𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

chapter sixty-six. ☄︎. *. ⋆

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IN TRUE HORROR MOVIE FASHION, we summoned the dead after the sun went down, at a twenty-foot-long pit in front of the septic tank. The tank was bright yellow, with a smiley face and red words painted on the side: HAPPY FLUSH DISPOSAL CO.

The moon was full. Silver clouds drifted across the sky.

"Minos should be here by now," Nico said, frowning. "It's full dark."

"Maybe he got lost," Percy said hopefully.

Nico poured root beer and tossed barbecue into the pit, then began chanting in Ancient Greek. Immediately the bugs in the woods stopped chirping. I grew antsy, shifting my weight between my feet. I'd never seen Nico summon the dead before. I only knew what Percy had told me that he'd seen in his dreams. But nothing could have prepared me for the flat-out creepiness of it all.

"Make him stop," Tyson whispered to Percy.

I agreed wholeheartedly. This was unnatural. The night air felt cold and menacing. But before I could say anything, the first spirits appeared. Sulfurous mist seeped out of the ground. Shadows thickened into human forms. One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink.

"Stop him!" Nico said, momentarily breaking his chant. "Only Bianca may drink!"

Percy drew Riptide. I aimed an arrow. The ghosts retreated with a collective hiss at the sight of our celestial bronze weapons. But it was too late to stop the first spirit. He had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white robes. A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even in death his eyes were alive with malice.

"Minos!" Nico said. "What are you doing?"

"My apologies, master," the ghost said, though he didn't sound very sorry. "The sacrifice smelled so good, I couldn't resist." He examined his own hands and smiled. "It is good to see myself again. Almost in solid form—"

"You are disrupting the ritual!" Nico protested. "Get—"

The spirits of the dead began shimmering dangerously bright, and Nico had to take up the chant again to keep them at bay.

"Yes, quite right, master," Minos said with amusement. "You keep chanting. I've only come to protect you from these liars who would deceive you."

He turned to the rest of us as if we were just some cockroaches. "Percy Jackson... my, my. The sons of Poseidon haven't improved over the centuries, have they?"

Percy scowled. "We're here for Bianca di Angelo," he said. "Get lost."

Minos only chuckled. "I understand you once killed my Minotaur with your bare hands. But worse things await you in the maze. Do you really believe Daedalus will help you?"

The other spirits stirred in agitation. I drew my knife and helped Percy keep them away from the pit. Grover got so nervous he clung to Tyson's shoulder.

"Daedalus cares nothing for you, half-bloods," Minos warned. "You can't trust him. He is old beyond counting, and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods."

"The guilt of murder?" Percy asked. "Who did he kill?"

"Do not change the subject!" the ghost growled. "You are hindering Nico. You try to persuade him to give up his goal. I would make him a lord!"

"Enough, Minos," Nico commanded.

The ghost sneered. "Master, these are your enemies. You must not listen to them! Let me protect you. I will turn their minds to madness, as I did the others."

"The others?" Percy narrowed his eyes. "You mean Chris Rodriguez? That was you?"

"The maze is my property," the ghost said, "not Daedalus's! Those who intrude deserve madness."

"Leave us be, Minos," I said, scowling. "We're not here for you."

He turned to me like he had just realized I was there; a slow, creepy smile growing on his face. "Theodosia Scott. How truly excellent to finally meet you. Your mother speaks very highly—"

But I cut him off by shooting an arrow that flew threw his chest, creating ripples in his appearance. When I spoke, my voice was sharp and precise, laced with venom. "What do you mean? How have you met my mom?"

He grinned, like he'd been expecting such a reaction. "You haven't yet heard?"

I gripped my bow so hard my knuckles turned white, and shook my head slowly. "Tell me."

"Oh, all in due time." Minos's eyes glinted evilly.

I spun around to face the son of Hades, suddenly fueled with fury. I didn't think to lower my bow, instead keeping it level at Nico's face. "What does he mean, Nico?"

He met my eyes with a steely, determined glare, and for a moment I was foolish enough to think he was going to tell me that Minos was lying. But when Nico's expression broke and he lowered his head, I knew exactly what he was going to tell me.

"She died last night," he said. "Unknown causes."

There was a heavy moment of silence in which everyone had their eyes on me. I felt my breathing pick up, felt my chest ache, and felt my eyes sting, but I didn't cry. I just kept staring at Nico.

"Summon your sister," I told him, my voice eerily level. "Just... summon Bianca. That's what we're here for."

As Nico picked up his chanting again—though hesitantly, this time—I turned to Minos, seething. "And you," I said, "are going to leave."

     Minos narrowed his eyes at me, but I could tell I'd unnerved him.

     "Listen to her, Minos," Nico said, momentarily pausing his chants.

     The ghost bit back his rage. "As you wish, master. But I warn you. You cannot trust these heroes."

     With that, he faded into mist. Other spirits rushed forward, but Percy and Tyson kept them back.

     "Bianca, appear!" Nico intoned. He started chanting faster, and the spirits shifted restlessly.

     Then a silvery light flickered in the trees—a spirit that seemed brighter and stronger than the others. It came closer, kneeling to drink at the pit. When it arose, it was the ghostly form of Bianca di Angelo.

     Nico's chanting faltered. I forgot my misery. The other spirits started to crowd forward, but Bianca raised her arms and they retreated into the woods.

     "Hello, Percy," she said. She nodded toward me. "Theo."

     She looked the same as she had in life: a green cap set sideways on her thick black hair, dark eyes and olive skin like her brother. She wore jeans and a silvery jacket, the outfit of a Hunter of Artemis. A bow was slung over her shoulder. She smiled faintly, and her whole form flickered.

     "Bianca," I said. My voice was thick. I'd felt guilty about her death for a long time, but seeing her in front of me was five times as bad, like her death was fresh and new. I remembered searching through the wreckage of the giant bronze warrior she'd sacrificed her life to defeat, and not finding any sign of her. "I'm so sorry."

     "You have nothing to apologize for, Theo. I made my own choice. I don't regret it."

     "Bianca!" Nico stumbled forward like he was just coming out of a daze.

     She turned toward her brother. Her expression was sad, as if she'd been dreading this moment. "Hello, Nico. You've gotten so tall."

     "Why didn't you answer me sooner?" he cried. "I've been trying for months!"

     "I was hoping you would give up."

     "Give up?" He sounded heartbroken. "How can you say that? I'm trying to save you!"

     "You can't, Nico. Don't do this. Theo and Percy.. they're right."

     "No! They let you die! They're not your friends."

     Bianca stretched out a hand as if to touch her brother's face, but she was made of mist. Her hand evaporated as it got close to living skin.

     "You must listen to me," she said. "Holding grudges is dangerous for a child of Hades. It is our fatal flaw. You have to forgive. You have to promise me this."

     "I can't. Never."

     "Percy has been worried about you, Nico. He can help. I let him see what you were up to, hoping he would find you."

     "So it was you," Percy said. "You sent those Iris-messages."

     Bianca nodded.

     "Why are you helping them and not me?" Nico screamed. "It's not fair!"

     "You are close to the truth now," Bianca told him. "It's not Percy or Theo you're mad at, Nico. It's me."

     "No."

     "You're mad because I left you to become a Hunter of Artemis. You're mad because I died and left you alone. I'm sorry for that, Nico. I truly am. But you must overcome the anger. And stop blaming Theo for my choices. It will be your doom."

     "She's right," I broke in. "Kronos is rising, Nico. He'll twist anyone he can to his cause."

     "I don't care about Kronos," Nico said. "I just want my sister back."

     "You can't have that, Nico," Bianca told him gently.

     "I'm the son of Hades! I can."

     "Don't try," she said. "If you love me, don't..."

     Her voice trailed off. Spirits had started to gather around us again, and they seemed agitated. Their shadows shifted. Their voices whispered, Danger!

     "Tartarus stirs," Bianca said. "Your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the Underworld. It is not safe for us to remain."

     "Wait," Nico said. "Please—"

     "Good-bye, Nico," Bianca said. "I love you. Remember what I said."

     Her form shivered and the ghosts disappeared, leaving us alone with a pit, a Happy Flush septic tank, and a cold full moon.