NICO
I usually feel at my strongest when I'm down here, but it's different this time. I imagine this must be how everyone else feels when they're in the underworld.
'Why'd you stop?' Percy asks.
'Just...getting a bearing.' I say. But in reality I hadn't noticed. I'd stopped without realising. I go on.
Eventually we get to the gates. Cerberus is the only living - or dead - thing around. I go up to him and stroke one of his heads.
'Hey bud.' I say. He wakes up a little, but isn't his usual lively self.
'What's wrong with him?' Annabeth asks.
'Well he's usually here to guard.' I say, 'I guess he has nothing to guard anymore.'
'Yeah, where is everyone?' Piper asks, looking around at the vast empty cavern, 'shouldn't there be loads of people? Like wanting to get in?'
'I don't know.' I say, 'maybe they left. Wouldn't you?'
'I guess.' She says.
Will comes up beside me, and looks to one of the dog's other heads.
'We should go.' I say, turning round, but as I do I feel something change.
'What?' Will asks, as he sees me take out my sword. Percy, Piper, Annabeth, Hazel and Reyna take out their swords too.
'Something's coming.' I say.
'What?' Percy asks.
'Not sure.'
'Hey, Nico is this you?' Will says, as he notices the floor around him falling down.
'It's me, don't worry.' I say. A small army of skeletons climb out and surround Will, 'they'll protect you.'
'Can I get one of those?' Piper asks, gesturing to the small, dead army, 'please?'
'Charm-speak doesn't work with me.' I say, 'but nice try.'
'Nico, come on.' Will says, 'you said something was coming.'
'I know.' I say, turning to him, 'I've got it covered.'
And a switch clicks. Just for a while. I'm in my element again.
All different kinds of monsters come at us, but we've seen them all before. They were the kind that would have killed me if I came across them ten years ago, but have no trouble with now. And everyone else is the same.
I see Percy and Annabeth back to back, fighting with ease and familiarity. Piper and Reyna move quickly beside each other, almost too quick for me to see - they pick the monsters off one by one, dashing away before they're caught. And Hazel, using her magic to make the monsters fight each other. It's been a while since I saw her fight. She's clearly found her way.
I stab a weird looking half dog half person type monster in the neck and turn to see how Will is holding up.
The monsters have almost stopped. The skeletons I raised finishing off one last monster before vanishing into the dust again. Will stands, disheveled, but unharmed. Everyone else regathers.
And then I hear fast approaching thumping. I turn to Will, and see a Minotaur running up to him.
I don't think, just act. I hole my sword out, run past Will, and slide under the Minotaurs legs, he stumbles slightly, giving me enough time to drive my sword into his back. I use the handle of the sword as a step to get onto his shoulders, before taking the dagger I keep by my ankle and driving it through it's skull.
It grabs me with it's last strength and hurls me away, but I roll into the floor and - as far as I can tell - break no bones.
I stand up as the Minotaur stumbles again, and falls on its face, only a couple feet away from Will.
'You okay?' I ask, as I go up to him.
'Are you?' He asks.
'Peachy.' I say, taking my sword out his back, and the dagger out his head. I wipe the blood off on my sleeve.
'That was...' Will says, and let's out a breathe, 'that was very cool.' I can't stop myself from smiling a little.
'I thought you didn't like when I fight.' I say, putting my sword back in its sheath, and going up close to him.
'Well when you make it look that easy...' he says.
'Noted.' I say, and kiss him.
'Alright well when you two are done, my arm is bleeding.' We break apart, to see everyone staring at us. Reyna holds her bleeding arm.
'Oh my Gods, I'm sorry, yes.' Will says, hurrying over to Reyna.
'It's a scrape you'll live.' I say.
'I think I preferred you when you didn't speak as much.' She says, as Will bandages up her arm.
'I don't think you're alone in that.' I say. She rolls her eyes and smiles.
'Well if you're all done with that, me and Percy found a way through.' Annabeth says, 'so Nico, if you'll lead the way?'
