The Lost Hero

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

We get Piper's dad

THE PLAN WENT WRONG ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. Piper scrambled along the ridge, trying to keep her head down, while Vivian, Leo, Jason, and Coach Hedge walked straight into the clearing.

Vivian summoned her sword. Jason summoned his golden lance. Jason brandished it over his head and yelled, "Giant!" Which sounded pretty good, and a lot more confident than Vivian could've managed. She was thinking more along the lines of, "We are pathetic humans! Don't kill us!"

. Enceladus stopped chanting at the flames. He turned toward them and grinned, revealing fangs like a saber-toothed tiger.

"Well," the giant rumbled. "What a nice surprise."

Vivian didn't like the sound of that.

What is Leo doing? Vivian thought. Leo's hand was closed. He stepped sideways, edging his way toward the bulldozer.

Coach Hedge shouted, "Let the movie star go, you big ugly cupcake! Or I'm gonna plant my hoof right up your—"

"Coach," Jason said. "Shut up."

Enceladus roared with laughter. "I've forgotten how funny satyrs are. When we rule the world, I think I'll keep your kind around. You can entertain me while I eat all the other mortals."

"Is that a compliment?" Hedge frowned at Vivian. "I don't think that was a compliment."

Enceladus opened his mouth wide, and his teeth began to glow.

"RUN!" Vivian yelled.

Jason and Hedge dove to the left as the giant blew fire—a furnace blast so hot even Festus would've been jealous. Leo and Vivian dodged behind the bulldozer. Leo wound up his homemade device, and dropped it into the driver's seat. Then they ran to the right, heading for the tree harvester.

Leo whispered the plan as they ran. An insane plan. She should know. She was full of them.

"Valdez. You are crazy." Vivian muttered.

Out of the corner of Vivian's eye, she saw Jason rise and charge the giant. Coach Hedge ripped off his canary yellow jacket, which was now on fire, and bleated angrily. "I liked that outfit!" Then he raised his club and charged, too.

Before they could get very far, Enceladus slammed his spear against the ground. The entire mountain shook.

The shockwave sent Leo sprawling. Vivian had to anchor down with her sword. Through a haze of grassfire and bitter smoke, Vivian saw Jason staggering to his feet on the other side of the clearing. Coach Hedge was knocked out cold. He'd fallen forward and hit his head on a log. His furry hindquarters were sticking straight up, with his canary yellow pants around his knees—a view Vivian really didn't need.

The giant bellowed, "I see you, Piper McLean!" He turned and blew fire at a line of bushes to Vivian's right. Piper ran into the clearing like a flushed quail, the underbrush burning behind her.

Enceladus laughed. "I'm happy you've arrived. And you brought me my prizes!"

Vivian's gut twisted. This was the moment Piper had warned them about. They'd played right into Enceladus's hands. No wonder he was the counterpart of Athena.

The giant must've read Vivian's expression, because he laughed even louder. "That's right, son of Hephaestus and daughter of Poseidon. I didn't expect you all to stay alive this long, but it doesn't matter. By bringing you here, Piper McLean has sealed the deal. If she betrays you, I'm as good as my word. She can take her father and go. What do I care about a movie star?"