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𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐀
𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔
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CHARLIE TURNED. Jason seemed to be making one last, ditch effort. He took a deep breath and charged. Enceladus let him. Everything moved in slow motion: Jason's fake strike towards the right, his true intentions coming into light as he thrusted up, Enceladus anticipated the move. He stepped aside, sweeping his spear sideways. Charlie screamed, shouting his name, but it was all so blurred out now, adrenaline blocking their ears, she took off on one foot, pumping her legs with all her might as one hand reached forwards, trying to reach him.

There was 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 backwards, head turning to his friends from the impact, dazed eyes spotted Charlie's incoming figure, reaching for her outstretched hand.

Contact never came. He hit the ground before she reached him.

The breath was knocked out of him, eyes widening as his back arched off the ground in a cough, head forced to recentre itself.

When he regained focus, he 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 energy, it had 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. And Enceladus was very much still alive.

Jason tried to get up, 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, it's tip hovering six feet over Jason's chest.

''And now,'' Enceladus announced, ''My first sacrifice to Gaea!''

Oh yeah, time was definitely slowed down.

Charlie could feel it. She could see it.

The unsteady rise and fall of Jason's chest. The beating wings of the birds ahead. The rustling of the trees. Enceladus adjusting his grip to perfection, raising it upwards before beginning to bring it down.

''This a two player level?''

Jason barely registered that she had even been next to him, never-mind what she had said. Because from everyone else's point of view, time wasn't slowed down — Charlie was sped up.

She whipped by him, causing his hair to rustle. He barely had time to start praying before she came to save the day. Running straight past him, sticking her first attack on Enceladus' big toe, pushing her dagger in deep. The guy was in dire need of a pedicure.

The giant screamed, pain jolting up his foot and calf as it left the ground, knee moving to his chest. Unfortunately, he didn't drop the spear, but he did change it's target. The tip moving away from Jason's direction as he tried to swat it at Charlie — but she was everywhere at once. Moving too fast, stopping him from locking a target on her.

Jason watched with wide eyes — a whip like blue lightning making circles around the giant. Hands scooped under his arms. ''Jason, get up,'' Piper demanded, but, truthfully, she was distracted too. They all were. Not only was it amazing, but amusing too.

Was this what it looked like when one of them tried to kill a fly?

Then the blue lightning flittered to a stop, someone calling out to her. ''Charlie! Stay still!''

They turned to see Leo about a hundred feet behind them, standing over a piece of construction equipment. A long cannonlike thing with a single massive piston, the edge broken clean off.

 The blurred speed finally refocused, Charlie grinning cheekily down at them from beside Enceladus' ear, moving a finger to her lips as the giant tried to figure out where she had gone. Her eyes shone — sparkling.

Leo released it. A large black metal wedge slammed into Enceladus with a massive thunk! The giant toppled over and slid into the pit.

Jason and Piper only blinked — missing how Charlie suddenly appeared next to them, until she placed a hand on their shoulders, scaring the shit out of them. She winked, before moving to peer over the crater's edge. Enceladus was struggling to rise, an axe blade the size of a washing machine stuck in his breastplate.

Amazingly, the giant managed to pull the axe blade free. He yelled in pain and the mountain trembled. Raccoon Leo yelped, running into Charlie's open arms for reassurance. Golden ichor soaked the front of his armour, but Enceladus stood.

Shakily, he bent down and retrieved his spear.

''Good try.'' The giant winced. ''But I cannot be beaten.''

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

Leo ran up to them, saw the giant, and then cursed. ''What is with this guy? Die already!''

''My fate is preordained,'' Enceladus said. ''Giant's cannot be killed by gods or heroes.''

Charlie sighed, shoulders sagging and her head turning to the right in defeat. Her eyes caught a reflection.

''Only by both,'' Jason said. The giant's smile faltered and Jason saw in his eyes; something like fear. ''It's true, isn't it? Gods and demigods have to work together to kill you.''

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

''Great,'' Leo said, dropping his arms to his sides in annoyance. ''Anyone got a God handy?''

Charlie was still looking into the puddle — but the reflection wasn't hers. Blue eyes winked back at her.

''Leo,'' she said, standing up as she finally blinked away from the puddle, confidence returning despite the building of dread in the pit of her stomach. The others could feel it too. She was back — and they weren't entirely sure that was a good thing. ''You got a rope in that tool belt?''

Leo sighed, opening the pouch and rummaging through it. He breathed through his nose, mumbling under his breath, not appreciating the lack of clarity. ''You better not have another Tarzan-like plan in that head of yours.'' Leo didn't want her risking her life for something stupid.

Charlie whipped around, an offended look on her face as she waved her hands in the air, exasperated. ''What do you have against Tarzan!'' Charlie didn't consider her friend's lives as 'something stupid'.

''Nothing!'' Leo said, looking back up at her, rope in his hand as he stuck his nose in the air, their faces getting closer. ''I was going to ask you that considering you're the one who keeps butchering his moves!''

''I'm doing—my—best!'' Charlie snatched the rope out of his hands, turning around. She tied it around her waist, securing it tightly.

''Charlie,'' Jason asked, approaching cautiously. ''What's the plan?''

She didn't like that tone, she knew he was doubting her. In actual fact, he was worried she was going to get herself killed. ''Wouldn't you like to know, amnesiac.''

''Wow, really?'' He asked, head pulling backwards as he looked at her. ''You bringing that into it?''

She smiled widely. A little too widely. Bickering with her friends, for what could be the last time.

Her smile was off-putting. They wished they could read her mind.

She turned to Piper, placing Raccoon Leo in her arms. ''Could use a distraction.''

She stared right back, thinking it through, eyes scanning Charlie's every feature, searching for the micro expressions. Piper sighed, moving to look over the girl's shoulder. ''Enceladus!'' She yelled. ''Look behind you!''

It was an obvious trick, but her voice was compelling. Even the rest of their friend group fell for it. The giant said, ''What?'' and turned around like there was an enormous spider on his back.

Charlie cracked her back in a stationary twist, before wiggling her hands, trying to gain as much kinetic energy as possible. She got into a sprinter's starting position, she waited. The spark in her eyes flashed blue, giving the illusion of movement — like a sparkler leaving it's trace behind.

There it was — her opportunity.

She took off, running straight. She hit the edge of the crevice, and kept running, going at a downwards slant now. Charlie nearly lost her footing — her new speed and the force of gravity aiding her in her mission.

She tackled his legs. The giant lost his balance.

Enceladus slammed into the crater and began to slide to the bottom once again. Every time he tried to rise, Charlie jumped up, once again letting gravity be her friend as she slammed back into him with super speed, causing dints in the crater's side as she refrained him from standing back up. Blue and green bruising appeared sparsely on the giant's skin.

''Get off!'' Enceladus screamed. He tried to grab Jason's legs, but it was like a game of cat and mouse.

He swatted at his legs. Charlie appeared by his shoulder, hands on her hips as she moved sassily, putting on a deep voice, ''Get off me!'' She mocked. He reached for her again, she stabbed his toe.

Enceladus rose his head, Charlie used her weight to push it back down. He groaned, dazed and blinking away black dots that tried to obscure his vision.

She stopped by his chest, looking at the hole in his armour that the axe had caused. Right above his chest.

Charlie kneeled down, her dagger in her two hands as she lightly pressed the tip against his skin. She breathed in, bringing the dagger up.

Closing her eyes, she tried to picture her selected God. ''I forgive you, dad.''

The dagger was brought down. And then it was like her body was possessed, her speed being reactivated as she darted all over his body, somehow knowing the giant's every weak spot as her dagger plunged into his dagger again, and again, and again.

Enceladus screamed and withered on his continued decent, head tilting back as he yelled loudly, demanding her to stop it.

Charlie did no such thing.

Golden ichor bled out of his every wound, and Charlie went round and round, deepening them every time. It was a slow death, Charlie almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

One last one to finish job. She pulled her dagger out of his foot once more, turning as she regained her breath — only a moments break, because then she was lunging again, a battle cry leaving her throat hoarsely, and then it plunged into the hole on his chest.

She heard the rip of flesh, felt the puncture of his heart.

The giant's back stiffened, and Charlie's eyes widened.

''Hit the deck!'' She yelled up at them, being thrown clear from Enceladus.

When she regained her bearings, she was slipping down the side of the crater, and it was only getting bigger, a crack expanding at the bottom of the crevice.

Mother Earth was claiming the body.

The earth rumbled and tore itself apart, and Enceladus' legs slid into the chasm. He clawed helplessly at the glassy sides of the pit, and just for a moment, managed to hold onto the ledge, his hands trembling.

He fixed Charlie with a look of hatred. ''You've won nothing, girl! My brothers are rising, and they are ten times as strong as I. We will destroy the gods at their roots! You will die, and Olympus will die with—''

''You're monologuing!'' Charlie yelled, one hand holding the rope as she hung there, suspended, the other made a mouth movement from beside her.

Enceladus paused, staring. His brow furrowed. ''I am not! Olympus—''

''Mon-o-log-ing!''

He growled, finding his grip with a second hand as he tried to crawl out. ''Listen here, if I'm going back, you have to too!'' He sobbed, his movements widening the cut in his chest.

His hands shook. He slipped, falling into the crevice with one last yell.

There was a tug at her rope. She looked upwards.

Jason, Piper, and both Leo's were peaking over the edge, looking like dots on the horizon, they grinned down at her. Leo raised a hand to wave, everyone yelled (or squirled) at him and he instantly grabbed hold of the rope again. Charlie fell an inch.

Laughing loudly, she planted her feet on the sides of the hole, and began walking up, her friends helping her.

She reached the top, extending a hand out. No one moved.

''Leo!'' Jason and Piper yelled, faces red from the strain, leaning back at a 45 degree angle to keep Charlie in position.

''Oh!'' Leo let go of the rope, grabbing Charlie's outstretched arm as quickly as he could. ''You yell at me when I let go, you yell at me when I don't let go— oof!'' Charlie was pulled over the corner, and everyone was sent onto the floor. Piper and Jason landing suddenly, not having time to react, and Charlie falling straight into Leo's arms.

He could get used to this.

The two were laid on the ground. She was breathing heavily on his chest, arms stuttery and unable to push herself up. Leo smiled, taking a deep breath, before letting his arms wrap around her. Holding her, for just a moment.

Charlie tried to look up at him, but his hold on her was too tight. She smiled with the knowledge that she couldn't be seen by him, happily curling further into his embrace with a breathy laugh.

Jason moved to sit up, spotting the two of them. ''Alright, Charlie!'' He cheered. ''Group hug!'' He collapsed dramatically on top of the two of them — effectively ruining the moment.

Piper sighed, arms crossed from where she sat, a disappointed look on her face. There was a squawk on her left and she turned to see Raccoon Leo staring at the scene too, tapping his foot with his arms crossed. He turned to her, gesturing to the Jason-pile and rolling his eyes. 'Unbelievable, am I right?' she could practically hear him say. Piper stiffled a laugh.

''Get off me, you big oaf!'' Charlie said, laughing loudly, sandwiched between two of her favourite people. She looked over to Piper. ''Come on, Pipes! Not exactly a family without you!''

''Please!'' Leo gasped dramatically. ''No!''

That sealed the deal, a grin cracked over Piper's face and she darted to the pile. They all groaned under the added weight — except for Jason who smirked down.

Leo reached up to the sky dramatically. ''Death! Is that you!'' He brought a hand to his throat, pretending he couldn't breath. ''Oh! Ohhh! Oh I see the light! It's so bright!'' Another hand grasped Charlie's shoulder, shaking her.. ''It's calling my name, Charlie! It's calling for me!'' He looked at her, locking eyes. ''Promise me...'' He pretended to loose his breath. ''Promise me... That you'll name your first child after me!'' He rolled his eyes to the back of his head, going limp.

Charlie covered her laugh with her hand, before moving it to cradle Leo's face. ''Oh no! No!''

She pushed a hysteric Piper and Jason onto the floor, sending them into a miniature pile of laughter.

''No!'' She rocked back and forth. ''My beloved!'' Leo tried not to smile. ''The love of my life! The light to my darkness! The apple of my eye! Oh! Oh! Levi!—''

Leo pushed himself up to his elbows, glaring at her. ''It's Leo, and you know it.''

Charlie gasped dramatically, stumbling back, clashing into Piper and Jason as she grabbed them for support, pointing to Leo with a shaky finger.

Jason gasped too. ''It's arose!''

''It?'' Leo said, mouth hanging open.

''Oh my gods!'' Piper covered her mouth, before turning away, pretending to shield herself. ''A message from the great beyond!''

Charlie moved to her knees, shuffling forwards as her hands clasped together in a prayer motion. ''Tell us — oh tell us the message from the great beyond! Fill us with your wisdom, Liam—''

Leo tackled her, the two of them rolling back into Piper and Jason, their momentum creating yet another pile of people.

They laughed, pinching and tickling each other.

There was an impatient noise and they all looked up to see Raccoon Leo tapping his foot, yet again, arms crossed. He uncrossed them, pretending to pull up his fur and look at a watch, tapping it.

''Oh, get in here, you!'' Leo said, grabbing the animal and pulling him into a hug, ruffling his knuckles onto the pet's head.

They slowly pulled apart, sitting in a circle as they regained their breath — basking in the knowledge that Gia was gone. For now.

All around them was carnage. The Earthborn had melted into pules of clay, leaving behind only their rock missiles and some nasty bits of loincloth, but they figured they would reform soon enough. Construction equipment lay in ruins.

Coach Hedge started to move. He sat up with a groan and rubbed his head. His canary yellow pants were now the colour of Dijon mustard mixed with mud.

He blinked and looked around him at the battle scene. ''Did I do this?'' He looked around as the group shared looks. ''Yeah, you wanted some hoof? I gave you some hoof, cupcakes! Who's the goat, huh?'' He did a little dance, kicking rocks and making what were probably rude satyr gestures at the piles of clay.

''Actually, Coach,'' Jason spoke up. Charlie turned to look at him, but the blond wrapped a hand around her neck, pulling her to his chest as she gave her a similar treatment that Leo had done to Leo. ''It was all Charlie's doing.''

The girl grinned, holding Jason's elbow as she tried to pull it down from her face. Coach Hedge paused, hands going limp as he stared. Charlie managed to wrestle Jason's arm away from her face, looking up with the remnants of a laugh. She locked eyes with her old mentor. His shoulders slacked, and he smiled.

She returned it.

Gods — was she making dads proud today.

Then a man stood up across the clearing. Tristan McLean staggered forward. His eyes were hollow, shell-shocked, like someone who'd just walked through a nuclear wasteland.

''Piper?'' He called. His voice cracked. ''Pipers, what—what is—''

He couldn't complete the thought. Piper ran over to him and hugged him tightly, but he almost didn't seem to know her.

Jason had felt a similar way — that morning at the Grand Canyon, when he woke with no memory. But Charlie resonated with the feeling just a little bit more, when she had woken up in a coffin. Mr. McLean had the opposite problem to Jason. He had too many memories, too much trauma, his mind just couldn't handle it. He was coming apart.

''We need to get him out of here,'' Jason said as the rest of them began to stand up.

''Yeah, but how?'' Leo asked. ''He's in no shape to walk.''

Jason glanced up at the helicopter, which was circling directly overheard. Probably a nature reporter who had the shocking opportunity to witness a fight between demigods and a giant. He galanced down, making accidental eye-contact with Charlie.

The two shared a grin, on the same wavelength.

She opened her mouth, slowly lolling her head to look at Leo. ''Curls, you got a bullhorn or something?''

His gaze narrowed. ''What am I, a storage cupboard?''

''Is that a yes?''

''... Yes.''

Leo reached in and pulled one out, handing it over.

Borrowing the helicopter was easy. Getting Piper's dad on board, was not.

Piper needed only a few words through Leo's begrudged gift to convince the pilot to land on the mountain, and when Piper told the very nice lady that it would be a great idea to fly them to the Oakland Airport, she readily