Percy got out of the bed and tiptoed out of the big house. He had overheard Annabeth telling her friends that they were going to rescue Nico, who was fighting with Tyson. Percy silently called for Blackjack and rode onto him.
When he landed at the place where he was pretty sure he had met Tyson, he looked around. There was no one here.
Suddenly, the ground opened. Percy fell, but Blackjack whinnied nervously, floating in the air. He looked like he couldn't control himself. As Percy screamed, the ground closed back. He landed with a oof.
"I've been waiting." a voice sounded.
Percy stood up and turned around. It was a tall man with black eyes. He could hardly see his pupils in his eyes.
PERCY JACKSON, the man said, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
Percy shook his head, answering yes.
I AM TARTARUS, HUSBAND OF GAEA, the man smiled. OR I WAS THE HUSBAND OF GAEA, UNTIL YOU KILLED HER.
YES YOU FOOL.
Tartarus charged at Percy. It was like it was being played on slow motion. Percy looked around. He could see a pool of black-red liquid, in the neverending black space. Instinctively, Percy urged it to form a giant wave and cover Tartarus.
Percy grinned for a second, thinking that he had won the fight. But he hadn't. Tartarus stopped for a second, then charged again.
Percy dodged Tartarus' blow. Again, he created a wave of the black-red liquid and soaked Tartarus. This time, Tartarus retreated, panting from the choke. What was that liquid? Poop?
Suddenly, Percy felt dizzy. The world spun. He fell to the ground, trying to recover. No… Don't get off guard…
Percy felt a burning sensation inside. His eyes rolled. He couldn't breathe. He had felt like a piece of glass had broke before inside him, but this time it felt like a nuclear explosion had went off.
Percy laughed. He didn't know why, but he just felt like it. He tried to control himself, but he couldn't. He was pretty sure he sounded like a maniac. As the world went black, he could hear Tartarus' voice.
"Help me avenge Gaea. We will kill all the demigods in existence."
And Percy could hear his own voice, too.
"Yes. We will kill them all."