We were all on Geryon's trolley mobile that resembled a kiddie train from the zoo. Nico sat at the very back and had refused to sit next to any of us. The rest of us were in the middle two cars. Due to the little space, I was stuck between Percy and Annabeth. The three of us were squeezed into the car as we toured the ranch.

"We have a huge operation!" Geryon boasted. "Horses and cattle mostly, but all sorts of exotic varieties, too."

"Hippalektryons?" Annabeth gased as we over came a hill that showed the creatures. "I thought they were extinct!"

The creatures were at the bottom of the hill. Each had the front half of a horse and the back half of a rooster. They had feathery tails and red wings. Two of them started to fight over a pile of seed.

"They look weird." Percy leaned towards me and whispered.

"Maybe they're intelligent." I shrugged. One hippalektryon kept pecking at a pile of rocks instead of the feed. I winced at its stupidity. Percy raised at brow, fighting a smirk. "Nevermind."

"Rooster ponies." Tyson said in amazement. "Do they lay eggs?"

"Once a year!" Geryon grinned in the rear view mirror. "Very much in demand for omelettes!"

"That's horrible!" Annabeth said. "They must be an endangered species!"

"That's just wrong." I shook my head in disgust.

"Gold is gold, darling." Geryon waved his hand in dismissal. "And you haven't tasted the omelettes."

"That's not right." Grover murmured.

"Now, over here we have our fire-breathing horses, which you may have seen on your way in. They're bred for war, naturally."

"War?" I repeated, sharing an unsettling look with Annabeth and Percy.

"What war?" Percy asked.

"Oh, whichever one comes along." Geryon grinned slyly. "And over yonder, of course, are our prize red cows."

"So many." Grover said as we stared at the hundreds grazing on the side of a hill.

"Yes, well, Apollo is too busy to see to them." Geryon explained. "So he subcontracts to us. We breed them vigorously because there's such a demand."

"For what?" Percy questioned.

"What demand can holy cows have?" I inquired.

"Meat, of course!" Geryon raised a brow. My stomach flipped at the thought of people, or monsters eating sacred animals. "Armies have to eat."

"You kill the sacred cows of the sun god for hamburger meat?" Grover said. "That's against the ancient laws!"

"Oh, don't get so worked up, satyr. They're just animals."

"Just animals!"

"Yes, and if Apollo cared, I'm sure he would tell us."

"If he knew." Percy muttered.

"I'm getting a bad feeling about this guy." I uttered under my breath, my stomach was starting to turn and I know it wasn't due to motion sickness.

"I don't care about any of this, Geryon." Nico sat forward. "We had business to discuss, and this wasn't it!"

"All in good time, Mr. di Angelo. Look over here; some of my exotic game."

The next field was ringed in barbed wire. The whole area was crawling with giant scorpions. I swear one stared right at me as we drove by. The tall insects reminded me of the camp game we played a few days ago. It sent shivers down my spine as I remembered how Percy and I first entered the labyrinth.

"Triple G Ranch. Your mark was on the crates at camp." Percy realized. "Quintus got his scorpions from you."

"Quintus..." Geryon mused. "Short gray hair, muscular, swordsman?"

"Yeah."

"Never heard of him." Geryon said. I scoffed and crossed my arms. Percy sent me an irritated look and rolled his eyes from what Geryon stated. "Now, over here are my prize stables! You must see them."

Before we even got to the "prized stables", the smell hit us like a train. I almost gagged at the smell. The horse coral was near a green river. The poor horses were wading around in their own waste.

"This is how you treat your prize?" I lifted the top of my shirt to cover my nose. It still didn't help with the stench.

"What is that?" Nico gagged.

"My stables!" Geryon said. "Well, actually they belong to Aegeas, but we watch over them for a small monthly fee. Aren't they lovely?"

"They're disgusting!" Annabeth stated.

"Lots of poop." Tyson observed.

"How can you keep animals like that?" Grover cried

"Y'all gettin' on my nerves." Geryon said. "These are flesh-eating horses, see? They like these conditions."

"I doubt it." I mumbled, earning myself a glare from the driver.

"Plus, you're too cheap to have them cleaned." Eurytion mumbled from under his hat.

"Quiet!" Geryon snapped. "All right, perhaps the stables are a bit challenging to clean. Perhaps they do make me nauseous when the wind blows the wrong way. But do what? My clients still pay me well."

"What clients?" Percy demanded.

"Oh, you'd be surprised how many people will pay for a flesh-eating horse. They make great garbage disposals. Wonderful way to terrify your enemies. Great at birthday parties! We rent them out all the time."

"You're a monster." Annabeth decided.

"What gave it away?" Geryon stopped the trolly and turned to look at her. "Was it the three bodies?"

"You have to let these animals go." Grover said. "It's not right!"

"And the clients you keep talking about. You work for Kronos, don't you?" Annabeth put together. "You're supplying his army with horses, food, whatever they need."

"I work for anyone with gold, young lady." Geryon shrugged. "I'm a businessman. And I'll sell them anything I have to offer."

He climbed out of the mobile and strolled toward the stables. Nico got out of the back car and stormed over to him. Eurytion hefted his club and walked after Nico.

"I came here for business, Geryon." Nico told him. "And you haven't answered me."

"Mmm." Geryon took interest in a nearby cactus. His left arm reached over and scratched her his middle chest. "Yes, you'll get a deal, all right."

"My ghost told me you could help. He said you could guide us to the soul we need."

"Wait a second." Percy said. "I thought I was the soul you wanted."

"You?" Nico looked at him as if he was crazy. "Why would I want you? Bianca's soul is worth a thousand of yours! Now, can you help me, Geryon, or not?"

"Oh, I imagine I could. Your ghost friend, by the way, where is he?" Geryon questioned.

"He can't form in broad daylight." Nico looked uneasy. "It's hard for him. But he's around somewhere."

"I'm sure." Geryon smiled. "Minos likes to disappear when things get...difficult."

"Minos?" Percy repeated. "You mean that evil king? That's the ghost who's been giving you advice?"

"It's none of your business, Percy!" Nico turned back to Geryon. "And what do you mean about things getting difficult?"

"Well you see," Geryon sighed, "Nico- can I call you Nico?"

"No."

"You see, Nico, Luke Castellan is offering very good money for half-bloods. Especially powerful half-bloods." Geryon explained. My blood ran cold. He's working for Luke. He's stalling us. "And I'm sure when he learns your little secret, who you really are, he'll pay very, very well indeed."

Nico drew his sword, but Eurytion knocked it out of his hand. My hand twitched to my necklace. Percy tried to get up, but Orthus pounced on his chest and growled.

"I would stay in the car, all of you. Miss Pittaluga, I wouldn't draw any weapons." Geryon warned. I with drew my hand away from the necklace and shot him a nasty glare. "Or Orthus will tear Mr. Jackson's throat out. Now, Eurytion, if you would be so kind, secure Nico."

"Do I have to?" Eurytion spit into the grass.

"Yes, you fool!"

Eurytion looked bored, but wrapped an arm around Nico and lifted him up.

"Pick up the sword, too." Geryon said with distaste. "There's nothing I hate worse than Stygian iron."

Eurytion picked up the sword, careful not to go touch the blade.

"Now," Geryon said cheerfully, "we've had the tour. Let's get back to the lodge, have some lunch, and send an Iris-message to our friends in the Titan army."

"You fiend!" Annabeth cried.

"Don't worry, my dear." Geryon smiled at her. "Once I've delivered Mr. di Angelo, you and your party can go. I don't interfere with quests. Besides, I've been paid well to give you a safe passage, which does not, I'm afraid, include Mr. di Angelo."

"Paid by whom?" Annabeth questioned. "What do you mean?"

"Never you mind, darlin'. Let's be off, shall we."

"Wait!" Percy said. Orthus growled at him. "Geryon, you said you're a businessman. Make me a deal."

"Percy...what are you doing?" I whispered, eyeing the dog that averted its gaze to me when I started to talk.

"What sort of deal? Do you have gold?" Geryon narrowed his eyes.

"I've got something better. Barter." Percy offered.

"But Mr. Jackson, you've got nothing."

"You could have him clean the stables." Eurytion suggested innocently.

"I'll do it!" Percy agreed. "If I fail, you get all of us. Trade us all to Luke for gold."

"Assuming the horses don't eat you." Geryon reminded him.

"Either way, you get my friends." Percy said. I went to open my mouth to question his sanity when he grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. He adverted his eyes towards me momentarily, begging me to stay quiet. "But if I succeed, you've got to let all of us go, including Nico."

"No!" Nico screamed. "Don't do me any favors, Percy. I don't want your help!"

"Percy Jackson," Geryon chuckled, "those stables haven't been cleaned in a thousand years...though it's true I might be able to sell more stable space if all that poop was cleared away."

"So what have you got to lose?"

"All right," Geryon hesitated, "I'll accept your offer, but you have to get it done by sunset. If you fail, your friends get sold, and I get rich."

"Deal."

"I'm going to take your friends with me, back to the lodge." Geryon nodded. "We'll wait for you there."

Eurytion let out a whistle. Orthus jumped off of Percy and onto my lap. I let out a yelp, leaning back into the seat. The dog snarled when I shifted in my seat. One of the heads turned and growled at Annabeth.

"Nice doggy." I whimpered out.

Percy got out of the car and locked eyes with me.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Shark Boy." I quietly said.

"I hope so, too."

Geryon got behind the drivers wheel. Eurytion hauled Nico into his original seat in the back.

"Sunset," Geryon reminded Percy, "no later."

🍇

We were tied up with gags around our mouths in a corner on the ranch house deck. Ropes were tied at our ankles and wrists. I felt like we were tied up like rodeo animals. I struggled against my binds, but all I received was rope burns. Geryon was in a festive mood. Streamers and balloons decorated the railing. He was flipping burgers. Eurytion lounged at a picnic table, picking his fingernails with a knife. Orthus sniffed the ribs and burgers that were frying on the grill.

"Let them go!" Percy ran up the steps. Percy eyed out and frowned. "I cleaned the stables!"

"Did you, now? How'd you manage it?" Geryon turned to face him in this KISS-THE-CHEF aprons. Percy quickly told him how he cleaned the stables. His eyes kept drifting toward us. "Very ingenious. It would've been better if you'd poisoned that pesky naiad, but no matter."

"Let my friends go," Percy said, "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!"

"But did you make me swear on the River Styx?" Geryon made a tsk-tsk noise. My heart fell. "No you didn't.  So it's not binding. When you're conducting business, sonny, you should always get a binding oath."

Percy drew his sword. The dog growled, one of the heads leaned down next to Grocer's ear and bared it's fangs. As everyone else was distracted, I tried to wiggle my hands to test the tightness of the rope once again. Orthus saw my motion and snarled. He went to take a bite at my hands, but I quickly moved out of his reach. Percy shot us a worried expression.

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

Eurytion studied Percy. Hope flared in my chest that he would help us. The cowherd looked like he was done with Geryon.

"Kill him yourself." Eurytion told him.

"Excuse me?" Geryon raised his eyebrows.

"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 tired of dying for you. You want to fight the kid, do it yourself."

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

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

The dog immediately stopped growling at Grover and I. He went to sit by Eurytion's feet. I let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a little.

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

The three chested monster picked up two carving knives and threw them at Percy. Percy deflected one with his sword. The other impaled itself in the picnic table an inch from Eurytion's hand. Percy went on the attack. Geryon parried his first strike with a pair of red-hot tongs and lunged at his face with a barbecue fork. Percy got inside the next attack and stabbed him right through the middle chest.

"Aghhh!" He crumpled to his knees. We waited for him to disintegrate, the way monsters usually do. But instead he just grimaced and began to stand up. The wound started to heal. "Nice try, sonny. Thing is, I have three hearts. The perfect backup system."

Geryon tipped over the barbecue,and coals spilled everywhere. One landed next to Annabeth's face and she let out a muffled scream. Tyson strained against his bonds, but even his strength wasn't enough to break them. Percy jabbed Geryon in the left chest, but the monster only laughed. With another stab, Percy managed to hit Geryon's right stomach.

Then, Percy ran into the house.

"Coward!" Geryon cried. "Come back and die right!"

An idea struck me as Geryon chased Percy inside. I concentrated on growing a grape vine near me. At first, it started off with one curly vine near my face. The vine grew and reached over to untie the gag from my mouth. More vines started to cluster around. The gag loosened and fell from my mouth, falling onto the ground.

"Your head's gonna go right there, Jackson!" I overheard Geryon yell. "Next to the grizzly bear!"

Annabeth let out a muffled sound of surprise when she saw the vines worked their way to the rope tied at my hands and ankles. One vine slipped in between the tight knot. I made the vine thicken and grow some more. The knot started to loosen. Another vine wove around the loosened rope from the knot and pulled in the opposite direction. The rope was now untied.

I quickly broke away from my bonds. Eurytion gave me an impressed look as he stroked Orthus' back. Sitting up correctly, I rubbed my aching wrists. A hiss slipped through my lips when I accidentally touched the red marks, pain flaring at the site. There were rope burns from trying to struggle free from earlier. I heard a familiar whistle of an arrow flying through the air.

I looked up to see Percy holding a bow. The arrow passed cleaning through each of Geryon's chests and flew out of his left side. It embedded itself in the forehead of the grizzly bear trophy on the wall. I looked at Percy in surprise. I remembered almost being shot in the leg by an arrow he shot his first summer at camp. Geryon dropped his swords. I quickly made my way to Annabeth and started to untie the ropes.

"You can't shoot. They told me you couldn't..." Geryon crumpled into sand.

Annabeth lifted her free hands to removed the gag from her mouth. Percy made his way towards us. He helped Annabeth and I untie the rest. Eurytion just watched. Percy stoked the barbecue and threw the food into the flames for a burnt offering for Artemis and Apollo. The sky thundered in the distance.

"Yay for Percy!" Tyson said.

"Can we tie up this cowherd now?" Nico asked.

"Yeah!" Grover agreed. "And that dog almost killed me!"

"How long will it take Geryon to re-form?" Percy looked to Eurytion.

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

"You said you'd died for him before." Percy inquired. "How?"

"I've worked for that creep for thousands of years. Started as a regular half-blood, but I chose immortality when my 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."

"Maybe you can change things." Percy suggested.

"How?" The cowherd narrowed his eyes.

"Be nice to the animals. Take care of them. Stop selling them for food. And stop deal with Titans." Percy told him.

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

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

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

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

"Shoot, no."

"Your boss said that somebody paid for our safe passage. Who?" Annabeth rubbed her bruised wrists.

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

"What about the Titans?" Percy asked. Did you Iris-message them about Nico yet?"

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

"You could stay here until we're done with our quest." Percy offered the young boy who was currently glaring at him. "It would be safe."

"Safe?" Nico repeated. "What do you care if I'm safe? You got my sister killed!"

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

"I'm not on anyone's side. And I'm not afraid!"

"You should be." Annabeth told him. "Your sister wouldn't want-"

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

"Nico, I don't think..." I trailed off not knowing how to word it without getting Nico more upset.

"A soul for a soul?" Percy said.

"Yes!"

"But if you didn't want my soul-"

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

"Bianca wouldn't want to be brought back." Percy told him. "Not like that."

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

"Look, even if you were able to bring her back. " I softly spoke, catching Nico's attention. He eyed me, not knowing what I would say. From the corner of my eye, I saw Percy staring into the flames of the barbecue pit. "Wouldn't it be dangerous? For both of you?"

"Let's ask Bianca." Percy stated.

"I've tried." Nico said miserably. You could hear the pain and disappointment in his voice. "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. "She's been trying to warn me what you're up to, so I can protect you."

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

"One way to find our. You said you're not afraid." Percy told him. He then 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. I'll try." Nico agreed.

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

What are your plans/goal for the new years?