Kronos stomped his foot, and the floor ruptured around Ethan Nakamura. The son

of Nemesis fell through a fissure that went straight through the heart of the

mountain — straight into open air.

 

"So much for him." Kronos picked up his sword. "And now for the rest of you."

 

My only thought was to keep him away from Annabeth.

 

Grover was at her side now. He'd stopped playing and was feeding her ambrosia.

 

Everywhere Kronos stepped, the roots wrapped around his feet, but Grover had

stopped his magic too early. The roots weren't thick or strong enough to do much

more than annoy the Titan.

 

We fought through the hearth, kicking up coals and sparks. Kronos slashed an

armrest off the throne of Ares, which was okay by me, but then he backed me up

to my dad's throne.

 

"Oh, yes," Kronos said. "This one will make fine kindling for my new hearth!"

 

Our blades clashed in a shower of sparks. He was stronger than me, but for the

moment I felt the power of the ocean in my arms. 1 pushed him back and struck

again — slashing Riptide across his breastplate so hard I cut a gash in the

Celestial bronze.