So...yeah. There's been quite a delay with this chapter, and I'm really sorry about that. The more I use the book, the harder I find it to write because I need to follow the book closely. That's why Hogwarts chapters come so much quicker, because there's no specific things I need to do, no specific dialogue I must follow.
Anyways, sorry for the delay.
Sirius was alone when he woke up. Of course. Leave it to the son of Hades to attempt sneaking off in the middle of the night. Especially after being given explicit instructions not to do just that. Sirius rose from the couch Eurytion, the new owner of Triple G Ranch after Percy Jackson himself killed Geryon, had given him to sleep on these past few nights. The very same day Sirius and Nico had arrived at the ranch, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson had shown up as well. Geryon, the monster Nico had been trying to do business with, though Nico still hadn't told Sirius what that business was, had had them all tied up within an hour awaiting pick-up to be taken to Luke. The older demigod was apparently paying well for powerful half-bloods. Percy had made a bet with Geryon and then killed him, setting the rest of them free. Nico and Sirius had stayed behind whilst the others went on the continue their quest through the Labyrinth.
And now Sirius most likely had to go back into that godsforsaken place because Nico di Angelo was a bloody idiot, plain and simple. Sirius couldn't wait for Hogwarts to start back up. He was so glad he'd finally finished becoming an animagus. After the first time, the transformation was a simple matter of wills, and Sirius quickly became a grim. He stuck his nose to the ground and began following Nico's scent.
Nico's trail led to the entrance of the Labyrinth, something Sirius could easily have guessed. Nico's old scent from when they had arrived still lingered, and Sirius went in the opposite direction, following the new trail. It was only a matter of minutes before he reached Nico again. He ran out in front of the younger boy and transformed back into a human.
Nico screamed. Loud gasps escaped his gaping mouth as he stared at Sirius in fright. Sirius couldn't help his smirk.
"Didn't think you were losing me that easily, did you?" he asked, his smirk still in place.
"You were just a dog," Nico muttered, stunned.
"Grim, actually," Sirius said casually. "So where are we going, exactly?"
"To find Percy." Nico wiped the look of shock off his face. "Are you coming?"
"Sure," Sirius said. He followed Nico down the tunnel. "Do you know where Percy is, exactly?"
They had made pretty good progress together. Sirius wasn't entirely sure where they were heading, and he was pretty sure Nico wasn't either, but they were definitely making leeway to somewhere. Until they ran into the empousa, that is.
"Sons of the Underworld," the goat-vampire woman hissed as she stepped into the dark hall. Two Laistrygonian giants followed closely behind her. "We've been searching for you."
Nico and Sirius both pulled out their swords. Three small monsters. They could totally take them. The Laistrygonians stepped forwards, wooden clubs raised. They had to have at least three-four feet on Sirius, who was a foot-and-a-half taller than Nico. This may pose a bit of a challenge. The two giants charged and Sirius stepped in front of Nico to defend his charge. Problem was, the giants swerved around him and the empousa attacked instead.
Sirius was forced to defend himself from her sharp talons as little Nico was attacked by two giants over twice his size. So much for being a good guardian. The empousa slashed her deadly claws at him, and Sirius tried to ignore the searing pain as they raked across his stomach. He heard Nico's pained shout and turned to see the boy getting knocked over the head by on giant, sending him to his knees. Unfortunately, this meant Sirius had turned his back on his own enemy. He groaned as he felt something heavy hit the back of his head.
When Sirius awoke, he was chained by shackles and being carried by one of the Laistrygonian giants. Nico was wide-awake and grumbling in the tight hold of the giant next to them. The empousa and a familiar spirit were walking ahead of them.
"It's Minos," Nico grumbled, glaring at the ghost. "He had them capture us. He's going to force me to exchange Daedalus' soul for his own."
Sirius scowled at the ghost ahead of them. This was very much not good.
So Sirius and Nico were carried, against their will, through the Labyrinth into a room. At least Percy, Annabeth and some mortal girl Sirius found vaguely familiar were in the room, as well as a man Sirius had absolutely no recollection of. Whoever he was, Minos called him a friend.
"This was not a part of our agreement," the man argued.
"No indeed," the empousa said. "But we already have what we want from you, and we have other agreements to honor. Minos required something else from us, in order to turn over this fine young demigod." The monster ran her finger under Nico's chin before turning to Sirius. "The son of Death is an added bonus. Luke will be pleased with him. He'll be quite useful. And all Minos asked in return was your head, old man."
Daedalus, then, Sirius thought.
"Nico? Sirius?" Percy asked. "Are you alright?"
Nico nodded. "I-I'm sorry, Percy. I thought you might need my help, but you had already left. So I went after you, and Sirius came with me."
"You were trying to help us?" Percy blanched.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Any other time would be nice, little brother," he said.
Percy blushed and glared at the empousa. "Where's Luke?" he demanded. "Why isn't he here?"
The empousa started speaking, and the mortal girl whispered something in Percy's ear. Percy nodded, and the redhead started to back away from the two demigods.
She better be planning a damn good escape plan!
Annabeth and Percy charged straight towards the empousa. The giants went after Daedalus, dropping Nico and Sirius in the process. Nico immediately pulled a hair pin from his back pocket and began picking the lock. It was open in less than a minute. Sirius couldn't be more proud when Nico freed him as well.
"To me!" Minos called. "Spirits of the dead!" He raised his ghostly hands and the air began to hum.
"No!" Nico shouted as ghosts began to form in the air. He jumped to his feet. "I am the son of Hades! Be gone!"
Minos laughed. "You have no power over me!" he cackled. "I am the Lord of Spirits! The King of Ghosts!"
"No." Nico drew his sword. "I am!"
Sirius stood behind him and raised his own sword, pointing it at Minos. "And it is to the King of Ghosts which the Prince of Death will answer. Be gone spirit of hell. Leave for the Fields of Punishment where you should have gone."
"Never!" Minos shouted.
Nico stabbed his sword down into the floor. A large crevice opened, sending all the spirits down into Hades. Minos was the last to go, clinging onto the edges of the chasm. Nico stepped on his ghostly fingers, sending him down into the abyss.
Sirius turned back to the fight at hand. The empousa had leapt onto Percy, but, before she could do anything, Annabeth had run her through with her knife. That just left the Laistrygonian giants. The mortal girl had already fitted herself with wings. There were only two pairs left.
"Percy!" Sirius shouted. "Take Annabeth and the mortal and go! I'll get Nico and Daedalus out."
Percy locked eyes with Sirius. "Are you sure?" Sirius nodded and pushed Percy towards where Annabeth and the mortal were waiting for him. Both already had wings on.
"We'll see you at Camp!" Annabeth yelled to Sirius as she and the others jumped out of the window.
Sirius smirked and turned towards the giants. He wouldn't let them get the better of him this time. He swung his sword at the back of one's neck, and its head came clean off. The other one turned to Sirius, a lopsided scowl further uglying its lumpy face. Sirius lunged forward, his sword burying itself into the Laistrygonian's chest. It had been too easy at that point. He turned to Daedalus.
"Come here. I'll shadow travel us all to a safe place."
Daedalus shook his head and rested his palm on the overly large head of a hellhound. "I'll stick with Mrs. O'Leary. You take the boy to a safe place."
The inventor said no more as he hopped aboard his hellhound and rode her into the shadows. Sirius turned to Nico and wrapped an arm around the pale boy's waist. Nico simply rested on Sirius' body. Open the chasm to the Underworld had taken a lot out of him. Sirius stepped into the shadows and felt them meld around him, focusing on Camp Half-Blood. Of course, he in no way expected to end up in California, standing next to one Percy Jackson.