Reading Confused By Time

Chapter 14: Reading the Mansion of Night

Chapter 14: Reading the Mansion of Night

The demigods' footsteps echoed around the long hall, rebounding back to them from the other side. Nico swallowed as he warily eyed the two immortals the other end of the room. Tartarus and Nyx had been talking very loudly when they first entered the room but had quickly stopped which led Nico to believe that they were arguing about something they didn't want the demigods to know about.

"Very cliché," Nico muttered and looked around at the group of listeners. All of their attention on the book, trying to get information on what was going to happen. How it was going to and see what they could prevent.

"Yes, it was," Athena murmured.

Tartarus was twelve feet (the same height as the Titans) and purple, Nico noted. The Primordial had skin the colour of dark purple, and it oddly suited him, which was a look very few beings would be able to pull off. He had bulging muscles that looked like they could quickly snap Nico's neck, and his nails slightly resembled clawed talons. He wore only traditional Greek battle armour, and his face was a whirlpool of darkness. Beside him, Nyx wore a flowing black dress that looked like smoke, and her skin was a startling white colour. Her eyes glowed brightly like stars in the darkness of the room, and wings formed from the shadows disappeared into her shoulder blades.

Percy stopped several dozen feet away from the two Primordial's and to the shock of the half-immortal demigods, he lowered himself into a bow with his friends quickly following his example, not daring to look Tartarus or Nyx in the eye. Tartarus frowned as he looked at Percy. "What have I told you, Perseus?"

"I wonder how many times they have spoken," Annabeth asks and looks around.

"Plenty of the sounds of it," Zeus muttered and looked away at the questioning looks he got.

"I do not need to bow to you," Percy said calmly.

"Then why are you bowing?" Tartarus demanded.

"Out of respect," Percy replied, "not because you are a Primordial, but because you saved my life before, and you have done so again. I am in your debt, my Lord."

Tartarus sighed. "I apologize for not finding you sooner," he said, "however my foolish step-son had me backed into a corner."

"I know," Percy nodded. "It's fine, don't worry about it."

"I am pleased that-"

"That's it," Nyx announced, "You've had your turn, brother. Now give me mine." She practically flew across the room to haul Percy to his feet and give him a massive bear hug. "It's good to see you safe and well, Perseus. I missed you. It's a shame the Titan couldn't have slipped up."

Tartarus chuckled, and it sounded like rocks colliding. "Now I have free reign to do what I wish to him."

"No!" Nyx exclaimed indignantly, "You can't do that."

Tartarus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Nyx, we have been over this many times before. You need to stop being so fascinated by insane and powerful immortals that wish to tear down Olympus. First, it was Erebus, then Aether for a few centuries, then Eros, Pontus, and now it's Kronos!"