gwen welcomed back

Thats the one. But this Phorcys Jason said. Is he a giant A Titan Bacchus laughed. Neither. Seek out the salt water. Salt water Percy said. In Atlanta Yes Bacchus said. Are you hard of hearing If anyone can give you insight on Gaea and the ts its Phorcys. Just watch out for him. What do you mean Jason asked. The god glanced at the sun which had climbed almost to high noon. Its unlike Ceres to be late unless she sensed something dangerous in this area. Or The gods face suddenly went slack. Or a trap. Well I must be going And if I were you Id do the same Lord Bacchus wait Jason protested. The god shimmered and disappeared with a sound like a sodacan top being popped. The d rustled through the sunflowers. The horses paced in agitation. Despite the dry hot day Piper shivered. A cold feelingAnnabeth and Leo had both described a cold feeling. Bacchus is right she said. We need to leave Too late said a sleepy voice humming through the fields all around them and resonating in the ground at Pipers feet.

Percy and Jason drew their swords. Piper stood on the road between them frozen with fear. The power of Gaea was suddenly everywhere. The sunflowers turned to look at them. The wheat bent toward them like a million scythes. Welcome to my party Gaea murmured. Her voice reminded Piper of corn groga crackling hissing hot and persistent noise she used to hear at Grandpa Toms on those quiet nights in Oklahoma. What did Bacchus say the goddess mocked. A simple lowkey affair with organic snacks Yes. For my snacks I need only two: the blood of a female demigod and the blood of a male. Piper my dear choose which hero will die with you. Gaea Jason yelled. Stop hiding in the wheat. Show yourself Such bravado Gaea hissed. But the other one Percy Jackson also has appeal. Choose Piper McLean or I will. Pipers heart raced. Gaea meant to kill her. That was no surprise. But what was this about choosing one of the boys Why would Gaea let either of them go It had to be a trap. Youre insane she shouted. Im not choosing anything for you Suddenly Jason gasped. He sat up straight in his saddle. Jason Piper cried.

Whats wrong He looked down at her his expression deadly calm. His eyes were no longer blue. They glowed solid gold. Percy help Piper stumbled back from Tempest. But Percy galloped away from them. He stopped thirty feet down the road and wheeled his pegasus around. He raised his sword and pointed the tip toward Jason. One will die Percy said but the voice wasnt his. It was deep and hollow like someone whispering from inside the barrel of a cannon. I will choose Jason answered in the same hollow voice. No Piper yelled. All around her the fields crackled and hissed laughing in Gaeas voice as Percy and Jason charged at each other their weapons ready. If not for the horses Piper wouldve died. Jason and Percy charged each other but Tempest and Blackjack balked long enough for Piper to leap out of the way. She rolled to the edge of the road and looked back dazed and horrified as the boys crossed swords gold against bronze. Sparks flew. Their blades blurredstrike and parryand the pavement trembled.

The first exchange took only a second but Piper couldnt believe the speed of their sword fighting. The horses pulled away from each otherTempest thundering in protest Blackjack flapping his gs. Stop it Piper yelled. For a moment Jason heeded her voice. His golden eyes turned toward her and Percy charged slamming his blade into Jason. Thank the gods Percy turned his swordmaybe on purpose maybe accidentallyso the flat of it hit Jasons chest; but the impact was still enough to knock Jason off his mount. Blackjack cantered away as Tempest reared in confusion. The spirit horse charged into the sunflowers and dissipated into vapor. Percy struggled to turn his pegasus around. Percy Piper yelled. Jasons your friend. Drop your weapon Percys sword arm dipped. Piper might have been able to bring him under control but unfortunately Jason got to his feet. Jason roared. A bolt of lightning arced out of the clear blue sky. It ricocheted off his gladius and blasted Percy off his horse. Blackjack whinnied and fled into the wheat fields.

Jason charged at Percy who was now on his back his clothes smoking from the lightning blast. For a horrible moment Piper couldnt find her voice. Gaea seemed to be whispering to her: You must choose one. Why not let Jason kill him No she screamed. Jason stop He froze his sword six inches from Percys face. Jason turned the gold light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. I cannot stop. One must die. Something about that voiceit wasnt Gaea. It wasnt Jason. Whoever it was spoke haltingly as if English was its second language. Who are you Piper demanded. Jasons mouth twisted in a gruesome smile. We are the eidolons. We will live again. Eidolons Pipers mind raced. Shed studied all sorts of monsters at Camp HalfBlood but that term wasnt familiar. Youreyoure some sort of ghost He must die. Jason turned his attention back to Percy but Percy had recovered more than either of them realized. He swept out his leg and knocked Jason off his feet. Jasons head hit the asphalt with a nauseating conk. Percy rose. Stop it Piper screamed again but there was no charmspeak in her voice. She was shouting in sheer desperation. Percy raised Riptide over Jasons chest. Panic closed up Pipers throat. She wanted to attack Percy with her dagger but she knew that wouldnt help. Whatever was controlling him had all of Percys skill.

Blake Shelton