Shattered

Time

Note from VCRx:
This story was originally uploaded by Josh the Pleb on FF.net. As we are now writing together, he has given me permission to publish this here. Enjoy.

Ω

Kronos advanced with blinding speed. Grover -the brave, stupid satyr that he was - tried to protect Percy, but Kronos tossed him aside like a rag doll.

Percy sidestepped and jabbed under Kronos' guard. It was a good trick.

Unfortunately, Luke knew it. He countered the strike and disarmed the son of Poseidon using one of the first moves he'd ever taught him. Percy's sword skittered across the ground.

"STOP!" Annabeth came from nowhere.

Kronos whirled to face her and slashed with Backbiter, but somehow Annabeth caught the strike on her dagger hilt. It was a move only the quickest and most skilled knife fighter could've managed. She stepped in closer for leverage, their blades crossed, and for a moment she stood face-to-face with the Titan lord, holding him at a standstill.

"Luke," she said, gritting her teeth, "I understand now. You have to trust me."

Kronos roared in outrage. "Luke Castellan is dead! His body will burn away as I assume my true form!"

Percy tried to move, but his body was frozen again. How could Annabeth, battered and half dead with exhaustion, have the strength to fight a Titan like Kronos while his refused to move?

He weakly watched as Kronos pushed against her, trying to dislodge his blade, but she held him in check, her arms trembling as he forced his sword down toward her neck.

"Your mother," Annabeth grunted. "She saw your fate."

"Service to Kronos!" the Titan roared. "This is my fate."

"No!" Annabeth insisted. Her eyes were tearing up, but Percy didn't know if it was from sadness or pain. "That's not the end, Luke. The prophecy: she saw what you would do. It applies to you!"

"I will crush you, child!" Kronos bellowed.

"You won't," Annabeth said. "You promised. You're holding Kronos back even now."

"LIES!" Kronos pushed again, and this time Annabeth lost her balance. With his free hand, Kronos struck her face, and she slid backward.

Percy summoned all of his will. He managed to rise, but it was like holding the weight of the sky again.

Kronos loomed over Annabeth, his sword raised.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked, "Family, Luke. You promised."

Percy took a painful step forward. Grover was back on his feet, over by the throne of Hera, but he seemed to be struggling to move as well. Before either of them could get anywhere close to Annabeth, Kronos staggered.

He stared at the knife in Annabeth's hand, the blood on her face. "Promise."

Then he gasped like he couldn't get air. "Annabeth..." But it wasn't the Titan's voice. It was Luke's. He stumbled forward like he couldn't control his own body. "You're bleeding. . . ."

Percy staggered to his feet, weakly he stumbled towards the two. Kronos' face was conflicted, his eyes flickered from gold to blue, and then back again.

Possession was ripped away from the son of Hermes, "Luke Castellan is dead!" the titan lord bellowed and struck Annabeth with at flat of his blade, knocking her over.