Chapter Twenty-Five - I Receive Orders
Posted: Friday 24th May 2024

The next morning, Nico and I met up at Zeus' fist. I had told Annabeth that I was going to search for the doors of death. I hadn't said that I was looking for the Tartarus side. She had enough to think about without worrying about me.

"So we'll shadow travel to the entrance to the underworld and then make our way down to Tartarus?" Nico asked.

I shook my head, "that'll take too long, it takes seven days to fall to Tartarus, it would take years to get there on foot through the underworld. That's why I never tried. The only quick way in is through the doors."

"Well we can't use those," Nico said, "we don't even know where they are."

"The only way for most people is to use the doors," I said, "but I think I can get us back to Nyx."

"To Nyx?"

"To get to the heart of Tartarus, mortals have to pass through the mansion of Nyx. I would place a bet on the doors being chained there, everything in Tartarus leads to his heart."

"You can shadow travel to Tartarus?" Nico asked, "Why didn't you leave?"

"I think I can shadow travel back there, I'm a child of Nyx, going back, it's like getting home, you always know how to get back. I definitely couldn't shadow travel out. If I could have left, believe me I would have." I said, I looked at Nico. His jaw was set in determination.

"Let's go then," he said.

"I have to ask you again if you're ready for this," I said, "Tartarus is not like the rest of the underworld. Every part of it wants you dead."

"Stop trying to talk me out of it," Nico snapped, "we're going."

"Okay," I held my hands out to him. He looked at them warily. "If we're going to do this, you're going to have to trust me," I told him.

"I hardly know you," he said. But he took my hands anyway.

"Take a deep breath," I told him, "this is the last time you will breathe air that isn't poison for a while."

We both took a deep breath and I pulled us into the shadows.

When the shadows cleared we were stood on the glassy planes beside a black door.

I sighed, "Welcome to Tartarus."

Nico doubled over and vomited on the floor.

"You alright?" I asked.

Nico threw up again and I patted his back. "Don't worry it can only get worse from here."

"Why does the air taste like acid?" Nico coughed.

"That's Tartarus for you, you'll get used to it," I said.

I gave Nico a moment to gather himself and he eventually stood up straight and looked around.

"Where are we?" He asked.

"Nowhere in Tartarus really has names," I said, "but I gave everywhere nicknames, this I call the glassy plains because the floor is made of glass and it goes on forever."

Nico looked at the door beside us, "this is the Mansion of Nyx? The door is just in the middle of the plains?"

"The door moves," I said, "the mansion is everywhere and nowhere at once. Every shadow is an entrance. Shadow travelling is actually just travelling through the outer sections of the mansion, this is the entrance to the main section, you need to travel through here to get to where I think the doors are."

"You don't?"

I frowned, "I'm not sure to be honest. My father always told me there was another route for immortals, but I think I'll stick with you. You'll need someone to guide you through it's halls. Once I open the door, don't open your eyes. It would probably drive you insane."

Nico coughed again but forced a smile, the dim red light of Tartarus made his face look ghoulish, "cheery," he said.

I reached for the door handle and my fingers were millimetres away from it.

"Stop," said a calm cold voice behind me. Unwillingly, I froze at the command.

I turned to see that monsters had materialised all around us and stood in the middle, was my mother.

Her words stopped me, but I didn't fall to my knees before her this time, I stayed on my feet.

She either didn't notice the change, or she didn't care. She was flanked on either side by two giants. Twins. Otis and Ephialtes, the giants born to opposite Dionysus.

Nico stumbled away from them towards me.

"Hello Mother," I said, somehow I was able to repress the need to bow my head to her and my chin stayed high as I stared at her.

"Ariadne," Nyx smiled, "we have chosen a side. My sister has asked me to imprison this demigod and see his safe passage back to the mortal world for the destruction of Rome."

"I thought we were neutral," I said.

"We were, but Gaia's motives align with mine for now," Nyx said, "now detain this demigod for me and hand him over to the giants."

Her direct order washed over me and without me meaning to, I turned to Nico and drew my sword.

"Ariadne, what are you doing?" Nico demanded.

The words I spoke didn't feel like my own, "detaining you and handing you over to the giants," I said.

"Why?" Nico demanded, he drew his sword too and took up a defensive stance.

"Because I told her to," Nyx said. "She is mine."

My heart wasn't in it, but I swiped for Nico with my sword. Our blades clashed and Nyx laughed.

I tried to tell him with my eyes how sorry I was, but unfortunately for him he wasn't a match for my sword-play. I disarmed him easily and the two giants surged forward and grabbed him, dragging him away followed by a horde of monsters who were no doubt baying for his blood.

Tears stung my eyes as I looked back at my mother.

"Oh don't cry girl," Nyx said, almost rolling her eyes at me.

"I loathe you," I told her, I was surprised when my thoughts were able to turn into words and Nyx looked surprised too, but seemed as if she was trying not to let it phase her.

"You are insolent," she said.

"That I am," I replied, "I don't want to go against Olympus."

"I do not care what you want," Nyx almost spat at me, "my wants are your wants, my needs are your needs and I want you to return to the mortal world and thwart the progress of the Argo II when it reaches Rome. Kill them all, but keep two alive, one boy, one girl. Their blood will water the ancient stones and wake my sister."

My head bowed and I felt her words wash over me. A tear fell down my face.