━━ chapter twenty-one
the beauty of death
(that's a capital 'd', by the way)

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

    ━━"We're in trouble," Fiona and Hazel hated to bring bad news to a table full of fries and burgers, but they had no choice. "I tried to get a boat. But ... I miscalculated."

    "No boats?" Frank frowned.

    "No, we can get a boat," said Fiona. "But the glacier is further away than Hazel originally thought. Even at top speed, we couldn't get there until tomorrow morning."

    Percy turned pale. "Maybe I could make the boat go faster?"

    "Even if you could," said Hazel, "from what the captains told us, it's treacherous━icebergs, mazes of channels to navigate. You'd have to know where you were going."

    "A plane?" Frank asked, hopeful.

    Hazel sadly shook her head. "I asked the boat captains about that. They said we could try, but it's a tiny airfield. You have to charter a plane two, three weeks in advance."

    They ate in silence after that. Fiona picked at her fries, unable to concentrate. How could they save their home if they couldn't even get to the glacier? Fiona wanted desperately for them to win, but it seemed impossible at this point (and yes, even she is starting to see that). And not just that, but Nico ... Fiona hoped he was still alive, and that Gaea had just been lying to make her unsettled. But Fiona had a terrible feeling that the goddess had been telling her the truth. Nico told her and Hazel that he'd search for the Doors of Death from the other side. If he had been captured by Gaea's forces ... they didn't always get along; their relationship was a rocky one. Fiona always felt like she competing with Bianca's ghost ... but he was her brother; the only brother she has ever had. He was her family, and she couldn't lose him.

    She may already have.

    No, she stopped herself. That's what Gaea wants me to think.

    A raven had landed on a telephone pole above and began to croak. Fiona tried not to pay much attention to it, but when it's cawing suddenly changed into a strangled yelp, she herself let out her own. Frank got up so fast he almost toppled the picnic table. Percy drew his sword, and Fiona unsheathed her pugio.

    Perched ontop of the telephone pole was no longer a raven. Instead, a fat ugly gryphon glared them down. It burped, and black feathers fluttered from it's beak.

    Hazel was the last to draw her weapon, the Stygian Iron glittering.

    Frank notched an arrow and took aim, but the gryphon shirked so loudly the sound echoed off the mountains. Frank flinched, and his shot went wide.

    "I think that's a call for help," warned Percy. "We have to get out of here."

    That was easy to say, but once they ran for the docks, it was a dead end. The gryphon dived after them. Fiona tried to reach it with her dagger whenever it stooped low, but it wasn't that stupid. It was intelligent enough to stay out of reach of Percy's sword arm as well, veering in and out, right to left. They had no choice but to take the steps to the nearest pier and race to the end. The gryphon swooped after them, its front claws extended for the kill. Fiona uselessly raised her weapon, but an icy wall of water slammed sideways into the gryphon and it was washed into the bay. It squawked and flapped its wings, managing to scramble to the pier, where it shook its black fur like a wet mut.

    Frank grunted. "Nice one, Percy."

    "Yeah," he replied. "Didn't know if I could still do that in Alaska. But bad news━look over there."

    Fiona followed his gaze. About a mile away, over the mountains, a black cloud was swirling towards them. It took her a few seconds to realise that it wasn't a storm cloud, but a whole flock of gryphons━dozens at least. She swore in Latin. There was no way they could fight that many, and no boat could take them away fast enough.

    Frank nocked another arrow, "Not going down without a fight."

    Percy raised Riptide, "I'm with you."

    This was going to be a disaster, but Fiona took a deep breath and held the grip of her dagger tighter, when━

    "Arion!" Hazel cried out in relief. "Over here!"

    Woosh! A tan blur came rippling down the street and onto the pier. The stallion materialised right behind the gryphon, brought down his front hooves and smashed the monster to dust.

    Hazel let out a whoop of delight. "Good horse! Really good horse!"

    Frank stared, so gobsmacked he almost fell off the pier, "How━?"

    "He followed me!" Hazel beamed. "Because he's the best━horse━ever! Now, get on!"

   "All four of us?" Percy frowned. "Can he handle it?"

    "Can we fit?" Fiona instead asked.

    The horse whinnied indigiantly.

    Percy's eyes widened at whatever he had said. "All right, no need to be rude. Let's go."

    Riding Arion was the scariest experience Fiona has ever felt. Clinging onto Frank's shoulders for dear life, she kept her jaw clenched in fear that she might accidentally bite her own tongue off. Percy's arms were wrapped tightly around her waist as he barely hung on at the back, hair flying wild. Hazel was the only one who enjoyed it, letting out screams of joy as they shot across the water. Fiona closed her eyes, buring her face into Frank's back. Let it be over soon, she prayed, let it be over soon. Don't let me fall off. I don't want to fall off. I don't want to━

    They raced through icy straits, past blue fjords and cliffs with waterfalls spilling into the sea. Arion jumped over a humpback whale and kept galloping, startling a pack of seals off an iceburg. Fiona knew it was only minutes, but it felt like a whole hour, until the horse finally came to a halt on a frozen turquoise slab.

    A half a mile away stood Hubbard Glacier, and Fiona felt her breath hitch. She had trouble describing it, like it was as if a wave had frozen right there, rising out of the sea and filling the entire gorge in two large peaks; blue and white with streaks of black. The temperature had dropped to freezing, and with it, was the sound of thunder rolling across the water.

    "What is that?" Frank glanced at the clouds above the glacier. "A storm?"

    "No," Fiona felt her stomach twist. "That's the sound of ice cracking and shifting━millions of tons of ice ..."

    "You mean that thing is breaking up?" Frank asked, alarmed.

    The ice responded as if on cue━a sheet of ice silently calved off the side of the glacier and crashed into the sea, spraying water and frozen shrapnel seventy-storeys tall. Fiona watched it, feeling a whole shadow of blue cascade over her. A millisecond later the sound hit them━a BOOM that made Fiona's ears ring after.

    "We can't get close to that thing!" cried Frank.

    "We have to," said Percy. "The giant is at the top."

    Arion nickered.

    "Jeez, Hazel," Percy frowned at the stallion, "tell your horse to watch his language."

    Hazel looked like she was trying not to laugh. "What did he say?"

    "With the cussing removed? He said he can get us to the top."

    Frank's chapped lips parted, incredulous. "I thought the horse couldn't fly!"

    This time Arion whinnied so angrily, Fiona was scared he might buck them off. "Dude!" Percy scolded the horse. "I've been suspended for saying less than that. Hazel, he promises you'll see what he can do as soon as you give the word."

    "Um, hold on, then, you guys," said Hazel nervously, and Fiona didn't need to be told twice. "Arion, giddyup!"

    Wooooosh!

    Don't bite your tongue off, don't bite your tongue off, don't, don't, don't━

    Arion shot towards the glacier like a rocket, barrelling straight across the ice. The air grew colder. The crackling of the ice bcame louder and louder. As Arion closed the distance, the glacier loomed so large that Fiona's neck craned to see the tip of it. The side was riddled with crevices and caves, spiked with jagged ridges like axe blades. Constantly, were pieces crumbling off━some no larger than snowballs, others the size of houses. When they were about fifty yards from the base, a thunderclap rattled Fiona's very bones, and a curtain of ice as big as Camp Jupiter carved away and fell towards them.

    "Look out!" Frank shouted.

    Oh, really? Sorry, I was too busy looking at the━

    "Oh, Gods!" Fiona screamed as Arion rushed forward in a burst of speed, zigzagging through the debris, leaping over chunks of ice and clambering up the face of the glacier. In front of her and behind, Frank and Percy were screaming curses much like her, holding on for dear life. Even Hazel had her arms wrapped around her horses neck.

    Somehow━thank the gods━they managed to not fall off as Arion scaled the cliffs, jumping from foothold to foothold like some sort of mountain goat. Then it was over. Arion stood proudly at the top of the ridge of ice that loomed over the void, the sea rushing at least three hundred feet below them. He whinnied a challenge that echoed across he mountains. Percy didn't translate, but he didn't need to, because Fiona was sure Arion was calling out to any other horses that might be in the bay: Ha! Beat that, ya motherfu━

    Arion ran again, and Fiona's thoughts were interuppted with desperate reminders to keep her teeth clenched as they leapt a chasm fifty feet across.

    "There!" Percy pointed. (Though, how he managed to do that, Fiona didn't know).

    The horse stopped. Ahead of them stood a frozen Roman camp like a giant sized ghost-town of Camp Jupiter. The trenches bristled with ice spikes, the snow-brick ramparts glared blinding white. Hanging from the guard towers, banners of frozen blue cloth shimmered in the Arctic sun. Fiona felt a chill rest on her shoulders that wasn't from the cold. Arion trotted skittershly. There was no sign of life, but that didn't change the uneasy feeling that settled over them.

    "How about we go on foot from here?" suggested Percy.

    Frank sighed with relief, "Thought you'd never ask."

    They dismounted, and Fiona's legs hurt. Taking some tentative steps, they made sure the ice felt stable enough to walk. Hazel stayed on Arion, urging him forward as Fiona, Percy and Frank walked on either side, their weapons ready. Her eyes narrowed at the Roman camp, and she peered right down the Via Praetoria where at the crossroads, in front of the snow-covered principia, she caught sight of a dark, tall robed figure, bound in icy chains.

    "Thanatos," Hazel murmured.

    Fiona felt as though her soul was being pulled forward━dragged straight towards Death like some sort of vaccum. She didn't notice Hazel almost falling off Arion, and Frank catching her and propping her back up. Instead, she nearly collapsed straight forward, but arms held her up, pulling her close. "Hey, no, we've got you," promised Percy. "Nobody's taking you guys away."

    She wanted to stay right there, forever, in his arms. They were warm despite the cold climate, and he was tall and it felt like just with his arms around her, she was shielded from Death━Fiona felt safe. But it was naive to think that, so she took an uneasy step forward, still gripping his hand, but holding her own ground.

    "I'm all right," said Hazel, and Fiona nodded, agreeing; a straight-up lie.

    Percy looked around, on edge. "No defenders? No giant? This has to be a trap."

    "Obviously," said Frank. "But I don't think we have a choice."

    Fiona took another deep breath. This is it, she told herself. This is it. And if this is it, it will be my final victory, no opposition. With a surge of bravery, she stepped forward and Hazel on Arion followed. The two of them courageously led the boys into the fort, grim-faced and looking much older than they actually were. The layout was so familiar━cohort barracks, baths, armoury ... except it was three times bigger than Camp Jupiter. Fiona felt tiny and insignificant, which was usually the truth, but her pride and ambition never made her consciously realise until now.

    They stopped ten feet in front of the robed figure.

    Fiona glared at the god. If he touched her, she was sure she would die. Her fingers itched to take ahold of her necklace, but she stopped herself. No. I am not afraid.

    "My Lord, Death," she greeted, and the hooded figure raised his head.

    Instantly, the whole camp stirred to life. Figures in Roman armour emerged from the barracks, the principia, the armour. and the canteen, but they weren't human. They were shades. Fiona doesn't know how, but she could just tell. They were from the Fields of Asphodel, chattering aimlessly with bodies not much more than wisps of black vapour. However, they managed to hold toegther sets of scale armour, greaves and helmets. Fros-covered swords were strapped to their waists. Pila and dented shields floated in their smoaky hands. The plumes on the centurions' helmets were frozed and ragged. Most were on foot, but two soldiers burst out of the stables in a golden chariot pulled by ghostly black steeds.

    When Arion saw the horses, he stamped the ground in outrage.

    Frank gripped his bow. "Yep, here's the trap."

    Fiona's fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger, and she glared at the shades. They were returned souls, but she didn't know whether she could command so many without passing out straight away. She had only commanded one lost soul before, and she had been completely drained afterwards. This was a whole army. They formed banks and encircled the crossroads. There were about a hundred in all━not an entire legion, but more than a cohort. Some carried the tattered lighting banners of Michael Varus's doomed Cohort from the 1980s, while others carried standards and insignia Fiona did not recognise; others who had died at different times, on different quests━some maybe not even from Camp Jupiter.

    It wouldn't be wise to try and control this many. She was needed conscious. She had to━

    Hazel turned to the robed figure. "Thanatos! We're here to rescue you. If you control these shades, tell them━"

    Her voice faltered. Fiona's eye widened as the god's hood fell away and his robes dropped off as he spread his wings━he looked like an angel; a dark, beautiful angel with eyes that were as smooth as honey; gold and glittering with skin the colour of teakwood. He was lean and muscular, with a regal face and black hair flowing down his shoulders. His wings were a kaleidescope of blue, black and purple. His wrists were shackled in icy manacles, as were his feet with chains that ran straight to the glacier floor.

    Fiona found it hard to speak. "Oh ..." was all she could manage.

    "Um..." mumbled Hazel.

    "It's Cupid," said Frank.

    "A really buff Cupid," added Percy.

    "You compliment me," said Thanatos. His voice was as beautiful as he was━deep and melodious, and Fiona wondered whether he had he could sing. "I am frequently mistaken for the god of love. Death has more in common with Love than you might imagine. But I am Death. I assure you."

    Fiona didn't doubt it, that's for sure. She could feel the power radiating off of him, burning into her as if to scream, you're not meant to be alive, you must die━and Fiona would. She would bow right down to those beautiful eyes and let him take her.

    "We're━we're here to save you," stammered Hazel. "Where's Alcyoneus?"

    "Save me...?" Thanatos narrowed his eyes. "Do you understand what you are saying, Hazel Levesque? And you, Fiona Midgrass, do you not understand what that will mean?"

    Percy stepped forward in front of Fiona, and if she wasn't so mesmerised by Death's eyes, she would have felt a flutter in her chest. "We're wasting time."

    He swung his sword at the god's chains. It should have cut right through, but Riptide stuck to the chain like glue. Frost began creeping up the blade. Percy pulled frantically, and Frank ran to help. Together, they just managed to yang the sword free before the frost reached their hands.

    "That won't work," Thanatos said simply. "As for the giant, he is close. These shades are not mine. They are his."

    "They are not his," growled Fiona, suddenly feeling a fresh burst of anger like a deadly flower blooming in her stomach. "They belong to the Underworld. He has no right to control them."

    "Ah, but he does," he gave her a slender smile. Fiona's knees were weak at the sight of it. "He is made to oppose your father, Pluto. He can control those shades, and he has the right to."

    Thanatos's eyes scanned the ghost soldiers. They shifted uncomfortably, as if an Artic wind were rattling through their ranks.

    "So how do we get you out?" demanded Fiona, hands clenched.

    "Daughter of Pluto," he turned his attention back to her, "child of my master, you and your sister, of all people, should not wish me released."

    "Don't you think we know that?" Hazel seethed through her teeth. She pulled out her spatha, and Arion reared in defiance. "Listen, Death. I didn't come back from the Underworld and travel thousands of miles to be told that I'm stupid for setting you free."

    "Yes," agreed Fiona, eyes narrowed. She was done being afraid. "If we die, we die. But we'll fight this whole army if we have to. Just tell us how to break your chains!"

    Thanatos studied them for a heartbeat. "Interesting. You do understand that these shades were once demigods like you. They fought for Rome. They died without completeing their heroic quests. Like you, Hazel Levesque, they were sent to Asphodel. Now Gaea has promised a second life if they fight for her today. Of course, if you release me and defeat them, they will have to return to the Underworld where they belong. For treason against the gods, they will face eternal punishment. They are not so different from the two of you, Hazel Levesque and Fiona Midgrass. Are you sure you want to release me and damn these souls forever?"

    Fiona's heart ached with a pang of fear, but she stood her ground. Taking a deep breath, she said. "My father tasked me with reminding those who they belong to, and that is what I'm here to do. So yes, I am sure."

    But Frank clenched his fist. "You're not being fair! None of this is fair! Do you want to be freed or not?"

    "Fair..." Death mused. "You'd be amazed how often I hear that word, Frank Zhang, and how meaningless it is. Is it fair that your life will burn so short and bright? Was it fair when I guided your mother to the Underworld?"

    Frank staggered like he had been punched.

    "No," said Death sadly. "Not fair. And yet it was her time. There is no fairess in Death. If you free me, I will do my duty. But of course these shades will try to stop you."

    "So if we let you go," Percy summed up, "we get mobbed by a bunch of black vapour dudes with gold swords. Fine. How do we break those chains?"

    Thanatos smiled. "Only the fire of life can melt the chains of death."

    "Without the riddles, please?"

    Frank drew a shaky breath. "It isn't a riddle."

    Fiona frowned. Hazel understood immediately, and her hand flew to her jacket pocket. "Frank, no," she said weakly. "There's got to be another way."

    Laughter so loud boomed across the glacier, that Fiona thought another part was falling away, until a voice followed it, rumbling across the ice: "My friends. I've waited so long!"

    A giant stood at the gates of the camp, even larger than Polybotes. His skin was a metallic gold, with armour made from platinum links and an iron staff the size of a totem pole. His rust-red dragon legs pounded against the ice as he entered the camp. Precious stones glinted in his red braided hair. Fiona knew immediately that it was Alcyoneus. She doesn't know why, but maybe as the daughter of Pluto, she could tell who the bane of her father was.

    The giant approached, grinning at Hazel with solid silver teeth. "Ah, Hazel Levesque!" he said. "You cost me dearly! If not for you, I would have risen decades ago, and this world would already be Gaea's. But no matter!"

    He spread his hands, showing off the ranks of ghostly warriors. "Welcome, Fiona Midgrass! Welcome, Percy Jackson! Welcome, Frank Zhang! I am Alcyoneus, the bane of Pluto, the new master of Death. And this is your new legion."

    Fiona glared up at him. He was scary, and big, and could probably crush her with just one stomp, but she stepped towards him and shouted up. "These are not your warriors! These shades belong to the Underworld━in the Fields of Asphodel, and they shall return!"

    Her anger echoed out of her voice, and the shades around them seemed to look at each other confused, as if to say, yeah, what are we doing here again? We're meant to be dead in the Underworld. They started to put down their weapons, and Fiona was stunned at what she had just done, but Alcyoneus glared and snapped back, "Do not listen to her! She tricks you! Her father is the reason you are caged━Gaea brings you new life!"

    More chatter. The ghosts picked back up their swords, daggers and spears. Fiona gritted her teeth, annoyed. That had taken a lot out of her, and the giant had corresponded her command without a trace of exhaustion.

    Alcyoneus smiled at Fiona. "You are strong, child of Pluto. But even you can't control an army of the dead."

    While Fiona considered multiple different points of attack, Frank turned to Hazel and said━his voice admirably steady━ "Hazel. That package you're keeping for me? I need it."

    Hazel glanced at him in dismay. "Frank, no. There has to be another way."

    "Please," he said. "I━I know what I'm doing."

    Thanatos smiled and lifted his manacled wrists, "You're right, Frank Zhang. Sacrifices must be made."

    Fiona didn't want Frank to sacrifice himself for this quest. It wasn't right, nor was it fair━but that was what Death said, wasn't it? Death was never fair.

    The giant Alcyoneus stepped forward, reptilian feet shaking the ground. "What package do you speak of, Frank Zhang? Have you brought me a present?"

    "Nothing for you, Golden Boy," said Frank bravely. "Except a whole lot of pain."

    Alcyoneus roared with laughter. "Spoken like a child of Mars! Too bad I have to kill you. And this one ... my, my, I've been waiting to meet the famous Percy Jackson." He grinned once again. Percy showed no emotion, staring blankly up at him. "I've followed your progress, son of Neptune. Your fight with Kronos? Well done. Gaea hates you above all others ... except perhaps for that upstart Jason Grace. I'm sorry I can't kill you right away, or your friend Fiona Midgrass, but my brother Polybotes wishes to keep the two of you as a pet. He thinks it will be amusing when he destroys Neptune to have the god's favourite son on a leash. After that, of course, Gaea has plans for the both of you."

    "Yeah, flattering," Percy's voice was filled to the brim with sarcasm sprinkled with a deathwish. He raised Riptide. "But actually I'm the son of Poseidon. I'm from Camp Half-Blood."

    The ghosts stirred. Some drew swords and lifted shields, but Alcyoneus raised his hand, gesturing for them to wait. "Greek, Roman, it doesn't matter," he said easily. "We will crush both camps underfoot. You see, the Titan's didn't think big enough. They planned to destroy the gods in their new home of America. We giants know better! To kill a weed, you must pull up its roots. Even now, while my forces destroy your little Roman camp, my brother Porphyrion is preparing for the real battle in the ancient lands! We will destroy the gods at their source."

   Fiona frowned, not liking the sound of that. The ghosts pounded their swords against their shields, echoing around them. "The source?" Frank spoke up, sounding dry. "You mean Greece?"

    Alcyoneus chuckled. "No need to worry about that, son of Mars. You won't live long enough to see our ultimate victory. I will replace Pluto as Lord of the Underworld. I already have Death in my custody. With Hazel Levesque in my service, I will have all the riches under the earth as well!"

    Hazel gripped her spatha tight, "I don't do service."

    "Oh, but you gave me life! True, we hoped to awaken Gaea during World War Two. That would've been glorious. But, really, the world is in almost as bad a shape now. Soon, your civilisation will be wiped out. The Doors of Death will stand open. Those who serve us will never perish. Alive or dead, you four will join my army."

    Percy shook his head. "Fat chance, Golden Boy. You're going down."

    "Wait," Hazel spurred her horse towards the giant, eyes glittering with a fresh menace Fiona had never experienced from her sister before. "I raised this monster from the earth. I'm the daughter of Pluto. It's my place to kill him."

   "Ah, little Hazel," the giant planted his staff on the ice. "Are you sure you will not join us of your own free will? You would be quite ... precious to us. Why die again?"

    Hazel's eyes flashed with anger. She looked down at Frank and pulled the wrapped-up piece of firewood from her coat that held Frank's life in its splinters. "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah," he said.

    She pursed her lips. "You're my best friend, too, Frank. I should have told you that," she tossed him the stick. "Do what you have to. And, Fiona, Percy ... can you protect him?"

    They shared a look, and then gazed at the ranks of ghostly Romans. "Against a small army?" said Percy. "Sure, no probem."

    "Then I've got Golden Boy."

    With that said, Hazel charged the giant.

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅。.。༅:*·ﾟﾟ·⭑

    a/n: stan frank zhang for clear skin.