Hidden Half-Bloods

Chapter Six: Do You See What I See?

Chiron, Dionysus, and the year-round campers at Camp Half-Blood turned from their meals to gawk as Gabi, Megan, and Nolan appeared at one side of the dining pavilion. In a spew of words, Megan explained to the camp what had happened, about the incoming threat of Echidna and the Titans, and about the spear-stealing mission that she, Gabi, and Nolan needed to embark on that night. When she was finished, Chiron clopped over to put a hand on her shoulder.

"Eat first, and then we will prepare you for your mission." Chiron assured her, and Megan plopped down at the Aphrodite table, her siblings gazing sadly across at her. Lacy, one of the other children of Aphrodite that Megan had grown close to when she had first come to the camp, scooted over and wrapped her in a hug. Megan closed her eyes and leaned into her, too exhausted to cry but grateful for the hug as a nymph brought over a fresh plate of food for her.

~

"So, like, where's Ladon?" James asked the Hesperides, standing in their garden with Kalan and Riley. He was tired, grimy, sweaty, and was about ready to punch the monster in the face to go save Grant. He knew that they had to face the guardian monster of the garden—Ladon—to get to where Grant was being kept, so he just outright asked the daughters of Atlas where the monster was.

"James, you can't just—" Riley gasped out, her voice strangled with embarrassment as James planted his hands on his hips and glared right back at the Hesperides.

"Quiet, you fool! Do not wake Ladon!" They growled right back at James, eyes cold with malice as James rolled his eyes and stalked forward, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"LADON! COME OUT YOU LAZY NOODLE!" Noodle? Kalan perked up at that, curious as to whether this monster would be actual snake or not. The Hesperides scattered as a chilling roar pierced the beautiful garden. "Let's go!" James called to his friends, Riley and Kalan not hesitating before sprinting after him as he dashed for the top of the mountain.

They had nearly made it, the tops of the ebony columns just coming into view, when Ladon broke through the beautiful plants. He was a bronze dragon with one hundred heads, a monster that not even Hercules could defeat.

"Aw, he's cute!" James stumbled and fell in surprise as Kalan turned and held out her hand, an awestruck grin on her face as Ladon skidded to a halt and tilted his hundred heads in confusion. "We're not here to steal the golden apples, danger noodle! We're just here to free our friends. Do you mind granting us passage?" Ladon lowered himself to Kalan's height and the daughter of Demeter couldn't help but reach up to scratch as many heads as she could. "Thank you, dear. Take care of yourself." She pecked five foreheads before corralling her shocked friends up the mountain and out of sight of the great dragon.

When they broke onto the main marble floor, an anger as James had never felt rose within him. At one side was a throne, Atlas upon it, and at the other side was Grant, kneeling beneath a great gathering of sky that rested solely upon his shoulders. He was drenched in sweat, visibly wobbling as he struggled to keep the sky from crushing him.

"And who do I have the honor of hosting now? You certainly don't look like those Romans." Atlas was dressed in full battle armor, sword and shield resting at his feet. He smirked, silver eyes shining as he leaned forward with anticipation.

"James Jackson, son of Poseidon and brother to Percy Jackson." Anger, irritancy, flashed in Atlas' eyes as he rose and took up his weapons. "These are my friends, Kalan Guenther and Riley Stevens, and they'll make you wish that you never gave up the sky." James sprinted for Grant as Kalan unsheathed her katana and lunged forward, meeting Atlas' first strike. Riley stayed back, trying to sneak around the Titan to get at a weak spot in his armor.