"Nico let go!" Calliste tears fell "You can't carry all of us."
"But if I will you'll die!" I reasoned
"Nico I'll be fine. I promise." She let go of her hand
"Calliste!" I yelled. I was going to jump after them but Percy stopped me. I could feel tears forming in my eye but I blinked them before they fell.
"She's gone" I said "They're gone" I could feel my voice getting louder and louder.
"They'll be fine." Percy patted my back. "She promise she'll come back didn't she?" Percy assured me.
"Why don't we rest for the night. We've had a rough day." Percy suggested
We camped near the cliff. I ran through Calliste's bag. I found her bow and arrows. Then Percy appeared beside me.
"We'll get them back. I promise." Percy said
"Why don't you sleep for tonight and I'll watch guard ok?" Percy said
I didn't complain since I was tired.
I slept a dreamless sleep. The next morning I woke up and I was greeted by Percy.
"Hey!"
"Hi" I answered
A man wearing jogging pants passed by.
"Isn't this place too far for jogging?" I asked Percy
"Um Are you Hermes?" I asked him
"What does it look like?" He answered,. He took his phone from his pocket.
"Do you have any news about Grover, Calliste and Ella?" I asked
"Ah! the blonde daughter of Zeus, the satyr and the annoying dark haired daughter of Poseidon."
"Yes" Percy answered
"They have been captured by a Cyclops." Hermes answered
"Hey Percy who is that guy?" one of the snakes in Hermes phone asked
I turned to face Percy "Oh my gods they can talk?"
"Yeah" Percy answered
"Hey George this is Nico." Percy introduced me to the snake
I waved at George
"Aren't you forgetting me?" the other snake hissed
"Oh hi Martha" Percy said
"I have some things for you" Hermes interrupted their conversation "This is a magical key. It can break any lock or door."
"I don't think we need that." I told him
"Trust me you will need it later on." He said " Here are a few drachmas and sleeping pills.Use it wisely"
"I suggest that you go to your father's place so you can find your friends." Hermes told me
"Um Thanks for the suggestion." I told him
Then he quickly vanished
"So... Let's go to the Underworld
We continued to hike the forest when we saw a road leading to the city. We walked to the city and Percy decided to have some snacks before going to the Underworld. We entered a shop with a few people. He went to the counter and ordered a box full of donuts. After he payed we left.
"Want some?" he asked
"No thanks" I told him
"So what's the easiest way to the Underworld?"
"Shadow travel"
"No way dude there has to be some other way. I'm not doing that again."
"It's our only choice if we want to rescue them before the quest ends."
"Fine"
Percy and I shadow travelled from New York City to the Underworld. I was pretty tiring. We stopped at dad's throne room. Hopefully he'll see us before he turns us into dust.
"Came for a visit Nico?" He asked
"No. I was wondering if you have seen my friends Grover, Ella and Calliste?"
"Yes, they have been captured by my cyclops. You don't need them"
"But they'e my friends"
"No idiot child of Zeus and Poseidon and a filthy satyr would make a fit friend for you."
"Hey are you talking about me?" Percy interrupted the conversation
"Yes you and your annoying sister. I'd rather be nagged to death by Persephone and Demeter all day than to listen to her."
"Let them go!" Percy commanded
"In one condition" Hades said "You have to take their places."
"OK then" Percy said
"No! Percy he'll trick you!" I tried to discourage him
The skeleton guards took Percy and left him in a windowless prison cell.
"I'll get back at them later" I thought "First I have to make dad fall asleep so I could break in the prison"
"So son tell me how's camp?" He motioned me to sit beside him
"It's nice I guess. We have lot of outdoor activities. Very different from here." I blabbed on
Seeing that he was getting drowsy I dropped a sleeping pill in his cup of nectar so that he could fall asleep.
"Dad have some nectar. It would keep you awake." I advised him
He drank it. After a while I could hear his light snores and I took the magical key from my bag and headed to the prison.
