We were brought back to the same porch we were on barely even fifteen minutes ago. Eurytion tied all of us up, but he doubled my legs and arms so I couldn't move at all. I found it infuriating but he said; 'Just for a little while, trust me.' Geryon made him help set up some party streamers and balloons, which I don't get why. He started to flip burgers on a huge barbecue cooker made from an oil drum. Eurytion lounged at a picnic table, picking his fingernails with a knife. 

"I'm bored," I huffed.

Annabeth turned to me. "Kiera, we're being held hostage, and you're bored?"

"Yep."

Geryon chuckled. "Not for long godling. After your brother is dead I can collect my pay."

What is up with people calling me godling? This shits annoying. I tried to wiggle my legs in front of me, but I was on my knees so I had nothing to hold onto. "Hey, Eurytion?"

He looked up from his cleaning. "Hm?"

"Can you undo my legs? I don't get why you had to tie those. I also have really bad ADHD and its not fun to be trapped like this." I asked. "Would you like to be in a fucking straight jacket?"

Eurytion seemed to think about this, then decided it wouldn't hurt anyone. He cut the ropes on my ankles and I quickly swung one leg out, knocking him over. His knife clattered to the ground and I flicked it up with my hand and quickly undid my bindings on my hands. Geryon spun towards me, bearing a spatula and his KISS THE COOK apron.

He charged at me and I dove to the side, with no way to stop that fast, he ran into the railing and gave himself the Heimlich maneuver. Eurytion was trying to get up, but Tyson tried turning to him and ended up sitting on his arm.

I ran into the house and looked around, there was nothing of use to me. They had taken my sword and daggers, the bracelets would return to me eventually, but not quick enough. Geryon burst inside after me and sneered.

I ran to the fridge inside and brought out a Dr. Pepper. Geryon had about one second to see the item and look confused before it landed between his eyes with a nice—THUNK! The soda exploded into his eyes and I ran at him, tackling him then trying to get away.

"Eurytion! You fool, help  me!" Geryon shouted.

The son of ares charged at me and I rolled into the shadows and appeared on the deck of the porch and started to look for my weapons. They weren't there. Eurytion must have thought it through and hid them from me. His dog was peacefully snoozing so there was no worry there.

Nico stared at me, while Annabeth was trying to wiggle out of her knots without any luck. We would need a knife to cut them, and I didn't have one. I turned to the grill and looked underneath it for something, anything. 

Please, Lord Hephaestus and Lady Tyche, let me find something I can use against them. I silently prayed. As soon as that was done, I heard four pairs of footsteps approaching as I tore open the doors and spotted my number one friend. Propane. 

I undid it from the grill and heard it sizzle to a stop. I took some of the pipes off and connected through the top of the propane. The grill would still light for a small bit if I turned it back on, and that might have been enough. I tore off the bottom part of my shirt and tied it around the tubing. Please, please, please. I just need more time!

"Move!" Geryon shouted, no doubt at his faithful 'servant'.

I was running out of time.

Just as I turned the grill on and put the makeshift tie above it as the tiny flame sparked to life, the two made it outside. Geryon seemed upset I ruined his grill, while Eurytion knew what I was doing. SHIT!

He tackled me and my head banged against the floorboards. My makeshift arsenic teddy-bear rolled across the floor. The tie was unlit. I failed. Geryon picked it up and clicked his tongue. "I thought there would be more from you, Moiraio. More fight, perhaps. Alas, I was wrong about you." He held it with one arm over the grill, not even daring to look at it. "You can't even use your blessing from Hephaestus correctly. Maybe you are just a mistake."

I felt a smile come across my face. "Alright."

Geryon frowned. Eurytion looked up to see what I was smiling at, and his eyes widened. "No! Get rid of it!"

"What?" Geryon asked.

The fire traveled to my fabric and I started grinning. I didn't lost yet, it would take two minutes for my bomb to explode. "Nah, he said I didn't do anything right—"

Eurytion punch me in the face and I groaned as my head slammed against the floor again. I couldn't help but laugh. That quickly died down as I saw something silvery on a chain around Eurytion's neck. He put my bracelets on a chain. So naturally, I'd have to battle him for it. Weaponless.

He jumped off of me and took my propane from Geryon and sprinted off the porch. "No!" I shouted, I started to get up but Geryon kicked me in the side and I felt a pain bloom.

Geryon picked me up by the front of my shirt and glared into my eyes. "You ruined my grill, little godling."

I patted his hand holding me up. "And you ruined my shirt and face. We're even, monster."

He tossed me down and I grunted as he planted a foot on my chest. "Maybe I just kill you, that'll do Kronos and the gods a favor."

What's new?

I heard a muffled explosion and the earth trembled a slight bit. My bomb had worked, I just needed more time.

Geryon kicked my side again, and I was reminded of all the times I had broken ribs the past three years. Which really, was way  to much.

Annabeth wiggled again. "Don't touch her!"

Nico was watching from the corner, eyes slightly wide. I could tell he wanted to do something, but another half of his body told him not to. Tyson started to get his knots undone, but Orthus jumped on top of him and brought him down to the deck with his hands beneath him. Grover tried pulling against his restraints, too. But no luck.

"Why?" Geryon asked. He took his foot off of me and walked to Annie. I got up on my arms and took a few breaths. Eurytion is going to return soon, then you'll be tied up again. Do something, you idiot!

I looked up and saw a few bricks next to the dead grill. No doubt to keep oil and other greasy juices from dripping onto the wooden floor. When I looked back, Geryon was closer to Annabeth. She knew what she was doing, she knew to try and give me time. I army-crawled to the pile and picked up two. They weren't that heavy compared to some of the weapons and training activities at camp.

I stood up and saw Eurytion sprinting through the grass, he saw me too. I was losing valuable time again. I felt Hermes's blessing run through my blood stream and I walked silently against the creaking wooden boards. I raised the bricks and brought them down on Geryon's head just as he turned to me. His eyes widened before promptly shutting due to being knocked-the-fuck-out.

I tossed the two bricks aside and went to move behind Annabeth to untie her, but her eyes widened and she shouted, "Kiera, behind you!"

Oh shit.

I turned and swung a hand. My fist connected with a beefy chest and I was lifted off the floor. SHIT SHIT SHIT!

"Let go!" I tried to kick my feet at Eurytion to get him away.

He sneered at me. "Now, why'd you have to do that? I was gonna help you, but you left me no choice."

He raised a brick and for the first time in a while, I felt fear take over me. I started screaming and kicking, anything to get away from him. Lightning lashed out of the sky and the sparks flying off of me did nothing to the son of Ares. I heard pipes breaking as water burst from inside the house and came leaking out the door. The sprinkler system broke as well, and water came flying from the ground. 

I was disturbingly reminded of Gabe. How he would hit Mom like this, a strong hand flying across her face. A beer bottle thrown at Percy when he dropped Gabe's food. A belt lashing across my back as he screamed at me about hiding money.

Eurytion swung the brick and pain burst in my skull. Tears welled in my eyes but I could do nothing as he swung it again and I dropped to the ground, falling into Hypnos's sweet embrace.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

When I woke up, I still had a raging head ache. This time, I was retied and everyone was tossed into the corner. Tyson on the bottom, Nico in the corner, Grover to my left, and Annabeth to my right. I could barely keep my eyes open, but managed when I heard "You promised!"

I turned my head and saw my brother standing on the porch, Riptide in pen form, but still in his hand.

Geryon made a tsk-tsk sound. "But did you make me swear on the River Styx? No you didn't. So it's not binding. When you're conducting business, sonny, you should always get a binding oath."

Percy took the cap off Riptide, and the bronze sword sprung to life. Orthus growled. One head leaned down to Grover's ear and bared its fangs.

Ugh, can't I get a break? I just want a nap.

"Eurytion," Geryon said, "the boy is starting to annoy me. Kill him."

Eurytion studied Percy.

"Kill him yourself," Eurytion said.

Geryon raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Eurytion grumbled. "You keep sending me out to do your dirty work. You pick fights for no good reason, and I'm tired of dying for you. You made me hurt the girl, I didn't want to. You want to fight the kid, do it yourself."

It was the most un-Areslike thing I'd ever heard a son of Ares say.

Geryon threw down his spatula. "You dare defy me? I should fire you right now!"

"And who'd take care of your cattle? Orthus, heel."

The dog jumped away from Grover and sat by the cowherd's feet. 

"Fine!" Geryon snarled. "I'll deal with you later, after the boy is dead!"

Man, all this shouting is hurting my head. I groaned as my headache multiplied tenfold.fuckkkk.

Percy's head snapped toward me and his eyes widened as he saw me blink at him and throw my head back. His knuckles were white as he held onto Riptide.

Geryon picked up two carving knives and threw them at Percy. Percy deflected one with his sword. The other impaled itself in the picnic table an inch from Eurytion's hand.

He went on the attack. Geryon parried his first strike with a pair of red-hot tongs and lunged at Percy's face with a barbecue fork. Percy got inside his next thrust and stunned him by stabbing him through the middle chest.

I frowned through my gag. How come they got all these weapons? They got burning hot grilling items, swords, knives, all I got was a propane tank. Rude.

"Aghhh!" Geryon crumpled to his knees. I waited for him to disintegrate, the way monsters usually do. But instead he just grimaced and began to stand up. The wound in his chef's apron started to heal.

"Nice try, sonny," he said. "Thing is, I have three hearts. The perfect back up system."

My headache increased and I had to squeeze my eyes shut and try to ignore all the loud sounds. I definitely had some sort of concussion, maybe some head trauma. I heard a crash, and the only thing to make that big of a sound on the porch would be the grill. I opened my eyes as coals spilled everywhere. One landed next to Annabeth's face, and she let out a muffled scream. I tugged against my bonds, and so did Tyson, but we couldn't break them. A searing pain began on my calf, right above the top of my converse. I looked down and saw a coal burn through my pants and burn away skin. I yelled and tried to move my leg, but I couldn't move it very far.

It hurt badly. I definitely had bad burns. Adding that to my lists of, maybe broken ribs, maybe a concussion for the day, it was a wonder I was still up.

Percy ran into the house and Geryon cried; "Coward! Come back and die right!" Geryon ran after him. 

I heard something land with a nice—DINK.  And silence. I was worried. What if Percy was hurt? What if he died? What if I just lost my brother? I kept tugging on the rope holding me, worry running through my blood. That ended the moment Percy stepped out of the deck, with no scratches.

Thank you, Lady Tyche, Lady Athena, and any other god or goddess who helped my idiotic brother.

He untied us. Eurytion didn't try to stop him.Then he stoked up the barbecue and threw food into the flames as an offering I assumed. There were two ribs thrown in, and he said; "Thanks, guys. I owe you one."

'Guys', plural. He must have sent a prayer to Apollo and Artemis. Thank you.

The sky thundered in the distance, so I figured the burgers and ribs smelled okay.

I used the railing to help me stand up, my legs almost giving out beneath me.

"Yay for Percy!" Tyson said.

"Can we tie up this cowherd now?" Nico asked.

"Yeah!" Grover agreed. "And that dog almost killed me!"

Percy didn't bother looking at Eurytion, he walked straight up to me and let me lean on him. "Kiera, you look like shit."

I gave a dry laugh. "That's not something you should say to a girl, much less your own sister."

He frowned at me as I let my head fall back and close my eyes. He didn't say anything but I felt his neck move as he turned to look at someone else.

"How long will it take for Geryon to re-form?" Percy asked.

I looked back down and saw Eurytion shrugging. "Hundred years? He's not one of those fast re-formers, thank the gods. You've done me a favor."

"A favor?" I sneered. "I tried killing him and you fucking hit me with a brick. How is it any different when Percy does it?"

Eurytion looked at me. "That bomb you made worked well. I had to get rid of it, and that left him with you. He was already getting back up, and he didn't want you dead."

"Sure seemed like it," I murmured.

Percy looked between us. "Kiera, what the fuck? You made a bomb?"

I waved it off with one hand as Annabeth held her hand out to Eurytion. He tore off the chain around his neck and handed it to Annabeth, who hurried over to me and helped me put them on. "Thanks," I whispered.

She got on my other side and put my free arm around her shoulders, helping Percy bear my weight. "No problem, after all, you are my best friend."

I giggled. "Suck up."

Annabeth looked at me as if I was crazy. "I think you've lost it. Once we get back in the Labyrinth, I'm cleaning you up and you are sleeping."

Fine with me.

"—Get the animals on your side, and they'll help you. Once Geryon gets back, maybe he'll be working for you this time." Percy said.

I yawned. Oh gods, I could really go for a cup of orange juice right now. Oh! With some nice Eggos. Oooooh! Add some mangos to that, and bam, great food. I'm so hungry right now. When can we go? I'm bored.

"—Nope. Geryon was waiting until after the barbecue. They don't know anything about him." Eurytion was saying.

Fuck, I gotta pay attention.

Nico was glaring at Percy. I wasn't sure what we were gonna do about him. He wasn't gonna go with us willingly. We couldn't just leave him here, though.

"You could stay here until we're done with our quest," I said half yawning. "It would be safe."

"Safe?" Nico said. "What do you care if I'm safe? You got my sister killed!"

I clenched my fists and glared back at him. "For the last fucking  time, I wasn't there! I  sacrificed myself to get everyone else away. She was still alive last time I saw her, so again, I. Wasn't. There!"

"Nico," Annabeth said. "That wasn't their faults. And Geryon wasn't lying about Kronos wanting to capture you. If he knew who you were, he'd do anything to get you on his side."

"I'm not on anyone's side. And I'm not afraid!"

"You should be," Annabeth said. "Your sister wouldn't want—"

"If you cared for my sister, you'd help me bring her back!"

"A soul for a soul?" I asked.

"Yes!"

"But if you didn't want Percy's soul—"

"I'm not explaining anything to you!" He blinked tears out of his eyes. "And I will  bring her back."

I got off of Percy and Annabeth and limped over to the son of Hades. "Bianca wouldn't want to be brought back.Not like that."

"You didn't know her!" He shouted. "How do you know what she'd want?"

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Bianca and I were very much alike. Trust me. I'd feel the same way. If I died and Percy went out doing this, I wouldn't want to be brought back like that. Please, Nico."

He looked at me and hugged me, and I winced as pressure was applied on my ribs. "Let's ask Bianca." Percy said.

The sky seemed to grow darker all of a sudden.

"I've tried," Nico said miserably. "She won't answer."

"She'll want to answer with me and Kiera here. Besides, Kiera can help you if you tell her what to do, she used to be a daughter of Hades."

Nico looked up at me, "how is that true? You're a daughter of Poseidon, you can't just change things like that."

"Long story," I sighed.

"And why would she?" Nico asked.

"Because she's been sending me Iris-messages," Percy said. "She's been trying to warn me what you're up to, so I can protect you."

Nico shook his head. "That's impossible.

"One way to find out. You said you're not afraid." I looked at Eurytion. "We're gonna need a pit, food, and drinks."

"Kiera," Annabeth warned. "I don't think this is a good—"

"Nonsense. I've always wanted to go ghost hunting." I said.

Eurytion scratched his beard. "There's a hole dug out back for a septic tank. We could use that. Cyclops boy, fetch my ice chest from the kitchen. I hope the dead like root beer."

"Dr. Pepper is better."

**

3200 words!

Sorry I haven't updated recently, haven't rlly felt motivated. I finished school and passed al my exams! Whoop-whoop! Freshman year is done, now for sophomore, that took forever!

A few nights ago, my sister and her bf were cuddling while we were watching a movie and he was giving her head scratches. I felt so single.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed. Don't forget to comment, it makes my day and is always nice to talk to y'all.

—Author and Jeffery :]