Adrenaline and excitement coursed through me, which was odd, being that I was a son of Hades. Hazel patted my back and I looked down at the city. We were waiting for the gods, but it was clear that all of us wanted to get onto the ground of the city and find Percy.
Being one of the children of the Big Three, it was easier for me to see through the strong Mist that contorted the city. Putting all my focus on the clouds, I saw an sparkling city, as if Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece had collided beautifully and someone added just a dash of modern.
I smirked to myself at the way I had described that: a bit too…un-Hades, if that makes any sense. Finally, the gods appeared, floating on clouds. We stayed away from Aphrodite's, which was bright pink and reeked of perfume. I choked, steering the pegasus I was riding away. It looked grateful. Searching everyone's faces, Annabeth's stuck out at me. She looked overjoyed, but a bit annoyed that it had taken the gods so long.
"Let's go!" She demanded, diving downwards. We followed without hesitation, slamming through the thick clouds. Instead of emerging soaking wet, as we should have, we were perfectly dry. On the inner walls, we could hear the sounds of the city. Except it was nearly silent.
An army stretched across the main plaza, each separated into different ranks. Naturally, I searched the highest ranks first for Percy, but he wasn't there. Or the next one, or the next. In fact, he wasn't in any of them. I became frantic, wondering if this was all a mistake.
What if we had just invaded some Ancient colony and would be captured and killed? Hades came behind me, resting a hand on my shoulder. I relaxed slightly, breathing out.
"Do you see your cousin?" He whispered. I shook my head no, scanning the organized crowd once more. Suddenly, a golden flash appeared and I instinctively covered my eyes. Looking back, I saw what must have been Uranus, strolling leisurely down the path, towards the army. Despite the possible danger, the army bowed.
That's when I noticed him. A tall young man with pitch black hair, tan sin, and green eyes.
"Percy!" I screamed, flying my pegasus towards him at a ridiculous speed. He clapped his hands and was suddenly dressed in battle armor, emerald green and gold, intricately carved. He held his hands up, signaling for me to stop. I creased my forehead, wondering why he wasn't looking at me when he told me to stop.
A volley of arrows suddenly darkened the sky and Percy roared, leaping an impossible height. I froze in shock, realizing that Percy was trying to tell the archers that I wasn't attacking.
"Nico!" The demigods and gods screamed behind me, but I wasn't sure who. I watched in horror as they arched downward and moved with a sickening speed. Right when I was sure that I was dead, I felt something much too heavy to be an arrow tackled my pegasus and I. We spun thirty feet away as the arrows fell back towards the army.
Some gasps rang out and Percy threw an arm out, a sudden shield of water blanketing the soldiers, keeping the arrows from impaling their bodies. Closing his fist, the water and arrows disappeared.
"Woah! That was – " I started but was silenced by Percy's look.
"What are you doing here?" He asked letting me go and backing on floating on open air as if it were solid ground. Only Jason was supposed to be able to do that. Jason walked over on thin air, his eyes analyzing Percy.
"How are you doing that?" Jason wondered. Percy just shrugged.
"Luck." He said, obviously joking. Annabeth was frozen in shock. Almost everyone was, except for Jason and Percy. Every member of the army was frozen still, as well as our small army. The gods stood straight up, not moving a muscle.
"Nice save, Jackson." Jason summed up, nodding approvingly. Percy shrugged, taking a step forward.
"What are you doing here?" Percy repeated, this time looking at everyone. "You shouldn't be here. Why did you come?" He voice held an emotion I would not relate to the Percy Jackson I remembered. It was as if he was too preoccupied, like he had his own life now.
"We came for you." Annabeth snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. Percy, slipping his golden helmet off, suddenly softened.
"You know I can't leave." He said softly.
Percy POV
I can't believe it. I can't believe they are here. How did they get here? Did they have to bring the Argo II?! A warship? I let loose a long sigh, shifting the helmet in my arms.
A slight hissing appeared, rattling in my supersensitive ears. Holding my head to the side, I listened intently.
It was so familiar, so…A flash of memory appeared in my mind, a low hissing of monsters. Of snakewomen. I cursed, focusing towards the skyline. A mass of black slowly appeared, accompanied by a bright light.
"Get inside!" I demanded, "Everyone under fifteen, get inside. I want the Alphas and Betas to stay! We are fighting! Monsters and a Titan!" I shouted, seeing the fear in the younger children's eyes. Uranus watched silently, which is what worried me most.
I faced the demigods not in the army. "Come with me, we do not have much time." With that, I flew towards my housing, beckoning them.
"Park the Argo II over there." I added, pointing to our fleet of ships similar to the Argo II. It was better constructed than the four we had, but ours were still quite impressive. Leo nodded and steered it over, avoiding the buildings and lowering the ship into the only empty space with skill and precision.
He leaped down from the ship, Jason helping Piper get off. I ordered all of the pegasi to stay in the stables and they listened, making themselves cozy.
But Boss! Blackjack started, but I just shook my head and he was silenced. I nodded in satisfaction and sprinted. I led them into Uranus's palace, through the throne room, into a long hallway. At the end of the hallway way my room, but it might as well have been a house. It had three floors, furnishings, multiple rooms, bathrooms, all the stuff I would need.
"This is my house, three floors, feel free to do whatever. Sleep, eat, play videogames, draw, read, I don't mind, just stay here." I begged, ushering the fourteen gods and nine demigods into the room. I closed the door after I entered.
"I will be back soon." I remarked, opening the window and jumping out, closing it swiftly on my way down. Angling myself, I turned towards the plaza. The group of monsters, and a Titan, were much closer now. I could make out the sickening smell of monsters.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself down and analyzed my surroundings. Buildings, tall, expensive buildings built with beautiful architectural style. A light blue sky, the sun beginning to set slightly, grass and trees accenting it. In organized lines, the Alpha and Beta teams stood and I turned around, facing them.
"Today, we are keeping our home safe. We protect our friends and family! For Uranus!" I shouted, lifting my sword in the air.
"For Uranus!" They repeated, the sound strong and proud. I smiled, glancing at Uranus, who nodded slightly at me, smiling. I smiled back, jmping into the sky and controlling the currents. Hovering about thirty feet in the air, I watched a hoard of snake women appear, as well as one of my old friends.
Hyperion.