𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

121

WHAT IS THIS? The god of the pit hissed. Why have you come, my disgraced son?

Damasen glanced at Hadrian, a clear message in his eyes: Go. Now.

He turned toward Tartarus. The Maeonian drakon stamped its feet and snarled.

"Father, you wished for a more worthy opponent?" Damasen asked calmly. "I am one of the giants you are so proud of. You wished me to be more warlike? Perhaps I will start by destroying you!"

Damasen leveled his lance and charged.

The monstrous army swarmed him, but the Maeonian drakon flattened everything in its path, sweeping its tail and spraying poison while Damasen jabbed at Tartarus, forcing the god to retreat like a cornered lion.

Bob stumbled away from the battle, his saber-toothed cat at his side. Percy gave them as much cover as he could—causing blood vessels in the ground to burst one after the other. Some monsters were vaporized in Styx water. Others got a Cocytus shower and collapsed, weeping hopelessly. Others were doused with liquid Lethe and stared blankly around them, no longer sure where they were or even who they were.

Bob limped to the Doors. Golden ichor flowed from the wounds on his arms and chest. His janitor's outfit hung in tatters. His posture was twisted and hunched, as if Tartarus's breaking the spear had broken something inside him. Despite all that, he was grinning, his silver eyes bright with satisfaction.

"Go," he ordered. "I will hold the button."

Percy gawked at him. "Bob, you're in no condition—"

At the same time Hadrian blurted, "We can't just leave you!"

"You must, friends." Bob clapped Percy and Hadrian on their arms, nearly knocking them over. "I can still press a button. And I have a good cat to guard me."

"Cat and demigod" Kira reached back into their quiver for the five last arrows. She picked up a few arrows from the ground as well.

"Kira—" Hadrian warned.

"Hads" She replicated his tone. He knew her so well, but they knew him too. They were so god damn stubborn and Hadrian hated it. He hated how he couldn't do anything about it.

Small Bob the saber-toothed tiger growled in agreement.

"Shut up, small bob" Hadrian mumbled, "Kira, please, come with me—"

"Fun fact about being dead, I can't feel pain. Who knows what will happen if I go in the overworld?" She drew her bow and launched an arrow, "You need to go, Hads. Thank you for not giving up on me, but you need to now. You've come so far— I'm so fucking proud of you, kid"

"No-"

"Besides," Bob said, "it is your destiny to return to the world. Put an end to this madness of Gaea."

"I've heard the way the Titans talk about you" Kira said, "Whatever comes... you're going to be part of Gaea's final play"

A screaming Cyclops, sizzling from poison spray, sailed over their heads.

Fifty yards away, the Maeonian drakon trampled through monsters, its feet making sickening squish squish noises as if stomping grapes. On its back, Damasen yelled insults and jabbed at the god of the pit, taunting Tartarus farther away from the Doors.

Tartarus lumbered after him, his iron boots making craters in the ground.

You cannot kill me! he bellowed. I am the pit itself. You might as well try to kill the earth. Gaea and I—we are eternal. We own you, flesh and spirit!