𝟬𝟮𝟴. you'll be the first to go

BEFORE THEY BEGAN, Aera cupped Piper's ear and whispered something only she could hear. Piper gave Aera an extremely dirty look. Aera raised an eyebrow. The two girls had a pretty intense staring contest before Piper finally rolled her eyes and broke eye contact.

"Fine," she said through clenched teeth. "Stay here, guys. Aera and I have something to do."

"Where are y'all running off to now?" Leo asked. "Is there another movie star father you gotta save?"

Aera took Piper's hand and winked at Leo. "You'll see."

"Make it quick, ladies," Coach grumbled.

"Be right back," Piper promised.

The two girls rounded the other side of the boulder so that they were still concealed from the Enceladus but now blocked off from the rest of the group by the edge of the giant rock.

Jason dared to glance around the opposite side. Enceladus was still chanting by the purple fire. Tristan McLean was tied to the post across the campfire, slumped over. It would take a miracle to rescue him without fighting Enceladus directly. They had to stick to the plan at all costs.

Meanwhile, the girls were working on something. Jason couldn't see what they were doing but he could hear Piper's muffled cries of pain.

"OW!" she whisper-shouted. "That hurts, Aera!"

There was a consistently fast patting sound like a hand repeatedly slapping a face.

"I don't care if it hurts, Piper," Aera said back, in a stern manner. "It's not my fault you have abnormally large eyelids."

"Are you giving me a makeover or a black eye?" Piper whined. "Is this really necessary?"

"Oh, it is very necessary. This is our last line of defense."

"How does our last line of defense include you punching me in the face with a makeup brush?"

"Shh! You are such a baby. Back in my day, it was an honor to have your face punched by my makeup brushes. Just ask Chi-Chi."

"Wow, lucky me then...OW!"

"All done! Go show the boys."

"Do I have to?"

"Piper McLean, do as I say or I'll have Drew revoke your dessert privileges."

"Drew doesn't even like you."

There was a loud ripping sound. Jason braced himself. Thankfully, the giant didn't seem to notice. Shuffling noises. More slapping. Then Piper was pushed out from behind the rock with the most peeved expression across her face.

Leo snickered. Piper had a full face of glamorous makeup on now. The bottom of her turquoise dress was ripped up to the bottom of her thigh. Her hair was also in some sort of fancy curly poof like a movie star from the 50s. All of this had unfolded within the span of a minute. Jason glanced at Leo, who was obviously trying not to bust out laughing.

"Don't," Piper said sharply. "Say. A. Word. This wasn't my idea."

"Word." Leo snickered. "Aren't you supposed to sneak around and not draw attention to yourself?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "That won't be a problem."

"How do you know?" Leo asked.

"Because all eyes will be on me."

Aera strutted into view.

Jason's jaw dropped. She was wearing a bright red cheerleading uniform with her hair tied back in two pigtails with two tiny red bows. Her crop top left enough open to see her abs peeking out. The miniskirt was so short Jason tried not to stare, so he stared at her face, which was somehow even more distracting. She had Tristan McLean's initials written on her left cheek in black marker like she was rooting for him at a football game. Her glittery silver eyeliner made a star shape at the edge of her eyes and matched her silver and red pom-poms, which she indulged in a great deal of shaking.

Everyone stared. It was impossible not to stare. Every time she blinked, a piece of her face glittered in the light.

Jason had no idea where she got the clothes from, but decided not to question it. Leo choked on his own saliva. Piper begrudgingly slapped his back.

"That outfit's not up to dress code, cupcake," Hedge reprimanded, spitting wood chips out of his mouth. "Skirts must end two inches above the knee."

Aera tugged the fabric down. "It does end two inches above the knee."

"Your knee or Grace's knee?" Coach snapped, swinging his bat impatiently. "Put some real clothes on or I'm calling your father."

"What?" Aera protested, stomping her foot on the ground. "That's so not fair! It's not my fault my legs are so long and slender and se—"

"I got this," Piper said.

Piper dragged Aera kicking and screaming by the ear back behind the rock. It was a Greek mystery how Enceladus hadn't discovered them yet.

Twenty-five seconds later, Aera came out again, still in her cheerleading uniform but with Piper's pair of grey sweatpants worn under her skirt. Jason put his face in his hands. Hedge gave a grunt of approval.

"This is so embarrassing," Aera huffed. "What's the point of doing anything if we don't look good doing it? There can't just be four uggos going off against a giant."

"There are five of us," Jason pointed out.

"Oh, I'm not the problem," Aera said, putting her hand on her chest. "I'm carrying the team in terms of appearance."

"And ego," Piper muttered.

"What was that, Pippy?"

She shook her head. "Let's go."

They were about to finally head out when a thought came to Jason.

"Wait." He took off his dog tag necklace. "One last touch." Jason clasped the necklace around Aera's neck and carefully pulled her hair out of the way. "You're the distraction expert. Lead the way."

The plan went wrong almost immediately.

Aera stepped out from behind the rock first and said, "Yoo-hoo, Enceladus!" She waved at the giant with her pom-poms pretty confidently for someone who could be squashed flat under his big toe. Jason summoned his gold lance and followed her straight into the clearing with Leo and Hedge in tow. Piper scrambled along the ridge, keeping her head down.

Enceladus stopped chanting at the purple flames. He turned toward the group and grinned, revealing fangs like a saber-toothed tiger's.

"Well," the giant rumbled. "What a nice surprise."

Aera shook her pom-poms. "Yes, it is totes a nice surprise to see my half-sister's movie star father tied up like a human sacrifice."

"Aera Kim," Enceladus boomed. "Daughter of Aphrodite. Your reputation precedes you."

Out of the corner of his eye, Jason spotted Leo edging toward the bulldozer. He hoped Leo had a plan.

"As does yours." Not breaking eye contact, Aera smiled dazzlingly at the giant. "Let's make this simple, shall we? I have a facial appointment scheduled for later. You have two options. Hand over Tristan McLean or be destroyed." Her voice was so clear and confident, for a second, Jason thought the giant might have even been intimidated.

Then Enceladus roared with laughter. "I forgot how funny you little demigod girls are. When we rule the world, I think I'll keep the ones with a pretty face like yours around. You can entertain me while I eat all the other mortals."

Aera laughed along with the giant. "Alright, don't blame me when I use your insides for a red manicure."

Enceladus' response was opening his mouth wide, where his teeth began to glow.

"Scatter!" Leo yelled.

The three of them dove to the left as the giant breathed fire—a furnace blast so hot it gave Happy the dragon a run for his money. Leo dodged behind the bulldozer, did something with that wound up toy he was playing with on the hike up, then ran to for the tree harvester.

Jason helped Aera stand. She did not look happy about the fire.

"So you choose the destroy option," Aera huffed, blowing the hair out of her face. "Fine with me. I haven't treated my skin in awhile. The dirt from your face will make a good mud mask."

Jason caught her arm before she could charge. "Stick to the plan. We can't face him head on."

Surprisingly, Aera listened. Over to the side, Coach Hedge yanked off his canary yellow jacket, which was now on fire, and bleated angrily. "I liked that outfit!"

Enceladus slammed his spear against the ground. The entire mountain shook.

The shockwave sent everyone sprawling. Jason blinked, momentarily stunned. Through a haze of grassfire and bitter smoke, Jason staggered to his feet. He was now on the other side of the clearing. Him and Aera had been separated to the right and left of the giant.

Hedge had been knocked out cold. He had hit his head on a log. Now his furry hindquarters were sticking straight up, with his canary yellow pants around his knees—a view Jason was sure would meet him in a nightmare one of these nights. Assuming he survived this.

The giant bellowed, "I see you, Piper McLean!" He turned and blew fire at a line of bushes to Leo's right. Piper ran into the clearing like a flushed quail, the underbrush burning behind her. Enceladus laughed. "I'm happy you've arrived. And you brought me my prizes!"

Jason's gut wrenched. This was what Piper had been afraid of. They'd played straight into the giant's hands.

Now Enceladus was humored, at best. "Alas, I didn't expect you all to stay alive this long, but it doesn't matter. By bringing you here, Piper McLean has sealed the deal. If she betrays you, I'm as good as my word. She can take her father and go. What do I care about a movie star?"

Jason had a clearer view of Piper's dad now. He was wearing a ragged dress shirt and torn slacks. His bare feet were caked with mud. He lifted his head weakly and groaned. There was a nasty cut down the side of his face, and he looked thin and sickly—nothing like the heroic movie star Aera kept calling a DILF.

"Dad!" Piper cried out.

Mr. McLean blinked. "Pipes...? Where..."

Piper drew her dagger and faced Enceladus, tears brimming her eyes. "Let him go!"

"Of course, dear," the giant rumbled. "Swear your loyalty to me, and we have no problem. Only these others must die."

Piper glanced back and forth between Aera and her dad.

Aera said nothing. She was waiting for Piper's decision. Jason received Aera's thoughts as though they were his own. In that moment, Jason wondered if he could blame Piper for choosing her father over them. They weren't even real friends. Just demigods thrown together for Hera's twisted plan. All her memories of them were fake.

Then Leo yelled. "He'll kill you. Don't trust him!"

"Oh, come now," Enceladus crooned in a casual voice. "You know I was born to fight Athena herself? Mother Gaea made each of us giants with a specific purpose, designed to fight and destroy a particular god. I was Athena's nemesis, the anti-Athena, you might say. Compared to some of my brethren—I am small! But I am clever. And I keep my bargain with you, Piper McLean. It's part of my plan!"

"The anti-Athena?" Aera asked, nodding like she was impressed. "Cool, so you were born to be a pain in that goddess' royal—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Enceladus roared—a call so loud it echoed down the valley and was probably heard all the way to San Francisco.

At the edge the woods, half a dozen ogre-like creatures rose up, straight out of the earth. They were each about seven feet tall, shorter than Enceladus but still taller than their entire team. Each one of them had six arms—one pair in the regular spot, then an extra pair sprouting out the top of their shoulders, and another set shooting from the sides of their rib cages. They wore only ragged leather loincloths. Jason vaguely registered these horrible creatures; they had fought Jason—the first Jason.

"Very good, my dear!" Enceladus sounded delighted at the other duo across the clearing. Piper must have figured it out too. "Ah, yes, the Gegenees. They used to live on a miserable place in Greece called Bear Mountain. Mount Diablo is much nicer! They are lesser children of Mother Earth, but they serve their purpose. They're good with construction equipment—"

"Vroom, vroom!" one of the Earthborn bellowed, and the others took up the chant, each moving his six hands as though driving a car. "Vroom, vroom!"

"Those ugly cockroaches have driver's licenses?" Aera demanded.

"Yes, thank you, boys," Encedalus said for the example. "More importantly, they don't have a heart to sway. They also have a score to settle with heroes. Especially anyone named Jason."

"Oh, he's good," Aera commended the giant in admiration. "He's very good."

Jason swallowed thickly. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Yay-son!" the Earthborn screamed. They picked up clumps of earth, which solidified in their hands, turning to nasty pointed stones sharp enough to skewer a bulldozer. "Where Yay-son? Kill Yay-son!"

Enceladus smiled cruelly. "You see, Piper dear, you have a choice. Save your father, or ah, try to save your friends and face certain death."

Piper stepped forward, fists clenched. Her eyes blazed with such rage, even the Earthborn backed away.

"You will not take the people I love," she stated. "None of them."

"Aww!" Aera cooed. "Love you too, sissy."

Piper's words rippled across the clearing with so much power, the Earthborn lowered their heads in shame and muttered, "Okay. Okay, sorry."

"Stand your ground, fools!" Enceladus chastised. He snarled at Piper with his teeth. "This is why we wanted you alive, my dear. You could have been so useful to us. But as you wish. Earthborn! I will show you Jason."

Jason gripped his lance, ready to fight, but to his horror, the giant didn't point toward him. Enceladus pointed to the other side of the bonfire, where Tristan McLean hung helpless and half conscious.

"There is Jason," Enceladus said with sinister pleasure. "Tear him apart!"

Jason was astounded how fast they communicated. One shake of her pom-poms from Aera, and somehow all four of them knew the game plan. When had they learn to read each other so well? And become so synchronized? Piper rushed to her father, Leo dashed for the tree harvester, and Jason and Aera charged Enceladus.

Jason's instincts kicked in. His gut told him he'd dueled opponents almost this big before. Enceladus was massive, but he had the advantage of speed. All he had to do was pace himself, wear out the opponent, and avoid getting smashed or flame-broiled. That sounded manageable, in theory.

He jumped away from the giant's first spear thrust and jabbed Enceladus in the ankle. Jason's javelin pierced through 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 dove behind him to dodge the flames.

A gunshot rang in the distance. A bronze bullet bounced off the tip of the giant's nose. Enceladus blinked heavily and backed up like he had been flicked hard in the forehead. Jason turned around. Aera had traded her pom-poms for dual hand pistols. One was pastel pink and the other was pastel blue, both with little white angel wing bows. She twirled both pistols in her hands.

Jason shook his head in amazement. A cheerleader with guns. Aera was having too much fun making up these distractions.

"Keep him away from Piper's dad," Aera ordered as she headed for the rim of the crater. "I'll cover you. Just don't get too close. I'm honestly not that good of a shot. I took, like, one lesson on aiming from the Dracanae, who prefer skewering people instead."

That wasn't very reassuring to hear, but it was the best chance they had at the moment. Jason kept the giant occupied while Aera shot the giant when he got too close. They went on like that for seconds, minutes—it was hard to judge.

Combat noises echoed across the clearing—gunshots, 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. Jason tried not to think about it. He couldn't afford to get distracted.

Enceladus's spear missed him by a millimeter. Another bullet from Aera found its mark in the giant's spear arm. Enceladus roared in anger. Those bullets were probably just annoying bee stings to him.

Jason kept dodging and retreating, but the ground stuck to his shoes. Gaea was getting stronger, and the giant was getting faster. Enceladus might have been slower, but he wasn't dumb. He started to anticipate Jason's moves and predict which blind spots Aera was gunning at. Instead of wearing him down, their attacks seemed to only fuel his rage.

"I'm not some minor monster!" Enceladus bellowed. "I am a giant, born to destroy gods! Your little toys can't kill me!"

Jason wasted no energy replying. He was already tired. Clumps of dirt hung onto his feet like a hundred pound weights. He was sinking further into the ground. The air was full of smoke that burned his lungs. The temperature was reaching the heat of an oven. Every shot fired by Aera rattled his eardrums.

Jason raised his javelin to block the giant's next strike—a big mistake. Don't fight force with force, Lupa's voice chided him—a piece of advice she'd told him long ago. Too late. He managed to deflect the spear, but it grazed his shoulder, and his arm went numb.

Jason could hear Aera yelling his name. He wanted to tell her to keep her distance but he couldn't get the words out as he backed up and almost tripped over a burning log.

Before he could stop her, Aera was suddenly standing three feet in front of him, squaring off against the giant herself.

"Hey, ugly!" she taunted, shaking her glittery pom-poms. "You wanted some entertainment?"

The giant smiled crudely down at her, baring his fangs.

"Stay back," Jason managed weakly, wincing as he clutched his injured shoulder. "Don't—"

"The beautiful Aera Kim," Enceladus said with a ravenous grin. "Yes, we know you. Even among the giants, you are quite infamous. You were our Earth Mother's first choice of sacrifice until I told her you could be more useful than that."

Jason's anger rose. The way the giant spoke to her, the way he looked at her, made his skin tingle with electricity. Giant or not, Enceladus was still no better than one of those old creeps who devoured and destroyed young girls for fun.

"Oh, really?" Aera seemed unfazed. She stared unflinchingly up at the horrible monster. "And what use could I be to a bunch of glorified mudpies?"

She must be used to this, Jason realized with a chill. Is that why she's dressed like that?

He was so caught up in that horrible idea, he recognized their mistake too late. Distracted, Jason moved too slowly. The blast missed him, but heat blistered his back. He slammed into the ground, his clothes smoldering. He was blinded from ash and smoke, choking as he heaved dry breaths.

In a blur, Jason saw Aera retreating to the other side, firing shots and swiftly maneuvering like a bright red streak across the hazy terrain.

"I can offer you a deal," Jason heard Enceladus rumble. "Why tire yourself so? Abandon these pitiful heroes. Swear your allegiance to Gaea by killing that one first."

"Yeah, not happening," Aera said defiantly. "Jason's my prom date. He looks too good in a suit to be a sacrifice."

How does she know what I look like in a suit? Jason pondered dimly as the ashen smog overwhelmed him.

"Still, it would be better than squandering your talents." Enceladus chuckled, drawing nearer to Aera. "The gods have failed you. Everyone you loved was led to slaughter. How many have you sacrificed in their name?"

Enceladus was toying with her, goading her. Anger boiled within Jason, but getting back on his feet seemed nearly impossible. The earth clung to him like a second skin, pulling his body down low. He could no longer feel his right arm.

"You curse the gods, renounce them," Enceladus continued, closing in on Aera at the rim of the forested depression, "but still you play your dutiful role as their puppet. As soon as they called, you came running back to their servitude."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Aera snapped and Jason could hear the frustration in her tone, whether it be from the giant's statement or the heat messing up her complexion. "I am the Ravager of Olympus. I tear gods apart."

With that, Aera unleashed a flurry of bullets. Enceladus waved his spear and deflected the barrage with ease. At the end of the onslaught, Aera threw the two guns away in exasperation. She must have been out of bullets.

"Silly girl," Enceladus sneered. "Giants do not have hearts. Your powers have no effect."

Aera drew her sword but before she could do anything, the giant lashed out and snatched her up. In the blink of an eye, Enceladus's massive hand had encased her. Aera's eyes widened in shock.

Jason strained every muscle to pick his body off the ground. The dirt resisted his efforts, its sticky tendrils clinging to him stubbornly, determined to keep him tethered. It seemed as if the very earth itself conspired to keep him disarmed, down on the ground, away from Aera and the giant.

"You pathetic thing." Enceladus squeezed Aera's neck between his fingers. She gasped for air, her legs dangling twelve feet above the ground. "Did you pray to the gods when your sister laid dying on the battlefield? Did you beg them for help before you stabbed the boy you loved through the heart?"

Jason could see the tears streaking down Aera's face even from afar. He needed to go to her. Jason felt a tug in his gut. Hot rage surged through his veins. Sparks flickered down his body.

At last, Jason broke free from the muddy prison and sprang to his feet. He rushed towards them so fast, his body lifted several feet off the ground. Jason launched himself at Enceladus and thrust his lance through the giant's left bicep. Golden ichor gushed out.

The giant bellowed in pain and released Aera from his grasp. Luckily, Aera was still conscious and light on her feet. She rolled when she hit the ground and slashed at Enceladus' ankle. The giant backed away as more golden ichor spilled into the earth.

Jason touched down next to Aera. He grabbed her face gently and wiped the golden ichor dripping from her cheek. She was pale and her pigtails were smoldering, but she otherwise looked unharmed. Then she moved her lips as though to say something and silently winced at the effort.

Jason pushed her hair behind her shoulders. A dark purple bruise was forming on Aera's neck where the giant's hand had strangled her. Jason closed his eyes. He was going to kill him.

"Wait—" Aera's hoarse voice died out.

When Jason opened his eyes, he was already heading toward the giant. Enceladus allowed Jason to approach, grinning with anticipation. Just as he was about to strike, Jason feinted a strike. He replicated Aera's move earlier and rolled between the giant's legs. He launched himself forward to stab Enceladus in the small of his back with his lance, but the giant anticipated this move.

Enceladus sidestepped the attack and swept his spear sideways, met Jason's javelin—and with a snap like a shotgun blast, the golden weapon shattered. The explosion was hotter than the giant's breath, blinding Jason with golden light. The force knocked him off his feet and sent him hurtling backward, crashing onto the ground, his body gasping for breath.

When he regained focus, Jason was sitting at the rim of a crater. Enceladus stood at the other side, staggering and confused. The javelin's destruction had released so much power, it blasted a perfect cone-shaped pit thirty feet deep, fusing the dirt and rock into a slick glassy substance. Jason wasn't sure how he'd survived, but his clothes were steaming. He was out of energy. He had no weapon. Horror filled his chest like an air pump.

Aera.

About twenty feet away, she laid near the edge of the pit, her face covered by her arms. Piper's sweatpants were torn and the red cheerleading uniform was smoking. Jason didn't even know if she was still breathing.

And Enceladus was still very much alive. Jason tried to stand, but his legs were like lead. Enceladus blinked at the destruction, then laughed. "Impressive! Unfortunately, that was your last trick, demigod." Enceladus leaped the crater in a single bound, planting his feet on either side of Jason. The giant raised his spear, its tip hovering six feet over Jason's chest. "And now," Enceladus declared, "my first sacrifice to Gaea!"

Time seemed to slow down, which was painful, since Jason couldn't move. The earth welcomed him again in a waterbed essence—comfortable, urging him to relax and give up. He couldn't feel his arms. The tip of the spear was coming toward his chest in slow motion. He knew he had to move, but he couldn't seem to do that. He cursed himself. All that effort to stay alive and then what? You just lie there helplessly while a fire-breathing giant impales you?

Now Jason was going to die before Aera knew the truth. Maybe she would hunt him down even in the Underworld. But that was wishful thinking. The second Aera knew the truth, she wouldn't want anything to do with him. Was Jason prepared for that?

"Not yet!" cried a confident voice. Enceladus' spear stopped inches from Jason's chest. Jason turned his head just to see Aera rising unsteadily from the ground. Her face was covered in soot. Her hair was singed. There was a bleeding cut on her arm. This was the most beautiful he had ever seen her.

"Who shall stop me?" Enceladus asked, clearly amused by her boldness. "You?"

"Be more understanding," Aera urged, limping towards them. She sounded gruff like she had a sore throat. "I can't let blondie take all the spotlight. He knows some tricks. So do I."

Enceladus peered upon Aera as though she were a red insect, but his curiosity got the better of him. "And what would those be?"

"Having talented friends," Aera answered.

Then out of nowhere, Leo yelled, "Heads up!"

A large black metal wedge slammed into Enceladus with a massive thunk! Hit from two different angles in succession, the giant toppled over in a daze and slid into the pit.

"Jason, get up!" Piper called. Her voice energized him, shook him out of his stupor. He sat up, his head groggy, while Piper grabbed him under his arms and hauled him to his feet.

"Don't die on me," she ordered. "Aera will skin me alive if I let her prom date die prematurely."

Jason was light-headed enough to say, "I haven't asked her to be my date yet."

"You don't have to."

Leo was running up to Aera on the other side. About a hundred feet behind them was a piece of construction equipment—a long cannon-like thing with a single massive piston, the edge broken clean off.

Then Jason looked down in the crater and saw where the other end of the hydraulic ax had gone. Enceladus was struggling to rise, an ax blade the size of a washing machine stuck in his breastplate.

Amazingly, the giant managed to pull the ax blade free. He yelled in pain and the mountain trembled. Golden ichor soaked the front of his armor, but Enceladus stood.

Shakily, he bent down and retrieved his spear. "Good try. But I cannot be beaten."

As they watched, the giant's armor mended itself, and the ichor stopped flowing. Even the cuts on his dragon-scale legs and bullet holes on his muscular arms, which Jason and Aera had worked so hard to make, were now just pale scars.

Leo offered Aera his hand, saw the giant, and cursed. "What is it with this guy? Die, already!"

"My fate is preordained," Enceladus stated. "Giants cannot be killed by gods or heroes."

"Only by both," Aera said lowly, crouching down. Though her voice was quiet, the giant's confidence flickered. Enceladus' smile faltered and Jason saw actual fear in his eyes. "Bask in my beauty while you can. If gods and demigods work together, you'll be the first to go."

"You will not live long enough to try!" The giant started stumbling up the crater's slope, slipping on the glassy sides.

"Aera, you got a god handy?" Leo asked. Aera bit her lip. "Anyone got a god handy?"

Jason's chest went heavy with dread. He glanced at the giant below them, struggling to get out of the pit, and he knew what had to happen. "Leo," he said, "if you've got a rope in that tool belt, get it ready."

"No," Aera instantly protested, her voice cracking. "Jason, don't you dare—"

Jason leaped at the giant with no weapon but his bare hands.

"Enceladus!" Piper yelled. Fortunately, she hadn't shared the same reluctance as Aera. "Look behind you!"

Her voice was so compelling, the giant said, "What?" and turned like there was an enormous spider on his back.

Jason tackled his legs at just the right moment for him to lose his balance. Enceladus slammed into the crater and slid to the bottom. While he tried to rise, Jason wounded his arms tightly around the giant's neck. He thought about how Enceladus had almost choked Aera to death this way and held on with all his might.

Father, Jason prayed. If I've ever done anything good, anything you approved of, help me now. I offer my own life—just save my friends. Save her.

Darkness swallowed the sun. The metallic scent of a storm appeared. The giant froze, sensing it too.

"Get down!" Jason yelled to his friends as every hair on his head stood straight up.

A bolt of lightning coursed through Jason's body, straight through Enceladus, and into the ground.

The giant's back stiffened, and Jason was thrown clear. He fumbled for whatever he could. As his senses returned, Jason found himself sliding down the crater's steep incline, while the crater was cracking open. The tremendous force of the lightning bolt had split the mountain itself. The earth ruptured, causing Enceladus's legs to slip into the gaping chasm. He clawed at the glassy walls of the pit, managing to cling to the edge for a brief moment, his hands trembling.

He fixed Jason with a look of hatred. "You've won nothing today, boy. My brothers are awakening, and their strength surpasses mine tenfold. We will destroy the gods at their roots! You will die, and Olympus will die with—"

Before he could finish his threat, the giant's grip slackened, and he plummeted into the depths of the crevice. The ground quivered violently as Jason, too, found himself hurtling towards the rift.

"Grab on!" Leo's urgent voice pierced through the chaos.

Just as Jason's feet reached the edge of the chasm, he seized hold of the rope, and with a combined effort from Aera, Leo, and Piper, they hoisted him to safety. Standing together, exhausted and terrified, they watched as the maw sealed shut. The ground stopped pulling at their feet. The hollow shell of Jason's shattered lance had somehow made its way to the surface, sizzling. He picked it up without a second thought.

The mountainside was on fire. Smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air. Jason spotted a helicopter—either firefighters or reporters—hovering toward them. All around them laid carnage. The Earthborn had melted into piles of clay, leaving behind only rock missiles and some nasty bits of loincloth, but Jason figured they would reform soon enough if they stayed here too long. Construction equipment lay in ruins. The ground was scarred and blackened.

Coach Hedge started to move. The satyr sat up with a groan and rubbed his head. His canary yellow pants were now the color of Dijon mustard mixed with mud. He blinked and looked around him at the battle scene. "Did I do this?"

Before anyone could reply, Hedge picked up his club and got shakily to his feet. "Yeah, you wanted some hoof? I gave you some hoof, cupcakes! Who's the goat, huh?" He made a show of kicking rocks and making what were probably rude satyr gestures at the piles of clay.

Leo cracked a smile. It was a relief to be alive. For now, Gaea was gone. But Jason had a bigger storm to brave...

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Aera demanded, her face flushed with anger or heat, probably both. Even with a limp, she stormed toward Jason with a murderous look and half a burnt pom-pom remaining.

Jason tossed his broken lance aside. There was no use for it anymore. "Maybe a little."

"What happened to 'don't engage'?" Aera screamed through her broken voice. "All that talk about being careful and you what? You charge the giant?" She punched him in the chest. "Twice?" Two punches. "Were you trying to get yourself killed?" Another punch. "How could you be so reckless and stupid and—"

Jason caught Aera in his arms right as she tackled him. He held onto Aera tight. He knew Piper and Leo and Hedge were watching but he didn't care. Enceladus had been defeated but Jason still felt scared out of his wits. He could feel his whole body shaking. The words just tumbled out of his mouth. "I-I thought you were going to die. I thought I made a mistake again."

"Again?" Piper asked.

Jason's heart thumped at his slip up. Thankfully, no one seemed to have enough energy to pry.

After a moment passed, Aera wrapped her arms around Jason, patting his back with a gentleness he hadn't expected.

"I'm still breathing," Aera said and that was when Jason realized he finally could too.

AUTHOR'S NOTE   ♡  "i thought you were going to die" jason honey you got a big storm coming hahahaha just kidding i've been listening to queencard on repeat and thats where i got the inspo for aera to wear a red cheerleading outfit from one of their stages <333 love g-idle and love you guys hehe im putting my whole writerussy into these last chapters of catharsis so i really hope u enjoy them (and sob violently) 😙 as always, thank you all so sosooosososososo much for reading and i'll see you in the next update! 💕