Perseus Jackson: Titan of The Hunt

CH1: Bug Stomping

(Percy)

Despite of the fact that I had just fallen feet first into quite literally hell. I had not found myself splattered all over the stone floor despite all the mortal laws of physics stating that I should have the consistency of a pancake.

Of course, knowing what had resulted in this unplanned stop on our journey I was given very little chance to thank the gods for this miracle. After all I was now in the place the gods themselves did not like to visit.

Looking around myself I found myself in what seemed a dark dimly lit cave with an invisible ceiling however recent event told me otherwise, I spied some blond hair a little away beginning to stir.

Scrambling hurriedly over to her I helped her sit upright leaning her body against my own as she coughed up no small amount of dust and debris.

"Annabeth are you ok?" I asked worried once she seemed to have finished.

"Other than being in Tartarus in the middle of a war, after fighting the mother of all spiders, fine really Seaweed brain." She said taking stock of the situation quickly, however despite the strong front she was trying to portray I could feel her body shaking against my own.

"No need to get sarcastic wise girl" I teased trying to distract her from her thoughts. Now having a fear of spiders, I thought was an irrational fear, we had killed or defeated beings who were or equals to actual gods. So a small creature that predated on flies and other insects was not something I was afraid of. However, a half-human spider the size of a pickup was more acceptable to be feared even in my humble opinion.

"We need a plan if we are to survive this and meet up with the others at the doors" Annabeth stated simply already focusing on what we needed to be doing, even if we had no idea how we were going to do either of those things.

Even on our quests we had been given at least a few resources and hints on where to go. This time we had nothing but the clothes on our backs. No food, no directions and no chance of a friendly god passing by and lending us a hand. We were truly on our own.

"Well last I checked we don't own a map of the pit, which means we either wing it or we have to deal with the locals, who just happen to be most of the worst monsters known to Olympus, who already hate me for putting them back down here in the first place" I complained with a sigh

"Not everyone is as well 'liked' as you are, hopefully for us. Most of them will be in the real world now that the doors are open or are guarding them for Gaia" Annabeth said with a soon to be short lived tone of optimism.

As if answering Annabeth's hopes a pile of boulders nearby began to rise and shift revealing one injured and very pissed Arachne who was looking at us with eyes full of hate. The mother of spiders had clearly seen better days, her human left arm was broken in such a way that a piece of bone was coming through her forearm. As well as this her front leg on her right-hand side missing completely, as if physically torn off her torso in her fall. However, if either of these were bothering her badly she was doing a good job of not showing it.

"You were saying" I couldn't help it, resulting in Annabeth looking at me as if to say now is not the time. 'It's not my fault some people get scared, I get sarcastic' I thought to myself.

"Like mother like daughter both try to take everything from me, but now I will my revenge on you both. By killing you and ridding my nemesis of her favourite daughter." The spider spat hatefully.

There are few things that truly annoy me: betrayal, hurting women and most of all threatening my friends and family. So as soon as she was finished talking, I interposed myself between Annabeth and Arachne drawing Riptide as I did. The polished Celestial Bronze blade our only real defence.