Cabin 13

40| Making a Deal

Percy laughed, "What, are you scared of your older brother, Eros?"

Eros, scowling, lifted his hand as if he were about to do something to Percy--

"Wait! So you know how to get there, tell us," Hazel pleaded, "Please," she added quickly after.

He lowered his hand as if he would cooperate, but of course, things couldn't be that simple, "No,"  he shook his head, "The Netherworld is a prison specially designed to hold Erebus, it's not for tourist visits," he growled. 

"A prison?" Nico frowned, looking to Hazel who was just as surprised.

"Erebus is imprisoned? Why?" Hazel asked, scrunching her nose.

Eros just sneered, obviously not happy with himself for revealing any more information to them, "Just stop asking questions about-- that,"  he said, but then he seemed to reconsider, "Unless..."

Nico groaned, "What do you want?"

"Let me see his soul," Eros motioned to Percy, "Something this drastic only happens to a person's heart every other millennium, it's quite riveting to see the rare occasion in person," he said, looking at Percy like a lab rat again.

Percy was infuriated, "Stop talking about me like I'm something you want to dissect! And you're not getting anywhere close to me, you sicko!" He hissed, disgusted.

Nico, ignoring Percy, nodded, "Fine, as long as you give us the information we need."

Percy recoiled, "WHAT?! NO!"

"And you have to fix him!" Piper quickly added, taking the opportunity.

Eros just frowned, "Fix him? I doubt I can do that, at least not the way you want me to. But I'll see what I can do,"  he nodded, "Just let me have a look."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Percy roared.

But Piper ignored him, "Deal."

Then, before anything else could be said, Eros disappeared, reappearing behind Percy. He put his hand on Percy's head, who immediately fell unconscious at his touch, "There, that will make him a bit more cooperative."

Leo stood wide-eyed, "What just happened?!" He turned to Jason, who was just as bewildered.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this without his consent," Will said softly to Nico.

"No, this is the only way," Piper said unflinchingly, "Besides, Eros said he might be able to help Percy. Killing two birds with one stone," she said.

"But is this really the way, Pipes?" Jason asked, using the same soft tone as Will.

Piper sighed, "I'm not sure, but what if this is the only chance we get to help him?" She looked at Jason with wide eyes; if only he had a reassuring answer.

"Okay, then. Two birds, one stone," he said, squeezing her hand, holding back his skepticism, though his conscious was screaming this was wrong. 

She smiled, Jason was her rock, she couldn't wait until this was all over and it was just her and him; if it ever was over.

"Hey, hey!" Nico frowned as Eros touched Percy's temples, closing his eyes, "No..." he blanked, "Uh, whatever you're doing, until you give us our information."

Eros grumbled, reappearing right in front of Nico.

"Hey--" but before Nico could protest any further Eros put his two fingers up to Nico's temples.

 "It'll be easier to just show you."

Everyone stood frozen, not sure if they should intervene or not...

When Eros finally let go Nico gasped for air, panting, Will quickly steadying him.

"What'd you do?!" Jason demanded.

Eros just waved him off, "I just gave you all the direction you need. Don't blame me if you all die a painful, gruesome death in the Netherworld. Now my turn,"  he said, returning to Percy, then he placed his hands on Percy's temples and closed his eyes.