Hey guys! I'm so sorry I haven't updated for a few weeks, I was really busy with schoolwork! Hopefully though that shouldn't be a problem now! Hope you enjoy this chapter, and please review afterwards! Read, Enjoy and REVIEW!:)

Percy

Percy smiled as he sank onto the soft, fluffy bed. Luckily for the demigods, there was a bunch of hotels right outside the Acropolis Park; and they were good hotels too. Percy figured temporarily staying in five star hotels without paying wasn't that bad a thing when you were saving the world.

He had just said good night to Annabeth. She was staying in the room next to him, but right now Percy just wanted to sleep. Percy was exhausted. The day's fighting had been rough, not to mention getting shot with an arrow. Luckily, the wound was now a lot better, and Will Solace had told him that after a night's sleep, he would be just fine.

Percy scowled as he remembered Nessus, the centaur who had wounded him. All they had wanted was information. Annabeth had heard that Nessus lived in the neighbouring hills. He was a centaur, who supposedly knew where to go when you needed something. Unfortunately, he was also a devious trickster. He had been the one who had tricked Hercules' own wife into killing him.

But they had figured it was worth the risk. Nessus would know if there was any way of getting Bob and Damasen back from Tartarus, and Small Bob. Percy felt constantly guilty for the way they had been abandoned. It was entirely his fault, if he'd just stayed behind…. But that was why he had to help them. He was going to make sure they would be free from Tartarus. Plus, that wasn't the only reason to get them back. They knew there was a war going on, and Percy and Annabeth had to be there to help. But if they could manage to get Bob, Small Bob, and Damasen back…. Damasen was the anti-Ares, but surprisingly a lot of monsters were loyal to him. Damasen could help bring a lot more fighters, monsters on their side. It could turn the tide of the war.

So they had gone to find this centaur, at the same time Leo had gone off to find the Kobaloi, and Jason, Hazel and Frank were fighting Tityos. It hadn't actually taken that long to find Nessus. But Percy had not liked that guy. He hadn't been like Chiron, or the party ponies. He had a dark brown coat, and an easy-going smile, but his face had been smug, as he had approached them, like he had been waiting for this. This guy didn't work for Gaia, but he wasn't exactly best pals with the gods either. Percy and Annabeth had quickly told him what they wanted. Surprisingly, Nessus had been compliant.

"Sure, demigods. Always in town to help my favourite brood. So, how's life?" When Percy had stared at him, Nessus quickly continued. "Ah, I get it, man, not in the mood for talking. That's cool, that's cool. You want to rescue our friends from Tartarus? There's only one person who I know could help you with that. Only person I know who could help you with that is Alaps. Man, that guy is old. He's the gatekeeper of all places. If anyone can help you, it would be him. You can find him by the River Arian. Not too far from here. I suggest you wait for tomorrow, he's more of a morning person." Nessus had grinned, like he had just shared a joke.

Annabeth frowned. "Well, thanks, I guess. But why are you so eager to help us?"

Nessus had spread his arms. "What can I say? I'm a nice guy. Plus, what could happen after you recue them, what's going to happen in this war… It'll be interesting to watch. I enjoy entertainment. Suffering, pain, sorrow, they're all good."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked warily. "You know what's going to happen?"

Nessus had just cocked his head at that. "Well, yeah. Not going to tell you though. Nah, that would ruin the fun. Might cause some death myself, probably to both sides."

Percy drew his sword and snarled. "Don't even think about touching our side."

Nessus' face hardened. "I'll do whatever I want. For that, I'll make sure I attack them. Seeya kids."

Nessus turned to gallop off. Percy had sprinted after him, sword raised, but before he had been able to touch him, Nessus had turned round, taking the bow and arrows, and shot Percy right on the chest. Annabeth had yelled, and threw her knife at Nessus, hitting him right in the face. Nessus had crumbled into dust.

Percy had collapsed to the ground, and Annabeth had run over to him, trying to help, screaming his name. There was no way to get Percy back to the infirmary in this condition. So Annabeth had whistled. Amazingly, Blackjack came. Percy had never known that Pegasus to respond to anyone but himself. He guessed that Blackjack knew something must be wrong, and so had come. And so they quickly flew back to the infirmary.

As Percy closed his eyes, he hoped he wouldn't have any dreams. He just wanted to have a nice rest for once. Tomorrow he was going to rescue his friends from Tartarus, and to do that, he needed a good nights sleep.

….

Percy shovelled cereal into his mouth with his spoon, inhaling the coco pops. He was sitting in the breakfast area of the hotel, Annabeth and the rest of his friends around him on the big table. Annabeth rolled her eyes at Percy. He just grinned at her. Jason cleared his throat.

"So what's the plan for today?"

Annabeth reached under the table and took out her bronze shield, the one she had used in the titan war to keep watch on the enemy. Percy had no idea how it had got under the table, but that was Annabeth for you.

"We keep guard, and keep watching. We can use this shield to see if the giant army are approaching. If they are, we go out. Otherwise stay here, defend the Acropolis." She explained.

"Annabeth and I have to go to some river nearby- something we have to do." Percy added, "If the giant army approaches, Iris-message us, and we'll come help."

"What are you going to do?" Piper asked.

"We'll tell you afterwards. It's something we have to do." Annabeth's voice caught. "Just trust us. Please."

Piper nodded in response. "Of course we trust you. Leave the shield with us, and go do what you have to do I guess."

….

Percy soared through the sky, Blackjack flapping his long, black winds beneath him. Annabeth was beside him, flying on Guido, one of Blackjack's friends. Percy smiled at the wind rushing past him, the cool rush hitting his face. He felt really relaxed; he hadn't ridden Blackjack for ages- not since Kansas.

Percy was almost disappointed when Blackjack set down in a glade of trees, a small blue stream rushing downhill. Perching on a large rock, sitting like a monk in meditation, was a very old man. His beard was short and pointed, a snow white. He wore a white Greek toga, and his eyes were closed. Animals scurried about them, chirruping and squeaking, an ever-present noise; the noise of nature. The peacefulness of this place was strange, unfamiliar, compared to the noise of war. Percy got down from Blackjack, Annabeth behind him. At a glance from Percy, Blackjack and Guido batted their long wings and set off into the sky. They would come back when Percy needed them to. It was an advantage of being son of the god of horses.

Annabeth approached the old man, who was seemingly unaware of their presence. "Er, hello? I'm Annabeth, and this is Percy. Are you Alaps?" She asked apprehensively.

The man opened his eyes at the sound of her voice. His eyes were clear blue. "I know who you are, and why you are here. And yes, I am Alaps, Spirit of all gates and doors, entrances and exits."

Percy smiled in relief. "So you know what we want? You can help us get our friends back from Tartarus?"

Alaps stared at him coolly. "I suppose I could. Such things have rarely been done before, very rarely; to get someone back from Tartarus will come at a high price. I see no reason why I should help you."

"But- but- the war could depend on it! Surely you don't want Gaia to win?" Percy spluttered.

"I do not care who wins such a petty war! Such matters are beneath my noticing! Why should the rest of the world concern me, when I am concerned with something much greater! I study the key between good and bad, the conflict inside every single one of us, our decisions, our path, the gateway between all!" Alaps' eyes glowed as he said these words. Percy was pretty sure by this point that Alaps was not completely sane. However the flare in Alaps' eyes died down, as he tilted his head though. "I suppose I could help you though- at a price."

"What price?" Annabeth asked warily.

Alaps smiled, a cruel cold expression. "I want to know the gateway in you. I want to find out what makes you who you are, the person you are today. I shall read you, and you shall let me!" Seeing Annabeth and Percy's worried glances, he laughed slightly. "Oh, don't worry, you won't have to do anything yourself. I shall do all the work."

"Okay, then." Percy nodded; that seemed an easy price to pay to get their friends back from Tartarus.

"Oh, but that is not all, first you must prove you are worthy."

"How?" Annabeth demanded.

As she said that, a stream of creatures scampered down from the trees. They resembled squirrels in a way, but they had pure white fur, and had two mini horns on their head. Other than that they behaved exactly like squirrels. Annabeth cooed at them, smiling.

"They're so cute!"

Suddenly they heard a low growl emanating from inside the dark woods, sounding not too far away. Alaps rose up into the air, jerking his head in the direction of the sound. "I want them dead." He said coldly, before vanishing.

"Oh no." Percy said exasperatedly. "More monsters? Really? Haven't we already proved our worth?"

"Percy, I don't think-" Before Annabeth could finish, a load roar sounded, a huge beast lumbered into the clearing. It was a huge black beast, a body mass of thick muscle and shaggy hair. The beast stepped forward, swiping his paw at Annabeth, who yelped and ducked. Percy drew his sword and charged forward, slashing his sword, cutting the beast. It bellowed in outrage, and staggered forward to claw Percy. As Annabeth unsheathed her drakon-bone sword, another identical beast charged in, snarling at the squirrel creatures. Immediately Annabeth lunged forward, blocking the beast's attack on the squirrel creature. Percy realised that his beast too was aiming for the creatures. He darted forward, stabbing the beast, then jumping back, and continuing this game of tag and run, before eventually cutting the beast in half as it disintegrated into ashes. Annabeth had a similar success, as her beast too was reduced to dust.

"Come out, Alaps!" Percy yelled. "We've done your task."

There was second silence in which Alaps did not appear, when Annabeth spoke. "Percy, I don't think Alaps meant us to kill the beasts."

"But wha-" Percy's eyes widened as he realised what Annabeth was saying. It was the squirrel creatures Alaps wanted dead.

Yes, Alaps said in their mind, you understand. Let the Gnar Bears destroy the Lelans.

As Alaps said this, the piles of dust began to reform into the beasts.

The Gnar Bears, as Alaps called them, attacked the squirrel like creatures, the Lelans. Percy instinctively stepped forward; his sword raised, but stopped himself. He could see Annabeth going through a similar struggle inside her head. Percy didn't want these seemingly innocent creatures die when he could protect the, but they did need Damasen and Bob; they owed it to them.

So Percy stayed still. However when the bears started swiping their paws, throwing the scared Lelans everywhere, Percy realised the bears were playing with the Lelans. They were torturing them. A cold fist clamped in Percy's stomach, as without thinking, he charged forward, slashing his sword in fury, unable to let these simple harmless creatures die by these monsters.

In an adrenaline rush, he slashed and sliced, vaguely seeing Annabeth next to him fighting. Within minutes the bears were once more reduced to dust. This time however Percy used the water of the stream to disperse the ashes, preventing them from reforming.

Annabeth and Percy stared at each other, realization dawning on what they had done. Percy just wasn't able to let the killings go on. Percy just wished his friends didn't have to suffer for it.

As the Lelans scattered up into the trees, Alaps materialised in front of them. Percy immediately spoke.

"Alaps please, don't punish our friends for this, you have to help us, please!"

Alaps smiled. 'You have proven you go by your instinct, no matter what a god tells you. Today your bravery shall have no bad consequences, but I warn you; that will not always be true in the future."

Percy sighed in relief. "So you'll rescue our friends from Tartarus?"

"Of course… After I read you. Let us hope you will survive the experience."

Before Percy could express his protest, Alaps closed his eyes, and Percy's vision turned black. Suddenly he felt a rip, as if someone was tearing his way into his soul. He yelled in pain, as memories rushed past him. All the moments in his life, times where he had to make a decision, displayed themselves in front of them. The pain was terrible, and Percy felt so exposed. He tried to curl up, protecting himself from Alaps. He felt his life force ebb away, giving up, and his soul cold. Suddenly he saw Annabeth in one of his memories, the first time he met her. That warmed Percy's soul, strengthening it, giving him the courage to stand up and face the memories. He would not die. With a gasp Percy's eyes flew open to see Alaps looking satisfied, sitting on his rock.

Annabeth stumbled and caught his hand, having gone through the same experience as Percy. She straightened up.

"Will you release our friends from Tartarus then?" She coughed.

Alaps nodded. "Yes. That reading was most satisfactory. The gate to this world has been opened to your friends. They will be here within days, maybe sooner, maybe longer. It is impossible to tell. Though I warn you, foolish demigods, you may think you have succeeded for now, but such a big deed like this will not go without receiving something great in return. Today was only the beginning of the price. One day I shall call you, and you shall have to come. Then, you shall know the price! Now go! Leave me!"

Percy nodded. "Thank you." He whistled and Blackjack and Guido flew down to them. Percy and Annabeth flew upwards in the air and soared off.

…..

Percy and Annabeth had received an iris-message from Piper, telling them they had been attacked from the east. Percy and Annabeth were flying there now to help.

Soon they landed amidst the fighting, and charged in together. They swirled and slashed through the empousai and draconae. Suddenly they reached the front line of their army. The rest of the seven were standing there, numb, not speaking, staring ahead.

Percy frowned. "What's going on guys?"

Then Annabeth gasped, nearly falling over, grabbing Percy's arm and gripping it tightly.

"No- it can't be- no-"

"Annabeth? Are you okay?" Percy was seriously worried now. He followed Annabeth's gaze, and then it was his turn to gasp. His mind froze, not comprehending. It couldn't be. It was impossible. But it was happening.

Standing only 10 metres in front of them was Luke Castellan.

A cliffhanger! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm excited for the next one. Now please review, reviews make me write quicker and better. I probably wouldn't have been so long to update if I'd got more reviews, as they make me want to write. So thank you to all have reviewed; please review again! Everyone, type a comment in the box below, and press post!