Indigo Eyes

Chapter 59

"This is just pairrr-fect," the manticore gloated. "Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia. I was forced to scrounge for food on the edges of the world, hiding in forests, devouring insignificant human farmers for my meals. I never got to fight any great heroes. I was not feared and admired in the old stories! But now that will change. The Titans shall honour me, and I shall feast on the flesh of half-bloods!"

On either side of him stood two armed security guys, some of the mortal mercenaries Percy had spotted in D.C. Two more stood on the next boat dock over, just in case they tried to escape that way.

"Where... where are the skeletons?" Percy asked the manticore as Cressida drew her spear.

He sneered. "I do not need those foolish undead! The General thinks I am worthless? He will change his mind when I defeat you myself!"

"We beat you once before!" Percy said, clearly trying to buy time to come up with a plan where no one else died.

"Ha! You could barely fight me with a goddess on your side. And, alas... that goddess is preoccupied at the moment. There will be no help for you now."

Zoë notched an arrow and aimed it straight at the manticore's head. The guards on either side of them raised their guns.

"Wait!' Percy exclaimed.

"Zoë, don't!" Cressida added, lowering her own weapon.

The manticore smiled. "They are right, Zoë Nightshade. Put away your bow. It would be a shame to kill you before you witnessed Thalia's great victory." 

"What are you talking about?" Thalia growled. She had her shield and spear ready. 

"Surely it is clear," the manticore said. "This is your moment. This is why Lord Kronos brought you back to life. You will sacrifice the Ophiotaurus. You will bring its entrails to the sacred fire on the mountain. You will gain unlimited power. And for your sixteenth birthday, you will overthrow Olympus."

No one spoke. No one had the ability to string words together at the horrid logic. Thalia was only two days away from turning sixteen. She was a child of the Big Three. And here was a choice, a terrible choice that could mean the end of the gods. It was just like the prophecy said.

Cressida spared a glance at Percy, but it was impossible to decipher the emotion on his face at the revelation that he was no longer the child of the prophecy because doomsday was happening right now.

And Thalia was in no better state with the completely stunned expression on her face.

"You know it is the right choice," the manticore told her. "Your friend Luke recognized it. You shall be reunited with him. You shall rule this world together under the auspices of the Titans. Your father abandoned you, Thalia. He cares nothing for you. And now you shall gain power over him. Crush the Olympians underfoot, as they deserve. Call the beast! It will come to you. Use your spear."

"Thalia! Snap out of it!" Percy yelled but she still seemed dazed, almost as if she didn't know who she was or what was happening.

"I... I don't -"

"Trees," Cressida interjected. "Listen to me. Your father helped you. He sent the metal angels and turned you into a tree to preserve you. Zeus has never abandoned you."

Thalia's hand tightened on the spear, almost as if she was angry as she stared at Cressida. Actually, it was more like she was bitter. And Percy knew that look. He'd seen it before. It was on Luke's face the night of his first dinner at camp when he'd watched Cressida and her siblings sit with their father and joke around while everyone else had to stand to burn offerings to their parents who were never there.