Ghost King's Torch

Probotis and His Genital Area

        We got on Horizon as fast as we could and drove up the sky. "Where is the entrance to the Underworld?" I asked, looking around "There are no billboard signs around here,". "First, we need to get out from New Rome first," Nico answered, pointing to the north. Following his finger, we dashed into a dozen clouds, and appeared in the normal streets of San Fransisco. "The Underworld is at Los Angeles. In Holywood, precisely. The entrance is the letter H on the legendary Holywood sign," Nico continued "We get off there, chain Horizon or something, and then get in,". I nodded "From here to Los Angeles is about 5 h, but I think Horizon could go faster than that,". Nico smiled "Let's sleep,". I agreed on that. I set the auto-pilot machine that Leo doesn't have. Bwahaa. I won over him. Then, I clung to Horizon's neck and drift of to sleep. Nico leaned on my shoulders and slept too.

        I woke up when we landed harshly infront of the Holywood sign. The weather was bad and cloudy. Storms blasted through the dark clouds. Nico is still sleeping. I could feel some kind liquid running through the back of my neck to my collar. I squinted in disgust. Ugh, saliva. I thank Hephaestus that Nico doesn't snore. That would be super disgusting. I shook him awake. He looked startled for a few moments. We got off. "Nico, your hair is so messy," I groaned, trying flatting it with my bare hands. "Sorry, mamzelle," Nico snickered. He suddenly said "Woe to all brave souls,". I heard a few cracking behind me. I glanced back. A hole just appeared from nowhere right after Nico's words. "That's the way to Underworld?" I frowned "I expect it to be more creepy,". Nico rolled his eyes and went in the hole.

        When we came in, the hole closed all of a sudden. "Dammit," I groaned "Now we are stuck here,". "We are not stuck," Nico reassured "We are safe from the outer world now,". Suddenly, a flash of red brushed through us. I catch the figure. It was Hermes. He looks sweaty after delivering stuffs. I bowed down and he gave me an 'aye-aye' salute. I giggled just as he dissapeared. Nico shrugged "Usually, when he saw me, he just ignore me. But when he saw girls, he would be extra polite,". "C'mon," I teased "Are you jealous!". Nico's face turned red and he protested "Of course no! I'm not jealous!".

        We walked on the big underground space which was decorated with grinning skulls, cobwebs, and lowly-lit candles. It was Greek fire. I knew at once, that they are no Roman effects on this kind of places. Amazing, it survived eons. We stopped on halt infront of a black-watered river. "It's not too wide," I suggested "Let's just swim across it,". Nico shot me a deadly glare "Are you crazy, Valdez? You would lose your memory if you swim at the River Styx!". I mouthed "Oh,". So this is what legends said. The deadly memory river. I wished I had the guts to tell Nico that I felt kind of tempted to swim inside the river. Nico is walking quickly down the stream, searching for a boat or something. I trailed behind him.

        Just then I heard a sound of someone coughing. Me and Nico turned around. There was Probotis, the boy from the Senate House, standing there, doing an ollie with his skateboard. "Probotis! What are you doing here? Grandson of Ares aren't supposed to be here!" I shouted. Nico glanced at me "You know this guy?". "I-I've met him t-this morning at the Senate H-house!" I answered. Nico activated serious mode. "I'm sorry, Mr. Probotis, but this isn't the right place to spend your time. The exit is righ-".

        I don't know what exactly happened, but Probotis moved so fast and jerked Nico into the river. I screamed Nico's name and reached my hand over to help him, but he is too far. I stared at Probotis; my mouth agape. Chiron's Greek language lesson flooded my mind quickly. Probotis means traitor. "N-no way," I whispered "You worked for Gaea?". Probotis snickered, suddenly blazing fire from his hands. Like my expectation, he is a son of Hephaestus or Vulcan. I greeted him with a fireball aimed right to... Where should I aim? He is resistant to fire! And one more thing, my tool belt is with Terminus. I got no weapon. And Probotis got a celestial bronze sword and imperial gold dagger by his sides. So I ran.

        Probotis chased me. He got long legs, so it is easier for him to get faster. I could see the land is getting narrower, and there's no way I could continue without plunging into the river. Near the end, I caught a boat's paddle made of Stygian iron. If Chiron is really right and smart, Stygian iron can turn into deadly weapons. I grabbed it. It was really heavy I wander how difficult it's for Nico to carry this kind of metal all around. I swung the paddle at every direction. It hit Probotis at his... genital area, He fall down and hit his head at a sharp rock. He fainted closely. I ran back to the spot Nico drowned. His body is floating in the middle of the river. I groaned and ran back to grab the iron paddle. I reached for his body with the paddle. I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him up.

        I had no idea how should I bring him back to Camp Half-Blood. I scrambled on his jacket trying to find something useful. There are only several pearls. I don't have any idea why would a son of Hades bring pearls everywhere he go. After waiting him to wake up, I squeaked. The pearls is used for transportation! I picked up a pearl and put the rest inside my jeans' pocket. Helding Nico's body, I thought of Camp Half-Blood and stepped on the pearl.

        Everything went in a beautiful bubbly bliss. All I felt is weightless, airy, and light-headed. So this is how Nico felt most of the time. It was not too long, but I promised myself to come back to Los Angeles to get Horizon back.

        The pearl sucks. We landed quite far from camp. From the signs at the streets, Long Island is about fifteen miles from here. Nico is really heavy. Plus, his clothes, shirt, jacket, jeans, sneakers, and boxers, are all wet. With Styx water. Every droplet of Styx water is heavy. I never held a weight as heavy as that. Fifteen miles is very far away. Nico's body is really cold, so I set my lower half of my body with fire. I carried Nico at my back, for sure. In a few hectometres I had grew weary. It's almost a kilometre and I'm breathless already. Where are all Chiron's training? Why is it all fading? I tried to recall hiking with Clarisse La Rue. No, it wasn't as far as this. Sometimes Nico moved, which made him heavier. At times like those, I just gritted my teeth and tighten my jaws, ignoring the pain. My neck felt numb, and I couldn't feel my feet.

        I talked to Nico. At least I tried to. I kept my voice low and soft, so I don't lose much energy. I knew he is just sleeping. I told him about how much I missed Leo. How much I missed Esperanza. How angry I was never seeing my father. How lonely I felt before I met him. "And Leo... I hadn't talk much to him. He's just too much into his Calypso," I shrugged, almost tripping over a rock. My eyes felt heay and my stomach churned. I hadn't eat since this morning. "You know, you had grown so much, diAngelo. You are very... very... very.. heavy now," I panted "Very...  heavy...". My eyes caught a glimpse of forests and I collapsed, relieved to be home.