Chapter 9

PERCY'S POV

Nick and Nico walked hand in hand before climbing on their respective horses. I shook my head smiling despite myself. Nico looked happier than he'd ever been. This was a rare side of him I was seeing and apparently all he needed was someone to love. I climbed on my on horse a little nervously and we continued on our way.

Not much later we were forced to leave the horses in a clearing devoid of trees so as to not draw attention to ourselves in a major city like Los Angeles. As we wandered down street after street following behind Nico, I began to wonder if he knew where to go. "Um...Nico?" I asked hesitantly. "Hmm?" ,he answered not quite looking back he seemed to be happily lost in thought. "Do you even know where we are going?" Nico stopped then and looked back at me and then turned to Nick. "Can we just shadow travel to the Underworld?" Nick nodded and smiled. We turn down an alley that appeared to be deserted but farther down we saw to our dismay that a group of oversized children were arguing in deep voices that shocked me before I collected myself. "Something doesn't feel right..." Nick stated in a barely audible whisper.

No sooner had the words left his mouth the group of rag tag kids turned our way sniffing the air excitedly. "I smell halfblood!" one yelled delightedly as realization dawned on me. My miind scrambled to understand what was happening. Looking closer at the now advancing trio as the other quartet hung back as if waiting for the second stanza to join in, I realized these were no regular children. The big nose and one large eye in the middle of their foreheads told the truth. "Cyclopes." I exhaled through gritted teeth. Sorry Tyson,not all cyclopes are good, I thought before uncapping riptide.

NICK'S POV

I watched as the group of cyclopes came forward sneering a malicous grin with a feral look in their eyes. My heart constricted thinking of Nico just feet in front of me. "Nico?" I called as he turned ever so slightly so he could look me in the eye. I watched as he pulled his Stygian Iron sword from it's scabbard and shook my head gently. "Take Percy and get out of here I will reundeveuz with you just outside the Palace of Hades." Nico turned quickly glaring at me in pure anger, "I'm NOT leaving you," he growled at me. "You have to,I can't let you get hurt and there's not much time,Nyx said we should be in the Underworld in three days time it's almost the end of the third day. Go now! Before Percy wants to play the hero." I say smiling.

I can see Nico doesn't like this idea but he suprisingly concedes to my wishes as he nods slowly. Percy looks dumbfounded as he watches our interaction. "Hey!-" Percy starts to say defensively as Nico barrells into him full speed as the shadows whisk them away. I turn my attention to the cyclopes who have begun to run now probably fearing losing their prey. I tap my bracelets as I step forward to greet them with my Sais. "Let's tear this demigod apart and roast him slowly for supper." I hear one say before laughing maniaclly. "Not today." I say vehemently and charge.

NICO'S POV

The shadows dropped us somewhere on the banks of the River Styx about a mile from the Gates of Hades. I stand slowly exhausted from bring Percy with me. Why did Nick have to be so damn infuriating? I mean why not let Percy and I fight? I mean we are demigods;it's what we do. All I could think about were those cyclopes overwhelming Nick and then I would never kiss him and he would never hold me again. I drove my sword deep into the earth. "He'll be fine you know" Percy said unconcerned behind me. I whirled on him my sword in hand again,"You don't know that," I growled. Percy did NOT want to mess with me right now. He held up his hands in mock surrender,"I know that he love's you too much to die on you now. I've been dreaming of Nick since we began the quest and everything he's done so far he did for you. From what I can see and I'm oblvious when it comes to this stuff, is that he would rather die than see you hurt because he can not imagine a life without you. I've seen him suffer in my dreams how he thought you wouldn't love him back. Now he fights for someone who loves him just as much."

I stared at Percy unbelieving. I wouldn't call him a quiet person but jeez! that was probably the most sincere and long winded explanation I'd ever heard from him. I turned around looking up at my Father's Castle. "Come on. We had better get the reundeveuz point so we can meet up with Nick."

NICK'S POV

I slashed and stabbed the hands trying to grab me and the meat on my bones. I had dispatched the first three easily. Now the reamaing six had been a little harder. They circled around me and tried to trip me up every chance they got. Somehow I had been stupid enough to get caught in direct sunlight so no shadow travel for me. I kicked the nearst one in the face and stabbed him in the neck. One got a grip on my neck and threw against the wall, my head ringing. I tried to stand but my legs were wobbly and my vision blurred. I stumbled down the alley trying to get out of the sun. I heard running footsteps behind me and I released the telekenetic force within me focusing on throwing them up and off the ground. The footsteps ceased and I heard groans and bones breaking from many angles.

I threw my hip against the nearest door and ran inside closing the door franticly behind me. I waited for my eyes to adjust but all I saw was darkness. Nyx was the Personification of Night and as her son I could naturally see in the dark but not this time. This darkness scared me and felt malevelant almost cruel. I saw red glowing eyes from the darkness and a chuckle as deep as the Earth. The shadow figure lunged at me and I screamed in terror willing the shadows to take me to my love. Just before the shadow reached me I felt the familar sensation of the world rushing away...