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The wind rustled through the sunflowers The horses paced in agitation Despite the dry, hot day, Piper shivered A cold feeling…Annabeth and Leo had both described a cold feeling…
"Bacchus is right," she said "We need to leave--"
Too late, said a sleepy voice, hu in the ground at Piper’s feet
Percy and Jason drew their swords Piper stood on the road between them, frozen with fear The power of Gaea was suddenly everywhere The sunflowers turned to look at them The wheat bent toward them like a million scythes
Welcome to rowing--a crackling, hissing, hot and persistent noise she used to hear at Grandpa Tohts in Oklahooddess anic snacks? Yes For od, and the blood of a male Piper, my dear, choose which hero will die with you
"Gaea!" Jason yelled "Stop hiding in the wheat Show yourself!"
Such bravado, Gaea hissed But the other one, Percy Jackson, also has appeal Choose, Piper McLean, or I will
Piper’s heart raced Gaea meant to kill her That was no surprise But as this about choosing one of the boys? Why would Gaea let either of theo? It had to be a trap
"You’re insane!" she shouted "I’asped He sat up straight in his saddle
"Jason!" Piper cried "What’s wrong--?"
He looked down at her, his expression deadly calold
"Percy, help!" Piper stualloped away from theasus around He raised his sword and pointed the tip toward Jason
"One will die," Percy said, but the voice wasn’t his It was deep and hollow, like so from inside the barrel of a cannon
"I will choose," Jason answered, in the same hollow voice
"No!" Piper yelled
All around her, the fields crackled and hissed, laughing in Gaea’s voice as Percy and Jason charged at each other, their weapons ready
Chapter 11
If not for the horses, Piper would’ve died
Jason and Percy charged each other, but Teh for Piper to leap out of the way
She rolled to the edge of the road and looked back, dazed and horrified, as the boys crossed swords, gold against bronze Sparks flew Their blades blurred--strike and parry--and the pavee took only a second, but Piper couldn’t believe the speed of their sword fighting The horses pulled away fro in protest, Blackjack flapping his wings
"Stop it!" Piper yelled
For a olden eyes turned toward her, and Percy charged, slaods, Percy turned his sword--maybe on purpose, maybe accidentally--so the flat of it hit Jason’s chest; but the ih to knock Jason off his mount
Blackjack cantered away as Teed into the sunflowers and dissipated into vapor
Percy struggled to turn his pegasus around
"Percy!" Piper yelled "Jason’s your friend Drop your weapon!"
Percy’s sword ar hiot to his feet
Jason roared A bolt of lightning arced out of the clear blue sky It ricocheted off his gladius and blasted Percy off his horse
Blackjack whinnied and fled into the wheat fields Jason charged at Percy, as now on his back, his clothes s blast
For a horrible moment, Piper couldn’t find her voice Gaea see to her: You must choose one Why not let Jason kill him?
"No!" she screamed "Jason, stop!"
He froze, his sword six inches froht in his eyes flickering uncertainly "I cannot stop Oneabout that voice…it wasn’t Gaea It wasn’t Jason Whoever it was spoke haltingly, as if English was its second language
"Who are you?" Piper deruesoain"
"Eidolons… ?" Piper’s mind raced She’d studied all sorts of monsters at Camp Half-Blood, but that terhost?"
"He must die" Jason turned his attention back to Percy, but Percy had recoveredand knocked Jason off his feet
Jason’s head hit the asphalt with a nauseating conk
Percy rose
"Stop it!" Piper screaain, but there was no char in sheer desperation
Percy raised Riptide over Jason’s chest
Panic closed up Piper’s throat She wanted to attack Percy with her dagger, but she knew that wouldn’t help Whatever was controlling him had all of Percy’s skill There was no way she could beat him in combat
She forced herself to focus She poured all of her anger into her voice "Eidolon, stop"
Percy froze
"Face od turned His eyes were gold instead of green, his face pale and cruel, not at all like Percy’s