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chapter ten.
(  titan's curse  )
❝ hades's wrath ❞

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     We found a old pick-up truck by the side of the junkyard. It was old, rusty, but the engine ignited, and so we got in and drove west down the highway. Thalia was the least shaken out of all of us, and so she took the wheel. Zoë took the front seat, while Percy, Grover and I sat in the back. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep straight away, using the window as my pillow. I turned away from everyone else, hoping that no one saw the tear stains on my cheeks.

     I wish I stayed awake.

     I was in a place with no light. There was no shadow. No nothing. I was floating in a place all too familiar, the place I have nightmares about. I had returned to the Transition.

     "No," I cried before I started to speak. My voice wavered. "No ... no, get me out of here. Get me out of here now!"

     Child's laughter echoed. I tried to shut it out, turning away from the sound—there was more darkness, more nothingness. My fingers were shaking; I couldn't stop them. So were my legs, and my arms, everything was shaking. The girls laughter returned, this time closer.

     I knew this was Hades torturing me. I hadn't protected Bianca like I had promised to. In fact, I had led her straight to her death. "I'm sorry!" I shouted out, hoping he would hear me. "I'm sorry!"

     Sorry wasn't going to bring his daughter back.

    The girls laughter was right by my ear now, and it was joined by a burst of laughter from a little boy. I whipped around and saw two young kids running around after each other, playing a game of tag. Their clothes were not from the present day; with coats, cotton dresses and pants. Their olive skin was bright and welcoming in its warm tone compared to the darkness around them. I could tell they were siblings, for both of them had black hair and rich, dark eyes. It was then that I realised that this was Bianca and Nico.

      I don't know what they were doing in the Transition, or at this age, but I called their names. They didn't reply. I tried again, but they couldn't hear me. They were in their own world.

      Their own little happy world.

     And I realised why Hades was showing me this.

     I killed this happiness. I killed Bianca, and I killed Nico's childhood too.

    I couldn't keep on watching them run around, happy, and so I turned away. I sat down on the wet dark surface—whatever surface it was—that existed in this horror game. I found it hard to breathe and cry at the same time. It was like someone was wrapping their hands around my windpipe and drowning me in water at the same time.

      I wanted to close my eyes, but every time I did, I saw Bianca running towards Talos. Hades was punishing me, I knew he was. I was reliving the mistake over and over again. "I'm sorry," I sobbed. "Please!"

       I wondered whether this was it. I was officially dead, and I was in the Fields of Punishment, and this was my sentence: I'm sent to the one place I fear above all else, and forced to witness the wreckage I caused over and over and over...

       A voice boomed, "You broke your promise, Claire Moore. I do not go well with broken promises."

     My whole body shook, trembling with Hades' voice. I tried to stand up, but my legs turned to jelly and I couldn't stay up. I fell forward. "I'm sorry!" I mumbled through the tears.

      "YOU PROMISED, CLAIRE MOORE!" The voice loomed over, bouncing around the Transition. "YOU PROMISED ME!"

      Everything shook as if an earthquake started just because of Hades' voice. His voice didn't return, and when the quake settled, I tried to stand up again. I pushed myself to my feet, about to look up. I saw Nico squealing after Bianca tagged him—

     Something grabbed my throat. I flew up into the air, kicking and gasping. Hades had his hand around my neck, holding me up with one arm. I struggled against his grip, but by the look of black fire in Hades' eyes ... I was going to die.

      "No!" I choked, hitting his arm and trying to kick him, but he only just closed his grip around me tighter. "No..."

      Everything was blurry. I tried to hit him and kick again, pushing him away but my movements were becoming sluggish. There was a ringing in my ear, and my eyes fluttered.

      Before I passed out, I heard a booming, "HADES!"

     There was a bright flash of burning yellow light—

     And then everything was black.

° ° °

     There was a jolt, and I woke up gasping.

     My fingers flew to my throat, still feeling Hades' fingers pressing in. I let out a cough, that made Percy beside me frown and shuffle a little closer to Grover. I didn't care about him, all that I cared about was that I was in the tow truck, I was alive, and I wasn't anywhere near Hades. I was back. I don't know who saved me, but I owe everything to them. I sat up properly, hoping that would give some more room to breathe in my chest.

     Thalia let out a frustrated yell and slammed her hand on the wheel. "Great! What now?"

    The tow truck had stopped. We were at the end of the road by a river canyon.

     We all got out and looked out at the scenery. Thalia glared down at the river and the barren mountains. The dust of the desert made my nose stuffy, or maybe that was because I was still getting used to being able to suddenly breathe again.

     I was still shaking. I kept my hands in the pockets of my snow jacket, hoping that would hide it from my friends. But Grover was a satyr, and his empathetic abilities saw right through me. I made sure not to share a glance with him, but I wasn't stupid. He already knew. A chilly breath—despite how cold and burning it was—was a relief. I looked out into the distance, trying to see where we were to go from now, but all I could see was the look on Bianca's face when she left to go towards Talos. She knew she was going to die. In the distance, it was like I heard the laughter of her and Nico as kids, and I had to look away.

     "There's a path," said Grover. He didn't sound so enthusiastic. "We could get to the river."

     Percy gave him a glance with an arched brow, "That's a goat path."

     "So?"

    "The rest of us aren't goats."

    "We can make it," Grover said. "I think..."

    Percy thought about it, but then his gaze fixed on Thalia and he shook his head. "No. I—uh—think we should go further upstream."

     Grover frowned, "But—"

     "Come on," Percy said. "A walk won't hurt us."

    We followed the river for about half a mile before coming to an easier slope that led down to the water. As we walked, Grover came to a nice pace beside me. He sent me a small smile, "Are you okay?"

     I shrugged, letting out a sigh. "I don't think anyone's okay, Grover."

    "I know," he pursed his lips, glancing down at the barren earth. "I can feel it."

    I frowned. Grover's been a bit touchy ever since he felt the presence of the Wild, or Pan. "Grover," I said.

     "Mmmh?" he looked up.

    "I'm not a satyr, and I can't feel the Wild as much as you do," I began. "But I know that ... that you should follow your gut. If you think it's Pan, find him. Once we find Artemis and save Annabeth, you have to promise me you'll go and find him?"

     Grover gave me a smile. He nodded. "I will."

    I managed a tiny smile. "Good. If anyone can find him and bring him back, it's you, a-and I'm sorry that I didn't really believe you before. I'm ... being half-alive and half-dead isn't easy."

     He nodded, like he understood. And I guess, as a Satyr, he kind of could. His empathetic skills allowed him to feel the emotions of others. He knew my fear, he knew my sadness, and he knew my guilt and regret. Talking to Grover about these things seemed easier because of that. I didn't have to explain myself, he just knew. Grover had the same relief about him that nature did. A walk with Grover was like having a walk with nature, you felt refreshed and motivated afterwards.

     "You're alive, you're here," he said. "And we won't let him take you again. Especially Percy."

     I rolled my eyes. It was wrong, yes, but part of me was angry with him. At first, I thought Percy believed I could do things, that I could look after myself and fight for myself. But as we went on this quest together, all he's been doing is making sure I don't even get a scratch. And when I do, or I'm about to, he throws himself in instead. I understand, but it makes me feel as if I'm useless. I came back for a reason, everyone is saying, and yet all I feel is the opposite. I came back for nothing. I'm not needed anymore. I'm just wasted space. I'm a Dead Girl walking underneath a veil. I'm a ghost, and I follow everyone. That's who I've turned into.

     Grover frowned, "He's just scared of losing you again."

     "I know," I crossed my arms. "But I can handle myself. I don't need a babysitter. I've been at this longer than him. I may not be special anymore and not have any powers anymore, but I'm not useless!" I frowned and my arms fell. "Right?"

      "You are special!" he said. "You are Claire Moore!"

     Not anymore, I wanted to say, but I decided against it.

     We took canoes, and with Percy controlling the currents—or more like asking the naiads to do the dirty work of pushing us—we travelled upstream. I sat in a canoe with Thalia and Grover, and the two of us shared a comfortable silence with a few chats about some things, but with Bianca gone, it felt weird to talk. For some reason it felt wrong. Or maybe it was because it felt wrong that I'm here and she isn't.

     We came to the end of the river, and the group of us all stared up at the huge dam that towered above us. I recognised it immediately. The Hoover Dam.

     Annabeth suddenly came to mind. This was one of the places she always wanted to see, and now we had arrived at it without her.

     The canoes stopped at the rivers edge, and we all got out. Together, we looked up at the curve of the concrete wall that loomed between the cliffs. People were walking along the top of the dam, so tiny they looked smaller than ants.

      "Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge."

     "Over two hundred metres tall," Percy said. "Built in the 1930s."

      "Ninety-six documented deaths," I added.

     "Five million cubic areas of water," Thalia sighed.

     "Largest construction project in the United States," Grover finished, a sad look upon his face.

     Zoë frowned, "How do you know all that?"

     "Annabeth," I said. "She liked architecture."

     "She was nuts about monuments," Thalia added.

     "Spouted facts all the time," Grover sniffed. "So annoying."

     "I wish she were here," Percy frowned.

     We nodded in agrement. Zoë was still looking at us strangely, but I ignored her. It felt so weird to be standing here and looking at Hoover Dam without Annabeth with us. She would've gone nuts, pushed us to go inside and check it out, I'd have to walk with her and hear her ramble on and on, and we'd probably end up fighting a monster because she takes way too long ...

      We were going to find her and save her. She was coming home.

    "We should go up there," I said. "For her sake. She would've dragged us in there anyway. Might as well, just to say that we've been."

     "You're mad," Zoë decided. "But that's where the road is." She pointed to a huge parking lot next to the top of the dam. "And so sightseeing it is."

     It took an hour to find a path that led up to the road. Once we did, we made our way up to the dam. Walking at the top was quite exhilarating. The wind blew against me, sending my hair to the side. On one side, you had a wonderful lake stretching on for miles ringed by barren mountains, while on the other side, was a deadly drop of over two hundred metres into the canyon below. Thalia didn't like that. She stayed in the middle of the pathway and away from the edge.

     As we walked, my stomach rumbled. Blushing, I looked down at it, realising I haven't eaten for a while. Thalia noticed and she said, "There's a snack bar in the visitors centre."

     Percy frowned at her. "You've been here before?"

    "Once," said Thalia. "To see the guardians." She pointed to the far end of the dam, where carved into the side of the cliff was a plaza with two bronze statues with angelic wings. "They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built. A gift from Athena."

     Tourist cluttered all round them, surrounding them by the toes. Percy frowned, "What are they doing?"

     "Rubbing the toes," Thalia said. "They think it's good luck."

     "Why?"

    She shook her head. "Mortals get crazy ideas. They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."

"When we're you here last? Did they talk to you or anything?"

Okay, Percy has a tendency to always ask the wrong question. So much that it's become a personality trait at this point, honestly.

Thalia's gaze darkened. "No. They don't do anything. They're just big metal statues."

Percy frowned.

Zoë arched a brow before she sighed. "Let us find the damn snack bar. We should eat while we can."

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"

"Yes," she blinked. "What is funny."

I pursed my lips to keep my smile away. Grover stifled a chuckle, "Nothing. I could just use some dam fries."

I grinned, "And get a dam drink."

Even Thalia smiled, "And I need to use the dam bathroom."

Percy started to laugh, and we joined in. I don't know what was so funny about it, it just was. Sometimes the stupidest things make me laugh the most until tears came out of my eyes, and this just happens to be one of them. Or perhaps it was just the look of absolute confusion on poor Zoë's face. "I do not understand."

"I want to use the dam water fountain." Grover nudged me in the side as we laughed.

"And ... and ..." I wheezed, "I want to go the dam gift store."

"To buy a dam T-shirt," Thalia finished, and we burst out into even more laughter that sent Zoë crying out:

"What? What is so damn funny?!"

Wheeze. Laughter. Zoë let out a frustrated heave and crossed her arms.

I calmed down to try and explain to Zoë what was so funny about it, feeling some sympathy for the girl when Percy suddenly stopped laughing and jerked up. He turned to the water, as if he heard something.

Grover heard it too, "Did I just hear a cow?"

I frowned, I didn't hear anything. Thalia laughed, "A dam cow?"

"No," said Grover. "I'm serious."

Zoë listened. "I hear nothing."

But I was looking at Percy. He seemed upset, staring at the water with brooding eyes. "Percy, you okay?"

"Yeah," he said, half-heartedly. "You guys go ahead, I'll be right in."

"What's wrong?" asked Grover.

"Nothing," said Percy. "I just ... I just need a minute."

It seemed like such a contrast to his mood just seconds ago, wanting to brood alone, but we nodded and left him to it. We were all dealing with Bianca's death differently, and I guess this is just how it was for Percy.

° ° °

I didn't realise how hungry I was until we arrived at the cafe and I could smell the sausage rolls. I don't even like sausage rolls that much. But as soon as I went in and that fresh-baked smell wafted our way, I suddenly just really wanted one so much.

And so, we got in line and got us some burritos and sausage rolls.

The four of us took a seat at a table by a window that looked over the dam. It felt weird to sit and relax. I can't relax on a daily basis in general. As soon as I sit still for too long I start to shake and get jittery—sensory overload, who knows, I just know it's got something to do with my ADHD. And especially when my mind was focused on saving Annabeth and saving Annabeth only, sitting down and waiting for my sausage roll seemed useless and stupid.

And so I stood up and said I had to go to the bathroom.

The journey to the bathroom was a good length, which I was glad for. It allowed for me to get my legs moving and the energy out so I can sit down without getting angry at every single noise that came my way.

I must've smelt. I haven't had a shower in days. The bathroom seemed a lot more welcoming where I could go to the sink and give my face a wash.

Walking and moving also stopped me thinking about the Transition. Hades nearly killed me. He nearly made me stay there for eternity, seeing the life of Bianca and the childhood of Nico I had destroyed. I broke his promise, and if it weren't for that booming voice and that bright light, I wouldn't be back.

I don't know who it was. I first thought that it was my father, but I know his voice. His voice didn't sound like that. Part of me—the even thought of it made a chill go down my spine—leaned towards the idea that it was Kronos. I know his voice too. The fact that he could do what he did just tells me that he's growing stronger and stronger by the day; Luke and Jay with him.

This also meant that he knew that I was alive, and I don't know what that entails.

This place was full to the brim of tourists—which is obviously to be expected, considering its a top tourist place, but like it was kinda stressful. I didn't know whether those skeleton warriors were amongst the crowd or not. This much mortal energy made it a lot harder to see through the mist, and a lot harder to sense dangers.

I pulled my snow coat around my body more, scanning the crowd. I turned the corner, following the bathroom sign. I walked down the hall. The hairs on the back of my neck were on end, and I knew someone was watching me. I turned around and met the eyes of a raven sitting up on top of one of the exit signs. It's beady eyes watched me with curiosity, its sharp beak glinting as if sun was hitting it even though we were inside. Which brings me to my second point, why was a raven inside?

It flapped its wings and cawed at me. I frowned and looked to the busy main hall to see whether anyone else was seeing and hearing this, or whether it was just me. No one seemed to glance down the hall at this strange bird that kept on screeching. I turned back to it and snapped, "Would you shut up?"

It just cawed at me again.

"What are you even doing in here, you stupid bird?" I crossed my arms.

It stared at me, as if was offended by me calling it stupid. I rolled my eyes. The bird screeched again and flapped its wings before it took flight. I ducked as it swooped, and turned around to glare at it only to see it land on the shoulder of a boy. His golden blonde hair was messy and covered the tip of his brow, falling down to the nape of his neck. His hazel eyes met mine, and I felt a sudden familiarity, as if I knew him—but I have never met this boy before in my life.

"You're a demigod," I realised.

"So are you," said the boy. "Also, Skylar doesn't like you now. You called him stupid."

It took me a second to realise he was talking about the bird. "Yeah?" I arched a brow. "He can deal with it."

It cawed again and I narrowed my eyes at it. "How can you talk to a bird like that?"

The boy tucked part of his hair behind his ear, and I saw scars spotted all over the side of his face. Some looked like scratches, others looked like scars from diseases—like chicken pox. "He's my friend."

He seemed young, around Nico's age, to be specific. But his eyes looked so much older, as if he's seen the world die and then come back. "Who are you?" I decided to ask, still feeling as if I know him from somewhere, but where?

The boy didn't answer my question, instead, he asked me, "I haven't seen you around, are you on you're journey to camp?"

I frowned. Journey? "No," I said. "I'm on a quest. I haven't seen you at camp."

It was true. I've never seen this demigod before. I think I would know if there was a boy who could talk to ravens at camp. There was something that seemed dangerous about him, foreign. So much that it made me want to pull out my dagger to protect myself, or fight ... I don't know why, but my fight or flight response was screaming.

"Who are you?" I asked again.

He narrowed his eyes, and he suddenly looked a lot scarier than before. He looked like he was going to say something when someone shouted, "Claire?!"

I spun around, recognising Percy's voice immediately. Ugh, trust him to interrupt something really important. I glanced back to try and get an answer out of the boy only to see that he had disappeared.

Gods dammit Percy!

Percy shouted my name again, and I guess I had no point other than to go and see what he wanted.

Walking around the corner to the main hall, I was met with Percy, Thalia, Zoë and Grover all running my way.

Percy reached me first, "Where were you?"

I frowned, "I went to go to the toilet. I don't need to tell you everything. You're not my mom."

"Thank the gods I'm not," said Percy, grabbing my arm which I shoved off. "What?"

"You don't need to drag me around like a child!"

Grover sighed, "Claire, this isn't the time for this—"

Percy narrowed his eyes, "I do not drag you around like a child—!"

"Yeah, you do!" I snapped. "I don't need a babysitter! I can do a lot of things by myself. Just because I died doesn't mean you have to make sure I've had my bottle—I'm not a baby!"

Anger flared in the son of Poseidon's eyes. "Well, you know what? You sure act like one half the time—"

I gaped. "Oh, really, now? Well, you—"

Thalia stepped forward. "We don't have the time for this! We have to go!"

Percy snapped out of it. He gave a nervous glance over his shoulder, and I followed his gaze to see the skeleton army marching their way towards us.

"Oh," I muttered. "Great. Just great."

So, we ran.

"What are we going to do?" I asked Thalia as we turned a sharp corner.

"I don't know, you have the hand sanitiser thing."

"Yeah, but against all of them?!"

As they got closer, I kicked over a table and chairs in hope to slow them down. Some people frowned and got annoyed with me, but I just kicked over another one and continued to run. It slowed them down a bit, my reputation at this place was forever stained, but we managed to get outside safe.

"What now?" Grover asked.

No one seemed to have an answer, and with skeleton's closing from either direction, we ran across the street to the plaza with the winged bronze statues, but that just put our backs against a mountain.

The skeletons moved forward, forming a crescent around us. I just realised that some were covered in what looked like burritos and food. I frowned, and Grover gave me a sheepish look amongst everything. They all drew their batons and advanced.

"Five against ten," Zoë muttered. "And they cannot die."

"It's been nice adventuring with you guys," Grover's voice trembled.

Randomly, Percy said, "Whoa. Their toes really are bright."

I wanted to whack him, "Percy! This isn't the time!"

Percy ignored me. He had an idea. "Thalia, pray to your dad."

She glared at him. "He never answers."

"Just this once," he pleaded. "Ask for help. I think ... I think the statues can give us some luck."

Six skeletons raised their guns. The other four came forward with batons. Fifteen metres away, ten metres ...

"Do it!" Percy shouted.

"No!" Thalia said. "He won't answer me."

"This time is different!"

"Who says?!"

Percy hesitated. "Athena, I think."

Thalia scowled at him as if she was sure he'd gone crazy, and to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if he had.

"Try it," Grover pleaded.

Thalia sighed in frustration, but closed her eyes. Her lips moved in a silent prayer. We waited. Nothing happened.

The skeletons closed in. Percy raised Riptide. I pulled out my dagger covered in Hades special hand sanitiser. Thalia held up her shield. Zoë pushed Grover behind her and aimed an arrow at a skeleton's head.

The skeletons started to fire. Percy held up his coat. A shadow loomed over us, and I honestly though this was it, but them I could open my eyes. The sound of bullets bouncing off metal pierced my eyes. I looked up, and the angels had moved. They covered us with their wings, shielding us from the monsters before swiping at them and sending them over the side.

"Man, it feels so good to stand up!" the first angel said. His voice sounded tinny and rusty, like he hadn't drunk since he was built.

"Will ya look at my toes?" the other one said. "Holy Zeus, what were the tourists thinking?"

The skeleton's were already reforming, and as much as it was amazing to look at a statues toes, we needed to get out of here.

"Trouble," I said.

Thalia noticed and turned to the angels. "Get us out of here!"

Both angels looked down at her. "Zeus's kid?"

"Yes!"

"Could I get a please, Miss Zeus's kid?" one asked.

"Please!"

The angels shared a glance with each other before shrugging. "Could use a stretch," one said.

And before I knew it, I was being pulled up into the air with Percy and Thalia alongside me. The other angel grabbed Zoë and Grover and we flew straight up, over the dam and river, the skeleton warriors sinking to tiny specs and the sound of gunfire echoing off the sides of the mountains.

*

reeeeeeeeee exams suck