6/18/20

Not much to say, other than to please review.

Wordcount: 1022

A Pleasant Chat

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Percy POV:

With nothing else to do, Percy sat down at the small table in the kitchen. It was made out of sturdy oak, clearly made with care. The chair was made much the same, with a cushion laying on the hard seat. He glanced up at the lady, who had finished with what she was making earlier and was now stirring something in a pot. The room smelled heavenly, but Percy wasn't hungry. The Jerky Damasen had given him, while it kept him going, tasted like dirty old leather boots. He had finished off the dozen or so pieces in the time it took to get here, maybe a week.

The fact he didn't know what time it was was driving him crazy. He felt like he should know exactly what time it was, but his internal clock had run out of batteries. It was like when he went into a desert, the lack of water making him feel weak and tired.

His eyes drooped and he tried not to fall asleep. He had been running on fumes for the last few days, unable and unwilling to fall asleep. When he did pass out from sheer exhaustion, nightmares worse than he had ever experienced before plagued him. The dreams were so vivid, he would "Wake up" during them and continue to travel, before perishing horribly. The dreams were impossible to differentiate from reality, and he feared that he was still sleeping, dreaming this whole thing up.

A plate being placed in front of him made him perk up. He looked up to see the lady sit down opposite him, a plate of spaghetti in front of her. He glanced down at his own plate and picked up his fork. The lady cleared his throat and gestured at him with her fork.

"So, Kronos, tell me why you are here." Percy nearly choked on his spaghetti. "Wh-What?" She rolled her eyes, "Please, you can't fool me, Uncle. You didn't even bother to cover your eye." She gestured to his left eye, which he had forgotten was golden. There weren't exactly many mirrors in Tartarus.

Percy frowned, "I'm not Kronos, he just gave me his power when he faded." She hummed and returned to her food, but Percy continued to look at her. She seemed familiar. It clicked.

"Your Leto, Artemis mom." She glanced up at him, "Took you long enough." Percy Leaned forward, "But why are you here?" Percy gestured around.

Leto looked down, "Hera sent me here. Zeus protection expired as soon as I gave birth, and Hera captured me."

"Surely Apollo and Artemis would notice your missing, right?"

She smirked ruefully, "My children have not attempted to contact me for centuries. Even if they have noticed, which I believe they have, they can not do anything against the queen of Olympus alone."

"Cant you leave, though? What's keeping you here?" She sighed and held up her wrist. A celestial bronze bracelet was wrapped tightly around her wrist. "If I try to leave, this will shock me into unconsciousness. I am stuck here until I fade."

Vengeance appeared in his hand, "Not if I can help it." Letos eyes widened at the sight of the blade, and she held out her arm on the table. With a quick swing and a clang of metal, the bracelet fell to the ground, sparking.

"Let's go,"

Percy and Leto stood in the hallway, outside of her cell. Percy glanced at the other cells. "What are they in for?" Leto followed his gaze and frowned, "Most are in for following the titans during the first war, but a few are in for other crimes."

Percy nodded, and they continued down the hallway. As they walked down the staircase, Percy turned to Leto, "Cant you teleport us out of here?" She flinched and they continued in silence for a minute. "I can teleport myself out when we get out of this building, but sadly, I cannot leave with you." Percy looked down, the sinking feeling is his gut confirmed. They continued walking in silence.

The door to the bottom floor was shoved open and Percy strode through, Leto following behind. The door to Tantalus punishment was still open, and blood was smeared on the ground. He didn't even pay it any attention, but he heard Leto stop behind him. He turned around and looked at Leto, who was frozen in place, staring at the blood on the ground. He spoke up, worried, "Leto, you ok?" She glanced at him, and to his pants, which still had blood smeared on them, before looking back to the blood, "You… You killed him." She spoke, voice shaky.

Percy rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah… He wasn't a good person. Killed his son and fed him to the gods. Recently, he served as camp director at camp. He tried to kill me and my friends."

She didn't seem convinced but continued moving, but she kept her distance from him. The heavy door to the greeting room was still wide open, and Percy moved through it. The greeting room was empty, so he didn't stop. The Dim red light of Tartarus greeted him as he stepped out. He turned around as Leto stepped out as well. She glanced around before looking Percy in the eyes.

"You have a dark path ahead of you, son of Poseidon. Beings far older than the gods have taken an interest in you, and not all wish to see you leave the pit alive." She began to glow and Percy looked away as she teleported out of the pit. The light died down and he looked back, a charred spot on the ground the only evidence the Titaness had been there only seconds before.

Percy stared at the space where she had been in shock. More beings had taken an interest in him? Dam, just what he needed. He looked around and made his way back up the wall opposite the one he climbed up.

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