Percy

"Welcome to Alaska, we're beyond the help of the gods now" Hazel said as I awoke

The pilot said that the plane wasn't going to be able to wait for us, but that was fine by me. If we did survive to the next day, I was hoping we could find a different way back... anything but a plane.

I should be depressed or sad. I was stuck in Alaska, the giant's home territory. Additionally, I was out of contact with my old friends just when my memories were starting to come back.

In my dreams, I had seen Polybotes army about to invade Camp Jupiter. The giants plan to use me as some kind of blood sacrifice to awaken Gaea.

And tomorrow, or later today, they would attack the camp who would be defenseless when faced with immortal monsters and a giant. Tomorrow, we would have to beat an impossible task.

At best, we could unleash Death, who might take my two friends to the Underworld, so not much to look forward to.

At the same time, I felt strangely invigorated. Layton had contacted me via dream and Tyson had gotten the message about Ella.

I could remember Tyson pretty clearly though. We had fought together, celebrated together, and had good times back at camp. I could remember my home and that gave me all the determination I needed to win. I was now fighting for two camps - two homes and families.

Juno had taken my memory and sent me to Camp Jupiter for one reason. I understand now but I still wanted to punch her godly face. If the two camps could work together, we stood a chance at stopping our mutual enemy - Gaea. Separately, defeat was inevitable, as Layton said.

There were also other reasons I wanted to save Camp Jupiter. One's I couldn't really form into words yet, but there was a sacred thing there that I hoped to preserve. Suddenly, I had seen a future for me and Annabeth I didn't imagine before.

We made it to a payphone and I had the idea of putting in a New York number - my mom's apartment. I got to voicemail but it was reasonable considering it must have been midnight, and they wouldn't recognize the number either.

"Hey mom, I'm alive. Hera kind of put me a sleep for a while, and also took my memory... but I'm okay. I made two great friends, Frank and Hazel, and Layton has been looking after us as well. But I'm sorry too, and I'm on a quest... I'll make it home. I promise. Love you"

I put down the receiver and just stared at the phone, hoping for a call back. Behind me, a whistle sounded and the conductor shouted "All aboard!"

I waited two more seconds until running and making it just as they pulled up the steps, climbing to the top of the double-decker.

"You okay Percy?" Hazel asked

"Yeah," I assured, "just needed to make a call"

A shadow passed overhead. Tourists murmured in excitement and started to take pictures at whatever it was.

"An eagle!" one yelled

"Eagle?"

"Huge one!"

"That is no eagle" Frank's eyes widened

I managed to look up just in time to see the creature make a second pass. It was much larger than an eagle with a body the size of a large dog. Its wingspan had to be at least ten feet across.

"There's another" Frank pointed. "Three now, four... yeah we're in trouble"

The creatures circled around like vultures, eyeing us like their latest pray. They had glowing red eyes, sharp beaks, and vicious talons.

"They look kind of familiar" I said as I felt for my pen in my pocket

"Seattle. The Amazons had one in a cage" Hazel said "They're -"

All I know is a bunch of things happened at once. The emergency brake screeched, pitching us forward. Tourists tumbled around through the aisles and the monsters swooped down, shattering the glass roof of the car, and the entire train toppled off the rails.

My vision blurred and claws grabbed my arms, lifting me up into the air. Below, train wheels squealed, metal crashed, and glass shattered while passengers screamed.

I squirmed but the monster's front talons were wrapped around my arms like steel bands. I wasn't able to free myself or reach for Riptide. I was going higher and higher into the cold wind.

Suddenly, an arrow zoomed past my ear and pierced the monster's neck. It shrieked and let go of me, sending me crashing through treen branches until I slammed into a snowbank.

I managed to get up and thankfully I didn't have broken bones. Can't fight a giant with dysfunctional bones.

Over on my left, Frank was shooting down monsters as fast as he could while Hazel swung her sword at any nearby monsters who attempted to come close.

"What are these things?" I shouted

"They're gryphons!" Hazel answered. "We need to get them away from the train or the tourists will get hurt!"

"Where did they even come from?" Frank asked

"I'm not sure, I never fought them when I lived here. But I know they hate horses!" Hazel said

"Let's just get out of here, we can't waste time!" I suggested as the amount of monsters began to dwindle down

Hazel

Through a strange line of events, we ended up at the top of a mountain where the gates we were searching for were open wide. No sentries walked the walls but I still had an uneasy feeling.

I remembered the cave back in Resurrection Bay where I had worked to raise Alcyoneus - the sense of malice and the content booming sound, like Gaea's heartbeat. This place felt similar, as if the earth was trying to consume everything.

"We should go on foot from here" Percy said

"I thought you'd never ask" Frank sighed with relief and wiped sweat from his forehead

We dismounted from Arion and took steady steps towards the gate. The ice seemed table was good because the last thing I wanted was to slip off the entire cliff.

After approaching the gates without a challenge, we were able to see straight down the path ahead. At the crossroads, a tall and dark-robed figure stood, bound in icy chains.

"Thanatos" I whispered

I could feel my soul being pulled forward, as if the god of death was already trying to reclaim me before he was even freed. My vision went dark and I almost collapsed but Frank caught me and propped me back up.

"Your fine, no one is taking you" Frank assured

I gripped his hand and I didn't want to let go. He was very solid and reassuring, but I knew that he couldn't protect me from Death. My life was just as fragile as his.

"This has to be some kind of trap" Percy figured. "I mean, no giants, cyclopes or even minor guards?"

"It seems to good to be true, but we also don't have a choice" Frank pointed out

We walked over to Thanatos, stopping about ten feet in front of him. Now that I had come all this way, I had a reckless urge to finish the quest and get it over with.

At the same time, I wasn't sure if I wanted to see the quest through to the end. If I didn't face my fate bravely, I would die all the same - with cowardice and failure.

"M-Mr. Death?" I said

The nodded figure raised his head. In an instant, the entire area stirred to life. Figures wearing Roman armor emerged from the trees on our sides. They weren't human, but rather chattering ghosts I had lived with for decades back in the Fields of Asphodel.

Two other soldiers burst out in a golden chariot pulled by ghostly black steeds. When Arion saw the horses, he stamped the ground in protest.

"So this is the trap" Frank readied his bow

The ghosts formed their own ranks and circled around the crossroads. There was around a hundred in total, so not as much as an entire legion, but more than a cohort.

Some carried the tattered lightning bolt banners from the Twelfth Legion, Fifth Cohort.

"Thanatos! We're here to save you! If you can control these guys and make them go aw-"

My voice faltered as the god's hood fell away and his robes dropped off as he spread his wings, leaving him with just a sleeveless black tunic belt on his was it.

I know it was pretty ironic, but Death was the most beautiful man I had ever seen.

"Cupid?" Frank raised his eyebrow

"A really buff one" Percy added

"I appreciate the compliment. I am often mistaken for the god of love, and death has more in common with love you might realize. But I truly am Death, I assure you" He said

"We're here to save you," I repeated, "where's Alcyoneus?"

"Save me?" Thanatos questioned. "You do know what you are saying, Hazel Levesque, do you? You should understand what that will mean"

Percy stepped forward. "We're only wasting time"

He swung Riptide at the chains holding the god, but as the Celestial bronze made contact with the ice, it got stuck to it like super glue. Frost began to creep up the blade, trying to freeze it and make it attached to the chains. Percy quickly tried to pull it away, and together with Frank they managed to do so.

"It won't work, believe me" Thanatos said. "As for the giant, he is close. These shades aren't mine, but his"

"So how do we free you?" I inquired

"Daughter of Pluto... child of my master... you should not want me released. Why do you seek to help?"

"I know that" I snapped. "I didn't come back from the Underworld and travel thousands of miles just to be told that it would be unwise to free you. If I die, then so be it. I'll fight this whole army if I need to, just tell us how we can free you"

"How interesting... you should know that these shades use to be demigods much like you three. They fought for Rome, but died without completing their heroic quests. Like you, they were sent to Asphodel. But now Gaea has promised them a second life if they fight for her" Thanatos explained

"So she's just bargaining her way to victory" Percy frustratingly replied

"Precisely," Thanatos confirmed, "But if you release me and defeat them, they will have to return to the Underworld for treason against the gods, and face eternal punishment. They're not so different from you, Hazel. Are you sure you want me released?"

"It's not fair!" Frank clenched his fists. "Do you want to be free or not?"

"Fair... life and death are both unfair, Frank Zhang. Do you think it is fair that your life will burn so short and bright? Or was it fair that I guided your mother to the Underworld?"

Frank staggered like he'd had been hit by a punch that wielded an emotional power rather than a physical one.

"Yes. It was not fair, but it was still her time. There is no fairness in Death. Free me, and I will do my duty. But of course the shades will try to stop you"

"So if we let you go, we get mobbed on by a bunch of black vapor dude with sharp gold swords... ok, how do we break the chains?"

Thanatos smiled. "Only with the fire of life, can the chains of death be melted"

"Um, without riddles" Percy requested

Frank exhaled shakily. "It's not a riddle"

"Frank, no" I pleaded. "There has to be another way"

Laughter boomed across the glacier. A rumble voice called out: "Ah, my friends! I've waited for so long!"

"There isn't much time" Thanatos said. "If you truly wish to free me, you must make your decision fast"

"Frank you can't do it" Percy denied. "Like Hazel said, there has to be a different way we can do this"

"I'm sorry Percy, but even if there was, we're running out of time" Frank argued

"Then we'll buy time! We can beat Alcyoneus!" I insisted

"As much as I'm confident in our abilities, it's the only way" Frank shook his head. "Hazel, give me the firewood, now"

"No!" I took a step back

"Hazel, it's my firewood, my life, my decision. Let me do this" Frank replied

"I can't let you, and I can't watch you do this" I said

"I think I will eat you each one at a time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner" Alcyoneus's voice boomed, now sounding closer

"Hazel, it'll be ok" Frank assured

I sobbed. "Fine..."

The first boom of a giant's foot hitting the ground was heard no more than thirty feet away.

I quickly dug into my pocket for the firewood, until I found it. I sighed deeply before pulling it out.

"Wait!" A familiar voice commanded

"Welcome, Percy Jackson, Frank Zhang, Hazel Levesque! My name is Alcyoneus, the bane of Pluto, and the new master of Death" Alcyoneus greeted "And it looks like you brought an extra meal..."