Invisible ― Jason Grace

xxi. a whirlwind

"HAZEL." Frank's voice was steady. "That package you're keeping for me? I need it."

Hazel glanced at him in dismay. "Frank, no. There has to be another way."

"Please. I—I know what I'm doing."

Thanatos smiled and lifted his manacled wrists. "You're right, Frank Zhang. Sacrifices must be made."

Camilla felt a lump forming in her throat.

The giant Alcyoneus stepped forward, his reptilian feet shaking the ground. "What package do you speak of, Frank Zhang? Have you brought me a present?"

"Nothing for you, Golden Boy," Frank said. "Except a whole lot of pain."

The giant roared with laughter. "Spoken like a child of Mars! Too bad I have to kill you. And this one... my, my, I've been waiting to meet the famous Percy Jackson."

The giant grinned. His silver teeth made his mouth look like a car grille.

"I've followed your progress, son of Neptune," Alcyoneus said. "Your fight with Kronos? Well done. Gaea hates you above all others... except perhaps for that upstart Jason Grace. I'm sorry I can't kill you right now, but my brother Polybotes wishes to keep you as a pet. He thinks it will be amusing when he destroys Neptune to have the god's favorite child on a leash. After that, of course, Gaea has plans for you."

The giant fixed his gaze on Camilla. "And you, little Camilla Warren. I'd never even heard of you before you tagged along on these heroes' quest! Must not be too important, huh? No wonder Neptune favored Perseus over you—you don't look like much."

Camilla's grip tightened on her sword. None of that was news to her—she'd spent her entire life living with the fact that she was ordinary, even for a demigod. Her father had finally claimed her, but it didn't change the years of ignoring her existence.

She knew Percy was the god's favorite. She knew she was just an afterthought, a mistake. She'd been invisible her entire life, and she doubted that would change any time soon.

But maybe she could use that to her advantage.

"My name is Camilla," Camilla said. "Not Camilla Warren. Just Camilla. And I don't have to be famous to beat you."

The giant laughed, the sound echoing through the icy clearing. "A feisty thing!" he bellowed. "I'll enjoy killing you. You children of Neptune are all so entertaining."

Percy raised Riptide. "Actually, I'm the son of Poseidon. I'm from Camp Half-Blood."

The ghosts stirred. Some drew swords and lifted shields. Alcyoneus raised his hand, gesturing for them to wait.

"Greek, Roman, it doesn't matter," the giant said easily. "We will crush both camps underfoot. You see, the Titans didn't think big enough. They planned to destroy the gods in their new home of America. We giants know better! To kill a weed, you must pull up its roots. Even now, while my forces destroy your little Roman camp, my brother Porphyrion is preparing for the real battle in the ancient lands! We will destroy the gods at their source."

The ghosts pounded their swords against their shields. The sound echoed across the mountains.

"The source?" Frank asked. "You mean Greece?"

Alcyoneus chuckled. "No need to worry about that, son of Mars. You won't live long enough to see our ultimate victory. I will replace Pluto as lord of the Underworld. I already have Death in my custody. With Hazel Levesque in my service, I will have all the riches under the earth as well!"

Hazel gripped her spatha. "I don't do service."

"Oh, but you gave me life!" Alcyoneus said. "True, we hoped to awaken Gaea during World War II. That would've been glorious. But really, the world is in almost as bad a shape now. Soon, your civilization will be wiped out. The Doors of Death will stand open. Those who serve us will never perish. Alive or dead, you four will join my army."