To Tartarus and Back (A Solangelo Story)

Cyclops Kebabs

DISCLAIMER I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT THE PLOT AND OC'S!! ALL RIGHTS GO TO RICK RIORDAN!!

Nico's POV 

My ears were still ringing hours after everyone's incoherent screaming. Right after we took Zoe's body to the camp infirmary, there was another attack. This time it was three giant cyclops fully decked out in battle armor and weapons.

Now thanks to Percy's brother, Tyson, I wasnt really scared of cyclops, but these things were at least twice the size as the big house, and way deadlier than Tyson ever could have been. The second these monsters appeared at camp, there was an uproar of campers scrambling around. Have of them trying to distribute weapons, the other half running around and screaming in terror.

"What the hell is this all about?" I asked Will. "Why are people running away and not fighting?"

"Nico have you never heard the story of Thalia Grace?" 

I frowned. I tried not to think of Thalia if I could help it. She was the Lieutenant of Artemis and her Hunters, but the hunters reminded me of my sister, and thinking of my sister clouded my brain with thoughts of her death.

But I did know the story behind her: When Thalia was younger, she ran away from her home, where she found a boy named Luke. They ran around and eventually the came across a little seven year old Annabeth. Now Grover was supposed to escort them to Camp Half-Blood. They almost did, but monsters attacked. Cyclops to be more specific. Thalia fought them off so everyone else could get into camp safely. She died, but Zeus, her father, turned her into a tree out of pity. Her sacrifice kept Camp Half-Blood safe, protecting it from outside monsters and mortals. 

But a few years back, she turned human again. She went on a quest with my sister, and later joined the Hunters of Artemis after Bianca died. I think that always made things weird between us.

"So that's why people are scared? Because they don't want to get turned into a tree?" I asked.

"Apparently. But come on, we have to get to safety."

"But we have to fight it! We can't just let it run around camp! It'll start trying to kill any minute now!" 

"I know. But I overheard the Hephaestus cabin talking a few days ago. They have a plan for things like this, but we need to get to safety." He explained.

"Where?!" 

"Wherever they're not! I don't know! Come one!" He grabbed my hand and led me to the other side of camp. It was a race to keep up with him. Surprisingly enough, Will was a very fast runner when he wanted to be. He could sprint across the infirmary in seconds flat. And we have a pretty big infirmary.

We ended up taking refuge in the Poseidon cabin with Percy, Annabeth, and Billie Ng from the Demeter cabin.

I ended up almost collapsing on Will. A fun fact about me: I can't run very well. I can fight monsters all say, but if I have to win a 100 meter dash with a hellhound, there's no way I'm winning.

"Is someone gonna tell me what's happening?" I asked aloud. I felt like I was the only one who didnt know what was happening.

Percy was out of breath from running around, but he said. "Greek fire. Lots of it."

"So we're having grilled cyclops kabobs now!?"

Percy smiled his dorky smile. "They'd taste bad, don't you think?"

"Yeah and aren't you technically eating Tyson's species?" Annabeth added.

"Shhh." Percy said, holding a finger up to Annabeth. "That's not important."

"Wait so are we actually going to eat burned cyclops?" Billie asked. "Because I don't know about you, but if we are, I'm skipping dinner for a few months."

"I doubt. We'll probably just give the carcasses to the harpies." Percy said.

I looked out the window. "Everyone shut up."

The Hephaestus cabin (consisting of Leo Valdez, Nyssa, and Harley), were rolling out a Roman onager we used in the war with Gaea. I'm not surprised the three repurposed it into a new weapon. But hopefully this time it won't commit any suicides, (looking at you, Octavian).

"So what are they gonna do?" I asked.

"The plan is load it with greek fire, and shoot it and the cyclops. If Leo did it correctly, there should be enough power to kill them."

I was really hoping Leo did this correctly. I was also hoping that the entire Hephaestus cabin wouldn't get stomped by cyclops. They were all wearing camouflage, which was very different from the usual grease-smudged work shirts they usually wear.

We watched in silence as they fired the greek fire. Green balls of flame shot out and hit a cyclops right in the eye. He jerked and swayed, feeling the pain of the magical substance on his face. Leo, Nyssa, and Harley strategically his so the couldn't be seen, but still had a good shot. 

The cyclops fell as the fire made it's way through his body. He dramatically fell backwards, making a tsunami sized wave on the coast of Long Island. Even though I can control skeletons and befriend zombie-drivers, it was pretty violent. The charbroiled skin of the cyclops, mixed with the agony of their facial expressions. Ugh, it was creepy.

I couldn't watch more. I crouched down under the windowsill as everyone watched in anticipation. I tried not to think of the brutal scene I just witnessed. Or the fact that Leo Valdez could very well die out there along with his siblings. 

I put my head in my hands and tried to clear my thoughts. Which, after my traumatic experience of being kidnapped, almost raped, and tortured, was very difficult. I felt a hand on my knee. I looked up and saw Will squatted down next to me. He had a sympathetic smile on his face.

"You okay, Death Boy?"

I groaned. "Don't call me Death Boy."

Will shifted and sat down next to me. "What's wrong?"

"Not much. Just scared that I'm gonna loose more people." I said it nonchalantly, like it happened everyday. But I guess when you live your life as a demigod, it does.

Will rubbed my arm with his hand. "It's sad that this in actual thing we have to think about. But we have to know they're gonna be safe."

"But what if they're not! Leo doesn't have a Physician's Cure this time!".

"They've been planning this for a while now. And we've already dedicated all our strength to save camp. But I guarantee that they'll be safe."

I just nodded, but I wasn't convinced. Everyday I think someone is going to die. Whether it's Percy, Will, my sister Hazel, or even myself. I've already lost too many people, I don't want to loose more. 

Will smiled. He opened his arms for a hug. "Come here. You need a hug."

Even though I gave him the death stare, I obliged. He wrapped his arms around me and I snuggled up to him. I felt safe in his arms, just like I always have. It was better than anything Silas could do, and for that I was grateful. 

"Hate to break up the love fest you two have," interrupted Percy, "But we have three dead cyclops and enough greek fire to cover the state of Texas out there that we kinda have to pick up.

"I pulled slightly away from Will. "Looks like no one died." He said. 

I was genuinely happy for the first time in a long while.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi, it's Gremlin! So welcome back, I know I havent posted in a bit, but here I am now! And also. . .  HOW THE FÜÇĶ DO I HAVE OVER 3000 READS ON THIS STORY!!!????

LIKE WHAT!? THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH!!!

Anyway vote, comment, and thanks for reading!!!