Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
The Ever Twisting Wind: The Gaean War
Interlude: Captured by the Pit
Beta:
"Bianca, is it really a good idea for us to be here?" Nico whispered nervously, his voice edged with anxiety as the two of them wandered around the edge of the gaping chasm marking the main entrance to Tartarus at the very edge of their father Hades' domain in the Underworld.
Honestly, Bianca shared her little brother's worries. She didn't want to be so close to the Pit. The evil that emanated from the wide, bottomless canyon was suffocating, with its eerie, sickly green light pulsing from the depths, casting an unsettling glow over the sheer, jagged walls. And that said nothing of the danger of running into monsters that might either be drawn to such foul energies or emerge from the Abyss itself. Yet, it was precisely because of the matter of monsters that Bianca had brought her little brother to this unsettling and dangerous place.
"You know we've gotta." Bianca said encouragingly to her brother. "Monsters aren't staying in Tartarus like they should after they're killed thanks to, if the rumors we heard are correct, the Doors of Death being captured by Gaea and we need to figure out where they are so we can go recapture them. That means either we go looking for them down in the Pit ourselves-"
"Nope. Not gonna." Nico said emphatically, eyeing the chasm leading down to the Abyss fearfully.
Bianca nodded in ready agreement. "Yeah, that's out of the question. But we still need to figure out where they are and since it's gotta be somewhere in Tartarus, we have to resort to the next best thing and get as close as possible to investigate."
"Investigate? How are we going to do that?" Nico asked, looking at her skeptically. "We have no idea what we're looking for…"
"I know," Bianca agreed with a sigh. "But Tartarus is our only real lead…"
"So we snuck down here into the Underworld, potentially violating Lord Zeus' no contact edict by entering Father's domain to grasp at straws?" Nico accused.
"When you put it that way…."
The daughter of Hades had expected the unimpressed look that Nico shot her at her admission, his eyes narrowing with that familiar mixture of annoyance and worry. What she hadn't expected was the sudden, booming laughter that erupted from the shadows behind them, a sound so deep and forceful it resonated through the cavern like the rumbling of a volcanic eruption. The laugh was guttural and raw, echoing off the jagged walls of the chasm, shaking loose small pebbles and sending a shiver through the very earth beneath their feet.
Bianca spun around, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched for the source of the unnerving sound. The laugh continued, growing louder and more ominous, as if it came from the depths of Tartarus itself. It was a laugh that carried with it the weight of ancient malice and amusement, mocking them for daring to tread so close to the Pit. The green glow from the chasm flickered, casting eerie shadows around the cavern, and for a brief moment, Bianca felt the ground itself tremble in response.
"Who's there?" She demanded, her voice steady but edged with a steeliness that hid her underlying unease. She tightened her grip on the bracelet around her wrist that served as the disguised form of her lance ready for whatever might emerge from the darkness. Nico moved closer to her side, his own eyes wide and searching as the laughter slowly subsided into a menacing silence. The echo of it lingered in the air, like the fading tremors of an earthquake, as they waited for the figure to reveal itself.
They didn't have to wait long. Moments later, a pillar of flame erupted from the depths of Tartarus with a deafening roar. Riding atop this fiery jet was a giant, breathing flames out of his mouth like a living volcano. As he soared up from the chasm, he altered his trajectory, angling himself toward the lip of the abyss. He landed just ahead of Bianca and Nico with a bone-jarring crash that shook the earth and sent a cloud of dust billowing into the air. The sheer force of his landing created shockwaves that rippled through the ground beneath their feet.
The dust cloud hung thickly for a moment, obscuring the giant's form, but with a powerful sweep of his arms, he dispersed it in a single motion, revealing himself in full. Bianca's eyes widened as she took in the sight of their opponent. He was a towering, monstrous figure, standing over fifteen feet tall, with a hulking, muscular frame covered in ashen, rock-like skin that gave him the appearance of a volcanic colossus. Cracks ran across his body, glowing with a fiery orange light, as if molten lava coursed through his veins. Jagged, obsidian spikes jutted from his shoulders and back, each one sharp and menacing, like the hardened remnants of ancient eruptions. His face was a mask of terrifying ferocity, dominated by glowing orange eyes that burned like embers in a smoldering fire. His maw was jagged and filled with blazing, sharp teeth, each one appearing capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease.
He stood before them, an embodiment of raw power and elemental fury, radiating an aura of heat that made the air around him shimmer. He was the living essence of fire and rock, a creature born from some of the most destructive forces of the earth, and he was now blocking their path. Worse yet, Bianca recognized him instantly from her Monster Identification lessons at Camp. He was Kakos, the fearsome, fire-breathing giant, son of Hephaestus! He was notorious for living in a cave on the Aventine Hill, where he stole cattle and tormented locals. A fool who dared to steal a herd of cattle from Hercules himself. In typical monster fashion, Kakos used a clever trick to cover his tracks, dragging the cattle backward into his cave to confuse any pursuers. But Hercules was no ordinary tracker. The cattle's lowing eventually gave Kakos away, leading to a fierce confrontation. Kakos spewed fire and smoke, but Hercules, as always, managed to overpower him, ending his reign of terror and reclaiming the stolen cattle.
But we're no Hercules! Bianca lamented inwardly, even as she released her Stygian Iron lance from its disguise as a sleek and inconspicuous silver bracelet. The bracelet, simple and minimalist with a subtle sheen, had faint engravings symbolizing the House of Hades and an elongated shape hinting at its true nature. As the bracelet transformed, it became a traditional ancient Greek xyston - long and sleek, crafted from dark, shadowy metal. The shaft was smooth, tapering toward a leaf-shaped, double-edged blade designed for thrusting, emphasizing function over decoration. Beside her, Nico mirrored her lead. His bone armor, forged through necromancy from the remains of Greek monsters, encased him in a full-body set resembling ancient hoplite gear. Rib bones formed the chest piece, while skull-adorned shoulders and interlocking bones on his arms added an ominous presence. A skull-shaped helmet crowned the ensemble, exuding ancient, necromantic power. His Stygian Iron shield materialized in one hand, and in the other, he conjured a lance crafted from monster bones - a fitting weapon against a giant like Kakos.
Unlike Bianca's weapon, Nico's lance was crafted from the bones of the monsters he had defeated, a practice he had adopted since moving away from using his old Stygian Iron sword - now his shield. A choice that he'd made to ensure he had a steady supply of bones needed for his armor, fearing that continued use of his sword might eventually deprive him of the essential material. This lance, Bianca noted, looked particularly sinister. Though she wasn't an expert, she was fairly certain this particular spear was made from hydra bone. If she was right, that meant it carried the same deadly poison as the hydra's blood, making it a fearsome weapon in its own right. The thought gave her a glimmer of hope; maybe they weren't Hercules, but they had their own strengths and weapons to bring to this fight.
"Kakos is the name," the giant said with a malicious grin even as he casually spat a barrage of fireballs at Bianca and Nico. How he managed that whilst still talking normally was beyond the daughter of Hades. "I wonder if you know me?"
"Yeah, they covered you in Monster Identification back at Camp," Nico replied as Bianca deftly dodged the fireballs. He simply raised his Stygian Iron hoplon, its face emblazoned with a stylized angel to match their family name. The shield had an ethereal black-metal finish, giving it a glossy yet foreboding look. At its center was an intricately designed angel, a symbol of power and protection. This angel was abstract yet recognizable, formed by flowing lines that created sweeping wings and a helmeted face in a noble stance. Surrounding the angel were intricate patterns and swirls, blending classic Greek motifs with a modern, gothic touch. The shield absorbed the flames as he advanced on the giant, lance lowered, ready to run it through. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be hanging around Rome?"
"Ha!" Kakos scoffed as he just stomped his feet, creating a wave of pure force that shot towards Nico, shattering the ground as it closed with him. "I haven't played bandit around the seven hills in centuries, little Half-Blood. No, I serve a higher purpose now."
"What? Being the Earth Mother's lapdog?" Bianca spat accusingly as from her spot further away from Kakos, she combined a casual wave of her own lance and an application of her geokinesis to cause a wall of stone to shoot out of the ground in front of her brother. A barrier that easily withstood the giant's shockwave.
"Exactly." Kakos said with a nod, his grin growing wider. It seemed he was entertained by their efforts to kill him. "My my, what a smart pair of demigods we have here."
"Aren't you a son of Hephaestus? You're a demigod too." Nico reminded him as Bianca parted her barrier with little more than a thought to allow him to pass through as he continued to close with the giant.
"Bah! Don't remind me!" Kakos said, shaking his head in disgust seemingly unfazed by how Nico was seconds from being in range to bring his deadly hydra bone lance to bear against him. "I am honestly ashamed to call a god my father. Outside of my command of fire, I have received nothing from my father or the other gods. In contrast, Gaea has been a most generous matron."
"Oh, yeah? What did Gaea ever do for you?" Bianca queried as she made a flicking motion with her lance, an action that alongside her geokinesis caused a pair of boulders, each the size of a van, to rip themselves free of the ground and shoot towards Kakos.
"Why, a simple power up. I thought that was obvious." The giant said with a taunting laugh as he breathed a torrent of white hot flames at the incoming boulders. Flames that were so forceful that they knocked Bianca's rocky projectiles off course and so hot that they reduced them to slag that fell down in a deadly rain.
"You talk too much!" Nico shouted triumphantly as he finally got within range and lunged forward with his lance, aiming to end this fight with his deadly weapon. Considering the potency of the poison it contained, a mere prick would likely be enough to put Kakos down.
"And you underestimate me." The giant said, his taunting laugh growing louder as he breathed out a jet of flame to the side. A steam of fire that propelled him entirely out of the reach of Nico's thrust. Worse, it put him on her brother's flank.
"Nico!" Bianca shouted in warning and tried to use her geokinesis to launch an attack, any attack, to disrupt what she knew was coming. However, Kakos had anticipated her move. He turned his head towards her, redirecting the jet of fire he was still breathing straight at her. Bianca was forced to abandon her attack, quickly shifting her focus to pull up a wall of stone with her powers, using it as a shield to defend herself from the oncoming flames.
"Begone, little son of Hades!" Kakos said as he cackled with evil glee as Bianca, bunkered down behind her stone barrier, struggled to see what was happening on the other side. Suddenly, her heart lurched as she caught sight of Nico hurtling through the air, flying straight toward the chasm that led to Tartarus. "Enjoy your stay in the Pit."
"Nico!" Bianca cried out in desperate worry. "Use Shadow Travel!"
Her brother didn't respond, much less use his power to Shadow Travel like she suggested. Judging by the cross eyed look she could see on his face, Nico was too disorientated by whatever attack Kakos had used to send him flying to even hear her. He definitely wasn't in any position to Shadow Travel.
Then it's up to me. Bianca thought as she gathered the shadows in preparation to teleport over and save her brother from an unwanted trip down into the Abyss.
"Have you forgotten about me?" Kakos said suddenly from right behind Bianca.
Spinning towards him, the daughter of Hades was terrified to discover that using that jet propulsion trick of his, the giant was now hurtling towards her like a comet. A comet that was literally seconds away from crashing into her and flattening her into a bloody pancake. In the face of that, instinct kicked in and the shadows she'd been gathering swallowed her and she Shadow Traveled away to safety.
However, frazzled as she was, her teleportation didn't go as planned. Instead of transporting herself to Nico's side to grab him out of the air and teleport them both back to solid ground, she rematerialized somewhere else entirely. From this vantage point, she could only watch helplessly as her dazed little brother plummeted toward the Pit. Tendrils of the sickly green light emanating from its depths reached up, almost eagerly, wrapping around him and dragging him further into the Abyss.
"No! Nico!" Bianca shouted desperately as she prepared to follow after him but a fireball exploding directly in front of her stopped her.
"Nuh-uh, little Half-Blood. Lady Gaea and Lord Tartarus only need one hostage." Kakos said as he stalked towards her. "They promised I could have whichever other one of you I didn't send to them to do with as I please. And since I've already kicked your baby brother down to the Pit, you're mine."
"And what do you want to do to me?" Bianca asked, her voice cold as her veins were filled with the dark fury of the House of Hades. The desire to not just destroy her foe but make them pay for what they'd done to her ten, no, a hundredfold!
"Break you first. The rest of my plans won't work if I don't do that first." Kakos said with malicious glee as he spat a storm of fireballs at Bianca that she countered with intercepting fire in the form of rocky projectiles.
"And then?" Bianca asked disinterestedly as she reached out with her geokinesis to the ground around her.
"Then I'll keep you around as a broodmare for a bit." Kakos told her as if his plan wasn't utterly delusional. "Have you pop out a dozen or so kids for me."
"After that?" The daughter of Hades pressed as the earth welcomed her call, the ground almost eagerly awaiting her command. It seemed Kakos did not enjoy as much of the Earth Mother's favor as he thought. If he did, the earth would not be so receptive to Bianca's efforts.
"Once you're all used up and can't give me more kids, well… You'll do our little family a final service and be dinner." Kakos said, cackling like his demented scheme was somehow hilarious.
"How unoriginal." Bianca said as she lightly tapped the tip of her lance against the ground.
In response, hundreds of lances of stone shot out of the ground and stabbed Kakos. Most shattered against his own stony skin, however enough of them pierced the monster to leave him impaled on a forest of spikes and hanging feet off the ground. That was however not the end to Bianca's vengeance. Lightly tapping the ground a second time, massive stone blocks shot out of the ground around the impaled giant and slid across the ground at the speed of freight trains, slamming into each other, crushing Kakos between them.
Bianca waited, tense and alert. She watched for any sign of flames seeping through the cracks between the stone blocks she had conjured. She waited to see if the stone would glow red-hot, betraying the presence of Kakos' fire. She waited to see if there were any signs that her opponent had survived. After a minute and seeing no such indications, she allowed herself a dark smile and had the blocks move apart, revealing to her satisfaction the large pile of gold dust that was all that remained of the fire breathing giant.
"Good riddance." She said with a smirk of vicious satisfaction.
Her moment of satisfaction was brief as she remembered there were more pressing matters than celebrating her victory. Turning away from where Kakos had fallen, she set her sights on the Pit.
"Wait for me, Nico. Big sister is coming." She murmured, psyching herself up. With only the slightest hesitation, she broke into a run toward the chasm that led into Tartarus.
She barely made it three steps before a familiar chill washed over her, the telltale sign of a spirit of the dead nearby. It was a sensation she normally brushed off; after all, she was in the Underworld, and while most spirits wisely kept their distance from Tartarus, nothing actually prevented them from being here. However, what stopped her in her tracks was suddenly being enveloped in a bear hug by a pair of very familiar arms.
"No my little angel, you can't go down there!" A familiar voice, one that Bianca had longed to hear for so very long, whispered fiercely in her ear. A voice that caused her to go limp in shock, allowing their ghostly owner to pull her away from the Pit.
A scent filled Bainca, like fresh bread mixed with some spices. It was a smell she hadn't taken in for what felt like forever.
"M-Mà?" She whispered with a strangled gasp.
"Are you calm, dear?" The spirit asked her.
Bianca could only nod with a jerking motion.
The arms released her - Please don't let go! - and Bianca turned around to see the spirit with her own eyes, feeling her breath catch in her throat. Standing before her was the spirit that had stopped her from leaping into the Pit after Nico. It was the one spirit Bianca had longed to see ever since she learned what children of Hades could accomplish with Necromancy: her mother, Maria di Angelo.
Seeing her mother again after so many years, Bianca was struck by the classic elegance that defined her. She had a fair, porcelain complexion and long, dark hair that still cascaded in loose, luxurious waves over her shoulders, just as Bianca remembered. Her eyes, large and expressive, were framed by dark, arched brows, with subtle makeup that brought out their depth even more. Her lips were full, with a soft, rosy hue that added to her graceful aura. She was dressed in a dress in the style of the 1930s when she died in a deep olive green, fitted at the waist and adorned with intricate floral embroidery in a darker shade. There was sophistication in every detail. The square neckline and slightly puffed three-quarter sleeves gave her that same poised and graceful demeanor Bianca had always admired. She wore a delicate pendant necklace that rested on her collarbone and small, understated earrings, completing the look. Her hands were clasped together gently, exuding that familiar, demure elegance that Bianca had almost forgotten.
"Mà." She choked out, the single word stuffed with so many emotions she could hardly say anything, yet she wanted to say everything at once.
"Dear, you act so surprised." Her Mà offered a calming smile that made her feel everything would be alright. "My babies are in danger! Of course I would come running even if I could only do this much."
As much as Bainca was delighted to see her mother in her ghostly flesh, she still had other concerns!
"Mà, we, I, Nico!" She exclaimed, gesticulating with her free hand.
"Darling, calm yourself." Her mother chided in a way that made Bainca feel a lot younger than she was. Her Mà always seemed calm, no matter what happened, like the eye in any storm they faced.
"I-I know Mà, but Nico's in trouble! I have to help him." She answered, wondering how her mother wasn't freaking out too.
"And jumping in after him will only hurt you and him both." Mà stated. "You'll just get captured down there along with him. You will be much more helpful by going after those filthy mostri and fighting them from the outside, no?"
"But they'd just reform and escape again." Bianca told her with a frown.
"Yes, but it will raise all inferno for this Gaea, no? Enough that they will probably release him just so their resources aren't bogged down."
Bianca struggled to agree. After all, would that truly hinder Gaea when she still had a large force, thanks to the Doors of Death she'd captured? Even the Doors' rightful owner, Lord Thanatos, couldn't defeat the Titans guarding it and retake control, allowing the Earth Mother to replenish her monstrous forces at an unnatural rate, streamlining their exit from Tartarus as they reformed after their deaths. However, from what she understood, the Doors of Death could only process a few at a time. It was quicker, but not exactly the most efficient method. And with how impatient monsters could be, those unwilling to wait would opt for the normal exits. If she could thin those out a little… Maybe get some information out of them along the way…
Yes, that'll work. Bianca had a smile on her face, sharp and vicious, as she settled on a plan.
Mà's plan might not work. Bianca doubted she'd singlehandedly be able to cause enough of a problem for the Earth Mother's plans to get her to be willing to give up as valuable a hostage as Nico. She wasn't some walking nuke of a Half-Blood. But if she could figure out where he was from some of the monsters escaping Tartarus…
Then I can go rescue him!
Her course of action decided, she leapt at her mother, giving her ghostly cheek a kiss and a tight hug.
"I'm off, Mà. Have to go save Nico. I-I love you." She whispered.
"Good luck, my little angel." Her mother whispered back.
A few days later, Bianca was camping out at one of the entrances that separated Tartarus from the Underworld that monsters normally used to return after being reconstituted in the the Pit of Evil. This entrance to the Abyss was a mystical portal embedded within the rough, jagged wall of a dark underground cavern. It swirled with an eerie green light, casting an ethereal glow that starkly contrasted with the dim, shadowy surroundings. The energy within the portal resembled a vortex, with tendrils of light spiraling inward, as if beckoning or repelling those who dare approach. The cavern around it was rugged, its walls raw and ancient, with a set of steps leading up to the portal's edge. This otherworldly gateway, or rather an exit from Tartarus, exuded an ominous aura, serving as a passage to or from a realm of unfathomable darkness and despair.
Bianca huddled in the small alcove she had found, hidden from the portal's view by a thick cluster of rocks. It wasn't much, but it offered enough cover for her to stay out of sight. She had been camping here for a full day, waiting for any sign of movement. Her eyes were fixed on the swirling mass of dark energy that marked the exit from Tartarus, a gateway she hoped would finally yield some answers. Her makeshift camp was sparse. She just had a small bedroll, a flask of water, and a few provisions. She was prepared to wait, however long it took.
"Come on." She whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the oppressive silence. Every now and then, she'd peer around the edge of the rocks, scanning for any sign of life. According to everything she'd learned, Gaea was supposed to be accelerating the resurrection of monsters from Tartarus, pulling them out to strengthen her forces. This portal should have been teeming with creatures eager to rejoin the living world. Yet, the dark, swirling vortex had been frustratingly quiet.
She clenched her fists, feeling the cool metal of her Stygian Iron Lance in its disguised form around her wrist. All she needed was for one monster to emerge. Just one! She could capture it, interrogate it, find out if it knew anything about Nico. The thought of her brother, lost in Tartarus, drove her to grit her teeth and keep her focus sharp. This waiting game was infuriating, but necessary.
The portal shimmered ominously in the dim light of the cavern, swirling with an unsettling energy that hinted at the horrors lying just beyond. It was as if the very essence of Tartarus was daring her to come closer, to peer into its depths. But she stayed hidden, muscles coiled and ready for action. She wasn't about to be caught off guard. The plan was to ambush anything that emerged, to strike first and take control before the creature could react.
She sighed quietly, glancing at the small camp she'd set up. The bedroll remained untouched; she hadn't slept a wink. Every rustle, every shift of rock, set her on edge, only to be met with more emptiness. It was hard to shake the feeling of futility that was creeping in. Was she wasting time here while Nico drifted further away, lost in the darkness of Tartarus?
She shook her head, refusing to give in to the doubt. Gaea was supposed to be recruiting monsters, accelerating their resurrection from Tartarus. There were other portals, of course, but surely some of them had to come through this one eventually, right? She had to believe that. Bianca just had to be ready for when they did. But as the hours dragged on and nothing emerged from the swirling abyss, a nagging feeling crept in, the unsettling sensation that she was grasping at shadows.
"Come on," she muttered again, her voice filled with frustration. "Where are you?"
The portal's silence felt like a taunt, as if it knew exactly what she was waiting for and was deliberately withholding it. She tried to stay calm, to remind herself that patience was a part of this game. But the waiting was starting to fray her nerves.
Still, she stayed put, her eyes never leaving the portal, ready for the slightest sign of movement. Bianca was determined to be the first thing any creature saw as it stepped into the mortal world - a sister with questions that demanded answers. Just as her resolve began to waver, the portal suddenly came alive. She tensed, her heart quickening in a mix of anticipation and surprise. Finally, after a full day of waiting, something was coming through.
Emerging from the swirling abyss was a flock of Harpies. They had the upper bodies of women, their wild, tangled hair whipping around their sharp, menacing features. Their skin carried a sickly grayish hue, adding to their eerie presence, which would surely intimidate others. Large, predatory eyes glinted with dangerous intelligence as they took in their new surroundings. From the waist down, their bodies transformed into the limbs of birds of prey, with powerful legs ending in razor-sharp talons. Their wings, which also served as their arms, stretched wide from their shoulders, covered in dark feathers that gave them an imposing silhouette. The dual nature of their wings and arms made their movements unsettling, a blend of human and avian grace. Finally faced with something to confront and question. Bianca's grip on her concealed lance tightened, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to act.
As they flew out of the portal, the Harpies' massive wings unfurled to cast long shadows, filling the air with a sense of menace that might have shaken someone else. The portal behind them swirled with dark, ominous energy, creating a stark contrast against their silhouettes. They burst forth with aggressive speed, claws ready to strike anything that might be in their way. Each flap of their wings, was a mixture of chaos and predatory intent, making them seem both majestic and terrifying to anyone else. Yet, Bianca stood her ground, unafraid, her heart steeled for what was to come. She had waited for this moment, and now, with resolve in her eyes, she was ready to face them.
Twelve of them? Yup. I can handle that. Bianca thought as she counted the number of the avian monsters that had emerged from the portal. This is exactly what I'm looking for!
Planting her feet firmly on the ground, Bianca narrowed her eyes as she focused on the earth beneath her. She extended her hands toward the ground, fingers splayed, feeling the tremor of energy responding to her call. The soil around her began to quiver and churn, chunks of earth and stone lifting into the air, swirling around her like a protective storm. As the shards rose higher, the Harpies took notice. Their predatory eyes widened, and a cacophony of screeches filled the air.
"Half-Blood!" They shrieked in alarm, their voices grating and furious. With a furious flapping of wings, they veered toward her, talons outstretched and eyes gleaming with malevolent intent, ready to tear into her.
Bianca didn't flinch. In a heartbeat, she thrust her palms forward, and the gathered earth obeyed. With a flick of her wrists, the chunks of earth shattered into dozens of jagged shards, each as sharp as broken glass. She whipped her arms forward, sending the shards flying toward the oncoming Harpies like a blast of buckshot. The air whistled with the deadly projectiles as they spread out in a wide arc, spinning with lethal precision, aimed to slice through feathers and talons, disrupting their advance.
But she was careful. This was no lethal strike. Bianca ensured her attack was precise enough to wound but not kill. She needed these Harpies alive; she had questions that demanded answers, and sending them back to Tartarus prematurely would defeat that purpose. The shards of earth tore through the air, cutting into the wings and limbs of many Harpies, who screeched in pain as they spiraled down to the ground. They landed hard, injured but not dead, thrashing weakly as they tried to rise.
Bianca wasted no time. With a sharp mental command, she thrust her hand toward the ground, and the earth responded. Thick, serpentine tendrils of stone and soil shot up around the fallen Harpies, coiling tightly around their legs and wings. The earthen restraints wrapped around them like living chains, constricting and pinning them to the ground. They struggled against the binds, but the restraints held firm, solidifying into unyielding stone. Each movement they made only tightened the grip of their earthen prison, ensuring they remained immobilized and ready for questioning.
However, not all the Harpies were taken down. A few managed to evade the barrage, their wings slicing through the air as they closed in, eyes blazing with fury. Bianca's gaze hardened. It was time to fight up close. With a swift motion, she reached for her Stygian Iron Lance, which until now had been disguised as an inconspicuous silver bracelet around her wrist. With a flick of her wrist, the bracelet shifted and elongated, metal unfolding and extending until it formed the full length of the dark, menacing lance in her hand.
She held the lance firmly, its weight familiar and reassuring, as she prepared to engage the remaining winged spirits of sharp wind. They would find out soon enough that she wasn't just a Half-Blood; she was a pissed off daughter of Hades who wanted answers and these bird women would give them to her, whether they wanted to or not.
"Come and face the bite of my lance!" Bianca shouted angrily as the first of the four remaining Harpies dove towards her, talons first and ready to use them to tear her apart.
The daughter of Hades met the monster head on. Using her geomancy, she had the ground under her feet shoot skyward, carrying her with it and towards the incoming Harpy. With her lance held out in front of her, Bianca had the greater reach and if the Harpy had not let her bloodlust consume her, she'd probably have realized that and aborted her dive. As it was, she didn't and Bianca's lance found its mark in her chest, running clean through the monster even as its talons frantically tried to claw at Bianca in one last, desperate act of defiance only to collapse into gold dust alongside the rest of her body as the Harpy died.
One down. Three more to go. Bianca thought, spinning her lance into a ready position. Gold dust rained down around her, the remnants of her fallen foe, as she eyed the remaining three Harpies still free. They circled her warily, their eyes glinting with malice as they sized up their opponent. Bianca stood firm atop her short pillar of stone, every muscle tense and ready, prepared for the next onslaught.
"Die, Half-Blood!" One of the Harpies roared as all three of the remaining bird women beat their wings hard, creating sharp gusts of wind that shot towards Bianca.
"The only one dying today is you!" Bianca retorted, tapping into her power as a daughter of Hades. Using Shadow Travel, she plunged into a shadowy portal that opened beneath her. She gripped her lance tightly, holding it above her head, ready to strike. She reemerged from a shadow portal directly above one of the attacking Harpies.
To her credit, the monster in her sights seemed to sense the threat to her and turned her head upwards just as Bianca fell down on her. However, with the aid of surprise and the speed granted to her by gravity, the daughter of Hades managed to pierce her with her lance before the monster woman could do anything more than let out a gasp of surprise. "Wha-"
Even as their compatriot collapsed into gold dust, the other two free Harpies let out a furious outcry, ""Sister!""
"You two should worry more about yourselves," Bianca said as she dropped through another shadow portal, evading the gusts the two remaining free Harpies sent her way. She reappeared in the middle of the eight Harpies already bound by her earthen restraints, standing tall among them. With a swift motion, she pointed her lance at the two Harpies hovering above, or more precisely, at the roof of the Underworld cavern looming high above where they were fighting. With a sharp, decisive cut, she slashed it downward. "Time to go back to Tartarus."
Combining her slash with a burst of geomancy, she sent a shower of stalactites raining down from the cavern roof. The razor-sharp, icicle-shaped rocks plummeted like a deadly rain. The two Harpies above desperately tried to evade the rockfall, twisting and turning in the air with skilled, frantic movements. Their wings beat furiously as they maneuvered to dodge the falling stones. However, it was futile; the relentless downpour was too swift and precise. The stalactites struck true, bringing the Harpies crashing down.
"Curse you!" One Harpy cried out angrily as she collapsed into gold dust.
"We will have our revenge!" The other Harpy added as she too was sent back to the Pit.
"Yeah, yeah, you monsters always say that," Bianca muttered, rolling her eyes as she looked away from the piles of gold dust that had once been her opponents. She turned to the Harpies she had restrained, their bodies bound by earthen restraints. Now, it was time to get the answers she wanted from them.
To do that, she dismissed her lance, allowing it to revert to its disguised form. In its place, she drew her dagger, known as the Drakon Dagger, which had been concealed as a sleek, black metal ring with a simple yet striking design. The band was adorned with a textured pattern resembling scales, giving it a subtle, reptilian quality. At the center of the ring was a small, detailed disk featuring a striking yellow reptile eye, incredibly realistic with a vertical slit pupil that seemed to gleam with an inner light. The craftsmanship was meticulous, capturing the intricate patterns of a serpent's gaze, making it both mesmerizing and slightly unnerving. The ring's look was elegant yet menacing, exuding a sense of mystery and danger.
In her hand, the ring transformed into the Drakon Dagger. Its handle was intricately wrapped in dark leather, providing a textured grip that spiraled around its length. The end of the handle curved into a small hook, an artistic yet practical feature for a secure grip or attachment. The blade was fashioned from the fang of a Drakon, a fearsome beast that Lady Andi had defeated back when she'd been mortal, and which she'd gifted to her just before the Battle of Zeus' Fist. The fang was shaped into a single, large, and deadly blade, honed to a sharp, precise point. It had a pale, creamy yellow hue, polished to a sheen that emphasized its natural curve and lethal edge, a trophy of victory turned into a weapon of lethal elegance.
As Bianca dismissed the earthen gags, they began to crumble and collapse into dust, disintegrating from solid restraints into fine, powdery particles. The dusty remnants fell through the air like a heavy cloud, swirling around the Harpies' faces. Their eyes widened in shock as the sudden release caught them off guard. The cloud of dust enveloped them, and they coughed and sputtered, the fine grains catching in their throats and stinging their eyes.
"Ugh!" One Harpy choked, her voice rasping as she struggled to clear her throat, spitting out a mouthful of grit. "What... have you done...?"
Another twisted her head away, trying to shake off the irritating particles. Her eyes watered, blinking rapidly as she coughed violently, the dust settling in her beak-like nose and throat. The air around them was filled with a cacophony of coughing and hacking.
As they cleared their throats, the Harpies regained their voices, their screeches now laced with a mixture of fury and indignation.
"You little wretch!" One of them spat, her eyes blazing with anger. "You think this will save you? You think dust will stop us from avenging our fallen?"
Their taunts resumed, dripping with venom.
"Foolish girl!" Another hissed between coughs. "Trading your lance for that puny dagger. You think that trinket will protect you against us?"
They sneered even as they shook the remaining dust from their faces, their mocking laughter mingling with the remnants of their earlier discomfort.
Bianca stood her ground, letting their words wash over her. She tightened her grip on the Drakon Dagger, its weight a steady reassurance in her hand. The Harpies' anger only solidified her resolve; she had released their gags to hear what they had to say, not to entertain their insults. They might jeer and taunt, but it didn't change the fact that they were at her mercy, and they would answer her questions one way or another.
"You think my lance is worse than my dagger?" Bianca asked, offering the Harpies a malevolent smirk. "If so, you're quite a fool. Let me show you why."
With that ominous declaration, Bianca leaned down, her movements swift and precise. She raised the dagger high, its pale, creamy blade catching the dim light of the cavern. With a powerful downward thrust, she drove the dagger into the side of the nearest Harpy, aiming for a non-lethal spot just below the ribs. The blade sank into flesh with a sickening ease, and the Harpy let out a strangled cry, her eyes widening in shock and pain, before transiting into an ear splitting roar of pain. The Harpy's body convulsed against the restraints, her wings flaring as she spasmed and blood began to pour from the monster's every pore and orifice so much so that the blood gushing from the mouth smothered her scream as she choked on the sanguine liquid. It was a horrifically painful way to die even by Bianca's standards and she was a daughter of Hades that had seen the tortures that the sinners were punished with in the Fields of Punishment! Yet she did not so much as bat an eyelid at what she'd subjected the Harpy to. If it meant rescuing Nico, she was willing to do worse. Much, much worse.
"That was the demonstration." Bianca said, turning to the surviving seven Harpies, now all pale and terrified. "Will I need to give another one?"
Most of the Harpies shook their heads, cowed by the display of what she was willing to do. One of them was braver than the rest of her flock however and spat defiance. "So you can kill us, so what!? We'd just reform in Tartar-"
Bianca did not let her finish. Shadow Traveling so she loomed over the defiant Harpy, Bianca leaned down and casually nicked the monster. That was enough to turn the bird woman's bold tirade into a pained scream. Agony that like her fellow Harpy before her was accompanied by literally bone breaking spasms and blood pouring from every possible orifice, before after a long minute of agony she finally died and collapsed into gold dust.
"You're going back to Tartarus." Bianca said, smiling maliciously at the horrified looks that the Harpies were shooting at her. "There's no way out of that. However, you can choose how that happens. If you want to go back after an agonizing death, you will fail to answer my questions or lie to me. If you are open and honest with me though, you will enjoy a relatively swift and painless death."
"W-We will tell you everything!" The bravest Harpy stammered with a fearful gulp, while her fellow Harpies stared at Bianca's latest demonstration in horror.
"Good. Good." Bianca said with a pleased smirk that had the Harpies fearfully shivering. "Now then… First question! Would anyone here know what happened to my brother after he made it into Tartarus?"
The Harpies exchanged looks, or at least tried to. Thanks to their restraints, most of them could not manage it. For the most part, the monsters all radiated a sense of uncertainty.
"We don't kno-" The brave Harpy from earlier began to say nervously, only to be cut off by another of her number.
"Wait!" One of the Harpies cried out. "I did hear something about that!"
"Oh?" Bianca asked, turning towards the Harpy that had spoken up.
"Yes! I was one of the first of the flock which reformed, and while I was waiting, I heard something about that."
"And what did you hear?"
"That a Half-Blood that had been rampaging through Tartarus-"
Seems like Nico was giving the monsters down in the Pit hell. Good job! Bianca thought with a proud grin.
"- wandered his way into the Mansion of Night-"
The Mansion of Night!? Isn't that Nyx's domain!? Bianca thought, paling at the prospect of her little brother finding himself facing off against the powerful and dangerous Protogenos of the Night.
"-and got captured by Mother Night, who then handed him over to Lord Ephialtes and Lord Otis."
Ephialtes and Otis? Aren't they the twin Gigantes Banes of Dionysus? Bianca thought with a small sense of relief. As dangerous as being held by Gigantes was, it was still infinitely better than being the prisoner of the Protogenos of the Night. That said, that Nico was being held captive at all was enough to cause her to frown worriedly.
"And do you know where the Gigantes took my brother?"
"No-"
"But!" Another Harpy shouted, cutting the Harpy that had informed Bianca of what had happened to her brother off. "We know where Lord Ephialtes and Lord Otis have set up their base!"
"And where is that?" Bianca asked, turning to look at the Harpy that had spoken up expectantly.
"Rome," the Harpy said quickly. "They've set themselves up in the Colosseum."
"And my brother will be there?"
"We can't be sure. We didn't hear anything about that but the Gigantes would want to keep a prisoner as valuable as a son of Hades close so it's a good bet that he'd be there."
Bianca nodded in understanding. It was sound reasoning. Who knew a typically birdbrained Harpy would be able to come up with something like that? It was honestly surprising!
"I see. Well, anything else you think I should know?"
The Harpies again tried to exchange looks, only to be kept from properly doing so by their restraints.
"Well?"
"Um... I don't think so... I've got nothing. Anyone else?" One of the Harpies asked her companions, only to be met with a series of similar head shakes and expressions of uncertainty
"Well. That's disappointing." Bianca admitted. She was hoping for more honestly. "But a promise is a promise. Time to send you back to the Pit."
With that Bianca casually gestured with her dagger upward and channeled her geokinesis. In response, spikes of earth shot out of the ground and impaled the bound Harpies, killing them in one swift blow and sending them back to Tartarus as their bodies collapsed into gold dust.
"Rome, huh?" Bianca muttered to herself as she dismissed her dagger, allowing it to return to its disguised form and moved towards her camp to gather her things. "Guess it's time to pay the old homeland a visit… Nico, wait for me. Just hang in there. Your big sister is coming. No matter what happens, I will rescue you. I promise."
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
Bianca, someone so underutilized… I'm so proud she lived in this Heroine-verse (even though we've let her live in all of them so far). It really feels like she's come into her own as a Child of the Big Three in this chapter! Plus, her just acting like a deathly badass, twiddling her dagger while musing about what to do with the lot as the Harpies are shitting themselves in fear? Priceless. Also she gotta see her mom! Good for her. And of course Bianca isn't her other universe sister. if she was Alkaid, Gaea may try to negotiate with her directly rather than use Nico as leverage against Olympus/the Heroes as a whole. Lol.
Nameless: I especially liked letting Bianca see her mum. Though I also liked using Kakos as a monster. Hands up anyone who even knew he existed! I betcha very few of you can honestly say you did and, yes, he is really a part of the canon of Hellenistic myth. On one last note from me, for those of you on AO3, thank DALL-E for most of the images in this chapter. It was most helpful giving life to our words. Also thank ChatGPT 4o all around for helping us when our writing got clunky. It was a great help there too. Though, I'm pretty sure the chapter will fail any AI writing checker we run it through with how extensively we use it.
Yeah, from what I've seen ChatGPT has been a godsend for helping us churn out chapters and helping streamline our sentence structure. Nameless found a real gem!
Nameless: Before we sign off, let us reply to StrongGuy159's review on FFN. He asked "what is going on in The Wizarding World right now?" We'd normally reply to it via PMs but they have it disabled. So… This chapter should've given a clue. With the Second Gigantomachy underway there's really no reason for Andi, and thus us, to explore that question in any depths beyond mentions. We'll see about exploring that in further chapters if or when they are relevant.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!