The Mark Of Athena

- The Great Escape

Chapter XVI - Leo

WHEN KLIONE CUT THE CONNECTION, I FELT ANGER BOILING INSIDE ME. I could see it in the eyes of the others too, Hazel and Frank we're practically fuming and Jason looked murderous. Annabeth looked angry enough to take on a Titan.

Jason nodded at Hazel who started to move the earth. It formed a tunnel, leading downwards and we ran through. I drew my hammer, as the passage closed up and the earth swallowed us. All was deathly quiet.

"Leo, light." muttered Annabeth and I created a fire in my palm. We were in a huge room with a tiled floor depicting the Titans. My flame cast long shadows across the walls, and the light was dim, which made it even spookier, throwing dancing patches of darkness across the 8 corridors that led off the room. There was a light along one of the corridors and we set off down it, by silent agreement. The room grew colder as we walked and I mouthed 'Klione' to Jason, who nodded.

It turned out I was right. When we walked into the room, Klione was lounging on her throne, waiting for us.

I conjured fire and charged at her but she just yawned. "I dont have time for this." and disappeared.

Annabeth immediately ran over to Percy, who was chained up and very barely breathing. She put her ear to his chest and almost immediately she heard a heartbeat, although it was weak and irregular. Jason stood up.

"That was too easy." he said and we nodded in agreement.

"Ambrosia anyone?" inquired Annabeth and we all shuffled our feet and avoided her gaze. "Are you telling me, that NONE OF YOU BROUGHT AMBROSIA!?" she shouted, but I then her voice cracked and she gulped. "Behind you guys..." she mumbled. I whipped around, and found myself face to face with hundreds of monsters, flooding into the throne room. I grabbed my hammer.

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Frank

I WANTED TO KILL KLIONE THERE AND THEN FOR WHAT SHE HAD DONE to Percy. Sadly, I would have to settle for a horde of bloodthirsty monsters but it was a poor substitute. I shifted into a bear and slashed through their ranks as the line of monsters broke over us like a wave, enveloping us and pulling us towards the centre of the swirling mass.

I did my best, taking out swathes of them in a single stroke, smashing through their formations, but without Percy, the odds were too great. I fought until I felt ready to drop, and kept fighting, as they slowly pushed me into a corner.

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Piper

IT WAS MY FAULT THAT PERCY WAS HURT. I FELT TERRIBLE. If only I hadn't acted so rashly then he never would have been taken. It was my responsibility to save him.

I slashed at the legs of the monsters with Katropis, my speed helping me evade the hits. I saw Frank in trouble an I ran to help, cutting myself a path.

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Jason

I ROARED WITH ANGER AS I FLEW AT THE MONSTERS. IVILIS DECIMATED line after line of them, but more kept coming. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Annabeth defending Leo as he worked on Percys chains. I heard a clink as the first one broke but I was distracted by a huge cyclops that charged me. I cut its club in half and stabbed it in the eye, slicing off its head. That's when the Manticore grabbed me from behind.

I squirmed as he held a knife to my throat, the blade nicking the skin. There was no one who would come to my aid. Leo and Annabeth were with Percy, Frank and Piper were fighting for their lives and Hazel was barely holding out.

"Say your last words, half-blood." hissed Thorn. Jason closed his eyes.

"Bite Me." came a gruff voice from behind and I whipped around to see the manticore spasming. It was impaled on a celestial bronze sword which looked wonderfully familiar. Thorn disintegrated, and I looked up into the grime streaked face of Percy Jackson. He was dripping with blood and shaking, but he managed a grim smile as he waded into the battle. He took over from Piper and Frank, driving the monsters back from them as Frank rushed Piper, who had been wounded, to safety. Percy then moved over to Hazel, fighting like a madman. He was driving the whole army back. Water was springing up out of the ground before his feet and he glowed with a faint blue light. The blessing of Poseidon, I realised in awe. we didn't need to help. The rest of the seven just stood back and watched.

He cut down Cyclopes in a single sweep of riptide, which he wielded like an arc of pure death. None challenged him, the monsters began to turn and flee but he pursued, wiping them out, every. Last. One.

Slowly, the dust cleared. There wasn't a single monster left, just Percy, kneeling in the centre of a ring of scorched earth. He looked up, eyes wide. There was a hiss from one of the corners.

"I.. I don't..." suddenly there was a thunk and Percy collapsed to the ground, a knife sticking out of his back. There was one enemy left, an empousa. She had picked up the knife from a fallen comrade and I quickly vaporised her. I ran over to Annabeth, who was cradling Percy in her arms. Her face was streaked with tears.

She looked up solemnly.

"Jason, Call your dad and tell him we need Apollo... Anything! Just do something!" she cried. Her body was racked with sobs.

"There was poison on that dagger Jason." she said quietly. "He was on the brink of death anyway, if we don't get help now he'll die."

I stared at her blankly and she checked Percy's pulse.

"No..." she muttered, and my head filled with terrible thoughts. He couldn't be dead, not Percy... Not after everything...

Annabeth layed her head on Percys cheat. "Breathe..." she muttered, her voice heavy with sadness and she choked up as his heartbeat slowed further.

"No..."

Jason blinked as a tear rolled down his cheek. Percy was looking into Annabeths eyes.

"I love you Annabeth." he whispered, and kissed her once. Then his eyelids closed. Annabeth slowly laid his head across her lap.

"Percy..." she choked, holding his hand and stroking his hair.

And Percy Jacksons heart stopped.