3rd Person POV

He was really starting to hate trees, no offence to Demeter or Persephone even though the ugly trees weren't really something they would tend to. Whoever created this hell hole must have a sick sense of humor and a tree fetish.

Percy felt small with the darkness looming over him. So he tried to concentrate on moving the water inside the bottles. His eyes widened in shock.

He felt nothing, no warm or gut wrenching sensation. Nothing….

"Are you ok?" Lily's sudden voice made him jump.

"Yeah." Percy said, but deep inside his mind he was questioning it.

I don't think it is fair for the Bane of Kronos, the Hero of Olympus, to use his power as an advantage, now would I?

Percy looked over his shoulders, but Lily gave no sign that she heard anything.

Who are you? Percy mentally thought as he gritted his teeth.

Me? I am everything, yet I am nothing. I guess you can call me Nobody.

That is totally not confusing and original. Now Percy knew how angry Polyphemus felt when Annabeth and him decided to trick the cyclops by using the "Nobody" trick.

So you are a sarcastic one. Let's see how long that last until you shed your skin…

Now that is just disgusting.

. and finally expose your true self. Maybe then your demon will finally come out and reveals itself, especially after the things you will face….

What do you mean? What things?

Only the rustling of the trees answered him and he mentally cursed until he heard some yells and screams.

"Look there are some people." Percy began to go towards them before Lily pulled him back.

"What…" But before Percy could scowl at her she ran to the nearest tree.

"Look." Lily whispered as she hid behind the rough bark of the tree and Percy followed in suit.

Something was wrong. Even before he heard the screams, the red fire, the black wings….Something wasn't adding up.

Percy had to squint to see the figures circling the fire. He had to pinch himself to check if he was in a dream. No a nightmare.

Five people sat down, cross legged, with black ragged wings flapping to and fro. But that wasn't the creepy thing.

Percy frowned. It reminded him of a cult, but without the hood or chants. But didn't cults also have sacrifices…

He finally took in the object in the center of the circle. It was squirming, pleading. It was a person wearing the same hospital gown he and Lily had on. The thought of it made him nauseous.

Without warning the demons' eyes opened and Percy noted how their seemingly eyes reminded him of an endless pit. They had no pupil, it was as if their eyes were hollowed out, yet it still managed reflected the fiery red fire, making them look like insane demons.

"When he meant demon, I didn't think he mean real ones." He mummered before he started to trudge forward. But he was stopped by Lily who blocked his way. "I have to save him!"

"You can't Percy!" Her expression was serious and firm, yet her eyes were pleading with him to trust her. "It is suicidal and stupid. Even I want to help him, but…"

She turned away from him scared to face the despair and anguish she would see on his face.

Percy angry expression quickly morphed into a frown and his eyes were void of emotions. He reached for the pockets of his jeans, yet they weren't there. That was when he realized that they were defenseless. He had no jeans, just a white hospital gown that anyone could see in the darkness around them.

They had no swords nor shield, and their food and water would no doubt be gone within days.

Despite the raging fire and the yells of the unfortunate sacrificial victim, his mind was somewhere far away in the past.

He felt helpless.

So helpless and defenseless. The guilt was eating him away, it stung him and he winced as the image of Beckendorf's final moment came to his mind.

Percy was in the middle of the ocean. He was back on the Andromeda, facing Luke. He was seeing Beckendorf death all over again.

Percy finally turned his attention away from the scene unfolding in front of him.

"We..We should get going then." Percy grimaced as he began to walk away.

He saw Lily sulking as she looked back. Fear and guilt danced within her red eyes.

"It is not your fault." Percy grabbed her and tightened his hold on her trembling hands. His expression was suddenly soft as he gave her a small smile. "Let's go."

Despite his softness, Lily didn't fail to notice when Percy cringed at the scream and the smell of burned flesh that soon followed.

Lily grabbed onto his sleeve with a wavering voice. "I am sorry."

"Do I have to say it twice? It is not your fault." Percy sighed. "It is kind of funny how much death I had seen. Yet it always disgust me."

"Is it always so….revolting? No matter how much you see it?" Her voice was just above a whisper.

"Sadly yes. I still haven't gotten use to it"

Little did he know that was about to change...