Vs Iapetus

“Die in pain, mortal!” Before I could raise my sword for defense, another daimon’s claws raked my shoulder. If I’d been wearing armor, no problem, but I was still in my school uniform. The thing’s talons sliced open my shirt and tore into my skin. My whole left side seemed to explode in pain. Nico kicked the monster away and stabbed it. All I could do was collapse and curl into a ball, trying to endure the horrible burning.

“Hold still, Percy,” Thalia said. “You’ll be fine.” But the quiver in her voice told me the wound was bad. Nico touched it and I yelled in pain. “Nectar,” he said. “I’m pouring nectar on it.” He uncorked a bottle of the godly drink and trickled it across my shoulder. This was dangerous—just a sip of the stuff is all most demigods could stand—but immediately the pain eased. Together, Nico and Thalia dressed the wound, and I passed out only a few times. I couldn’t judge how much time went by, but the next thing I remember I was propped up with my back against a rock. My shoulder was bandaged. Thalia was feeding me tiny squares of chocolate-flavored ambrosia.

“The Keres will be back,” he warned. He looked at my shoulder with concern. “That wound . . . the Keres are spirits of disease and pestilence as well as violence. We can slow down the infection, but eventually you’ll need serious healing. I mean a god’s power. Otherwise . . .” He didn’t finish the thought. “I’ll be fine.” I tried to sit up and immediately felt nauseous. “Slow,” Thalia said. “You need rest before you can move.” “There’s no time.” I looked at the carnation. “One of the daimones mentioned Iapetus. Am I remembering right? That’s a Titan?”

I struggled to my feet. A wave of nausea almost made me black out, but Thalia grabbed me. “Percy,” she said, “you’re in no condition—” “I have to be.”

I raised my arms like I was lifting something over my head. My bad shoulder burned like lava, but I tried to ignore it.
“Go,” I said. “I can’t hold this for long.” Yellow spots danced in front of my eyes. My wounded shoulder nearly screamed in pain.

The Titan whirled on him. “FLEE? Did you say FLEE?” The ground rumbled. Ethan fell on his butt and scrambled backward. The unfinished sword of Hades clattered to the rocks. “M-m-master, please—” “IAPETUS DOES NOT FLEE! I have waited three eons to be summoned from the pit. I want revenge, and I will start by killing these weaklings!” He leveled his spear at me and charged. If he’d been at full strength, I have no doubt he would’ve pierced me right through the middle. Even weakened and just out of the pit, the guy was fast. He moved like a tornado, slashing so quickly I barely had time to dodge the strike before his spear impaled the rock where I’d been standing. I was so dizzy I could barely hold my sword. Iapetus yanked the spear out of the ground, but as he turned to face me, Thalia shot his flank full of arrows, from his shoulder to his knee. He roared and turned on her, looking more angry than wounded.

Iapetus whirled and the shaft of his spear slammed into me, sending me flying. I crashed into the rocks, right next to the River Lethe. “YOU DIE FIRST!” Iapetus roared

Iapetus sat up and stared at him. Then he looked at me and smiled. “Hello,” he said. “Who am I?” “You’re my friend,” I blurted out. “You’re . . . Bob.” That seemed to please him greatly. “I am your friend Bob!”

TDF pg.98-100,103,109,110