Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades Page 4

  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

  wanted to incinerate me but finally he made a promise through clenched teeth.

  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

  Hades found out. You used us.”

  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.