Ch24
Nico moaned as his consciousness continued to fall into the void of darkness. His memory was hazy and the more he thought of it the more it became foggier. The last thing he remembered was Bianca taking care of him when their principal Dr. Thorn told them to follow him. The rest was a blur, something happened and Dr. Thorn changed into something weird and these two girls suddenly ran at them.
"You'll soon need to wake up," said a cold soothing voice that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Wh-Who are you?" He asked. "Where's Bianca." Looking around he could only see darkness but he could feel the presence of something strong and powerful.
"Poor boy she was taken," the voice said. It was oddly sympathetic like a grandfather helping his grandson who was bullied at school. "Taken and brainwashed to fight for the enemy."
His eyes widened. "Taken! By who?" His blood boiled. No one harmed his sister.
"Just focus," The voice said calmly.
A jolt then went down his spine as a series of images went played in his head. Suddenly he and Bianca were at the school again when those two girls started to pick on him for liking Mythomagic. Bianca tried to diffuse the situation but those girls kept following them. The next thing he knew they were speaking about them to Dr. Thorn when they charged at them with weapons. The principal tried to save them but it was too late and they both ended up falling down the cliff with that crazy blonde girl. He remembered screaming and calling for Bianca before his memory went out. At least that's what his mind was telling him what happened...Yet the more he thought of it the more hazy it became in his memory.
Did it really go like that? He couldn't tell the more he focused the more his memories began to change and flutter. "Wh-Where is she? Where is Bianca?"
"They took her," The voice said. "Tricked her into fighting against me to keep the world enslaved. Only a true hero can save her."
"A true hero?" His eyes widened at the word hero. The game mythomagic was his current passion and he always wanted to be a true hero like the ones in his game.
"Yes child. I can feel your desires," The voice said calmly and soothingly. "You want to be a hero, I can teach you. I can guide you."
"Wh-Who are you?" he asked.
The voice chuckled. "I am Kronos, your grandfather."
"M-My grandfather?" he asked scratching his head. He never met much of his family, in fact he only had a few recollections of his mother and never knew his father.
"Yes child. I am planning on coming back but for that I need a champion," Kronos said. "Will you do it for me? Will you fight for me and save your sister from those who tricked her? Will you rise up to be the hero your sister and I need?"
He looked down into the void, anger bubbled inside of him as he clenched his fists. "Fine. But where is she?"
"Taken away," Kronos said soothingly. "You'll need to train to be stronger. Just like that game you play you need experience."
Just like mythomagic. A part of him felt giddy, he didn't know much of what was going on but if he could be a hero and save his sister then so be it. "Fine when do we begin."
"First you should learn of your heritage," Kronos said as the darkness around him morphed and changed. "Then you shall be trained as a proper hero and only then can you save your sister."
His eyes widened as a sense of excitement washed over him. I'll save you Bianca. I'll be a real hero!
With that, Kronos began to explain the history of the gods.
Alabaster stared at the green flames of his torch as they continued to make their way through the labyrinth. Come on show me the way. The flames flickered as he saw a faint arrow pointing northward. His mother was the goddess of paths but it didn't mean they could navigate the labyrinth with ease.
There is never one path in life. It was one thing he learned at a young age, his mother was the goddess of crossroads and now it seemed as if every other path was its own crossroad. They had been traveling through the labyrinth for a few days now, but still no sign of an entrance to camp half blood. It seemed as if in one moment they were in one part of the country and the next the other side of the country.
Squinting his eyes he saw a large figure up ahead coming at them with a large club in its hand. "Get back!"
Percy and Ethan drew their weapons as a large cyclops came at them with its club. "Augue!" The flame of his torch flickered and expanded as a large ball of green hellfire flew at the Cyclops knocking it back.
The monster roared as Percy and Ethan charged at it. The cyclops roared as it swung its club at them. "Tardus!" The cyclops's movements slowed as Percy and Ethan dodged the attack with ease.
Ethan thrusted his sword into the Cyclops' gut as Percy slashed at its arm. The monster roared in pain as it stumbled back sluggishly. Drawing a card from his pocket he drew his golden sword and ran at the monster. Swinging his torch a wave of green flame hit the monster disorientating it and giving him an opening to use his sword. His golden blade shone in the green light as he brought it down on the cyclops. The monster groaned in pain as it fell to the ground and turned to golden dust.
"Hey Al any idea how much further?" Percy asked.
He frowned and looked at his torch, the flames seemed to flicker northward. "Lets keep going north for a bit."
The was when the sound of an arrows being released caught his attention. "Behind you!" Ethan yelled
He turned around and raised his hand. "Scutum!" A light green mandala formed a shield surrounded them as it took the arrows.
"For Kronos!" Yelled a series of voices down the hall.
Squinting his eyes he saw a group of armored demigods readying another wave of arrows. "Ventus!" A loud wind ripped through the area and knocked the enemy demigods to the ground. "Lets go!"
The enemy was in disarray as they fell upon them. He knocked one of the demigods down with the but of his torch while Percy and Ethan cut through the rest of them. One of them came at him with his sword. "Traitors," the enemy seethed.
He blocked the attack and met the demigod's gaze. "Do I know you?"
The demigod spat on the ground. "Sell outs to Olympus."
Using his sword he easily disarmed the demigod, the enemy swore and drew something from his pocket. The next thing he knew black smoke filled the area. Damn it He swung his sword as the enemy demigods retreated. "Ventus!"
A strong wind passed through the area and blew the smoke away. "Looks like Luke has people here too," Percy muttered.
Ethan frowned. "Do you think there are more down here?"
"It wouldn't surprise me," he said as he looked down the dark tunnel. The flames from his torch flickered northward. "Come on we shouldn't stay in one area too long."
"Do you think that is what Chiron is worried about?" Percy asked as they headed down the corridor. "If Kronos has forces here and there is an opening at camp." The son of Poseidon frowned. "We better find this opening quickly."
"If it exists," Ethan said. "The labyrinth is immense, finding it is easier said than done."
"This is place is ancient," he said as he stared into the green flames. "But I trust my mother to guide us." They eventually arrived at a set of rusted metal steps leading to a doorway. He chanted a spell and the steps glowed green. "Lets go."
As soon as he arrived at the rusted door he pushed on it. The door heaved and groaned as he pushed against it. They carefully walked through the door and found themselves in some kind of basement. Raising the torch the green light lit up the area, they saw various boxes along with other weapons and supplies.
"You think those demigods came from here?" Percy asked.
"Could be," he muttered.
"Should we go back?" Ethan asked.
"We could but if the enemy is here and using it as a base it would just be one more nuisance for us," he said.
Percy nodded. "How can we take them out?"
He waved his hand in the air and muttered a few words in Latin as the flame from his torch flickered. "I'll cover us, so long as there isn't something too strong we should be fine." The air around the three of them shimmered as they were all covered in a light layer of green smoke. "Lets go."
Gripping the torch in his hand he led the way up the stairs. Upon opening it he saw it was a long hallway. Percy and Ethan walked behind him with their weapons drawn carefully looking for any signs of the enemy.
When they reached the end of the corridor he carefully opened the door and was greeted by the sound of people moving around. On the other side was the ground level of a long abandoned factory. About two dozen demigods in Greek armor trained and practiced with their weapons alongside a large cyclops wielding a menacing sword while in the sky he noticed a bunch of monsters who were half bird and half women standing on the rafters watching over the demigods.
"Harpies," he muttered.
"Keep training," One of the harpies screeched. "To serve Lord Kronos you need to be in proper condition!"
"What should we do?" Ethan muttered. "We can't take them all head-on."
He scanned the area, his mind formulating a plan. "We'll take them by surprise." Looking up at the lights hanging from the ceiling he raised his hand. "frange! The sound of metal twisting echoed throughout the room as the lights fell from the ceiling.
The demigods on the ground screamed as the metal fell down onto them. The harpies and cyclops roared in anger as the factor was enveloped in darkness. He waved his hand over the torch and raised it up. "Pluvia Ignis!" Green fire Flew from his torch and up into the sky where it formed a ball that lit the room. It shinned brightly before it began to rain down flames on the ground.
He raised his sword as his mind formed various plans. "Lets go!"
The sound of the harpies burning in flames filled the room as they descended on the enemy. A ball of fire hit the cyclops disorientating it as it tried to put out the flames He swung his golden sword on the cyclops just as Ethan stabbed it in the heart. The cyclops moaned in pain before turning to dust.
"Good job," he said as he kicked down a camper.
"Thanks," Ethan said as he twirled his spear and thrusted it at a harpy that flew at them. The harpy screeched as it tried to claw at Ethan but Percy came in with his sword and stabbed her with Riptide turning her into a pile of dust.
"Retreat!" The enemy demigods yelled as they tried to reorganize themselves amidst the sea of green flames. Percy and Ethan attacked a few that they could get their hands on while the remaining harpies dived at them.
He waved his hand in the air and the flames singed the Harpies' feathers causing to screech in pain as they fell to the ground. Swinging his golden sword he stabbed one of them in the throat, the harpy screeched as it turned to golden dust.
"Confirma Corpus!" He yelled. A green light flickered around Percy and Ethan as they pressed against the remaining enemies.
The strengthening spell did its work as Percy and Ethan body with twice their usual strength and took down the remaining Harpies that fell from the sky. "That should be the last of them," Percy said as he removed his sword from a pile of golden dust.
He snapped his fingers and the fire returned to his torch. Looking around him he saw no sign of any enemy demigod or monster. "Looks like they go away."
"At least we neutralized this base," Ethan said. "Should we find somewhere to rest for the night?"
"Yeah but not here," he said as he looked around the factory. "If the enemy used it there is no telling if more come."
"Good idea," Percy said. The son of Poseidon sighed the fatigue evident in his eyes just as it was in Ethan's. "We should rest though, I'm kind of exhausted."
He rubbed his neck. "Let find a place."
Upon exiting the factory they saw an abandoned car with an Ohio license plate. Taking out one of his cards he summoned his mistform servant. "We'll find a motel and return tomorrow."
After using a few spells to make sure the car wasn't booby trapped and to make sure it was running they drove off and found a nearby motel. Using the credit card his aunt gave him his familiar checked them into a room and went to get them some food, it had been a few days since they entered the labyrinth so they were more than exhausted.
"Man this labyrinth is tougher than I expected," Percy muttered.
He shuffled his deck of cards. "We'll find our way." His mind raced through the various probabilities of finding the camp, it wouldn't be easy but he wasn't going to give up. Mother I'll finish this quest in your name.
Looking up he noticed Ethan sitting on the desk chair with a contemplative look on his face. "You ok?"
The son of Nemesis shifted in his seat. "I'm fine. Just thinking about life." Ethan paused his gaze shifting towards the ground. "I just hope my mother recognizes my efforts on this quest."
"Have you ever met her?" Percy asked.
Ethan shook his head. "No. But I hope one day I can." He then looked down and avoided looking at both of them. "I know I don't have strong powers like you guys but I wish to be a good hero, one who is worthy of being her champion."
Percy sat on the bed and folded his arms. "Well I think you're a good hero already, even if you don't have flashy powers."
He nodded and set his cards on the table. "We all have our strengths and weaknesses, I know you'll play your part in this quest."
Ethan slowly nodded his gaze on the ground. "It's just I can't really do anything flashy like you guys."
He frowned. "Nonsense. I think you're a great fighter. Besides I'm sure you have some power deep down."
"Yeah Nemesis is the goddess of vengeance right? Maybe you have some sort of power related to that?" Percy suggested.
Ethan folded his arms. "Yeah maybe. Nemesis is the punisher of vengeance and hubris, I hope I can help her in her mission."
"You'll do fine," he said calmly as he took out his cards and shuffled them. "One day I'm sure you'll have other siblings with you as well. In the meantime we need to finish our quest."
"Hey Ethan what's your mortal family like?" Percy asked curiously.
Ethan frowned. "My father wasn't always around." The son of Nemesis' gaze darkened. "The thing is with my father's family is that they lost everything in the war… My father wished to reclaim what we had lost and that is how he attracted my mother.
"Oh." Percy scratched his head. "Sounds complicated."
Ethan sighed. "Vengeance is a complicated matter." The son of Nemesis frowned. "My father did his best to avenge what happened to our family during World War II."
"Was he a fighter?" Percy asked.
The son of Nemesis stiffened up. "No." He said it in a way that meant he didn't want to talk about it.
"The Pacific Theater had its own problems for the gods," He muttered. "Even my mother and aunt don't talk about it."
Percy frowned as the air tensed up. "Were the children of Hades fighting there too?"
"Japan always had its own problems," He said as he took out his cards and began to shuffle them. "My aunt tried to find the holy grail there once, it didn't end well." Frankly, he didn't know all the details but he knew that Japan was a touchy topic for a variety of gods in the pantheon.
"Holy Grail? That's a thing too?" Percy asked.
Ethan shrugged. "Fate is strange." The son of Nemesis sat back his gaze drifting towards the window. "My family lost everything in the last century, my father was really embittered by it and that is how he attracted my mother's attention." His posture stiffened up as his gaze turned steely. "My family has always been slighted by the world, I hope to set things right for both sides when I can."
He thought of his own father for a moment, it had been ages since he saw him though he doubted his father missed him too much wherever he was. "Life is complicated, especially for demigods."
All we can hope to do is survive in this world.
Lou sat next to Bianca di Angelo in the white camp van as it drove south. Bianca was gripping her bow tightly as she stared at the ground. "Don't worry I'm sure you'll be ok," she said reassuringly.
"Thanks," Bianca muttered. "My brother is out there somewhere… I need to him."
"Don't worry we'll find him," she said soothingly. Al be safe out there. Her brother was gifted but he could also be a bit full of himself. "My brother is out there too."
"Were you close to him?" Bianca asked.
She smiled. "Of course."
"Why the hell are we heading to DC anyway?" Clarisse asked causing Grover to flinch.
"I-It's where the acorns are pointing me," Grover protested. The poor satyr was the only male on this expedition and Clarisse had been doing nothing but snapping at him the entire time.
Zoe turned to her. "Daughter of Hecate doth though know of any spells?"
She nodded. "I know a lot of spells but my strengths lie in manipulating the mist."
Clarisse gripped Annabeth's cap in her hand tightly as she glared at the ground. "We'll find Wise Girl and save her from that bastard Luke. When I find him I'll run my spear through him."
The atmosphere in the van remained tense as they approached Washington D.C. Much is riding on this quest. Reaching into her bag she took out her pocket spell book and held it tightly. Mother I'll use my resources to make sure we are successful, watch over us all.
When they arrived in D.C Grover's acorns pointed to the air and space museum. "Something is there," The satyr said.
Clarisse gripped her spear. "I'll scout it out."
"Wait!" Zoe called out but it was too late. Clarisse had put on Annabeth's cap and had disappeared. "Stubborn girl," she muttered in Ancient Greek.
"Lets just stay nearby in case she needs help," she said calmy. "Bianca stay close to me and Zoe ok?"
Bianca nodded as she gripped the bow in her hands. Manipulating the mist they entered the museum without difficulty. "Alright Grover what should we look out for?"
Grover looked down sheepishly. "I'm not sure but my acorns never lie, something is here for us."
"Lets be careful then," she said calmly. "Fate wouldn't lead us here by accident."
They carefully walked through the museum keeping an eye out for anything out of ordinary. Bianca and Zoe kept their bows in their hands while Grover gripped his pipes anxiously.
"Wait what's that sound?" Zoe asked as they approached the main hall.
They paused and listened. Beyond the crowds of people, she heard what sounded like the growling of an animal. The hairs on her neck stood up as people began to yell. "Something's coming!"
The door burst open and Clarisse stumbled back as a large lion roared loudly. Zoe swore. "Damn our luck, the Nemean lion."
Clarisse got up and spat on the ground. "I don't care how famous this thing is, I'm going to kill it and that damn general!"
Zoe swore her face turning a shade paler. "The general!"
The Nemean lion roared and charged at them knocking down anything that it came across. Alright mother give me your wisdom. "Tardus!"
The lion's pace decreased just as Bianca and Zoe fired arrows at it only for them to bounce off its flesh. "Die!" Clarisse yelled as she repeatedly tried to stab the lion who sluggishly tried to claw at her.
"Nothing is working," Bianca said as she readied another arrow.
"The Nemean lion's fur is impenetrable," Zoe said.
She nodded as she carefully flipped through the pages of her book. "We'll have to take it down again. "Clarisse I'm going to enhance your strength when you get a chance go for it."
The daughter of Ares' gaze turned to her, it was the gaze of a warrior ready to kill yet there was understanding in her eyes as she nodded. "Do it magic girl!"
Mother give me strength. Taking a deep breath she extended her hand and focused on Clarisse. "Augure! Cito!"
A green aura enveloped Clarisse as she charged at the sluggish lion at an inhuman speed. Oh no you don't. She raised her hand at the lion. "Aquam!"
A blast of water hit the Nemean lion in the mouth, the poor monster whimpered just as Clarisse plunged her spear into its eye. The lion froze as Clarisse thrusted her spear deep into the lion's eyeball. The monster gurgled in pain as it fell to the ground and turned into golden dust as Clarisse withdrew her spear.
"We need to go now," Clarisse said as she picked up a fur coat that lay on the ground. The daughter of Ares turned to her. "Magic girl lead the way."
She smiled as she met the daughter of Ares' gaze. There was no condescension in her eyes, instead she was looking at her like a general leading troops. "On it."
AN: Yeah that Medea and the Holy Grail thing was a Fate reference.
For Ethan's backstory I'm going to work with that his family was interned in the Japanese internment camps during the war.