Emily couldn't believe as Arion raced across the sea to get to the Hubbard Glacier, neither Emily or Hazel were holding as tightly as Bucky, Percy and Frank. Emily wondered why that was, however Emily got used to riding Mrs. O'Leary for basically seventy years as well as shadow travel. Riding Arion didn't seem as different as riding Mrs. O'Leary in battle. Though Emily wished she had Arion in the war or Mrs. O'Leary earlier. In the war, she did have Mrs. O'Leary in the war but Mrs. O'Leary didn't become hers till Daedalus went back into the Labyrinth shortly after Steve went into the ice. That was Mrs. O'Leary's saddest day other than when Daedalus died some seventy years later after the battle of the labyrinth. That was about two years ago before Emily even knew what happened to Bucky and what he become. Emily could feel Bucky's grip on her tighten of which Emily didn't mind at all, they raced pass blue fords and cliffs with waterfalls spilling into the sea.
Arion jumped over a breaching humpback whale and kept galloping, he startled a pack of seals off an iceberg. Emily shook her head as she watched the pack of seal swim away before they were quickly out of sight by how fast Arion was going. It seem like only minutes when they zipped into a narrow bay, the water turned into shaved ice like blue sticky syrup. Than Arion went to a halt on a frozen turquoise slab, it was hard not to mistake that glacier in front of them. Emily couldn't quite believe what she was seeing at the moment, the glacier was blue and white with streaks of black, so it looked more like dirty snow in the cities than what was suppose to be on a glacier. There was a massive valley between two of the largest peaks and a ragged wall of ice rose out of the sea filling the entire gorge. Emily could feel the temperature drop when Arion stopped running, she could feel waves of cool coming from the glacier. There was a sound coming from the glacier and it sounded like thunder, almost like a storm was coming. Not only that but there were clouds above the glacier.
"What is that? A storm?"
"No, Ice cracking and shifting. Millions of tons of ice."
"You mean that thing is breaking up?" On cue, a sheet of ice split off the side of the glacier and crashed into the sea below it. It sprayed water everywhere in that area and frozen shrapnel shot several stories high and a millisecond later the sound hit them. It could match the sound Arion reached when he was hitting the sound barrier. "We can't get close to that thing!"
"We have to. The giant is at the top." Arion started using foul language once more. Emily rolled her eyes as Arion spoke and nickered. "Jeez, Hazel. tell your horse to watch his language."
"What did he say?"
"With the cussing removed? He said he can get us to the top."
"I thought the horse couldn't fly!" Emily winced as Arion whined angrily at Frank, Emily knows times changed but at times she still felt she was back in the 1940s and there things she wished could remain as they had been in the 1940.
"Dude, I've gotten suspended for saying less than that. Hazel, he promises you'll see what he can do as soon as you give the word."
"Um, hold on, then, you guys, Arion, giddyup!" Arion shot toward the glacier like a runaway rocket barreling straight across the slush like he wanted to play a game of king on the mountains or something like that. The air got colder, the crackling of ice grew louder as Arion closed the distance that the glacier seem so much bigger than it did back when Arion stopped a few moments before and they got their first view of it. As they drew closer to the Glacier that Emily thought back to when she first saw Hogwarts in Arabella's first year, she couldn't believe it when she saw Hogwarts. But with the things she has seen in the godly world that nothing should surprise Emily any more, more so in the last seventy years. When they were fifty yards away from the base that a thunderclap and a curtain of ice that would have Camp Jupiter spilt away and fell towards them.
"Look out!" Arion was ahead of Frank, in a burst of speed that he zigzagged through the debris and leaped,over chunks of ice, clambering up the face of the glacier. Emily hold onto Percy while Bucky held onto her tighter as to not fall off Arion. Percy and Frank were cussing as Arion scales the cliffs and jumping with speed and agility that seem impossible, it felt like they were falling down the mountain but they were going up. It was the weirdest feeling ever, Emily was rather glad that the powers she got from Hestia were not working at the moment. For she couldn't begin to think of what it would like with the sense of her child in her as Arion climbed. After what felt like forever that it stopped, Arion stood proudly on top of a ridge of ice that looked over the void, the sea was three hundred feet below them. Than Arion whined a challenge before he turned and ran inland across the top of the glacier leaping a chasm fifty feet across.
"There!" Percy pointed and Arion went to a stop, Emily gasp at what she was seeing in front of them. It was there in front of her but it seems hard to believe. Ahead of them stood a frozen roman camp like a giant sized ghastly replica of Camp Jupiter. It was rather creepy and odd, the trenches bristled with ice spikes, the snow brick ramparts glared blinding white, hanging from the guard towers were banners of frozen blue cloth shimmering in the arctic sun. There was no sing of life and the gates stood wide open, there was no sentries that walked the walls. Emily felt uneasy about this, if she has her powers from Hades she would be able to tell if there was any life in there or not. Not only that but Emily felt that the earth was trying to wake up and consume everything on it's path. It felt pure evil, so dark and cold that there could be no warmth in it, it was an unsettling feeling. Arion trotted skittishly as though he could sense what Emily was sensing.
"Frank, Emily, Bucky, how about we go on foot from here?" Frank sighed with relief when Percy said that, even with how much most of the ride was that Emily wanted to get off of Arion as well.
"Thought you'd never ask." Emily, Bucky, Frank and Percy got off of Arion and took some tentative steps forward, it seems that the ice was stable. It was covered with a fine carpet of snow so that the ice wasn't as slippery as it could of been of which Emily was glad of. Hazel urged Arion forward, Percy and Frank were on one side while Emily and Bucky were on the other side of Arion. Emily, Bucky, Percy and Frank have their weapons ready for anything that they might be facing. They approached the gates without be challenged, there was no traps set up from the looks of the road ahead of them. Emily could see straight down the Via Praetoria, at the crossroads in front of the snow brick Principia was a tall dark robes figure stood bound in icy chains.
"Thanatos." Emily looked at Hazel when she said that, Emily knew it was Thanatos when she saw the figure, for when she saw Thanatos that she felt her soul being pulled toward him like it always does when he was around. However the pull towards her was not powerful and it seem like it wasn't for the others expect for Hazel. For Hazel almost fell from Arion but Frank caught her and propped her up.
"We've not letting him taking you away." Hazel gripped Frank's hand.
"I'm all right." Emily reached up and grasp Hazel's other hand, Hazel looked down at Hazel and Emily spoke.
"You will be fine." Percy was looking around.
"No defenders? No giant? This has to be a trap."
"Obviously. But I don't think we have a choice." Before anything else could be said that Hazel urged Arion forward through the gates, as they walked through the gates that Emily felt Bucky put his arms around her as though he felt he would lose her to death like she almost lost him to death. Emily looked around as they walked forward, Emily couldn't believe of how much this place looked like Camp Jupiter, she wouldn't be surprised if the roman Mount Olympus looked something this mixed with New Rome. They stopped ten feet from the robes figure, Emily felt Bucky's arms tighten around her. Emily noticed that Arion was cantered back and forth as though sensing something was wrong with Hazel.
"Hello? Mr. Death?" The hooded figure raised his head, when that happen that the whole camp stirred to life, Emily looked around as figures in roman armor emerged from the barracks, the Principia, the armory, and the canteen. Even without her Hades powers that she knew that this things were not human, that they were shades instead. Their bodies were more wisps of black vapor but they somehow managed to hold together armor, greaves, and helmets. Frost covered swords were strapped to their waists, pika and dented shields were floating in their smokey hands. The plumes on the centurion's helmets were frozen and ragged. Most of the shades were on foot but two soldiers burst out of the stables in a golden chariot pulled by ghostly black steeds. When Arion saw the horses that he stamped the ground in outrage, it was apparent that he was not happy that there other horses that were up here.
"Yep, here's the trap."
"No kidding." The ghost formed ranks and encircled the crossroads, there was about a hundred in all, not enough to make a legion but it was more than a cohort. Some were scripting different banners from different times including the lastest bunch form the 1980s. The one that was lead by Michael Varus's doomed expedition, the one of where both Emily and the augur warned him not to go on. Emily wasn't sure what awaited for Michael but she knows that the prophecy of the eight was not for him and his cohort. Most of the shades were armed with imperial gold weapons, more than what the entire twelfth legion possessed. Hazel turned back to Thanatos as the shades surrounded them.
"Thanatos! We're here to rescue you. If you control these shades, tell them ... " Hazel faltered, everyone looked back at Thanatos, out of them all that the only one that ever saw Thanatos was Emily. His hood fell away and his robes dropped off as he spread his wings so that he was only in a sleeveless black tunic belted at the waist. His skin was the color of teak wood, dark and glistening like an old Séance table. His eyes were as honey gold as Hazel's eyes, he was lean and muscular with a regal face. His black hair was flowing down his shoulders, his wings glimmered in shades of blue, black and purple. Emily did have a similar reaction as Hazel, Frank, Percy and Bucky were having when she first meet Thanatos. There were not as many gods or goddess that seem as timeless as Thanatos. "Oh." His wrists were shackled in icy manacles with chains that ran straight into the glacier floor, his feet were bare and shackled around the ankles that were also chained.
"It's Cupid."
"A really buff Cupid." Emily snorted when Percy and Frank said that, she would admit she thought the same thing as they did. If she hadn't been in the underworld at the time than she would have said it out loud like they did. But she knows that Cupid couldn't go to the underworld. When Thanatos spoke that his voice was deep and melodious.
"You compliment me, I am frequently mistaken for the god of love. Death has more in common with Love than you might imagine. But I am Death. I assure you." Than he looked over at Emily and bowed his head in respect, Thanatos seen her enough times in both appearances to know who she was, more so in the last couple of years since Steve woke up. "Princess, it is a pleasure to see you again. Though I didn't expect to meet like this, princess."
"It's all right, Thanatos. I didn't know that I would be coming up here till yesterday."
"We're—we're here to save you. Where's Alcyoneus?" Thanatos looked over at Hazel when she said that, he narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.
"Save me…? Do you understand what you are saying, Hazel Levesque? Do you understand what that will mean?"
"We're wasting time." Emily was about ready to tell Percy no when she realized what he was going to do, he swung his sword at the god's chains. Celestial bronze rang against the ice, but riptide stuck to the chain like glue, frost began to creep up the blade. It took Emily, Frank and Percy to yank out Riptide from the frost before it reached their hands.
"That won't work. As for the giant, he is close. These shades are not mine. They are his." Thanatos's eyes scanned the ghost soldiers, they shifted uncomfortably. It was like they know who he was but they were not under his control, once more that Emily wished she has her Hades Powers. And that she wish that this was not the land beyond the gods, though she did wonder if Thanatos could use his powers here. Than Frank spoke.
"So you can't control them." Frank looked at Emily and was about ready to say something but Emily spoke up.
"If this wasn't the land beyond the gods than I would be controlling the shades by now. But I only have my Demeter powers. So I am useless in that respect." Than Hazel spoke up.
"So how do we get you out?" Thanatos turned back to Hazel.
"Daughter of Pluto, child of my master, you of all people should not wish me released."
"Don't you think I know that?" Emily looked at Hazel as she drew her cavalry sword, Arion reared in defiance. Emily could see the brave roman solider that Emily knows was in Hazel come out. "Listen, Death. I didn't come back from the Underworld and travel thousands of miles to be told that I'm stupid for setting you free. If I die, I die. I'll fight this whole army if I have to. Just tell us how to break your chains." Thanatos studied Hazel for a heartbeat before he spoke.
"Interesting. You do understand that these shades were once demigods like you. They fought for Rome. They died without completing their heroic quests. Like you, they were sent to Asphodel. Now Gaea has promised them a second life if they fight for her today. Of course, if you release me and defeat them, they will have to return to the Underworld where they belong. For treason against the gods, they will face eternal punishment. They are not so different from you, Hazel Levesque. Are you sure you want to release me and damn these souls forever?"
"That's not fair! Do you want to be freed or not?"
"Fair… You'd be amazed how often I hear that word, Frank Zhang, and how meaningless it is. Is it fair that your life will burn so short and bright? Was it fair when I guided your mother to the Underworld?" Frank looked like he had been punched. "No. Not fair. And yet it was her time. There is no fairness in Death. If you free me, I will do my duty. But of course these shades will try to stop you." Emily looked at Frank and spoke.
"Frank, that is the way that death is. Even if there was no gods, death would still be unfair. There are choices that the demigods make that will determine of what they face in the afterlife even when given a second chance. But there are those that can try for rebirth to change but they don't always have that option." Frank looked at Emily when she said that. "However in times like this, that some things and some people can be overlooked and given a second chance by the gods. That is if there is a reason for it. Hazel is a perfect example of this. But life and death is a fine line, one that needs to be watched carefully. I could try to explain more to you, but I am not sure if you would understand fully." Frank stared at her before he looked back at Thanatos.
"So if we let you go, we get mobbed by a bunch of black vapor dudes with gold swords. Fine. How do we break those chains?"
"Only the fire of life can melt the chains of death."
"Without the riddles, please?" Emily rolled his eyes, Thanatos couldn't make it much more plain other than saying that Frank has to put his life on the line by burning his lifeline. However Frank understood what Thanatos meant and drew a shaky breath.
"It isn't a riddle."
"Frank, no. There's got to be another way." Emily looked at Hazel, Emily watched Hazel and Frank. She had a guess of how they feel about each other with how they acted acted each other, but she could understand that Hazel didn't want to lose Frank. Laughter boomed across the glacier and a rumbling voice followed it.
"My friends. I've waited so long!" They all looked to the gates of the camp, there stood Alcyoneus, he wasn't quite as big as his younger brother, king of the giants, was. But that wasn't a big surprise for it would hard to be bigger than his younger brother was. He has metallic golden skin, armor made from platinum links, and an iron staff the size of a totem pole, his rust red dragon legs pounded on the ice as he entered the camp. Precious stones glinted in his red braided hair, the giant approached and grinned at Hazel with silver teeth.
"Ah, Hazel Levesque, you cost me dearly! If not for you, I would have risen decades ago, and this world would already be Gaea's. But no matter!" He spread his hands showing off his ranks of ghostly soldiers.
"Welcome, Percy Jackson! Welcome, Frank Zhang! Welcome Emily Barnes! Welcome Bucky Barnes! I am Alcyoneus, the bane of Pluto, the new master of Death. And this is your new legion." Emily looked at Frank, he might be one the nicest child of Mars or Ares, but with what she knows of Mars and most of his lovers that children of Mars would put their duties first ahead of everything. Throughout the years Emily saw this and she always tried to be fair when it comes to judgement of the dead. She knew that if someone sacrifice themselves that would give them a ticket to a better after life. It was important things of life and being alive as long as she has been that she knew family, friends and home were just important. For they were among the reasons for sacrifices, she gave much of her time helping her father and to help demigods find homes and families. But there were other reasons for a sacrifice, depending on what was happening and what needs to happen.
"Hazel. That package you're keeping for me? I need it." Emily looked over at Hazel of who glanced down at Frank in dismay,
"Frank, no. There has to be another way."
"Please. I—I know what I'm doing." Thanatos smiled before he lifted his manacled wrists.
"You're right, Frank Zhang. Sacrifices must be made." Alcyoneus stepped forward, Emily held her celestial bronze sword out and Bucky has his own sword out as well. As Alcyoneus stepped forward that his feet was shaking the ground.
"What package do you speak of, Frank Zhang? Have you brought me a present?"
"Nothing for you, Golden Boy. Except a whole lot of pain."
"Spoken like a child of Mars! Too bad I have to kill you. And this one...my, my, I've been waiting to meet the famous Percy Jackson." The giant grinned when he said that and looked at Percy Jackson.
"I've followed your progress, son of Neptune. Your fight with Kronos? Well done. Gaea hates you above all others…except perhaps for that upstart Jason Grace. I'm sorry I can't kill you right away, but my brother Polybotes wishes to keep you as a pet. He thinks it will be amusing when he destroys Neptune to have the god's favorite son on a leash. After that, of course, Gaea has plans for you." Percy raised Riptide.
"Yeah, actually I'm the son of Poseidon. I'm from Camp Half-Blood." The ghosts stirred when Percy said that, some of the shades drew swords and lifted their shields, Alcyoneus raised his hand gesturing them to wait.
"Greek, Roman, it doesn't matter. We will crush both camps underfoot. You see, the Titans didn't think big enough. They planned to destroy the gods in their new home of America. We giants know better! To kill a weed, you must pull up its roots. Even now, while my forces destroy your little Roman camp, my brother Porphyrion is preparing for the real battle in the ancient lands! We will destroy the gods at their source." The ghosts pounded their swords against their shields, the sound echoed across the mountains, Emily wondered what this sound would be like in Alaska.
"The source? You mean Greece?" Alcyoneus chuckled when Frank said that.
"No need to worry about that, son of Mars. You won't live long enough to see our ultimate victory. I will replace Pluto as lord of the Underworld. I already have Death in my custody. With Hazel Levesque in my service, I will have all the riches under the earth as well!" Hazel gripped her Spatha.
"I don't do service."
"Oh, but you gave me life! True, we hoped to awaken Gaea during World War II. That would've been glorious. But really, the world is in almost as bad shape now. Soon, your civilization will be wiped out. The Doors of Death will stand open. Those who serve us will never perish. Alive or dead, you three will join my army."
"Fat chance, Golden Boy. You're going down." Hazel spurred Arion towards the giant, Emily knew what she was going to do.
"Wait. I raised this monster from the earth. I'm the daughter of Pluto. It's my place to kill him." Alcyoneus planted his staff in the ice, his hair glittered with millions of dollars' worth of gems.
"Ah, little Hazel. Are you sure you will not join us of your own free will? You could be quite ... precious to us. Why die again?" Emily could see the flash of anger in Hazel's eyes when he said that, than Hazel looked down at Frank and pulled the wrapped up piece of firewood from her coat.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." She pursed her lips.
"You're my best friend, too, Frank. I should have told you that." Hazel tossed him the stick. "Do what you have to. And Percy, Bucky, Emily,…can you protect him?" Percy, Emily and Bucky looked at the ranks of ghosts,
"Against a small army? Sure, no problem."
"Then I've got Golden Boy." Before Hazel could move that Emily looked at Bucky of who let her go, Emily walked over to Hazel and got up on Arion. Hazel looked at Emily with confusion till Emily spoke.
"Even though my powers from our father don't work here due to the fact I wasn't born with those powers but was adopted instead. I am still a daughter of Hades. I have no plans of you fighting the bane of our father alone." Hazel smiled when Emily said that, Emily could see the surprise look on Alcyoneus's face before they charged at the giant.
Emily was glad of the face she still retained her powers since her birth, as she fought along side Hazel that she slashed at Alcyoneus but it didn't do manage good and a few times she used the stem of her poppy to throw Alcyoneus off. As Emily and Hazel fought that she saw Percy making another hurricane, Emily added rain and hail to his hurricane as he fought. Emily felt that she was weaker than normal but she didn't fighting or using her powers, not until this fight was won. Emily notice Bucky was still standing by Frank defended Frank against any of the ghosts that decided to go after Bucky or Frank instead. She noticed that Frank managed to get one chain off of Thanatos, of which was good but she wasn't sure what will happen to Frank and Hazel after this. She looked back at Percy as he knocked down the standard bearer and grabbed the eagle. Emily smiled when she saw Percy do that, it figures that the eagle was somewhere around Alaska of where that eagle was was unknown to her till now.
"You want it back? Come and get it!" Than Emily focus on her fight with Alcyoneus. From the sounds of the fighting, it sounded like Percy was destroying half of the camp as well as Bucky destroying some of it. But Hazel, Emily and Alcyoneus were destroying the rest of the frozen camp on the glacier. Arion kept playing a game of tag with the giant, it was pretty much the speed of Arion that kept Emily and Hazel alive. Since Alcyoneus kept swiping at them with his staff and he was knocking over walls of which cleaved massive chasms in the ice. As Emily and Hazel fought against Alcyoneus that Emily heard Frank yell.
"Percy! Bucky! They can die now!" Emily turned and looked at Percy and Bucky, it seems that Bucky joined Percy when he grasp the eagle for they were near the edge of the glacier, the entire ghost army has Bucky and Percy surrounded. What surprised Emily was Frank, he drew his bow but dropped it at once of which Emily found strange for a moment before she realize what he was planning on doing. Emily wondered if he finally understood what his family gifts were, but than the staff managed to hit Hazel and Emily. Emily was throw off of Arion first and landed away from Hazel and Arion, she landed in the barracks while Arion and Hazel crashed into the ramparts.
"Hazel!"
"Emily!" Emily tried to put her push herself but as she tried to do that, that she felt pain in her arm, it was than at she realized that there was some blood on her arm. Emily managed to sit up, as she sat up that she noticed Bucky was looking at her worried but he looked relieved to see her moving. But it was Hazel that Emily was more worried about now, even from where she was that she could see Hazel half buried in a collapsed pile of snow bricks. Arion stood over trying to protect Hazel.
"Go help her! I've got these guys!" Emily looked at Percy and Bucky worried, even with her added help that the storm was weakening. The wind was not nearly as strong as it was before, she was unsure of how much longer that they would be able to last. She hoped that they would managed to fight their way though. She heard Alcyoneus laugh, Emily looked over at Alcyoneus and Arion.
"Hello, little pony. You want to play?" Alcyoneus raised his icy staff and that was the best thing could happen. An eagle flew overhead with talons extended, the razor sharp claws raked across the giant's eyes. Alcyoneus staggered backwards when the eagle attacked him and than Emily looked to where Frank had been and smiled before looking back to where Hazel was. As the eagle landed in front of Hazel that Hazel lifted her head, than the eagle turned back into Frank. A cap of snow dripped off of Hazel's head.
"Frank… What just…how did—?"
"Fool! I am immortal in my homeland, Frank Zhang! And thanks to your friend Hazel, my new homeland is Alaska. You cannot kill me here!" Emily looked at Alcyoneus when he shouted, his face was slashed, black oil dripping into his eyes instead of blood. But the wounds that Alcyoneus has were already closing, of which Emily expected to happen.
"We'll see. Hazel, get back on your horse." Emily got up and ran over to Arion as Hazel climbed on top of him. As Emily climbed on Arion that Frank turned into a bear and made Alcyoneus toppled onto an icy watchtower that collapsed on top of the giant. Frank sprang at the giant's head, the metal features begins to dent, but Emily knew that won't last long. When Frank urged back the giant so that he pulled out the rope and made a noose from the rope, than Frank fastened the noose around the giant's foot before tossing it to Hazel of who caught it.
"Hazel, here! I've got an idea, but we'll have to—"
"Kill—uh—you—uh…" Frank ran to the head of the giant before slammed a legion shield into his nose. "Urgg." Frank looked back at Hazel and Emily.
"How far can Arion pull this guy?"
"You—you were a bird. Then a bear. And—"
"I'll explain later, We need to drag this guy inland, as fast and far as we can."
"But Percy! Bucky!" Frank curse, Emily looked to where Percy and Bucky were at the edge of the cliff, seeing Bucky at the edge of the cliff that Emily started to panic. She hadn't been there when Bucky feel but the memories of what happen on that train came back. The part of when she reached the car that Steve was in was the strongest and she could remember seeing he pained look he gave Emily when she entered that train car. Emily knew what that meant at that time, though there was a difference between now and than, that Bucky could use the winds but she wasn't sure of how helpful that would be at the moment. For the winds were just as wild here as they could be at the ancient lands.
"Percy!"
"Bucky!" Percy and Bucky glanced over, Percy looked that Bucky before Percy said something to him. When Percy said that to Bucky that Emily felt the winds picked up and Bucky flew over the shades and landed near Emily and Hazel. As Bucky landed that Percy looked back at the them and yelled something, Emily was sure that it was go. Bucky climbed on Arion behind Emily and held onto her, than Percy slammed riptide into the ice at his feet. The entire glacier shuddered, ghosts fell to their knees, behind Percy a wave surged up from the bay. A wall of gray water, even taller than the glacier itself, stood behind Percy, the water shot from the chasms and crevice in the ice. As the wave hit that the back half of the camp crumbled, the entire edge of the glacier peeled away cascading into the void. Carrying buildings, ghosts, and Percy over the edge, Emily was shocked as she watched what happen. Emily learn back just to make sure that Bucky was still behind her and with his arms wrapped tightly around her that she knows he was still there.
Even though the old memory kept replaying in her head, it was hard to think that she almost lost Bucky again if Percy hadn't told Bucky to leave before he did that. Emily only went back into reality when Hazel kept calling Frank's name, Frank slammed his shield into the giant's nose till the Alcyoneus began to snore. The glacier kept crumbling for the edge was getting closer and closer to them. Thanatos glided towards them on his black wings, his expression was serene of which was not a big surprise, or at least to Emily.
"Ah, yes. There go some souls. Drowning, drowning. You'd best hurry, my friends, or you'll drown, too."
"But Percy… Is he—?"
"Too soon to tell. As for this one…You'll never kill him here. You know what to do?"
"I think so."
"Then our business is complete." When Thanatos said that, that Emily sighed with relief, of which means Hades gave Hazel and Frank a free pass. Than Emily wasn't surprise by that since the stick was not gone and Hazel been in camp and alive for over a year now. But neither Frank or Hazel understood that fact at the moment.
"Um… You mean you won't…you're not going to—"
"Claim your life? Well, let's see…" he pulled a pure black iPad from thin air, he tapped the screen a few times. "I don't see you on the list. Pluto gives me specific orders for escaped souls, you see. For some reason, he has not issued a warrant for yours. Perhaps he feels your life is not finished, or it could be an oversight. If you'd like me to call and ask—"
"No! That's okay."
"Are you sure? I have video conferencing enabled. I have his Skype address here somewhere..."
"Really, no. Thank you."
"Urgg." Frank hit the giant over the head again. Than Thanatos looked at Frank.
"As for you, Frank Zhang, it isn't your time, either. You've got a little fuel left to burn. But don't think I'm doing either of you a favor. We will meet again under less pleasant circumstances." The cliff was still crumbling, the edge was twenty feet away now, Arion whined impatiently.
"What about the Doors of Death? Where are they? How do we close them?"
"Ah, yes. The Doors of Me. Closing them would be good, but I fear it is beyond my power. How you would do it, I haven't the faintest idea. I can't tell you exactly where they are. The location isn't…well, it's not entirely a physical place. They must be located through questing. I can tell you to start your search in Rome. The original Rome. You will need a special guide. Only one sort of demigod can read the signs that will ultimately lead you to the Doors of Me. But in this case, you have two demigod guides." Cracks appeared under their feet in the ice.
"What about my brother? Is Nico alive?"
"What about Arabella?" Thanatos looked at Hazel and Emily with pity or as close as to pity as he could get to considering what he was the god of.
"You will find the answer in Rome. And now I must fly south to your Camp Jupiter. I have a feeling there will be many souls to reap, very soon." Thanatos looked at Emily. "Arabella is not dead, but she can be found in Rome. Farewell, demigods, until we meet again." Thanatos dissipated into black smoke, the cracks widened in the ice under Frank. Emily was worried about Arabella as well as the ice cracking under them but she didn't have the time to worry properly.
"Hurry! We've got to take Alcyoneus about ten miles due north!" Frank climbed onto the giant's chest and Arion took off racing across the ice dragging Alcyoneus behind him. It was a short trip, Arion rode the glacier like a highway, Emily wondered what he would be like on the highway itself. Arion zoomed between two mountains into a valet of ice and rocks like a massive bowl of frozen milk with some cocoa puffs. As they entered the bowl area that she felt a vibration in her body and she could feel her Hestia and Hades powers once more. She could feel the child in her once more, it was a wonderful feeling to feel, once more as strange as it sounds. Emily looked back to see Alcyoneus' golden skin paled into a brass color, of which made Emily smile for he was no longer immortal.
"Here!" Arion veered to one side and Hazel cut the rope, Alcyoneus went skidding past. Frank leaped off just before the giant slammed into a boulder, than Alcyoneus managed jumped to his feet.
"What? Where? Who?" His nose was bent in an odd direction, his wounds were healed. But his golden skin lost some of it's luster, he looked around for his staff of which was back at the glacier. He gave up, he pounded the nearer boulder to pieces with his fist.
"You dare take me for a sleigh ride? That smell…like snuffed-out souls. Thanatos is free, eh? Bah! It doesn't matter. Gaea still controls the Doors of Death. Now, why have you brought me here, son of Mars?"
"To kill you. Next question?"
"I've never known a child of Mars who can change his form, but that doesn't mean you can defeat me. Do you think your stupid soldier of a father gave you the strength to face me in one-on-one combat?" Emily and Bucky got off Arion, than Emily, Bucky and Hazel drew their swords.
"How about four on one?" Bucky and Emily darted out of the way as he charged at the three of them, Arion also darted out of the way. Emily managed slashed her sword across his feet while Bucky and Hazel slashed the backs of his calves. Black oil spouted from the wounds Alcyoneus stumbled as a result.
"You can't kill me, Thanatos or no!" Hazel made a grabbing gestured with her free hand, an invisible force yanked the giant's hair backward. Hazel and Bucky managed to slash at the front while Emily slashed at his other foot.
"Stop that! This is Alaska. I am immortal in my homeland!" As Emily and Bucky moved out of the way that Emily looked at Bucky, they both smiled as Frank spoke to Alcyoneus.
"Actually, I have some bad news about that. See, I got more from my dad than strength."
"What are you talking about, war brat?"
"Tactics. That's my gift from Mars. A battle can be won before it's ever fought by choosing the right ground. We crossed the border a few hundred yards back. You're not in Alaska anymore. Can't you feel it, Al? You want to get to Alaska, you have to go through me." It seemed to dawn up Alcyoneus of what Frank was saying and he looked down at his wounded legs, oil still pouring from his calves turning the ice black.
"Impossible! I'll—I'll—Gah!" Alcyoneus charge at Frank, determined to get back into his homeland. Emily watched, hoping and waiting for Frank to use his family gifts.
"Frank?"
"I got this." Just before Alcyoneus smashed into Frank that Frank started to change, Emily smiled as Frank changed into an elephant. So that when Alcyoneus slammed into Frank that the giant slammed into a full grown ten ton elephant. The giant staggered sideways and he screamed in frustration, he slammed into Frank again but it was clear that an elephant outweighed Alcyoneus. Even if they both huge, Frank head butted Alcyoneus so hard that the giant flew backwards.
"You—can't—kill me," Alcyoneus growled. "You can't—" Frank returned to his normal form and walked up to the giant, Emily and Bucky walked up to the giant as well. The oily wounds were steaming, the gems fell out of his hair and sizzled in the snow, his golden skin began to corrode breaking into chunks. Hazel dismounted and stood next to Frank. Her sword was ready.
"May I?" Frank nodded and looked at Giant's seething eyes.
"Here's a tip, Alcyoneus. Next time you choose the biggest state for your home, don't set up base in the part that's only ten miles wide. Welcome to Canada, idiot." Hazel's sword came down on the giant's neck, Alcyoneus dissolved into a pile of vey expensive rocks, for a while they stood there watching the remains of the giant melt into the ice, Frank picked up his rope.
"An elephant?"
"Yeah. It seemed like a good idea." Emily looked at Bucky of who shrugged, Emily looked back at Hazel and Frank. Emily couldn't read Hazel's expression at the moment, but Emily could tell that Frank was worried or afraid that he thought that Hazel thinks he was weird after using his family gift. Than Hazel did something that Emily, as well as Frank, didn't expect, she kissed Frank on his lips. Emily looked over at Bucky and mouthed: Does this remind of you anything? Bucky looked like he was going to turn pink when Emily mouthed that than he mouthed back: oh shut up. Emily smiled when Bucky mouthed that it was than that Hazel pulled away.
"You are amazing. And you make a very handsome elephant." It was that Bucky spoke.
"I never heard that from you." Emily looked back at Bucky.
"You never heard that because you can't change into an elephant, that's why." Bucky was about ready to respond but before he could say anything that a voice echoed across the valley.
'You haven't won.' They looked up, shadows were shifting across the nearest mountain forming the face of a sleeping woman. 'You will never reach home in time. Even now, Thanatos is attending the death of Camp Jupiter, the final destruction of your Roman friends.' The mountain rumbled as if the earth was laughing than the shadows disappeared. All four of them looked at each other, none of them said anything than they climbed onto Arion and they went back to Glacier bay. When they got here that Percy was waiting for them, he didn't look too happy. He stood at the edge of the glacier leaning on the staff with the golden eagle, looking down at the wreckage he caused. Several hundred acres of newly open water dotted with icebergs and flotsam from the ruined camp. The only thing left on the glacier was the main gates that were sideways and a tattered blue banner laying over a pile of snow bricks. When they reached Percy that he only said one word to them.
"Hey."
"You're alive!"
"The fall? That was nothing. I fell twice that far from the St. Louis Arch."
"You did what?"
"Never mind. The important thing was I didn't drown."
"So the prophecy was incomplete! It probably said something like: The son of Neptune will drown a whole bunch of ghosts." Percy shrugged but he was still looking at Frank.
"I got a bone to pick with you, Zhang. You can turn into an eagle? And a bear?"
"And an elephant." Percy shook his head in disbelief.
"An elephant. That's your family gift? You can change shape?"
"Um…yeah. Periclymenus, my ancestor, the Argonaut—he could do that. He passed down the ability."
"And he got that gift from Poseidon. That's completely unfair. I can't turn into animals." Emily snorted as Frank stared at Percy, Emily wouldn't call that unfair. If Percy said to Emily it was unfair she has the powers from Hades, Hestia and Demeter and he didn't than that would be unfair.
"Unfair? You can breathe underwater and blow up glaciers and summon freaking hurricanes—and it's unfair that I can be an elephant?"
"Okay. I guess you got a point. But next time I say you're totally beast—"
"Just shut up. Please." Percy cracked a smile
"If you guys are done, we need to go. Camp Jupiter is under attack. They could use that gold eagle."
"One thing first, though. Hazel, there's about a ton of Imperial gold weapons and armor at the bottom of the bay now, plus a really nice chariot. I'm betting that stuff could come in handy.…" It took them too long to get the weapons, Percy swam up and down along with Bucky while Emily and Hazel used their abilities to bring things up while Frank turned into a seal. It took all of them to raise the chariot, but they managed to get everything ashore to a black sand beach near the base of the glacier. They couldn't fit everything, Emily managed to put some of what was left into five backpack that she summoned before they entered Alaska, while Frank strapped down most of the gold weapons and the armor.
"It looks like Santa's sleigh, Can Arion even pull that much?" Arion huffed.
"Hazel, I am seriously going to wash your horse's mouth with soap. He says, yes, he can pull it, but he needs food." Hazel picked up a pugio, it was bent and dull, so it wouldn't much good in a fight but it looked like it was solid imperial gold.
"Here you go, Arion. High-performance fuel." Arion took the dagger and ate it like it would an apple.
"I'm not doubting Arion's strength, but will the chariot hold up? The last one—"
"This one has Imperial gold wheels and axle, It should hold."
"If not, this is going to be a short trip. But we're out of time. Come on!" Frank, Percy and Bucky climbed into the chariot, while Emily and Hazel swung onto Arion's back.
"Giddyup!" Arion's sonic boom echoed across the bay and they sped south towards Camp Jupiter.