chapter 33: kronos

The dirt tunnels turned to stone. They wound around and split off and tried to confuse the group of demigods (plus mortal), but Rachel had no trouble guiding them. Once they told her they needed to get back to New York, she navigated the tunnels easily, hardly even pausing when the tunnels offered her a choice.

Like damn, such a flex?

Rachel and Annabeth had surprisingly started up a conversation as they walked. Since Rachel was still a little evasive about her background, they started talking about something Annie loved—architecture. Rachel apparently knew some things from studying art, talking about different facades on New York buildings, so the boys, seemingly uninterested, hung back with Hoa in an uncomfortable silence.

"Thanks for coming after us," Percy finally said.

Nico looked away. "It was all Hoa."

"That's a lie," Hoa said. "He was almost as concerned."

Nico's eyes narrowed—not angrily, but maybe more surreptitiously. "I owed you for the ranch, and for holding Hoa off in her bloodlust. Plus... I wanted to see Daedalus for myself. In a way, Minos was right. Daedalus should die. Nobody should be able to avoid death for that long. It's not natural."

"That's what you were after all along," Percy said. "Trading Daedalus's soul for your sister's."

Hoa averted her eyes from them as she zoned out from their conversation. Her heart felt heavy as she thought of her fate. She was going to die. There was no preventing it.

But that phrase, soul for a soul. It echoed endlessly in her mind, causing a desperate flicker of hope to arise within her. Would it be naïve for her to wish that Nico would choose to revive her if he traded Daedalus' soul? Would that be selfish?

These thoughts caused her to halt for a second. Nico's eyes flickered to her as he casually grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. His conversation with Percy was done. He was now just walking alone with his other hand in his pocket, trying to act nonchalant. The son of Poseidon was ahead of the two of them, conversing with Annabeth and Rachel.

"Flower," he said, tugging her along. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she muttered.

He gripped her other hand, tugging her slightly closer. His chocolate orbs stared at hers, reading her expression. The look in his eyes told her he didn't believe her in the slightest.

"Just know that I'm here for you if you wanna talk, okay?"

"Okay," Hoa said, leaning into him slightly.

He didn't seem like he expected her to lean into him while they were supposed to be moving. The son of Hades probably thought that she was tired since he visibly panicked. "Hey, do you need a break? Want some water? Uh—"

"Everyone stopped already. They're waiting for us. No rush," Hoa muttered.

Nico looked back, and sure enough, the three others were staring at them. They waited patiently as Nico tried to hoist Hoa up and walk her to where the other stood.

"Annabeth, do you have water? Hoa's getting tired."

"Uh—I think I do. Hold on."

"It's fine, we're in no rush," Percy said as his girlfriend looked for something that Hoa could drink.

Rachel stared down at the dark tunnel. In the dim flashlight beam, her face had a faint and eerie glow. She looked strangely powerful, even though she was probably one of the weakest people in the group.

"Is that the way?" Annabeth asked.

"No," Rachel said nervously. "Not at all."

"Why are we stopping, then?" Percy asked.

"Listen," Nico said, clutching Hoa tighter.

Hoa's heart pounded as she stared at the tunnel. Her limbs refused to move and her mind went into full panic mode. The tunnel didn't seem welcoming, the lack of light scaring Hoa. It reminded her of that terrible dream she kept having.

The dream of her death.

"Eucalyptus trees," Percy said. "Like in California."

Like the quest Bianca died on.

"There's something evil down that tunnel," Rachel said. "Something powerful."

"And the smell of death," Nico added.

Hoa shuddered at the word death. She needed no more reminders that she'd be dying soon. That felt like the only thing she could think about—the thought endlessly suffocating her and taking up her entire brain capacity.

Percabeth looked at each other. "Luke's entrance," Annie guessed. "The one to Mount Othrys—the Titan's palace."

"I have to check it out," Percy said.

"Percy, no," Annabeth and Hoa said at the same time.

"Stop being a hero, Perce," Hoa added. "We don't want you to die."

"Luke could be right there," Percy protested. "Or... or Kronos. I have to find out what's going on."

Annabeth hesitated. "Then we'll all go."

"No, it's too dangerous. If they got hold of Nico, Hoa, or Rachel, Kronos could use them. You stay here and guard them."

"Percy, don't," Rachel said. "Don't go up there."

"Percy," Hoa muttered. "Don't be a heroic idiot. We should leave."

"I'll be quick," Percy promised. "I won't do anything stupid."

Annabeth took her Yankee's cap out of her pocket, sighing in defeat. She probably knew the most out of all of them how stubborn Percy could be at important times this. "At least take this. And be careful. Let's not have another funeral for you."

"Thanks." He put it on. "Here goes nothing."

~•~•~

Annabeth didn't even last a minute.

After just thirty seconds, she stood and paced. She fiddled with her camp necklace, bunched up her T-shirt, stomped her feet, and did all these things to show how worried she was.

"Annie, calm down. He'll be fine," Hoa tried.

"No! He's gonna be an idiot!"

"Annie, he's not that much of an idiot..."

She continued pacing relentlessly, refusing to stop.

Suddenly, Rachel stood up. "PERCY!"

Before any of them could react, she threw an object—a blue plastic hairbrush.

"Ow!" Luke yelled.

Hoa looked back and got chills. It was Luke, but... not Luke? Why were his eyes yellow? Wait... they were gold.

Percy ran straight into them as he wordlessly got up again.

Annabeth and the rest of the group were staring ahead. "Luke?" Annabeth said. "What—"

Percy grabbed her by the shirt and sprinted, dragging Annabeth along. Rachel got out of her trancelike state, but Hoa froze.

There's something there...

Nico quickly grabbed her hand and started sprinting, snapping Hoa back to reality. They sprinted faster than they'd ever run before as the voice of Kronos-Luke boomed from behind them. "AFTER THEM!"

Hoa panted as her legs wore out. She couldn't keep running for long. Days worth of exhaustion finally got to her, her knees buckling as she fell to the floor. Nico tried to steady her, but it was no use. He turned to the Titan Army, who was approaching quickly.

"Hand her over," Kronos growled.

"No!"

And he clapped his hands.

A jagged spire of rock the size of an eighteen-wheeler erupted from the ground as Nico stood in front of her—strong enough to tear down a fortress. Dust billowed everywhere as muffled screams from various monsters sounded. Without hesitation, Nico picked her up, sprinting towards the rest of the group.

Nico panted, lifting Hoa up. "Percy," he said, gasping. "Take her. I can't."

Wordlessly, Percy scooped her up, allowing the tired boy to keep pace with the group.

That's all Hoa could remember before passing out.

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hi im madi, your loyal author ♥️

hey!! what do you think about the last bit? :))

also sorry for not updating for the last few weeks :((

this chapter is unedited so if its crappy then you know why

check out muse! its a jax x reader (from tadc--the amazing digital circus)

anyways again

how was the chapter?

also, what are some questions of your own?

anyways, tysm for reading this crappy book! 😃