same expression when I'd fought him in single combat.

 

"YOU WANT DEATH?" Clarisse screamed at the drakon. "WELL, COME ON!"

 

She grabbed her spear from the fallen girl. With no armor or shield, she charged

the drakon.

 

I tried to close the distance to help, but Clarisse was faster. She leaped aside

as the monster struck, pulverizing the ground in front of her. Then she jumped

onto the creature's head. As it reared up, she drove her electric spear into its

good eye with so much force it shattered the shaft, releasing all of the magic

weapon's power.

 

Electricity arced across the creature's head, causing its whole body to shudder.

Clarisse jumped free, rolling safely to the sidewalk as smoke boiled from the

drakon's mouth. The drakon's flesh dissolved, and it collapsed into a hollow

scaly tunnel of armor.

 

The rest of us stared at Clarisse in awe. I had never seen anyone take down such

a huge monster single-handedly. But Clarisse didn't seem to care. She ran back

to the wounded girl who'd stolen her armor.

 

Finally Annabeth managed to remove the girl's helmet. We all gathered around:

the Ares campers, Chris, Clarisse, Annabeth, and me. The battle still raged

along Fifth Avenue, but for that moment nothing existed except our small circle