Chapter 55

Closing my eyes I focused on mana to thin it out and leave a trail. Grover should be able to sense it.

"What are you doing, Jackson?" hissed Dr. Thorn. "Keep moving!"

I opened my eyes but stayed silent as Thorn herded us outside, he inarched us into the woods. We took a snowy path dimly lit by old-fashioned lamplights. My shoulder finally healed itself, not wanting Thorn to know my shoulder was healing, I had to slow it down quite a bit. 

"There is a clearing ahead," Thorn said. "We will summon your ride."

"What ride?" Bianca demanded. "Where are you taking us?"

"Silence, you insufferable girl!"

"Don't talk to my sister that way.'" Nico said. His voice quivered, but I was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all.

Dr. Thorn made a growling sound that definitely wasn't human. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, but I forced myself to keep walking and pretend I was being a good little captive. 

"Halt," Thorn said.

The woods had opened up. We'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea. At least, I sensed the sea was down there, hundreds of feet below. I could hear the waves churning and I could smell the cold salty froth. But all I could see was mist and darkness.

Dr. Thorn pushed us toward the edge. I stumbled, and Bianca caught me.

"Thanks," I murmured.

"What is he?" she whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"He is a Manticore, don't worry I can take care of him." I whispered back. "I just didn't want to destroy the school"

"A manticore?" Nico gasped. He was fiddling with something—a little metal toy soldier of some kind. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

"Stop talking!" Dr. Thorn said. "Face me!"

We turned.

Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. At first I thought it was a switchblade, but it was only a phone. He pressed the side button and said, "The package—it is ready to deliver."

There was a garbled reply, and I realized Thorn was in walkie-talkie mode. This seemed way too modern and creepy—a monster using a mobile phone.

I glanced behind me, wondering how far the drop was.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself."

"What did he call you?" Bianca muttered.

"I will explain it to you later," I said. "I am surprised you didn't reconize me though."

"Wait are you that boy we say in that hotel?"

"Ding, ding. we have a winner."

"I would kill you before you ever reached the water," Dr. Thorn said, as if reading my thoughts. "You do not realize who I am, do you?"

A flicker of movement behind him, and another missile whistled so close to me that it nicked my ear. Something had sprung up behind Dr. Thorn—like a catapult, but more flexible… almost like a tail.

"Unfortunately," Thorn said, "you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise you would already be dead."

"Who wants us?" Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I…" Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other."

"Aww," Dr. Thorn said. "Do not worry, little brats. You will be meeting my employer soon enough. Then you will have a brand-new family."

"Sadly they already are part of a family." I replied. "And to be honest I am getting quite tired of this."

"You move and I-" Dr. Thorn didn't finnish as suddenly his tail was cut completly off. He screamed as he turned to see the Minotaur, Asterion holding a giant axe and his severed tail. 

"You see, I was wanted to get into a more open space. I could have killed you anytime I wanted." I replied laughing. "you should have taken my advice and ran back to Tartarus cause now you will die and serve the rest of your life as my pet."

Fear flashed through Thorns eyes, before he looked glad as a Helecopter soon arrived. "It's to late boy because I-"

I drew Morningstar and cut off his head as he burst into golden dust.

<You have defeated the Manticore: Dr. Thorn>

>Manticore added to your Shadow>

<Skill: "Stinger Protrusion" accquired>

<Skill: "Acid-Fire Manipulation" accquired>

<Skill: "Throwing Knife Proficiency" accquired>

Looking back at the helecopter I manipulated the sea below to rise up as a huge hand to crush the machine. 

"Alright now that is done!" I exclaimed, though my eyes widened as I sensed danger as I dodged out the way just as sword swung at where I was standing.

"Wow I am surprised that you managed to dodge." A woman spoke as she walked out of the trees, as the man who had swung at me sheathed his sword. "I am Kassandra and this is my this is my brother Alexios."

"We are the children of Atlas." Alexios responded. "And he tasked us to make sure that Thorn succeded in hs mission, but it seems we ran into a little problem.

"Children of Atlas?" I asked. "I think I saved your sister-"

"We killed her when she returned home, she brought dishonor to our father and wasn't fit to live."

My eyes narrows as I tightnened my grip on Morningstar. As Alexios redrew his sword as his sister drew a spear.

"Those weapons, they are not normal metals that we demigods use." I commented. "They reak of divine energy, that spear-"

"The Spear of Leonidas and the sword is called the, sword of Damokles." Kassandra responded. "I will grant you this knowlede and say that these weapons are some of the remaining divine weapons."

"Uh huh right." I reply. As Alexios lunged at me with his sword, the gleaming blade flashing in the moonlight. I deftly dodged his strikes, countering with a barrage of lightning bolts crackling from my fingertips. But he was quick, parrying my attacks with a skill that belied his mortal form.

Meanwhile, Kassandra danced around us, her movements fluid and graceful as she launched herself into the fray. With a swift flick of her wrist, she hurled the Spear of Leonidas towards me, its deadly tip shimmering with divine power. I summoned a wall of water to intercept the attack, but she was relentless, closing in with blinding speed.

As the battle raged on, I tapped into the depths of my powers, calling forth shadows to act as a shield. When I had the perfect opening I shadow traveled behind Kassandra, catching her off guard as I swung my blade to slice her head. She defleated Morningstar with her spear as I jumped back as she went to stab me.

But Alexios was not to be outdone, his sword whirling through the air with deadly precision. I felt the sting of its blade as it grazed my skin, drawing blood that sizzled against the ground. With a roar of defiance, I channeled my divine strength, unleashing a torrent of fireballs that engulfed him in flames.

Yet even then they shrugged off every one of my attacks. They were strong, and I had to admit maybe as strong or stronger than me."

Suddenly I saw Bianica and Nico be dragged off by someone invisable, Annabeth. This gave Thalia and Grover a chance to advance from behind—Thalia wielding her magic shield, Aegis.

If you've never seen Thalia run into battle, you have never been truly frightened. She uses a huge spear that expands from this collapsible Mace canister she carries in her pocket, but that's not the scary part. Her shield is modeled after one her dad Zeus uses—also called Aegis—a gift from Athena. The shield has the head of the gorgon Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it won't turn you to stone, it's so horrible, most people will panic and run at the sight of it.

Even the two children of Atlas flinched and stepped back when they saw it.

Thalia moved in with her spear. "For Zeus!"

I was about to warn her but, Thalia's spear clashed against Alexios's sword with a resounding clang, the sound of metal against metal echoing through the air. Grover's plants entwined around Kassandra's legs, immobilizing her long enough for me to unleash a torrent of fireballs that engulfed her in flames.

But our adversaries were not so easily defeated. Alexios fought matching Thalias speed, his sword flashing in the moonlight as he launched a relentless assault. Thalia defended herself with the shield Aegis, its golden surface deflecting blow after blow.

Meanwhile, Kassandra struggled against the vines that ensnared her, her spear flashing as she fought to break free. But Grover's music held her fast, the plants tightening their grip with each passing moment.

With a primal roar, I unleashed a wave of lightning that crackled through the air, striking our enemies with a force that sent them reeling. Thalia pressed her advantage, driving her spear deep into Alexios's side with a ferocity that left him gasping for breath. And with one final flourish of his pipes, Grover commanded the plants to entwine around Kassandra, binding her in a prison of greenery.

"Who in Hades, are those two!" Thalia yelled.

"Children of Atlas!" I explained. "Be careful, they are really strong, probably way stronger than us."

"Who are you people?" Bianca di Angelo demanded.

Kassandra finally sliced through Grovers vines with her spear as she glared at us. We stood ready as we watched her grab her brother and through him over the cliff. "Stupid idiot never lasts so long in a fight."

We were about to start the fight all over again when I heard a clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.

The daughter of Atlas froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind.

"No," Kassandra said. "It cannot be—"

His sentence was cut short when something shot past me like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from her shoulder.

She staggered backward, wailing in agony.

"Curse you!" Kassandra cried. As she pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. Her breathing was heavy. 

Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about fourteen, like me. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on Kassandra with determined expressions.