your brothers from the Upperworld. Our orders were to flee.”
The Titan growled on him. “Flee? Did you say flee?”
The ground rumbled. Ethan fell on his butt and scrambled backward. The unfinished
sword of Hades clattered to the rocks.
“Ma-ma-master, please.”
“Iapetus does not flee. I have waited three eons to be summoned from the pit. I want
revenge! And I will start by killing these weaklings.”
He leveled his spear at me and charged. If he’d be at full strength I have no doubt he
would have pierced me right to the middle. Even weakened and just out of pit, the guy
was fast. He moved like a tornado, slashing so quickly I barely had time to dodge the
strike before the spear impale the rock where I’d been standing. I was so dizzy; I could
barely hold my sword. Iapetus yanked the spear out of the ground but as he turned to
face me, Thalia shot his flank full of arrows from his shoulder to his knee. He roared and
turned on her, looking more angry than wounded. Ethan Nakamura tried to draw his
own sword but Nico yelled, “I don’t think so!”
The ground erupted in front of Ethan. Three armored skeletons climbed out and
engaged him, pushing him back. The sword of Hades still lay on the rocks. If I could
only get to it. Iapetus slashed with his spear and Thalia leaped out of the way. She
dropped her bow so she could draw her knives but she wouldn't last long in close
combat. Nico left Ethan to the skeletons and charged Iapetus. I was already ahead of
him. It felt like my shoulder is going to explode but I lunged myself at the Titan and
stabbed downward with Riptide, impaling the blade in the Titan's calf.
“Uhh-ah...” Golden ichor gushed from the wound. Iapetus whirled and the shaft of his
spear slammed into me, sending me flying. I crashed into the rocks, right next to the
River Lethe.
“You die first!” Iapetus roared as he hobbled toward me. Thalia tries to get his attention
by zapping with an arc of electricity from her knives but she might as well have been a
mosquito. Nico stabbed through his sword but Iapetus knocked him aside without even
looking.
“I will kill you all! Then I will cast your souls into the eternal darkness of Tartarus.”
My eyes were full of spots. I could barely move. Another inch and I would fall into the
river head first. The river. I swallowed, hoping my voice still worked.
“You're— you're even uglier than your son,” I taunted the Titan. “I can see where Atlas
gets his stupidity from.”
Iapetus snarled. He limped forward, raising his spear. I didn't know if I have the
strength, but I had to try. Iapetus brought down the spear and I lurched sideways. The
shaft impaled the ground right next to me. I reached up and grabbed his shirt collar,
counting on the fact that he was off balance as well as hurt. He tried to regain his
footing but I pulled him forward with all my body weight. He stumbled and fell, grabbing
my arms in a panic and together pitched into the Lethe.
FROOM! I was immersed in black water. I prayed to Poseidon that my protection would
hold. And as I sink to the bottom, I realized that I was still dry. I knew my own name
and still had the Titan by the shirt collar. The current should have ripped him out of my
hands but somehow the river was channeling itself around me, leaving us alone. With
my last bit of strength I climbed out of the river, dragging Iapetus with my good arm.
We collapsed at the river bank — me perfectly dry; the Titan dripping wet. His pure
silver eyes were as big as moons. Thalia and Nico stood over me in amazement. Up by
the cave, Ethan Nakamura was just cutting down the last skeleton. He turned and froze
when he saw his Titan ally spread eagle on the ground.
“My-my lord,” he called. Iapetus sat up and stared at him. Then he looked at me and
smiled.
“Hello,” he said. “Who am I?”
“You're my friend,” I blurted out. “You're... Bob.”
That seemed to please him greatly. “I am your friend Bob!” Clearly, Ethan could tell
things were not going his way. He glanced at the sword of Hades lying in the dirt but
before he could lunge for it, a silver arrow sprouted on the ground at his feet.
“Not today, kid,” Thalia warned. “One more step and I'll pin your feet to the rocks.”
Ethan ran straight into the cave of Melinoe. Thalia took aim at his back but I said, “No,
let him go.” She frowned but lowered her bow.
I wasn't sure why I wanted to spare Ethan. I guess we'd have enough fighting for one
day and in truth, I felt sorry for the kid. He would be in enough trouble when he
reported back to Kronos.
Nico picked up the sword of Hades reverently. “We did it. We actually did it.”
“We did?” Iapetus asked. “Did I help?”
I managed a weak smile. “Yeah, Bob. You did great.”
We got an express ride back to the palace of Hades. Nico sent word ahead, thanks to
some ghost he’d summoned out of the ground. And within a few minutes, the three
Furies themselves arrived to ferry us back. They weren’t thrilled about logging Bob the
Titan too, but I didn’t have the heart to leave him behind especially after he noticed my
shoulder wound and said “Owie” and healed it with a touch.
Anyway by the time we arrived in the throne room of Hades, I was feeling great. The
Lord of Dead sat on his throne of bones, glowering at us and stroking his black beard
like he was contemplating the best way to torture us. Persephone sat next to him, not
saying a word as Nico explained about our adventure. Before we gave back the sword, I
insisted that Hades take an oath not to use it against the gods. His eyes flared like he
Nico laid the sword at his father’s feet and bowed, waiting for a reaction. Hades looked
at his wife. “You defied my direct orders.”
I wasn’t sure what he was talking about but Persephone didn’t react even under his
withering gaze. Hades turned back to Nico, his gaze softened just a little. Like rock soft
rather than steel. “You will speak of this to no one.”
“Yes, lord,” Nico agreed.
The god glared at me. “And if your friends do not hold their tongues, I will cut them
out.”
“You’re welcome,” I said.
Hades stared at the sword. His eyes were full of anger and something else — something
like hunger. He snapped his fingers. The Furies fluttered down from the top of his
throne. “Return the blade to the forges,” he told them. “Stay with the smiths until it is
finished and then return it to me.”
The Furies swirled into the air with the weapon and I wondered how soon I would be
regretting this day. There are ways around oaths and I imagine Hades would be looking
for one.
“You are wise, my lord,” Persephone said.
“If I were wise,” he growled. “I would lock you in your chambers, if you ever disobey
me again.”
He let the threat hung in the air. Then he snapped his fingers and vanished into
darkness.
Persephone looked paler than usual. She took a moment to smooth her dress and
turned toward us.
“You have done well, demigods.” She waved
her hand and three red roses appeared at
our feet. “Crush these and they will return you to the world of the living. You have my
lord’s thanks.”
“I could tell,” Thalia muttered.
“Making the sword was your idea,” I realized. “That’s why Hades wasn’t there when you
gave us the mission. Hades didn’t know the sword was missing; he didn’t even know it
existed.”
“Nonsense,” the goddess said.
Nico clenched his fists. “Percy’s right. You wanted Hades to make a sword. He told you
no, he knew it was too dangerous. The other gods would never trust him. It would
undue the balance of power.”
“Then it got stolen,” Thalia said. “You shut down the Underworld. Not Hades. You
couldn't tell him what had happened and you need us to get the sword back before
Persephone moistened her lips. “The important thing is that Hades has now accepted
the sword. He will have it finished and my husband will become as powerful as Zeus or
Poseidon. Our realm will be protected against Kronos or any others who try to threaten
us.”
“And we’re responsible,” I said miserably.
“You’ve been very helpful,” Persephone agreed. “Perhaps a reward for your silence.”
“Get lost,” I said, “before I carry you down to the Lethe and throw you in. Bob will help
me. Won’t you, Bob?”
“Bob will help you,” Iapetus agreed cheerfully.
Persephone’s eyes widened and she disappeared in a shower of daisies.
*****
Nico, Thalia, and I said our goodbyes on a balcony overlooking Asphodel. Bob the Titan
sat inside building a toy house out of bones and laughing every time it collapsed.
“I’ll watch him,” Nico said. “He’s harmless now. Maybe… I don’t know. Maybe we could
retrain him to do something good.”
“Are you sure you want to stay here?” I asked. “Persephone will make your life
miserable.”
“I have to,” he insisted. “I have to get close to my dad. He needs a better adviser.”
I couldn’t argue with that. “Well, if you need anything…”
“I’ll call,” he promised.
He shook hands with Thalia and me. He turned to leave but he looked at me one more
time. “Percy, you haven’t forgotten my offer.”
A shiver went down my spine. “I’m still thinking about it.”
Nico nodded. “Well… Whenever you’re ready.”
After he was gone, Thalia said, “What offer?”
“Something he told me last summer,” I said. “A possible way to fight Kronos. It’s
dangerous and I have enough danger for one day.”
Thalia nodded. “In that case, still up for dinner?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “After all that, you’re hungry?”
“Hey,” she said, “even immortals have to eat. I’m thinking cheeseburgers at McHale’s.”
And together we crushed the roses that will return us to the world.