ｔｈｅ ｌａｓｔ ｏｌｙｍｐｉａｎ

LUCIA WOKE UP WITH A GASP.  She stared at the pure white ceiling of the cella with deliberation. After a few seconds, she forced herself up from the ground and winced. She rubbed the back of her head, her back aching from laying on the hard marble.

She looked around to find an empty temple. Olympus was silent. Way too silent.

When she exited the temple she found that there was still no movement besides her siblings and the nature spirits tending to the wounded. She made sure to avoid them and the parks. She instead made a B-line to the elevators.

For the first time, In a long time, Lucia had a clear mind. And she knew exactly what her choice was...

☼

BY THE TIME SHE GOT TO THE STREET, Camp Half-Blood was doing terribly.

Campers and Hunters lay wounded on the ground. Clarisse must've lost a fight with a Hyperborean giant, because she and her chariot were frozen in a block of ice. The centaurs were nowhere to be seen. Either they'd panicked and ran or they'd been disintegrated.

The Titan army ringed the building, standing maybe twenty feet from the doors. Kronos's vanguard was in the lead: Ethan, the dracaena queen in her green armor, and two Hyperboreans.

Kronos himself stood right in front with his scythe in hand and the only thing stopping him from making it to Olympus was Chiron. Chiron's quiver was several feet away, Instead, he fought with a sword in hand. Lucia knew he hated fighting with a sword. It was never his favorite weapon.

Lucia looked to the side. Annabeth, Thalia, Grover, and Percy were all frozen in time.

"Chiron!," Annabeth cried, her voice trembling.

Kronos chuckled. He advanced a step, and Chiron's horse half-skittered nervously. His tail flicked back and forth.

"You're a teacher," Kronos sneered. "Not a hero."

"Luke was a hero," Chiron said. "He was a good one until you corrupted him."

"FOOL!" Kronos's voice shook the city. "You filled his head with empty promises. You said the gods cared about me!"

"Me," Chiron noticed. "You said me."

Kronos looked confused, and at that moment, Chiron struck. It was a good maneuver—a feint followed by a strike to the face. But Kronos was quick. He had all of Lukes's fighting skills, which was a lot. He knocked aside Chiron's blade and yelled, "BACK!"

A blinding white light exploded between the Titan and the centaur. Chiron flew into the side of the building with such force the wall crumbled and collapsed on top of him.

"No!" Annabeth wailed.

The freezing spell broke. They ran toward their teacher, but there was no sign of him. Thalia and Percy pulled helplessly at the bricks while a ripple of ugly laughter ran through the Titan's army.

"YOU!" Annabeth turned on Luke. "To think that I . . . that I thought—"

She drew her knife.

"Annabeth, don't." Percy tried to take her arm, but she shook him off.

He yanked her back as Kronos swung his scythe, slicing the air where she'd been standing.

"I have to fight him," He told her.

"It's my fight too, Percy!"

He called, "Mrs. O'Leary?" "Nico?"

She attacked Kronos, and his smug smile faded. Perhaps some part of Luke remembered that he used to like this girl, used to take care of her when she was little. She plunged her knife between the straps of his armor, right at his collarbone. The blade should've sunk into his chest. Instead, it bounced off. Annabeth doubled over, clutching her arm to her stomach. The jolt might've been enough to dislocate her shoulder.

She fought Percy and screamed, "I HATE you!" Lucia wasn't sure who she was talking to—Percy or Luke or Kronos. Tears streaked the dust on her face.

Kronos laughed. "So much spirit. I can see why Luke wanted to spare you. Unfortunately, that won't be possible."

He raised his scythe.

"My lord!" Lucia called, She took several steps forward. Revealing herself to everyone in the area.

Annabeth and Percy's heads snapped toward her.

Kronos's eyes shone gold. He lowered his scythe as a wicked grin fell on his lips. He started to Laugh, A joyous crazed laugh. "Apollonione... Dearie. You've returned."

Lucia smirked, "I apologize for taking so long, My Lord." She found herself beside him and bowed. "I had to cut a few loose threads.."

She looked at Percy and Annabeth. Annabeth glared, her eyes pooled with tears. Lucia recognized that look, she had worn it when she looked at Luke. Percy on the other hand, his face didn't reveal any emotion. He just stared, his eyes never leaving hers.

"But I've cut them off now." She announced, Her eye contact with Percy didn't falter. "And I'm ready to come back to where I belong... With you."

Lucia looked up to Kronos. She unsheathed a dagger and twirled it between her fingers. "Where do you want me, My Lord."

A dog's howl pierced the air somewhere behind the Titan's army. "Arroooooooo!"

The enemy forces stirred uneasily. Then the strangest thing happened. They began to part, clearing a path through the street like something behind them was forcing them to.

Soon there was a free aisle down the center of Fifth Avenue. Standing at the end of the block was Percy's giant dog, and a small figure in black armor.

"ROWWF!" Mrs. O'Leary bounded toward Percy, ignoring the growling monsters on either side. Nico strode forward. The enemy army fell back before him like he radiated death, which of course he did.

Through the face guard of his skull-shaped helmet, he smiled. "Got your message. Is it too late to join the party?"

"Son of Hades." Kronos spit on the ground. "Do you love death so much you wish to experience it?"

"Your death," Nico said, "would be great for me."

"I'm immortal, you fool! I have escaped Tartarus. You have no business here, and no chance to live."

Nico drew his sword—three feet of wicked sharp Stygian iron, black as a nightmare. "I don't agree."

"Lucia!" Kronos' voice boomed, She stood straighter, ready for her orders. He pointed forward. "Help me get rid of that boy. Incinerate him to the ground."

"Yes, My lord." She emitted a flash of blazing light and Nico stumbled backward, blinking as he became disoriented and temporarily blinded. She grabbed more of her daggers and made her way toward the boy.

Nico stood before her, His eyebrows furrowed together when he looked back up. "Lucia?" He asked,

"Hi, Neeks." She jeered, Her head tilted to the side. "Long time no see."

"Luz! Stop it!" Percy tried to reach her,

"Stop trying Percy!" Annabeth cried, she pulled him away. Lucia knew Annabeth was afraid that she'd hurt him...She did know his Achilles heel after all...

"She's chosen her side. She's a backstabber! My Mom was right--" Her voice broke "We should have never trusted her..."

Lucia rolled her eyes. Her hands radiated with heat, and sparks fell from her fingertips, heat conducted through the daggers in her hands. She advanced toward Nico who looked confused, he held his sword up but made no moves to hit first.

When she was close enough, She whispered, "Call them, now..."

Realization fell over Nico. A toothy grin formed on his lips.

The ground rumbled. Cracks appeared on the road, the sidewalks, the sides of the buildings. Skeletal hands grasped the air as the dead clawed their way into the world of the living. There were thousands of them, and as they emerged, the Titan's monsters got jumpy and started to back up.

"HOLD YOUR GROUND!" Kronos demanded. "The dead are no match for us. Lucia! Return to me!"

She scowled at Nico, Before going back to Kronos' side.

'What did she say to you.'

'Percy.' Annabeth huffed in exasperation

The sky turned dark and cold. Shadows thickened. A harsh war horn sounded, and as the dead soldiers formed up ranks with their guns and swords, and spears, an enormous chariot roared down Fifth Avenue. It came to a stop next to Nico. The horses were living shadows, fashioned from darkness. The chariot was inlaid with obsidian and gold, decorated with scenes of painful death. Holding the reins was Hades himself, Lord of the Dead, with Demeter and Persephone riding behind him.

Hades wore black armor and a cloak the color of fresh blood. On top of his pale head was the helm of darkness: a crown that radiated pure terror. It changed shape as Lucia watched—from a dragon's head to a circle of black flames to a wreath of human bones. But that wasn't the scary part. The helm reached into Lucia's mind and ignited her worst nightmares, her most secret fears. She backed away, she wanted to crawl into a hole and hide, and she could tell the enemy army felt the same way. Only Kronos's power and authority kept his ranks from fleeing.

Hades smiled coldly. "Hello, Father. You're looking . . . young."

"Hades," Kronos growled. "I hope you and the ladies have come to pledge your allegiance."

"I'm afraid not." Hades sighed. "My son here convinced me that perhaps I should prioritize my list of enemies." He glanced at Percy with distaste. "As much as I dislike certain upstart demigods, it would not do for Olympus to fall. I would miss bickering with my siblings. And if there is one thing we agree on—it is that you were a TERRIBLE father.

"True," muttered Demeter. "No appreciation of agriculture."

"Mother!" Persephone complained.

"I don't have time for this," Kronos snarled.

Hades drew his sword, a double-edged Stygian blade etched with silver. "Now fight me! For today the House of Hades will be called the saviors of Olympus."

He struck the ground with his scythe. A crack spread in both directions, circling the Empire State Building. A wall of force shimmered along the fissure line, separating Kronos's vanguard, and Lucia's old friends from the bulk of the two armies.

'What's he doing?'

'Sealing us in,' Thalia said. 'He's collapsing the magic barriers around Manhattan—cutting off just the building, and us.'

Sure enough, outside the barrier, car engines revved to life. Pedestrians woke up and stared uncomprehendingly at the monsters and zombies all around them. No telling what they saw through the Mist, but Lucia was sure it was plenty scary. Car doors opened. And at the end of the block, Paul Blofis and Sally Jackson got out of their Prius.

'No,' Percy said. 'Don't . . .'

Sally could see through the Mist. Lucia could tell from her expression that she understood how serious things were. She locked eyes with her son, said something to Paul, and they ran straight toward them.

Percy met Lucia's eyes, He knew she saw. He was waiting for her to call out. Waiting for her to get Kronos' attention. She stayed silent and looked away.

Fortunately, Hades caused a distraction. He charged at the wall of force, but his chariot crashed against it and overturned. He got to his feet, cursing, and blasted the wall with black energy. The barrier held.

"ATTACK!" he roared.

"Nakamura, Apollonione," Kronos said. "Attend me. Giants—deal with them."

The armies of the dead clashed with the Titan's monsters. Fifth Avenue exploded into absolute chaos. Mortals screamed and ran for cover. Demeter waved her hand and an entire column of giants turned into a wheat field. Persephone changed the dracaenae's spears into sunflowers. Nico slashed and hacked his way through the enemy, trying to protect the pedestrians as best he could.

Percy's parents ran toward him, dodging monsters and zombies, but there was nothing he could do to help them.

Kronos pointed at Percy and the rest of his friends. Then he ducked into the lobby.

Lucia looked back just before she could follow, Her gaze found Percy's for a single moment. She smiled, and stepped back inside the Empire State Building.

As she stepped into the elevator. She prayed, Please keep them safe she asked anyone who would listen, I promise. he won't win...

A/N: Hi guys!!! I know i've updated alotttt haha it's because i have finals soon and wanted to get you guys enough chapters!! I was going to make this one big chapter and update later but i kinda like how it works as it's own chapter and alsoooo I wanted to come on here and thank you all so so much for 18k reads and 1k likes. it truly means so much to me. I never expected much starting this book especially this much support but it truly makes me smile that you all have given it so much love !!! I hope you all keep supporting and that you keep loving it and Luz!! expect new updates soon enough!!! for now though hehe hope u enjoyed this chapter !!