Percy Jackson - Bane of Tartarus

Chapter 7

Percy's POV

Thalia had agreed to protect the one that mattered to me the most and I was grateful to her beyond words. Now I can concentrate on the quest and get on the highway to hell. I listened to Thalia as she explained how a well-organized group of about 100 monsters that included hellhounds, dracaena, earthborns and a drakon attacked them in the middle of the night while Artemis was on the moon chariot. She recounted the night, "Artemis had come while the battle was in progress and looked at most of the hunters being crushed by the monsters. She single handedly wiped out more than half of the monsters left and then charged towards the drakon. After a 10 minute long battle, Artemis thrust her hunting knives in the right eye of the drakon also piercing its brain and subsequently turning it to dust. All the monster were dead. Most of us were severely injured but worst of all, we lost two hunters that day. As we were tending to the injured, the ground shook and we heard Artemis curse angrily. The ones who could, ran towards her to see two giant earthen hands grabbing her legs. We tried helping her but we were weak and injured from the battle few minutes ago. We tried our best as did she but we saw her starting to sink into the ground. After she knew what was going to happen she made me promise that I would lead the hunt and keep them safe. We have been camped here ever since." Thalia finished as she tried to blink away the tear in her eyes.

I got what I could from her, now I knew where I should go but first I should inform my mother about my "vacation". I returned to Apollo to see him sitting quietly beneath a tree, staring at....well nothing really. "Hey, ready to leave?" I asked him to which he replied by nodding and standing up. We started to leave but I was stopped by Thalia's voice behind me.

"Hey Kelp head, try not to die okay."

"You too, Pinecone face", I replied without turning back and started walking.

As we approached the place where we entered the park, I told Apollo about the plan forming in my head,"I will need to go to Olympus to ask for a passage back. If the doors of death are opened even for a little while on a decided day, Artemis can make it back."

"Artemis and you can make it back", Apollo interrupted.

I ignored him and continued, "I won't have trouble getting into Tartarus what remains now is to convince the council of my plan".

"Well, look on the bright side. You now have only 12 Olympians to convince." He chuckled. I couldn't help but laugh too.

"But first I need to see my mother and my little sister and let them know of my plan", my expression turning serious again.

We then walked on the all too familiar streets of New York and I couldn't help but remember the battle that took place here on my sixteenth birthday, all the friends we lost that day and in that war.

In a couple of minutes we reached our destination, my parent's house. After a quick look around and making sure that we weren't followed, I knocked on the door. 20 seconds later the door opened and my mother was standing. She looked at me and without wasting a second she hugged me tightly and didn't let me go for what seemed like forever. I really needed that, I started feeling better instantly. We walked in and sat on the couch. My mother sat on a chair beside me, smiling and looking at me expectantly. I felt sorry for her that soon she was going to lose her smile.

"How've you been Percy? Where is Annabeth? Where did you meet Apollo here?" She bombarded me with questions before I could answer any of them.

I sighed and started explaining everything to my mom since Apollo showed up at my door this morning. I told her about Artemis, I told her about Zeus's order, I told her about the attack on the hunt and lastly I told her about Annabeth's reaction. As I narrated the events of the entire day I saw the smile dissipating from my mother's face and a horror settling instead.

"Percy, you have accomplished so much and I am very proud of the person you have become. You fought creatures we can't even imagine and saved the world twice at such a young age. I'm sorry Apollo but Percy, you don't owe anyone anything. You don't have to go that damned place. You have the life you always dreamed of. You can stay and be happy with Annabeth."

"I know mom, I want to", I said as softly as I could.

"I know Percy. I know". Tears escaped her eyes.

I stood up getting ready to leave. Apollo followed my action. "Mom where is Estelle?" I asked hoping to see her before I leave.

"She wouldn't stop crying so Paul took her for a ride." She wiped her tears, "I'll make you some cookies while you wait for her" she said hoping I would stay longer.

I shook my head, "I'll be back Mom. I promise. Then maybe I'll spend a week with you while I try to calm an angry Annabeth." I tried to lighten the mood to which my mom responded with a sad smile. I hugged her even longer than the last time, said goodbye and left with Apollo.