Percy's POV:

I was the first awake between the girls and I. Thankfully though I made my way out of bed and disentangled myself from them without waking them, as I wanted to talk to Iapetus.

"General" He said as I walked out of the tent. "It's a bit early is it not"

"I've never really been one for much sleep Iapetus" thankfully he understood being immortal, as the gods don't need sleep, and I presume the titans don't either, but they still all like sleep because it's the fastest form of recovery for them.

"Something feels different about you though" Iapetus said, "your aura is different. More powerful than last summer"

"Yeah well the voice in my head that goes by my proper name is being a bitch" I grumble, letting on enough for him to get the message.

"I see" Iapetus said, "but you knew this was your fate, I feel"

"That or death" I said hoping the girls didn't hear, "known since before I was even discovered by ol grandpa drama queen"

"Yet you still fell in love with mortal demigods" Iapetus asked

"I...I don't know why" I admitted

Iapetus thought on that, "love is always mysterious, regardless of from who to who and what kind of love"

"I suppose it is"

"But are you ready to let go of them" Iapetus asked, "should you survive the process of course"

"Honestly" I stated but more like asked, "I don't think I'll ever be. I grew up around immortals. For me immortality is the norm, not mortality". When I finished though, I started to hear stirring from inside the tent, and by the looks of it so did Iapetus.

The girls both stepped out a few minutes later looking refreshed and rested. "I'm so glad for that tent" Thalia stated, as she collapsed it and threw it at me to carry, even though it practically weighs nothing.

"Yes. It provides safe and comfortable sleeping" Iapetus said. "Let's go generals. The journey ahead is long, if my senses are correct"

Line break

We walked for I don't know how long, along the river bank, and probably drank from it neigh on a dozen times.

However the river bank came up to a forest of dead trees and kept going. "I've got a bad feeling about this" I stated

Iapetus paused and looked around, before he paled a little, nowhere near Hades's levels if you want to know. "This is bad. This isn't supposed to be here" Iapetus said, "at least not this close"

"So we have a certain someone's attention" Annabeth asked nervously.

"Let us not think about that" Iapetus said, and I could sense the true worry and even fear in the Piercer's voice. Primordials are nothing to scoff at, especially in their domain. It took five Titans just to kill one primordial, and that came with the help of another.

Wow...this makes me feel neigh hopeless against G. But arguably I'd take her over T.

"Let us continue" I said, trying to hide my nerves at the prospect of being watched by a primordial, "it's better than staying here doing nothing."

The others agreed with my sentiment. "I'm tired of being fucking entertainment" Thalia muttered, which caused Annabeth to chuckle.

I swear to any god out there that Annabeth is more insane than the rest of us. I mean, she genuinely laughed in the Pit of all places. That has to be a first. I just hope any watchers didn't mind.

"Iapetus" Annabeth called

"Yes"

"You said this shouldn't be here. Almost like this is a bad place even down here" She asked

"Let us not call the...residents of this forest here. It won't be good for you three, the arena would be nicer, or even the dungeons" he said but those last two were quieter like an afterthought.

Well if this is worse than dungeons and arenas, even with my limited knowledge on monsters and the residents of Tartarus I only came up with one possibility, and like many...let's say generic...monsters they are children of Nyx.

"SCREEEEEEEECH" we heard from above us.

"Of fuck" Iapetus said. "Run" and he started taking off.

Now if it weren't for the many years of growing up in the hunt and then the proceeding years of mom training (read: torturing) us I'm pretty sure we would have been caught. I should really thank mom for her insanity one day, but I'm afraid that may make it more worse.

"THE END IS JUST UP AHEAD GENERALS" Iapetus yelled.

I'm wondering what end until we got to the edge of the forest only for a short field and a cliff to be our next obstacles.

"Whatever it is it won't leave the forest right" Thalia asked

"Not far but" Iapetus started

"It's too late demigods" The child of Nyx said, swarmed and flanked by many many others.

"Oh no" Annabeth said, looking panicked, which caused Thalia to look nervous.

"Please tell me I can just blast em" Thalia stated, but given the tone in her voice she knew the answer was no.

"No" Annabeth said

"If you kill us one of your curses will be released upon you" the lead Arai said

"Oh great" Thalia stated sarcastically, "what's next a cute puppy but it's actually an unkillable killing machine"

"Don't give anyone any ideas" Annabeth hissed, slapping Thalia upside the head.

The arai attacked though and we were left with little other options than to defend ourselves.

Even with the titan's help we had no option but to start killing the Arai.

I started getting many many wounds. Each kill seemed to cause a new wound. Annabeth was taken out first though, as after a few kills she was inflicted with blindness, which I'm guessing was from Polyphemus, and Thalia and I moved to defend her killing many more of these curse bringers.

Thalia didn't last much longer, as after one kill she started crying, a sound of heartbreak. "Percy...don't...don't leave us" she cried curled up on the floor.

Annabeth, even blind is deadly, now that she isn't really worried about striking both Thalia and I. Though her next curse was the same as Thalia's.

Who would have cursed them with heartbreak. Calypso I don't think would, she's my sister and I made that clear to her. But who...I fucking swear if it was Luke I'll drag his ass back just to kill him again.

I moved to stand over both girls, as they weren't in any fighting condition and started my own slaughter of the Arai which seemed to be in endless supply, but thankfully Iapetus was still fighting them, and was surrounded by a ring of dust.

Once they were down to numbers I could count I got hit with a curse I'd hoped wouldn't exist. Phineas the petty asshole cursed me with the effects of bad gorgon blood. I did my best to keep fighting to defend the girls, but my strength was going and starting to fade. "Iapetus. Make sure they are safe" I said before collapsing in pain and everything going black.

Annabeth's POV:

We fought I don't know how many Arai. But Thalia and I were both taken out by a curse of abandonment from those we love. Don't know who would have done that. Though from what I could hear, Percy took on at least 100 more curses before I heard him ask Iapetus make sure we're safe. And then the heavy weight of a body falling on to us(Thalia and I)

"PERCY" Thalia shouted panicked. Though I'm not sure if she thinks it's part of the curse or real.

"Iapetus Help him" Thalia asked more like demanded

I still couldn't see so I needed a seeing eye something so I wouldn't get lost but I could sense Iapetus's...worry? "His injuries are beyond my abilities" Iapetus said. "Though I do know someone. Follow me" and the weight of Percy was lifted off of me and I felt Thalia's hands grab me and start guiding me.

"Should the river heal most of our curses" Thalia asked, "Annabeth is blind. It would be better if she could see"

"It should but be quick. I'm not too sure how long the General here has" Iapetus said and I was dragged off and force fed the fire river.

"Quickly now" Iapetus said, and I was being dragged off again, as my vision was slowly returning.

"Sorry Beth but you got to go down blind still" Thalia said before jumping off what I am presuming was the cliff while still dragging me with her.

I swear I need to talk to her about her manners.