"We've been expecting you for days." At first he sounded normal, like Luke. But

then his face twitched. A shudder passed through his body as though he'd just

drunk something really nasty. His voice became heavier, ancient, and powerful —

the voice of the Titan lord Kronos. The words scraped down my spine like a knife

blade. "Come, bow before me."

 

"Yeah, that'll happen," I muttered.

 

Laistrygonian giants filed in on either side of the swimming pool as if they'd

been waiting for a cue.

 

Each was eight feet tall with tattooed arms, leather armor, and spiked clubs.

Demigod archers appeared on the roof above Luke. Two hellhounds leaped down from

the opposite balcony and snarled at me. Within seconds I was surrounded. A trap:

there's no way they could've gotten into position so fast unless they'd known I

was coming.

 

I looked up at Luke, and anger boiled inside me. I didn't know if Luke's

consciousness was even still alive inside that body. Maybe, the way his voice

had changed ... or maybe it was just Kronos adapting to his new form. I told

myself it didn't matter. Luke had been twisted and evil long before Kronos

possessed him.

 

A voice in my head said: I have to fight him eventually. Why not now?