Nico's POV
Being back in Tartarus is my worst nightmare. I can't stand the air that brings back those horrible memories. I can't stand the sulfuring heat that brings back all the scars from all the monsters I faced. I can't stand it. How could the Gods do this? Why would they continue to torture our lives? I don't understand how our lives could become so messed up. It doesn't help that we're becoming separated. I can't believe we've lost seven out of eleven of our team.
"Percy, what's the plan?" Leo turns to Percy desperation on his face. He just lost Calypso. But he's taking it well, not freaking out or anything. But I can see him. Inside he's slowly starting to unravel. We need a plan. Percy has to have a plan.
"This is what we're going to do. We're going to stick with the previous plan. You will stay here and I will go get the others." He says. But even he looks doubtful.
"It has to work. We have to get our friends back." Hazel says.
"Okay. Percy, stay here and wait for a hellhound. Nico, Leo, Hazel, follow me. We're going to follow the fire river up stream." Annabeth says looking away from us, her voice scratchy. I suppose it's not just from the air.
"How do you suppose a hellhound will find me?" Percy asks trying to keep his voice airy. Annabeth whirls on him.
"Well it was your idea, was it not?" She says her nostrils flaring out. Before Percy can retaliate, I step forward.
"Guys, calm down. We're all stressed. Don't lash out at each other." I say. Annabeth and Percy take a deep breath.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Annabeth says. Percy grabs her hand.
"I am too, Wise Girl. I am too." He says looking at me. "Do you have any idea how the hellhounds find us?"
"Yeah. They can shadow travel to the name they here." I say. Hazel looks around, nervously.
"Did you hear that?" She asks moving closer to me.
"What?" Annabeth says bringing out her sword and peering into the hazy light.
"It came from over there." Leo summons a ball of fire and points with a shaky finger towards a big boulder. We all peer intently at the boulder, waiting for the worst to happen. Percy steps forward, sword raised.
"Nico, take the back. Annabeth, back me up. Leo stay there but make sure that Nico is covered. Hazel, cover Annabeth and Leo." Percy says. We all take up our posts. I step forward sword raised. We stand at our posts in silence waiting for the worst to happen. Suddenly a hellhound jumps over a boulder and grabs me arm. It's teeth sink into my arm making me cry out. I hack at it with my sword.
"Shadow travel!" Annabeth screams as they all run forward. The hellhound beats me to it. We disappear into the shadows.
"Nico!" Hazel screams behind me. Almost as fast as I slipped into the shadows I reappear in another cavern. The hazy light and the hazy clouds are a bit thicker here. It's a little bit darker. But the aura is...is ancient.
"Sir, it's Di Angelo." A Cyclops picks me up. He flings my sword away. My sword ends up in a pile. Piper's cornucopia and dagger, Jason's golden sword, Frank's bow and arrows, Thalia's hunting knives, and the hammer Leo gave Calypso. The Cyclops brings me over to pillars of rocks. He chains me to my own pillar. Beside me Frank musters a weak, grave smile. Jason is next to Frank, then Piper, then Thalia.
"Nico! Welcome to the party!" Jason says sarcastically. I glare at him.
"Where's Calypso?" I ask trying to keep my mind off everything.
"Over there. By her father. Atlas." Frank says hoarsely.
"He want's revenge." Piper says in the same voice. I look around. Spotting Calypso I see Atlas. He's holding up the sky. The first time I went to Camp Half-Blood, my sister died on a quest to save Artemis from Atlas. Percy told me that and Annabeth had both held up the sky, leaving them with identical grey streaks in their hair. Now, seeing Atlas in person, he doesn't look like much. But he's one of the most powerful titans and he strains with the weight of the sky. If the sky were to fall the whole world would cease to exist. It'd be swallowed by the falling sky. I never saw Percy and Annabeth holding up the sky, but I don't doubt that they did it.
"Where're the others?" Thalia asks in a grave scratchy whisper.
"Safe. Percy's trying to save us." I say.
"No! He can't come here! Neither can Annabeth. Atlas wants revenge on them!" Piper wails.
"Hazel?" Franks asks.
"Leo?" Jason cuts in.
"Are they safe?" Frank finishes his sentence, his eyelids dropping.
I nod.
Seven down, four to go.