The Crown of Kronos: Chapter 34

Charlie's POV
"Well," Victoria said, brandishing her sword. "I could take care of it."

But she didn't attack. A flash of silver collided with the griffin, and a high-pitched hoot was heard.

"Hey, the bird. I've almost forgotten about it." Alex mumbled in interest, watching the fight.

The owl pecked viciously at the griffin's lion body, and the griffin screeched in agony and whipped out its tail. It hit harmlessly against the owl's metal wings. They broke into a ferocious brawl in the air, and we watched with our mouths opened.

Finally, a booming crash shook the ground as the two fell in the air, still swiping at each other. They landed in some part of the forest. We ran to find them.

"There's movement over there." I pointed and brought out my scissors which turned quickly into her knives. I shifted Sophia, the onyx one. We carefully walked through a clump of trees.

We walked into the center of a hellhound circle.

Two hellhounds barked twice and slowly shifted into another form, human beings. One was familiar, with braided salt-and-pepper hair and pale blue eyes. Percy's bronze sword, Riptide, was clutched in her hand, crossing together with a Stygian Iron sword, owned by a boy that looked exactly like her. Palmira.

"You again." I snarled, readying Pallas and Sophia. Palmira's lip curled. "They have already found the fifth piece of the crown in the Stonehenge, and have killed your father."

Zarana brought out her gold sword. "No, you lie." She said. "You have not found the fifth piece because you don't have a child of Hades to get it for you. Charlie's father is not yet killed." She smiled at me. "Because-"

"You'll use him as further bait." I said, grinning back at her. Palmira lost her confidence and looked at Paulo, who glanced back grimly at her. "I told you, sister." He whispered, but I heard every word. "You lying would not work, even if you're-" He stopped, cleared his throat and looked at her meaningfully.

Palmira growled. "Then, just kill them." Her voice rang out to the hellhounds, and they pounced.