Part Two: Chapter Ten: End Game

Katie hated watching Percy leave with the small party, almost as much as Nico did. They stood together under the moonless night at the bow of the ship. Eyes fixed on the boat resting in the water some ways away. Their own ship was silent and darkened, and for the first time in ages, it was storming. All they could do was watch. "I'm worried about him." She finally said. Nico didn't look at her, his eyes were fixed to the ship. "When Will had found him, washed up on the rocks below the cliff we lived on. He was dead." That grabbed his attention and he looked at her. "He had no pulse, he wasn't breathing his skin was cold as ice. As the village doctor he had to bring him in, clean him and prepare him for burial. We didn't have a mortician in town. Will and I never thought to tell him this, how could we?" She wrapped her arms around her midsection, it had become a habit now. "I was cleaning his body when he started breathing again, nearly two days after we brought him to our cottage. It shouldn't have been possible, no one comes back from the dead." She shook her head a bit, then reached up and pressed a finger to the skin right under her ear. "A mark appeared right here. The helm of Hades, it's usually covered by his hair so no one sees it. I don't think he's aware of it himself." She dropped her hand and continued to hold herself. "There's no doubt in my mind that the Kraken killed him. But before his body could be completely destroyed Hades did something against his own laws, he brought him to me and Will, and returned him from the dead. That's why… I think it's the reason behind him not remembering it."

"He's alive now," Nico commented.

"For how much longer?" She responded, turning her attention to him. "The other day he said something that worries me. He was upset and angry, there was a storm growing in him that I've never seen before. He's determined to kill them. All of them."

"What?"

"It's why he didn't want you to go." She whispered, he gripped onto the railing. "This favor from the sea… if he uses it. I think… no, I'm sure he won't come out alive a second time." Hooves landing on the wood behind them and they turned to see Jake supporting an unconscious Will. Katie hurried to their side, helping to get the boy off. From across the water shouting could be heard, and a flash of light shot into the sky.

"Damnit they're still aboard!" Jake hissed in irritation, climbing down himself.

"What happened?" Nico demanded.

"We didn't have any problems finding Will," Jake answered. "The few who spotted us were easily taken care of. By the time I got Will from his chains Percy was missing, none of us saw him disappear. Bianca, Connor and Travis went to find him and Blackjack brought me and Will here." Nico swore and climbed up onto the pegasus back. Within seconds they were soaring over to the second ship, he dropped down next to Bianca and the horse flew off.

"Where is he?" Nico demanded of his sister.

"Captain's Cabin." She answered, ducking out of the way of a sword. Nico drew his and stabbed the man attacking her. "Nico there's something in there, waking."

"Get Connor and Travis." He ordered, she nodded and disappeared into the shadows. He wasn't met with any resistance on his way to the cabin, and inside what he saw wasn't what he expected. A golden sarcophagus lay under the ruins of a broken window. A boy with blond hair was standing at the window, staring down at the ocean. After a moment of silence the boat lurched as a wave burst through the hole, knocking me back into the wall and the boy into the sarcophagus. A sword landed in the wood several feet away from him.

"You're too late Jackson, he's waking!" The boy was laughing. "Kronos will rise today."

"You think he'll reward you Luke?" The Prince of the Sea stood at the edge of the broken window, a storm in his eyes and the rain battering him from behind. He was drenched with water but that didn't seem to bother him. It had the opposite effect actually, energizing him. "He doesn't care for us, he'd gladly see us all die. I won't let you bring him back."

"You can't stop it!" Luke responded.

"I already have." Percy stated, a horrible screech answered his word and the walls and roof of the room were torn from the ship, a giant squid like beast held fast to the ship. Behind Nico, his sister and the Stolls stood, staring in horror at the beast that had come from nowhere.

"You're insane, you can't control that thing!" Luke was staring wide eyed at the Kraken. "He'll kill us all." Percy wasn't paying attention to him, his eyes fixed on Nico and guilt ripping through him. He moved passed Luke, passed the golden sarcophagus and the bronze sword before Nico reached him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. Nico cupped his face, searching for an answer in his eyes then quickly pulling back one of his hands when he felt warmth spill over his fingers. He blood was washed away moments later by the rain.

"You stupid-" he growled before pulling him into a kiss.

"Nico, Percy we need to go!" Bianca called at them. Nico turned to her.

"Take Connor and Travis and get to safety," He ordered her. Her eyes widened as she processed his words.

"No!" She demanded, behind them Luke started moving, he jumped the golden sarcophagus while they all were distracted. He dug his sword from the wood.

"Go!" Nico yelled at them. The bronze blade pierced through Percy's back as he drove it through. Percy gripped onto Nico and he turned to see the blond backing away. "No," he whispered, gripping his sword and ready to lunge at him. The Kraken screeched, gripping the ship tighter and grabbing Luke and dragging him into the sea. Nico's sword dropped and he gripped onto Percy, helping him to the ground. "Perc," he cupped his face.

"I'm… sorry," the boy whispered.

"Why?"

"Nico!" Bianca demanded as the ship started to crack under the pressure. The sarcophagus was glowing white.

"Take care of Hazel!" Nico yelled at his sister. He shot her a desperate look. "I'm not leaving him. I'm sorry, but go!"

"We can bring him-"

"No," Nico returned his attention back to the dying boy. Bianca looked nervously between them and the Kraken, it didn't seem to bother them but… Nico bent down and kissed his lover. A tentacle wrapped around the glowing sarcophagus, burning the beast but dimming it's light, Percy's eyes stared at Nico for a long moment before turning to the beast. His voice was soft, but held no pain or regret.

"End it."

Connor and Travis both grabbed onto Bianca the moment the ship crumbled. They're bodys vanishing for moments before landing safely aboard The Huntress. Silence met the sinking of the Princess Andromeda. The beast vanishing into the sea, and for a moment, a white glow illuminated the water. Disintegrating the monster, the ship and all aboard.


This is not the last chapter, (before anyone asks). But we are getting close. Have fun guessing what I'm going to do next~