke would.

Luke always cared for honor and always cared to prove himself. If Percy said that he’d usually use a sword, then Luke would get a sword. Somewhere, behind those golden eyes, Luke was there. My mind went ten-fold as I thought of how much this changed things.

Only the wisest use knives.

I am wise!

I gasped. "Percy, the blade!" I unsheathed my knife. "The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap."

Percy glanced at me, not understanding, and Kronos raised his sword.

"Wait!" I yelled, hoping Luke would hear me.

But neither Kronos or Luke cared for Percy, and they both attacked him.

Percy immediately defended himself. Luke was in there, and somehow I had to get him out long enough so he could see what he was doing, and how he was breaking his promise.

We’re family, Luke had said to me, and we take care of each other.

Percy didn’t know that. Percy thought he was the hero. But he wasn’t – Luke was.

Ethan ducked to one side, trying to get behind Percy until I intercepted him. Ethan wasn’t a good fighter, not good enough to beat me. His long blade slashed against mine and my blade nipped at his armor. Even with me fighting with a knife – I had an upper hand.

Grover started to play his reed pipes, and the sound cleared my head. I couldn’t look over to see how Percy was doing since Ethan was occupying me – so I had to get rid of this kid fast.

“ARG!” I heard Kronos yell.

Ethan was the first to look at Percy and the titan, and I took my chance. I kicked Ethan out of the way and charged Kronos. "Luke, listen!"