Child of the Moon

Percy Remembers His Girlfriend... Who Will Most Likely Kick His Ass

Hazel had to yell Frank's name a dozen times before he realized Alcyoneus was getting up again.  He slammed his shield into the giant's nose until Alcyoneus began to snore.  Meanwhile the glacier kept crumbling, the edge getting closer and closer.  Thanatos glided toward us on his black wings, his expression serene.

Thanatos: Ah, yes.  There go some souls.  Drowning, drowning.  You'd best hurry, my friends, or you'll drown, too.

Frank: But Percy... is he-

Thanatos: It is too soon to tell.  As for this one...

Thanatos looked down at Alcyoneus with distaste.

Thanatos: You'll never kill him here.  You know what to do?

Frank nodded numbly.

Frank: I think so.

Thanatos: Then our business is complete.

I sighed in relief.  Frank and Hazel exchanged nervous looks.

Hazel: Um... you mean you won't... you're not going to-

Thanatos: Claim your life?  Well, let's see...

He pulled a pure black iPad from thin air.  He tapped the screen a few times as we watched in silence.

Thanatos: I don't see you, nor Zoe Nightshade, on the list.  Pluto gives me specific orders for escaped souls, you see.  For some reason, he has not issued a warrant for yours.  Perhaps he feels your lives are not finished, or it could be an oversight.  If you'd like me to call and ask-

Hazel: No!  That's okay.

Thanatos: Are you sure?  I have video conferencing enabled.  I have his Skype address here somewhere...

Zoe: No, it is fine Lord Thanatos.

Hazel looked as if several thousand pounds of worry had just been lifted from her shoulders.  I grinned and hugged Zoe, who just stood there in shock.

Hazel: Thank you.

Alcyoneus: Urgg.

Frank hit him over the head again.  Death looked up from his iPad.

Thanatos: As for you, Frank Zhang, it isn't your time, either.  You've got a little fuel left to burn.  But don't think I'm doing any of you a favor.  We will meet again under less pleasant circumstances.

The cliff was still crumbling, the edge only twenty feet away now.  Arion whinnied impatiently.

Zoe: What about the Doors of Death?  Where are they?  How do we close them?

A look of irritation flickered across Thanatos's face.

Thanatos: Ah, yes.  The Doors of Me.  Closing them would be good, but I fear it is beyond my power.  How you would do it, I haven't the faintest idea.  I can't tell you exactly where they are.  The location isn't... well, it's not entirely a physical place.  They must be located through questing.  I can tell you to start your search in Rome.  The original Rome.  You will need a special guide.  Only one lineage of demigod can read the signs that will ultimately lead you to the Doors of Me.

Cracks appeared in the ice under our feet.  Hazel patted Arion's neck to keep him from bolting.

Hazel: What about my brother?  Is Nico alive?

Thanatos gave her a strange look... possibly pity.

Thanatos: You will find the answer in Rome.  And now I must fly south to your Camp Jupiter.  I have a feeling there will be many souls to reap, very soon.  Farewell, demigods, until we meet again.

Thanatos disappeared, and Frank turned to Hazel.

Frank: Hurry!  We've got to take Alcyoneus about ten miles due north!

He climbed onto the giant's chest and Arion took off, racing across the ice, dragging Alcyoneus like the world's ugliest sled.  I turned to Annabeth.

YN: You should go back to Camp Half-Blood with Luna.  I don't think the Romans want more Greeks there... Octavian would have a conniption.

Annabeth threw her arms around me, pulling me close and kissing me.  She pulled away a few seconds later.

Annabeth: I love you, Nature Boy.

YN: And I love you, Wise Girl.  Tell Calypso her boyfriend is alive.

She grinned and climbed onto Luna's back.

Annabeth: She's gonna kill him.

YN: Oh I know.

With that, Luna took off, disappearing in a blur of silver.  I climbed down the glacier, just in time to see Percy break the surface.  I grinned, running over to the edge and pulled him up onto the ice, smirking at him.

YN: So, Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon from Camp Half-Blood, huh?

Percy: Yeah.  It's all come back to me now.  Calypso's gonna kill me.

YN: Don't worry, she doesn't know... yet.  Annabeth already left for camp, she's gonna tell her when they get back.

Percy's face paled.

Percy: Oh gods... then I might be seeing Thanatos again sooner than we thought.

Zoe smiled, putting her hand on his shoulder.