Percy's eyes were aflame with rage. Nico watched, eyes wide, as the ground seemed to tremble with every step that Percy took.
"Percy?" Thalia questioned, and he turned, slightly, nodding. They would have to catch up in a bit, as Percy had a score to settle at that present moment.
Without wasting time, Percy stepped further into the arena, stopping when he heard the giant speak up.
"Who is this... runt?" A giant asked from next to Luke, his beady eyes staring Percy down.
"Hell's former Champion. He should be dead. He is nothing more than an inconvenience." Luke snarled, and the giant grunted, and leaned forward.
"Kill him." The giant's voice echoed throughout the entire arena as everything went a deathly silent.
Percy dropped shoulder, causing his bag concealing the Sword of Enoch to drop down onto the floor with a thud. Percy edged towards the middle of the arena, twirling his sword. He stared at the demigods who stood over Lee's dead body, and held Riptide with both hands as he got into a battle position.
The first demigod charged Percy, with a battle cry, holding his sword as if he was simply going to run Percy through with it. Percy simply stepped out of the way, and tripped up the demigod. The demigod essentially fell on his sword, leaving a nasty gash on his stomach as he rolled over, the ground pooling in blood. The other two demigods tried to rush Percy. Percy stepped forward, and parried one sword blow and led the blade round in a circle, disarming the sword as he locked the blade and doubled back to kick the demigod away just as he ducked and rolled under the other demigods mace. Landing on his feet, Percy thrust his sword behind him and struck home, the sword sticking out of the demigod's side. Using the sword as a lever, Percy ripped the sword sideways, cleaving the murderous demigod in half, blood spewing everywhere in a fountain.
The other demigods were back on their feet now, covered in either their own blood or the blood of their friend.
The unarmed one made a dive for his sword, but Percy stopped him by cleaving off his arm. The other dived at Percy, and he simply just moved out of the way, and ducked, using the demigod's momentum and Riptide to take the left leg out, blood flying high as the leg was removed with a sickening sound that echoed across the arena.
Their screams didn't last long as Percy put them out of their miseries, and he was caked in the blood of his enemies. Clothes soaked through, his hair was matted and stuck to his face with the crimson substance. Some had gotten into his mouth, and Percy spat it out.
"COME ON THEN!" Percy roared, the ground starting to shake as power rolled off Percy. His powers were growing more and more, especially with him so angry.
Monsters began to move in from Percy from all angles, but the giant stood up, and waved his hand. All stopped, and Percy turned to the giant and glared.
"He is more than an inconvenience, Castellan." The giant growled, picking up his spear. "You have the blood of Poseidon in your veins boy." He announced. He was impressed with Percy's power.
"He was my grandfather." Percy replied, reaching down and picking up his bag.
He knew he could not use the Sword of Enoch, but deep down he knew that if he fought this giant, he would need the sword. He hated the temptation and power that came with the sword. But he knew it was for the greater good in the end. He knew that this beast would make him fight dirty.
He finally got a good look at the giant sitting with Luke. He had deep red skin with blue wave tattoos across his arms, sitting in only a loincloth. This was clearly the master of the arena.
The giant bellowed with laughter.
"You never told me that I had a nephew, Son of Hermes!" The giant chuckled.
"I believed him to be dead, Lord Antaeus." Luke's was biting the inside of his cheek at seeing his nemesis still alive. That and he were being reminded of his father, who he despised.
"I am glad he is not dead, where he fights well." The giant beamed, and waved his hand, and a bunch of weapons were thrown into the arena before Percy. "Take your pick. I want to see you fight."
"I have all I need." Percy twirled his sword once again, and looked around the arena. Skulls were everywhere. It was a shrine of sorts... but to whom...?
Then it dawned on Percy what the giant was to him. He was Percy's uncle. He was a son of Poseidon.
"I will honour Poseidon and Gaea by ending you. And it shall be spectacular!" Antaeus bellowed, and Percy chuckled lightly. He really was losing it.
"Then come down here and fight." Percy challenged. Yep, he had lost it. He was challenging a giant who was going to be immortal when Percy tries to kill him. Great.
Antaeus launched himself at Percy, who ducked and rolled underneath, losing his bag in the process. Crap. Percy needed that bag. He went to grab the bag, and the giant ran over, kicking Percy away. Percy's face exploded with pain as his nose was pretty much broken. Nothing was new there. Percy spat the blood that had entered his mouth away, and stood back onto his feet. The giant lumbered towards him and Percy ducked under the giant, slashing his leg as he went with it.
Sand poured out onto the ground. Then the ground came up and healed the wound.
Oh Percy was so screwed.
"Percy, you really did mess up this time!" He cursed himself, and ran out of the way again. He had no clue where his bag had gone, and he didn't have the time to look for it. So he had to think. How could he defeat something that was being healed by the earth?
Percy looked up and saw the skulls grinning down at him, hanging from fish hooks. An idea entered Percy's head. It was so wild and crazy; it was not going to work. But even then, from up there, Percy could possibly see his bag and retrieve the Sword of Enoch. A bit, fat maybe.
But if it worked, it'll be really cool; and funny.
Percy then saw his bag behind Antaeus, right between his legs. Now that was his shot. Percy ran at the giant, going low as if he was going to roll. The giant lowered himself to catch the legacy and pummel him, but Percy jumped up, using the giant's momentum of him suddenly shooting upright with Percy on him to eject him high enough for Percy to reach a fish hook.
SHINK!
"FUCK!" Percy screamed in pain as the hook Percy was trying to grab pierced through his arm, blood pouring out. The barbed metal hurt so much. It was especially bad where Percy had his whole body weight hanging there with a hook through the middle of his right forearm. This was not his idea of fun.
Percy hated fish hooks with a vengeance.
With a cry of pain, Percy reached up and grabbed onto the blade of the hook, barely clutching his sword with the arm hanging with a hook through it.
"Get down from there! You coward!" Antaeus yelled angrily, trying to reach Percy to no avail.
He had one shot. Percy managed to find the energy to swing his body up and hook his leg over the hook, so he could let go of the hook with his hand. It was time for Percy to start fishing - in a giant's overalls, nonetheless.
"Come here then, fatso!" Percy jeered. With a cry of rage, the giant jumped that little bit higher and grabbed hold of a chain, and began pulling himself up. Percy grinned.
Perfect.
Grabbing a nearby chain, Percy pulled it until it was long enough for it to reach Antaeus. And he hooked it through the giant's loincloth.
"What are you doing?" Antaeus roared, and Percy chuckled.
"Wedgie time, dick head." Percy grinned and began pulling lots of hooks down and hooking them onto the loin cloth until they were giving Antaeus a full-on wedgie. The giant was red with rage.
"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" Antaeus roared out, kicking out like a child.
Percy laughed at his handiwork.
"Nah, I don't think you will." He laughed and took hold of his sword with his left hand, and cut the chain holding him up, and allowed himself to drop. Antaeus attempted to catch Percy as he fell, but the legacy of Poseidon just thrust his sword out and sliced open the giant's abdomen, allowing a fountain of sand to cascade out into the air.
Percy hit the ground with a heavy thud, and groaned in pain as he picked himself up off the ground to look around.
All the monsters were silent. Luke stood up, and growled.
Percy walked over to his back pack and dusted it off, before locking eyes with Luke.
Percy analysed Luke. He looked ill. His face was gaunt, as if he was being malnourished. Then Percy noticed something strange: Luke's sword was missing? It was not like the Son of Hermes to be without his weapon of choice, an evil sword that could harm godly beings and mortals alike. Something was going on, and there was a pit sinking in Percy's stomach.
"Kill him. And do it properly this time." Luke snarled, before coughing and sitting back down.
Monsters all began to close in on Percy, who turned around, and saw monsters approaching him from all sides. And they seemed to be pouring out from almost everywhere. That was not good.
A shadowy figure appeared behind Luke, and Percy's blood ran cold. That same feeling of dread washed over him. The figure was hooded, and wore a long, black gown that swamped him. The figure tilted his head up, and gave Percy an evil, devilish smile. A pair of evil yellow eyes shone through the shadows surrounding the figure.
It was him.
The Devil's Keeper, whom had killed Percy last winter.
Percy froze. It was something he had not done in a long time. But his mind just stopped. Everything became numb.
"PERCY!"
The person shouting his name broke Percy out of his trance. He turned around, and saw that Thalia had escaped with Nico's help, and they were at the exit with Annabeth.
The Legacy of Poseidon came to his senses and looked around. His rematch would have to wait. He would have to come back for Lee's body – he knew he didn't exactly have another resurrection from nothingness available on demand – the last one was painful enough as it was. For him and whatever pulled him back into the world of the living.
Percy winced as he gripped his backpack with his injured hand, and Riptide with the other. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards the exit, jumping and cutting down as many monsters as he could if they were in his way. He had to escape.
That demon... Percy felt true fear when he came across it. And he knew that a rematch was due. But Percy needed to be stronger.
Percy escaped into the Labyrinth, the roars of monsters echoing behind him as he blindly ran into the darkness.
He couldn't stop. He had to find Thalia and the others.
The Demon Rites
Percy eventually lost the army and bumped into Thalia and the others by chance. They were setting up camp while Percy had not stopped running, allowing him to catch up. The wall appeared to seal itself behind Percy, allowing him to sigh in relief.
Annabeth was crying by herself, while Nico just stared at the fire. Thalia was stoking it when she saw Percy.
"Percy!" She cried out and jumped up. She had never been the fondest of him – but he had died for them from what they saw. And that made him trust worthy. She hated his methods, but in the war brewing they couldn't be picky with who was on their side. But back to the fact that he had died: how was he there?
"Hey." Percy smiled sheepishly, slinging his backpack from his shoulder and capping Riptide. He was exhausted. He lumbered over and sat down at the fire.
"You died." Thalia pointed out. Annabeth looked up at this, realising Percy had joined them. Her eyes were red and puffy; Lee's death must have done a number on her.
"And I got brought back." Percy shrugged, brushing some hair away from his eyes.
"Percy, we watched –"
"I know you did." Percy nodded. "I just woke up in the field, my chest sewing itself back together. And I've been keeping to the shadows ever since, picking off Luke's and the Demon's armies little by little so they don't notice too much." He told them.
"How does it feel to be a zombie then?" Thalia joked, and Percy chuckled a little.
"Weird, if I'm being honest." He turned to Nico. "Bianca is safe. She should be back in Camp Half-Blood after I found her captured by Kampê."
Everyone's faces darkened at that.
"What?" Percy asked.
"She got us captured, Percy." Thalia told him.
Percy's blood ran cold. Bianca had led him there as a trap...? That's how he knew to find Percy there...
Percy began to shake with rage. He had been played. And he did not like being played.
"Then we're going to pay her a little visit at Camp." Percy growled, and stood up. "We're leaving now – who knows what damage she's doing to Camp."
With that, they put the fire out and left as they could, time being of the essence.
The Demon Rites
Percy and the others arrived back at Camp Half-Blood. They were exhausted, hadn't slept in a few days. He had been silent the entire journey. They had used the Labyrinth to close the majority of the trip back, before leaving in near Brooklyn to finish off by foot so they could not miss Camp.
Percy felt like a fool. He should have picked up on Bianca being a traitor when he found her alone back on Alcatraz. Percy marched up to the camp border, and tried to get in. He found himself blocked off.
Hell's influence over him still had left its mark, it appeared. That and dying probably had not helped with the matter. With a few words, Thalia allowed Percy entry into the Camp.
Nico was nervously playing with a little figurine in his hands, keeping his head low. He then looked up, and ran away.
"Nico!" Annabeth called out, and began to run after him, before she noticed who he was running to.
Bianca.
Percy too, saw this. Bianca knelt down and began to speak to Nico. None could hear what was being said, but that didn't matter. Percy ran over to them and slugged the girl across the jaw, sending her flying into a tree. Percy grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the tree.
Thalia and Annabeth grabbed Nico and stopped him from moving, trying to calm the crying boy down.
"They hate us for who we are, Nico!" Bianca called out, and Percy turned to her, glaring.
"You betrayed us all." He snarled.
"No." She shook her head. "Nico, RUN! Find Kronos, he will help you! I'll buy you time!" Bianca called out.
Percy punched her in the mouth again, and then the ground began to shake.
"Percy –" Thalia began, but Percy looked at her, shaking his head.
"It's not me." He said, and his eyes went wide when he saw Nico shaking with rage, clutching onto his little Mythomagic figurine tightly. The surprise from everyone brought Nico and Bianca enough time to break free.
Bianca kicked Percy away and broke free, but Percy leapt on her and pinned her down. Nico wasted no time in running into a shadow.
"Why are you doing this, Bianca?" Thalia called out, all turning to her as Percy held her to the ground by her neck.
"Because," She laughed, "We needed the boy."
Percy went pale.
"No..." he muttered.
"Yes." Bianca laughed, and lifted up her t-shirt, to reveal blood trickling from a wound to her stomach.
"What's going on, Percy?" Thalia asked.
"She's possessed. Now leave her or I'll make you." Percy threatened.
"Now I do doubt that. She won't survive the exorcism, and this host don't have much longer left anyway if I'm being honest anyway." The demon giggled.
The demon was right. But Percy had no choice.
"Vas." Percy began. Bianca looked worried. He was still going to do it.
Before Percy could mutter another word, black smoke erupted from Bianca's mouth, and shot off into the sky, leaving a weak and wounded Bianca with black liquid leaking from her eyes, nose and mouth.
Percy wasted no time. He jumped off of her and picked her up, before turning and handing her over to Thalia.
"What are you-?" Thalia began, but Percy shook my head.
"I can't stay. If anyone asks, I was never here. I've got to chase that demon and keep causing mayhem for the demons." Percy bit his lip. He hated to do this to them.
"What about her?" Annabeth demanded.
Percy shook his head. "Normal medicine will help. Now hurry, I don't know how much longer she has." Percy looked apologetic, and turned around to begin walking away. He was sure campers were on their way to them due to the noise from Nico's powers.
"Where will you go?" Thalia asked.
"Find that demon and Nico. A Son of Hades is dangerous to be on the enemy's side." He said, before then walking away. He had something to take care off first.
The Demon Rites
And that is a WRAP!
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year, even though its 1 month late!
Sorry for the delay guys, but as I said last chapter, life is hectic at the moment. I'm gradually getting back on track with life, but it's a long and bumpy road.
I'm not going to bore everyone with the little details of my private life, as it is personal. But let's just say for the past few years I've been in an incredibly dark place. And I hit rock bottom not long ago, and I'm fighting to keep afloat and still carry on with my degree, work in my free time, and write when I get a second.
I love all of you guys who read these little A/Ns and these stories as a whole.
If a chapter is taking longer than 4 weeks to write, I will stick a little review up on the story – save me writing and uploading a mini-chapter (unless it is an incredibly long hiatus then of course that's what I'll do), give a quick run-down of it all and that I'm sorry.
Once again, I'm sorry this chapter took a few months, and I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Until next time!
~The Prince of Souls
