Chapter 7

Hades POV

A week into Percy's stay with the hunters and many visits from myself, I had the Underworld to run I can't be there the whole time, I came to visit again to see

destruction.

Some of the tents were smashed, and I heard yelling. I heard a high pitched scream, and I knew it was Percy, I shadow traveled to the scream and just in time, grabbing Percy I shadow traveled again to avoid being crushed by one of the Giant Bronze Colchis Bulls.

What in the Chaos are they doing IN the hunters camp? I look around, we are now by Percy's tent, he's shaking and I notice he is clutching his jacket tightly, but seemed to be protecting it? Like maybe shielding his chest? Then my brain connected the dots, tents were being smashed, he had to run, and couldn't leave Ms. O'Leary. I lean down to look him over, no visible injuries except a few scratches, he looked terrified though.

"Percy?" I ask slowly and quietly, trying not to frighten him more. He slowly came to, blinking his eyes and looking around, then suddenly ramrod straight, he reached to his chest and feel around. He seemed to find her ok, and released a sigh of relief. Finally he looked at me, and a tiny tentative smile came to his lips.

"Thank you for saving Ms. O'Leary, sir." I was taken aback, had the boy seriously thought I meant to only save his puppy and he was a happy coincidence?

"Percy, do you really think I shadow traveled into danger JUST to save your puppy?" I asked. He looked confused as to why I would ask this,

"Of course, sir." He stated, at least he didn't whisper all his answers now.

"Percy, I went into danger to save YOU, not Ms. O'Leary, though that was a happy coincidence." He looked shocked. I sighed,

"That's not a funny joke, sir." He whispered. Eye brows furrowed, mouth set in a tight line, thin spindly arms crossed over a wire frame chest.

"It was not a joke Percy." I stated. He looked even more confused. I sighed and shook my head, looking around I can't see any sign of Artemis or her hunters. They must be destroying the bulls now. I turn to look back at Percy, and he was white as a sheet. Frowning I followed his line of sight, there running full speed at us, was a Colchis Bull, and it was pissed.

I looked back and forth between the two, and I understood, Percy's smell must have attracted them. I kneel down in front of Percy, I have at least a minute before the bull is upon us.

"Percy, give me Ms. O'Leary." He looked confused and resistant to giving up his precious puppy, but after a stare down, he did as asked. I felt bad about forcing him, but he couldn't do this worrying about his puppy's safety. Once I had Ms. O'Leary I looked at Percy in the eyes, he hated that, but this was important.

"Percy, you are going to fight the Bull, and win." I told him. He looked terrified, lost, and horribly pale.

"Percy you've been practicing with the bows and sword right?" I ask, and he blinked at me, then barely nodded.

"Good. I want you to aim for it's ruby eyes, and if you can't get those lop off one of its silver horns, it'll off balance it and make it easier to stop." He simply nodded and pulled out his bow and arrows, the Bull was nearly upon us, I grabbed him and shadow traveled up into a large tree next to the bull and gestured to Percy.

He was breathing harshly and quickly looked to Ms. O'Leary for comfort, I leaned down and let her lick his face, he smiled and then took aim. The first shot was terrible, really what did I expect? For him to be a master after a week? He shook his head and tried again, this time glancing off the Bulls side, it turned to us, I saw Percy take aim again and then, let it loose, it soared right up the beast's nose.

Percy giggled as the monster thrashed, snorting, trying to dislodge his arrow. However the bronze bull was not laughing, in fact it's red beady eyes, burned with a fiery and passionate hate, the arrow was still stuck up its nose. It stopped thrashing and took aim at the base of our tree, I figured out what it was going to do a second too late, it ran full speed, and slammed its massive metal head into the base of the tree,

snapping it,

we toppled.

.

..

.

Percy POV

The fall to the ground was shorter than I thought, Hades hit his head though, I sat up from the ground, everything was muffled, the branches were surrounding us, and I can't see the bull. I look over at hades again, he had -gold?- running down his forehead, suddenly I remembered, Hades was holding Ms. O'Leary!

I quickly crawled towards Hades. I looked at his hands, they were held to his chest, I carefully pried his fingers apart, there, Ms. O'Leary was curled in a ball breathing quickly, she was scared, I got the feeling she was as scared as I was. I can't believe this big, FAT, MEANY! Tried to hurt MY Ms. O'Leary! I was furious, well as furious as a four year old can be, but I felt just SO ANGRY. Not only did it try to hurt Ms. O'Leary, but it ACTUALLY hurt Hades, while he was PROTECTING her!

My green eyes darkened, the ocean in them turning Dark, turbulent, and stormy. I grabbed my bow and arrows which had somehow survived the fall in one piece, crouching, I notched an arrow, and tiptoed away from Hades and Ms. O'Leary, I couldn't get them trampled. Once I deemed myself far enough away, I crept forward through the branches, using them as cover. When I found a nice spot I looked through to see the bull trying to sniff the ground, but everytime it tried, the arrow would only get pushed farther up its nose.

I stifled a giggle, holding my bow right, I took aim, I put all my anger into my shot, for hurting Hades, destroying my new home, the camp, for scaring Ms. O'Leary. I fired. I watched as the arrow soared, already notching another arrow. It hit its mark, right in the left eye, it reared up and screeched, thrashing its head from side to side, it turned toward where I was hiding, I took aim, and fired again, this time, the right eye,but the beast turned its head, changing it into a glancing blow. Now blinded in one eye, partially blinded in the other, with an arrow up its nose, the Bull was murderous.

I smiled, perfect. Everything was going according to plan, and by plan I mean not dying. I slowly pulled out my black sword that Hades got me, it was super cool and it made shadows move if you swing it towards them. I waited until it charged, so it couldn't change course, then when it was almost on e I jumped up and to the side, my sword arm flying.

I felt resistance, and then nothing and fell to the ground off to the side. I heard more screeching and a loud THUD. I sit up and look back, the Bull looks drunk, I should know, I would recognise that swaying, stumbling, and falling over look anywhere. It shook its massive bronze head, and swayed, it clearly lost all sense of balance, the beast could hardly stand without falling over.

I felt a moment of pity for it, and thought about trying to tame it, but then realized I already have Ms. O'Leary, and they might try and take her away saying I only can have one! And Ms. O'Leary is much more important to me than a big, bully of a bull. Nodding my head I grabbed my sword off the ground, I must have dropped it (oops), and ran at the bull. Thrusting my sword forward, I watched in morbid curiosity as the beast shuddered and then turned to Golden dust.

I don't know how long I stood there, but it must have been a while, because when the Hunters and Artemis finally found us it was almost sunset. Looking one last time at the pile of Golden dust, I turned and walked over to Artemis, who took my hand handed me Ms. O'Leary, and leaded me back to camp. Hades was on a stretcher between two of the hunters, they looked very upset at having to do this, but didn't say a word.

When we arrived Apollo was already setting up an infirmary. He looked us all over and simply poured something into Hades mouth, I think he called it 'Nectar'? Anyways, Hades was up not even a minute later even when Apollo told him to stay sitting, he could get hurt! I walked over to where they were arguing over whether or not Hades could get up,they stopped and looked at me, gulping I whispered,

"Hades, uhm sir, Apollo sir is a -uhm, doctor and, -uh, if he says you're hurt shouldn't you -uhm, stay in bed like he -uh said? I mean, I'm not telling you what to do sir, but I just don't -uh wanna see you get hurt again, -uh sir." By now they could barely hear me, I shuffled my feet, my whole face was warm with embarrassment, who was I to tell an adult what to do? What if they get mad at me for interrupting them? I thought, my face suddenly lost all color, what if they hit me for speaking?

I start breathing heavily, they are still staring at me, oh no, what have I done? They are gonna HATE me now! Suddenly there is a hand ruffling my hair, I look up it's Hades, he looks disgruntled but Apollo looks overjoyed.

"See even the kid agrees, stay in bed until I say so Uncle! You are going to hurt yourself!" He said, reprimanding Hades. He sighed and shook his head and smiled down at me,

"you really want me to get better?" He asked. I nodded yes. He smiled,

"You know Percy, how about instead of Hades, you call me Uncle? Since you seem to care about me like family anyways." My green eyes widened to the size of saucers, I'm sure. I couldn't believe it, right after I told him what to do, and he STILL want's to be my friend, even my, Uncle? I nod yes vigorously.

He laughed, an honest to goodness LAUGH, and it was because of ME. I smiled, not one of my tiny ones but a full blown smile, Uncle- I tried it out,

yes it suited Hades perfectly.