Yet another update! We're on fire, aren't we? Prince of Thieves is now officially off hiatus, so look for more chapters for that as well.

Disclaimer: We own nothing, because owning stuff is hard.

Reece's POV:

I hate being unconscious. Seriously. I hate it. I can't tell you much about what happened while I was unconscious, but it didn't take too long to wake up when I heard Roxy's voice. For the sake of, well, I don't know what, I tried to look like I was still unconscious. My head was killing me, it heard so much. Like after he'd thrown the rock the Cyclops had I don't know, beat my head with a bowling ball? Anyway, believe me, it hurt. I saw Chelsea and I had to be quiet not to say anything. Looking at Roxy, I could tell she felt sick hanging upside down. It wasn't really a picnic for anyone other than a possum. I don't know if Roxy saw Chelsea, but I didn't know what Chelsea could do anyway.
"Why do you want us?" Roxy yelled at the monster. You're a daughter of Athena for Olympus's sake, I thought moodily, what do you think? I watched her carefully, trying not to draw attention to myself though my hands were sliding to the weapon in my belt. She was reaching for her sword too, good, hopefully neither of us were being noticed.
"Food. Need to eat you know girly?" My blood boiled. Roxy wasn't girly, she was strong and brave and- why was I thinking about that when I was this close to dying? I freaked when the fire started under us. Chelsea wants to know what my fears are? I'll list them. Minotaurs and fire. The minotaur thing is explainable, to be traced back two terrible years, but the fire? It's always just been a freaky feeling inside of me. An unexplainable dread. Part of me thought about Chelsea using it against me, though it's surprising she hadn't noticed before, I'm always away from the fire during the sing-a-longs and my paranoia even keeps me from roasting marshmallows for s'mores. But it doesn't really matter if Chelsea finds out, what with me about to die.
"But do you need to eat us?" Roxy said, she must have seen Chelsea, must be trying to distract the Cyclops. Good thing she was doing it, I was too scared to. My fingers gripped my dagger but otherwise I couldn't move. The fire paralyzed me. Forget cutting myself free, what with burning to death so close.
"Of course, roast demigod, always good."
"Eating me would be bad luck," I managed to croak.
"Would it now, son of Tyche?"
"Yes. My mother would curse you."
"I doubt your mother cares." Ouch. Way to hit below the belt.
"That's not true." Roxy interjected, she shot me a look like, glad you're awake, and, Chelsea's over there. I sent a slight nod back. The Cyclops must have noticed because he glared at us.
"What are you nodding about?"
"Well, she just looked at me like the world is about to end and I nodded that I was completely terrified as well." Giving the idea that you're terrified makes it easier to fight the enemy because they underestimate you. Too bad I was legitimately terrified.
"You have luck and wisdom on your side, I'm sure you can save yourself!" The Cyclops laughed. Then things got worse.
"Save yourself Reece, save yourself for me. I want to see you again, save yourself, cut yourself free with that dagger of yours." He said in my father's voice. Tears stung my eyes and in one swift move he reached through the flames and disarmed me. But Chelsea was armed and he didn't think about disarming Roxy, thank goodness. Still, now I was disarmed, terrified, and about to cry.
"Pity this is the last time you'll ever hear your father's voice…" He cackled. Why was he inside my head?
"My mother will curse you for bad luck for eternity if you kill either of us."
"Oh, I'm not worried."
"You should be."
"It'll happen fast. This is special fire Reece Clark. It will take only a second to kill you." He started lowering the ropes and I could already feel the heat on my skin. But when the fire grabbed at me I found out he was lying, it was regular fire.
But no less painful either way.
I screamed.
Chelsea help me…

Dunnnn dunnnnn DUNNNNN

I truly apologize for yet another cliffhanger, hopefully this will be the last one and our heroes will get a break. But with them, who knows? Better to just hope for the best.