The Titan's Curse [Book Three]

These Mountains That You Are Carrying, You Were Only Supposed To Climb.

These Mountains That You Are Carrying, You Were Only Supposed To Climb - Najwa Zebian.

"Let her go," Reagan demanded, stepping forward as she activated her weapon.

Luke was pale and sickly, beads of sweat on his face. He managed a weak smile, the sword daring to dig further into Annabeth's throat. "Reagan," he greeted. "It's a shame you decided to go back to the losing side," the blonde man jeered.

There was a pained expression on Reagan's face. "Oh, Luke," she said sadly. "I looked up to you. I-I thought we were friends."

The General chuckled. "So much for old friends." His eyes landed on. Zoe coldly. "How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."

"Do not challenge him," Artemis warned, a low groan emanating from the back of her throat.

"Hold up," Percy cut in. "You're Atlas?"

The General rolled his eyes. "Yes," he answered with a sigh. "Even the stupidest of heroes can finally understand something," he drawled. "I am Atlas, general of the Titans and terror to the gods." Atlas returned his attention to Zoe Nightshade. "I will kill the rest of you in time. First I must deal with this treacherous girl."

The son of Poseidon moved in front of Zoe protectively. "I won't let you hurt Zoe."

Atlas sneered. "Do not interfere with family business, boy."

"Family business?"

"Atlas...is my father," Zoe said bleakly.

     Reagan was staring at Annabeth. Nothing was particularly out of place. She was dirty and exhausted looking, but the same. Wait...something had changed. There was a grey streak of hair amongst the blonde. As Percy, Zoe, and Atlas spoke, Reagan muttered to herself quietly.

"What happened to her?"

Thalia leaned to her. "It's from holding up the sky," she answered softly. "The weight should have killed her."

Their heads snapped up when Atlas addressed them. "And these are the great heroes of this age? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us," Percy challenged. "Then you'll see how much of a challenge we are."

"Have they not taught you anything?" Atlas asked. "The gods and half-bloods do not directly interact. The same is true for Titans. So that's why Luke will fight you instead."

"So you're another coward?"

     This was the same tactic that Percy used against her father, Ares. Using mockery to slowly coerce Atlas into a fight. It was almost working.

There was a flash of anger, but with difficulty, he brought his attention to Thalia. "It seems Luke was wrong about you."

Luke moved forward, every step and word painful. "I'm not! Thalia, you can join us. Sacrifice the Ophiotaurus. You can call him, and he'll come," he explained, waving his hand in the direction of a ritualistic black marble pool, large enough for Bessie. "You'll be more powerful then the gods."

Thalia shook her head sadly. "What happened to you?"

"Don't you remember all the times we talked?" he persisted. "All the times we cursed the gods? They don't deserve to rule the world!"

     He sounded almost like Reagan did a year ago. When she was so certain that the gods were the villains, cruel and merciless to their own children. She hated her father, and part of her still did. She resented the gods, and even now, she wasn't sure how they couldn't just interfere directly. She knew that they never could, but she struggled to completely understand why. Why, when their children suffer, do they just watch from their gilded thrones? As Thalia and Luke went back and forth, Reagan couldn't help but to respect Thalia even more then before. She wasn't sure if she could be so resilient to his words of promised power.