Chapter 14

The monsters

Nico Di Angelo

I sidestepped her jump, and rolled to the ground.

"Stop!" Snow shouted. A simple command, and it worked, even on an emposai.

"Why are you helping the Titans? What did they ever do for you? It wasn't until they needed your help that they decided to help you with your regeneration. Remember the last Titan war? They recruited the monsters to help them with the war, and did they care at all when you died? So many of you died, and they only cared about winning. They do not care for you now, either. It would be better just to stay with your lady Hecate and follow her orders instead of changing loyalties. She cares about you. She formed you. You should rely on her instead of going against her orders." Snow said, her voice dripping with honey.

It seemed like she had struck a nerve. But she tilted her head, and laughed. "Are you trying to encourage me to kill you? It's because of the Titan lord's orders that we've kept you alive. Do you wish to die? The boy will die either way. You cannot change that. But you need not suffer. Let me kill him, and then come with me, and all will be well. Submitt and it will go over easier. Unless you want me to kill you."

"You cannot kill me. It is impossible."

She snarled. "No? The drakon poison runs through your veins, and you have been weakened. I could easily kill you with the state you are in."

Snow paled and she turned her attention towards me. "How come you look like that?" I asked stupidly.

"HOW DARE YOU!" I laughed shakily. "No, I just heard from the myths that emposai were supposed to turn beautiful, to make men fall in love with them, so they wouldn't resist them killing them. Why didn't you do that?"

"I was beautiful before, remember?" I snorted. She grew angrier.

"If you must know, I assumed my true form because you are utterly infatuated with that one." She jabbed a finger at Snow.

"It would not work, and I would be humiliated. My sisters would tease me for millennia! Now, enough talk. I'm hungry!" I rolled away again. Topaz tackled her and sliced her hands off, so that she couldn't use her claws. She screamed, opening her mouth so that she could cut out her teeth. "So, what's your plan?"

"I will not tell you!" She shrugged. "Suit yourself." She sliced off a chunk of her arm with her knife. She screamed again. "Want to tell us now? It can be quick or long and painful. Your choice."

"Okay! I'll tell you! We're planning to kidnap Thanatos again! Please kill me!"

"No. How are you going to lure him?" She screached. "They didn't tell me that. As you said, we're just pawns in the big picture. They don't tell us things like that!"

"Liar!" She cleaved off one of her legs, the donkey one. She screamed again. If she hadn't made me so angry, I might have felt sory for her. "Now do you want to tell us?"

"No, but I will!"

"Go on." The demon swallowed. "We are going to steal his ipad." I laughed. "Death has an ipad?" Snow looked at me, all seriously. "Doesn't everyone?"

"How are you going to steal it?"

She rolled her eyes in her head. "Well, he always leaves his ipad on the charger in his cave, which is right next to one of the entrances to the Underworld. We were going to leave a ransom note, and tell him to meet us at the Leathe to get it back!"

"What if he just told Hades on you? Or bought a new ipad? Doesn't he have a backup?"

"He cannot buy another ipad! He keeps all the dead's names on it, the way they died and which souls he needs to capture. It would take centuries to download it all again! And anyway, he can't buy another ipad without saving up. They are very expensive, even for death."

"But what if-" Topaz slashed her knife through her. "That's all we'll need from you."

"So much for being nice to the monsters." I snorted.

"Everything that applied to being able to kill monsters was there. She attacked us, she was doing it for fun, and she even was going to eat you."

"Yeah, but you were a bit overkill."

"Whatever Nico."

"Hey, Nico! Evil ghost chasing us! Help!" Caspia yelped.

I simply glared at him, and he stopped chasing them and looked down sheepishly. "Be gone." I opened the ground, and he fell in.

"Um, can you heal the ground or something? This is a national landmark after all." Caspia said.

"I don't know," I said, confused. "I've never tried." I looked at the ground and pictured it knitting together. It complied.

"Is that why there's a crack in the floor of the dining hall?" I smiled crookedly. "Yeah, I guess I'll have to fix that when we get back."

Percy looked at the pile of disemboweled monster limbs as if he was just now realizing they were there. "Gross, why is there broken hands, a donkey leg, a strip of flesh and bloody sharp teeth?"

"Topaz tortured an emposai. We got the information though." I reasoned.

"What are they doing?" Annabeth asked, troubled.

"I'll tell you when everyone is with us." She furrowed her brow. "Where are they?"

I fixed my eyes on the shadowed horizon. "Let's go find them." We searched all through the woods, but there was no sign of them anywhere.

"Maybe they fell in the Labyrith," I wondered.

"I don't know."

"Did we check the campsite?" Topaz suggested. Percy and Annabeth simultaneously slapped their foreheads. "Of, course."

They were sitting on the logs, reading Muir Woods brochures. "What? You were here the whole time?" Caspia said, angry.

"At least they're reading," Annabeth noted.

"Fuck, Sapphire! We thought a monster was eating you ar something! And you were sitting here reading!" I said.

"You are very concerned with our well being," Sapphire said.

"There are small children here." Leo stated. "Watch the language."

"Thanks for caring about the other two."

"Leo, shut up; Blade I'm sorry for not mentioning you; And Sapphire, What do you mean I don't care about you?"

"You seemed mad that we were okay. Like you didn't like that you couldn't help us."

"Hey, I'm not Percy. I don't need to 'be a hero' to make myself feel good. I just want you to be okay."

"Scuse Me-" Percy started.

"There is no sense in fighting like children. All we should worry about is that we are okay, and we are all here together. Unharmed. Just calm down and pass me a cigarette."

"What we do need to worry about is what to do with the emposai spoils of war. What can we do with cut off limbs and teeth?" Annabeth asked.

Leo scratched his head. "We can use the teeth as a weapon. We could put it on a piece of metal, and make a knife out of it. It might work to kill monsters, like with Annabeth's Drakon Bone sword. At the word Drakon, Snow winced. Then she relaxed and took a sip of wine. "So, who was the ghost who was chasing you?"

"Oh, it was a hiker that was killed by some thieves in the 20's while he was on the trail." Percy said. Her eyes widened.

"Now, we're scared of death, are we?" Leo asked condescendingly.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, that ghost would not have chased you if he was not working for Kronos. They can be violent, but its usually towards the person who killed them or someone who caused it in another way. There is no way that you fall into any of those catagories. That means that the dead are on their side now, too. If they stop death, all of the spirits will pour into the earth. That would cause utter chaos. Can you imagine that? A world where no one dies, ever. There would be serious overcrowding. People would starve. Crime would skyrocket. And they would keep suffering, because there was no death. He has twisted the minds of the dead, so that they would want to work for him in exchange for life. I'm not even sure Nico would be able to control them."

I stared at her. "Why wouldn't I be able to? I am the son of Hades." She twisted the purple ring on her finger. "That may not matter anymore. The spirits are under a different sphere of control. If Hades is overthrown-"

"He is not going to be overthrown!"

"Nico-"

"Did you see something?" She shook her head. "No. My vision is clouded from the future. The only way to predict the outcome is logic and human nature."

"So, what do you think will happen?" She took a shaky breath.

"The odds are not in his favor."

"What? Is there anything we can do?"

"We can keep going. And we can warn Thanatos. If it is not too late."

"I'll IM him. Anyone have a drachma?" Blade said, looking handed him one.

"O Iris, Goddess of the rainbow, please accept this offering. Show us Thanatos in the Underworld."

He tossed the coin into the rainbow. The image appeared. Thanatos was running around his cave, tearing it apart looking for something. He didn't seem to notice us.

"Um, Lord Thanatos. Are you okay?" Sapphire asked. He looked for the speaker. When he saw the image he came over with a crazed look in his eyes. "Have you seen my ipad?"

"No, Thanatos. We are here to warn you." Topaz said. His eyes widened. "Warn me about what?"

"Do NOT go to the Leathe to get your ipad. There is a note telling you to do that, but do NOT listen to it. It's a trap. The monsters and Titans are trying to get you so they can stop death." Annabeth said.

"Well, that sounds most unpleasant. But as of now, I really do need it. So many souls to catch, not to mention my high score for Candy Crush is on there."

"Snowflake, do you have any ideas on other ways to get it back?" I asked her.

"Well, first of all, do NOT ask Hades for help. This may not be a trap for you, but for him. They may have intended for Tammi to die and give us false information. But you still shouldn't bring the furies, either. They might want them. Your best bet is to get someone to steal it, someone they don't want. Find a dead child of Mercury or Hermes and tell him you will grant him Elysium if he helps you. Be careful getting there. They could have anticipated you refusing their offer and going for otherwise help from others. And remember, It is important to keep your promise to the child of thieves. They will be able to tell if you are lying. Tread carefully, but do not get other major figures of the Underworld to help you. Remember what I said." She slashed through it.

"Okay, let's go to sleep." Sapphire said, drowsy.

Topaz pulled sleeping bags and pillows out and arranged them in a circle. When I finally got to sleep, I dreamed I was in the Underworld. Hades was on his throne, talking to one of his zombie guards. "So, Thanatos wasn't captured?"

"No, he got a son of Mercury to get his iPad back."

"And he sent him to Elysium, without mine or the judges approval."

"Yes, sir."

"Why did he do that. Is he the ruler of the Underworld? No. He is the God Of death. His job is to bring souls back, not to decide their fate; He must be punished for this. "

"But if you punish him, it will stop death. That's what they want."

"Yes, I suppose. Any news on Hazel's quest? Is she okay?"

"Yes, my Lord. But perhaps we should take her off it. She cannot defend herself as well as the other two."

"True enough. Nico, can you ask her to give up her quest with Zhang and that Dakota boy?"

"You knew I was here?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, dear boy. Answer the question."

"Yeah, I think she'll listen to me. I don't want her to get hurt."

"Nor do I, son. I would like you to go see her in her dreams. After that it will transition automatically to the next part."

"What do I need to see?" I asked, but I was already fading.

I was in Hazel's dream. She was with a boy who looked just like Leo. 'Sammy.' I remembered.

"Hazel." I said. She turned and Sammy faded. Then the surroundings changed as well. There were on a long grass plain that looked like a battlefield. Dakota, Frank, and Hazel lay sleeping on the grass. Her right arm was in a cast. Dream Hazel motioned for him to sit down.

"What happened to you?"

"I broke my wrist in a fight with a manticore."

"Oh, sorry, ugh I hate those things."

"So what did you want to tell me, Nico?"

"You need to abandon your quest to- wait what are you doing?" She suppressed a smile. "We're trying to find the spear of Mars." She answered.

"Wait, why was it stolen?" I asked stupidly.

"They're trying to control war. As if they could barter with Mars." Hazel snorted

"You need to abandon the quest and return to Camp Jupiter. You'll be safe there."

"The gods do not take kindly to being ignored. Especialy about their symbols of power."

"Please, Hazel. I can't lose you too." I said, frustrated.

She pursed her lips. "Nico, I have to. The Romans don't like it when people back out of fights, especialy something as important as a quest. I might be exiled, or perhaps executed out of shame for the Roman name. Executed by your friends is a lot worse than killed by a monster."

"Eaten by a monster."

"Nico, please."

I raised my hands. "I guess there's no changing your mind. At least, promise me you'll be safe."

"I will. I love you."

"Love you, too."

The image faded. It turned into a darkened forest, with a strange mixture of trees, some barren and pointed, while others were full of life and bursting with delicious looking fruit. I was standing at the foot of a very tall apple tree, and I could hear voices from its highest branch. I decided to climb it, so I could hear them better. I was about to grab the bottom branch, but a gust of wind propelled me up, and I was floating in front of where the voices were coming from.

I looked in the branch and saw the backs of two blonde girls with thick pretty ringlets. I balanced myself and sat behind them. One of the girls turned, and I realized it was Snow. Her face, was even more beautiful now, because she had no makeup on, and you could actually see what her face looked like.

No one can really understand this unless they've seen Snow or Topaz, but seeing them... changes you. Looking at them fills you with a warm feeling, and you're reminded of all the prettiest things you've ever seen. All your happiest memories. But you're fazed by the those big eyes, perfect ivory skin, and blood red lips. I've often seen people gape at them when they first meet them, shocked, because they've never seen anything like it. Kind of like seeing a room full of gold and precious gems.

It fades when you get used to it, but they still appears to be glowing slightly.

But nothing does compare to them. I've never seen Aphrodite, but I'm positive she'd be a shadow compared to them (no pun intended).

They were singing and braiding flowers into crowns, wearing light blue dresses of silk, their necks incircled with diamonds. I had never heard either of them sing before. The song was in Greek, I could tell, but I didn't so much catch the words as pay attention to the way the words flowed, like raindrops falling on a soft bed of roses. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about flowers. I thought of fields of violets and daisys, poppies and lilies.

They stopped singing. I realized they were influencing my thoughts with their song. I knew that she could charmspeak, but she preferred not to, wanting to use her wits instead of a sweet voice.

"How far do you think that carried?" Topaz asked.

"Few miles... I think we're getting better."

"I wonder who will come looking this time." Topaz smirked.

"We really shouldn't keep doing that. It will start to attract all kinds of strange people." Snow chided her sister.

"Yeah, you are probably right. There's not many people around, but it's not all that safe. You never know when a Titan might pop up."

Snow finished her crown of aqua blue lilies. She placed it on Topaz's head. Upon her own was a crown of blue roses.

"Come on. We should get back. Before Albanius comes looking." They climbed down the tree and started walking. I was about to do the same, but I fell to the ground on my arm. It hurt even in a dream.

They started down the path, Topaz walking normally, and Snow skipping and twirling around with her basket of flowers. I realized that Snow was probably the younger twin. I had always assumed Topaz was younger, because Snow was a little more mature and usually collected. But apparently not. They were both about 13.

Topaz began to sing a song about the smiling face of the fox on his way to hunt, which sounded oddly like a campfire song. They finally exited the woods and arrived at a large stone cave with emerald green curtains drawn over the entrance, like a low budget door.

Snow pranced through the curtains. "Mother, Father! We're home!" She said once they were inside. The interior sloped down a ramp and was surprisingly spacious. It looked like very luxurious, covered with Jade rugs, colorful paintings, and gilded torches, along with very plush furniture. It looked kind of like the inside of the lamp in I dream of Jeannie.

A boy about eighteen appeared from a hallway from the right of the main room. He was a pretty good looking guy, (probably runs in the family), but he didn't look too much like the twins. He had wavy nearly shoulder length jet black hair, pale skin, very high cheekbones, arched eyebrows covered with bangs, and Snows eyes, but a much darker color.

"You're late." He told them in an I-told-you-so voice.

"Sorry, we ran into some wood sprites." Topaz lied.

"It's dark. It has been dark for some time. You promised to be back before the sun went down. You know what that means."

They both groaned.

"That's right. You have to stay inside for a week." He said with triumph.

"Now, now Albanius, go easy on them. Remember the time those wood sprites attacked you?" An unseen mans voice said.

His informed attitude faded in an instant and he paled significantly. "But Father, I'm just trying to keep them safe. I don't want them getting snatched up by those bullying Titans. They're still so young."

"It's nice to know you care Albus." Snow said sweetly.

"Of course I care. You're still my baby sisters."

"We are not babies. We are 13 and a half. We are about to come of age." Topaz snapped.

"That's right. Soon they'll get married and you won't have to keep an eye on them anymore. But in the meantime, you will go with them when they go out to play from now on."

He turned into a total teenager. "But Father, I was going to go Fishing with Cade and Nanim tomorrow!"

The man, their Father stepped into the light. He had the pretty much the same face as his son, but he had flowing locks of a goldenish color, and startlingly green eyes. He had a much crueller aura around him than his son.

"You will go with them, or you will do all the chores for two weeks and I will give the servants a vacation."

"Amathyst is going." Snow reminded him.

He softened a bit. He seemed to like this Amathyst girl. "Well, alright, but the day after tomorrow you two have to come fishing with my friends and I instead of playing or doing whatever it is you do all day."

"I am not killing any animals." Snow insisted.

"Then just sit by the water." Albanius suggested with a roll of his eyes.

"Fine by me, your friends are cute." Topaz said.

"Alright, it's settled. Let's go eat. Your Mother prepared lamb and roast carrots."

They all walked down the hallway that went straight from the entrance. I could smell the food, even in a dream. They all sat down on tall stools around a wooden table.

Their dad went into the kitchen to help their Mother bring the food out.

I hadn't expected men from this time to be so respectful of women. But he was being a perfect gentleman, helping his wife bring the dishes out.

Their mother looked exactly like them, except she had big starry blue eyes, kind of like a clear midnight. I had always thought that about Snow's eyes, but hers were purple, like only some nights look like. If I looked into them long enough, I swear I can make out constellations.

They placed the dishes on the table and the Father told Snow to go get a bucket of water from the well. She got up hastily, glad to be able to go outside.

She skipped out the back door, where there was a large well, smack in the center of the valley. She walked over to it, singing a beautiful song about water nymphs keeping the water clean. She looked so pretty in the moonlight and I was so focused on her that I didn't notice a tall dark figure standing at the top of the hill, watching her. She seemed to notice him, and she paled, but didn't stop singing, not wanting to give any indication she knew he was there.

She changed her song to a hymn about chastity and he cleared off a little. She continued to sing, and walked calmly through the door, pushing the thin Boulder back into place with hardly any effort. She ran back through the house to the table, and I thought she would tell them, but she didn't. She just ate her dinner quickly and ran off to her room.

She apparently shared a room with Topaz, probably by choice considering how close they were. The stone walls were draped in lengths of black silk, and the cold stone floor was embezzled with rubies. In the center were two thin futon-like beds, covered in diamonds, with sheets as blood red as their lips.

She laid on her bed, and fiddled with a little wooden doll, then her fingers shot purple sparkles on it, and as they swirled around it, the doll took in color, and shook its head like it was waking up. She had fiercely blue hair, dark eyes and a white dress.

"Hi, Magnolia." Snow said to her with a smile.

"Hello, Snow. So good to see you again. But every time I come back, it gets harder to wake up."

"Sorry. I don't know how to fix that." She paused. "Albanius chewed my sister and I out today. We got back after dark, and he got angry. He said he doesn't want us to get hurt. I used to think it wasn't a big deal, and that we were safe in isolation with no Titans over here, but when I was getting the water from the well, someone was watching me. A tall man cloaked in darkness. What do you think he wanted?"

Magnolia huffed gruffly. "Obviously he found you beautiful. Look at you. Who wouldn't? He wanted to make you his own. You should stay inside. Just don't go outside under any circumstances, at least for a little while. Maybe 2 weeks. Tell Topaz to do the same. She looks just like you. The borders of the cave keep any unwanted intruders from entering. Be careful. Your sister is coming. I'd better go." She turned back into a wooden doll and Snow looked disappointed.

Topaz walked in and sat on her bed. "What's wrong?"

"How did you know something was wrong?"

"You saw something outside that scared you. You ran in and didn't touch your water. What was it?"

She took a long breath. "When I was getting water at the well, I was singing a song. Remember earlier when we said that our singing could attract all kinds of strange people? Well, I saw a tall figure like a shadow. The moonlight didn't seem to glance off him. He was watching me, and I could tell he was about to advance, so I switched to a song about chastity and respecting women. He seemed to back off a little, and I came back in the house. I ate very fast, and came in here to talk to Magnolia."

"...And, what did she say?"

"She said for us to stay inside for a while, maybe two weeks, because the borders protect us from intruders."

"Hang on, why am I in danger, too?"

"Because you look like me. She said he thought I was beautiful."

"Do you really think we're going to stay inside for that long? Do you know how boring that will be? We'll be fine. It'll be at least 4 against 1 tomorrow. He won't be able to get any of us. Besides, I doubt he's as scary in the daylight."

"O-okay. Good night."

"Good night."

Topaz got in her own bed and blew the light out. The next thing I saw was Snow back on the hill. She was singing that first song she sang, and then the dark figure appeared. She tried to sing the second song, but her voice didn't work. In a flash, suddenly she was bound to the rocks.

The figure smiled maniacally and laughed loudly. He progressed toward her, and she struggled against her bonds, but she didn't scream. She never was that type of girl. He was right next to her now, and her eyes were wide.

Then the picture faded and Snow woke up. She ran her fingers through her hair, and got out of bed. I wondered where she was going. She walked past several hallways, until she arrived at an emerald green curtained "door."

She drew back the curtains and walked into the room. She tiptoed softly and stood by a bed. I realized Albanius was sleeping in it. This was his room. "Wake up, Albus, wake up." She said softly.

He rolled over. "Whatever could you want at this ungodly hour of the night?"

"You could open your eyes when you're talking to me."

"If I open my eyes, I'll never sleep again."

"Oh, well, okay. I had a nightmare."

"What about?"

"Well, it was scary because it was based on something that happened earlier."

"You mean when you got in trouble when you got home late?"

"No, I saw something outside."

"Please get to the point, sweet butterfly."

"When I was getting the water for dinner, I saw a tall dark figure watching me from the top of the hill. He was attracted to my singing I think and Magnolia said he wanted to take me."

He opened his eyes. "I shall go outside. If he is still there I will kill him, immortal Titan or not." He said, getting out of bed.

"No, don't do that. Magnolia said just to stay inside until he forgets about me."

"Darling look at you. No one will ever find another girl who looks like that. I'm sure Aphrodite herself would be envious."

"Aphrodite is real?"

"Of course, butterfly, she was born from Ouranous's blood when the four Titan brothers killed him."

"Please don't go outside. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I am GOING outside, and if you try to follow I will have to tie you down. So stay here. Go back to your room. Get some sleep."

She didn't move. "Go now."

She sighed and walked down the hall. He threw on a toga-like thing over his nightshirt, and grabbed his sword.

He walked calmly out the back door, moving the boulder with as much ease as Snow had. He pushed it back into place, and drew the sword. He scanned the surrounding area, and then ran up the hill in the exact place he had been standing. There were footprints where he had stood, but not a trace anywhere else.

He closed his eyes and started walking blindly to the left of the hill. He kept going for what must've been miles until he stopped. He sent a purple mist past the coast. It swirled and Albanius smirked with satisfaction.

"There, now at least he won't remember her." He left and started to return to the cave.

The image faded.

The next one was Topaz, Snow and Albanius outside the front door of the cave. They were wearing black today. So what exactly is it that you two do all day?"

"We like to go to the woods and pick flowers." Topaz said.

"Well bunny, look how that worked out yesterday. What is your second choice?"

"We could go to the creek and swim." Snow suggested.

"Alright let's get Amathyst and Cade."

"What about Nanim?" Snow asked.

"He's sick, butterfly."

"Oh, well let's go get them."

The image faded again.

The next one was the 3 of them and two other people. The one I assumed to be Amathyst was a very pretty auburn haired girl with hazel eyes. Albanius was sitting with her at the edge of the creek, but I couldn't hear what they were talking about.

Topaz was flirting with Cade a dark haired boy with blue eyes. Snow was bored, because her friend was with her brother, and her sister was with a guy. She got up and scampered through the trees.

She found a rose bush with orange flowers, and started to pick them, but a man crept up behind her and clamped his hand over her mouth. She was much younger then and probably didn't know how to fight back.

He started dragging her away. Her eyes were wide with fear, and then they narrowed. She made a flame on her hand and burned his arm. He howled in pain, and she started to run away, but she froze. Literally. I realized this was probably Kronos, who could bend time to his will.

"It's no use lovely girl. You belong to me." He said and advanced on her.

The image faded and I woke up. I saw Snow next to me, sleeping soundly. I wondered what had happened after that.