Percy POV

"But I am. And it is possible." I said, heart twisting as I watched my long-lost twin sister lose control in front of me.

I understand how impossible it sounds. You resign yourself to the fact you will never find your family ever again, and now in Hell, you find him. It sounds ridiculous if I wasn't here.

"No. No, no, no." She shook her head, beautiful long hair mussed up in here. I wept as well—for her. For everything she went through alone. How could she ever think I would forget her? Never, not even the River Lethe would take her away. I hesitantly took her shoulders, bringing her into a hug. She cried further, into my shoulder, her whole body quaking. I combed through her hair soothingly, waiting for her to calm down. When she did, I pushed her away gently, wanting to see her in a new light—as my sister. She had lost control over the Mist, they spiralled away from her, and I could see her eyes, so similar to mine but also mixed with Mum's light blue. Her skin was so pale from the lack of sun, which made all her scars clearer. I saw some. They all weren't treated, which was probably why they all scarred. "Sephie?"

"Andy. My name is Andy." She said, voice hoarse and eyes tinged with red. "You're just hallucinating, Percy. We aren't siblings."

"Why do you stay in denial, Andy?"

"Because I don't want to believe it." Her eyes, beseeching, searched for his. "For so long, I thought my family forgot. I thought—no, hoped—they forgot. So I could suffer through everything, thinking they were happy with just the two of them. When I saw you, I hid my eyes from you because we were just so similar. You reminded me of everything my brother was. You were the leader I believed he would become. Gaia… Gaia promised." At that, her voice broke. I clenched my fist at her words. Gaia's children brought my sister all this—I wish I could pay them all back tenfold. Her eyes spoke of the pain she had been forced to endure, the pain she didn't want to show. "Gaia promised my family's safety." She said hoarsely. "That she and her children wouldn't harm them. She and I had a deal, the one Kelli talked about." About her bringing Gaia Zeus's head. It had made Annabeth and I distrust her. But looking at her now, I couldn't help but wonder was it fair to judge her?

Andromeda sobbed. "She promised me, from the time we made the deal until the end of time, my family wouldn't be harmed, including my father, if I killed Zeus after she woke up. Now I see how she had never fulfilled it. That she had continuously attacked and harmed you. And I'm sorry Percy, I'm so, so, sorry."

"Sorry for what, Sephie?" Watching her break was torturous. The strong, unmovable warrior I had seen for hours break down when years of torture, pain, loneliness and grief couldn't. "Nothing you did is worth blaming for."

"I'm sorry for not being able to be the sister you would want. I'm sorry for becoming a monster. I'm sorry for betraying you." She would've continued, but I stopped her by kissing her forehead. "If we're going to do this, I would also have many things to make up for. And the first two sorry? You are still the sister I want. The sister I'll always want. And you aren't a monster. If you're a monster then so am I. Twins are supposed to stick together. I'm sorry for not being here for you for 13 years. Now that I found you, I'm not letting you go. If you don't want to return to the mortal world, I promise you, I will stay here with you." A small part of my brain whispered: and Annabeth? Will you leave her for this sister who you haven't seen for 13 years? Who you do not know anymore? Who has done things you don't know? Yes. Yes, I would. Because she is my sister no matter what. And I'm tired of the mythology world stealing away people I love. It started with her, then all my friends. Now that I have her again, I refuse to leave her.

"You can't. You have your prophecy to fulfil. Your mother would be waiting for you to return. Your father who I'm sure must be proud of you. And a girlfriend who loves you dearly." She shook her head. "I'm not worthy of you losing them."

"That's if you choose to stay here." I pointed out before wincing. Not the best thing to say. "It's our mother, Sephie, and our father. Not mine, ours. I had a mum all my life. Dad may be disappointed but he will understand. As for Annabeth, I love you both equally. Annabeth will get to safety, away from all these monsters, and I'll stay with you, as a brother should be."

She let out a watery laugh. "You were always too protective."

"You know I am." I laughed.

It only lasted a few seconds before she looked away. "I'm so lost." She whispered. "It feels so weird that you, my brother, am here. It feels surreal, that you are just an illusion. That once I let down my guard, you'll be gone again."

"I won't."

"The Titans loved to play mind tricks with me." She said, tears filling again. "They would manipulate the Mist before I forgot and would make me see you or Mum, plunging the knife into me, or forcing me to bow before Kronos."

"I-" I growled angrily. How dare the Titans do that. "I cannot change that, Sephie," I admitted, loosening a little. "I cannot change your memory and all your past pain no matter what. But I can swear, never to harm you. Not even by accident."

She smiled shyly. "That's a new one." I hugged her again, glad that she hugged me back.

"Percy…" Andromeda, my sister, mumbled, before hesitating. I waited. Instead of talking again, she buried her face into my chest until I couldn't see her anymore. From the way I sensed my shirt was wet, it was clear she was trying to restrain herself. I closed my eyes.

She seemed so regal when we first met, a being who I thought was just another immortal we had to defeat. It would've been impossible to defeat her. Even though I didn't know, my subconscious wouldn't have allowed it. In my arms now, she was the most fragile being, someone I wanted to protect, to hide away from the horrors of the world. But I knew it was a hopeless wish. She had already been exposed to the world, to every evil it had, and she stayed strong. I knew, whatever happens, she will be protected, and she will be loved. I refuse to let her think of anything other than that.

The timing was horrible. (The next part may not be very accurate cuz I dunno how it actually happens. Bear with me, won't you?) The shrine started glowing, billowing smoke everywhere. Andromeda whispered in my ear. "Don't look, alright? It'll dim soon." I followed her advice and pressed her body against mine, eyes glued shut.

When the light dimmed, like said it would, the altar was smoking before suddenly brimming with food. Bob whooped and went over, immediately grabbing a slice of pizza, one of the many foods there. "Wha- How-"

"It's a shrine, Percy. Burnt offerings from above come here." Andromeda said simply, her eyes unfocused. From the frown she adorned, whatever she was thinking about wasn't good. "Hey, hey, you okay?"

"You seem very at ease after what just happened, Percy." My twin said with a bitter laugh. "I- I'm sorry but I need time to process all of this." She waved a hand at the distance between the two of us. My heart sank a little but I nodded—at least she wasn't denying our connection anymore.

Just as I moved to give her space, she got up. Giving me a half-hearted smile, which to me looked more like a pained grimace, she ran off. I stared at her fading form, still marvelling at her speed. Then, I looked at Bob. He was a wonderful friend as Bob but as Iapetus? Well, if I knew he was responsible for me losing my sister, I would've killed him all those years ago, hurt shoulder be damned.

Annabeth looked ready to wake up as I went over to cradle her head, attempting to make it more comfortable for her as I thought things through. My sister was found again, we were in Tartarus, and there was the possibility of dying. Was this how Jason felt when he found Thalia? I kinda understand how rushed they were. It was different though, Jason didn't have to go through his entire life thinking that he failed his sister. I think Thalia would understand more, but I think the only one who would truly understand how helpless I felt 13 years ago would be Mum. Gods, she would be ecstatic to know Andromeda is alive. If she doesn't want to return, I'll have to convince Annabeth to tell her. All I know is I'll never leave her—never willingly.

Suddenly, Annabeth lunged out, grasping my arm. I patted her soothingly. "It's okay," I promised. "Bad dreams?"

Her body tensed. "Is it—is it my turn to watch?" She croaked.

"No, no. We're good. I let you sleep." To be honest, after that, I wasn't sure I could've slept.

"Percy!" She protested.

"Hey, it's fine. Besides, I was too excited to sleep. Look." I pointed over to where Bob sat cross-legged by the altar, happily munching a piece of pizza. At least it was half-true. I just wasn't about to share it with her yet. It felt too personal, and I felt that Andromeda should get to choose.

Annabeth rubbed her eyes, "Is that... pepperoni?"

"Burnt offerings," I said. "Sacrifices to Hermes from the mortal world, I guess." That sounded more like me, right? " They appeared in a cloud of smoke. We've got half a hot dog, some grapes, a plate of roast beef, and a package of peanut M&M's."

"M&M's for Bob!" Bob said happily. "Uh, that okay?" No one protested.

I brought her a plate of roast beef, and she wolfed it down like she had been like Nico. She adapted the wistful, longing look that made me smile.

"I know," I said simply. "I think it is from Camp Half- Blood."

"Peanut M&M's," Annabeth said. "Connor Stoll always burned a pack for his dad at dinner."

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Hey, this is good. Actual food from home, right?"

She nodded. We finished eating in silence.

The mood was ruined when Bob chomped down the last of his M&M's. "Should go now. They will be here in a few minutes."

"A few minutes?" Annabeth's face turned white, reaching for her dagger. I groaned a little. I just finished eating.

"Yes... well, I think minutes..." Bob scratched his silvery hair. "Time is hard in Tartarus. Not the same."

"I can tell." I went to the edge of the crater, peering back the way we'd come. "I don't see anything, but that doesn't mean much. Bob, which giants are we talking about? Which Titans?"

Bob grunted. "Not sure of names. Six, maybe seven. I can sense them."

"Six or seven?" Annabeth reached to her mouth, as if stopping her vomit. "And can they sense you?"

"Don't know." Bob smiled. "Bob is different! But they can smell demigods, yes. You two smell very strong. Good strong. Like... hmm. Like buttery bread!"

"Buttery bread," Annabeth said. "Well, that's great."

I climbed back to the altar, just realising something. "Is it possible to kill a giant in Tartarus? I mean, since we don't have a god to help us?"

"Percy, I don't know. Travelling in Tartarus, fighting monsters here… it's never been done before. Maybe Bob could help us kill a giant? Maybe a Titan would count as a god? I just don't know."

"Yeah," I said, concerned at her face. "Okay."

Bob, maybe out of habit, started cleaning up, collecting their trash in a little pile, using his squirt bottle to wipe off the altar.

"Where to now?" Annabeth asked.

I pointed at the stormy wall of darkness. "Andy said that was our destination, right? So we go there. Bob can lead us to the Doors of Death."

"Bob helps!" Bob agreed. "Into the Dark Lands. The Doors of Death... hmm, walking straight to them would be bad. Too many monsters gathered there. Even Bob could not sweep that many. They would kill Percy and Annabeth in about two seconds." The Titan frowned. "I think seconds. Time is hard in Tartarus."

"Right," Annabeth grumbled. "So is there another way?"

"Hiding," said Bob. "The Death Mist could hide you."

"Oh..." Annabeth squirmed a little, uncomfortable. I let her lean on me."Uh, what is Death Mist?"

"It is dangerous," Bob said. "But if the lady will give you Death Mist, it might hide you. If we can avoid Night. The lady is very close to Night. That is bad."

"The lady," I repeated. I wish Andromeda was here, maybe she'd clarify some things.

"Yes." Bob pointed ahead of them into the inky blackness. "We should go."

I glanced at Annabeth but she didn't seem like she was listening. "Okay, then," I said, shrugging. "I guess we'll see a lady about some Death Mist."

"Wait," Annabeth said. She got that look on her face again, like she just made a big realisation. Whether it was good or bad was another thing.

She looked over at the altar, contemplating. "Annabeth?" I asked, concerned when she took a clean paper napkin from the pile of trash. Well, cleaner than the others.

"Bob," she said, "offerings burned in the mortal world appear on this altar, right?"

Bob frowned uncomfortably, like he wasn't ready for a pop quiz. I totally got that. I'm never ready for them, even if they were told beforehand. "Yes?"

"So what happens if I burn something on the altar here?"

"Uh..."

"That's all right," Annabeth said. "You don't know. Nobody knows, because it's never been done."

"Annabeth?" I said again. "You're planning something. You've got

that I'm-planning-something look."

"I don't have an I'm-planning-something look."

She most certainly did. It's the one she was wearing right now. "Yeah, you totally do. Your eyebrows knit and your lips press together and—"

"Do you have a pen?" she asked, interrupting me. I stared at her. "You're kidding, right?" I took out Riptide.

"Yes, but can you actually write with it?"

"I—" hesitating, I realised I wouldn't know. "I don't know," I admitted. "Never tried."

As I uncapped Riptide, it sprang into a full-sized sword. This time, since I wasn't fighting, I kept hold of the cap. Usually it would appear in my pocket when I needed it.

"What if you touch the cap to the other end of the sword?" Annabeth suggested. "Like where you'd put the cap if you were actually going to write with the pen."

"Uh..." I looked doubtful, but Annabeth had a point. I touched the cap to the hilt. Riptide shrank back into a ballpoint pen, but now the writing point was exposed. It actually worked. Wow.

"May I?" Annabeth plucked it from my hand. She flattened the napkin against the altar and began to write. Riptide's ink glowed Celestial bronze.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Sending a message," Annabeth said. "I just hope Rachel gets it." "Rachel?" I asked in discomfort. "You mean our Rachel? Oracle of Delphi Rachel?"

"That's the one." Annabeth suppressed a smile but I could see it straining to escape.

At one point, Rachel had been interested in dating me which made Annabeth jealous, I think. That was ancient history. Rachel and Annabeth were good friends now. Annabeth finished her note and folded the napkin. On the outside, she wrote:

Connor,

Give this to Rachel. Not a prank. Don't be a moron.

Love,

Annabeth

I stared at her questioning but stayed silent—Andromeda was right to say Annabeth got some kind of message in her dreams.

"Now I just need to burn it," she said. "Anybody got a match?"

The point of Bob's spear shot from his broom handle. It sparked against the altar and erupted in silvery fire. I leaned away from the heat.

"Uh, thanks." Annabeth lit the napkin and set it on the altar. She looked like she was doubting herself so I wrapped my arm around her, it was easy when I was taller than her despite us being the same age. "We should go now," Bob advised. "Really, really go. Before we are killed."

"Right," Annabeth said, shaking her head a little. "I'm ready."


I begin to wonder why our luck was so bad—or so good considering what we saw. We went on for hours, relying on Bob, who glowed faintly in the dark like some sort of crazy janitor angel.

I took the time to think back to Andromeda. Now that I knew, I couldn't stop. Even Annabeth knew. She had asked me what happened to Andromeda, or Andy to her, when we started off. Bob immediately said she ran off and I hastily corrected it to she made a shocking discovery and Andy needed time to sort through her thoughts. Annabeth seemed more convinced but still stared at me in suspicion.

We could only see about 5 feet in front of our feet. Tartarus seemed to actively work against us. Rocks loomed out of nowhere. Pits would suddenly appear at our feet, and we barely avoided falling in. Monstrous roars echoed in the gloom, all around us.

We could only go down as it seemed to be the only direction allowed in Tartarus. I tried to backtrack but felt tired and heavy, like gravity itself disapproved.

Annabeth was distracted by her thoughts and so was I. That was the only reason she fell into the ledge and I was a second too late.

I went in after her—a good thing it was a shallow depression. Most of it was filled with a monster blister. Annabeth screamed and flailed, toppling sideways. I grabbed her hand, helping her to her feet. "You okay?"

Her eyes were widened with fear, like she would scream if she opened her mouth. I turned to what she was staring at and cursed. Curled in the membrane bubble in front of her was a fully formed Titan in golden armour, his skin the colour of polished pennies. His eyes were closed, but he scowled so deeply he appeared to be on the verge of a bloodcurdling war cry. The heat radiating from his body was a foreign feeling to me. "Hyperion," I said, scowling. "I hate that guy."

I fought this dude—water vs fire. I had discovered my ability to create a hurricane which helped me win against this dude. Before I reached, he killed countless satyrs and nymphs. I still hate him. He harmed my sister, contributed to the scars I saw on her. If I knew, I would have made his death more painful instead of only being encased in a maple tree. How is it so fast though? He looked ready to pop out at any moment and start charbroiling everything in his path.

Just then, I realised something, staring at Bob. The silvery Titan was studying Hyperion with a frown of concentration—maybe recognition at his brother. Of course he would, Hyperion could've been his twin if not for the hair length difference, the clothes, and his colour scheme.

"Bob," Annabeth said, also realising the problem, "we should go."

"Gold, not silver," Bob murmured. "But he looks like me."

"Bob," I said, determined. "Hey, buddy, over here."

The Titan reluctantly turned. "Am I your friend?" I asked seriously.

"Yes." Bob sounded dangerously uncertain. "We are friends."

"You know that some monsters are good," I said, somewhat relieved. "And some are bad."

"Hmm," Bob said. "Like...the pretty ghost ladies who serve Persephone are good. Exploding zombies are bad."

"Er, right," I said. Who knew Bob would also find the dead pretty. "And some mortals are good, and some are bad. Well, the same thing is true for Titans."

"Titans..." Bob loomed over them, glowering. Annabeth cowered a little. I had to stay calm—for both of us.

"That's what you are," I said calmly, despite ready to vomit. "Bob the Titan. You're good. You're awesome, in fact. But some Titans are not. This guy here, Hyperion, is full-on bad. He tried to kill me… tried to kill a lot of people." I forced back the memories of everyone who died. Now wasn't the time for a pity fest.

Bob blinked his silver eyes. "But he looks… his face is so—"

"He looks like you," I agreed. "He's a Titan, like you. But he's not good like you are."

"Bob is good." His fingers tightened on his broom handle. "Yes. There is always at least one good one—monsters, Titans, giants."

"Uh..." I grimaced, not sure about the last part. "Well, I'm not sure about the giants."

"Oh, yes." Bob nodded earnestly. So earnestly, I might've believed him from an outsiders' view.

Annabeth, who probably sensed they'd already been in this place too long, spoke up. "We should go," she urged. "What do we do about...?"

"Bob," I said, "it's your call. Hyperion is your kind. We could leave him alone, but if he wakes up—"

Bob's broom-spear swept into motion. If he'd been aiming at Annabeth or me, we would've been cut in half. Instead, Bob slashed through the monstrous blister, which burst in a geyser of hot golden mud. I remember how he did the same to that drakon, smiling gratefully at my friend.

"Hyperion is a bad Titan," Bob announced, his expression grim as Annabeth, who was closest, wiped the Titan sludge out of her eyes. "Now he can't hurt my friends. He will have to re-form somewhere else in Tartarus. Hopefully it will take a long time."

The Titan's eyes seemed brighter than usual, as if he were about to cry quicksilver.

"Thank you, Bob," I said quickly. I met Annabeth's eyes who seemed uncertain and questioning.

"We'd better keep going," I said.

We followed Bob, the golden mud flecks from Hyperion's burst bubble glowing on his janitor's uniform.