WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE BIG RANCH HOUSE, Geryon elected to make barbecue after formally disarming all of them and demanding Eurytion tie them up. So, five minutes later, Madeleine, Ethan, Nico, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson were all trussed in a big pile like rodeo animals.
"You bother Geryon, you get gagged," Eurytion said, like this was normal hostage protocol. Then he sat on a picnic bench, leaned his head back, and pulled his hat down. His dog, Orthus, prowled around them, growling and snorting.
Annabeth decided she didn't like this protocol. She said, "Fuck you."
Eurytion sighed and gagged her, which infuriated both Grover and Tyson, leading them to be gagged next.
Nico and Ethan were very good at being quiet, so Madeleine figured she would lose the silent game. She was wedged at the back of the pile, so close to Ethan that their fingers kept brushing. Nico sat on her other side, scowling. He looked less anxious than he should have been, Madeleine thought.
"Why are you here?" Madeleine finally asked, because the silence was killing her. She needed answers. She was tired of Ethan's vague bullshit.
Ethan gave her a cold smile and said nothing. Madeleine sighed. She could try to talk to Nico, but she elected that she didn't want to piss him off right now, so she stayed quiet.
For some reason, her rings weren't returning to her, which worried her a little. She was also a little worried about Percy. But she was helpless, and for once, she actually liked the feeling. No more responsibility. The world wasn't resting on her shoulders. And if she could see Luke again, she would make sure he died this time.
Percy returned maybe an hour later. He sprinted onto the deck, his hair matted to his head with sweat, carrying the stink of manure with him.
"Let them go!" he yelled, out of breath. "I cleaned the stables!"
Geryon turned, displaying his tri-apron. "Did you, now? How'd you manage it?"
Percy explained.
When Percy was done, Geryon nodded appreciatively. "Very ingenious. It would've been better if you'd poisoned that pesky naiad, but no matter."
"Let my friends go," Percy repeated. "We had a deal."
"Ah, I've been thinking about that," Geryon said casually. "The problem is, if I let them go, I don't get paid."
Ethan smiled like he found this funny.
"You promised!" Percy snapped.
Geryon tsked. "But did you make me swear on the River Styx? No, you didn't. So it's not binding. When you're conducting business, sonny, you should always get a binding oath."
Percy drew his sword. Orthus growled. One head leaned down next to Grover's ear and bared its fangs.
"Just sell me!" Nico shouted, his voice cracking. "Just take me!"
Geryon tutted. "No can do, Mr. di Angelo. I'm a businessman. When I see profit, I see profit." He studied Percy. "Eurytion, the boy is starting to annoy me. Kill him."
Eurytion lifted his hat and turned to look at Percy. After a few measured seconds in which Percy was staring to sweat, the son of Ares said, "Kill him yourself."
Geryon raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Eurytion grumbled. "You keep sending me out to do your dirty work. You pick fights for no good reason, and I'm tired of dying for you. You want to fight the kid, do it yourself."
For a moment, Madeleine thought of Clarisse, and how she absolutely refused to go back into the Labyrinth. It wasn't her fight anymore, she had said. Chris was her fight.
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WINGED ₁
Fanfictionwe can do anything we want. we can go anywhere we want. we just can't go home. ethan nakamura x oc. the lightning thief through the last olympian. book one in the winged trilogy. started august 10th, 2022. finished july 6, 2023.