LoSP Ch.52: The Warrior’s Bane (Patreon)

PERCY POV

A bronze spear, cracking with red tendrils of electricity, burst through the chest of two Dracaena, and their spears clattered to the ground. Clarisse whirled around, parrying the club of the Cyclops that charged at her back, kicking him away, her hair falling across her back, coming undone.

“Today you taste the spear of war.” In a flash of red and bronze, the monster's head flew off his shoulders, his body crumbling to golden dust.

Silver arrows flashed past her shoulder, sinking into the throats of a pair of Telekhines. Nico charged past the daughter of Ares, atop Mrs. O’Leary, smashing through a line of archers, scattering them like grains of sand in the sea.

Thunder boomed in the sky over us, lightning bolts raining down onto Thalia’s ax which clashed against Pallas’ spear in a shower of orange and blue sparks. Medusa’s hair cracked with electricity as it hammered into Pallas' side, sending him stumbling. 

My eyes drank into the battlefield as I whirled through a group of monsters, feeling the air around me swirl with the arcs of my trident that tore through them. The hulking giant in front of me burst into a cloud of golden dust, and my eyes latched onto the Drakon that was slithering across the battlefield, trampling any monster that came in its path. 

I strode through the cloud of dust, my trident piercing through the neck of a hellhound, golden dust scattering over my boots. The monster roared in challenge, flames welling up in its throat, smoke curling from its nostrils. 

I called upon the hearth, tugging at the inferno that enveloped my body, willing them into a storm. 

Blades of fire spun, reducing monsters to ashes. The crackle of fire howled in my ears, orange embers trailing behind Thyella Kavalris as it slashed through the monster’s scales, leaving three deep lines of ichor that splattered onto the ground.

The Drakon roared, its tail crashing into the tide of monsters, breaking them apart like a wave against a rock. Monsters exploded into golden dust, their dying howls drowning under the roar of thunder above.

Thalia’s ax rang against Pallas’s spear, tendrils of electricity flickering over her body which sparked against his armor, leaving pockmarks. 

Behind them, ribbons of golden and purple magic twisted, circling the demigod whom Pallas had been training, whipping at Annabeth. The daughter of Athena rolled away, the ribbons tearing thin gouges into the ground where she had stood.

“NICO!” I swung my trident, its glowing prongs striking the side of the Drakon, sending it skidding several feet away. “Help Annabeth!”

Nico wrenched his sword out of a giant’s thigh, and Mrs. O’Leary bounded toward Annabeth, who was trying to close the distance between herself and the demigod. Bolts of magic burst across her silver shield in a shower of multi-colored sparks, the grass at her feet smoking as she sprung forward, her spear bouncing against a wall of white magic.

I felt the hairs on my neck rise as the Drakon lunged, its ivory teeth arcing through the air, aiming for me. I dissolved into sea mist, and the Drakon’s teeth sank into the ground where I had been, the soil bubbling and smoking.

I appeared over the monster’s body, its red scales glinting under my feet. Green flames licked the prongs of the Thyella Kavalris as I took a deep breath and plunged it into the Drakon’s body, feeling a tug in my gut.

‘Burn.’ 

The monster roared in agony, its body buckling under me wildly. I hung onto the shaft of my trident, digging my feet into the Drakon’s scales.

‘That should’ve killed it!’

#It is an Ancient Drakon, Percy. They have roamed the earth since before the time of Titans,# Alexander said. #Why do you think I said that the Drakon was as dangerous as Pallas?# 

“Well then,” I muttered. “Time to turn it to ash.”

A painful knot twisted in my gut, the trident in my hand thrumming and warming. Beneath me, the Drakon roared and twisted, its body moving under me like huge waves. The knot in my gut tightened, and emerald sparks flew out from beneath the shaft of my trident.

I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye and turned my head, watching as a lightning bolt dropped down onto Thalia’s ax in a blinding flash of white. A thunderous boom shook the clearing, leaving my ears ringing. 

I blinked the spots out of my eyes, my grasp on my trident tightening as the Drakon tried to shake me off.

#You might want to leap off,# Alexander suggested. #One last push and get out of there.#

‘To Pallas now.’ I pushed the fire within the Drakon outward and disappeared in a sea breeze, reappearing next to where I had last seen Thalia.

Across the field, the Drakon erupted in a whirlwind of golden dust, enveloped by hues of green and orange flames that rose in the air. A strong gust of wind buffeted through the forest, tearing the Titan army’s tents apart, and sending monsters stumbling.

“TASTE THE SPEAR OF WAR, YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” Clarisse’s proclamation rang over the dying screeches of monsters and the crack of thunder. “YOU DIE TO THE DAUGHTER OF WAR!”

‘What the hell?’ 

My head whipped around to witness Clarisse charge past Thalia, and slam into Pallas, sending the Titan stumbling. Her spear arced in a blur of red, sinking into Pallas’ arm, drawing a line of gold that spilled onto the ground. The red glow crept onto her arms, spreading over her body as she spun, her foot lashing out to kick the Titan in the chest, sending him sprawling.

#The power of war,# Alexander breathed. #Only a few children of Ares have ever gotten it, and that too as a blessing. And she… she is using it.#

Pallas rolled away, Clarisse’s spear piercing through the ground where his head had been. The Titan leaped to his feet and slashed the spear, only for its tip to bounce off Clarisse’s bare skin.

“Percy,” Grover yelled, and I wrenched my eyes away from the Titan. 

Grover stood next to Bianca, who held a slim bow in her hand, shooting monsters as they neared, slowly backing away. Grover swung a long stick, knocking a sword away, his eyes wide. In a breeze, I appeared in front of him, parrying a strike from the sword of a Telekhine, my trident piercing through its neck.

“Get behind me.” Thyella Kavaris shimmered into its sword form, the blade cutting through a hellhound’s neck. “Now.”

The sword glowed, and a wave of water swept the nearest monsters aside, crushing them to golden dust. A Telekhine bounded forward, only for a silver arrow to pierce its eye. 

“Grover, why aren’t you playing your reed pipes?” I asked, the water swirling into a shield, pushing back the cyclopes that neared. “You haven’t used that stick ever.”

“There’s some magic that sucks in the music.” Grover stabbed the stick into the ground as the wall of water turned icy, the icicles shooting forward, piercing through the skin of monsters. “I can’t play. I didn’t want to stay helpless.”

“You shouldn’t have risked it,” I ground out, the water slamming into a giant, sending him stumbling. “You could’ve died!”

“Why do you think I was with Bianca?” 

I twisted my sword, the water flooding through the giant’s mouth, tearing it apart. The giant dissolved into golden dust, scattering into the wind. The other monsters stopped short, changing their direction toward the woods, and fleeing.

“Cowards.” I stomped my foot and a tremor shot across the forest, sending the monsters into a stampede. “Bianca, blast them.”

Bianca shot an arrow that sank in between the pile of monsters, exploding in a blast of silver flames. I strode forward and the remaining monsters scrambled, disappearing among the trees as fast as they could.

Across the clearing, Annabeth and Nico stood over the demigod while Mrs. O’Leary trotted around them, keeping a watchful eye. On the other side, Thalia supported Clarisse, her armor splattered with golden and red blood, as she limped toward them.

“She won,” Grover breathed. “Clarisse killed Pallas.”

“The children of war become the warrior’s bane,” Bianca said, a little frown marring her face. “Children, not child. The prophecy wasn’t fulfilled.”

“They’re tricky things.” I strode toward Annabeth and Nico, where they were holding the demigod at sword-point. “And Annabeth defeated his apprentice if I am to guess. And fought his army, ensuring he had no help. Warrior’s bane.” 

“Who cares? A Titan is dead, and his army reduced to dust or scattered.” Grover clapped his hands. “That’s good news, right?”

“It is,” I declared, slipping around Nico to look at the demigod. 

A pair of dark eyes glared murderously, his fingers twitching closer to the rock on the ground below.

I stepped on his foot and the demigod grunted, tugging his hand out from under my foot and clutching it, his face contorted in pain.

“Sorry, couldn’t let you attack us and do a runner, can I?” I said. “Now, who are you?”

“Why do you care?” He spat. “The great Percy Jackson. Mighty son of Poseidon. You’d step on all of us without giving a shit.”

“You’re fighting against my family. I have little mercy for my enemies, demigod or not. If you’ve made a choice, have the guts to live with it.”

“Oh, I will,” he snorted. “I fight for the gods and their children who were forgotten. Those who were drowned under the shadows of the likes of you and your father. The ones who weren’t entitled little shits like your friend here, always kicking the weak when we were down.”

Clarisse raised an eyebrow and limped forward, her spear digging into the ground as she leaned on it. “You’re the Torrington punk.”

“That’s right,” he sneered. “Alabaster Torrington. Son of Hecate.”

“A traitor like your mother then,” I rose.

“If that’s what you call fighting for what’s right, then I am a traitor.” Alabaster fists balled. “You’ll never understand us, Jackson. Neither will your friends. How could you? You all are the children of Olympians. Their golden children. You never lived in the shadows, like the children of minor gods. People bowed when you were claimed. We? We weren’t even given a second glance and shoved into a cabin, not even our own, while half the cabins lay empty with the names of gods who don’t even have children!”

Thunder rumbled in the sky, and I glanced at Thalia, who shook her head.

“Enough talk. Let’s get to Olympus, where you’ll stand trial for your crimes,” I declared. 

“I have committed none,” Alabaster growled. “I just fought for my mother and those like me.”

“No, you joined the Titans, boy,” Thalia said. “You don’t fight under the banner of Hecate or the minor gods. You fight under the banner of the Titan lord.”

“They would reward their allies. They would—”

“Cast you away the moment they win.” I rolled my eyes. “All you did was join this war, Alabaster. You think you’re fighting for something. That you’re fighting for justice. But you’re not.”

“Neither are you,” Alabaster snapped. “The Olympians want nothing but pawns willing to play their games and fight their fights while they sit atop their mountain, on golden thrones. Look around you, Jackson. What are you even fighting for?”

“My family,” I replied. “Now, you can either come peacefully with us or I can knock you out and drag you to Olympus, where you can spill your guts out and tell us everything. Your choice.”

Alabaster rose to his feet, his eyes burning with hatred. Nico’s sword rose with him, his eyes fixed on the son of Hecate like a hawk.

“Come on, nowhere to run now, punk,” Clarisse said, wincing as she moved her shoulder. 

“Bianca, Grover, help Clarisse,” I said. “Thalia, get the other car while we take him to Olympus.”

“You won’t be taking me anywhere.” Alabaster’s eyes trailed down Nico’s sword. “Remember, even if you win, Jackson, you will not be the hero. You will just be a soldier who fought for the gods. The gods who will forget you sooner or later.”

Alabaster lunged, straight for Nico’s sword, the dark blade piercing through his chest in a shower of blood. The son of Hecate crumpled to the ground, a triumphant look in his eyes, his lips curving into a smile.

“For…” Words died at the tip of Alabaster’s tongue, the light leaving his eyes.

“I—” Nico backed away, staring at the red in his hands, Alabaster’s blood dripping down his pale skin. 

Mrs. O’Leary whined, inching closer to Nico, whose eyes grew horrified, his mouth moving soundlessly. 

‘Give me strength, Hestia.’ I willed the warmth of the hearth to wash over him, putting an arm around his shoulder. 

“It is not your fault, Nico. He made the choice,” I said. “If anything, I should’ve knocked him out instead of offering him to come peacefully.”

“And it was fated, brother,” Bianca added. “To death’s hand, a traitor be slain.”

“Let’s go.” I directed a stream of water, washing the blood away from Nico's hands. “Annabeth, Grover, tend to Clarisse’s shoulder while Thalia and I get the cars. Bianca, stand guard and see that no monsters return. Thalia and I will see if we can find any stragglers on our way. We will return to the camp for tonight.”

“And then?”

“Then we find our next Titan and see this through.”

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Cheers and howls rose as spears clanged against shields, the bronze glinting in the moon’s light, the flames of the hearth gaining a red tinge. 

“CLARISSE! CLARISSE! CLARISSE!” Chants rose in the night sky as the Ares cabin marched across the pavilion, Clarisse perched on their shoulders.

I leaned back against the wall of my cabin, smiling faintly as the Ares cabin celebrated, their chants echoing through the camp.

“She joined your ranks too.” Chiron pulled up his wheelchair next to me, his brown eyes glowing with pride. “The third of our numbers to kill a Titan. Her father would be proud.”

“Oh, you didn’t hear? Clarisse got his hoplon,” I said. “She found it next to her bunk, with a little note in blood saying, ‘well done’.”

“She is the first child who is not born of the big three to slay a Titan even if it was with Thalia’s help.” Chiron smiled. “And it was no small victory. She won against one of the greatest warriors in the Titan Lord’s army with barely a scratch. It is a great achievement, one meant to be sung in the halls of heroes for eternity.”

“That it is,” I agreed. “But it was a close call today.”

Chiron’s forehead creased. “We’ve had close calls before. Plenty of them, in fact. But you’re upset about something.”

“Clarisse wanted to kill the titan as per the prophecy.” I pursed my lips. “I told her that Thalia should handle Pallas while she should take care of the monsters with Bianca, Nico, and Grover. She didn’t listen to me. Grover and Bianca were nearly eaten by monsters because Clarisse was too busy fighting Pallas instead of following what she was asked to do.” 

“Did you talk with her?”

“I didn’t say anything to her or anyone, but that is what happened.” I slumped against the wall of my cabin. “She should’ve listened to me instead of letting Bianca and Grover fend for themselves.”

Chiron hummed, tapping his fingers on the wheelchair’s armrests.

"As someone who has seen this happen countless times before, I advise that you focus on the outcome and not what things might have happened.” The centaur shrugged. “Bianca and Grover are uninjured, and Clarisse slayed the Titan. The enemy was defeated. That is all that matters.”

“It is my responsibility to keep them safe, Chiron. How can I do it—”

“If your own team doesn’t listen to you?” He smiled faintly. “You trust them to look after themselves. You trust yourself to get to them in time if you can’t. They’ll surprise you in more ways than one. Now, go and celebrate with them. If you want, you can talk to Clarisse in a few days.”

“I don’t think I can wait a few days.” I retrieved a piece of neatly folded paper. “I have a map to our next target. An old enemy whom I have met before has surfaced again.”

“And that is?”

“The Titaness of Splendor.” My lips curved into a smile. “Last time she escaped because Oceanus saved her ass. This time, I will make sure that she doesn’t.”

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, a line of the prophecy has come to pass. Fun, isn’t it? But this is just the beginning. Pallas was the first of many. Next, our heroes face Theia, and after that… well, why don’t you guess?

Yes, the chapters are going to be a little shorter than usual for usual but with a lot of stuff happening which would balance it out. I will try to maintain the 3-5k length though if I can. The next chapter will be longer than this though.

A huge thanks to Nanu, Zaby, Shadowcheck, and Mughil for betaing this chapter! 

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