Time Running Out

Charon was glowing. His entire being radiated power. His eyes were black, as if all light had been taken out of the world and this was its result. They were hardly eyes anymore, just gaping holes into nothingness. There was a sadistic smile on his face; it was twisted, and sick, and deformed. There was nothing physically wrong about how it looked but - just like the rest of him - it wasn’t natural it was pure evil.

By this point Nico had figured out that this wasn’t Charon anymore. This was evil. Now, Charon definitely wasn’t good but he wasn’t evil either. He was just someone doing his job, taking souls to the underworld. Could he have been nicer? Of course! Nico thought. But that didn’t mean he was…this.

The thing that was stood in front of him laughed. It was cold and cruel; only meant to ridicule them and make them feel hopeless. Sadly it was working, particularly on Annabeth. She was shaking. Percy lay forgotten in her arms. The beast in front of them had all the attention, and it loved it.

“Fools!” It yelled. “All of you! Insolent heroes!” It said the word like it was the worst insult there can be. It sent shivers down Nico’s spine. “The three of you, the first mortals to ever escape me and you plan to return!”

Now he understood. The raw power that radiated from him; Annabeth’s horrified reaction; and the pure terror in Percy’s face: this was Tartarus.

“HA! Well, I commend you on your bravery, but you shall not survive a second time. You think your friendship and love will help you? You are wrong! “You rely on TRUST?”

At that he looked directly at Annabeth. She could feel his eyes bearing into her but she couldn’t meet them. His gaze was burning holes into her skull. There were tears in her eyes and he knew it. He could tell, and relished at the thought.

“That’s right demigod,” It said, “I know your dreams. You think they are just that? Only dreams? How wrong you are! You lie to your selves, all of you! I am in your heads, in your minds, in your souls. I have seen what you all most fear; I have created those very situations for your dreams. The daughter of Athena; scared of being abandoned, of her precious Perseus leaving her alone! The son of Hades; afraid of what those around him really think. How much truth is in their words? None! They don’t really care; all you have is their pity! Ah, now the son of Poseidon; so many fears, where to begin? Afraid of your own power; that is a rare one. Scared of hurting your loved ones; that’s cute really. Then there’s abandonment, lies, etc. Oh! Here’s a good one; Annabeth Chase, scared to lose her. Now that is a valid fear. You are but the first to be poisoned! The son of Poseidon! How you will fall! And how your friends here will follow you!”

Annabeth looked at Percy. She expected to see the same fear from before, the same uncontrollable terror. She was wrong. All she saw was determination. He wasn’t scared or weak or afraid. He was angry.

“Stop!” Percy shouted, getting up at the same time. “We aren’t in your domain yet! You may be able to possess someone here, but you have no real power! You have our fear, and I will not let you take mine! I may be poisoned, I may fall, and it may be by your hands. But you will not hurt my family!” The river Styx was churning around them, responding to Percy’s anger. Annabeth was terrified, and it wasn’t just because of Tartarus being there. “I will try to find my cure, but if it comes to it, my friends will get out before that. I will not risk them! You shall not take them!”

Tartarus laughed.

“Oh Perseus, they are already doomed.” He sighed as if he was stating the most obvious thing in the world and had to explain it to a toddler. “Returning here with you only speeds up my process. I have claimed your soul, and soon I shall have theirs. You should know no one truly ever escapes me.”

“We’ll see.” This time it was Nico who spoke. Almost as is Percy had brought it out in him. “I am the son of Hades and right now you are in my realm. LEAVE!” He put so much power into his words it was like Piper’s charmspeak. Annabeth felt the urge to dive over the side of the boat just to get away, and that was only a back lash of Nico’s power.

He had almost done it, it almost worked. For a moment she could see Charon’s confused face coming to the surface. But as quickly as it had come it left, replaced once again by Tartarus’s sneer.

“You have power demigod, more than you realise, but you are a fool is you believe it could possibly challenge me. I channel the power of every single monster that walks on my back, you think you have what it takes to defeat me?”

“Of course not.” Nico laughed. “I do, however, have what it takes to distract you.”

A bronze blade pierced his stomach. He let out a growl of rage and red light encased them. Annabeth knew that wouldn’t harm him. She knew it was just a delay until they had to face him again. But next time his weapons would be more that words.

Percy stepped out from behind Charon and moved over to hug them both. “I meant what I said, you know.” He whispered to them. “You are both my family.” Annabeth could see Nico wipe a tear from under his eyes, but she wouldn’t bring it up, she was just so relieved to have Percy on his feet and have all of them okay, for now.

Nico cleared his throat, “Charon’s going to be out for a while, d…do you think you’re strong enough to control the water and get us the rest of th…the way?” He asked Percy, still clearly in shock from what happened (though whether that was Tartarus’s appearance or Percy calling him family Annabeth wasn’t sure).

“Yeah, I can manage.” Percy said, sitting down, still looking exhausted. As much as Annabeth was worried for him she couldn’t let herself fuss. There wasn’t time for that. After all, their journey had only just begun.

Notes