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"Okay. I-I'll join you."
Luke took Percy's hand in his. "Great. I'm glad you understand." He said and led Percy off. Annabeth ran up to the two boys. "Why are you holding his hand? You didn't join him did you? How could you Percy!"
Percy let go of Luke's hand. "Babe let me talk to Annabeth. Maybe convert her to our side. Go on. Tell Kronos of the new developments I'll be there."
Luke reluctantly walked away. As soon as he was out of sight Percy turned to Annabeth. "I need your help. This isn't him. They've been messing with his mind again. I'm acting for as long as I can but someone will sniff me out."
Annabeth pulled Percy into a hug. "I got so scared seaweed brain! I-I thought you had betrayed us. I knew you could never!" Percy rolled his eyes. "Wise girl my fatal flaw is loyalty. I'm not going anywhere."
Percy eventually sighed. "I have a plan. The idea is a little wonky so you can say no.
We can pretend that you joined our side. Say Athena doesn't treat you well."
"That'll be easy she doesn't."
Percy laughed. "So are you in? It's totally fine if your not." He said. Annabeth punched him in the shoulder. "I'm in."
Percy smiled and led her to Luke. He was talking to an ecstatic Kronos. The titan turned to peer at the pair. "Ah, Perseus. I see you've brought a friend. Here to join our ranks, daughter of Athena?"
Annabeth nodded. "I hate my mother. She doesn't care about me or any of my siblings. All I've done for her and she's never said thank you." She said.
Kronos chuckled. "This is fantastic! Great job Castallan! I knew it was a good idea to start messing with your mind again." Luke's face scrunched. "My mind sir? Have you messed with my mind? Now that I think of it I feel a bit glossy my lord."
Kronos rolled his eyes. "Krios. Erase that on the machine."
Krios nodded and headed into the throne room. Percy cleared his throat. "Right lord, I am to go convert a few of my close friends before we rein supreme. Be my escort Annabeth?"
Annabeth nodded. "We will come back my lord."
Annabeth made a mock of holding her arm out to lead Percy out of the room. As soon as they were to far to be heard by even the best of titan Percy sighed. "I knew it. He's messing with him. Krios is working some kind of machine? How do we get in to destroy it?"
Annabeth shrugged. "We have to worry about that later. We have to let everyone else in our plans. You talk to Nico and Bianca and Zoe. I've got the resistance."
Percy nodded and they headed separate ways. Percy immediately ran into Nico Di Angelo. The son of Hades immediately turned away from the sea prince. He had forgot Nico wasn't talking to him. It would be harder than he thought to tell him.
"Nico. We've got to talk."
Nico sighed and flipped over to him. "WHAT!" He screamed. Percy grabbed the boys shoulders. "Kronos has been messing with Luke's mind. We're all pretending to be on Kronos' side to find the box and destroy it. We need your help."
"Do you remember what I said when I left the camp? I said I wouldn't help you or your boyfriend. And I still stand by that. Break his hypnosis on your own. I'll be fighting until I die for me and my sister's life ."
Percy sighed. "Nico I'm sorry but this is serious. We need your shadow traveling to get in the room to destroy the machine. Nico please."
Nico turned away from him. Percy felt tears coming down his eyes. "If Bianca was in this position you would feel helpless. You did feel helpless. That's how I feel. I can tell you now it doesn't matter how much help we get. Without your shadow traveling we will fail and Luke will die. If anyone can relate to my situation it's you Nico. I'm not asking you to forgive me or Luke. Just please don't let him die."
Nico turned and to Percy's shock there were tears running down his face. "I'll help you. But after this I'm done with you. With everyone. I'm leaving camp if I live. I will help you. But this will be the last time."
Percy nodded. He knew a bit better than to hug the Italian boy. "I'm going to go get Bianca all you have to do is act like you've switched sides. Hate your dad."
"No."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I'll talk to Bianca. She won't talk to you. And I want to tell her somethings. In case we don't survive."
Percy nodded and walked to talk to Zoe. Zoe Nightshade was as expected, with the hunters of Artemis. Artemis somewhat smiled when she saw me. "Perseus. Good to see you."
Percy nodded. "You as well lady Artemis. I have a plan to defeat Kronos from the inside. If it is okay with you I could use a few hunters.
Artemis rolled her eyes. "Please. The only good man in this world may simply just call me Artemis. Ladies. Line up and attack. Any kill of a monster or titan on the side of Kronos can be killed without permission. Do the best you can to spare and owls or deer you may see. I love all of you girls. You are not only my huntressess you are my family."
Thalia drew her boy. "Alright. We're going to split up. Twenty with me and twenty with my co lieutenant Zoe Nightshade and Percy Jackson. For any new hunters sho weren't here a few tears ago he is a boy but I expect you to treat him with respect. He saved lady Artemis from danger and any disrespect will not be tolerated. Split into the ranks we practiced."
The hunters quickly split up into two equal groups. The group on the right followed Thalia while the one on the left hoped after me and Zoe. Percy turned back to the group. "You will need to pretend like you've joined the titans side. Be real okay. They will expect you to say you hate your godly whatever. I know many of you won't want to say anything bad about Artemis so pick a god you don't like and lie and say they are your godly parent."
Kronos had smiled so huge it was sickening. "Well done Perseus. Clearly you are a wonderful ally."
Percy nodded with as much false cheer he could muster up. Kronos stopped to stare at a girl among the group. "You girl. Come here. State your name." He said. The girl, who was no older than twelve stood forward. "My name is Symphadora Wiles."
Symphadora Wiles had long red fire like hair with eyes a striking emerald. Kronos pit his hand on the girls shoulder. "And how long have you been alive?" Symphadora squirmed a bit. "Well I'm twelve by age bit I've been alive 90 years."
Kronos took a long silver blade up to her head. "Godly parent?"
"Ares. I hate him. He doesn't care about me. I want him dead."
Kronos raised the knife causing many of the girls to flinch. "Ares? You don't seem like an Ares child. If anything you seem like an Aphrodite child what with your attractive
assets. You sure your dad's Ares?"
Symphadora nodded. "I hate him but he is my dad."
Kronos nodded and let Symphadora walk back to the group. "Dismissed." He said. And all the girls left with Percy close behind. When they got far away Symphadora sighed. "That was close! How'd he know who my mother was? Do I have a tell?"
And they all headed out praying Kronos was clueless.
