Keith's POV
Since we met Minos, we have been training with our powers. Sure, we passed out sometimes, but it was cool. Nico had the ability to summon the dead, like skeletons and spirits (it would leave him drained if he tried to use Hell Fire). I could create Hell Fire (but it would most likely leave me drained or passed out for a week if I tried to raise the dead). Hell Fire was similar to Greek Fire, except it could only be summoned and stopped by a child of Hades. Both of us could speak to ghosts and Shadow Travel.
Minos had explained to us that we could trade a soul for a soul and bring Bianca back from the dead. I knew we were doing Minos's dirty work, but we were both blinded by the idea of seeing our sister alive again.
After a while, we were thrown out of the Labyrinth, probably by a hidden exit. We arrived at what looked like a ranch. There were red cows eating the grass. A guy approached us; he was wearing a 'don't mess with Texas' shirt. "Who are you? he asked.
"We are just passing by" I answered, maybe a little too quickly. "Nice ranch"
The man's eyes narrowed, "Half-Bloods" he said.
"How did you know?" Nico asked.
"I know because I am one, Eurityon, son of Ares" he introduced himself. "You came from the Labyrinth I suppose, most people do" We nodded.
"Ask him if you can come inside, Geryon knows a lot about the soul exchange" Minos instructed.
"Can we come inside?" Nico asked.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah"
He started to lead us to the porch "Don't break the rules" he warned us, "No fighting, no drawing weapons, and no making any comments about the boss's appearance"
I was about to ask why, when a man with three chests came out, "Welcome to Triple G Ranch" he greeted us. "I'm Geryon"
"Hello sir," I started politely, you never knew when someone could kill you, "I'm Keith and this is my brother Nico, we were wondering if we could stay for a while to discuss some business with you?"
Geryon smiled, "Of course you can stay. In fact," he added, "let me give you a tour of the ranch"
He led us inside the glass doors. "So, what's the business you needed to discuss?"
"We need to find a soul that has escaped Hades' reach for centuries"
"I think I know who you're talking about" he started, "but this will have to wait a bit, our new visitors have arrived. You may stay here"
Nico and I proceeded to play Mythomagic, it had become a habit since we left Camp. We would sit together in front of the Hell Fire I summoned to keep us warm and play for hours. After a round, we started to get alarmed and decided to go outside.
"Geryon, we won't wait for-" Nico stopped when he saw Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and a cyclops. He was about to draw out his sword, but I stopped him. "Rules" I mouthed. He proceeded to glare at the newcomers.
"Come along folks. It's time I give you a tour of the ranch" Geryon announced.
A while into the tour, I wasn't really paying attention to whatever the rest were talking about, a horrible smell hit my nose. I gagged.
"What is that?" Nico asked.
"My stables!" Geryon said. After a conversation I mostly tuned out because I was too concentrated on trying to get the smell off of my nose, I only heard bits like 'Luke' and 'Army', Nico got out of the car and stormed over to Geryon.
"We came here for business, Geryon. And you haven't answered us" Nico said.
"Yes, you'll get a deal alright"
"Our ghost told us you would help. He said you could guide us to the soul we need"
"Wait a second" Percy said, "I thought I was the soul you needed"
Nico looked at him with disbelief "You? Bianca's soul is worth a thousand of yours! Now, can you help me, Geryon, or not?"
"Oh, I imagine I could. Your ghost friend by the way, where is he?"
I looked uneasily at Nico "He can't form in broad daylight. It's hard for him. But he's around somewhere" I replied.
Geryon smiled. "I'm sure. Minos likes to disappear when things get...difficult"
"Minos? You mean the evil king? That's the ghost whose been giving you advice?" Percy questioned.
"It's none of your business, Percy! And what do you mean difficult?" Nico protested.
"You see Nico, Luke Castellan is offering very good money for half-bloods. Especially powerful ones. And I'm sure that once he learns your little secret, and what your brother is, he'll pay very well indeed"
"What do you mean what I am? I'm just a demigod" I said.
"You honestly have no idea, do you? Well, that's for you to find out then" Geryon answered. "Eurytion, secure the half breed"
Eurytion quickly picked me up and tied my hands. "Hey!" I protested.
I didn't dare to move; they would hurt Nico if I did. It seems he reached the same conclusion because he looked at the ground in defeat. I started to feel a tickling sensation in my hand. I looked at it and it was slowly turning purple. I began to panic, "WHAT THE HADES?!" I thought. Out of instinct, I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I felt someone injecting something into my neck, and I dropped unconscious.
Third person POV
When Eurytion picked up Keith, Nico looked at the ground in defeat. All of a sudden, Keith's eyes started to glow yellow. All of them were surprised.
"Sedate him!" Geryon shouted alarmed.
Eurytion inserted a syringe into Keith's neck and he fell limp in his arm.
Keith's POV
When I opened my eyes, I was still in the ranch, but there was no one here. I heard voices outside. I stepped out and saw Bianca, but in ghost form. How was she here? Nico and I had been trying to summon her for months! She was talking to Nico, probably about not blaming Percy. I slowly walked towards them, feeling a bit dizzy. I stood by Nico's side. She then turned and smiled at me,
"I am proud of both of you" she continued. "When I became a spirit, Father informed me of many things regarding you two. Keith, you will face many challenges in the years to come. You must promise me that you won't blame yourself for things you think you might had been able do anything to change them"
"I- I promise" I said.
"I just want you to know to be proud of who you are, it doesn't matter what others say. And remember, patience yields focus, you'll need it." With that she sighed. "Tartarus stirs, your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the Underworld. It's not safe for us to remain" Bianca warned.
"Wait, please-" Nico started
"Goodbye Nico, Keith. I love you, remember what I said" her form shivered and disappeared.
Seems like we are sticking with Percy and the rest of the gang now.
~time skip to when Percy came back from exploding the Princess Andromeda~
I was at the training deck with Nico. After the Battle of the Labyrinth, I have been training nonstop. I know I should not blame myself for it, as Bianca said, but it was hard. Everything that happened seemed like it was my fault.
I heard shouts coming from the beach, so we went to check it out. Percy was back, but there was no sign of Charles Beckendorf, son of Hephaestus. I had the same ringing I had when Bianca passed away, only a little bit less intense and I did stay conscious.
I guess I now know what the ringing means, someone close to me has died. Beckendorf was always kind to me when I first arrived at Camp. He had become like the older brother I never had. He actually looked like he enjoyed spending time with me, not just doing it out of pity. He even learned to play Mythomagic, and always played with me and Nico. Once he started dating Silena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite, both of them hung out with us.
"-blew up" I heard Percy say.
I saw Silena push through the crowd "Where's Charlie?" she demanded. I braced myself for the answer.
Chiron cleared his throat "Silena, my dear, let's talk about this at the Big House-"
"No" she muttered, "No, No"
She started to cry. We all stood around, stunned. We had already lost so many people. Clarisse came forward and put her arm around Silena. "Come on girl, let's get to the Big House" Clarisse said gently, "I'll make you some hot chocolate". The crowd started to disperse, I went into my small corner at Cabin 11 and cried myself to sleep.
I woke up when it was time for dinner. After sacrificing to the gods and eating in the overly crowded Hermes table, Percy called Nico and I over and told us the prophecy. It was really nice (note the sarcasm):
"A child of the eldest gods,
Shall reach sixteen against all odds.
And see the world in endless sleep,
A hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap.
A single choice might end his days,
Olympus to preserve or raze"
Today was August 18, Percy's sixteen birthday. Nico had gotten him to swim on the Styx, so he had a better chance of defeating Luke/Kronos, and had stayed in the Underworld to try to get Father to help. Unlike me, Nico preferred to spend time in the Underworld. I stayed at Camp to train and made a few friends.
The older campers and some adult demigods all gathered next to Thalia's Pine Tree. The Ares Cabin refused to join us after an argument they had with the Apollo Cabin. One by one, we boarded the 3 Camp vans that said Delphi Strawberry Service. We arrived at the Empire State Building and got on the elevators to Mount Olympus. The gods are battling Typhon to try to slow him down, so the throne room was empty.
We all gathered in a small park at the edge of the mountain, looking down at Manhattan. It was completely silent. I had gotten one of the tourist binoculars lined along the railing, it was as if time had stopped.
"Are they dead?" I heard Silena ask.
"Not dead" Percy said. "Morpheus has put the entire island of Manhattan to sleep. The invasion has started"
Annabeth walked in after a while with a shield.
"Whoa, a video shield" Percy said.
"One of Daedalus' ideas" Annabeth explained. "I had Beckendorf make this before... Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight-" I stopped listening to her explanation and instead looked through the binoculars and found Mrs. O'Leary happily eating an overturned hot dog stand.
"-look"
We crowded around Annabeth. The image zoomed and spun, then the Central Park Zoo appeared, then zoomed towards East 60th, past Bloomingdale's, then turned into Third Avenue.
"Whoa" Connor Stoll said. "Back up. Zoom right there"
"What? Do you see any invaders?" Annabeth asked nervously.
"No, right there. Dylan's Candy Bar" Connor turned to his brother, grinning. "Dude, it's open. And everyone is asleep. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Connor!" Katie Gardner scolded. "This is serious! You are not going to look at a candy store in the middle of a war!"
"Sorry" Connor muttered; he didn't sound sorry.
After a while, we spotted boats full of monsters approaching Manhattan. There were at least 300 enemies on the way, and there were only around 40 of us.
"All right, we're going to hold Manhattan" Percy said.
"But Manhattan is huge" Silena said.
"We have to. I'll take care of the rivers and the wind gods of the sky, that just leaves room for ground attacks. Let's assume they'll try midtown, as it's the fastest way. Michael, take Apollo to Williamsburg Bridge. Katie, Demeter takes the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, grow plants inside it. Connor, take half of Hermes to the Manhattan Bridge. Travis, you take the other half to Brooklyn Bridge. Silena, Aphrodite goes to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. The Holland Tunnel, Jake, you take Hephaestus there. Set traps where you need to"
"For Beckendorf!" the entire Hephaestus Cabin roared.
"The 59th Street Bridge, Clarisse-" He seemed to remember that Clarisse wasn't there.
"Athena will take that one" Annabeth saved him from embarrassment. "Malcolm, take them to the Bridge and activate plan 23 along the way like I showed you. I'll go with Percy, then we'll go wherever we're needed"
"We'll keep in touch with cellphones" Percy continued. "You all know Annabeth's number, right? Pick up a random phone and use it if you need us"
Travis cleared his throat "Um, if we find a really nice phone-"
"No, you can't keep it" Percy answered.
"Hold it, Percy" Jake Mason said. "You forgot the Lincoln Tunnel"
"How about we take that one?" A voice I recognized as Thalia's said. "The Hunters of Artemis reporting for duty". The Hunters moved out to their assigned location.
All of the campers looked grim. "You're the greatest heroes of the millennium" Percy started. "It doesn't matter how many monsters come at you. Fight bravely, and we will win"
He raised Riptide and shouted, "FOR OLYMPUS!" Forty voices shouted in response, and then we left Olympus. On our way down in the elevators, 'Stayin' Alive' started playing. I mentally snorted, how ironic.
I went with Connor, as I technically was staying at the Hermes Cabin. When we arrived at the Manhattan Bridge, we quickly started setting traps around the perimeter, then hid. The first wave of monsters arrived, most of them got caught in the traps and the rest stayed back. Once all of them were deactivated, Connor nodded, and we stood up.
"HERMES!"We charged.
I don't know for how long I was there, but they kept coming. I fought each monster like my life depended on it, which it did, and wave after wave turned to golden dust. I summoned Hell Fire and threw it at them, making them dissolve and go back to Tartarus. At some point, they started retreating. Luckily, in our location, only one demigod was badly wounded and there were no casualties.
I helped Connor carry Cecil back to the Empire State Building, where Apollo campers quickly took him and rushed off. I looked around and saw way much less demigods that there were at the start. Most of them were crying over the loss of a friend or half-sibling, aka, family. We all have or will lose a loved one today. I decided to go rest before the next battle, there would no doubt be as much, if not more, monsters to fight.
I woke up to Connor Stoll shaking me. "The army is attacking, go get ready" he said urgently.
I quickly stood up and put on my armor, grabbed my sword, and went down the elevator. Turns out, it was nighttime. I went inside with Lou Ellen, one of the few Hecate demigods that didn't join Kronos, Katie Gardner, and the Stoll Brothers. While in there, they filled me in on what had happened while I was asleep.
Apparently, Prometheus had appeared under a truce flag and offered Percy the option to stand aside. Obviously, he said no. We all would have, we can't let the whole world fall under Kronos's domain, it would be destroyed. And how before that, Annabeth had taken a knife for him.
Apparently, the Athena Cabin, Percy, the nature spirits, and the Hunters were at Central Park fighting off Hyperion, and for what I heard, the guy was hot, like literally.
Once we got out of the elevator, we could see the warzone Midtown Manhattan had become. Enemies were closing in on us, getting closer and closer to the Olympus. We looked at each other and went out charging towards Kronos's Army.
As the night wore on, we were backed up to only a block in front of the entrance to Olympus. Kronos's forces kept pushing us back. At one point, Mrs. O'Leary bounded out of the shadows and ate a Laistrygonian.
"Hold the line!" Katie shouted.
The problem was that there were few of us to do so. The entrance to Olympus was twenty feet behind us. We had formed a ring around it. There was a light, and I saw Kronos riding a Golden Chariot towards us.
"We have to fall back to the doorway!" Annabeth yelled. "Hold it at all costs!"
We were about to retreat when a hunting horn sounded, but it wasn't the Hunters. The sound was getting closer, I feared it was more enemies. Kronos's army seemed as confused as us, so it couldn't have been from their side.
A shower of arrows raced over our heads and slammed into the enemy vaporizing hundreds of monsters.
"Centaurs!" Annabeth yelled.
The centaur army exploded into our midst. A hundred of them filled the entire block. Chiron appeared across the sea of wild centaurs. He was dressed in armor from the waist up, his bow in his hand. The enemy army fled into the East, and we retreated into the Building.
The injured were being treated by the not-too-badly-injured remaining Apollo kids and some others. Suddenly, a roar was heard. Everyone froze, "Prepare yourselves for another attack!" Percy yelled.
This was bad, we only had sixteen campers, including me, fifteen hunters, and six satyrs in fighting shape. The injured had been taken to Olympus for safety measures. The Hephaestus Cabin was out of Greek Fire and Apollo and the Hunters were scavenging for arrows. The Party Ponies, aka wild centaurs, were all drunk. I doubted they would be much help.
A roar sounded again, it seemed closer. I overheard Chiron talking that it was a drakon, one of the strongest monsters, and just our luck, this one could only be beaten by a child of Ares.
"I'LL TAKE THE DRAKON!" Percy yelled. "Everyone else, hold the line against the army!"
We started fighting the waves of monsters that came at us. A couple of dracanae managed to sneak behind me and landed a hit before I killed them with Hell Fire.
"ARES!" A feminine voice shouted. Through the corner of my eye I saw chariots with a boar's head charging towards the battle. At the front, there was Clarisse, leading her Cabin into battle with the drakon.
"Ares, to me!" Clarisse exclaimed, but her voice sounded a little different. She charged the drakon, but I didn't see the rest, to busy trying to keep myself alive.
"NO, WHY!" I heard a voice shout through the battlefield. "WHY?" It demanded again. "YOU WANT DEATH? WELL COME ON!"
I turned around to see Clarisse in her Camp shirt charge at the drakon without armor. I kept battling until the monsters started to retreat a little. Clarisse was a demon in battle, killing every monster that stood in her path. Suddenly, she started to glow red.
"The blessing of Ares" I heard Thalia mutter.
"I AM CLARISSE, DRAKON SLAYER!" she yelled, "I will kill you ALL!"
The monsters fell back behind a wall of dracanae, Clarisse daring them to attack her. Meanwhile, we were attending to the wounded inside the lobby. The enemy retreated. I heard rumors of Silena being the spy for Kronos. I don't care, she died a hero and will be remembered as such.
Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia had gone up to Olympus to stand as final defense in case Kronos made it past us, which he will. We were positioned at the doors of the Empire State Building. I looked towards the approaching army, and saw Kronos leading them. "This is it", I thought.
I fought as best as I could, but an empousa managed to land a hit in my sword hand. The weapon dropped to the ground. I quickly summoned Hell Fire and burned her, but a group of dracanae were already closing in around me. I created a small fire ring, me inside it. The dracanae stopped. Too late, I realized that they weren't the real enemy, a giant smashed their club into my head, and I fell unconscious.
When I woke up, I was at Olympus. I quickly sat up and looked around. Everyone was recovering and helping around. The city was destroyed, but if we were here, that must mean we won.
Later, they told us what happened. Hestia made us sit across the hearth like little kids waiting to be told a story. We made eye contact, and suddenly I was back at the battlefield.
Campers and Hunters wounded on the ground. Clarisse and her chariot were frozen in a block of ice and the centaurs were nowhere to be seen.
The Titan Army ringed the building, standing maybe 20 feet away from the doors. Suddenly, Mrs. O'Leary arrived, with Nico on top of her in full battle armor. Nico strode forward, and the enemy fell down before him like he radiated death, which he most likely did. Then Hades, Demeter, and Persephone came along with an skeleton army and fought Kronos's army.
The mortals awoke and Percy's parents started to fight monsters. Sally had always been kind to me, like a mother. She always offers me and Nico blue cookies. She is our motherly figure in this century.
Kronos went inside the elevators to Olympus with Percy, Annabeth, Thalia and Grover hot on his trail. Up in Olympus, Luke managed to retake control from Kronos and used Annabeth's dagger to stab himself on his Achilles heel, making him and Kronos defeated.
All of a sudden, I was back at the throne room sitting in front of the Hearth. I could tell the same had happened to the other demigods, because they were looking as shocked as I felt. Hestia smiled,
"Off you go then, young heroes" she said.
We made our way out and into the elevators. The Camp's vans were already waiting outside for us. Once we got to Camp, we proceeded to burn the fallen heroes' shrouds. They would make it to Elysium for sure.
It had been a quiet couple of days since the war. Percy and Annabeth finally got together, and some campers dumped them into the lake. Rachel Dare had become the new Oracle and made a new prophecy. I just hoped it wouldn't involve us. Of course, with Percy's luck, it wasn't possible.
A shout was heard through Camp, it was coming from Cabin 3.
"What on Father's name was that?!" Nico asked. He had his aviator jacket covering his skulls pajama, sword at the ready. He loves to sleep late.
Chiron galloped to where the scream was heard.
"Annabeth, what's wrong?" we heard him ask.
"Percy's missing"
"Are you sure?"
"I am, I've called Sally, I've checked the whole camp, I've tried IMing him, he's gone" she said between sobs.
"COUNCELOR MEETING IN THE BIG HOUSE NOW!"
It has been three days since Percy went missing and Camp's on chaos. Annabeth had left earlier due to a dream about Percy sent by Hera. We were all waiting eagerly outside.
We saw a chariot approaching in the distance, and it crash landed on the lake. Out came Annabeth, and three more kids. Once Nico saw them, he turned pale and made a rush to our cabin. I followed him inside and closed the door.
"Hey, you ok?"
He nodded. "Tell Annabeth I'll be searching for Percy, I- I think I might have a lead on where he is". With that, he shadow traveled to gods know where.