★ 。＼｜／。★

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖉𝖎𝖝-𝖍𝖚𝖎𝖙:
BOB THE TITAN

★ 。／｜＼。★

BELLE DECIDED THAT if she ever got out of Tartarus, she would never take her walks with Percy for granted ever again. The two often took strolls around Camp Half-Blood and admired their home. They also took walks along the beach of the Long Island Sound where they didn't have to say a word and just enjoyed being in each other's company. And Belle's personal favorite, when Percy would lead her around the streets of New York City with him in the lead as she held his hand tightly, him looking back at her occasionally with his eyes lit up as bright as the skyscrapers that made her heart race.

But now they held hands as they followed the Phlegethon, stumbling over the glassy back terrain, jumping over crevices, and hiding behind rocks whenever the Empousai slowed down in front of them. It was pretty hard to stay far enough back to avoid getting spotted yet close enough to see Kelli and her friends through the dark hazy air. Belle could feel her skin baking from the heat of the river and breathing was still a challenge.

At least the Phlegethon was healing them slowly. The cuts on Belle's palms and forearms had faded away. She had ripped a piece of denim off of her jeans and used it to tie her hair back, and it reminded her of old times before she had cut her hair. Belle might've been fine physically, but mentally, she wasn't doing so well. Hunger and thirst creeped up on her and she was completely scared out of her mind.

Just like it had been when they were falling, Belle didn't know how much time had passed. Her and Percy trudged along the river, following as it cut through the harsh landscape. At least the Empousai weren't walking fast. They shuffled on their mismatched bronze and donkey legs and often fought a lot with each other. Apparently none of them were in any sort of hurry to reach the Doors of Death.

Suddenly, the Empousai sped up and swarmed around something that looked like a beached carcass on the riverbank. Belle didn't know what it was, but the demons attacked it enthusiastically. Once they moved on, her and Percy approached the spot and found nothing but a few splintered bones and blood stains drying in the heat of the Phlegethon. Belle's stomach turned upside down and she felt the sudden urge to throw up.

Belle rubbed her eyes. "I hate it here."

"I know," Percy replied softly, pulling her away from the scene. "We'd better keep moving, Beauty. We don't want to lose them."

Belle pushed herself to move on. She let her thoughts wander back to her friends back at Camp Half-Blood and on the Argo II. Belle wondered how they were doing back at Camp, and in the Argo II's case, with trying to reach the House of Hades above. Most of all, she thought about how much she missed everyone.

She missed Jason and the way he didn't think before he spoke sometimes. She missed Leo and his stupid jokes that never failed to make her laugh. She missed Piper and the way she could calm anyone down, even without her charmspeak. She missed Frank and his clumsiness. She missed Hazel and the way she got scandalized by modern things. But most of all, she missed Annabeth, Katie, Connor, and Travis. The four of them had grown to become her family even if they were from different Godly parents. Belle had missed Katie and the Stolls ever since the Argo II took off, but at least then she had Annabeth. Then Belle had to let Annabeth go on a dangerous solo quest, finally found her, and then was dropped into Tartarus. Her heart filled with worry for Camp Half-Blood with the oncoming attack from Camp Jupiter and for the Argo II as they moved on without her and Percy. Who knew if Belle would ever make it back to either?

No. Belle couldn't afford to think like that. She pushed those thoughts away and continued to walk along the River of Fire, trying to think of happy thoughts.

After a few more miles of walking, the group of Empousai disappeared over a ridge. Belle and Percy caught up only to find themselves at the edge of another massive cliff. The Phlegethon spilled over the side in jagged tiers of waterfalls made of fire. All of the Empousai were jumping from ledge to ledge with no problem at all.

Belle felt her stomach churn even more than before. They didn't have much to look forward to if they reached the bottom of the cliff still alive. The landscape below them was a bleak ash-gray plain bristling with black trees (which Belle could feel, and that also meant she could try to use her plant powers down here) and the ground was spotted with blisters. Every once in a while, a bubble would swell and burst, disgorging a newborn monster.

That really made her nausea reach an all-time peak.

All of the new monsters were crawling and hobbling in the same direction, which was towards a bank of black fog that blocked the horizon. The Phlegethon flowed in the same direction until about halfway across the plain it met another river of black water, perhaps the Cocytus. Those two floods combined in a steaming boiling river and flowed towards the black fog. Belle didn't really want to go there, but if the Doors of Death were in that direction, that would be their only chance to get back home.

Percy peered over the edge of cliff. "I wish we could fly."

"Jason's power would really come in handy right now," Belle admitted. "You know . . . considering he wouldn't get knocked out." She then looked up, seeing dark winged shaped spiraling in and out of the red clouds above them. "But maybe flying wouldn't be a good idea. Look."

"Are they Furies?" Percy asked.

"I'm not sure, but Tartarus has thousands of other kinds of demons."

Percy sighed. "So we climb."

Belle and Percy let go of each other's hands and started down the cliff. They could no longer see the Empousai, but it didn't matter anymore because it was clear where they needed to go — towards that dark horizon.

She attempted to focus on all of the challenges at hand: keeping her footing on the ledge, holding onto crevices in the rocks, avoiding rockslides that would alert the Empousai of their presence, and trying not to fall off. However, Belle was instantly overwhelmed by the heat of Tartarus, her rising nausea, and the intense climbing skills she had to use. They were about halfway down when she decided that she would probably slip if she kept going.

"Can we stop?" Belle questioned, making Percy look up at her. "Just for a bit."

He nodded. They found a big enough ledge to sit on next to a roaring fiery waterfall. Percy put his arm around Belle and she leaned against him, shaking slightly from exhaustion. She wished she could pull herself together, but something about Tartarus was making it hard to. Belle was usually strong and tried to keep a brave face, but here, when she was more terrified than ever, she couldn't hide it.

At least she had Percy by her side. She knew as long as they had each other they would find a way out. They had to. Fates and Prophecies were one thing, but if Belle knew one thing about her destiny, it was that she was supposed to be with Percy. They had been through so much together just to get killed now.

"Are you okay?" Percy inquired after a little while.

Belle took a deep breath. "This place is messing with me. The longer I'm here the more I want to leave."

"We'll get out," Percy promised. "I know we will. Hey, look on the bright side. We could've fallen in the Lethe instead of the Cocytus and lost all our memories."

She managed to smile. "Didn't you make a Titan lose his memories from the Lethe with Thalia and Nico?"

"Yeah, his name was Iapetus. He said it meant the Impaler or something, but I gave him the name Bob after he lost his memory."

Belle laughed weakly. "Bob. What a name for a Titan."

She gazed across the ashen plain. All of the other Titans were supposed to be down here, either bound in chains, roaming aimlessly, or hiding in dark crevices. They had destroyed the worst one, Kronos, last year, but his remains could've been down here, too.

Percy kissed Belle's forehead a couple times. "We'd better keep going. Do you want some more Phlegethon fire to drink?"

"Definitely not. Come on."

They both struggled to their feet and kept climbing down the tiny ledges. Belle blocked out all of her thoughts and allowed her body to go in autopilot. She didn't think of anything except climbing down. Her muscles shook and her body ached, but that was nothing now. All she wanted to do was reach the bottom.

Finally, after what felt like a million years, Percy finally reached the bottom. He offered his hand to Belle, and she took it to help herself down. They immediately collapsed on the ground with their legs wobbling from climbing for so long. Belle allowed herself to take a couple of deep breaths before looking up.

Wasteland with monstrous bubbles and large trees (Belle could feel their roots underground, which was definitely an advantage) stretched on for miles. The Phlegethon split into branches to their right and was etched into the plain. In front of them, to the north along the main route of the river, the ground was covered with cave entrances. Spires of rocks jutted up from the ground here and there.

Belle placed her hand on the ground. However, the tree roots she was feeling weren't exactly . . . normal. Maybe plants were different in Tartarus, but these roots felt like they were a part of something bigger. The soil was warm and smooth underneath her hand, but it was very thin. She dug a little deeper to feel the ground was a single vast membrane, like skin. And the roots she sensed . . . she pushed some dirt away to see that what she was feeling were blue lines streaking through the ground. Veins.

Once again, she felt the very overwhelming urge to throw up. How could she possibly feel veins if they were tree roots? It didn't make any sense. Her powers had nothing to do with human anatomy, but maybe, just maybe, her powers down here were different too. Tartarus wasn't like the world up above. There was no telling what either Belle or Percy could do down here.

A chill went down Belle's spine suddenly. She had a very bad feeling that something very vast and malicious was watching them. It couldn't exactly be pinpointed because it was all around them. And watching wasn't exactly the term to use because this thing was simply aware they were there. As Belle looked around, she started to notice things more and more. The ridges they had climbed down looked like massive teeth and the spires of rocks looked like broken ribs. And if the ground was skin, that meant . . .

"You feel it too?" Percy asked quietly, his thoughts in sync with his girlfriend's.

Belle nodded, swallowing nervously. "Yeah, I do." She pushed herself and wiped some soot off of her face, gazing towards the dark horizon. "We're going to be completely exposed if we cross this plain."

About a hundred yards ahead of them, a blister burst on the ground. A glistening Telekhine with slick fur, a seal-like body, and stunted human limbs crawled out. The Telekhine managed to move forwards only a few yards before something shot out of the nearest cave. It was so fast that Belle could only see a dark green reptilian head. The monster snatched up the squealing Telekhine in its jaws and dragged it into the darkness of the grave. Belle blinked in shock. Guaranteed she hated Telekhines, but that one was only reborn for two seconds before it was eaten. She wondered if it would pop up in some other place in Tartarus and how long it would take to re-form.

"Well, this should be fun," Percy commented.

Belle helped him up and continued to hold his hand as they began to walk. They tried to avoid the cave entrances by sticking close to the bank of the river. Belle took the lead by skirting around one of the spires when Percy suddenly froze in his tracks. She looked back at him in concern.

"Perce, what's wrong?" Belle asked. "We can't just stop."

"The Empousai," Percy stated, making Belle's eyes widen. "Where did they go?"

Belle looked all around them with her blue eyes bright in alarm. She didn't see them, but that probably meant they were hiding. Belle let go of Percy's hand and got Sunflower's keychain off of her belt loops. She flipped it in the air and clenched the green hilt tightly in her hand as Percy drew Riptide. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder in preparation for an attack. However, it was too late.

The Empousai emerged from behind the rocks, and all five formed a ring around the two Demigods. Kelli was the first one to approach them. She limped forwards on her mismatched legs. Her fiery hair burned across her shoulders like a miniature Phlegethon waterfall and her tattered cheerleader outfit was splattered with rusty-brown blood stains. She fixed her glowing red eyes on Percy and bared her fangs.

"Percy Jackson," Kelli cooed. "How awesome! I don't even have to return to the mortal world to destroy you!" She then looked to Belle, who gritted her teeth at the Empousa and felt the scratch scars on her stomach begin to itch. "And your friend Belle is with you! Oh, yeah, I totally remember her." Kelli touched her sternum, where the tip of Sunflower had exited when Belle stabbed her in the back. "What's the matter, daughter of Demeter? Scared that I'll use your own weapon to kill you?"

"Never," Belle replied strongly.

She knew the odds weren't good. Neither of them were in good enough shape for battle. They both had their swords, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. There was nowhere to run and no help was coming. That left only one option, which was the favorite trio of tactics that a certain daughter of Athena liked to use: trickery, talk, and delay.

"So . . ." Percy began. I guess you're wondering what we're doing in Tartarus."

Kelli snickered at him. "Not really. I just want to kill you."

"Well, just letting you know, we fell in," Belle added. "But you have no idea what's going on the mortal world like we do."

The other Empousai circled around them and watched Kelli for a cue to attack, but the girl only snarled and crouched out of the reach of Sunflower and Riptide.

"We know enough," Kelli responded. "Gaea has spoken."

"I'm serious, you're heading straight to a major defeat," Belle continued, remembering everything Annabeth did when she tried to stall. Be confident, Annabeth's voice rang through her head. Belle glanced at all of the other Empousai and then pointed Sunflower accusingly at Kelli. "Kelli claims she's leading you to a victory, but she's lying. Last time she was in the mortal world, she was in charge of keeping Luke Castellan faithful to Kronos. However, in the end, Luke rejected the Titan and gave his life to expel Kronos up on Mount Olympus. Trust me, I was there. The reign of the Titans failed because of Kelli. And now she's going to lead you to another disaster."

The other Empousai muttered amongst themselves and shifted uneasily.

"Enough!" Kelli's fingernails grew into long black talons. She glared at Belle, and Belle sent an intimidating one back. No longer was she that girl in the Labyrinth on her first quest. "The girl lies. So the Titans lost. Fine! That was part of the plan to wake Gaea! Now the Earth Mother and her Giants will destroy the mortal world, and we will totally feast on Demigods!"

The Empousai gnashed their teeth in a frenzy of excitement. Belle raised Sunflower a little higher, the Celestial Bronze blade hissing in the hot air as she did so.

"You don't stand a chance," Belle announced. "The Greek and Roman Demigods have united, so think twice before you attack us."

"Romani," the Empousai hissed while they backed up nervously.

"Yeah, you bet Romani," Percy said. He bared his forearm and showed them the brand he had gotten at Camp Jupiter — the letters SPQR and the trident of Neptune with one line underneath it. "You mix Greek and Roman, and you know what you get? You get BAM!"

He stomped his foot, making the Empousai scramble backwards. One even fell off the boulder where she had been perched. However, they recovered quickly and closed in again.

"Bold talk for two Demigods lost in Tartarus," Kelli commented. "Lower your swords, Percy Jackson and Belle Adair, and I'll kill you quickly. Believe me, there are worse ways to die down here."

"Hold up," Belle cut in, book pages flashing through her mind. "Empousai are servants of Hecate, right?"

Kelli curled her lip. "So?"

"She's on our side now. There's even a Cabin for her back at Camp Half-Blood. Some of her Demigod children are my friends. So if you fight us, she'll be pretty angry."

One of the other Empousai growled. "Is this true, Kelli? Has our mistress made peace with Olympus?"

"Shut up, Serephone!" Kelli screeched. "Gods, you're annoying!"

"I will not cross the Dark Lady."

"I think you should follow Serephone instead," Belle admitted. "She's much older and wiser than Kelli."

"Yes!" Serephone agreed. "Follow me!"

Kelli struck so fast that Belle didn't even have time to react. The Empousa lashed out at Serephone, and for half a second, all there was was a blur of slashing claws and fangs. Then it was over. Kelli stood triumphant over a pile of dust with the tattered remains of Serephone's dress hanging from her claws. Belle stood there in shock. She was not expecting that.

"Any more issues?" Kelli snapped at the other Empousai. "Hecate is the Goddess of the Mist! Her ways are mysterious. Who knows which side she truly favors? She is also the Goddess of the crossroads, and she expects us to make our own choices. I choose the path that will bring us the most Demigod blood! I choose Gaea!"

The Empousai hissed in approval. Belle glanced over at Percy, and their eyes locked. She shook her head a minimal amount, obviously out of ideas. All she had succeeded in was Kelli killing one of her own. They had nothing to do now but fight.

"For two years I churned in the void. Do you know how completely annoying it is to be vaporized, Belle Adair? Slowly re-forming, fully conscious, in searing pain for months and years as your body regrows, then finally breaking the crust of this hellish place and clawing your way back to daylight? All because some little Princess stabbed you in the back?" Kelli and Belle held their eyes. Belle gritted her teeth harder and clenched Sunflower tighter. "I wonder what happens if a Demigod is killed in Tartarus. I doubt it's ever happened before. Let's find out."

Percy was the first one to react. He sprang forwards and slashed Riptide in a huge arc. One demon managed to get cut in half, but Kelli dodged his sword and charged at Belle while the other two Empousai launched at Percy.

Belle rolled to one side to escape Kelly's claws. She got up and smacked the butt of Sunflower into the Empousa's face. Kelli wailed and stumbled backwards. Belle watched for a moment while breathing heavily and raised Sunflower higher. The Empousa got her senses back and snarled at Belle. Before Belle even had a chance, Kelli lunged forwards and scratched her claws down on Belle's right arm. She gasped in pain and stumbled backwards. Kelli kicked her stomach, and Belle fell backwards, Sunflower clattering out of her grasp.

Kelli loomed over her with Sunflower in her hand now. Belle looked over, her vision foggy pain, to see Percy on his knees with two Empousai circling him and his arm and neck bleeding. Riptide was on the ground as well. They locked eyes again. Both of them knew that this very well could be the end.

However, a shadow fell across them. A deep war cry bellowed from somewhere above them and echoed across the plains of Tartarus. Then, a Titan dropped onto the battlefield. He immediately stomped Kelli flat and trampled her into a mound of monster dust. Belle quickly grabbed Sunflower and looked back up. The Titan was about ten feet tall with wild silver hair, pure silver eyes, and muscular arms protruding from a tattered blue janitor's uniform. In his hand was a massive push broom and on his uniform was a name tag that read BOB.

Belle's eyes widened and she scrambled backwards on her forearms, ignoring how her scratches felt like they were on fire, just like they had on her stomach back in the Labyrinth. He wasn't interested in her. Instead, he turned to the two remaining Empousai that stood over Percy. One attempted to attack, but a spearhead jutted from the end of Bob's broom. With one single deadly swipe, he cut her into dust. The last Empousa tried to run, but Bob threw his broom like a massive boomerang. It sliced right through the demon and returned back to Bob's hand.

"SWEEP!" Bob exclaimed, grinning with delight and doing a victory dance. "Sweep, sweep, sweep!"

Belle blinked in shock. "Uh . . . how—?"

"Percy called me! Yes, he did."

"What do you mean he called you?" Belle asked, her brain fuzzy from the blood loss. "Oh, you're the Bob?"

Bob frowned upon noticing her bleeding arm. "Owie."

He knelt next to her. Belle flinched slightly, considering the last time she had encountered a Titan was with Kronos, and that was not a very good experience.

"It's all right, Beauty," Percy reassured her. "He's friendly."

Bob tapped Belle's arm and it mended instantly, only leaving behind a couple of scars like the ones on her stomach. His hands were surprisingly warm and gentle. He chuckled, obviously pleased with himself, before bounding over to Percy and healing his bleeding neck and arm.

"All better!" Bob declared, his voice full of pleasure. "I am Bob, Percy's friend!"

"Uh . . . yeah," Percy stammered. "Thanks for the help, Bob. It's really good to see you again."

"Yes! Bob. That's me. Bob, Bob, Bob." He shuffled around, obviously pleased with his name. "I am helping. I heard my name. Upstairs in Hades' palace, nobody calls for Bob unless there is a mess. Bob, sweep up these bones. Bob, mop up these tortured souls. Bob, a zombie exploded in the dining room."

Belle blinked. She gave Percy a confused look, but he shrugged his shoulders, clearly having no explanation.

"Then I heard my friend call!" Bob beamed. "Percy said, Bob!" He grabbed Percy's arm and hoisted him to his feet.

"That's awesome," Percy responded. "Seriously. But how did you—"

"Oh, time to talk later." Bob's expression suddenly turned serious. "We must go before they find you. They are coming. Yes, indeed."

"They?" Belle repeated, scanning the horizon for any more monsters. "Who's they?"

"Yes," Bob stated, which didn't answer her question at all. "But Bob knows a way. Come on, friends! We will have fun!"

—  [  ♡  ]  —

belle rn: it is hot as hell in this fucking ass hot ass room I'm in *sees bob* iS THAT THE GRIM REAPER—

also she's really going through it poor belle
:((((

gifs by 1-800-SIMPINGFORSEB !