Percy Jackson and the Armies of Chaos ~ Complete

Anything But That!

Alkaios's POV

"Think about this," Annabeth urged. She strode up next to me, her feet slapping against the wet stone floor.

"I can't think right now," I snapped back, wringing my hands.

"Don't you think it's weird that we haven't met with any resistance?" Asked Jason.

"No, he knows we're here, he knows we're coming. It's a trap and he wants us to get to him as soon as we can," Said Annabeth.

"Should we really be doing this?" Asked Will.

"Absolutely not. But it seems like we don't have a choice." I saw Annabeth cut her eyes at me, but I ignored it.

I raised a finger to my lips. "Shhh, this is his office." I grabbed my sword, and I saw Will ready his bow.

I kicked open the door, and ran into the room.

It was shadowy and dark, the walls made of a black rock. His huge desk stood in the center of the room, it was a huge slab of black marble, and it rested on the backs of two carved humans.

And on it was Era. Her pale back was exposed to the harsh lights of the room, and I could see whip marks, burns, bruises, and cuts. There was a tray of tools right next to her, and her wings were strapped down, her hands bound underneath the table.

I was about to run towards her, but someone caught me from behind, and snapped something around my wrist.

A cuff.

"Well, well," a voice purred. A shiver ran down my spine at the cool touch of the stone around my wrist.

"I thought you'd never show up."

I hissed, and Annabeth, Jason, and Will all fell down, strapped down by black ropes.

"Take me. Take me!" I screamed, straining against the chain.

"I'll give you anything, anything," I begged, tears streaming down my face.

Order smiled at me his white hair gleaming. The complete opposite of Chaos.

"I already have everything I want," he said, striding over to his desk. "But I suppose I could cause you more pain."

"No!" I screamed.

He picked up a small knife, and held it towards the base of her wings. She flinched.

"I once heard," he said, his voice a low growl, "That if you cut right here, a Fae's wing will fall off and die. Shall I see if it's true?"

"No," she begged, her voice hoarse. "Please, please, please, no." I had never seen Era so scared and desperate. "Please, no, no, no!"

He raised the knife, and I strained against the cuffs, trying to use my magic, but it wouldn't work. My sword was discarded a few feet away.

"No, please." She whispered, her voice giving out. "Please, I'll do anything."

He smirked, and brought the knife down.

The scream that I heard then was not of this planet.

My vision turned red at the agony in that scream.

"Let her go!" I struggled against the chain, trying to wrench it out of the ground.

He raised the knife and brought it down on the other wing.

I felt, rather than saw Era pass out. Black liquid ran down her bare back, covering all of the horrific wounds there.

I saw her wings twitch once on the ground, and then I saw them shrivel up and die.

"NO!" I roared, my vision completely red.

A new strength that I never knew that I had allowed me to rip the chain out of the ground, and I snatched up my sword.

"But how..." He said, backing away slowly.

"Soulbonded, you-" I cursed at him.

And then I felt the weight between my shoulder blades, and it was amazing.

I used my wings to fly towards him at breakneck speeds, and I landed right in front of him, my sword at his throat, Era behind me.

"Die," I hissed, dragging my sword across his neck.

I saw him slump to the ground, and I stabbed him once more in the chest until my vision wasn't red anymore.

I turned towards Era, and scooped her up in my arms, ripping the chains off of her hands.

I strode over to Annabeth, black liquid running down my arms, matching the tears streaming down my face.

I cut the rope binding them and said, "The alarm probably sounded. We're going to have to fight our way out."