The Half-Blood Project

37- Horror Of Blood

Annabeth Chase 

I sat in the rough stone seat, next to Luke. He still smelled like pinewood, as if the forest had stuck to his shirt, even if we had been long out of the dark. Every cell in my body told me to rip his eyes out and run, run, and bury them under his house, so he would forever be stuck to that terrible place. 

I told myself to stay put, not to aggravate him. He wanted me alive and keeping me as a warrior wasn't a reason, it was a facade, I knew what he wanted from me. I could hear his intentions without him even having to say them. 

Luke had always wanted something from me. 

"You see Annabeth, you could have been with me all along, but this." He pointed to Percy who was drawing Riptide as the metal cage door slid open. "This is what happens when you play a game you're not prepared for." 

"You disgust me." I spat. Luke just smiled and tilted my head upwards with his finger, his blue eyes gleamed a pale gold every once in a while, they weren't the blue I was accustomed to, the blue I used to so easily be able to read. 

"You're lucky I've chosen to spare you. Percy would have left you for dead, the moment he got what he wanted." 

That's not true. I had only known Percy for a few months, but I knew he was loyal and kind, hard working, and true to himself and others. He would never leave me for dead. 

Rachel was trembling beside me as a dark figure stepped out of the metal door. I took a moment to scan the little underground arena, skulls of all age and type were lined on the walls, some looked ancient, and others startlingly fresh, blood still dripping on the sides. 

"Hey." I put a hand on her arm comfortingly. "Don't worry." 

"How can you say that when I'm going to be slaughtered and you're not?" 

I thought about this for a moment. Rachel was just a mortal who could see monsters. She had no magical powers or incredible smarts. She was simply human. She was entitled to being scared. I and Percy weren't. 

"Percy is a lot smarter than he lets on. Trust me on that." 

Rachel didn't seem so sure. 

As the monster stepped out, I was struck with a horrid realization of who he was. This wouldn't end well at all. The giant had to be fifteen feet tall, easy, only wearing a loincloth that was splattered with blood and silvery dust, and the giant was built like a sumo wrestler, red and blue wave designs drawn over his skin. He was ugly, to say the least. 

I'd seen that face before, a little different, but it was in the books, the myths. Antaeus, son of Gaea and Posideon, which is a bit of a disgusting parentage. 

You could see Percy sweating already, Riptide seemed like a needle compared to Antaeus's strength and size. But Percy didn't need to match his strength, he needed to be quick on his feet. 

I stood and cupped my hands over my mouth. "Percy he's a son-" Someone tried to shove me back down. "He's a son of Gaea!" I shouted to him, he whipped his head in my direction and gave me an idiotic, confused face, of course, he was, he didn't understand. He had to know. 

"Ahh, who is this little spawn?" The giant rubbed his hands together. Luke stood and everyone turned to look at him. 

"This is Perseus Jackson, he is a worthy opponent for you and he will give you a fair fight." Luke's voice boomed in the arena and Antaeus inclined his head towards Luke. 

"We will see there Luke," Antaeus smirked coldly, "If I crush him within a minute, we shall hash this out me and you." Antaeus chuckled and turned back to Percy who was still sweating and looking more than nervous. Luke paled and sat back down, turning around to look me in the eye.