Annabeth Chase and the Titan's Curse

Chapter 16 - My friends willingly walk into a trap

I hated being part of the General's entourage.

I stood on top of Mount Othrys, Artemis chained and struggling under the weight of the sky mere metres from me but there was no way I could help her. My arms were tied behind my back, my mouth was strapped up with tape and I was surrounded by a half dozen dracaenae. And Luke was standing right beside me, his hand on my forearm but steadily ignoring me. Not that I particular wanted his attention at the moment. Not when my friends were about to walk into a trap.

Even more disturbing was that the sarcophagus from the Princess Andromeda was right behind me, nearly close enough to touch. I really didn't want to think of what was in that coffin but it was hard to think of anything else.

The swirling clouds that made up the sky were writhing more than before today as if they were building up power. I didn't like how dark they were getting either, an ominous feel to them as they seemed to grow and spread over the area.

The General stood a few metres to my left in a surprising neat brown suit. He was the tallest man I've ever seen although he would have been taller hadn't he spent thousands of years slavering under the weight of the sky. It had caused a slight hunch in his back although that didn't make him any less intimidating with his muscular build. He had milk chocolate skin with dark slicked back hair and stony eyes set in a harsh and brutal face. He was not a man, or Titan, that I wanted to cross.

And yet here I was trapped beside him forced to watch Artemis struggling. She looked terrible. I didn't know how long she had been trapped under the sky for but she looked anything but godly at the moment.

Her silvery dress was shredded up the legs and across her stomach. Her shoes, if she even wore any, were long gone and her bare feet were brown and sore-looking. Her auburn hair hang in greasy lanks down her back and her skin was scratched and sweat-coated. She was bound to the ground by celestial bronze chains, not that she could escape without someone taking her place.

I could feel the General's satisfaction at seeing her there, but his good mood was rapidly wearing thin as we waited with no sign of my friends. I had mixed feelings about that. On one hand I was thankful that my friends would not die before me, but then I was also disappointed that I was not being rescued, that I was being left behind. Then I was also worried that something that happened to my friends, which would be the only reason why Percy had not appeared yet.

In summary, I didn't know what to think or feel or even hope for.

"Where are they?" The General grumbled, turning to Luke with a dark scowl on his face.

"They should be coming," Luke hurriedly assured him, though he looked worried himself. "Maybe Ladon got them after all?"

"No, my daughter would have got them past the dragon," The General growled. "They should be here by now."

Daughter? I had no idea what he was talking about. I knew that Atlas had four daughters, the Hesperides, but would one of them really betray him?

Then it hit me. The myths only spoke of four Hesperides because the fifth had been banished centuries ago for betraying her sisters. And this disgraced Hesperides became -

"General!" a dracaenae called from the edge of the summit. "They're coming!"

"Finally!" Atlas boomed. "Get ready!"

All the dracaenae straightened up and gripped their weapons tighter. It looked like a movie set, except this was more important than trying to get the perfect scene in one take.

Even Luke stood a little taller and gripped my arm tighter. I would have told him off hadn't it been for the gag, then he drew his sword and rested the tip against my throat. I sent him a furious look without moving my head but he was concentrating on watching the opposite side of the mountain summit. 

Zoë was the first to appear. She staggered over the summit, her silvery clothing all torn and filthy. Yet, even with the exhaustion and pain hanging on her, she still looked as powerful as Artemis's Lieutenant should.

Thalia was next. She looked the same as always in her dark goth clothing and makeup. Her hair looked a little singed though and she gripped he spear with a grimness that I haven't seen in her. It was like she had a hard decision to make soon.

Percy was the last to appear and my heart skipped a beat when he stepped into view. He was dressed in the most ragged and disgusting clothes I've ever seen, jeans that hung too low on the waist and a shirt that was more grime than fabric, but I would recognise that mess of black hair anywhere.

Where was Grover? My mother had said he'd been with them. The first thought that popped into my head was that something terrible had happened to him. I immediately shut that down. I had to believe that he was safe and well. He was probably at Camp Half-Blood. I hope.

None of the three spotted us at first as their attention was captured by Artemis. Zoë was the first to react, crying out, "My lady!" and rushing to the goddess' side.

"Stop!" Artemis tried to protest but she was too weak. "It is a trap. You must leave now."

I tried to join in on her warning, but the gag wasn't helping.

Zoë didn't pay her mistress any attention anyway, crying as she tugged uselessly at her chains. Percy and Thalia stepped forward to help when Atlas spoke.

"Ah," he boomed, "how touching."

My friends spun around and Percy's eyes met mine. His eyes widened in shock on seeing me, then narrowed in anger when he spotted Luke's sword at my throat. I tried to convey all my panic and fear for him into my eyes, but he merely looked questioningly at me, no matter how much I tried to mentally urge him to run.

"Luke," Thalia spat, rage filling her gaze as she stared at me. "Let her go."

Luke smiled weakly. He looked worse seeing Thalia, like all the guilt was crashing down on him. "That is the General's decision, Thalia. But it's good to see you again."

She spat at him.

If I could have smiled, I would have. It was good to see she hadn't changed. 

The General chuckled. "So much for old friends. And you, Zoë. It's been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."

"Do not respond," Artemis groaned. "Do not challenge him."

"Wait a second," Percy interrupted and I savoured his voice even though I knew he was about to make a fool of himself. "You're Atlas?"

The General stared at Percy like he was a cockroach. "So, even the stupidest of heroes can finally figure something out. Yes, I am Atlas, the general of the Titans and terror of the gods. Congratulations. I will kill you presently, as soon as I deal with this wretched girl."

"You're not going to hurt Zoë," Percy growled. "I won't let you."

He looked so fierce, so determined, that it actually hurt knowing that he was prepared to fight for another girl while I was here in chains. I wanted to wave a big blue flag to remind him that I was there too, and I preferred to not have my wrists bound.

Atlas sneered. "You have no right to interfere, little hero. This is a family matter."

Percy frowned. I tried to make eye contact with him to tell him not to ask but he did so anyway. "A family matter?"

"Yes," Zoë said, her voice bleak and hopeless as she looked wearily on the General. "Atlas is my father."