To now finish preparations for the assault on Camp Half-Blood we had returned to the mountain summit where the city of Titans was now fully reformed. It was creepy as hell, but also totally breath-taking. I have no idea how I had been able to get used to the stench of monsters, but now it didn't bother me so much. I guess I had just been around them too long. Anyway, I too was part of the army and so I was dressed in an outfit for battle, wearing proper armour for the first time ever. It was uncomfortable at first, I felt awkward and kept on trying to adjust the straps because it just didn't feel right, but Luke just said I'd get used to it. The polished bronze was unmarked meaning that it was new, though I kind of thought I'd prefer something a little older and not so bright. Bright means noticeable, therefore more likely to be targeted in battle. Underneath I wore all black, but at least these clothes were comfortable and form fitting. I wore a silvery grey cloak with a golden clasp to keep warm because it was always freezing up here with a storm swirling like a powerful dark grey vortex overhead that constantly stretched outwards. Either that or the flush of a giant toilet.
Green fires shone off the polished black marble in a garish glow and I couldn't help but wonder why the bad guys always seemed to go for the same colours. Black, red, green…it's like a reverse Christmas with no festivity at all. What's wrong with nice warm fires and some tasteful décor? Seriously, no imagination at all. I was following after Luke and as we passed everyone rose and saluted or banged their weapons against their shields as their spirits rose, armed and ready for war. I couldn't help but stare briefly at the older demigods. They were at least in their twenties, some of them even older if they had been lucky enough to survive for so long, and they were preparing to fight against a camp full of teenagers. Children, practically. Some of them as young as eleven or twelve. Surely they must see that this is madness? Perhaps Kronos was clouding their minds, or they had become enraptured with the promise of a grand and glorious war which dulled their thoughts. Perhaps they were just now too terrified to refuse orders. Honestly I could understand this much, because if Kronos now told me to do something, I would probably do it. There was no escaping him.
The troops were eager, one dracaena even asking Luke if it was time whereby he promised her that it was soon before telling her to continue her work. There was still much to be done, plenty to prepare before going into the Labyrinth. My stomach twisted darkly at the thought. "My lord." A detestable voice spoke and I made a face as Luke turned first, his eyes glancing to me before I then looked back to see her approaching us in a blue gown that shimmered under the green glow of the lit braziers with her eyes bright and alluring with a wicked gleam. How I hate her. "You have a visitor." What came up behind Kelli from the steps ascending to the summit was so shockingly disgusting that I had to physically restrain myself from saying anything stupid that would end with me impaled on a pair of what looked like rather venomous swords. And I'm not joking. They literally glowed green with a kind of ichor that definitely looked poisonous. Ugly didn't even begin to describe the demonic thing that approached us, and I could fully believe it had crawled up out of the depths of Tartarus.
I'm not even sure why monsters even bothered having human heads or bodies, because it really did not make them any prettier. What was worse about this particular monster was that despite the fact that she had a torso of a woman, she seemed to wear some kind of belt that had morphing animal heads and the lower body of a giant reptile that didn't have legs, as it were, but hundreds and hundreds of serpents and snakes that hissed and writhed beneath her like a hissing mass of waves. I couldn't help it, I stepped behind Luke. "You." I felt guilty leaving him to face this monster alone, but at least I had his back, right? Not that it would have done him any good, though my argument was that his body was invulnerable whereas mine most certainly was not. "I told you to stay on Alcatraz." The answer came in a discordant mess of hisses and ancient words that made very little sense to me, though Luke seemed to understand her. "You're a jailer, your job…" She hissed again, this time seemingly with more urgency. Whatever she wanted, she was adamant to have her way. My hands strayed to Amaryllis at my wrist. Just to be safe. "Very well. You will go with us. You may carry Ariadne's string. It is a position of great honour." I was very glad Luke agreed with her because it meant she left, taking her snakes with her. Were they attached? I didn't dare ask. "We should have left that one in Tartarus. She is too chaotic. Too powerful."
"You should not fear power, Luke. Use it!" Kelli goaded with a bright laugh that made me want to rip out her vocal cords. She really rubbed me up the wrong way and it showed on my expression as she sneered at me. For an ancient demon, she sure was petty.
"Ever heard of things in moderation, Kelli? You don't release things you can't control." I said to her as my eyes flashed, taking a step away from Luke's back so that I was standing next to him rather than using him as my shield. "I can think of a few other things of your kind that should get thrown back into Tartarus."
"Perhaps we should start with you?" Kelli returning, bristling as her flash of anger caused her face to morph into the hag-like appearance, though Luke pointedly shouldered himself between us and kept us apart. I fell quiet, but it didn't stop me from continuing to scowl in distaste. The wind shifted and I stiffened, once again feeling like Percy was nearby. My head turned and I swear to the gods he was looking right at me. Of course there was nothing there, just empty space, but I just knew it. Whoever was messing with us, I didn't know whether to be angry or grateful. As Luke spoke to Kelli, I used his frame to hide my face from view as I stared at the spot where I could feel his presence, and managed to smile briefly before mouthing the words 'I love you Percy' into the emptiness, and hoping that I was right in that he was there, and also that he could translate. I then turned away because I did not want to reveal myself, listening as Luke and Kelli spoke. "Is our strike force sufficient, do you think? Or will I need to call Mother Hecate for help?"
"We have more than enough. The deal is almost complete. All I need now is to negotiate safe passage through the arena." Glancing at Luke, I almost pouted. He still wouldn't tell me who he was attempting to barter with, because whenever it came to the Labyrinth he was a closed book. I was half convinced he was going to leave me behind, but if that was going to be the case I would just sneak in with the lower ranks and follow anyway. If I can't do something to help, I could at least get Percy and the others out. The Queen would be moored still, I could get them there and get them to safety. Once we were out at sea, I'm sure Poseidon would at least want to protect Percy, and if I asked him nicely he might even feel pleased enough with the fact that I finally prayed to him to offer us safe passage.
"Hmm…that should be interesting. I would hate to see your handsome head on a spike if you fail. Though I could probably get over it if it was the girl's. I might even pay to see it." Kelli noted as a shot at me so I just rolled my eyes.
"I'd sooner put your head on a spike, but you would just burst into evil fairy dust if I took off your head." We clashed whenever we spoke and I think it was starting to get on Luke's nerves because he sent us both a deadly glare that warned us to shut up or we'd both end up with our heads on spikes. She started it though. I'm not to blame here.
"I will not fail." Luke announced rather pointedly, still glaring at me so I innocently studied my nails, pretending to be oblivious to his look. "And you, demon, don't you have other matters to attend to?"
"Oh, yes. I am bringing despair to our eavesdropping enemies. I am doing that right now." That odious hag promised and once more turned towards where I sensed Percy's presence. I didn't react this time, continuing to pick at my nails like it was the most important thing in the world at present, though I flinched internally as her talons ripped at the air. Biting my tongue I turned and moved away, wanting to get away from the stench of monsters for a while, though this was a difficult task in itself because they were just everywhere. Snowstorm followed after me, having flown up from the ship in order to join me, now she walked with her head near my shoulder and asked me in a whisper what I planned to do.
"I am going into the Labyrinth with Luke, but you can't come Snow. It'll be too dangerous."
'I am not afraid, my lady.'
"I know that, I'm pretty sure you're braver than I am." I said to her as I lifted my hand in order to stroke her face as we walked further from the collection of monsters that had gathered, the air getting clearer the closer we came to the edge of the summit. I was exhausted, I hadn't slept well in weeks, but still I had to keep going. "Snow, when I leave, you have to escape from here. Sneak away and get back to safety. I don't know if I'll be coming back."
'Surely you do not mean…you cannot die, my lady!'
"Trust me, I don't intend to die, but you never know what may happen. The last thing I want, however, is to leave you here and for some monster to turn you into spam. You're too beautiful to become pegasi-kebob." To this Snow did not argue, for she would never deny that she was gorgeous. Lifting her wings she shook them out with a flap and I glanced to them, seeing the silver and gold tips as they shimmered. I couldn't help but wonder if she was perhaps a close relative of the original Pegasus, or at the very least, very similar looking in appearance, because honestly I could not imagine any finer looking horse or pegasus than her. "Promise me you'll protect yourself, Snow. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, not after all you've done for me."
'Of course, my lady, but it has been my honour to stand by your side as your mount. It has been my life's greatest achievement, and if ever I have fillies and colts, and grand-fillies and grand-colts, I shall tell them of how their great-dam is the one and only pegasus who flew with Nerida Jackson, daughter of Poseidon.' For the first time, that title didn't even bother me. It even sounded rather nice as I turned in order to smile at Snow, looking into her eyes as I then pressed my forehead against hers and let her breathe into my hands so that she could take in my scent. She'd always said she loved the way I smelled, like salted caramel. It's funny because I don't think I'd ever used that kind of lotion or soap before, and funnier still that she would know what salted caramel would smell and taste like.
"You are more than that, Snowstorm. You're my best friend." If Snow could cry, I'm pretty sure she would have just then. She gave a strangled sort of cry that wavered before she began to nuzzle at me insistently until I'd laughed and hugged her. Feeling tired I decided to take a rest, Snow laying down so that I could snuggle against her with a warm wing covering me like a feathery blanket and blocking the wind from me, letting me drift into sleep where I then began to dream.