Ch. 7

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Zoë stepped forward with her bow drawn, "A giant who doesn't want to kill us? Who are you?"

The giant continued carving off slabs of Drakon meat completely ignoring the question. Zoë narrowed her eyes in annoyance, "Hey, who are you?" She demanded this time.

The giant stood up, his reddish bronze skin seemed to gleam in the dull light of the pit.

"I am Damasen," he growled. "And I do not take orders from the likes of you little mortal!"

Now….

Percy glanced at Zoë, wondering how exactly she thought pissing off the twenty foot immortal was a good idea.

"Hey, hey, big guy," Percy said lowering his sword. "No one's ordering anyone. You'll have to forgive us, the last half dozen guys we saw that looked like you had a variety of different ideas on how to best prevent our continued breathing."

"Bah!" Damasen grumbled. "Miracle you're still alive as it is. You'd think you'd learn to steer clear by now!"

Percy capped Anaklusmos and held up his hands, "In our defense, you kinda threw a Drakon at us."

Damasen sheathed his dagger and crouched down real low so that he was eye level with Percy.

"You're a mouthy little demigod, aren't ya?"

Percy tried to contain his smirk, "So I've been told. Name's Percy Jackson, nice to meet ya, Damasen." He held out his hand for a shake but the giant stared at him like he was insane…

Given what he was doing, he had a pretty good case.

Damasen narrowed his eyes, "How did you get down here, demigod?"

"We fell," He answered like it wasn't even a big deal. "It kinda sucked. We're looking for the way out… You couldn't point us in the right direction by any chance, could ya?"

"HA!" The giant roared standing up and enjoying a laugh at Percy's expense. "Leave this place? You'll never leave this place, little human."

Percy frowned and shook his head, "Jeez there, Debbie Downer. A simple no would have sufficed."

Damasen stopped laughing and eyed Percy for a minute, sizing him up, which couldn't have taken long considering how much smaller he was.

Damasen glanced from Percy to Zoë and then back to Percy again before he snatched up the last of the Drakon meat, tucking it into his pouch and looking at the two demigods skeptically.

"When was the last time you ate?"

The question froze both of them. To be honest, they had tried to think about food as little as they could, to avoid the unpleasantness of remembering how long it had really been. They had learned shortly after their arrival that Hestia's blessing of home cooked meals did not work down in Tartarus.

Yet another entry on the list for the pleasant surprises of Tartarus.

Percy's stomach grumbled loudly at the mere thought of a meal. Damasen raised an eyebrow looking annoyed at his silence.

"It's been a bit. Why? You know where we could find some take out down here? I've been looking for a Taco Bell or maybe even a McDonalds but so far nothing but half reformed Titans and decaying monsters, which we respectfully passed on."

Damasen turned around and started to walk away. Percy looked at Zoë who was just as confused as him.

"Follow me. You can enlighten me with the story of your journey to this forsaken place in exchange for a hot meal and some hospitality."

"Really?" Percy couldn't stop the words for blurting out.

Zoë stepped up and elbowed him in the ribs.

"We're going with him?" She wasn't nearly as excited at the prospect of following the giant immortal they'd just met.

Percy watched the giant walked away, his much longer legs putting him further and further away by the second.

"What choice do we have? We need to eat and this might be our best chance to find the Doors of Death."

"But," Zoë bit her lip, "he's a giant. This could be a trap."

"This entire place is a trap. We're going to have to risk it."

She hesitated for a second before nodding. They both took off at a jog after the huge lumbering giant. "Bob!" Percy called as they ran.

The big Saber Tooth Tiger's head snapped up from the bone he was gnawing on and bolted after them.

-X-

They followed Damasen for almost twenty minutes. He brought them down the River Styx for a while before a makeshift bridge came into view. After it managed to hold the weight of the giant, they followed where they found themselves in front of a large swamp. In the middle of the swamp was a hut made from what appeared to be large bones and an assortment of swamp grass, leaves and some ugly looking flowers that Percy guessed were found around the nicer parts of Tartarus.

Leading to the hut was a pathway made up of more bones with a layer of leaves to pad the footing a bit.

"Charming little place," Percy whispered but only got a glare in response from Zoë. He had an uncanny ability to make jokes at the worst possible times and following a giant into his hut was not the ideal time to make remarks about his home.

Damasen hadn't even glanced back in their direction, apparently not caring whether they followed him or not. The hut had no door so when the giant disappeared inside, they paused, giving themselves a final chance to change their minds. When neither spoke up, they marched on, stepping into what was a surprisingly cozy little spot considering it was smack dab in the middle of the most terrible place on the planet.

They were even more surprised when they looked around.

In the center blazed a bonfire made of pitch and bone; yet the smoke was white and odorless, rising through the hole in the middle of the ceiling. The floor was covered with dry marsh grass and gray wool rugs. At one end lay a massive bed of sheepskins and Drakon leather. At the other end, freestanding racks were hung with drying plants, cured leather, and what looked like strips of Drakon jerky. The whole place smelled of stew, smoke, basil, and thyme.

The most surprising thing was the herd of sheep huddled in the back of the hut, locked in by a pen.

"You have sheep, in Tartarus?"

Damasen, who was busy laying slabs of Drakon meat on a rack in the back corner, turned towards his sheep, "What?"

"How did you get sheep in Tartarus?" Zoë blurted out before Percy could.

The giant just grunted, "Does it matter? They are here and you would be wise to stay clear of them, they are mine."

Zoë just held up her hands in a passive gesture.

"So, you're like a sheep herder," Percy started awkwardly, "in Tartarus. An interesting occupation considering the rest of the brothers' choice to go into the family business of destroying mortals."

To their surprise, Damasen let out a chuckle.

"I am not what you would call my apple of the mother's eye."

Damasen plodded to the bonfire. He tossed a few pieces of Drakon meat into a hanging pot that seemed to be made from an old monster skull, then picked up a ladle and began to stir.

"So, uh," Percy wasn't sure how to start. "You're not a fan of Gaea?"

Damasen looked down at him, glowering under his bushy red eyebrows. Percy had met large scary humanoids before, but Damasen unsettled him in a different way. He didn't seem hostile. He radiated sorrow and bitterness, as if he were so wrapped up in his own misery that he resented them for trying to make him focus on anything else.

"Sorry," Percy offered. "I wasn't trying to be pushy."

Damasen just waved him off, "Gaea wished me to join my brothers and their war against the Olympians. I was born to oppose Ares; where he is barbaric and warlike, I wished for peace and tranquility."

Percy was a little taken aback. Though he'd only met a couple giants, Damasen was the complete opposite of Polybotes and Alcyoneus.

"If you only want peace, how did you end up here?" Zoë asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Damasen stopped stirring whatever it was he was cooking in his monster skull crock pot and sighed tiredly.

"It's not important."

Percy felt Bob nudge his hip affectionately with an oversized canine. He hadn't even had a chance to digest the fact that the cat he'd just found could transform into the most badass Saber Tooth Tiger ever. From what he'd seen, Bob had a good gauge of threats but the 0grizzly bear sized feline seemed completely at ease around Damasen. Percy took note of that and decided to press his luck a little.

"Well, you want to hear our story, right? Seems only fair if you tell us yours as well."

Damasen shot a look from his spot near the bonfire. When Percy held his gaze, the giant just rolled his eyes.

"When I was on earth, a Drakon came and killed a mortal I had befriended. When I killed the Drakon, my mother banished me to my father's realm and cursed me and my adversary into an eternity of battle, the one thing I had wished to avoid."

"So, that Drakon…" Zoë started before Damasen finished her thought.

"Is the Drakon I killed millennia ago. Every day he appears and seeks me out for battle. Every day I have to kill him before I can continue on."

"Wow that sucks." Percy said bluntly. "Gaea's like the worst Mom ever."

Damasen just shook his head and pulled a couple bowls from a shelf. He used the ladle to scoop out a couple servings and placed them on the floor in front of Percy and Zoë before grabbing one for himself.

Bob whined from his spot next to Percy, drawing an annoyed groan from the giant before he grabbed a slab of meet off the drying rack and threw it on the ground by Bob's feet. The big cat immediately parked himself on the floor and set to work on it.

Damasen tossed a couple odd looking bones on the floor by their bowls before taking a seat on a large stump next to the fire and began to eat whatever it was he had been brewing up.

Zoë looked at the bowl apprehensively. She was about to ask what it was when Percy sat himself Indian style on the floor and scooped up the bone, which was clearly meant to be used as a spoon, and shoveled a big spoonful in his mouth.

"Damn," he exclaimed. "That's pretty good!"

Damasen allowed himself a slightly pleased look before he remembered he was supposed to be brooding and turned stoic.

"Drakon meat stew. I've had a few centuries to perfect the recipe."

Percy brought three fingers to his lips and kissed them, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, but that's some damn good Drakon right there."

Zoë watched Percy, unsure how he could be so at ease with the giant already. But if there was one thing she knew, it was that Percy was a good judge of character. He had never led her awry and she decided now was not the time to question his judgement.

She followed Percy's lead and sat down next to him. She eyed the stew apprehensively but when Percy didn't keel over, her hunger won out.

She was shocked how good it was. It tasted surprisingly similar to bear, a taste she had grown to love in her many centuries as a hunter. Before she realized it, she was scraping the bottom of the bowl, trying to pry out the last morsels of nourishment.

Although far from being full, the sensation of having something in her stomach felt like Elysium. She looked up and found Percy leaning back on his hands, the light of the bonfire flickering off his face and illuminating the large scar running across it.

Though many people might have thought it ruined what was a very handsome face, she thought it only made him more better looking; a reminder of what he'd been through in his life and all he had come to accomplish despite the hardships.

"So," Damasen broke her from her musings. "A hunter of Artemis and a demigod child of Poseidon, together, in Tartarus? A peculiar pair if I'd even seen on." He sounded like he was talking to himself more than to them but then again, she figured he might have been used to having conversations with himself considering his current residence.

"Hades," Percy corrected. "Well, actually, yes Poseidon but more Hades. It's a long story. And how'd you know that?"

Damasen looked up from his bowl and motioned with his spoon for him to continue, ignoring Percy's question completely. He glanced at Zoë but she just nodded her consent to tell him whatever he felt comfortable with.

It took a while and that was only the abbreviated version. Damasen had refilled their bowls right around Percy getting to the part where they first met at the boarding school in Maine and by the time she finished, he'd brought the story up to present time. Zoë was relishing in a feeling of fullness she'd never thought could feel so good.

Damasen was silent for a few minutes, his eyes on the bonfire as they waited for some kind of response from the giant. Finally, Damasen scratched his beard and nodded his head like he was agreeing with them or something.

"Quite the tale you two have. Well worth the cost of a few bowls of Drakon Stew. The fact you survived an encounter with Night is a miracle all in itself."

Percy glanced down at the armor he'd taken off as he told the story, giving his a body a rest from carrying the extra weight of battle armor.

"She was nice. Definitely scary but she saved our lives and even gave us armor for free." Percy added as he stretched his weary legs in front of him.

Damasen smiled but it wasn't friendly, it was more amused like he was hearing something silly only a child would say.

"There's no such thing as free when it comes to anyone in Tartarus. You may not have known it, but Night has a plan for you, a benefit she plans to receive eventually."

Percy's face slackened a little and he frowned at his words, "She's Night. What possible benefit could she receive from two mortals?"

Damasen just shrugged his stocky shoulders, "I do not pretend to know the intentions of Night or anyone in the Pit. I just know there is no such thing as free down here. You will pay at some point, I assure you of that."

Percy looked over a Zoë but she didn't seem nearly as surprised as he was. She was far older and had spent most of her life with immortals of some kind. She knew the wisdom to the giant's words; no immortal gives freely. She hadn't mentioned it to Percy because she didn't want him to have anything else to stress about as they continued on.

"It was a fine story and I am pleased to have heard it. You two may rest here for a while to recover some strength before you continue on." Damasen announced as he got to his feet, setting his bowl down and turning towards the huge bed as the end of the hut.

"Wait," Percy asked. "Surely you of all people would know the way to the Doors of Death. Can't you at least tell us which direction to go in?"

Damasen almost seemed to cringe at him words. He turned slowly towards them which an almost regretful look on his face.

"Directions will do you no good. You would be better to stay as far away from the doors as possible. The only thing you'll find there is certain death."

Percy couldn't keep the scowl off his face, "And what? Live out our days here in Tartarus and not even try to get out of here? Maybe you've made peace with that life but we'd rather die than abandon our friends in the world above!"

Zoë cringed. She was sure the giant would be furious at Percy's clearly insulting words. Her hand drifted towards her bow, prepared to fire so they could make a quick escape.

But instead, the giant's shoulders just seemed to slump. His entire body seeming to deflate before their eyes until he looked far sadder than scary or angry.

"Follow the Styx, it will lead you into the heart of Tartarus. If you make it there alive, you only need to get through several thousand monsters, plus whatever children of Gaea guard the doors, and hide from the eyes of Tartarus itself to find the freedom you seek."

Zoë could feel her own body deflate when she heard what was waiting for them. She had always known in her mind this would be impossible but hearing it so plainly was like a dagger to her heart. She looked at Percy who looked equally defeated.

Damasen also seemed to notice and gathered up a few sheep skins and leathery looking items she could only guess where pillows. He tossed them on the floor by their feet.

"I am weary, we will speak more later. For now, you should rest, you will need it before you venture further."

Before they had a chance to respond, the giant basically collapsed onto his bed and rolled towards the wall. Within seconds, his loud breathing became shallower and the sounds of soft snoring could be heard.

Percy continued staring at the giant, watching him slumber and seemingly deep in thought. Zoë gathered up the sheepskins and pillows and made a makeshift bed behind them to sleep on. She walked back to Percy and silently took a seat next to him.

Without a word, she leaned her head on his shoulder, resting it there as she let him wrestle with whatever was going through his mind. After a few minutes, Percy scooted back onto the blankets and laid his head on a pillow. She followed his lead and laid down facing him, their eyes meeting and staring into each other's for a moment.

"I don't care what lays ahead." Percy finally spoke. "We'll find a way to get through this, just like we always do."

It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than her and it broke her heart when she heard the helplessness in his voice.

She scooted closing until their bodies were touching, their faces only inches apart. She leaned forward and pressed her lips softly to his. Unlike a lot of their kisses, this one wasn't passionate. It was slow and gentle as she tried to express how much she loved him through just this kiss. When they broke apart, she rested her head against his chest and he wrapped him arm around her. Even without uttering a single word, she had made it clear; she loved him and whatever he thought they needed to do, they would do it, together.

A.N: Hectic week for me. I wrote this in pieces which I don't like to do. I like to write chapters in one sitting. I hope it made sense and wasn't too fragmented. Another slow chapter but its building up for their attempt at escape from Tartarus. Next update will be this week. Thanks for sticking with this story, you guys are awesome.