Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter- in which Nico and Leo are just amazing brothers.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Yeah, but I mean, hey at least he's not sat worrying about Percy, he's just completely oblivious to the reality of the situation. And I like to think I've done Percy justice.
Drizzle: Damn is about right.
ArachnidHiveMind: How horrible are you thinking my dear? And like, Leo could probably breath fire if he wanted.
Nico felt like there were eyes on them, it was not a nice feeling, and he didn't mention it to Leo- it wouldn't do any good- it would just make them both stressed, and it wasn't as if Nico could pinpoint exactly what was causing that feeling because whatever it was was all around them. Watching was the wrong word, too. That implied eyes, and this thing was simply aware of them. The ridges above them now looked less like steps and more like rows of massive teeth. The spires of rock looked like broken ribs. And if the ground was skin… Nico shook off those thoughts. No. No he had to focus on Leo. Anchor himself or he'd go insane. Yes he knew that Tartarus was a being as well as a place but he could not afford to swell on that fact.
"Right." Nico took a deep breath, "We need to keep going."
"Ah yes." Leo nodded mock seriously, "Let's cross the nice exposed plain. Should be fun." he declared. "I can't wait."
"Uh huh." Nico snorted, "You think I don't know that- and I doubt I can use the shadows to hide you or I'd do that- it's too exposed for that- and oh gross-"
Because about a hundred yards ahead of them, a blister burst on the ground. A monster clawed its way out…a glistening telkhine with slick fur, a seal-like body, and stunted human limbs. It managed to crawl a few yards before something shot out of the nearest cave, so fast that Nico could only register a dark green reptilian head. The monster snatched the squealing telkhine in its jaws and dragged it into the darkness.
"Hmph." Leo scowled, "I mean, that was kinda gross and terrifying at all. But- I mean, I really freaking hate those things so like-"
"Weren't they the ones who rebuilt-"
"The scythe? Yeah, it was telkhines that tossed lava at us." Leo's expression was dark- and Nico couldn't blame him- he'd probably feel the same if he'd been through that with Percy- if it was him that they'd tossed lava at, if it was him who'd been with Percy right before- well. They all knew what had happened after Leo and Percy had blown the volcano sky high.
"Well." Nico took a deep breath, which was not fun in the pit, "We need to get moving or we'll end up getting caught by some monsters anyway."
"Very good point." and so they started walking, trying to avoid the cave entrances, sticking close to the bank of the river.
They were just skirting one of the spires when a glint of movement caught Nico's eye—something darting between the rocks to their right. A monster following them? Or maybe it was just some random baddie, heading for the Doors of Death.
Suddenly he remembered why they'd started following this route, and he froze in his tracks.
"The empousai." He caught Leo's hand. "Where are they?"
"Uh oh." Leo blinked, eyes flicking around quickly, "I can't see them either-" which didn't make sense. Nico highly doubted that they'd been snapped up by the reptile in the cave, they didn't have that sort of luck.
So either they should still be ahead of them somewhere on the plain or they were hiding which meant an ambush- and Nico didn't even have the time to pull out his sword before they were surrounded by the empousai- who leapt out from the rocks all around them, the five of them forming a ring.
Nico groaned, drawing his sword as Kelli limped forward on her mismatched legs. Her fiery hair burned across her shoulders like a miniature Phlegethon waterfall. Her tattered cheerleader outfit was splattered with rusty-brown stains, which were very very gross. Gods but he had not missed her at all.
"Nico Di Angelo and Leo Valdez- how awesome!" she almost cooed their names. "I haven't seen you since your sisters bitch of a girlfriend killed me-"
"And we could have gone a lot longer without seeing you again." Leo piped up, fire flaring up around his hands instantly- the problem was that the fire probably wouldn't be that useful against the monsters- and they were very much outnumbered. "I gotta say though, you look a lot hotter when you're not so-" he waved a hand dramatically, "That-"
"Leo-" Nico let out a long suffering sigh, rolling his eyes.
"Yes Nico."
"Can you stop being a dumbass for at least like, ten seconds."
"Oh come on Neeks you know that's not in my DNA."
"Tell me- how much do you think that bitch of a sister of yours will cry when she finds out I've killed you. Maybe I'll take souvenirs, to show her."
And okay, okay that was not good. But- well at least she didn't seem to know that Percy was in Tartarus- that was very, very good in his opinion.
"Didn't you hear?" Leo spoke up suddenly, glaring at Kelli, "Didn't you hear? What your old boss did. You won't be showing our sister any souvenirs when you get back up top because Percy isn't up there. She's off in Elysium living it up! She doesn't even know about any of this, the gods are keeping the heroes in Elysium in the dark!"
"Oh really?" Kelli sneered, "You're almost a convincing little liar son of Hephaestus, but I know what happened to Kronos's Queen whore-" Nico let out a low growl at that- "I know she went out in a blaze of glory and I know that she was brought back by Bianca Di Angelo. Gaea promised me vengeance for our mistresses son." the empousai muttered and hissed at that, some of them nodded- and Nico shook his head.
"But your mistress doesn't only have one kid- I'm friends with one of her daughters-"
"Lies-"
"It's not lies! Hecate was pardoned after the war- she changed back to the gods side she made peace with Olympus." admittedly Nico wasn't sure how willing that peace had been- knowing the gods they'd subtly threatened Hecate with the lives of the rest of her children, most of the traitors had been allowed to return to camp under strict rules but there had been quite a few Hecate kids who had been traitors, kids who'd followed their older brother. The gods might not have threatened Lou-Ellen but they'd almost definitely threatened her siblings lives if Hecate didn't cooperate.
Still, the fact that their mistress was at peace with the gods was the truth- and one of the empousai growled.
One of the other empousai growled. "Is this true, Kelli? Has our mistress made peace with Olympus?"
"Shut up, Serephone!" Kelli screeched. "Gods, you're annoying!
"I will not cross the Dark Lady."
"Serephone seems pretty smart." Leo remarked, spreading his arms, "I mean, I'd listen to her if I was you guys."
"Yes!" Serephone shrieked. "Follow me!"
It happened so fast that Nico barely had time to raise his sword- Kelliashed out at Serephone. For half a second, the two demons were a blur of slashing claws and fangs.
Then it was over. Kelli stood triumphant over a pile of dust. From her claws hung the tattered remains of Serephone's dress.
"Any more issues?" Kelli snapped at her sisters. "Hecate is the goddess of the Mist! Her ways are mysterious. Who knows which side she truly favors? She is also the goddess of the crossroads, and she expects us to make our own choices. I choose the path that will bring us the most demigod blood! I choose Gaea!"
Her friends hissed in approval. Nico gave Leo a sidelong glance. "It was a good try." at least he wouldn't die alone down here. And one of Leo's hands went out and Nico grasped it tightly.
"I wonder what happens when you kill a demigod in Tartarus." Kelli sneered, and Nico tightened his grip on his sword. "You two might just be the first-" and all four of the monsters lunged at once.
It all happened so quickly that Nico would never be able to explain exactly what happened.
He knew he was knocked over, he remembered slicing one of the Empousai in half before he'd felt claws slicing down his back- remembered seeing Leo throwing balls of fire At Kelli, trying desperately to fend her off and get to Nico- who had two of the monsters attacking him at once.
And then it happened- a shadow fell across Nico. A deep war cry bellowed from somewhere above, echoing across the plains of Tartarus, and a Titan dropped onto the battlefield.
Nico's mouth dropped open in shock and he gaped up at the familiar Titan, who had nearly landed on Kelli- and he was faintly smug about the fact that she let out a terrified shriek and fled as soon as she actually saw who had nearly crushed her.
He did crush the one of the empousai. And Nico let out a relieved shaky laugh. The Titan was ten feet tall, with wild silver Einstein hair, pure silver eyes, and muscular arms protruding from a ripped-up blue janitor's uniform. In his hand was a massive push broom. His name tag, incredibly, read BOB. Which- did bring up the question of why the Hades Bob was wearing a janitor's uniform.
The only empousai who was left was foolish enough to attack. She lunged with the speed of a tiger, but she never stood a chance. A spearhead jutted from the end of Bob's broom. With a single deadly swipe, he cut her to dust.
"SWEEP!" The Titan grinned with delight and did a victory dance. "Sweep, sweep, sweep!"
There was a long moment of silence- and Nico knew he was gaping.
It had been so long since he'd seen Bob... he certainly hadn't been expecting to see him any time soon.
"I-is that-" Leo stammered, his eyes wide, "Holy fuck is that-"
"Bob?" Nico managed, "Bob-"
"Nico!" Bob beamed at him. "Nico called me. Yes. Yes he did."
"This is-" Leo swallowed hard, "This is the Bob?"
"I called you?" Nico managed to push himself up, and Bob frowned.
"Nico has an owie?"
"Yeah." Nico nodded, "They got my back." he leaned forward- he trusted Bob- and sure enough the Titan tapped his shoulder and Nico felt the pain easing- and by the time it was fully gone Leo had made it over to them, and he reached out, grabbing Nico's hand tightly, like a lifeline. Nico understood that, he was pretty sure they'd both believed that it was the end, that they'd die.
"Thank you Bob." Leo spoke up, "For healing my brother."
"Nico is your brother?"
"Yeah." Leo nodded, "I'm Leo."
"Then Percy is your sister. Percy and Nico are Bob's friends." Bob's voice was very proud before he looked almost sad.
"Nico used to visit Bob. Then Nico stopped."
"I didn't want to." Nico shook his head, rolling his shoulder. "My dad banned me from the Underworld Bob. I am sorry. I would have kept visiting."
"It's okay. You called. I heard my name. Upstairs in Hades's palace, nobody calls for Bob unless there is a mess anymore. No one wants to see Bob. It's always Bob, sweep up these bones. Bob, mop up these tortured souls. Bob, a zombie exploded in the dining room."
"I'm sorry Bob." Nico shook his head, "I really, really am."
"Why did Nico get banned?" Bob tilted his head curiously, and Nico smiled sadly.
"Because Percy died and dad didn't want me to spend all my time in the Underworld visiting her-"
"Percy died?" Bob's eyes went wide and sad, kind of like a kicked puppy, "But Percy was Bob's friend."
"I know- I know-" Nico said quickly, "But- it's okay. She's been brought back recently. She had some memory issues but- she's down here somewhere." Nico told Bob, "She fell down here with us."
"Can-" Leo's voice was hesitant. "Can you help us find her? She's on her own down here and we want to get back to her."
And Bob's eerie silver eyes almost gleamed as he nodded.
"Bob can help." he paused, "But first, we must go before they find you. They are coming. Yes indeed."
And Nico and Leo exchanged looks at that.
Whatever the they they'd been talking about was, neither of them wanted to meet it."
