²𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘✸ percy jackson

XXXI.

ΉӨЦƧΣ ӨF ΉΛDΣƧ

THEY FOLLOWED BOB THE TITAN THROUGH THE wasteland, tracing the route of the Phlegethon as they approached the storm front of darkness.

Every so often they stopped to drink firewater, which kept them alive, but Lucia wasn't happy about it. Her throat felt like she was constantly gargling battery acid. But it was the only way she was able to keep going.

Her only comfort was Percy. Every so often he would glance over and smile, or squeeze her hand. He had to be just as scared and miserable as she was, and she loved him for trying to make her feel better. So she did her best to do the same, sending him smiles, kissing his knuckles, and simply showing him that, she was there for him as much as he was there for her.

"Bob knows what he's doing," Percy promised.

"Bob...He's interesting..." Lucia murmured.

"Bob is interesting!" The Titan turned and grinned. "Yes, thank you, Lucia!"

This guy had good ears, Lucia needed to remember that.

She nodded, "So, Bob..." She tried to sound kind and friendly, which wasn't easy when her throat ached from the scorching firewater. "How did you get to Tartarus?"

"I jumped," he said, like it was obvious.

"You jumped into Tartarus," Lucia tried, "Only because Percy said your name?"

"He needed me." Those silver eyes gleamed in the darkness. "It is okay. I was tired of sweeping the palace. Come along! We are almost at a rest stop."

A rest stop. Lucia couldn't imagine what those words meant in Tartarus.

Wherever Bob was taking them, she only hoped it had clean restrooms and sunchips.

Oh, who am I kidding, they don't even have a sun down here let alone some chips named after the sun.

Boo, I'm gonna have to eat tartarus chips.

I hope they have a garden salsa flavor...

She repressed the giggles. Yeah, she was definitely losing it.

Lucia hobbled along, trying to ignore the rumble in her stomach. She stared at Bob's back as he led them toward the wall of darkness, now only a few hundred yards away.

His blue janitor's coveralls were ripped between the shoulder blades, as if someone had tried to stab him. Cleaning rags stuck out of his pocket. A squirt bottle swung from his belt, the blue liquid inside sloshing hypnotically.

Lucia learned more of Percy's story about meeting the Titan.

After wiping his memory, they didn't have the heart to kill him. They left him at the palace of Hades, where Persephone promised he would be looked after.

Apparently, they thought that meant giving him a broom and having him sweep up their messes.

Lucia frowned, she couldn't believe how Hades could be so callous. She'd never felt sorry for a Titan before, but it seemed wrong to take a brainwashed immortal and force him to be an unpaid janitor.

They were taking advantage of the situation and simultaneously taking advantage of Bob...

Oh.

Guess, Bob and her weren't too different.

He's not your friend, she reminded herself. Stop it. Do not get attached to a Titan, are you crazy??

She was terrified that Bob would suddenly remember himself. Tartarus was where monsters came to regenerate before they returned to the surface. What if this place healed his memory?