*You are currently reading the newly edited-spaced out version catered especially for you and your comfort reading*
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy, Annabeth, Leo or anybody else in PJO and HOO, Rick Riordan does, so hurray for him!
Annabeth
All Annabeth felt was that she was falling, falling , falling. It was as if she was on a massive never-ending rollercoaster ride, with lots of unexpected twists and turns, with horrors from the great unknown.
Around her wrist, she could feel Percy's tight knuckled grip on her. She could barely make out his face, but she knew he was straining under the effort of keeping them both together.
Like what Nico had said, the feeling of being in Tartarus was almost unbearable to the utmost point. The pit had seemingly sucked her in and was trying to separate her from Percy.
She could feel the tension of the pulling force of the pit trying to draw her away from Percy. Annabeth didn't know how to explain that feeling, it was just there. Like some evil magnet.
Gods, that sounded hilarious in such a dire situation. That thought just made her imagine that Tartarus, the spirit of the abyss, was a giant horseshoe magnet, separating all kinds of forces from each other, making that individual more helpless and less of a threat.
The thought had seemingly lifted her spirits lightly as she imagined some sort of cartoon magnet with cute eyes in it drawing(attracting?)the evil looking dude(s) away from each other. But now wasn't the time for her to be separated, she couldn't leave Percy now.
After he willingly jumped into Tartarus with her just to stay with her was just too good of him. She would have given her life just to save Percy and now she knew Percy would do the same for her.
Being down here in Tartarus was just as good as death, for they didn't know what uncharted dangers lay ahead. Even Nico as the son of the death god had found it so unbearable he'd almost lost his sanity.
Now isn't the time for this, you have to focus and keep calm, it's Gaia that is messing with your head. You are a child of a Athena, one which has accomplished a task no one else could, you can do this.
Annabeth told herself this while she squeezed Percy's hand reassuringly, or at least tried to. She could feel the force of the spirit of Tartarus getting stronger the more she tried to fight.
She cringed when she felt a sharp pain flare up in her ankle. She was so worried about the Percy that she'd almost forgot it. Almost. She'd slammed into the dusty marble tiled surface of the floor.
Did Tartarus even have a floor? The myths said it was a never ending pit for the evil. She thought as she struggled to stand. Her ankle could not seem to bear her weight.
After a few more futile attempts, she gave up and slumped onto the floor next to Percy, who was knocked unconscious. Her breathing was getting faster, much more rapid than before.
She could literally feel her pulse drumming in her wrist. Annabeth was never claustrophobic, but this place seemed like an enclosed area and she struggled to even breathe.
Suddenly, she saw a light flicker on and off at the farthest corner of the room. She was starting to freak out. Her forehead was beaded in cold sweat and her hands turned clammy.
The light seemed to be getting closer with every second which was impossible. Lights don't move. Suddenly, she could feel the light flooding her face and she could see clearly again.
The owner of the lamp was none other than Nico? She thought to herself: but that can't be him, Percy had rescued him already, why would be in Tartarus of all places?
The Nico in Tartarus said, "Come with me Annabeth, I will show you the way out from here, after all I am the ghost king, no ghost from the Underworld can stop me. Besides this is just the Labyrinth, I can navigate this place as easily as Theseus did even without Adrianne's string."
"What?" Annabeth said disbelievingly. "We are not in the Labyrinth, we got out of there some time ago, we are in Tartarus now."
The Nico in Tartarus replied her, in a strange and raspy voice that did not sound like him. "Ah two demigods in Tartarus, you must have done something bad to be thrown into here.
I take the form of whoever in your memory you feel indebted to, you must have done something to make you feel that guilty. But never fear, I will help this world by devouring you for I am Mormo, a spirit and the companion of Hecate.
I always did this world service, didn't you read the myths child? I always bite the bad children who cause trouble, Zeus has banished me down here because I was once unstoppable when I went round biting children.
But no matter, I will have my revenge by devouring the two of you oh yes. I know you are vital in this quest to stop Gaia from rising, but for me, let Gaia rise.
It's not like the gods have done me any good, they just threw me down here and locked me away. Even Hecate didn't lift a finger to help me." There was something in his(its?) voice that bothered Annabeth, Mormo didn't sound like it was just going to bite them, it made it sound like he was going to eat them whole.
Sensing Annabeth's discomfort, Mormo laughed, relishing the moment. "You are in my territory now, there is no escape. But, it's a shame to just eat you and let all your sufferings end, oh no, I will make this torture for you and that demigod until your very last breath. Its only fair after what Zeus did to me is it not?"
Annabeth was right, it had wanted to eat her. "Hold on a second," she said, as her mind whirled around like a whirlpool, struggling for any information that might help her. "You work for Gaia right? I mean Gaia is your patron right?"
"Yes." Mormo replied with distaste. "But even so, you cannot stop me!"
Annabeth quickly replied, "But during our quests, many of Gaia's minions have told us that Gaia had particularly wanted us to be killed before her as she rose. If you ate us now, wouldn't you not be acting according her orders?"
"I am no minion nor servant of anyone. I serve nobody!" Mormo replied. "Since Hecate didn't help me when I was in trouble, I'd learned during my time here that having a master was as good as being treated like a slave. Companion of Hecate. What rubbish indeed. That title was only given to me as a so-called consolation price of being sent down here for the rest of eternity. I serve no one I tell you!"
By this time Percy had already started to rouse. "What.." he said drowsily. Annabeth had quickly shushed him. The reaction that Mormo was giving was exactly what she'd wanted.
"I guess you are correct then Mormo, if Gaia truly cared for you, she would've brought you back into the world of the living would she not? Maybe she's just using you as a pawn, just like us. If you kill us now, Gaia's chances of success would be even higher. If you spare our life, we could still have a chance to defeat Gaia and we could get an amnesty from Zeus for you. Isn't it a win win situation?"
Mormo said, "Come to think of it, it is a good idea. I'll think about it." After saying this she turned her back on Annabeth and started muttering to himself(itself?). Annabeth steeled herself for the inevitable.
She knew she had to do it if she wanted Percy and her to live. Gripping her celestial bronze knife tightly in her hand, she advanced slowly to the spirit. "Sorry Nico!" she yelled as she plunged her knife into the abdomen of the spirit.
Mormo stared at her with bloodshot eyes. If looks could kill, she would've been dead a long time ago. "Trickery, demigod. You may have banished me for now, but I will be back soon.
Even if Gaia doesn't bring me back up into the world of the living, I will be back soon to haunt you." She said, almost bloodthirstily. The side of its abdomen which was supposedly hurt was healing rapidly.
Could spirits die in Tartarus, since the essence of them will return to Tartarus whenever killed. Annabeth didn't have time to ponder over this as Mormo was slowly but surely starting to reform.
It might be hurt, but it was still strong enough to pursue them. Grabbing Percy's hand, she helped him to stand. "Run!" she said before she heard that spine-chilling scream.
As they ran to the farthest corner of the room, the wall slid open for them revealing a narrow passageway. They could hear Mormo cackling behind them as it drew closer and closer to them.
With no other choice, Annabeth dragged Percy into the passageway with her. The wall slid back silently behind her closing all ways of returning back to the room. She could no longer hear Mormo, but instead was faced with an unearthly silence.
Finally Percy spoke, "It seems like we are back in the Labyrinth again."
Tada! Now R&R please, it would really make my day! Now that I actually write, I have realised thy power of thou art's review button!
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