The Ancient Prophecy

39 : Monsters - Petros

    Petros was actually not sure how he detected the invisibility spell properly . It felt familiar , like the invisibility spell he could use . But it was much more complex . Petros could not figure out how it was done , but there was one thing he knew perfectly . This is the work of a god . 
      He was now the one leading the group of demigods . He could not deny the fact that he was kind of nervous . Everyone depended on him to step properly and lead the right way across the chasm . If he falls , they all fall . Petros did not like to have people depending on him nor him to depend on someone because he does not want to disappoint anyone nor seem weak .
      He also felt kind of guilty . He has been feeling like that since he decided to follow the three into the Underworld . He felt as if he just put his nose through somebody else's bussines . This not his quest . He was just an intruder . Just a character getting into someone else's story . He was not supposed to be here . The other three could might as well manage to get the hang of the quest without him .
      People back at the base could always talk about the craziest things around him . They never even observe that he's around . And that's fine with Petros , but sometimes it was annoying . He heard everything that they talked about even if he wanted to or not .
      He knew some of the biggest secrets of many people around the base . He had enough information to blackmail anyone he wanted , but luckly he had no reason to do that . He does not want to get into anyone's bussines , the same as he does not want anyone to get into his . But yet here he was , on a quest he was not supposed to go on , somewhere he was not supposed to be at .
I am lucky Thanatos did not kill me when he had the chance .

                                                      ***      

      They were now at the middle of the invisible bridge across the chasm , but it felt as if it took hours to cross that much .
     Petros could not help but look down at the chasm out of curiosity . He frowned . I could have fallen into that ...
     It seemed to be bottomless , a black void that continued until infinity . It looked similar to the void the four demigods fell through to get to Tartarus .
     Petros kept walking , the three other demigods behind him .
     He raised his head to look in front of him . Then he froze on the spot .
"W-what happened ?" he heard Sot ask behind him . The wavering in his voice indicated that he was scared . Well of course , we are walking on an invisible bridge across a bottomless chasm . But what was in front of them scared Petros more .
      Right at the end of the bridge waited a horde of monsters . Hellhounds , few cyclopes and a whole flock of harpies waiting along them . They are waiting for us . Petros frowned . Why aren't they coming for us then ? We are already outnumbered . Maybe they don't know there is a bridge ?
      A hand grabbed his shoulder tightly "What happened , Petros ? Why are we not moving ?" Sot asked , this time with a much more serious and cold tone . He is trying to seem serious but his hand is literally shaking on my shoulder .
"We have some friends waiting for us , I see ." Petros pointed to the horde of monsters .
      Sot looked over Petros' shoulder to see what he was pointing at . Then his grip on his shoulder proceeded to loosen . 
      Petros turned his head a little to see his reaction . Maybe he was imaginating things , but the son of Hermes looked a little paller than usual .
      Then Petros heard an arrow shot above his head , hitting one of the cyclops in the eye , the monster starting to stumble across the other ones .
      Both Petros and Sot turned their heads back to see Charis holding her oack bow , taking another arrow from the quiver she carried at her back . She raised an eyebrow at them with a smirk on her face "Had to do something , right ?"
      Petros turned his head back to the monsters . His eyes widened "Thank you for fastening our death , Charis !" he said sarcastically ,  loud enough for everyone to hear .
      Now the harpies were plonging into the black gasoline sky , circling like some vultures ready to grab for their prey , the hellhounds and the rest of the cyclops running into their direction on the invisible  bridge and leaving the deadbody of the cyclops Charis hit behind . Seems like they knew there was a bridge afterall . 
"Well , I'm sorry !" Charis said , her smirk gone from her face .
"We were anyways supposed to fight them ." said Phedora from behind her -she insisted walking last even with all of the other's protests- , holding a pair of daggers tightly in her hands "Charis , aim for the harpies while we fight the other monsters . Let's get moving now !"
      
                                                    ***
         
      The four demigods were running now across the bridge's length , everyone with their weapons out . Charis was now running at the back of the group , aiming her bow to the sky , occasionally hitting a harpie , making it fall into the chasm . Phedora could throw one of her short daggers at the monsters before them , causing a fuss around the monsters . Sot had two long daggers in his hands , his knuckles white around them and Petros had his sword out , holding it in his right hand .
      They kept getting closer and closer to the remaining monsters .
      When they finnaly met , Petros started slashing through the hellhounds with his sword . Some started  to fall to the ground from Phedora's daggers , turning into gold dust . Sot slashed at the cyclops , trying to get them off-balance and hopefully into the chasm .
      Before he could finally kill one of the hounds , Petros suddenly felt some sharp talons grabbing his shoulders . His eyes went wide . A harpie . Then he was off the ground , flying to the flock of deadly monsters . He felt its sharp talons piercing his clothes , almost piercing his shoulders .
      He raised his sword to hack at the creature . Come on ... I have to get rid of this stupid bird before I get too high above .
      Petros clenched his teeth , now feeling a sharp pain in his shoulders . He swung his sword clumsly above his head , hoping to hit the harpie .
      Next time he raised his arm to try again to hit it , Petros saw some blood trickling across his arm . No no no no no ....
       Then he heard a swish above his head , hitting the harpie .
"I hope the Gods bless you , Charis.." he murmured .
      Then he was falling from the sky . And then he fainted from blood loss in the middle of the fall .