Percy Jackson - Bane of Tartarus

Chapter 20

Percy's POV

I walked closer to get a good look at the cat. It was a calico cat, although he is still small enough to be called a kitten. He couldn't have grown more than an inch or so and was still bony, he was a spartus after-all. As I approached the kitten its form flickered and it turned into a skeletal cat then back to a regular kitten. I crouched down and started to pet the monster. Its white fur was soft as always. It came forward and butted its head against my leg purring loudly. I remembered the first time we saw it, Annabeth couldn't help herself and had scooped the kitten in her arms.

"Don't worry buddy, we will be with Annabeth soon." I said while petting it absentmindedly. Before I could pick the kitten up, I heard a sound behind me.

"What is going on Perseus?" It was the voice of a very annoyed goddess.

Artemis' POV

I was very grateful for the boy's offer to keep the first watch. My muscles were aching, my eyelids felt heavy and this blasted place has been draining me without fail since the moment I arrived here, in short 'I was very very tired'. I flopped on the only bed and fell into a sleep without a second's delay.

God's do not dream on their own and that is a fact. What we gods do see during our sleep are our respective domains. When we sleep our consciousness can peek into our domains. Since, my strongest domains are the moon and the hunt, I often find myself either looking at the world from my chariot or in the wilderness with my hunters without them even knowing. So, one way or another I am always keeping an eye on them except when I'm bound in celestial bronze shackles.

I found myself in a clearing with multiple tents sprawled all over. It was the hunt, it was my hunt. I could see my girls running around doing chores. I realized it was at the same place I left them. What was Thalia thinking staying in a place for so long? I walked around the camp site to reach the archery range. I could see Phoebe and a few other hunters practicing while my lieutenant was talking to a blonde girl I didn't remember inducting in my hunt. I walked over to see who she was and listen to what they were discussing in a corner away from other hunters.

"Are you sure Annabeth? Could it be a false alarm?" Thalia asked before I could see the girl's face. Now I knew who the girl was but what was she doing in the hunt? Doesn't she live with the Poseidon's son? I decided to spy further.

"No Thalia. I'm sure. I am not an idiot." She yelled.

"Hey calm down Annie! You are not helping by yelling at only person that is trying to help you."

"I am sorry Thals. I am confused and I don't know what to do, not without him." She said as she started sobbing. Thalia hugged her friend and tried to calm her down. I was still at a loss of what was going on so I lingered.

"How many months along are you Annie?"

"A month or so", came a muffled voice of Annabeth.

"I'll help you Annie. I'll help you until that Kelphead returns besides it's just 9 more days. Stay with us." Thalia said patting her back.

"How? Won't the hunters make me leave when they find out? They are not going to be happy about it." Annabeth said breaking the hug.

"Who cares? I'm the lieutenant and I'm happy. I still can't believe that I'm gonna be an Aunt." And then it clicked Annabeth was pregnant with Perseus' child. He left them there just to help me. Although he shouldn't have abandoned them and come here, but I wasn't in a place to complain. Without him I would still be in that dungeon, so he has my respect. Maybe I'll try to call him Perseus to express my gratitude.

The scene in front of me started fading as I felt my body shake. I woke up to find what seemed like an earthquake which I was quite sure that it didn't happen in Tartarus. I quickly picked up my bow and knives and went outside to see what the commotion was. I half expected an army of monsters walking towards us but what I didn't expect to see was the boy petting a kitten. A kitten in Tartarus, seriously?

"What is going on Perseus?" A little involuntary annoyance seeping into my voice. He turned around and quickly bowed to me but before he could speak I cut him off.

"We are going to be around each other until we escape, so if you are going to bow to me everytime you see then you should start walking on your knees. It is impractical Perseus, so you don't have to bow to me until we leave this blasted pit. Do you understand?" He nodded.

"Now explain" I demanded as I felt the tremor again and much to my surprise it was coming from the kitten which was now rubbing its back on his leg.

He indicated at the kitten and said "his name is small bob and he was Bob's pet. He is actually a spartus and was created by Atlas a couple years ago when he planted saber-toothed tiger teeth instead of dragon teeth. We found him the last time we were here." I nodded and remembered the story he told at the winter solstice many years ago, the day Zoe died. A familiar pain tried to worm its way out but I pushed it back down. Not now, not here and not in front of a boy.

"You should go rest, it's my turn to keep watch."

"There is no need to keep watch milady, they will do fine." I was skeptical but relented seeing as I was still very much tired. I took the bed and he slept on the floor. Never have I ever been in such close proximity to the other gender since my brother on Delos, not even Orion dared to sleep this close to me. As I drifted once more to sleep my last thoughts were 'I hate this'.

Percy's POV

I woke up refreshed after a very good sleep. Absolutely no dreams haunted my sleep, I mean how often does that happen? Let me answer that for you almost never, especially when you are in Tartarus. I woke up to see Artemis still sleeping so I let her and walked outside the hut to see what our other two team members were doing.

As I stepped outside I saw monster dust littered around, not a lot but still significant enough to be noticed. I feared something happened to them but I relaxed when I heard a purring sound and something rubbing against my leg. I smiled and picked up small bob. Achilles was also close by. They must have killed the monsters attracted by my scent. In addition to the now happily purring kitten in my arms I heard a grumbling sound which I sadly knew where it was coming from. It was my stomach reminding me to eat. Oh what would I do for some of my mom's cookies right now.

I should visit Hermes' shrine again but for that I would have to wake up Artemis. Oh well, if this is how I die...I went to wake Lady Artemis up. I had to be careful not to touch her, so yelling it is then. I entered the hut and braced myself because it could get really bad really fast. Just after 2-3 shouts that ended with a silver knife pointed at my throat, she was awake and we were ready to move.

The chapter is a little bland and shorter than the last chapter but what can you do, life sucks! Deal with it. Thanks!