𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 ― j. grace ¹ ✓

eighteen

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ELECTRIC LOVE

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
[ J A S O N ]

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WHEN JASON'S LANCE broke and Natalia was close to running out of arrows, he knew they were dead.

The battle had started well enough. Jason's instincts kicked in, and his gut told him he'd dueled opponents almost this big before. Size and strength equaled slowness, so Jason just had to be quicker — pace himself, wear out his opponent, and avoid getting smashed or flame-broiled. Not to mention, Natalia was fighting way better than him, determination in her eyes that he admired.

He rolled away from the Giant's first spear thrust and jabbed Enceladus in the ankle. Jason's javelin managed to pierce the thick dragon hide, and golden ichor — the blood of immortals — trickled down the Giant's clawed foot. Enceladus bellowed in pain and blasted him with fire. Jason scrambled away, and Natalia rolled behind the Giant, shooting an arrow right behind his knee.

It went on like that for seconds, minutes — it was hard to judge. Jason heard combat across the clearing — construction equipment grinding, fire roaring, monsters shouting, and rocks smashing into metal. He heard Leo and Piper yelling defiantly, which meant they were still alive. He also heard Natalia's yells of fighting strategies and taunts at the Giant, which meant she was doing okay. Jason tried not to think about it. He couldn't afford to get distracted.

Enceladus's spear missed him by a millimeter. Jason kept dodging, but the ground stuck to his feet. Gaea was getting stronger, and the Giant was getting faster. Enceladus might be slow, but he wasn't dumb. He began anticipating Jason and Natalia's moves, and their attacks were only annoying him, making him more enraged.

"I'm not some minor monster," Enceladus bellowed. "I am a Giant, born to destroy Gods! Your little gold toothpick can't kill me, boy. Neither can your small weapons, girl."

Jason and Natalia didn't waste energy replying. They were already tired. The ground clung to their feet, making them feel like he weighed an extra hundred pounds. The air was full of smoke that burned their lungs. Fires roared around them, stoked by the winds, and the temperature was approaching the heat of an oven.

Jason raised his javelin to block the Giant's next strike — a big mistake. Don't fight force with force, a voice chided him — the wolf Lupa, who'd told him that long ago. He managed to deflect the spear, but it grazed his shoulder, and his arm went numb.

"Jason!" Natalia screamed.

He backed up, almost tripping over a burning log.