The Crown of Kronos: Chapter 40

Charlie's POV
"Yep." I whispered. "It's a trap." I looked helplessly at my dad, who looked awful. He had white streaks in his brown hair. His eyes went wild when he looked at me, and they flitted from side to side as if saying, "Run."

Zarana and Alex pulled out their weapons. Zarana looked at Alex and they both smiled.

"Shall we, partner?" Zarana said, holding out her hand.

"Let's go." Alex said, taking the hand and the two broke out into a handshake. Then, they charged.

Victoria cried out in alarm, "It's a trap! No, Alex!"

I'm surprised she didn't ask Zarana to stop.

The two charged the dracaenae, and ten disintegrated in two minutes. Then I noticed one dracaena was bigger than the rest and wore a green crown on her head. I started to inform Victoria, but she was praying.

Who was that dracaena queen again? Queen Seuss? No, that's the famous author who writes silly stories. Queen.........Sess? Yes, that's the name.

I watched as Zarana began to gasp for breath as she neared the stones, and Queen Sess lunged at Alex. Alex shouted in horror and the Reaper clattered to the ground. With one flick of her serpentine tail, the sword skidded away.

I gasped and ran over to help. But then I realized that the Stonehenge will just cut my breath off.

Paulo, the brother of Palmira stepped out of a portal and clapped his hands. "Perfect!" He acknowledged Queen Sess. "Now, we shall get the fourth piece and the puny demigods will be forced to-"

I cut him off. "You're saying your plan to us, doughboy." I called, laughing. "Thanks."

Paulo looked outraged. But he smiled and flicked a hand. A Cyclops trudged towards him and grunted. Paulo pointed to the gagged Alex and said, "Imitate her voice."

Queen Sess held out Alex' arms and waited for the Cyclops. The Cyclops opened his mouth to speak.

"It is I, Alexandra James, daughter of Hades! I command to-" But a lightning bolt struck him square in the head, and he fell down and disintegrated.

Zarana stood there, blue eyes flashing, still gasping for breath. She lashed out her lightning bolt again, and another lightning bolt hit the queen dracaena and she vanished too.

"No!" Paulo screamed and disappeared into the shadows.

Zarana wheezed and fell on her knees. Alex ripped off her gag and shouted, "I am Alexandra James, daughter of Hades, and I command you to show me the fourth piece of Kronos' crown!"

The stones shifted silently until they showed a triangular passage.

I looked at Alex, who was helping Zarana and my dad. "What now?" I asked.

"It's an entrance to the Underworld." Was all she said.