Heir of a Titan - Book 2 PJO

Chapter 23: Invincibility runs in the Family

"He won't die...will be?" I whispered to Nico.

Nico gave me a sharp side eye. "You told him he was fine."

"Pfft. Ya. I know. I said it...but what if he actually does. Then I've killed Percy Jackson."

"Then my dad'll be happy." Nico said bitterly.

I snorted. I whipped my head when I heard a cry and a slash. I saw Percy fall forward and become submerged in the Styx. I sucked in a sharp breath. I stood up and stepped to the edge of the river. I waited, arm arms crossed tight across my chest. I felt all my insides squirming. I bit my lip and kept my eyes on the spot he disappeared.

I tried to be patient, but the seconds ticket by. I knew people couldn't hold their breath for more than a minute and a half. Percy was closer to five minutes. But this was the Styx. I finally couldn't take it anymore. I stepped into the river.

I felt the burning almost immediately. But I shoved it back and stepped further in. I ground my teeth. Focused on the spot I saw Percy disappear, I kept wading slowly and determined. I was up to my knees, the pain was making my eyes water. I could feel all my doubts and fears bouncing around my head. All the possible broken dreams I couldn't bare to think of.

I swallowed them all down- Percy was my was goal. My foot connected with something. I plunged my hand down and grabbed it. With a wild cry, I yanked upwards. I stumbled backwards. Percy burst out of the river, with a wild cry of his own. We stumbled and landed with a thud on the sand. I pushed Percy off me and sat up. Nico was standing over us, a hand slapped over his mouth.

"Are you okay?" he stammered. "Your skin. Oh, gods. You're hurt!"

"I guess that's how I looked?" I asked, glancing at Nico, who just nodded, his eyes wide in shock.

Percy's skin was bright red, and he was smoking slightly. He groaned and lifted his arm and then let it flop. He lifted his head and looked around slightly confused. He closed his eyes for a brief second and then slowly and gingerly he sat up, like every muscle in his body was sore and tired. He groaned.

Mrs. O'Leary came up and sniffed Percy with concern. Apparently he smelled really interesting just as she did with me.

"Do you feel stronger?" Nico asked.

Percy scrunched his face and thought for a brief second. As soon as he opened his mouth a loud and triumphant "THERE!" Was yelled from behind us. In unison Percy and I spun around.

An army of the dead marched toward us. A hundred skeletal Roman legionnaires led the way with shields and spears. Behind them came an equal number of British redcoats with bayonets fixed. In the middle of the host, Hades himself rode a black-and-gold chariot pulled by nightmare horses, their eyes and manes smoldering with fire.

"You will not escape me this time, Percy Jackson! This is the last time Eleanora Blofis, you escape my jail!" Hades bellowed. "Destroy them!"

"Father, no!" Nico shouted, but it was too late. The front line of Roman zombies lowered their spears and advanced. I grabbed Nico and yanked him backwards and shoved him closer to Mrs. O'Leary.

Mrs. O'Leary growled and got ready to pounce.

"I'm tired of this big bully." Percy grumbled, pulling his sword out and uncapping Riptide. "If I was going to die, I might as well go down fighting."

"Except now...were invincible." I grinned wickedly at Percy.

Percy yelled, and the River Styx exploded. A black tidal wave smashed into the legionnaires. Spears and shields flew everywhere. Roman zombies began to dissolve, smoke coming off their bronze helmets.