Chapter Thirteen
Things go...crazy
ANNABETH POV
No way in Hades did I want Percy going back to Tartarus. We had barely survived the first time. I didn't know what was running through that Seaweed Brain of his, but I didn't like it. He was trying to go to the start of the endless void. Not a good idea. Meanwhile, he left us struggling to merely stay above ground. Suddenly, an army appeared. A demigod army! Our two camps, well, what was left of them, had marched after Percy to help. I took in the scene. Leo (long time, no see. I reminded myself to punch him later) stood with Calypso. (no offense, but now I understood why Percy left her to come back home to me. Okay, that had to be Aphrodite making me feel jealous.) To the East, Reyna and Chiron (Yes, Chiron!) led the soldiers into war.
"On my command!" Reyna shouted. She drew her sword, raising it high above her. I wondered where her dogs were.
"Attack!"
Our brave campers surged forward, but to little avail. Gaea tampered with the soil, making it firm or soft when she wanted. She laughed as my legs became unstuck.
"Annabeth, child, not all of your campers came!" She smiled cruelly. Honestly, I don't think she is capable of any smile but an evil one. She snapped her fingers, and moments later, Dylan Blofis exploded from the dirt.
"Momma?! Momma!" He looked around frantically, his eyes coming to rest on me.
Gaea continued. "Unfortunately for you, I didn't leave any of mine at home."
She spread her arms wide and the hillside exploded into a battle scene. Every monster I had ever seen (and some I hadn't) surged forth. Gorgons, The Cretan Bull, Cercopes. Too many.
"Where are your gods now? No doubt cowering on Olympus!"
I bit my lip. Where were they, indeed? I knew some had been captured, but surely not all of them. I shook the thought. I needed to concentrate. The rest of children had woken up now and slowly oriented themselves.
"Stay together and fight!" I instructed them.
"Aunt Beth!" Dylan cried out, using his nickname for me. I twisted back to him as a storm spirit descended upon him, churning up a tornado. I sprinted for him, teaching him before the Anemoi Thuellai did. I scooped him up in my arms, running for the base of the mountain for shelter. The child sobbed into my shoulder, his black hair matted to his forehead.
"I want Mommy!" He sniffled loudly. Abruptly, he stopped.
"Percy!" He pointed to the top of the cliff, where Percy had materialized from the shadow. Andrew, Andrea and the twins were fighting their way uphill for a vantage point. I turned back to gaze at the tornado. More spirits had joined in, making it larger, sucking up campers and monsters alike. Gaea smiled pleased, and I cursed. The Prophecy may have been fake, but Percy's dream wasn't.
PERCY POV
I showed up and cursed. Gaea had anticipated my anticipating her! I had Riptide in my hand, ready for action but I was dismayed. A tornado was wreaking havoc in the valley below. My life managed to flash before my eyes: My first quest, defeating Kronos, my first kiss, college years in New Rome, my wedding, Andrea, Andrew, Will, Kate, and my dream. My dream that was now becoming a reality.
"Ahhh!" Andrea cried out. I pivoted around to see Andrea collapse, a gaping wound through her chest. Would that affect her baby? Anger cursed through my body, leaving it the usual way, cussing galore. For some reason, I couldn't move. Twilight flew from her hands, and Andrew caught the blade, slashing the Hellhound that had just taken a bite of her. He looked just as vicious as I felt. I noticed that he, too, had wounds.
I screamed. Not a Normal scream, but one that caused Gaea to flinch, and that reverberated for miles. Gaea quickly regained her composure and waved her hand. Paul, Tyson, and Grover flashed in front of me. They were the last bait Gaea had, but she didn't need them as bait anymore. I faced the tornado again, emotions welling up. Keep it under control, I told myself
"Daddy!" Dylan screeched below me. He clearly had seen Paul. I cursed Gaea for bringing him here. I watched in seemingly show motion as Annabeth started towards me before being caught up in the swirling grey vortex. I dropped Riptide in defeat. Was this my legacy? Percy Jackson, Savior of Olympus, Destroyer of Worlds. Playing right into Gaea's hands? I dropped to my knees, watching my world being ripped apart. I saw Reyna still attacking valiantly, the rest of her support long since gone. So, why should I quit? I struggled back to my feet, reclaiming Riptide. Gaea seemed uneasy. I focused my anger on her. She had stolen my friend's body.
"You had the right idea, Perseus, give up! You've already seen the inevitable. Spare yourself further pain."
I couldn't. I did a three-sixty. Right now, it was Reyna and me against 42,363 monsters, 2 titans, 3 giants, and 1 mother earth. I liked my odds. I leapt off the cliff, rolling very un-heroicly to the bottom.
"Why don't you give up, Gaea? I see the nervous fear in your eyes!" I challenged, fending off a Karpoi that was riding a Hellhound.
"You know we can still win. You saw that when battling with the spirit of Delphi, didn't you!"
I was totally bluffing at this point. I had no idea. This was 100% B.S. But, it seemed to be true, since Gaea shook with rage, causing the whole earth to tremble. At least I thought the earth shaking was Gaea. Turns out it was worse.
"Finally! After eons, I have formed a body, an indestructible essence, with which to rule the world!"
Not only was Gaea awake, so was Tartarus. A large figure blocked out the sun. I gulped and glanced at Reyna, who was just as Aghast. Holy Styx, we were dead.
NICO POV
It seemed like I was floating, not falling but sort of like space, there seemed to be no gravity. I felt uneasy. The entire realm was dark. That's not what bothered me though. There was one spot of light, that's it. Usually people would say "Don't go to the light!" In this case, go for it. Although, thinking about it, I'm still not sure if I was ever in control. The darkness itself might have been guiding my floating body. Eventually, I reached the glowing center-one singular, small orb. I stretched, poking it with my index finger.
"WHO ENTERS INTO THE FIRST REALM!?" A booming voice questioned. This was even louder than Tartarus.
I gathered my voice, half expecting a mere squeak to chime out.
"I, Nico Di Angelo, enter, wishing to have a divine council with Chaos, the first of the gods, and the greatest!"
I don't know where the words came from. They just appeared in my mind.
There was a long pause. Then, the voice was softer.
"No need for flattery, boy. I'm just glad someone finally came to visit me! Have a seat!"
