Sorry It took so long... my parents have decided to ban me from all electronics. Sadly that includes the computer. I won't be able to type up any of the next chapter until my ban is lifted...

ON THE OTHER HAND... NEARLY 3,000 VIEWS GUYS! ONLY 5 MORE...

Chapter 20 - Triple G Ranch

"Straight ahead, watch the ceiling for light." What is Zeus' name did that mean? It was pitch black and Nico kept nearly running into the walls or tripping over bones that rose from the ground as he passed. He didn't know what to think about the adopted son of Persephone and Hades. Seth had trained him as well as he could in six months and Nico could now last between 45 and 80 minutes against Perseus or Theseus if it was a one-on-one battle. But, ever since Seth had come back from his quest to help Bianca – only for her and Thalia to join the hunt and become co-lieutenants - he had been acting strange. Not only did he have a scar on his stomach and one on his leg that had black veins coming out of it like it was poisoned, but Nico also noticed subtle changes in his behaviour. He rubbed his right eye more often now which showed his nervousness his hands also strayed to his pockets and fingered something. The most noticeable changes were how Seth was tense as if expecting an attack at any time and how he tried to subtly change the conversation whenever the Titans came up. He wore his armour under everything now and had his cloak up most of the time.

The fighting had stopped behind Nico so he slowed down a bit but still continued at a medium paced jog instead of sprinting. He was never so thankful of Seth making him run around the fields of Asphodel every morning before breakfast.

Nico didn't know how long he ran for, it seemed like hours, but in reality it was probably only a few minutes until Nico saw light ahead. He sped up in excitement and was soon standing below a cattle grid and looking at red cows that thought he was interesting. He focused on the shadows around him and lifted himself up towards the grid; controlling part of a shadow he made the cattle grid fly up and land heavily somewhere out of sight. Once he was out of the Labyrinth he relaxed and moved the cattle grid back before he looked around. He could hear barking getting closer and sighed before unsheathing his blade and settling into an attacking stance. The bushes around the field rustled and a greyhound came out like a bullet at Nico.

"Heel, Orthus!" A man yelled as he followed the dog. Nico saw the greyhound had two heads that separated from its neck. "What are you doing here, demigod?"

"Who are you?" Nico demanded.

"Eurytion," The man grunted, "What are you doing here?" Orthus the dog followed close behind him.

"Running from some people," Nico replied curtly.

"Put the sword down, half-blood." Eurytion ordered.

"Nico, my name is Nico."

"Nico, put the blade down. I just want to talk."

Nico reluctantly obeyed and lowered his sword point to face the ground, knowing Eurytion could hit him like a Piñata with his spiked club.

"Good. Come with me, Nico. The boss would like to meet you." Eurytion said less threateningly, Nico carefully followed the cow herder along a dirt path in the woods, warily waiting for something to attack him. As he finally exited the forest he saw a white ranch house made of stone, wood and had big windows.

"No breaking the rules. No fighting. No drawing weapons and no comments about the boss' appearance.

"What? Why would I -"

"Welcome to Triple G Ranch."

Nico spent the night at Triple G Ranch in a spare bedroom 'the boss' had. The boss was a monster with three chests called Greyon. He had 3 chests, but one head on the middle one, they connected at the shoulders. Nico had remembered Eurytion's warning and managed to refrain from commenting. Around midday Eurytion went out with Orthus at his heels to check on something, muttering about intruding half-bloods – despite being an immortal son of Ares. Nico had revealed he was running from the Titans and that his brother had probably been taken. Greyon quickly and easily guessed he was a son of Hades.

When Eurytion came back he was walking alongside some familiar half-bloods. Nico froze in surprise when he saw them. Then he took out his Stygian Iron blade.

Greyon snarled when he saw it, "Put that away, Di Angelo. I ain't gonna have my guests killin' each other."

"But that's-"

"Perseus Jackson, Annabeth Chase and some of their monster friends? I know."

"Monster friends," Grover muttered.

"That man is wearing three shirts." The Cyclops beside them muttered.

"They let my brother almost die on that quest! He came back completely different." Nico yelled his voice trembled slightly in anger.

"Nico, we are not here to kill you," Percy raised his hands, "Seth is still alive."

"Mentally? Yes. Physically, he came back with even more scars."

"Wait. How do you know our names?" Annabeth pointed at Greyon.

"It is my business to keep informed. Everyone pops in here from time to time. Now, Di Angelo put that sword away before Eurytion takes it from you."

Nico sighed but did as Greyon said.

"Now, come along. I want to give you a tour of the ranch."

Nico sat in the back of the trolley thing to get away from the other half-bloods. It was black and white in a cowhide pattern. Orthus jumped in beside Greyon and started barking and Eurytion sat beside Nico.

The tour seemed to go on for hours. Greyon had a dozen horses that had the back half of a rooster. Some fire-breathing horses, and sacred red cows of the sun.

"You kill the sacred cows of the sun god for hamburger meat?" Grover was very worked up. "That's against the ancient laws!"

"Oh, don't get so worked up, Satyr. They are just animals."

"Just animals!"

"Yes, and if Apollo cared, I'm sure he would tell us."

"If he knew," Percy murmured.

Nico sat forward. "I don't care about any of this, Greyon. We had business to discuss, and this wasn't it! My brother could be dying this very moment at the hands of the Titans. You said you would help me!"

"All it good time, Di Angelo. Look over here: some of my exotic game."

The next field was ringed in barbed wire. Giant scorpions were crawling around the area.

"Triple G Ranch," Percy said. "Your mark was on the crates at camp. Quintus got his scorpions from you."

"Quintus… short grey hair, muscular, swordsman?"

"Yeah."

"Never heard of him. Now, over here are my prized stables. You must see them."

Nico gagged on the stench. There was around a metre-deep pile of poo covering the entire pasture. "What is that?"

"My stables! Well, actually they belong to Aegeas, but we watch over them for a monthly fee."

"They're disgusting!" Annabeth said.

"Lots of poop," Tyson observed.

"How can you keep animals like that?" Grover cried.

"Y'all getting' on my nerves. These are flesh-eating horses, see? They like these conditions."

"Plus, you're too cheap to have them cleaned." Eurytion mumbled.

"Quiet! All right, perhaps the stables are a bit challenging to clean. Perhaps they do make me nauseous when the wind blows the wrong way. But so what? My clients still pay me well."

"What clients?" Percy demanded.

"Oh, you'd be surprised how many people will pay for a flesh-eating horse. They make great garbage disposals. Wonderful at terrifying your enemies, great at birthday parties! We rent them out all the time."

"You're a monster." Annabeth said.

Greyon turned back to face her and raised an eyebrow. "What gave it away? Was it the three bodies?"

"You have to let these animals go. It's not right."

"And these clients you keep talking about. You work for Kronos, don't you? You're supplying his army with horses, food, whatever they need."

"I work for gold, young Lady. I'm a businessman. And I sell them anything I have to offer." Greyon shrugged. He climbed out of the moo-mobile and strolled towards the stables, Nico got out and pursued him and Eurytion followed Nico.

"I came here for business, Greyon. And you haven't answered me." Nico said. "My brother is down in the Labyrinth either lying dead on the floor or in the hands of the Titans."

"He's in no trouble if the Titans have him. And, yes. You'll get a deal." Greyon smirked. "You see, Nico. Luke Castellan is offering very good money for half-bloods, especially powerful half-bloods. And I'm sure when he learns your little secret; of who you really are, he'll pay very well, son of Hades!"

Nico quickly drew his sword but Eurytion knocked it out of his hand with little pounced on Percy's chest and growled.

"I would stay in the car, all of you." Greyon warned. "Or Orthus will tear Mr Jackson's throat out. Now, Eurytion, if you would be so kind, secure Nico.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, you fool!"

Eurytion sighed but wrapped one huge arm around Nico and lifted him off his feet.

"The sword too, I hate Stygian Iron." Greyon growled. Eurytion carefully picked up the sword.

"Now, we've had the tour. So let's go back to the ranch and Iris-Message the Titan Army."

"You fiend," Annabeth cried.

"Don't worry, my dear. Once I've delivered Mr Di Angelo, you and your friends can go. I don't interfere with quests."

Nico had his eyes shut tightly and was trying to concentrate. Still with his eyes shut he grinned, "Hey Greyon."

"What?" Greyon frowned.

"Serve me!" Nico yelled fiercely opening his eyes.

"What was that going to do?" Greyon mocked. Nico smirked and the ground rumbled. A large fissure opened in the earth and a skeletal hand grabbed the edge, closely followed by another. Three skeletons rose out of the ground and charged Eurytion. The cow-herder dropped Nico and retreated.

"Fire!" Nico screamed. The skeletons pulled out bows and fired at Greyon's chests, one arrow thudded into each of his hearts and he turned into golden dust.

"Thank you, cousins." Nico grinned.

"Anything for our Prince," One of them bowed.

"Stand up, Theseus." Nico blushed.

"Wait," Percy spoke up, "Theseus? The Theseus who died like a bazillion years ago? The Theseus that killed the Minotaur?"

"Do you know any other Theseus?" Nico asked, "Meet Theseus, Perseus, and Orion." He gestured. Annabeth's mouth hung open in delight at seeing the Ancient Heroes.

"Hey, cuz. Where is Seth?" Perseus asked.

"We were ambushed," Nico looked at the ground. "He told me to run and hasn't come out of the Labyrinth. He said he'd follow me," Nico angrily wiped at his eyes, "He should be here by now."

"the Titans have him," Orion stated, "Don't they?"

"I think so, he should have been here hours ago."

The three heroes looked at Nico sadly as he waved his hand and the three skeletons dropped into the crevice, back down to the Underworld.

"I suppose I must thank you for killing him," Eurytion smiled, "I have been helping him for hundreds of years. Being immortal has its downsides." He called Orthus to his side before speaking again. "You are free to leave whenever you want."

"Do you know how to find Daedalus?" Annabeth asked.

Eurytion looked thoughtful before pulling something from his pocket. "This will guide you to Hephaestus." He clicked a button and the thing sprouted legs and ran off.

"Spider!" Annabeth screamed and jumped about a foot in the air.

Eurytion looked confused until Percy explained, "The whole Arachne, Athena thing."

"Oh. Sorry, miss."

"You should go, Percy. If you wait any longer you will lose the spider." Nico smiled. The half-blood nodded and ran over to the cattle grid with the other quest members following him. Percy flashed a grin at Nico before dropping into the Labyrinth.

"I'm guessing you will stay the night?" Eurytion assumed. Nico nodded and followed him up to the ranch.

"If it's alright with you, then yes."

"It will be perfectly fine, Nico."

Nico had a dream that night that he hoped wasn't real.

"They found him wandering the maze?" A giant asked.

"Yes. There was another but he managed to get away. They said the one they caught put up a fight but they eventually overpowered him." Someone off to the side answered. "If he fights well will you allow us through the arena?"

"If it is a good fight, yes," The giant replied.

"I trust you will find him fitting."

"Castellan, if he fights well I will let you through, but nothing you have shown me yet is sufficient enough."

The gates of an arena below them opened and a figure walked in amongst the cheers of the crowd of monsters.

"Seth!" Luke exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"

Seth leaned on a sword as he looked up at Luke. "Why don't you ask the members of your army that overpowered me? They should be able to tell you enough." He then turned to the giant beside Luke. "Antaeus, what a surprise it is to see you. When you told me, Luke that you were trying to get through the arena I didn't know you would get me to fight. How long has it been?"

"A few days since we last talked. What have you been up too, recently?" Luke asked casually.

"Hades has decided that I and Nico should hunt down Minos, I've always wondered why I hated that ghost so much."

"Nico," Luke repeated, "Why would Nico come with you?"

"Don't you know? He's a son of Hades. Not adopted like me, he is a half-blood child of the eldest god."

Well... Nico is beginning to realise the changes in Seth and I dare say that he will have his suspicions after this dream...

Poll:

Styx - 2

Thalia - 1

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