"We have to help," Annabeth said.

 

She was right. I'd just been standing there frozen in amazement. Mrs. O'Leary

tried to get up but yelped again. One of her paws was bleeding.

 

"Stay back, girl," I told her. "You've done enough already."

 

Annabeth and I jumped onto the monster's back and ran toward its head, trying to

draw its attention away from Clarisse.

 

Her cabinmates threw javelins, most of which broke, but some lodged in the

monster's teeth. It snapped its jaws together until its mouth was a mess of

green blood, yellow foamy poison, and splintered weapons.

 

"You can do it!" I screamed at Clarisse. "A child of Ares is destined to kill

it!"

 

Through her war helmet, I could only see her eyes — but I could tell something

was wrong. Her blue eyes shone with fear. Clarisse never looked like that. And

she didn't have blue eyes.

 

"ARES!" she shouted, in that strangely shrill voice. She leveled her spear and

charged the drakon.