Time Running Out

“Bianca?” Percy asked. “Look, Nico, I know that you’d love to see her again, I would too, but are you sure about this.”

“Yes,” He replied. Percy gave him a wary look. But he carried on.

“When we were young, before the hotel, my mother would tell us these really weird Greek legends. Like ones that most people had never heard before, or if they did they would say it never happened. She used to tell us that they were stories our father had told her. That’s why I used to love Mythomagic; I saw it as a connection to my father, of course back then I had no idea that I was a demigod. Anyway, after, when we were in the hotel for decades, Bianca would still tell my those stories, I could never remember them properly but she told it in Italian just the way our mom used to. There was one story she had told Bianca but said I was too young to hear. But once, when we were in the Lotus Hotel Bianca had tried to tell me. She got as far as telling me about a curse of Tartarus, and a cure hidden in the deepest parts before I got scared and asked her to stop. I never heard the full story, but she knows it. She can help us.”

Percy nodded. He had smile on his face at the thought of seeing Bianca. They hadn’t spent long together, but he had come to think of himself as her friend on their quest to rescue Artemis and Annabeth. He had always felt a little guilty about her death, despite what he had said to Nico at the time about there being nothing he could have done. She was just one of the many people he’d lost and whose death would forever be on his mind.

“It looks like we have a quest then.” Percy concluded.

“Hang on, Seaweed Brain.” Annabeth stopped him, “We know that you’ll be okay once we’re in the underworld, but how are we going to get you there. You can barely sit never mind walk.”

“I’ll shadow travel us to LA, then Charon will give us a free ride because he has to do what I say.” Nico answered.

“Nico,” Will warned, “I can’t believe you’re agreeing to this. I know you want to see her but now that they know who to talk to, let Chiron go with them, you don’t need to go back down there. Please, Nico.”

He shook his head. “Will, they’re summoning the dead, they need a child of Hades or Pluto, and I’m not going to let Hazel go down there. She did her time in the underworld. Besides, she doesn’t know Bianca.”

"Percy, please, stop him. It’s your quest you can decide who stays and who goes.” Will pleaded.

“I’m sorry Will, I truly am, but we need Nico, he’s right.” Percy said. “And even if we didn’t, isn’t it better only people who’ve been to Tartarus before go back. Nico, just like us, has already been affected by it, isn’t it better we return than let someone new be haunted by that place.”

“Sadly, Percy is right.” Chiron said.

“Never thought we’d see the day.” Connor Stoll muttered, gaining him a laugh from everyone. Even Percy smiled a little; it would have been too painful to fully laugh.

“You shall all leave tomorrow at dawn.” Chiron continued, like nothing was said. “You should meet back here; I think it is unwise for Percy to leave the infirmary until he has to.”

“Don’t worry,” Annabeth said, “I’ll pack for both of us.”

“Now, unless anyone has anything else to add…” Chiron said. Everyone remained silent, just like they had done the entire meeting. People never liked to contribute in discussions about quests unless they planned on actually going on it. This left the same few people always speaking up. “Then you may leave.”

Will stormed out, leaving Nico to chase after him while shouting apologies. Most of the other campers walked out together, muttering goodbyes as they left. Chiron was behind them. The only ones left with Percy were Annabeth, Jason, Piper and Leo.

Piper went to go and hug Annabeth; she had tears in her eyes, and honestly looked more scared than Annabeth did. Leo and Jason walked over to Percy’s bed and Jason rested a hand on his shoulder.

“It looks like I’m going to have to break my promise.” Jason said with a sarcastic sigh.

“What’s that?” Leo asked. The girls were both listening now.

“It’s just that after you left Annabeth crying on the beach I promised her that when we found you I would kick your ass. Since you’re a cripple now I guess that would be wrong of me.”

“I forgive you Jason.” Annabeth laughed.

“No you should do it Jason.” Leo said. They all looked at him, shocked. “Well, with Percy in this state it’s the only chance you’re ever gonna have to beat him.”

“Oi!” Jason shouted.

“Well he isn’t wrong.” Piper muttered.

“Piper! You’re meant to be on my side!”

“Sorry babe! Go team Jason!” She said with a sarcastic laugh.

“Yeah, c’mon Jason!” Percy laughed, “You can’t beat me! We all know I’m the most powerful.” He said it jokingly, but there was a ring of truth.

“Oh yeah Jackson? We’ve both defeated Titans, we’ve both defeated Giants, tell me what’ve you got over me?” He dared light-heartedly.

“Two very good points there, Grace, but tell me? Were you offered immortality by the gods?” Percy and Annabeth just laughed but the others looked astounded.

“You what?” Leo shouted.

“Wait, Percy, you never told these guys?” Annabeth asked.

“I thought I had.” He said simply.

“Um, I think we’d remember.” Piper said.

“No I definitely told you guys, after the first war the gods gave me a wish.”

“Yeah,” Jason said, “And you told them to claim their kids and honour minor gods.”

Percy nodded. “Yeah that’s what I asked for afterwards. As soon as they said they’d give me a gift they assumed I would pick immortality, until I told them no. But right now that seems like it would’ve been a wise choice.” Percy sighed looking down at the infirmary bed he was forced to stay in.

“I still don’t get it though.” Leo said breaking the awkward silence. “Why did you say no?”

Then Annabeth started blushing. “No way?” Piper squealed. “That is too cute.”

Annabeth cleared her throat. “Yeah, later that day we started dating.” Percy looked at her with so much love in his eyes, so much fear. They could all see how scared he was for her. He had given up his immortality for her, and now they were going into Tartarus for each other, again.

The others said their goodbyes leaving the two alone and at peace (for the last time in a long while).

Notes