The Hunt Begins - chapter 18

I spent the months after that council meeting running after he dozens of souls that suddenly decided now would be a brilliant time to try to escape the Underworld. I had little free time. What spare time I did have, I used to train Nico with Theseus and Perseus. Under the tutelage of the dead heroes the son of Hades learnt to fight quickly and effectively. His training was more rushed than mine as there is a war being fought.

One thing was bothering me.

My best friend for years had disappeared. Fos had left with no trace of him ever being in the Underworld. I has gone to Hades, thinking Fos had escaped the Underworld, only for the Lord of the Dead to tell me that there is no soul with eyes that shone, much less one also called Fos. Everyone who was dead had dull, lifeless eyes. Fos' eyes had been shining.

Apollo had healed my chest enough so that there wasn't a massive hole through my stomach. I had pushed myself to the limit in training, remembering how easily Atlas had defeated me.

When I was on Othrys, Luke had slipped something into my pocket. It was a scythe charm, a communication device. I rarely used it to contact the Titans.

"Well done, Nico!" I called, the son of Hades had stood toe-to-toe with Perseus for over an hour straight before he was defeated. "You beat your record!"

Nico had grown a few inches and his Stygian Iron armour grew with him, staying a perfect fit. He had packed on some muscle and grown out his hair so that it hung down over his dark eyes.

"I still can't win!" He exclaimed from where he had collapsed onto the floor.

"I would be very proud and surprised if you could," Perseus said, "I have trained for millennia."

"You've got great form and technique, little cousin," Theseus called as he came over. "You just hesitate too much and your attacks could be faster. Other than that, you are an excellent fighter."

"He is getting better." Orion called grudgingly from up in his tree. The hunter had slowly warmed up to Nico during the months and helped me to train the son of Hades in archery. "Come on." Orion jumped down and smiled slightly at us. "The one with the most kills gets the spoils/"

"You ready, little brother?" I grinned.

"Hell, yes!" Nico formed his bow. It was made of Underworld Yew, a tree in Persephone's garden. Orion disappeared into the forest with an arrow knocked. I took one look at Nico then dived after him.

"There were growls around me and red eyes stared at me. I quickly took my bow and fired. A black stygian iron arrow flew by me and killed a hellhound pouncing at my right side so I couldn't see it.

"You're welcome!" Nico grinned. I growled and formed a couple of arrows at once. A chorus of yelps echoed around as I fired. 3 down. I was about to fire again when alarm bells sounded. I quickly put my bow away and turned to Nico to see that he was already ready.

"Orion! We have to go," I yelled into the forest, hearing a faint reply. I shadow-travelled away to Hades' throne room, appearing just before Nico.

"My Lord, what is wrong?" I asked. Hades was pacing and he turned to glare at me.

"What did I say about calling me that?"

"If I did it one more time I would be punished."

"And how many times have you said it since?"

"A dozen maybe?" I smirked.

"Exactly. Now, I would ground you-"

"Seriously? I am too old for that now."

"But, I have a mission for you, and Nico." The Lord of the Dead continued as if there was no interruption.

"You do? Cool!" Nico shouted.

"A soul – who is very important, might I say – has escaped. He is one of the judges. Minos has gone."

"What!" I exploded, "How could you not notice?"

"He was off his shift on the panel." Hades defended.

"Fine. Where is he?" I asked whilst trying to stop Nico from bouncing up and down.

"He is in the Labyrinth."

"Let me get this straight. You want us to go into an endless maze, find a single spirit wandering around said maze and bring him back here?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"Of course not, it is just an endless maze that tries to trick you and mess with your mind, making you go crazy."

"Exactly," Hades nodded.

"Why would he go back there?" Nico asked.

"If I remember correctly, he still harbours a grudge on the old inventor, Daedalus." Hades grumbled, "I can understand why. He cheated death! Nobody can cheat death and get away with it!"

"It seems Daedalus is nobody then."

"Nobody! Don't get me started on nobody!" Hades bellowed. He must be really annoyed at Minos.

"Too late," Nico muttered.

"Odysseus was another so called hero who tried to chest Thanatos by bringing his wife back to life!"

"Well, we will be going," I said slowly edging away.

"Find the entrance at Camp. You should be able to locate the Labyrinth there."

I nodded and quickly shadow travelled to my room to pack before Hades could continue his rant.

I took my black leather armour off the mannequin in the corner and dug my cloak out of the wardrobe. I quickly changed and put small knives in the soles of my shoes. My hood I made sure that it covered my blind eye. I smirked as I felt Nico shadow travel into the room.

"Are you ready?2 I asked him as I slipped a dagger into the side of my hood.

"Yes."

"What about your dolls?"

"Shut up." Nico blushed slightly

"I am kidding, Nicky." I turned to face him. "I'll meet you at the borders of Camp." He nodded and ran into the shadows. My fingers brushed the cold scythe charm in my pocket as I followed him.

Camp was silent. Not many half-bloods were here yet.

"Feel anything?" I whispered to Nico.

"There are tunnels all over Camp," he replied, "It's nearly impossible to find the Labyrinth."

"Keep trying." I sighed. My powers over the earth allowed me to know there were tunnels below us, but not the difference of them. I could only tell there were tunnels as there was no earth there so it felt like an empty space. I sat beside Peleus as I waited for Nico. The copper scaled dragon leaned into me like a cat as I scratched his chin. Nico was a good kid, I worried about what would happen if he found out that I was helping the Titans. I wandered why I hadn't burnt into ashed yet, I swore to the Olympians I would always serve the eldest son of Kronos. I assumed that since Hades hadn't taken a side yet, I wasn't working against him. I looked up as Nico came over looking slightly tired but triumphant.

"The Labyrinth entrance is at Zeus' Fist."

"At or is Zeus' Fist?" I asked standing up.

"The entrance is a gap in the rocks." Nico replied. We entered Camp Half-Blood. There were some campers playing volleyball, some racing around the track in chariots and others doing various training activities.

It was easy to sneak around Camp to the forest. Nico sounded like an elephant, I decided I should teach Nico to move silently next if he was going to help me on my outings. I chuckled quietly under my breath. My bow and swords appeared on my back as we entered the forest, there were growls in the shadows but nothing attacked us.

It didn't take long for Nico to lead me to Zeus' Fist. "It looks like a pile of poop." I stated. The pile of rocks towered above us.

"From a different angle it actually does look like a fist coming out of the ground." Nico defended.

"So where is the entrance?" I turned my attention to the rocks.

"There," Nico pointed to a small gap between two rocks that looks like any other crevice.

"Are you sure?" I asked, eyeing the gap.

"Oh, that is the entrance, child." Someone said behind us, I spun and threw a dagger at him. I was shocked when his hand darted up and caught it. He twirled the knife between his fingers and smirked.

"Good throw." He acknowledged and threw it back at me with startling speed. I reached out and caught the hilt as it neared me. "I am Quintus, the new activities director here." I didn't answer, I was still trying to figure out how he caught the blade of the knife without receiving a single scratch.

"Why are you looking for the Labyrinth? Nothing good ever comes from that place," Quintus questioned.

"That's none of your business." Nico muttered and Quintus raised an eyebrow. "You sound like you are speaking from experience, have you been in the Labyrinth?"

"A long, long time ago that of which I have tried to forget. Yes. I have never completely recovered."

"Why is your name 'the fifth'? And why are you even here?" I asked.

"I could ask you why you are here, but I won't as it is not my business." Quintus hinted.

"I want an answer." I insisted

"These areas are dangerous, many half-bloods have been found dead," Quintus replied, "It will be a while until your body is found, if it isn't mauled by monsters first." He smiled grimly, I didn't miss the threat.

"I would kill you before you had the chance." I growled, "Hades would send you to the field of Punishment if you so much as touched Nico." I paused slightly. "Tell us why you are here."

Quintus seemed to think for a moment. "I am here to teach half-bloods like me to survive."

"No. Why are you here, at the Labyrinth entrance?" I pressed him; Quintus pursed his lips and looked at Nico, as if for back-up.

"Don't look at me! Answer him." Nico said quietly but clearly.

"I am trying to find a way to block off the entrance." The elder half-blood sighed.

"Why?" I asked him, my mind racing.

"The Titans will use it as an invasion route into the heart of Camp if they find it."

"I thought they need Ariadne's string?" I stumbled slightly, almost saying we.

"Or a mortal's clear sight. A mortal is better, and safer." Quintus explained.

"Do you know where the string is? We need to stop the Titan's getting it." Nico asked.

"Nico! We are here to find Minos, not a piece of string!" I almost shouted.

"We could look for both, couldn't we?" Nico tried to compromise. I ground my teeth together and nodded stiffly.

"Good-bye Quintus. We may see you again soon." I said, hoping Nico would shut up. Quintus had looked worried when Nico mentioned Minos but quickly covered it up.

"Yes, may we meet again, Seth, Nico." Quintus departed, showing a hand before striding into the forest.

I sighed and turned to the crevice. Without a word to Nico I descended into the crevice.

The next chapter will be up late as I have exams this whole week

Onto the polls!

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Theron wins!

Now for Seth's relationship:

Styx - 1

Thalia - 1

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