Η Κάθριν Χασέ (K.C. Jackson)

Chapter 23

*K.C. POV*

All this waiting is going to tear me apart. I was stressed with worry for the group.

"Katherine Chase Jackson, turn around very slowly."

The voice turned my blood to ice. I knew it better than anyone else.

I gulped, scared of what it was. I forced my feet to turn, even though they seemed frozen to the stone of the sky view. What I saw raged so much anger, sadness, worry, confusion in me, I felt like I would explode. It was Madelyn, being held by Manasseh, with a Celestial Bronze dagger to her throat. She struggled a little, but then he held the blade closer to her neck, making her flinch and stop moving.

"Let's make this simple, K.C. I don't want anyone to get hurt. You'll do as I say, or she dies. Do we have deal?"

The shock of the deal almost knocked me over. I held up my right hand, and trying to find my voice, I stuttered, "I, Katherine Chase Jackson, swear on the River Styx, promise to do whatever Manasseh asks."

"Good." But he still held Madelyn.

"Let her go."

"I didn't say she would be released. I said she wouldn't die if you cooperate. And you will obey." With his shadowy hand, he caged Madelyn with a piece of steel, overlooking the sea. I could tell she was terrified because I knew for a fact she was scared of heights. And she might be a child of Apollo. Ironic. He turned back to me.

"I know you had that vision, K.C. And you know how it ends." The truth was, I didn't know the whole truth. I fell off the Statue of Liberty, and Sam and I were choked by black octopus-like tentacles.

His voice was coated with lies but it was soothing.

"Now that your friends have been occupied, I can finish you off myself. Well....not me." I shuddered. I also remembered that Percy threw me off the tower. But he was nowhere to be seen. But with Manasseh, he has his tricks.

"K.C. H-H-Help." But the voice wasn't Madelyn. It was Sam.

*Madelyn POV*

Being pinned to a tall tower but only a piece of steel really made her question her entire existence. What she was supposed to do. Her life just flashed before her eyes when the cold knife was pressed against her wind pipe. Her life wasn't perfect but it was normal. And now her friend had to swear on the River Styx basically not to hurt Manasseh. Great. The only thing that could save them now was K.C.'s sword.

"K.C. H-H-Help." It was a blacked haired boy and steel blue-gray eyes. It was Sam. No. Not Sam. It would only made things worse. K.C. would have to choose who lives: her or Sam. She doubted K.C. would save her. She was just her sidekick friend. Sam was the guy she loved. There was no choice. Madelyn was nothing. A burden along for the ride. She would never be a great hero. Never in a million years.

*Percy POV*

I guess water triggers my emotions, because there was so much speeding through my brain, the water surrounded me, blasting off the two women. Then I used to create a water surf board, to ride to the Statue of Liberty. My mind is screaming to go there. So I am. I just hope Annabeth isn't going to be too ticked. But being innocent is gone. And what is right is wrong with me. I don't understand my own mind anymore. It's being too mindful.

While surfing on water, I saw K.C. on the Statue of Liberty. She had her right hand up. I couldn't pick up what they were saying but I did see her mouth "On the River Styx". Oh no. That isn't good. She can't swear Manasseh anything. I pushed the thought out of my brain. If Manasseh really was controlling me, I didn't want him knowing of my plan to attempt to stop him.