Chapter XVII
Furiously I stormed into the Poseidon cabin, throwing my helmet in the rough direction of my bed, hearing its metallic clatter as it hit the floor. I moved on to fiddling with my cuirass' straps when I got the feeling that something was off, the air felt cold and I got the feeling I was being watched. I let my sword appear in my hand, when I heard a small laugh, a very familiar one, prompting me to let it disappear again.
"Alright, alright, I can see you're too angry for this to be funny," Bianca stated still chuckling as she stepped out of one of the shadows. "what's gotten you so sullen?"
"Bi?" My anger dissipated and was replaced by surprise. "What are you doing here?"
I looked at her with slight confusion as a smile grew on my face. It had only been three months, well two months and twenty-six days to be precise, but it had felt far longer. Not that I hadn't seen her, she had Iris messaged me just last week and back then I had already noticed some changes about her which were now all the clearer. But IMing wasn't the same as properly standing before someone, she looked different, great as always, but nonetheless different. Delighted, I noticed the bracer's bronze surface glinting under her jacket's sleeve.
She looked more confident and while I doubted she had grown all that much in the time she still seemed taller. That confidence was backed up by the fact she seemed a lot more athletic than before, that must have been a hell of a training program. But beyond the terrible puns there was something else, she seemed more... regal perhaps? It was hard to put into concrete words, but in light of the cute half-crown braid she wore it seemed most fitting.
Not that it mattered, it made me no less happy to see her.
"Why, visiting Camp of course," Bianca answered matter-of-factly and gestured to the cabin. "as to why I am here in particular? Well I originally wanted to try and scare you, though that plan fell flat. "
"Well, sorry for ruining that, not that I think dad's too fond of people ambushing his son in his cabin, but perhaps I should rephrase my question, aren't you supposed to be down there?" I asked before I noticed something else. "Also, has your accent gotten stronger?"
"Has it?" She questioned, though more to herself than me, clearly trying to determine it herself. "I am not sure..."
"It has, I had already gotten the feeling in your IM last week already," I said, now sure myself. "and you've also grown paler, though I guess that was to be expected."
"Well, sun isn't exactly easy to get in the underworld," Bianca said with a shrug. "if you think that's bad, wait till you see my sleeping schedule."
"Who said anything about it being bad?" I asked, giving her a smile. "It brings out your freckles, I like it."
"Thanks," She said and looked away, the blush not hidden. "So what got you so riled up?"
I looked to the ground for a moment, annoyance rising up in me again, but I forced it back down, not willing to let myself get angry again.
"It's nothing," I said, trying to brush it off. "just me and Chiron butting heads again."
She looked like she wanted to ask more but I firmly continued.
"I'll fill you in later," I promised and smiled. "but for now, tell me about your stay if you don't mind."
"Fine," Bianca sighed and crossed her arms. "but there really is not that much to tell, it wasn't all that exciting to be honest. I didn't really do much these last months besides train, train and train again and let me tell you Atalanta is not one to joke around with."
"Atalanta?" I asked, amused.
Bianca nodded and let herself drop on a bunk and I sat down a bit to her side and listened intently as she started telling of her stay in the underworld.
To be fair, it really wasn't that exciting, at least for what you'd expect of the underworld. It seemed even Hades played by the rules to a certain degree, or perhaps he was just far too busy, with the billions of dead there where both were realistic. Either way there was still an expected level of distance between them from the way Bianca talked though, but at least she seemed convinced that he cared and did so herself.
Indeed she had spent most of her time training as she had stated just now. Not just combat training, but also a lot of general demigod education it seems, you know normal stuff like everything that could murder and devour you and necromancy one-o-one.
As to the former, I wasn't sure if Hades just thought it ironic to have her taught by another former devotee of Artemis or if she was just the most fitting teacher, either way Atlanta seemed to be rather strict and effective, nonetheless Bianca clearly respected her.
"I've actually got something to show you," Bianca stated after finishing a short anecdote. "or at least I think you'll want to see it."
She reached to her left sleeve and pulled it back, revealing a small engraved gemstone of a dark gray color set in a black metal bracelet in front of the armguard. The artwork was evident of impressive skills behind it, worthy of history's greatest artists even, whom due to their current un-alive status Hades surely had access to. The fine lines were well visible and formed the image of a picturesque landscape, a depiction of Elysium perhaps?
"It's beautiful" I said, stunned.
"It is," Bianca agreed with a smile. "but it's not really what I wanted to show you."
In her hand a bow appeared, a truly awe-inspiring piece of craftsmanship that was. Two long limbs of white wood and glossy black horn stretched out, from the black leather handle, subtle yet ornate patterns of gold were ingrained in it, it curved at the end forming a powerful recurve-bow. If my ancient weapons knowledge didn't disappoint, which it rarely did, this bow was of Scythian style, not exactly very Greek, but highly effective nonetheless.
"You know, I knew you'd get that look on your face." Bianca said happily, my fascination clearly becoming apparent.
"Can you blame me? That's a true work of art." I responded, still captivated before absently asking. "A gift from your father I take?"
Bianca nodded with pride and joy showing on her face. From the impression I had gained by the way she spoke of him, it was clear that while her relationship with him was far from perfect, she was nonetheless rather fond of him.
I was genuinely happy about the fact that she appeared to feel at home. I would have detested watching her leave the Hunt only to feel alone again.
"Yes," She confirmed further. "we were given them on our arrival."
A topic came to my mind but I wasn't sure if I really wanted to mention it, I didn't want to ruin her mood. Against my concerns and better judgment I nonetheless still decided to touch on it.
"Soooo," I started hesitantly. "how are things coming along with Nico?"
She sighed and I already regretted asking as she scowled lightly. "It's gotten a bit better, not least thanks to father, he's trying to nudge him in the right direction I think but..."
"He's being stubborn?"
"No, or at least not really, or at least not mainly, it's just frustrating." Bianca said, eyes boring into the ground. "On some days it feels like things are truly getting better, even If just little by little, on the next he's avoiding me like the plague."
"I'm sorry for asking." I apologized but she shook her head.
"It would have come up either way when I would have answered your first question properly." Bianca stated as she turned back to me. "Because if I am being honest, part of why I am visiting Camp is as a way to get away."
"From the underworld?" I was surprised, I imagined it would be like spending time in the ocean for me, rejuvenating and calming, not exactly undesirable.
"No," She chuckled lightly. "The underworld can be strange for the living, even for me, but I like it. No from Nico I mean, you know give him some space, perhaps it'll help him get his thoughts in order."
I hummed, I was unsure this was the right path, but it was her decision. "So your father approves of you coming back to Camp?"
"I think so, it is hard to say," Bianca said, sounding uncertain. "but he doesn't disapprove necessarily either."
"Well, either way, I am happy that you are back, Bi." I said and gave her a smile which she returned.
"Me too, Thee," Bianca bit her lip and looked at me, her dark eyes glinting in the low light of the cabin.
Without really thinking I moved forward and wrapped my arms around her, which she returned with minimal delay as I pulled her against me lightly. For a few heartbeats all thoughts outside were gone as I embraced her. A couple of brief moments we remained like this, before I pulled back despite not wanting to deep down, but I was sure if I had held on any longer I would start nuclear fusion from how hot I grew.
Suddenly the door slammed open and we both sat up straight and I silently prayed to whoever listened for that to be anyone but Chiron, I didn't need to break, or much rather be caught breaking more rules than necessary. Even if certain rules about boys and girls of different parents not being allowed alone in the same cabin were extremly outdated and more or less unenforced, they were still that old dusty rulebook.
I'd even take Silena, even if that would mean listening to heightened teasing for a few weeks. Clearly whatever god was responsible was listening and in a favor-granting mood today, because I heard a voice which was very much not Chiron's, not to mention the lack of hoofbeats.
"Aha, there you are!" I heard a triumphant Eleanor call and turned around to her, trying to play off my flustered state. She was standing in the door and approached slowly, coming to a halt a few feet in front of us and a smirk formed on her face.
"Why are you two so red?" Eleanor asked, amused. "Did I interrupt something?"
"No, Ell," I said trying to sound firm. "at least not what you are insinuating."
"It's none of my business," She said, shaking her head before looking to the daughter of Hades. "Bianca, I assume?"
"Yes," Bianca responded, even more flustered than me, though her look was inquisitive. "Who are you though and why do you know my name?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry, that wasn't exactly polite," Eleanor apologized. "I am Eleanor, I'd prefer if you call me by my full name, I find the shortened version annoying."
"But, he just called you Ell, didn't he?" Bianca asked and she nodded.
"I've learned to deal with it," Eleanor said, putting an extra ounce of mock-tiredness into her voice. "he's far too stubborn to make it worth the effort to stop him anyways..."
"Understandable, he can truly be quite hard-headed." Bianca agreed.
"Hey, you are aware I am still here?" I asked, though they both decided to, clearly purposefully, continue ignoring me.
"Anyways, as to how I know your name?" She repeated Bianca's question. "I'd truly like to claim I inherited my dad's prophetic abilities, but Theseus just talks a lot when he's bored and the trip was quite long."
"Your dad?" Bianca asked, before putting the clues together. "Ah, Apollo,"
"I can definitely see it." She said, seemingly thinking back. "What trip are you talking about though and why do you two seem so familiar?"
"She's an old friend," I said and Bianca got a questioning look on her face.
"Old friend?" She asked and frowned. "You've only been in Camp since summer so that would mean..."
"Yes, I was led down the wrong path," Eleanor interrupted with regret. "one I could no longer follow. As to the trip, it was just this morning, let's just say I may have gotten myself into serious trouble and needed some help, it truly was a matter of life or death."
Bianca nodded, though her look made clear that she was still skeptical-
"Oh, by the way, Bi, Thorn finally found his end," I told her and she looked surprised.
"Got smashed by a couple of tons of metal." I elaborated before adding. "Though sadly that wasn't my doing."
"Good to hear he's gone for good this time," She said, genuinly pleased. "he deserved that both for trying to kill us and his exams as well, truly a monster."
From the way she placed emphasis on the exams I got the feeling they had been far worse than the killing part, though I wasn't even sure death was all that scary for her anymore. Perhaps it wasn't all that different from coming home to her, just without leaving again, ever, at least not with your memories intact, though I supposed the latter concept must be familiar to her as well.
"His exams?" Eleanor looked amused, neither me nor Bianca anwered.
"So what did you want, Ell?" I asked, still wanting an explanation for, admittedly, interrupting the moment.
"Well since you just stormed off," She recalled. "I wanted to finish talking about it with you, and see if you are okay."
"I am alright, just let my temper get the better of me" I said, annoyed at Chiron and myself. "As to the topic, I think I made my point clear and we see eye to eye. But if Chiron doesn't approve, we are stuck in a deadlock, aren't we?"
"But we can't just accept that, can we?" She asked raising a brow. "This is not a matter to remain idle on-"
"Uh, what are you two even talking about?" Bianca asked again.
"Kronos, his scythe, it is being reforged." I answered and saw her expression shift to one of worry.
I was sure Hades had told her about the prophecy, after all it would be her burden if me and Percy bit the dust or she overtook us in age by some other means. And even if she didn't know about it, we all had enough reason to still worry about Kronos growing in power.
"And Chiron doesn't want to approve a quest to stop it?" Bianca asked and I nodded.
"To be fair, we know very little, but I still think we should have at least tried consulting the oracle." I stated unhappily, the centaur wasn't entirely wrong, but still...
"We can still try convincing him," Eleanor argued. "if we make a good enough case, I am sure he will see reason..."
"Eventually perhaps..." I considered. "But how much time do we truly have left? A week, two, a month?"
"I don't know," Eleanor said frustrated. "but we are running out of it, that I am sure of."
"So, what's stopping you from just asking the Oracle?" Bianca threw in and I shifted.
"You aren't exactly one to stick with rules, are you now?" She prodded further.
"I mean exploiting a loophole, or breaking them when there is no other choice is one thing." I said hesitantly. "But to go against Chiron's direct words like this... that's a different matter."
"Is it?" Bianca asked and I looked away. "And does it matter in this case? Gods, aren't we even obligated to do something if we can?"
"Perhaps you are right," I agreed hesitantly. "I'll have to think about it and I need to clear my mind, could I interest you in a spar, Bi?"
"Sure, though don't expect this to go as before," She said with a grin. "I'll meet you in the forest?"
"Alright, I can see I'd better get going again," Eleanor said. "I have some half-siblings I need to apologize to anyways, so see ya."
I waved her off as she left again, followed by Bianca who headed towards the Hermes cabin to prepare herself. I was truly excited to see if her training had paid off, because I got the feeling if she had such teachers as Atalanta she would quickly become a force to be reckoned with.
Shortly after the fight started I regretted the choice of battleground. Because the forest meant trees and trees in turn meant shade and shadows meant Bianca was quite a bit harder to deal with.
I struggled keeping track of her movements as she darted in the shadows, even the sounds seemed to be swallowed by the gloomy dark surrounding the clearing.
My experience and instincts allowed me to react, but it was far slower than I would have liked it to be.
Something made me turn around and I saw her rushing towards me, already dangerously closed. I parried a first strike and before the second could come I forced her back with a sweeping cut.
But she was persistent, closing in again. I blocked another couple of strikes, aiming to wear her out and create an opportunity, one which soon came.
I moved into one of her strikes, letting her left knife glance off my shoulder plate as I slammed her back. My blade coming up in the same motion, aiming to create more space to move.
"You know, I didn't expect your melee to have improved this much." I commented praisingly.
"Why, thank you," Bianca said as she moved back. "I had good teachers."
"I can see that," I said, gritting my teeth. "But you still fight like a Hunter and knives have their problems, namely reach."
As she moved in again I dropped my sword and grabbed her main arm, forcing her to drop the knife in that hand. Anchoring myself to the ground and using my superior strength and weight, I swung her around without much problem, there were things technique simply couldn't compensate for.
While she lifted the other knife to strike at me I suddenly let her go and threw her in the direction of a nearby tree.
Bianca rolled off as she hit the ground, though clearly dazed by the force of the throw as she stumbled to her feet and retreated into the darkness. I had no intention of letting her get away and picking my sword up again rushed after her.
As I entered the shadows it felt like they themselves were my enemies, only kept at bay by the weak glow my sword gave off, though even that faded not far from its source.
Catching a glimpse of her slipping behind a large oak tree I gave chase, though it felt like I was being bogged down with each further step.
I came around the tree and found she had disappeared again. My reflexes made me turn around just in time as she came up behind me again and I leveled my sword at her throat.
"Finally got you, you've gotten a lot faster," I told her and smiled. "yield."
"Thanks and no thanks," Bianca said and smirked. "you are mistaken, you are the one who has been outmaneuvered."
She took a step just out of range of my sword and I moved forward to match it. Or at least I tried to, but something was holding me down, as if I was frozen to the ground.
I looked down and saw the darkness clutching my boots like the tendrils of some sea monster, my feet felt like they were stuck in a glacier.
An unusually cold and focused look was on her face, as she weaved around me. I forcefully broke free from the shadowy bonds, the earth shaking as I violently ripped myself free and whirled around.
They didn't stop me, but it gave her enough time as she swiftly circled around me and pushed the knife to the side of my neck, a cold chill running down my neck as my hair stood up as the cold metal made contact.
I met her triumphant eyes and for a moment considered some desperate maneuver, perhaps disorienting her with a small earthquake? But no, she had won, not to mention the nymphs would flail me alive for something so destructive.
"Alright, fine, you don't need to say it," I conceded. "I yield, but I demand a rematch in different circumstances."
"Ha, sure, sore loser," She exclaimed, happy of her victory. "finally!"
"Don't get cocky now," I warned. "you had the battlefield advantage and surprise on your side, I didn't know just how much you could do by now."
"And why do you think I suggested the forest?" She asked, still smiling, before adding. "Just admit you underestimated me."
Perhaps I had, I thought to myself, but there was no way in her father's name I would come even close to admitting that, so I just remained silent.
"Tell yourself what you need to if it helps soothe your ego, but I won nonetheless" She mocked and I snorted as my eyes wandered to the blade as she let it slide in a leather sheath, the one she dropped reappearing in a swirl of darkness before being slid in a matching sheath as well.
"Those are made of Stygian Iron aren't they?" I asked, my interest piqued by the rare mythic metal.
"Yeah," She confirmed. "though if you wanted to hold them, I'd have to disappoint you."
"Oh, I'm fine, I like being in good health and not getting my life-force sucked out." I said, remembering what I knew of it. "Though you better make sure the Stolls don't get their hands on those, for their own good."
"I think they'll learn to keep their distance soon enough," She said with a glint in her eye. "at least from what my father said."
"He's going to claim you?" I asked, surprised at the implication.
"Yes, he seems to think the time is soon, I mean it's more of an open secret anyways," She said. "Though I don't know how long it still is."
"I can't wait to see everyone's reaction," I stated and a thought popped into my mind. "does Chiron know already?"
"Do you think he would just let me go and come as I currently do if he wasn't aware of the situation?" She asked with a disbelieving expression. "Besides I am not the first of my siblings to go to Camp, as rare as we are, he should have figured it out by now, even if he hadn't known before."
"You make a good point," I said and cracked my knuckles. "So how about a rematch somewhere fair?"
It was dark outside when I started on my way to the Big House, one clear goal in mind. I had thought about it all afternoon and had come to a clear conclusion, I had to act and if it meant breaking a couple more rules so be it, Bianca was right. Once the Oracle gave me a prophecy Chiron couldn't argue further, it wasn't the method I wanted to use, but the ends would justify the means or at least I hoped so.
But to get a prophecy from the Oracle I would first have to get to it. And Chiron didn't want me to, which meant I had to do this on the hush-hush, which left me two options, either sneaking in during the day, while Chiron would surely be in his office or at night.
The latter was of course more favorable, though not without problems itself. Because either way, Argus would be vigilant and well, he was literally made to do that, sneaking past him wasn't easy, unless you knew what you were doing, which I thankfully did.
As good of a guardsman he was in theory, though his track record was less than great, he couldn't be everywhere at once. So a well-placed distraction did create a window of time large enough for me to sneak in. This distraction may or may not have involved an anonymous tip of a planned smuggling action today by the Hermes kids, which I knew of as I was one of the customers for this one, but what can I say, there is no honor among thieves.
The doors were locked, which could pose a problem, so I had prepared one of the back windows earlier today, propping it up ever so slightly to allow me to lift it from the outside.
With that and a little finesse I slipped in through the window without much trouble, carefully lowering it behind me again.
Careful to avoid the wooden floor creaking I moved along the edge of the hallway, my point of entry was carefully chosen as the one closest to the stairway, though Chiron's office was to the side between it and there.
Usually that wouldn't have been a problem, Chiron went to sleep at ten or eleven usually and it was already a good bit past twelve, but there were voices coming out, silent and muffled, but nonetheless noticeable.
Crouching down I moved closer to it, trying to eavesdrop. Inside I heard Chiron talking with whom I recognized Eleanor, from what I could understand of the conversation it sounded like she was still trying to convince him to approve a quest.
But I couldn't waste time listening and so decided to move on swiftly. I leaned around the corner, making sure the coast was clear before carefully moving up the first of the stairs without much sound, clearing the first floor. Wanting to get this over with as fast as possible and emboldened by success I hastened up the rest of the stairs before I came up to the part I dreaded most.
As I pulled down the stairs from the creaking trapdoor I winced. If anything would give me away, it was this. I heard movement downstairs and froze, letting out a brief sigh of relief as it ceased once more and I made my way up.
The attic was a dusty space and looked just as chaotic as Percy had told me. Random trophies were positioned all around, though they were labeled with painful diligence. A pickled hydra head from eighteen-seventy-two here, a drakon horn from the nineteen-sixty-eight there, you know, normal attic stuff.
A particular trophy held my attention longer than the others. One of Ladon's claws, won by none other than Luke Castellan himself, his quest had failed of course. I wondered how my life would have gone if he had died then and there? Would things be the same? Perhaps, surely another puppet would have taken his place, there were hundreds of angry demigods in the world. This was Kronos' war, not theirs, no matter what they told themselves.
But inevitably my interest was drawn to the mummified eerie corpse sitting on a tripod at one of the windows. Her face looked like someone had hit against a table's edge recently, a rectangular imprint left in the mummified flesh. Taking a deep breath, I started walking towards her and with a foreboding feeling noticed the green smoke coming out of her mouth.
It covered the attic like a thin blanket, sinking to the ground, it was overwhelming, suffocating almost though it only swirled around my feet and legs. I wondered if anyone ever aired the attic out, it sure didn't seem so.
As I approached I couldn't help but feel insignificant in face of the ancient forces at work here. Usually I wasn't easily shaken, but I wasn't so sure about this endeavor anymore, though I wouldn't back down. Not that I had much choice left as I felt its influence slip into my mind.
I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask.
I couldn't help but think back to how Zoë had approached the Oracle, a direct question had been posed by her with a clear goal. I wasn't sure if that was so clever, there were cautionary tales of people approaching the oracle with too specific questions and misinterpreting the results, leading to terrible results. Xenophon could tell of that all too well.
"How can I stop Kronos from getting his scythe?" I asked, deciding to go for the specific and blunt path nonetheless. Though in my mind there was another part of that question that I didn't speak, one much more focused on my own fate.
The smoke curled up around me, rising, slithering up the walls like snakes, accompanied by the sound of hissing. Then just like it had this winter, the raspy voice of the oracle spoke, seemingly coming from everywhere at once, as if it echoed in the attic and my mind.
Descend the Alcides' path,
to land where life is not,
by hand of a traitor the thief is caught,
on verge of life and death shall keep,
past land of reverie and haze must heed,
to face one of three long slain,
to triumph and grasp sky's bane,
and weather earth's wrath
As she spoke images flashed through my mind. Visions of dark high caverns and seemingly endless gray fields, of inky black rivers and thick white mist. But the visions disappeared just as quickly as they had come before, fading into nothingness. Just like them, the smoke retreated as well, pulling back into the mummified corpse and with it all sound seemingly did as well.
Everything was silent as my mind raced and I muttered the prophecy to myself again silently. Only then the feeling of dread started to set in as I realized just what these words and vision meant. I would have to go to the underworld, there was no doubt about it, not with such clear words.
That wasn't the bad part though, Heracles had done it, twice even, without much struggle, the original Theseus had done it as well and came back alive. Though frankly in light of his enormous stupidity, like seriously who agrees to help someone kidnap Hades' wife? It had been sheer luck that he had escaped more or less unharmed.
Still, I was decently confident I could pull that off, I mean even Oddyseus did it and he was merely a distant legacy of Hermes, far more mortal than god, no, as said, that was not the scary part.
The fourth line on verge of life and death shall keep was unpleasent to say the least and while it didn't exactly say anyone would die, that didn't exactly do much to lift my worries about it.
Just as doom-spelling was the last line, earth's wrath didn't exactly sound safe, either it was meant quite literally, as in an earthquake, or it was perhaps some terrible monster, Gaea had birthed too many of those.
My feelings of dread gained a much more imminent source however, as I again heard the movement below, much closer this time. Hastily I slipped down and closed the trapdoor behind me, rushing to one of the windows, lifting it up.
Though I stopped as I heard steps coming up the stairs, I turned around and saw Argus narrowing all of his hundred eyes at me, seemingly I wasn't as slick as I thought.
AN:
Another, rather slow chapter admittedly, but the prophecy is finally revealed as well as our next destination, hurray,
as always, thanks for reading and doubly so for those of you who follow and favorite, I would be very gracious for reviews or other feedback!
EDIT 18/05/2022 I deeply apoligize to anywho read this before today, when I published it I was rather sloppy about it's quality, though I reedited it now.