σɾɳιƚԋαʂ (ρʝσ x ɱαʅҽ σƈ)

I Shoulder Press a Few Million Pounds

Theo's POV

There he is. The prick who killed Alexios. He kidnapped David. He wants to kill me. And Orion did all of that...Just to hurt Artemis.

As for Zoe...I could see the resemblance between her and Atlas: Atlas had the same regal expression as Zoe, the same cold proud look in his eyes that Zoe sometimes got when she was mad, though on him it looked a thousand times more evil.

Zoe: Let Artemis go.

Atlas: Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest.

Zoe opened her mouth to speak, but...

Artemis: NO! Do not offer, Zoe! I forbid you!

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.

Atlas: Hoo-hoo. You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility.

I looked at Annabeth. She was desperately trying to tell me something. She motioned her head toward Luke. But all I could do was stare at her. Her blond hair was now streaked with gray.

Thalia: From holding the sky. The weight should've killed her.

Percy: I don't understand. Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?

Atlas: (laughs) How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape. (smiles) Unless someone else takes it from you.

He approached us, studying Thalia, Percy, and me.

Atlas: So, these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge.

Theo: Fight us, and you'll see.

Atlas: Have the gods taught you nothing, son of Artemis? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Orion crush you instead.

Theo: In other words, you're a coward.

Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred. With difficulty, he turned his attention to Thalia.

Atlas: As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you.

Luke: I wasn't wrong.

He looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. If I didn't hate his guts so much, I almost would've felt sorry for him.

Luke: Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!

He waved his hand, and next to us a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus.

Luke: Thalia, call the Ophiotaurus, and you will be more powerful than the gods.

Thalia: Luke...What happened to you?

Luke: Don't you remember all those times we talked? All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!

I clenched my fist.

Thalia: (shakes her head) Free Annabeth and David. Let them go.

Luke: If you join me, it can be like old times. The three of us together. Fighting for a better world. Please, Thalia, if you don't agree...