There were 57 people who saw the note in my previous update. This chapter is for the three people who bothered to give me their opinion. Also! I have this fucking idiot who decided it was a good idea to give me a shit review.

MrGoodyTwoShoes: what kind of a review is this? What does it have to do with my fanfiction? Seriously, I don't understand what was going on in your fucking head when you decided to post this review. Words cannot describe how absolutely furious I was to see such a review and I would like you to stop giving these kinds of reviews for the sake of other readers.

(If anyone knows if it is possible to delete reviews, please tell me)

Thank you to the three who took their time to review, I really appreciate it.

Percy POV

I was knocked out for most of the journey so asking me wasn't the best. However, I can confirm one thing—I miss that swamp. When I woke up, for a second I thought everything was just a horrible nightmare. I hadn't had a Demigod Dream. I woke up on such a comfortable bed it was so doubtful it belonged in Tartarus. The first thing I had seen was Annabeth but it was quickly followed by Andromeda. She had moved away from the bed but at the time, I was too confused to be hurt. She remained cold towards us but had subtly shown her support. Somehow, I knew she had accepted me.

Tartarus did not make it easy for me to feel happy about my sister. We weren't even walking at this rate, stumbling along in the darkness, the air thick and cold, the ground alternating patches of pointy rocks and pools of muck. More than once, Andromeda pulled me away from ledges and sharp rocks. She seemed at ease here, whilst we struggled to keep up.

I had started out more confident than when we fell—head clear, belly full of drakon jerky from our packs of provisions. Now everywhere hurts. I was tempted to ask if one of those hellhounds Andromeda conversed with could carry me. Yep, you heard me right. While we barely managed to walk, Andromeda was casually chatting with hellhounds. This was like watching me and Blackjack talk from an outsider's view. The one sided conversation was indeed confusing.

I felt like giving up like a bazillion times. Every time I did, I would reach over to Annabeth and take her hand, just to remember something worth fighting for, or put my hand over Andromeda's shoulder to remind myself I as a big brother must be the one to show her the world. I was sometimes wary, because Annabeth kept shooting Andromeda her death glare. Andromeda didn't seem affected but she once whispered to me, asking to keep my girlfriend in check or else she'll do it for me. Her words, not mine.

I'm worried for her, honestly. With all the glaring and her failed talk with Damasen. When she wasn't glaring, she was wiping tears from her face, ducking her head so I wouldn't see. I almost didn't but Andromeda growled at me to deal with the semantics. She really misses nothing. That could be a good or bad thing.

I think about what had happened after we left Damasen's hut, to distract myself from all of this. I hadn't heard our pursuers in hours, but I could most certainly sense their hatred...especially Polybotes's. It was strange, Andromeda had said nothing of them. I didn't think she was vain or something, but she would occasionally stare at her sword, her reflection. (I'm assuming her eyesight was better in this place so she could actually see) It was even weirder, why Polybotes only yelled for me, not her. She was also a child of Poseidon. (Not that I wanted her to be targeted) That giant was back there somewhere, following, pushing us deeper into Tartarus.

I tried to think of good things to keep my spirits up—the lake at Camp Half-Blood, the time I had kissed Annabeth underwater (man they were good). I tried to imagine the two of us at New Rome together, walking through the hills and holding hands. My sister reuniting with Mum, to see the happiness in Mum's eyes. To reintroduce Andromeda to Earth. Growing up, catching up, growing older together, the promise of a new future. But Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood both seemed like dreams. I felt as if only Tartarus existed. This was the real world—death, darkness, cold, pain. I had been imagining all the rest.

Oh Gods, it was getting worse than Andromeda had described. I shivered. That was the pit speaking to me, sapping my resolve.

The deeper we travelled, the harder it became to stay focused.

"This place is worse than the River Cocytus," I muttered.

"Yes," Bob called back happily. "Much worse! It means we are close."

"Now, you are closer to succeeding than Nico di Angelo was." Andromeda murmured, eyes half-closed but still walked like it was a flat surface. "The place I chose for him was before the arai. One obstacle. I have to tell you, brother of mine, it will not be the worst one. Not when Tartarus himself opposes you." Her voice was barely higher than a whisper, Annabeth who stood beside me had a confused face—she couldn't hear all of it. Even if Andromeda saw that, she said nothing.

"Have you ever fought Tartarus?"

"Here, in the prison of monsters, they would be foolish to attack me." She said simply. "For three years, I was the hunter, not the prey." And before that, she was the prisoner. None of us spoke up.

Her brows pinched. "Stop here." I paused, so did Annabeth. A giant geyser sprung up, fire licking my face even from metres away. Andromeda snapped her finger. The geyser fell as quickly as it sprung. "You can control that?" Annabeth asked, awe in her voice.

"The fire of Tartarus? Of course. I'm not sure about in the mortal world, whether I would be able to summon it, but I can control it. To a certain extent." Her hands fell to her side and she continued walking. Annabeth and I shared a look.

Did she tell you when I was under Gorgon's Blood?

Said nothing of importance. Why didn't she tell us her abilities?

You think by now she would tell us everything that would help.

Yeah…

"Can you two lovers stop staring at each other with that language only you understand and catch up?!" Andromeda yelled. This was a rare time she raised her voice. It was rusty, unused, but conveyed a lot of emotions. Mostly annoyed.

"We're together," she reminded me. "We'll get through this."

Honestly, that made me feel bad. I had been so worried about lifting her spirits, and here she was reassuring me.

"Yeah," I agreed sourly. "Piece of cake."

"But next time," she said, "I want to go somewhere different on a date."

"Paris was nice," I recalled. If Andromeda ever got a date for herself, I'd recommend Paris. (Of course, as older brother, I need to test the boy out)

She managed a smile. Months ago, before I got amnesia, we had dinner in Paris one night, compliments of Hermes. That seemed like another lifetime.

"I'd settle for New Rome," she offered. "As long as you're there with me." Man, Annabeth was awesome. For a moment, I actually remembered what it was like to feel happy. I had an amazing girlfriend. A new found twin sister. We could have a future together.

Then the darkness dispersed with a massive sigh, like the last breath of a dying god. In front of us was a clearing—a barren field of dust and stones. In the centre, about twenty yards away, knelt the gruesome figure of a woman, her clothes tattered, her limbs emaciated, her skin leathery green. Her head was bent as she sobbed quietly, and the sound shattered all my hopes.

Life was pointless. My struggles—for nothing. This woman cried as if mourning the death of the entire world.

"We're here," Bob announced. "Akhlys can help."

"If you can call it help." Andromeda said cryptically, eyeing the woman critically, like she was annoyed or disgusted.

They trudged forward (with Andromeda still looking like she's walking through a field of flowers (how does she do that?)) and Annabeth and I followed. Not sure if the ghoul who looked like she cried forever was the right thing to ask for help but if Andromeda was willing to bring us here, it wasn't too bad, right?

Never mind.

As soon as Bob called out, "Akhlys!" My stomach spurned, ready to puke out the drakon jerky I ate. Pretty sure I regret that now.

The ghoul was what I called the worst of them all. Her body was bad enough. She looked like the victim of a famine—limbs like sticks, swollen knees and knobby elbows, rags for clothes, broken fingernails and toenails. Dust was caked on her skin and piled on her shoulders as if she'd taken a shower at the bottom of an hourglass. Her face was utter desolation. Her eyes were sunken and rheumy, pouring out tears. Her nose dripped like a waterfall. Her stringy grey hair was matted to her skull in greasy tufts, and her cheeks were raked and bleeding as if she'd been clawing herself.

I felt Andromeda's hand creep up and covered my eyes. The image was still seared in my mind."Stop staring." She said curtly.

I lowered my gaze as she took her hands off, instead focusing on the shield the hag had on her knees—a battered circle of wood and bronze, painted with the likeness of Akhlys herself holding a shield, so the image seemed to go on forever, smaller and smaller.

"That shield," Annabeth murmured in awe. "That's his. I thought it was just a story. Just a myth."

"Oh, no," the old hag wailed. "The shield of Hercules. He painted me on its surface, so his enemies would see me in their final moments—the goddess of misery." She coughed so hard, it made my chest pang. "As if Hercules knew true misery. It's not even a good likeness!"

"How can anyone have a good likeness of you if they have never seen you?" Andromeda snapped, rolling her eyes with her hands on her hips. "If you're going to complain, at least complain about something doable!"

"You." Akhlys turned her sunken eyes to my twin. "They dragged you here. Oh, I remember. Your screams were like music. Scream again."

"You can't command me to do what you like, Akhlys." Andromeda purposely refused to meet my eyes. "No one can. I have grown tired of obeying people."

Akhlys made a gurgling sound, before turning back to us. I tried, really tried, but the sense of despair distracted me. "What's Hercules's shield doing here?" I asked. Andromeda groaned behind me. "Really, brother of mine?" She whispers. I could hear the amusement in her voice, despite her trying to mask it.

The goddess stared at me with her wet milky eyes. Her cheeks dripped blood, making red polka dots on her tattered dress. "He doesn't need it anymore, does he? It came here when his mortal body was burned. A reminder, I suppose, that no shield is sufficient. In the end, misery overtakes all of you. Even Hercules."

"I fought my misery and won." Andromeda murmured. "Let it be a reminder that not every demigod has to succumb to it."

I inched closer to Annabeth. Hearing Akhlys speak, I no longer found it strange that she had clawed her own cheeks. The goddess radiated pure pain.

"Bob," I said, leaning further from Akhlys, "we shouldn't have come here."

From somewhere inside Bob's uniform, the skeleton kitten mewled in agreement. Andromeda hummed, not at all bothered.

The Titan shifted and winced as if Small Bob was clawing his armpit. "Akhlys controls the Death Mist," he insisted. "She can hide you."

"Hide them?" Akhlys made another gurgling sound. She was either laughing or choking to death. "Why would I do that?"

"They must reach the Doors of Death," Bob said. "To return to the mortal world."

"Impossible!" Akhlys said. "The armies of Tartarus will find you. They will kill you."

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious, lady." Andromeda was the only one who seemed unaffected. Either she was used to it (I really hope it wasn't the case) or she's better at hiding it (this wasn't good either). "Unfortunately for you, that is the safer path."

"Champion of my father, watch your words." Akhlys hissed. "You may be touched by his blessing but it does not make you invincible. I will remind you of the true taste of misery if you continue disturbing me."

"Every time I lay to rest, Akhlys, I remember it. Your reminder would be useless." Andromeda sighed. "Nonetheless, I am not the one who needs it."

"I would not help them!" She howled. Well, howled is a strong word. More like choked. "You, I might consider. Them? No chance."

"Why would she consider helping you?" I whisper to Andromeda. "I told Nico. She loves my pain, basks in it even. I am 'too precious' to kill because she wants to watch me suffer." She growls back. "She lives in pain, Percy."

"So I guess your Death Mist is pretty useless, then," she said.

The goddess bared her broken yellow teeth. "Useless? Who are you?"

"A daughter of Athena." Annabeth's voice sounded brave—though how she did it, I didn't know. We didn't have the same protection Andromeda had. "I didn't walk halfway across Tartarus to be told what's impossible by some minor goddess."

"Wrong thing to say." Andromeda hummed. I was getting annoyed. Yes, I love my sister, but could she be a bit less cryptic and give answers instead of comments?!

The dust quivered at our feet, striking me unbalanced. Fog swirled around us with a sound like a tortured being. Andromeda grasped my hand. "Minor goddess?" Akhlys snarled like a dying animal. "I was old before the Titans were born, you ignorant girl. I was old when Gaia first woke. Misery is eternal. Existence is misery. I was born of the eldest ones—of Chaos and Night. I was—"

"Can we skip the talk of how old you are? You did that the last time I was here and we're sort of on a time limit here." Andromeda cut her off. "You talk of how old you are, you know what my thoughts are? You should retire." That was when I realised Annabeth and Andromeda had somehow got a plan. Not sure when though. "Yeah, what she says." Annabeth said. "Sadness and misery, blah blah blah. Yet you don't even have the power to hide three demigods from the sight of monsters? Useless."

"You should go join your father, Akhlys, if you can't do this." Andromeda's voice radiated false concern. "Your powers must be weakening as you age."

As if for good measures, they both turned to me, glaring at the same time. Let me tell you, if you ever had your sister and girlfriend glaring at you, it wakes you up really fast. "They're right!" I said with a confidence I was sure didn't exist. "Bob brought us all this way because he thought you could help. But I guess you're too busy staring at that shield and crying. I can't blame you. It looks just like you."

Akhlys wailed and glared at the Titan. "Why did you inflict these annoying children on me?"

Bob made a sound somewhere between a rumble and a whimper. "I thought—I thought—"

"The Death Mist is not for helping!" Akhlys shrieked. "It shrouds mortals in misery as their souls pass into the Underworld. It is the very breath of Tartarus, of death, of despair!"

"Awesome," I said. "Could we get three orders to go?"

"And while we're at that, can you please either get yourself checked or fade cause it is really getting on my nerves." Andromeda said cockily. Akhlys hissed at her. "You are very, very, very lucky I prefer you alive. Ask for something else, a more sensible gift. I am also the goddess of poisons. I could give you death—thousands of ways to die less painful than the one you have chosen by marching into the heart of the pit." My head swam as flowers bloomed in the dust, smelling sickly sweet.

"Nightshade," Akhlys offered. "Hemlock. Belladonna, henbane, or strychnine. I can dissolve your innards, boil your blood."

"That's very nice of you," I said, turning green. "But I've had enough poison for one trip. Now, can you hide us in your Death Mist, or not?"

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Annabeth added nonchalantly.

The goddess's eyes narrowed. "Fun?"

"Sure," Annabeth promised. "If we fail, think how great it will be for you, gloating over our spirits when we die in agony. You'll get to say 'I told you so' for eternity."

"Or, if we succeed," I added in a hurry, "think of all the suffering you'll bring to the monsters down here. We intend to seal the Doors of Death. That's going to cause a lot of wailing and moaning."

Akhlys considered. "I enjoy suffering. Wailing is also good."

"Then it's settled," I said, triumphant. "Make us invisible."

"You know the process is more complicated than that, yes?" Andromeda said, staring at me like what are you doing? Oops, must've said something wrong.

Akhlys struggles to her feet, dropping the shield in the process. It rolled away, wobbling to a stop in a patch of poison flowers. I didn't want to know how durable it was.

"Rhea is right. The Death Mist comes at the moment you are closest to your end. Your eyes will be clouded only then. The world will fade."

"Rhea?" Annabeth murmured. We turned to Andromeda. "I told you before." She said simply.

"Right…" Back to the subject. "We'll be shrouded from the monsters, right?"

"Oh, yes," Akhlys said. "If you survive the process, you will be able to pass unnoticed among the armies of Tartarus. It is hopeless, of course, but if you are determined, then come. I will show you the way."

"The way to where, exactly?" Annabeth asked.

The goddess was already shuffling into the gloom.

Andromeda tugged me. "Follow close, Perseus." This was the second time she called me by my full name. I liked it better when she said it like this—full of adoration and love, like we weren't about to go through a process which we might die doing. I was about to follow when I realised—Bob was gone. How does a ten-foot-tall silver dude with a very loud kitten disappear?

"Hey!" I yelled at Akhlys. "Where's our friend?"

"Percy, only demigods can experience the Death Mist." Andromeda pursed her lips, almost like a pout. Gods, ever since the discovery, I cannot imagine how I thought she might've been an enemy.

Annabeth exhaled, reaching for my hand. I grasped hers tightly, never releasing my grip over Andromeda's hand. "Well... how bad can it be?" Before Andromeda responded with some unfavourable answer, I laughed, even though it hurt my lungs. "Yeah. Next date, though—dinner in New Rome."

"You two are the sappiest couple I have ever met." Andromeda remarked, although she didn't sound too bothered. I didn't even know she knew what sappy meant. Another failed matter on my hand. She walked off first confidently, and I turned to Annabeth. Her eyes implored me to tell her what was going on. I kissed her forehead. That was all the answers she needed to know we would talk later. Together, hand in hand, we followed Akhlys's dusty footprints through the poison flowers, deeper into the fog.

Time skip

I miss Bob. No denial, no nothing. Just plain ol' truth. I miss him. I miss the innocent way he talked and the brave way he protected me. I miss talking to him. Yes, I was guilty of what happened with the Arai. I was glad though, that he changed his mind. I could distinctly remember Andromeda looking down at me. Liquid, cool, not fiery liquid, dripping onto my face. Her words were nonsensical, like I was underwater and she was talking beside me, if we weren't children of Poseidon. I miss the way the two would silently communicate, the way Andromeda grudgingly gave Bob the opportunity to lead us, a sign of trust.

Now our guide was an emaciated corpse lady with serious self-esteem issues.

As we struggled across the dusty plain, the fog became so thick that I had to resist the urge to swat it away with my hands. The only reason I was able to follow Akhlys's path was because poisonous plants sprang up wherever she walked. And the fact Andromeda gave me this look everytime I lost her. I call it the are you freaking serious right now? How can you be so blind? No offence though, I am blind.

If we were still on the body of Tartarus, I figured we must be on the bottom of his foot—a rough, calloused expanse where only the most disgusting plant life grew. Oh, they were disgusting. One of them reminded me of a rotting cabbage with smushed fruit remains rubbed against it. Andromeda had mused, "hmm, a very, very slow death that lasts 48 hours. Very effective for torture. It feels like your hair is falling out, then your teeth, then finally your skin. The only plus side is that they found the cure." I didn't ask how she knew. I feared for my sanity.

Finally, we arrived at the end of what I presumed to be Tartarus's big toe. Hey, I name what I see. The fog dissipated, and we found ourselves on a peninsula that jutted out over a pitch-black void. Looking over at Andromeda, I saw a look of immense fear. Her hands were huddled close to her neck, rubbing it like she had a sore throat, as her green eyes met mine, wide and trembling. I reached over, and she flinched, scrambling away from me, her hands never leaving her throat. Never in my entire life have I ever felt this horror, this disgust at myself. Sure, I had enough common sense to know I wasn't the one to cause this, but it still hurts.

"Here we are." Akhlys turned and leered at us. Blood from her cheeks dripped on her dress. Her sickly eyes looked moist and swollen but somehow excited. Can Misery look excited? I don't think so.

"Uh… great," I asked, not looking away from Andromeda who was on her knees, staring at the abyss. "Where is here?"

"The verge of final death," Akhlys said. "Where Night meets the void below Tartarus."

"Where Lord Chaos resides." Andromeda's voice was barely heard. Annabeth whirled around, eyes wide as she realised what was going on. "His home, one could call it."

"I thought there was nothing below Tartarus." Annabeth said, inching forward to peer over the cliff, before immediately turning back to Andromeda. "That Chaos created Tartarus to be the lowest point of the Greek World."

"Oh, certainly there is…" Akhlys coughed. "Even Tartarus had to rise from somewhere. This is the edge of the earliest darkness, which was my mother. Below lies the realm of Chaos, my father. Here, you are closer to nothingness than any mortal has ever been. Can you not feel it? Rhea…"

Andromeda was like an animal caught in the headlights. "I- I- " she licked her lips, her body shaking, before she nodded. "Nothingness." She bowed her head. "You slowly fade, but it's nothing peaceful, not like what the Gods and Titans who have faded feel. No, this is painful. You find yourself burning up like you're on fire, but you also find yourself cold, too cold. Like you're numb. You feel yourself dissolving, little by little. Your most recent memories start to fade, no matter how good or how bad. Your body isn't in your control and-"

"Andy." I inched forward, hands raised. She flinched again. I would've gone through Gorgon's blood again just not to see my sister flinch because of me. Me. "It's like your skin is peeling off." She continued. "You don't even know what you are feeling, because the Void numbs the feeling, not that it makes anything better. Your whole body is torn on feeling or not feeling, and it's like a war and your soul is the battlefield. Everywhere… it's just tainted. Unwashable. After that… I suppose you die." This time, Annabeth and I flinched. Andromeda doesn't notice. Her hands left her throat, planting firmly on the ground, above all the jagged rocks like she felt nothing. Akhlys cackled, and all I wanted to do was to throw her down there, see how she would like to suffer. Annabeth even lost that vengeful look, looking downright sympathetic.

"We cannot stay here." I said as firmly as I could. But even then, every word was like torn from my throat. What Andromeda described… I was feeling it, little by little. The Void seemed to be calling me, hypnotising me. It leached the breath from my lungs and the oxygen from my blood. I looked at Annabeth and saw that her lips were tinged blue. Andromeda's lips however, were as silky red as ever, but something was being drawn out from her, a wispy white fog drifted from her body. It seemed to be attracted to the Void, going closer to it, and it drained her, as Andromeda shivered, almost collapsing. From what she has said, Chaos was a nice primordial, but the Void certainly wasn't, acting like a vacuum and sucking the life out of us. Or rather, in Andromeda's case, energy and strength.

"No, indeed!" Akhlys said. "Don't you feel the Death Mist? Even now, you pass between. Look!"

White smoke gathered around my feet. As it coiled up my legs, I realised the smoke wasn't surrounding me. It was coming from me. It was the same smoke coming from Andromeda, but she didn't look like me. My whole body was dissolving. I held up my hands and found they were fuzzy and indistinct. I couldn't even tell how many fingers I had. Hopefully still ten. Andromeda sneezed, and the smoke faltered for a second before going back to travelling into the Void. Her features weren't even blurred, but I saw something different. Thin, almost invisible scars were appearing on her limbs, anywhere that wasn't covered. Did she not change because she already possessed the Death Mist? Was she using it to cover up all her scars? Based on how many were appearing by the second, I think it was a yes. I turned green, or I think I did, as some of the more creative scars came about. I will kill whoever did those to her.

I turned to Annabeth and stifled a yelp. "You're—uh—" I couldn't say it. She looked dead. I think I did too.

Annabeth's skin was sallow, her eye sockets dark and sunken. Her beautiful hair had dried into a skein of cobwebs. She looked like she'd been stuck in a cool, dark mausoleum for decades, slowly withering into a desiccated husk. When she turned to look at me, her features momentarily blurred into mist. I faltered. My blood seemed to slow down, moving like tiny snails in my veins.

For years, as soon as we went for our first quest, I fretted about the possibility of her dying. When you were a demigod, that went with the territory. Most half-bloods didn't live long. You always knew that the next monster you fought could be your last. But seeing Annabeth like this was too painful. I could go through all the horrors my sister went through, and still find this incomparable. This was what Aphrodite claimed was love, I suppose.

"Oh, gods," Annabeth sobbed. "Percy, the way you look..." I studied my arms. All I could see were blobs of white mist, but I guess that to Annabeth I looked like a corpse. I took a few steps, though it was difficult. My body felt insubstantial, like I was made of helium and cotton candy. I don't actually mind the latter, at least I'll never go hungry ever again. All though Mum might disapprove and fret about me getting cavities…

"I've looked better," I decided. "I can't move very well. But I'm all right."

"You should always think before you say something." Andromeda's ghost-like whispers were drowned out by Akhlys's chortles. "Oh, you're definitely not all right."

I frowned. "But we'll pass unseen now? We can get to the Doors of Death?"

"Well, perhaps you could," the goddess said, "if you lived that long, which you won't." She spread her gnarled fingers. More plants bloomed along the edge of the pit—hemlock, nightshade, and oleander spreading toward my feet like a deadly carpet. No thank you. "The Death Mist is not simply a disguise, you see. It is a state of being. I could not bring you this gift unless death followed—true death."

"It's a trap," Annabeth said.

The goddess cackled. "Didn't you expect me to betray you?"

"Yes," we said together.

"Well, then, it was hardly a trap! More of an inevitability. Misery is inevitable. Pain is—"

"Forever." Andromeda finished for her, but her gaze never left the Void. Even now, she clambered up, hurrying to the Void, with her very own trail behind her. It wasn't weakening her anymore, I could tell. It was strengthening her. Giving her power. "Andy, we'll talk later." I said concerned before growling, "we'll finish the fighting first."

I drew Riptide, but my sword was like made of smoke, floating across Akhlys's midsection as I slashed her.

The goddess's ruined mouth split into a grin. "Did I forget to mention? You are only mist now—a shadow before death. Perhaps if you had time, you could learn to control your new form. But you do not have time. Since you cannot touch me, I fear any fight with Misery will be quite one-sided."

Her fingernails grew into talons. Her jaw unhinged, and her yellow teeth elongated into fangs. She charged at us just as Andromeda turned around to face us, with a smile so inhumane, she didn't even look like the girl I met, before we found out about the twin thing.

Akhlys lunged at me, with Andromeda in the background, still smiling. My mind must've been muddled for a second at this thought, because I was half-hoping that since I was smoke, she can't touch me.

In the back of my mind, I could imagine the Fates laughing at me: LOL, NOOB!

Her claws raked across my chest. It felt like boiling water was poured on me.

Andromeda faltered, but immediately went back to creepily smiling. "I haven't had this much fun in years." She murmured as I stumbled backwards. "I want to live, Perseus. A promise can be just a promise. I want to live. I want a life. You aren't the only one who brings me this promise. Can you prove to me you're being genuine?"

"Really, Andy? Now of all time?" I asked in disbelief. Akhlys snarled at me, crouching to spring. My reaction time was too slow, and she would've bit my face off if Annabeth hadn't charged and screamed, "HEY!" right in the goddess's ear.

Akhlys flinched, turning toward the sound.

She lashed out at Annabeth, but Annabeth was better at moving than me. Maybe she wasn't feeling as smoky, or maybe she'd just had more combat training. She'd been at Camp Half-Blood since she was seven. Probably she'd had classes I never got, like How to Fight While Partially Made of Smoke. Then again, it must've run old before I got there. I would sign up for that class in a jiffy.

I would feel stunned but I needed to get to Andromeda. It took a second before I got moving. "Andy… Andy talk to me."

"The Void calls me, Percy." The small voice she used was unfitting for that haught look she held up. "It shows me things. I can't tell this from that. What is reality and what are hallucinations. I have to fight it… but I don't know how." She stared at her hands, then at my chest. As soon as the two connected, I felt a warm sensation. "It shows me different futures." She continued staring. "It shows that you are leaving me. Of our mother shunning me. It all feels so wrong. I can't tell what's going on!"

"The Void is pushing you to stay." I said, finally getting it. "It wants you to not leave Tartarus."

"It was my only safe haven, Percy." Her beseeching eyes sought for mine. "Why does it feel like I am betraying it?"

"What did you mean by having fun, Sephie?" I glanced back at Annabeth. She wasn't going to last, I had to go faster.

"The Void shows me what could happen. If I had the power. For once, I am the one destroying, Percy. I can look into the Titans' eyes and not be afraid. It's all so tempting, I want this, and the Void is offering everything I want." She continued to mutter. "For once, I am the one standing as victor as my enemies kneel before me." Her eyes turned hard.

"Why was I taken? You are the older twin. You were the prophecy child. Why was I mistaken? How was I mistaken? It was you, wasn't it? So why? Why was I forced to forget the little moments? When you got to be happy?" She said happy in the same way she might've said God. Foreign.

"Sephie, I know the Void is messing up your brain." It made her say those things, she didn't think that. I had to focus. "But right now, Annabeth will die if you don't help."

"Where were they when I needed help?" She cried. "Why was I the victim to the Titans?" If the Void was an actual, breathing deity, I would've shown it exactly what I thought of it for bringing out all my little sister's insecurities and pain.

"Sephie…" I grasped her arm, but I forgot I was partially made of smoke. "Please. I'm your brother, why wouldn't I help you out of this hellhole? Life is unfair, I know, but this is our chance of changing that for you. Please. I want my sister back with me. The sooner we leave this place, the sooner we can talk properly."

"I don't understand the meaning of it." She said, glancing at the Void. "Lord Chaos told me I would be able to enter the Void if I left, so why does it not want to let me go?"

"Sephie, the first thing you need to learn as a demigod is that we really don't have the luxury of talking things out at the moment. Please. Let's get Annabeth back first before she gets killed."

"Akhlys is undefeated." She muttered. "She is a primordial goddess by birthright. You can't defeat her with what you know."

"What I know?" I was taken aback by her words. "What do you mean?"

"She hates happy things." Andromeda continued, holding my hand tightly. "She hates being reminded that life for some people is wonderful and that they are happy and not suffering."

"So you mean..?"

"I never wanted this." she muttered, lost again in her thoughts. Gods, we have to get away. As quickly as possible. It wasn't the time for that though, Andromeda gave me the pieces I needed to win Akhlys, I think. Annabeth needed me. I ran to her. As she saw me though, she got distracted. She tried to veer Akhlys's attack but the goddess grabbed Annabeth's wrist and pulled her hard, sending her sprawling.

Before the goddess could pounce, I advanced, yelling and waving my sword. I still felt about as solid as a Kleenex, but my anger seemed to help me move faster. It did that a lot.

"Hey, Happy!" I yelled. Andromeda was right.

Akhlys spun, dropping Annabeth's arm. "Happy?" she demanded.

"Yeah!" I ducked as she swiped at my head. "You're downright cheerful!"

"Arggh!" She lunged again, but she was off balance. I sidestepped and backed away, leading the goddess farther from Annabeth.

"Pleasant!" I called. "Delightful!"

The goddess snarled and winced. She stumbled after me. Each compliment seemed to hit her like sand in the face, while I bought time for Annabeth. I couldn't win with 'what I know' so I was hoping Annabeth's quick thinking will save us.

"I will kill you slowly!" She promised, her eyes and nose watering, blood dripping from her cheeks. "I will cut you into pieces as a sacrifice to Night!"

Annabeth struggled to her feet. She started rifling through her pack, no doubt looking for something that might help.

I wanted to give her more time. She was the brains. Better for me to get attacked while she came up with a brilliant plan. But I couldn't keep it going. My anger was dying out as Akhlys's grew. "Cuddly!" I yelled, albeit a little desperately. "Fuzzy, warm, and huggable!"

Akhlys made a growling, choking noise, like a cat having a seizure. "A slow death!" she screamed. "A death from a thousand poisons!"

All around her, poisonous plants grew and burst like overfilled balloons. Green-and-white sap trickled out, collecting into pools, and began flowing across the ground toward me. The sweet-smelling fumes made my head feel wobbly. I stumbled, and Akhlys almost caught up.

"Percy!" Annabeth's voice sounded far away. "Uh, hey, Miss Wonderful! Cheerful! Grins! Over here!"

But the goddess of misery was now fixated on me. I tried to retreat again. Unfortunately the poison ichor was flowing all around me now, making the ground steam and the air burn. I found myself stuck on an island of dust not much bigger than a shield. A few yards away, my backpack smoked and dissolved into a puddle of goo. I had nowhere to go.

"Brother…" a faint, almost imaginary whisper seemed to echo through the whole of the cavern. Out of the corner of my eye, Andromeda struggled to get up, almost as if she was fighting against chains. In a way she was—her very own prison of her pain and conflict and fears.

I fell to one knee, too tired to get up, but it didn't seem Akhlys was looking at me. When I raised my head, she was standing there, looking back at Andromeda. So was Annabeth. They both heard what Andromeda said. Suddenly, Andromeda tipped back her head and screamed. The white-green poison that pooled around me reacted in her anger, exploding into millions of liquid pieces. Some simply just vapourised. I braced myself for the impact but a wall of fire rose, shielding me. I was left in shock as they fell and I managed to get to my feet, completely unharmed. That was… unexpected.

Everywhere around us, torrents of fire leapt up in columns that showed all of Andromeda's anger. She lowered her head, and through all the debris and fire, our eyes met. The mist around her was gone, and finally, I saw her for her. The so familiar sea-green orbs that I saw when I stared into the mirror now stared back at me. The first time I saw them, they were mixed with our mother's blue, but it was gone right now, her eyes darkening to grey, the colour of the sea in a thunderstorm. Her long jet-black hair almost seemed to glow with the light all the fire provided, but the pain seemed to radiate from her body. Pain from all the times she was forbidden to show it. Pain from the things she was forced to endure, and now, pain from seeing her brother in pain.

"Go away from him, Akhlys." Her voice came out as a guttural growl.

"Rhea…" Akhlys hissed. "I should've dealt with you years ago."

"But you didn't!" Andromeda tilted her head in an almost feral way. "And call me Andromeda." She snapped her hands outwards, like they were handcuffed and she broke those restraints, before raising them in the air. "People underestimate me." She continued. "People don't see me. They judge me. But you know what? I'm not what they say. I am strong, and I refuse to just stand by and watch as you destroy my family." From her hands, torrents of flames rose at her command. I was dimly aware of the poison that rose and how there seemed to be a cool breeze that surrounded me. It was all too surreal as I watched my sister go against one of the oldest gods.