Chapter 16: Welcome to the Pit
ARTEMIS POV
"APOLLO!" I yelled and waited. "Apollo, please. I need you." I whispered and he flashed in. I know he was still hurting and upset at me, but I could tell the minute he looked at me and saw the desperation in my eyes, he softened. "What happened?" he ran to my side immediately.
"Please. Just take them all to your temple and make sure they're okay. I'll meet you there and explain," I said frantically and he nodded and disappeared into a flash with me right behind him. Once I appeared in his temple I sprinted to the infirmary and found him immediately at work with the hunters. Estelle came and tackled me into a hug, sobbing into my chest.
I sat there completely numb as Estelle sobbed for all her heart was worth into my chest. My hands were moving on their own to rub circles into her back, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I don't know how much time had gone by, but Estelle had finally fallen asleep in my arms and Apollo had finished stabilizing the hunters. I came to find myself in Apollo's living room and genuinely looking around for the first time.
'I always figured it would be full of booze and strippers in here,' I thought as I glanced around to notice a rather modern, but homey living space, complete with coffee tables, couches, and pictures. So many pictures. Then I realized all the pictures were of his lovers and his kids throughout the millennia. 'Oh Apollo. How wrong I've been,' I thought until he came into the room sat on the couch.
"What happened? Where's Percy?" he asked and I took a deep breath. "We were at our camp and a small group ambushed us. They just appeared out of nowhere; Tartarus must have released them right on top of us. Most of the hunters were knocked out. Thalia was unconscious at Polypherion's feet when I got to the clearing," I told him and took another deep breath. "I fell to Atlas before Percy showed up and… Polybotes threatened Estelle…" I trailed off and couldn't stop the water works as I looked down at Estelle and cried.
I hated how weak I looked. 'I'm not supposed to act like this… but why does my heart hurt so much for Percy?' I thought. "Then what happened, Artemis?" he asked gently, seeing me in such disarray. "He made Prometheus swear on the Styx that if he went with them, we wouldn't be harmed and we would be let go. Apollo… he's back there. He's in Tartarus!" I yelled and continued crying.
Apollo then surprised me and pulled me, with Estelle still hugged to my chest, into a hug and I sobbed into his shoulder as he held me. Again I lost track of time as I cried into my brother's shoulder. Once I settled down, I laid Estelle into one of the beds with the other girls. As I walked back to the living room, I looked closer at the pictures.
"My children," Apollo said from behind me and I turned around. "So many of them," I teased and immediately regretted it from the pained expression it brought him. "I didn't know you kept all of their pictures. It's very… fatherly of you," I added trying to show him that I approve. He let out a dry chuckle, "They're memories I bonded to the frames." A silence settled in and I decided to apologize.
"Apollo… I wanted to… apologize… for everything. I-I know now that I've been… less than fair to you and I-I'm sorry.." I whispered. "I-I know it doesn't excuse my behavior and it'll take some time to be close again, if we even can… all I'm asking for is a chance," I finished even softer. He was silent for a long time.
"I… don't know, Artemis. I appreciate the apology, really… but it'll take time," he finally replied and my heart perked up a bit. "That's all I ask… little brother," I said with a small smile and got a ghost of a smile in return. "We need to call a Council meeting," he said and I steeled my nerves and nodded. Then we both flashed out.
3RD PERSON POV
Artemis and Apollo flashed into the Throne Room and Artemis launched an arrow into the air to call the remaining Gods. Apollo gave her a nod in support and they went to sit on their respective thrones. The Gods all flashed in shortly after and Zeus spoke out, "Why have you called this meeting Daughter?" Artemis looked at Poseidon, Hestia, and Hera sadly and they all tensed. "Daughter?" Zeus asked again, getting annoyed but his voice also held slight concern.
Artemis looked at Apollo for reassurance and took a deep breath. "The Hunt was attacked while our Guardian was in the Underworld visiting Hades' son. They appeared out of nowhere right on top of us; a force of mostly hellhounds and the Giants Polypherion and Polybotes and the Titans Atlas and Prometheus," Artemis said and everyone paled.
"Tartarus must have sent them directly to you," Athena mused. Artemis nodded that she agreed and took another deep breath. "They knocked out almost all of us and when I arrived at the clearing, Thalia was unconscious at Polypherion's feet," Artemis said and Zeus growled at the name of his Bane. "I fought and fell to Atlas before our Guardian arrived. Then Polybotes threatened to kill Estelle with a knife at her throat," Artemis continued and Hera snarled and grew red with rage.
"T-They made a deal and…" Artemis trailed off as the tears gathered. "And what?" Poseidon asked, gripping his trident tightly. "In exchange for the Hunt's safety, he went with them," Artemis whispered. "WHAT?!" Hera and Poseidon yelled at the same time and Hestia gasped. "WHERE IS MY SON?!" Hera and Poseidon yelled again. "Tartarus," Artemis gasped and the Throne Room erupted into chaos.
Hestia began sobbing as Poseidon yelled in rage. Zeus launched his Master Bolt to call attention back to the meeting. "What are we going to do?" Zeus asked. "We have to get him back!" Poseidon yelled and got most of the Gods present to agree. "We can't venture there ourselves and none of the demigods are quite… up to par for a quest to Tartarus," Athena countered. "I DON'T CARE HOW MANY DEMIGODS IT TAKES! I WILL NOT LEAVE MY SON TO ROT IN THERE A SECOND TIME!" Poseidon roared.
*SLAP*! Everyone was in shock. Hestia slapped Poseidon across the cheek, with a look of anger and disappointment on her face. "I understand you are distraught for your son and my champion, but you will not needlessly send your brothers' and nieces' and nephews' kids into that hell. And if you did, Percy would never forgive you for that," Hestia said firmly and Poseidon's eyes immediately showed regret.
"'Huntresses alike must take a dive'," Athena whispered and the Throne Room fell silent. "You don't mean…" Hera started and trailed off. "No. No, no, no," Artemis argued. "My Hunters are NOT going into the hell hole!" she yelled and minor bickering broke out again. "Silence!" Zeus ordered.
APOLLO POV
"Father, I am not letting my hunters go there!" Artemis yelled again. "We can't just leave him there," Aphrodite added. "We have to trust Percy to make his way out," I said finally and everyone whipped their heads to look at me. "You suggest we leave my son in Tartarus?" Hera spat at me. "No. We Gods look for a way to get him out without sending anyone else in. Percy wouldn't want that anyways. Plus, something tells me he'll make it out," I said.
"What do you mean, nephew?" Poseidon asked and I rubbed my jaw. "I don't know if it's my domains of just faith that he'll get out on his own, but that's the feeling I have," I said and felt Artemis' grateful gaze on me. 'I'll talk to her about us when Percy gets back,' I thought.
"I believe the Hunt should travel to Camp Half-Blood and remain there for the time being. With the ambushes, it's only a matter of time before they are overrun or attack camp," Athena said and Artemis was about to argue, but I threw her a knowing glance.
"If there is nothing else, Council dismissed," Zeus said. And most of the Council flashed out. I gave Artemis one last glance and made eye contact. I offered a sad smile and flashed out.
3RD PERSON POV
Deep in Tartarus, the shuffling of feet and the clanking of chains echoed down a narrow stone hallway. A figure was battered and bloody and being dragged by two cyclops. They arrived at the cell and the figure was tossed in. His head slammed against the stone wall and he grunted in pain. He was forced up and chained to the wall by the monsters and they immediately left the room.
The man's head swam as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. 'I really never wanted to be back here again. Repectfully, fuck you Ladies Fate,' he thought bitterly as the cuffs dug into his wrists. He didn't know how long he was there for when the doors were kicked open and in walked someone he had hoped would stay scattered in Tartarus for millennia.
"Hello, my dear grandson. Welcome back to the Pit."
PERCY POV
Pain. So much pain. Kronos called it our family time as he tortured me for hours upon hours. At least, I think it was hours. The pain was too much for me to focus on anything else. His scythe sucked. There wasn't a single place on my body that wasn't covered in a scar or a fresh cut. I screamed so hard and so loud that my voice was lost to the Pit.
It wasn't just Kronos either. Polybotes and Polypherion both paid me visits as well. Both leaving me with bones protruding from the skin and dumping salt water on me to heal so they could repeat the process. They came and let monsters take their turns with me. Kelli the empousai, the Minotaur, Echidna; nearly everything I've slayed. Which is nearly everything the Greek world has to offer.
The last thought that went through my head before submitting to unconsciousness for the first… let's call it night though I truly had no idea how long it was, was 'Estelle. Girls. Thalia… Artemis… I promise i'll make it back to you.'
AN: Chapter 16 done! Very short. How long will he be stuck down there? How will he escape? What kind of tortures will he endure? Find out next time! All suggestions and comments welcome!