Chapter 1
Percy’s POV
Kronos loomed over Annabeth, his sword raised. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked, “Family, Luke. You promised.” I took a painful step forward. Grover was back on his feet, over by the throne of Hera, but he seemed to be struggling to move as well, he fainted. Before I could get anywhere close to Annabeth, Kronos staggered. He stared at the knife in Annabeth’s hand, the blood on her face. “Promise.” Then he gasped like he couldn’t get air. “Annabeth . . .” But it wasn’t the Titan’s voice. It was Luke’s. He stumbled forward like he couldn’t control his own body. “You’re bleeding. . . .” “My knife.” Annabeth tried to raise her dagger, but it clattered out of her hand. Her arm was bent at a funny angle. She looked at me, imploring, “Percy, please . . .” I could move again. I surged forward and scooped up her knife. I knocked Backbiter out of Luke’s hand, and it spun into the hearth. Luke hardly paid me any attention. He stepped toward Annabeth, but I put myself between him and her. “Don’t touch her,” I said. Anger rippled across his face. Kronos’s voice growled: “Jackson . . .” Was it my imagination, or was his whole body glowing, turning gold? He gasped again. Luke’s voice: “He’s changing. Help. He’s . . . he’s almost ready. He won’t need my body anymore. Please-”
“NO!” Kronos bellowed. He looked around for his sword, but it was in the hearth, glowing among the coals. He stumbled toward it. I tried to stop him, but he pushed me out of the way with such force I landed next to Annabeth and cracked my head on the base of Athena’s throne. “The knife, Percy,” Annabeth muttered. Her breath was shallow. “Hero . . . cursed blade . . .” When my vision came back into focus, I saw Kronos grasping his sword. He snarled,“Luke, if you fight me I will change quicker.”
Luke gasped again,“Get...out!” He stuttered. I could tell he was fighting hard to gain control. The fight was draining both of them. Suddenly, I had a thought. What if I was somehow able to link the water in our souls. I knew that he had a control over sky, sea and earth so his soul must be made of those elements and time. Being the son of Posiedon meant that I was made almost 100% out of water. I grinned at him,“Ok, old man. You just made the wrong decision.” I chuckled and began to link our souls.
