Percy Jackson - Bane of Tartarus

Chapter 6

Percy's POV

Apollo's face darkened but then he calmed himself and replied, "I am very well aware that the Gods won't help, not that they can't they won't. Do you know why?" Thalia stayed quiet.

He continued, "It's because that the Olympians sitting up there are just a cowardly group of immortals, they cannot die yet they are afraid of like a zillion things. Since, Zeus made me mortal if I have learnt one thing, it is that most of you demigods are way braver even in the face of death than almost all Gods on any given day. I don't know how you do it but the immensity of your love and your capacity for sacrifice and selflessness is truly beyond our comprehension. Honestly, I had given up hope of saving my sis before I knocked on your door", he looked at me, "because I was sure you would say no but you gave up your dream of peace to help me, a fallen God who is ashamed to say out loud that he used to be a God."

I have always thought Apollo to be childish and self-involved but it seems time as a mortal has done him well. He has changed, he is more sincere and less Godly, which is a good thing. Thalia was still in awe at the words coming out of Apollo's mouth. He must have sensed it as he spoke again.

"I know I haven't been the most responsible of Gods but I am learning. I'm learning to be better than a God, I'm learning to be like a demigod." He chuckled.

"But why Percy? You could have asked your numerous spawns."

"Zeus has forbidden the camps from venturing into Tartarus until Gaia falls asleep completely. So, no one there risked disobeying Zeus. The other reason was that he is the only one who has been in Tartarus and back."

"Percy, are you really willing to go to that pit to save Artemis? Are you really willing to go through that again?"

"I'm here, aren't I? Although I really want to ask you, why the hunters aren't already in Tartarus looking for her?"

Her expression changed into a very painful one, "My lady asked me to swear on Styx that I won't go or let any of the hunters go looking for her in Tartarus and instead continue her work here." She turned away to wipe her eyes then turned back and said, "Okay then Seaweed Brain, let's get you some supplies."

Thalia's POV

Percy has been my best friend for quite a while now having fought two wars beside each other, he is more of a brother to me than Jason. I'm happy for him and Annabeth but as soon as they moved in he drifted away. Now, he rarely even Iris messages me let alone visit. It didn't bother me that much but when your entire world spins out of control in one night you kind-of need your friend to lean on. I missed him but I knew he'll be back and he was, and not just back but was here to do the impossible. He volunteered to rescue Artemis from Tartarus alone even after having a firsthand experience of that horrifying place. He is a true friend and I am lucky to have him.

After I gave him a bunch of ambrosia cubes, a flask of nectar, quite a few drachmas, a few throwing knives and a hunting knife for his trip I watched him as he packed. His eyes were a shade of dark green like he was hurting inside at which I couldn't help but ask, "hey Perce" he lifted his head motioning 'what', "what did Annabeth say about your trip?"

At which he looked like he was suffocating, then he lowered his head and started packing again. He spoke after a few seconds of silence, "She is scared and angry and sad but you know she is Annabeth, she will understand, eventually."

He was done packing. With his backpack hung on his back he turned to look at me with a very serious expression, an expression I haven't seen before on him,"Thals, you know as well as I do that the odds of my survival are slim to none and I don't give a damn about that. The only thing I care about, I'm leaving behind. Promise me whatever happens you'll protect her, not just from outside threats but also from herself. She is too proud to ask for help so please, be there for her because she is the reason that even after watching unimaginable horrors I'm sane, she is the reason I am alive". With that a tear trickled down his cheek with he wiped away quickly.

"Don't worry Perce, I'll protect her with my life and stop this nonsense about odds. I have seen you two beat these odds too many times to buy into this crap". I spoke with the most confident voice I could come up with and it seemed to work as he gave a smile, small but genuine.

After that I told him what had happened 3 weeks and 4 days ago. The day an Olympian was dragged into Tartarus. I showed him the place where it happened, at which he looked intently.