I've had this for a while but I wasn't really happy with it but like whatever right I guess I could fix it later.

Chapter 1

I would've stood there in disbelief forever listening to someone sing about Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain if the doors didn't try to tear themselves open.

It almost seemed like a pleasant surprise, as if Annabeth and Bob and Damasen would somehow walk through to join me, to come to see the sky, to say hello to the stars. Then we'd all meet up with Jason and the others and then we'd go out and celebrate and destroy Gaea and-

Well… That didn't happen. Instead, four translucent shadow tendrils phased through the doors and slowly pushed them apart. The scent of sulfur and ozone entered my cage, and through the gap they made I saw the Darkness between the world of monsters and the mortal realm.

Darkness. It chilled me to the very bone, a deep void that reminded me of Tartarus' swirling vortex of a face. I remembered how it had consumed everything, the ravenous pit of despair and pain that had nearly swallowed Iapetus; that had utterly disintegrated the two Titans Krios and Hyperion. I knew if the doors opened it would flood inside, devouring my body, my soul, everything I ever was and leaving nothing behind. But more than fear… I felt anger.

I brought Riptide down on the black tendrils. It went right through them.

That told me a few things. Ghosts and spirits were also intangible, purely supernatural beings that normal physical objects couldn't affect. Despite that, Celestial Bronze existed in both magical and physical realms of existence. Riptide had no trouble cutting spirits down. On the other hand Mortal beings were considered unworthy, too insignificant for Celestial Bronze to actually affect; like if you tried trying to crush bacteria under your shoes.

I had a feeling whatever these things were, they weren't the bacteria in this case and the thought of them existing above Anaklusmos' enchanted blade scared me even more.

I shoved Annabeth's necklace into my left pocket and tried to grip the elevator doors but they were too smooth and my hands were too slick with blood. The arms had pulled the doors six inches apart in as many seconds. Nevermind twelve minutes, at this rate I wouldn't last twelve more seconds.

I held Riptide up and sunk it up to the hilt in the right door. Then I struck the left door three times hard enough to dent it and did my best to push my fingers inside the small craters.

"Please please please don't mess anything up…" I mumbled as I pushed the doors closer together. Thankfully it didn't take much effort; the ghost arms didn't seem much stronger than a normal person. Then the doors shook and another pair of arms appeared. It didn't add much force but after another ten seconds two more tendrils showed up and pushed on either door. Then another pair…

One minute passed and I was already struggling to keep the doors closed. Every ten seconds another pair would join them in pushing. The next minute, they began to steadily push the doors apart. I yelled in outrage. No, I can't it's- I thought of Annabeth and pushed harder. I'll come back Annabeth, I'll come back and tear Tartarus apart and bring you back!

I roared, the entire elevator shook as I wrestled the darkness for control. The steel doors groaned and lights flickered, the song about Pina Coladas sounding more and more warped, grating against my ears.

Then I lost. My arms collapsed in exhaustion as the black tendrils grew stronger than ever, and in the blink of an eye the doors were torn open. I felt Riptide cut a gash through the doors and I was dragged out in darkness.

Annabeth I…!

I closed my eyes, prepared for utter annihilation and…

Nothing happened. My heart pounded fast enough that it was less of a beat and more like a single continuous note. After a few seconds I worked up the courage to open my eyes.

It was almost too dark to see. Even my demigod eyes could only barely make out debris; it would take a while for them to adjust. I reached inside my right pocket and was disappointed to feel nothing. Either I'd dropped Riptide somewhere or it had been left behind. Instead I crouched down and rapped my knuckles against the hard floor, the stone cracking beneath my fists. The echoes helped me determine that I was in a room. Genius right? At least it wasn't a cave.

Anyways, from the way the sounds bounced back the room must've been huge. It had a kind of domed roof and- I patted my pants again. This time I felt Riptide's pen form in my pocket. I pulled it out and uncapped it- revealing the three foot long celestial bronze blade. It glowed with an ancient energy and dimly lit the surrounding area.

The light revealed where I was standing in- a square depression in the ground filled with cracks that couldn't have been more than a few inches in depth. At roughly five feet by five feet I probably would've tripped and fallen on my face after a few steps if I had tried to walk in the dark.

The floor was riddled with craters and gashes worn down by the passage of time. It reminded me of- a lot of places actually. It wasn't uncommon for battles to leave that kind of damage, especially when one was fighting giant monsters.

So that means I made it. Had I miscounted? I didn't think I was even a quarter of the way through the twelve minutes but somehow… Then this must be… the House of Hades? The Necro-whatsit that Nico told me about? He was supposed to lead the group here.

That must mean they're late. Or had they come early and I was late? Or maybe… I shook my head.

They weren't here right now and neither were any monsters. As much as I wanted to see them I needed a break. I sat down and cleared my mind.

She was still down there. Now that I was back in the Mortal world, Damasen should've taken Annabeth and Bob back to his home after stalling for he twelve minutes right? Annabeth… I grit my teeth and blinked the tears away. I knelt and hit the ground like an angry child.

"You damn idiot!" I yelled as I struck the ground again. "How could you let that happen! Annabeth how could you…? After everything- how could you make me abandon you damn it!"

I yelled some more. Incomprehensible things, I didn't understand half of what I was saying but it made me feel better so I didn't stop. I would've been glad no one was there to watch my tantrum if I had anything else but her on my thoughts. I knew I was being a hypocrite considering I had been planning something similar but…

Now she was stuck down in Tartarus and the Doors were gone. I grimaced. I wasn't exactly excited to dive back down there but…

I couldn't save her right now. I'd find a way but there wasn't a clear path to saving private girlfriend right now so I'd have to settle with saving the world like she told me to. She was resourceful anyways, I wouldn't be surprised if she showed up one day to slap me upside the head for thinking she'd lost.

"Alright!" I said, trying and failing to stay upbeat. "Now, where's the exit…?"

xXxXx

I walked around for almost a full hour before I found a way out, almost collapsing twice but otherwise doing well. Eventually I somehow fumbled my way out into the moonlight, into the cold winter air, my tattered clothes hardly helping. It was far brighter than you'd find out in a place like Manhattan. Whether that was because I was out in the country or because…

Would it be moonslight? I mused as I gazed up at the two strangely colored objects floating in the night sky.

Alright. That took the gold medal for weirdest thing I've ever seen period. Never mind gods and monsters and a Hell below Hell for those gods and monsters. That was all hidden beneath the Mist but this?

"Two moons." I mumbled. Isn't it a little weird that the big ones green and the small one's red isn't it? Did something happen to Artemis?

It was definitely strange and probably would've worried anyone else but hey; at least they weren't trying to kill me. Yet. Hopefully the Mist would keep Mortals from seeing that. I didn't know how they'd react but even I was pretty rattled; and when someonethat dealt with magic and monsters on a daily basis paused at something I figured the Mortals would be having a bad time.

I shook my head head and forced myself to stop gawking. A hundred yards ahead of me was a river slowly making its way west. Or at least I thought it was west, basing it off the position of the moon, a skill I'd learned at camp; but considering it was a bit different now…?

I gingerly stepped across the snow and hesitantly took a step into the river, my first bath in however long. I instantly felt strength surge through my limbs, exhaustion melting away as I flexed my long nimble fingers while the burst of energy staved off the cold. I stretched, enjoying the feeling of renewed vitality but I knew it wouldn't last.

I followed the flow of the river to where I thought was west. Thanks to my heritage I could swim faster than most people could run, even on this kind of exhausting day. Annabeth said it could have been due to the water drag decreasing and increasing wherever it could help, along with the increase in strength to propel me forward. I didn't really understand it but she eventually dumbed it down to swimming through air and hulk jumping off of a brick wall, though that image just made me laugh and exasperate her.

After an hour of boring travel, I nearly gagged at the smell of smoke and stopped. I popped my head out of the water to see a medieval village (Annabeth mentioned something called hamlets but I forgot if it was about small towns or some ancient play) with a few buildings that had massive burning holes in them, like an angry flaming bulldozer had come to visit. Plumes of smog escaped into the night sky as screams of pain and outrage almost as thick as the smoke filled the air. I saw a dark figure easily seven feet tall through the flames roaring with glee, eyes gleaming in pleasure. Those eyes… that roar… it wasn't a clone but it reminded me of…

I grinned wildly, almost glad this thing was here. I had a few issues to work out and killing a monster was always a good way to blow off steam. I jumped out of the river, feeling the waters caress fade away as the energy and strength I'd gained disappeared. Exhaustion flooded back into my limbs but I still felt better than I had in that temple. My wounds were gone, curses cured and the screams of fear had me charging at full speed towards unknown danger.

The smell of blood invaded my nostrils and I nearly stumbled before taking cover behind a building. I uncapped Riptide, its glowing blade hopefully hidden by the bright flames. I peeked out and nearly threw up. Gore littered the floor, over a dozen, misshapen, men, women and children surrounded a blood red demon. Massive bat wings covered its back but it otherwise looked like a normal pig headed bodybuilder. It faced down at the ground in my direction but seemed… occupied.

In its hand was a small long dead body, too charred to make out many features. The demon chewed on whoever it had been, occasionally tearing off limbs and chunks of flesh with each bite; in its other hand it pinned a naked girl covered in blood who couldn't have much older than me to the ground. She was already...

A boy who couldn't have been more than fifteen stood behind it, exhausting himself by trying to stab it with a pitchfork. Instead of drawing blood, the monsters skin would only bend slightly at the sharp points and then rebound. The demons pig face snorted, muscles rippling; then he flapped his wings, the gust of wind stirring up the flames and knocking the boy over.

"Bastard get off her!" The boy snarled as he stood back up and stabbed at the demon sides until the pitchfork's shaft snapped in two. "I'll kill you!"

I shook and grit my teeth. If I had to guess the only reason it hadn't sensed me yet was because of all the smoke. I flexed my fingers, mentally pitting my current strength against the pig demon. I wasn't sure if I could defeat it and survive in my condition. As much as I hated it I'd have to be smart, wait for an opportunity and-

The monster bellowed as the rest of the pitchfork was embedded into his left eye. He glared with his other eye and drew a massive hand back. The boy dove to the side, the strike barely grazing him, but the force still blew his body back nearly a dozen feet. He groaned as blood dripped from the arm the demon hit, unconscious but alive, if only barely. The scarlet demon snarled, more angry than hurt, and let go of everything they held in their hands. He stumbled over towards him with surprising speed, raising a beefy arm capable of shattering stone.

Well damn. I wasn't much for that "smart" thing anyways.

I stepped out from behind the house and threw my sword as hard as I could. Riptide flew in a straight arc that cut his right wing off and embedded itself nearly a foot deep right below the shoulder blade. He roared in pain and turned towards me. His remaining eye blazed with anger as his wounds sizzled from the touch of Celestial Bronze.

He glowered and took a step towards me, pig nose sniffing intently despite the smoke. It paused for a heartbeat, beady eyes peering at me- or into me, into what I was. He snorted and planted his feet like a sumo wrestler as if to charge. Instead, it squatted and brought its hands down hard enough to leave holes in the ground.

He was still, only emitting a soft mumble- but I knew that wouldn't last.

I started to step backwards, cautiously making my way back towards the river. The water would give me an advantage, even if I still wasn't at full strength. As I was now I'd just get myself killed nevermind saving that kid. After a few steps my eyes widened as the meaning of the demons chant dawned on me. Sagitta Inflamarea Raedius. Wasn't that latin for-

Emergere! He snarled as a white hot torrent of flames flashed from his gaping mouth and slammed into my chest. I flew back, flying past the river into a tree with a sickening crunch, from the cracked wood or my snapped ribs or both I couldn't tell.

Ouch. I thought. Maybe I should've taken a nap before fighting some devilman.

I plopped painfully to the ground and tried to catch my breath. Rather than inhaling I coughed out a worrying amount of blood as I blinked stars out of my eyes. The demon moved towards me in cautious strides. Until it saw specks of my blood hit the floor. He seemed to like that and flashed a savage grin, pouncing with the speed of a tiger. He was fifteen yards away but his bulging muscles straining beneath the skin would have propelled it right on top of me.

Instead, just before he made it halfway I painfully reached out towards the river. My insides churned in protest but I forced the river to obey. A wave struck the demon hard enough to smash trees into kindling. It was just enough to halt its momentum, but I didn't stop, willing the tide of water to reverse. Pig face was dragged helplessly to the bottom of the river. I felt it struggle against the water but I put Annabeth's scientific theories to good use.

When it flapped it wings and clawed at the water in a desperate attempt to swim back to the surface, I lowered the drag of the water until it was more like grasping at air. When it brought its feet to the muddy riverbed I increased that drag until it was more solid then liquid; its desperate jumps becoming nothing more than little hops, sharp talons not even breaking the surface. When it continued relentlessly I forced water down its throat and through its nostrils.

I wheezed with effort, right now even "softening" the water was hard; challenging force with force took even more energy but I barely managed to hold on until the thrashing stopped. I sighed with relief, bloody puffs escaping my lips. Controlling an entire river wasn't a pleasant experience even outside of my unnatural exhaustion. I noticed that the demons body hadn't disintegrated but I set the thought aside.

"Ugh." I moaned, reluctantly feeling my ribs. Three were cracked or worse, and unfortunately I recognized the pain of a punctured lung. "Can't a guy catch a break?" I whined to whatever god was listening. Sounds of crackling filled the air and I remembered the burning buildings. "Hah, guess not…"

I coughed some more and painfully brought myself into the river with the help of some water tendrils, the touch of water melting the exhaustion away. With the feeling of two liters of pure blue coke along with the unhealthy amounts of caffeine that entailed flowing through my veins, I floated waist up above the water and summoned a spray of water to douse the flames. Within seconds the houses looked good as new, ignoring the charred wood and massive holes.

I pulled my upper body out onto land and felt exhaustion setting in despite the rest of the waters touch. Oh boy, I thought, this is gonna hurt.

Eventually I forced myself out and somehow prevented my knees buckling against my weight. The lone survivor was still where the Demon left them. I cleaned him up as best as I could and took them into the nearest house that wasn't on fire. Ignoring the flashes in my gut, I called over an orb of water from the river while stitching the gash on his arm.

Thank the gods they were unconscious. The boys arm had a simple fracture but it wouldn't heal quickly. After washing the blood off their bodies, drying them with a flick of the wrist and bandaging them with torn clothing, I lit the fireplace to burn the winter night air away.

I gazed out the window up at moons in thought.

Monsters. They were old even when the first human took their first steps. I knew they were capable of horrible things but I'd never actually seen them do something like this. It scared me to think of what had been going on behind the scenes, all the hurt Mortals I couldn't save.

And with that I collapsed on the hard floor, falling straight into the terrible dreams the gods always sent my way.