CHAPTER TEN
—dumb summons

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—IF there was one thing Judith hated more than Percy's knack for getting on her nerves, it was being held captive against her will. This was probably the worst day of her life.

Judith struggled against the rope-binding that her gargantuan half-brother had knotted her and her friends in. He had given her a pitiful yet also incredibly bored expression like he could care less that he had just done her dirty. But there was a glint in his eye as he pulled out a pocket knife to pick at his finger nails. She couldn't place exactly what he was thinking, if he was even thinking anything at all.

Nico, in his pouting glory, had been wrapped up next to her. He had refused to make eye contact with her for a solid half hour before finally speaking. "I thought you said you were on the quest," he said, quiet enough so the rest of their company would not overhear.

Judith tried to shift her weight so she could look at him. She breathed in for a thoughtful moment. "I did say that. But I am not technically a part of their group."

"So you lied to me," Nico said darkly.

"Yeah. Because if I had told you the truth, you would have run off," she answered with bite. "You would have been too stubborn for me to help you."

"So, why were you really in the labyrinth then? And don't lie to me."

Judith debated on her next words. "I came to help you."

"To stop me?" he pressed.

"Is that what I said?" she asked, becoming frustrated. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, counting to five. "I mean ... no. I didn't come to stop you. I came to help."

"Why," he uttered quietly, "why would you help me?"

Judith wanted to strangle herself with the ropes. But what else could you do except think about serious things when tied down for a prolonged period of time? Nico was probably taking her silence the wrong way, but he asked a loaded question. She needed a minute to think about it.

Why did she help him? Why did she want to help him?

Was it because she'd been a kid once? Because she'd been a volatile demigod only a few years ago ( as if she wasn't still a danger to herself and others )? Because she'd made that promise to herself to watch over the boy while Bianca couldn't? Or perhaps it was because she knew what it felt like to lose someone. Judith hadn't lost a sibling, not like Nico had lost Bianca. But losing anyone, it changes a person.

Judith hadn't known how to properly cope with Bryce dying so suddenly. Her world was coated in red and black, a world where all she wanted to do was fight or hide away. Clarisse had to spend weeks trying to pull her out of the hazy glamour.

Nico needed someone to pull him out.

"I would want someone there for me if I was in your position. And I would try to push them away, as well, but that doesn't change the fact that it's what you need."

There was a baited silence and Judith wondered if he had just stopped listening to her altogether in anger. But after another moment, his trembling voice flooded her ear. "Thank you."

Judith was about to say some sappy heart warming comment that she would probably regret when suddenly Geryon was shouting at the other three in the group who were loudly complaining. "Shut up! Don't you kids ever know when to stop talking?! Eurytion! Gag them."

Scratch off what Judith had said earlier. She found something she hated more.

If looks could kill, Eurytion would be in the deepest pits of Tartarus. He tied the strip of cloth around her head, but before he backed off, he let his hand linger on her shoulder. As he pulled away, a hard object fell discreetly into her lap, his pocket knife.

She slowly raised her gaze to see his were already in her direction. He faintly shook his head as if to say, 'Not yet.' Judith didn't like that he was delaying her escape, but she knew he was probably more in tune with instincts, having been alive hundreds if not thousands of years. So she waited. And waited.

She waited all the way up until Percy ran up to the ranch house, sweaty, out of breath, and completely disheveled. But at that point, he looked like a merciful god come to set Judith free from this terrible nightmare.

"Let them go!" He beseeched. "I cleaned the stables!"

Geryon turned away from his barbecue slowly. "Did you, now? How'd you manage it?"

"The naiad at the river told me to use the sea shells from the dirt. I could harness the ocean through them and the salt water cleaned it all," Percy explained rather impatiently. A coat of impress covered Judith, but through that, she felt disappointed that he would give away trade secrets so easily. Never show your whole hand, especially not to an enemy.

Geryon nodded appreciatively. "Very ingenious. It would've been better if you'd poisoned that pesky naiad, but no matter."

"Let my friends go," he said desperately. "We had a deal."

"Ah, I've been thinking about that. The problem is, if I let them go, I don't get paid."

"You promised!"

Geryon made a tsk-tsk noise. "But did you make me swear on the River Styx? No, you didn't. So it's not binding. When you're conducting business, sonny, you should always get a binding oath." Judith grumbled through the cloth in her mouth about separating every limb of his three bodies in a gruesome way.

Percy drew his sword and Orthus growled above Grover's head, slobber threatening to fall on his hair and horns.

"Eurytion," Geryon said, "the boy is starting to annoy me. Kill him."

Eurytion studied the son of Poseidon. Within Judith's gut, she knew he wouldn't fight Percy, but the slight twinge of nerves still cooled tight. If her half-brother did deign to fight Percy to the death, she wasn't sure the boy would win.

"Kill him yourself," Eurytion said.

Geryon raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Eurytion grumbled. "You keep sending me out to do your dirty work. You pick fights for no good reason, and I'm getting tired of dying for you. You want to fight the kid, do it yourself."

Judith couldn't recall a time where she ever turned down an opportunity to fight. But she understood. He had been forced to fight petty brawls for someone else for millennia and he was tired of it all.

Geryon threw down his spatula. "You dare defy me? I should fire you right now!"

"And who'd take care of your cattle? Orthus, heel."

The dog immediately stopped growling at Grover and went to sit by the cowherd's feet.

"Fine!" Geryon snarled. "I'll deal with you later, after the boy is dead!"

He picked up two carving knives and threw them at Percy. He deflected one with his sword. The other impaled itself in the picnic table an inch from Eurytion's hand, the guy not even flinching. Instead, he subtly nodded to Judith. She took this as her cue to grab for the knife and started to saw away at the thick rope.

Her eyes kept bouncing from her wrists to Percy who was not really winning his fight. Geryon had three hearts which made killing him infinitely harder. Soon, Percy was retreating into the house. Judith was less sneaky about trying to cut through the bindings now that Geryon was distracted inside.

Judith sighed in relief as she finally got through the twine and the first thing she did was tear the cloth off her face. She threw it aside and stomped on it as she tossed the closed pocket knife at Annabeth who quickly got to work. Judith undid Nico's knots by hand and then let him take his gag off himself.

As soon as the girl was sure things were taken care of on the porch, she ran inside to check on Percy, only to find him panting on the ground with a bow in hand, a pile of sand at Judith's feet.

"Lucky shot?" She teased. He stared at her with a deadpan look before slumping to the floor, laughing to himself in exhaustion.

—JUDITH had long since snatched her ax off the back of her half-brother, giving him one last withering look. She made a dramatic motion of pocketing his Swiss Army knife. He said nothing about it, only rolling his eyes and waving her off. Definitely cooler than Phobos and Deimos.

Ironically, she was seated identical to Eurytion coincidentally ( one leg up and arms crossed ) as they all discussed what came next for the group.

"How long will it take Geryon to re-form?" Percy asked him, sitting in the spot next to Judith. He was what Judith would consider 'uncomfortably' close, but her body wasn't as keen to shift away. She cracked it up to being away for so long.

Eurytion shrugged. "Hundred years? He's not one of those fast re-formers, thank the gods. You've done me a favor."

"He said you've been working for him for a long time." Judith crossed her arms.

"I've worked for that creep for thousands of years. Started as a regular half-blood, but I chose immortality when dad offered it. Worst mistake I ever made. Now I'm stuck here at this ranch. I can't leave. I can't quit. I just tend the cows and fight Geryon's fights. We're kinda tied together." Judith couldn't believe that she was almost forced into that when Geryon had mentioned it. But she also couldn't believe her father would just hand out immortality to one of his offspring.

"Maybe you can change things," Percy said.

Eurytion narrowed his eyes. "How?"

"Be nice to the animals. Take care of them. Stop selling them for food. And stop dealing with the Titans."

Eurytion thought about that. "That'd be all right."

"Get the animals on your side, and they'll help you. Once Geryon gets back, maybe he'll be working for you this time."

Eurytion grinned. "Now, that I could live with."

"You won't try to stop us leaving?"

"Shoot, no."

Annabeth rubbed her bruised wrists. She was still looking at Eurytion suspiciously. "Your boss said somebody paid for our safe passage. Who?"

The cowherd shrugged. "Maybe he was just saying that to fool you."

Judith glanced around the room till she saw the smaller boy in their collection. "What about Nico? Did Geryon Iris-message the Titans?"

"Nope. Geryon was waiting until after the barbecue. They don't know about him."

Nico only looked at her fleetingly, but she could see the slight fear in his eyes. Percy spoke to him. "You could stay here until we're done with our quest," he told him imploringly. "It would be safe."

"Safe?" Nico said. "What do you care if I'm safe? You got my sister killed!" Judith bit the inside of her cheeks as she let the boy blow up. She had managed to get through to him herself, and now it was Percy's turn to do the same.

"Nico," Annabeth started, "that wasn't Percy's fault. And Geryon wasn't lying about Kronos wanting to capture you. If he knew who you were, he'd do anything to get you on his side."

"I'm not on anyone's side. And I'm not afraid." Judith could see the blatant lie as he shifted in his lawn chair.

"You should be," Annabeth said. "Your sister wouldn't want —"

"If you cared for my sister, you'd help me bring her back!"

Judith was trying her very best to stay out of this heated discussion, but the shouting was a trigger and she could tell by Orthus's unprovoked growling that her Odikinesis was at work. She clenched her fists and tried to labor her breathing as much as possible. Eurytion last eyes sought hers out as he flexed his fingers, feeling the waves of power wash over him as well. He shook his head, stop it.

Her face twisted up, like I'm trying.

"A soul for a soul?" Percy said.

"Yes!"

"But if you didn't want my soul —"

"I'm not explaining anything to you!" He blinked tears out of his eyes. "And I will bring her back."

"Bianca wouldn't want to be brought back," Percy said forcefully. "Not like that."

"You didn't know her!" Nico objected. "How do you know what she'd want?"

Judith latched onto Percy's forearm, gaining a hiss of pain from him as her grip was rock hard. He took one look at her flaming eyes and knew he had to chill out before it went too far. He blinked and took a deep breath.

"Let's ask Bianca."

The sky seemed to grow darker at the sudden declaration, but Judith could finally breathe normally with the lessened emotions.

"I've tried," Nico said miserably. "She won't answer."

"Try again. I've got a feeling she'll answer with me here."

"Why would she?"

"Because she's been sending me Iris-messages," Percy said, suddenly sure of it. "She's been trying to warn me what you're up to, so I can protect you."

Nico shook his head. "That's impossible."

"One way to find out. You said you're not afraid." Percy turned to Eurytion. "We're going to need a pit, like a grave. And food and drinks."

"Percy," Annabeth warned. "I don't think this is a good —"

"All right," Nico said. "I'll try."

Eurytion scratched his beard. "There's a hole dug out back for a septic tank. We could use that. Cyclops boy, fetch my ice chest from the kitchen. I hope the dead like root beer."

Judith thought it was great timing that the sun had just set for the day just as they chose to do their summons. The moon was peeking out behind gray clouds in the darkening sky that was littered with glittering stars. The girl's eyes unconsciously brushed over the newest constellation in the sky and knew that Zoë Knightshade was up there watching over them.

"Minos should be here by now," Nico said, frowning. "It's full dark."

"Maybe he got lost," Percy said hopefully.

"Good riddance," Judith quipped. The girl had briefly gone over her short yet impressionable interactions with the others and they all agreed that the king was a snooty jerk who was only helping Nico to settle his own scores.

Nico poured root beer and tossed barbecue into the pit, then began chanting in Ancient Greek. The same feeling from when Judith first found the boy returned and she shivered.

"Make him stop," Tyson whispered behind Judith and Percy. The cyclops was holding on tightly to Annabeth's hand.

Before anything could be stopped, the first spirits appeared. Sulfurous mist seeped out of the ground. Shadows thickened into human forms. One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink.

"Stop him!" Nico said, momentarily breaking his chant. "Only Bianca may drink!"

Judith unlatched her ax from her back and held it out threateningly while Percy did the same with Riptide, but the first ghost had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white robes. A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even in death his eyes seemed alive with malice. Judith rolled her eyes and let her ax touch back down to the dirt, knowing exactly who was in front of them.

"Minos!" Nico said. "What are you doing?"

"My apologies, master," the ghost said, though he didn't sound very sorry at all. "The sacrifice smelled so good, I couldn't resist." He examined his own hands and smiled. "It is good to see myself again. Almost in solid form —"

"You are disrupting the ritual!" Nico protested. "Get —"

The spirits of the dead began shimmering dangerously bright, and Nico had to take up the chant again to keep them at bay.

"Yes, quite right, master," Minos said with amusement. "You keep chanting. I've only come to protect you from these liars who would deceive you." He turned to Judith first, looking her up and down as he scoffed. Then he slowly spun to Percy, still less than impressed. "Percy Jackson ... my, my. The sons of Poseidon haven't improved over the centuries, have they?"

Judith's eyes narrowed and she took one bold step toward the pit to try and spook him, but Percy held her arm and moved her back. "We're looking for Bianca di Angelo," he said. "Get lost."

The ghost chuckled. "I understand you once killed my Minotaur with your bare hands. But worse things await you in the maze. Do you really believe Daedalus will help you?"

The other spirits stirred in agitation. Judith brought her blade up again and they sneered in her direction.

"Daedalus cares nothing for you, half-bloods," Minos warned. "You can't trust him. He is old beyond counting, and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods."

"The guilt of murder?" Percy asked. "Who did he kill?"

"Do not change the subject!" The ghost growled. "You are hindering Nico. You try to persuade him to give up on his goal. I would make him a lord!"

"Sorry, but this isn't Ancient Greece. And you're not a king, anymore," Judith interrupted. "I suggest ... " She stalked closer, brushing Percy's hand off her arm. " ... you leave."

The ghost's eyes flickered with something akin to hesitation before he sneered. "Master, these are your enemies. You must not listen to them! Let me protect you. I will turn their minds to madness, as I did the others."

"The others?" Annabeth gasped. "You mean Chris Rodriguez? That was you?"

"The maze is my property," the ghost said, "not Daedalus's! Those who intrude deserve madness."

"Be gone, Minos!" Nico demanded. "I want to see my sister!"

The ghost bit back his rage. "As you wish, master. But I warn you. You cannot trust these heroes."

With that, he faded into mist.

"Thank the gods," the daughter of Ares rubbed at her temples.

"Bianca, appear!" Nico intoned. He started chanting faster, and the spirits shifted restlessly. Percy and Judith were back to back now, scaring off the ghosts from trying to drink the mixture.

"Any time now," Grover muttered.

Then a silvery light flickered in the trees — a spirit that seemed brighter and stronger than the others. The demigods all stepped aside as it knelt to drink at the pit. When it arose, it was the ghostly form of Bianca di Angelo.

Nico's chanting faltered.

"Hello, Percy," she said, seeing him first.

She looked the same as she had before becoming a hunter: a green cap set sideways on her thick black hair, dark eyes and olive skin like her brother. But she wore the jeans and silvery jacket, the outfit of a Hunter of Artemis. A bow was slung over her shoulder. She smiled faintly, and her whole form flickered.

"Bianca," Percy ventured. Judith recalled all the letters the boy had sent her where he confessed of his nightmares from the night she passed and to the guilt he felt for betraying Nico's trust. She never truly knew how to comfort him about it, merely repeating that it wasn't his fault each time, because it wasn't. "I'm so sorry," he said.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Percy. I made my own choice. I don't regret it. And Judith ... " She implored. "I can't thank you enough for what you have done for Nico. King Minos drags him down a dark path, but I trust you'll help him see better."

Judith nodded her head slowly, feeling a new sense of pressure to help the young boy. As if she wasn't already feeling completely out of her depth with the task.

"Bianca!" Nico stumbled forward like he was just coming out of a daze.

She turned toward her brother. Her expression was sad, as if she'd been dreading this moment. "Hello, Nico. You've gotten so tall."

"Why didn't you answer me sooner?" He cried. "I've been trying for months!"

"I was hoping you would give up." Judith's eyes closed, fearing for the young boy's volatile reaction.

"Give up?" He sounded heartbroken. "How can you say that? I'm trying to save you!"

"You can't, Nico. Don't do this. Percy is right."

"No! He let you die! He's not your friend."

Bianca stretched out a hand as if to touch her brother's face, but she was made of mist. Her hand evaporated as it got close to living skin. But Nico leaned into it all the same.

"You must listen to me," she pleaded. "Holding a grudge is dangerous for a child of Hades. It is our fatal flaw. You have to forgive. You have to promise me this."

"I can't. Never."

"Percy has been worried about you, Nico. He can help. I let him see what you were up to, hoping he would find you."

"So it was you," Percy noted. "You sent those Iris-messages."

Bianca nodded.

"Why are you helping him and not me?" Nico screamed. "It's not fair!"

"You are close to the truth now," Bianca told him. "It's not Percy you're mad at, Nico. It's me."

"No."

"You're mad because I left you to become a Hunter of Artemis. You're mad because I died and left you alone. I'm sorry for that, Nico. I truly am. But you must overcome the anger. And stop blaming Percy for my choices. It will be your doom."

"She's right," Annabeth broke in. "Kronos is rising, Nico. He'll twist anyone he can to his cause."

"I don't care about Kronos," Nico said. "I just want my sister back."

Judith's chest wanted to flare up and unleash its capabilities. But she wouldn't let it, not now. Her head pounded as she thought of everything cold to tame the fire.

"You can't have that, Nico," Bianca told him gently.

"I'm the son of Hades! I can."

"Don't try," she said. "If you love me, don't ..."

Her voice trailed off. Spirits had started to gather around again, and they seemed agitated. Their shadows shifted. Their voices whispered, 'Danger!'

"Tartarus stirs," Bianca said. "Your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the Underworld. It is not safe for us to remain."

"Wait," Nico said. "Please —"

"Good-bye, Nico," Bianca said. "I love you. Remember what I said."

Her form shivered and the ghosts disappeared, leaving them alone with a pit and a cold full moon.

NOTES ;

NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS. VERY PLOT ORIENTED

edited : 09 / 05 / 2020