[2] 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 ― p.jackson

009.

「009. villainous thing, we can't have you living a lie! 」

NOTHING SAYS 'summoning' like going to a twenty-foot-long pit in front of the septic tank in the dead of night.

the tank was bright yellow, with a smiley face and red words painted on the side: HAPPY FLUSH DISPOSAL CO. it didn't quite go with the mood of summoning the dead.

the moon was full. silver clouds drifted across the sky.

"minos should be here by now," nico said, frowning. "it's full dark."

"maybe he got lost," percy said hopefully.

cadie would've probably said something along those lines too, but didn't want to be in the frontlines of another one of nico's crushing blows, so she remained there, gripping her keys in her hand tightly.

nico poured root beer and tossed barbecue into the pit, then began chanting in ancient greek. immediately the bugs in the woods stopped chirping.

"make him stop," tyson whispered to percy.

part of cadie had to agree with tyson. the night air reflect cold and menacing. but before cadie could really say anything, the first spirit appeared. sulphurous mist seeped out of the ground and the shadows thickened into human forms. one blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink.

"stop him!" nico yelled, momentarily breaking his chant. "only bianca may drink!"

percy drew riptide, and cadie wearily picked up her keys to let them transform- but there was no need. the sight of percy's celestial bronze blade alone was enough to deter them. but it was too late to stop the very first spirit. he had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white robes with a circlet of gold wreathed on top of his head. even in death, his eyes were alive with malice.

"minos!" nico said. "what are you doing?"

"my apologies, master," the ghost said, though he didn't sound very sorry. "the sacrifice smelled so good, i couldn't resist." he examined his own hands and smiled. "it is good to see myself again. almost in solid form-"

"you are disrupting the ritual!" nico protested. "get-"

the spirits of the dead began shimmering dangerously bright, and nico had to take up the chant again to keep them at bay.

"yes, quite right, master," minos said with amusement. "you keep chanting. i've only come to protect you from these liars who would deceive you."

he turned to percy and had a face full of disgust, "percy jackson...my, my. the sons of poseidon haven't improved over the centuries, have they?"

"hey- that's rude, man." frowned cadie, "none of us are liars, here." she squinted at him, "you're minos? like- 'wife cheated on him with a bull' minos? that minos?"

cadie didn't think minos liked her so much. in fact, he turned to look at her like she was some kind of cockroach.

"a daughter of euterpe..." he said airily, "i suppose i'll only ever get to meet your kind whilst you're still alive. though- just my luck i'd meet a helper of my nemesis. you seem an improvement from the other one i heard of- lady lida."

"wow. you really are rude," she muttered.

"get lost, weirdo!" called out cam, "we're looking for bianca di angelo."

"yeah," nodded percy. "we just want to see her, leave us alone."

the ghost chuckled. "i understand you once killed my minotaur with your bare hands. but worse things await you in the maze. do you really believe daedalus will help you?"