Audentis Fortuna Iuvat

There was no pain.

The world was faded - out of focus. Shrapnel was flying but it seemed to be in slow motion. It was all one big, blurry moment. The bang was too loud to comprehend - but it didn't hurt. After a split second of overwhelming noise I simply stopped hearing it, or anything else.

Dust and black plaster settled around us in a cloud of black as we struggled to view the carnage. The marble monsters were gone. All that was left were chunks of stone that vaguely resembled arms and legs. For a terrifying moment I tripped over what might have been a face. But there was something missing in the room - Jason and Crius weren't there.

I saw the other's yelling at each other but I couldn't hear them. All I saw were the large footprints in the sooty dust leading off down a side path, which I grimly followed, sword swinging in my hands.

Blood was roaring in my ears. If Jason was hurt then that Titan was going to get it. 'It' strongly involving some of my favourite weapons and a whole lot of Titan ichor. Not a pretty image, but I've never claimed for anger to bring me rationality.

The footsteps ended where the dust did, a few mere metres into the hallway. After a few seconds I decided to take my chances and continue down the passage. Which turned out to be quite a smart decision for one made in my deaf, dizzy and angry state.

It opened into another huge room; a throne room. There was a huge black throne in the centre of the room, with a golden sarcophagus-style coffin before it. The room was of the same monotone black marble and the room was bare of any other furnishings, save the braziers that flickered with orange flame. Of course, I didn't notice any of this until after the battle for when I first faced the room, my vision was blocked by the luminous titan Crius with Jason dodging around his feet.

My ears were ringing, but the roar of their voices was still audible beneath it. Jason told me later that they had been yelling, but to me all I heard was a whisper.

"Why won't you just die?" Crius roared in frustration, swiping at Jason with a huge fist.

"Well that's a little rude." Jason chided, ducking and rolling. "How would you feel if that actually happened?"

"Happy!" Crius roared.

Jason clucked his tongue and raked his sword across the Titan's achilles tendons. "The correct answer is guilty."

Crius cried out and crashed to his knees. "Filthy. Demigod!" He yelled between laboured breaths, struggling to his feet.

Jason climbed up the Titan's shoulder like a monkey and through the brightness emanated by Crius I could see Jason slice off his ear. "I'll have you know I bathed yesterday!" He told the sun god before drawing his blade across his throat. Crius let out one last bellow of pain and errupted into a shower of golden light.

"Jason!" I cried, making out his falling form amongst the sparks.

I ran towards him but I already heard the sickening 'THWACK!' of his body hitting the floor.

"Jason!" The panic in my voice was obvious, even to my own throbbing ears.

He rolled to his feet and straightened his helmet with a reckless grin. "That was fun!" He cheered.

"You idiot!" I told him, (using a few words maybe a little stronger than idiot) and crushing him in a hug.

I let him go as the others rushed into the room and he pulled a face at me. The boy was still too manly for hugs.

"Where's the Titan?" Anthony blinked at the empty room.

"Gone." Jason said. A grin crept onto my face at the realisation that it was over. We had won.

"Gone?" Leila asked. "But... you killed him?"

Jason rubbed at his neck, sending his helmet tipping off his head again. "Killed is a pretty strong word..."

Light sparked into all of our eyes and a single collective breath was released that we didn't realise we'd been holding in. Aliyah and Lee began crying, Dakota pulled Leila into a tight hug, Colin and Anthony exchanged a relieved smile and I pushed Jason's helmet back into place.

"Good job, little brother." I told him.

He looked up at me. "Little brother?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Well I'm not about to start calling you uncle, am I, kid?"

He rolled his eyes, but his face had the same smile that was shared on all of ours.

It was over.

Nearly.

Notes