The Blood of Olympus (Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 41: Piper

(listen to the song on the side during the chapter!)

Chapter 41: Piper

 

            EVERYTHING WAS FALLING APART AROUND PIPER. The cavern, her friends, her hope, and the world itself were preparing to fall.

            Never before had she felt so exhausted in such a short time. And now, in horror, she watched her boyfriend fall to the ground. After Jason killed Porphyrion right before her eyes, he just stared. She had called out for him, beginning to get up when he collapsed.

            “Jason!” she screamed. Fear rocked her body, making her frantic to stand up. She had been so weak that she had remained on her knees while Jason had been finishing off Porphyrion. Leo was leaning heavily on her, so it was making it hard to stand. Her legs were too tired and felt like they were filled with sand. “No, Jason, please!”

            Piper finally stood, wobbling like crazy. Jason lay several yards away, which would be a tough walk. She shakily put one foot in front of the other, still whispering Jason’s name under her breath, somehow hoping that he would stand and be okay. He couldn’t be dead, there was no way he was dead.

            A hand grabbed her arm, pulling her backwards. “No, Piper, stop!” Leo begged. “I… I sense something. Something’s not right. We need to find a way out of here!”

            “But… Jason!” Despite how badly Piper needed to check on him, she couldn’t ignore the thickness in the air. Leo was right. Something bad was arising and if they didn’t find a way out, they would be in trouble.

            “We have to go!” Leo kept dragging Piper back.

            By that time, Piper couldn’t help the tears that fell from her eyes. She slowly shuffled back at Leo’s will but kept her eyes on Jason. He still hadn’t moved from where he lay.

            The huge pit near Jason suddenly began to glow red. In horror, Piper and Leo stopped moving. The pit seemed to move and stretch, red light still pulsing from the hole. Sounds began to seep from the hole, sounding like a thousand volcanoes erupting at once. Heat seared against Piper’s face, so hot that it felt like someone had tossed her into a giant fireplace. The red light glowed so bright that she had to shut her eyes.

            When the light and heat subsided, all she could hear were echoing footsteps. Her back was pressed against a stone wall, having been forced so far back that she had reached the end of the cavern. Leo was now grabbing her hand so tightly that she was afraid her circulation would come off. She gave his hand a squeeze, trying to comfort him, but she needed comforting herself.

            Foolish demigods, a voice rumbled. Why are you still fighting? It is a hopeless war you are a part of. You can just give in now…

            A figure appeared, walking straight out of the pit. For a horrible second, Piper thought that Porphyrion somehow survived. But when she realized what was truly happening, she realized things were so much worse.

            He was enormous, radiating power with every step he took. His skin was glistening purple, rippling with huge muscles that put Hercules to shame. His fingernails were black talons that resembled razors. His boots were Stygian Iron; the same thing Nico’s sword was made out of, and was the size of coffins. His hands were as large as crane scoops. On his breastplate, Piper could see the faces of different monsters pressed up against the armor, looking like they were straining to escape. When Piper looked at his face, she was horrified and wanted to just give up right then. His face was a whirlpool of darkness, literally nothing there.