Apollo's Lover - The Lost One Found

Chapter 11.

Hello there!

How are ya guys? Doing anything for Christmas? Uh................... presents?

Anywho...

On with the chappieeeeee~

Apollo's POV

We continued to walk along the firey river of... fire. Towards where? Well, Percy had previously said that he knew someone down here in this hellhole, a friend of his or something. Someone that could tell us whether Aria had actually come to Tartarus or not.

Otherwise, we're screwed and we start from scratch, so I am hoping that some sort of news about her circles around within the Daily Tartarus Times, or whatever newspaper these guys have here. Hmm... Daily Monsters maybe?

Ah, I don't think it matters much.

Day and time didn't seem to matter to the creatures of Hell, we slept when we were tired - which was surprisingly common - and walked for the rest of the time, drinking from the flamy Phlegethon - yes, I know, it sucks. But what to do? We simply continued marching throughout the wasteland of Tartarus, stepping over fleshy bubbles and avoiding sharp and pointy rocks.

The personal atmosphere wasn't doing much better, to be honest. Percy said near no word, instead walking forward with a dull look of neutralness resting upon his face. My sister wasn't far from that look either, her casual bored look was plastered on her face. And yet, to be honest, I wasn't up much for talking either, simply walking forward at a steady pace was enough for me.

We had been walking for what seemed like days, though that could be similar to my guess with how long we had been falling. You'd think I would've known how long a day lasted from the number of times I had steered my sun chariot across the sky. And yet my mind was blank, seconds and minutes were something outside my understanding, perhaps ten years passed up on the surface.

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but it feels like a decade had passed by now. Time wasted searching for some friend that we don't even know we can trust! Ah... I think I'm losing my mind. The never-ending view of the same dirty-red horizon probably wasn't helping my mood either. And yet on we marched.

Some time had passed again, my thoughts only getting worse, before I noticed something strange about Percy. Or rather.. something strange Percy was doing. He kept gazing around as if worried that someone was following us. His eyes seemed to hold a disguised worry, covered with his stoic face.

I sped up a little, walking beside him as I asked, "What is wrong, Percy?"

It took a moment for him to respond, almost as if he was surprised I had asked. The silence grew strangely long, before he finally responded, "I noticed something. Something off."

"What?"

"There aren't any monsters. Which is strange seeing as this... this is-"

"Tartarus," I finished his sentence, before I quickly raised my hands up at his low glare, "Uh- yeah, hell. Right. Monsters."

I suppose I hadn't noticed that before. Perhaps it was simply the nauseous thoughts circling around in my head that caused me to not realize that we were alone. Other than the three of us, the plains of Tartarus were... well, plain. No strange, evil, residents to stop us along the way. 

"Huh... I wonder why," I shrugged, "Perhaps they just don't like our godly aura?"

Percy shook his head, "Exactly, they should sense us. Even though your godly powers have been diminished, it doesn't mean that we're gone. Someone told them to leave us alone. The question is though, who?"

"And why," Artemis added from behind us, nodding. "Who would want for us to have safe travel through this land? Which of the ruling gods? This makes no sense..."

I sighed, "Well, we should use this to our advantage then. At least we don't have anyone interrupting us."

Percy raised a brow, "I suppose you could look at it from that point of view. But we should still hurry," He stated, before setting out at a fierce pace.

Here we go, more walking.

~~~

More time passed. Still, no monsters, which only raised our suspicions higher. Around us tall mountains, sharp and rocky. Above us were the thick, red clouds that seemed to reach out to every edge of the landscape.

Next to us was the flaming river that we continued to drink from. By now I had gotten used to its burning hot flames as I drank, but, you know, you'd think the sun god would be immune from having to face such pain.

But nope. Tartarus ain't having that, if not today then not ever.

My sister, though, seemed perfectly fine with drinking the flamy liquid. Of course, it could just be her excellent acting and that she was fine with lying to my face, but she still seemed to do much better after drinking the flames than me. And Percy... Although he had faced this terrifying experience before, Percy was still mortal, and the greatest toll of drinking the liquid fire happened to him.

Upon the horizon, it seemed that the light was just barely dimming, perhaps that meant we had reached some sort of end. An end to all this walking. I looked to Percy, hoping to see any sort of reaction that would tell me whether or not we had reached out destination.

His smile was what surprised me most, but you guys understand why. A smile, in Tartarus!? After all the shady looks he's been passing left and right!? I was about to think he was crazy when I realized we all might have been slowly going insane.

"Percy.." I croaked out, surprised at how strange my voice sounded, "You okay? You're not going to drop dead on us, are you?"

Percy looked at me, before nodding his head at whatever was in front of us. My eyes gazed at the landscapes before us, wondering what he was 'nodding' at, before finally seeing it. 

It was far, still probably a mile or so in front of us (though who the heck knows how distance works here either), but I still recognized the silhouette of some sort of hut.

"Is that it?" I heard Artemis ask from beside me, her voice also hoarse.

Percy nodded, "Yes. I was worried he might have not returned... but it seems that he did, which is good, otherwise we may have been screwed," Suddenly, if it was somehow possible, his pace quickened, and soon enough we had crossed whatever distance was between us and our savior.

~~~

It wasn't magnificent, I'll tell ya that, but it was enough. The hut was large; big and bony. Hopefully the creature that these bones belonged to was someone we should be happy is dead, and not the other way around. What wasn't made of bones through, was covered in drakon skin. I wonder where this friend got that from. Drakons were another thing I didn't want to meet down here in these pits.

I looked to Percy, "This is where your friend lives?"

He nodded, "Yeah... I mean, if he regenerated yet. It's only be a year or two since..." He trailed off, "Then."

I wish I had stopped him from knocking. I wish I had asked him what he meant by 'regenerate'. Then, perhaps, we would have avoided this problem. Then, maybe, I would have been able to prepare myself for what came next.

He knocked on the door. Once, twice, thrice. And then the door opened to reveal...

"Perseus? Apollo and Artemis?"

"Damasen?"

"Huh???"

A giant.

Whew, finally got this done. I was worried I wouldn't be able to update before the holidays... Wattpad wasn't saving the story......

Anywho! This is out, don't expect any updates during the holidays and...

MERRY (EARLY) CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY (VERY EARLY) NEW YEAR!!!

(And stay safe guys)

-Scrach3465