The Darkness Within

Chapter 20

Percy POV

"What did you do to her!" I shout at the voice.

It laughs. "Nothing yet. She is just the bait."

I look around, trying to find where the voice is coming from.

"I'll make you a deal. Hand over the feisty Athena-spawn, and I'll release your Paxy."

I admit I was tempted. Annabeth has treated me like Minotaur dung the entire trip until she learned of my innocence, but she still treats Pax like garbage.

"Never!" Piper screams before I could accept. "She's family!"

I roll my eyes at this but maintain my stance.

"Surely you do not want to fight the pit itself..."

Tartarus appears in human form. His helmet covering the darkness that was his face. He towers over all of us.

We take a step forward, daring to fight the monster that haunts us all if necessary.

He laughs. "You fools! You can't defeat me in my own domain!"

A dark figure with four arms appears behind him.

I suddenly remember what Pax told me when she rescued me. 

A four-armed monster killed her satyr and half-blood friend. 

This being is the reason I was sent to this literal hellhole in the first place.

I instantly swing my sword up at the beast.

"You...you bastard!" I yell. "You did this to me! You killed them!"

"What are you saying, Perce?" Hazel whispers.

I growl. "Perce is a nickname used by my friends. You are no friend. None of you are."

Everyone looks hurt, but they know I am right.

The figure laughs. "I must thank you, really. You gave me a good killing spree. I didn't expect you to escape. However, I must blame myself for letting that Castellan girl live. I was young and new to this monster job."

Annabeth shouts. "So it was you! You were the one who killed innocents just to sentence my love to Tartarus!"

"Don't flatter yourself, Annie." I scoff. "I broke up with you first."

She shoots me a look before continuing to glare at the figure.

"He is your 'love' that you keep talking about? I'm hurt!" It sneers.

"Sepia?" Annabeth whispers.

"I am your darkest fears. I am everything and nothing at the same time. My name is Αγνωστος, meaning Unknown." He snickered.

Tartarus smiled slyly. "And he is my personal assasin. The Heir to the Dark Throne."

"What are you talking about?" Frank demanded an answer.

"It doesn't matter!" The primordial announced. "You will be dead soon enough."

Spikes formed at our legs, twisting around our ankles and trapping us.

"Why? Why do you want to kill us?" hollered Jason, as the spikes moved up to his torso.

I struggle against the spikes. I try again and again to shadow-travel out of them, but to no avail.

"Who said I wanted to kill you?" Tartarus laughs. "Unknown is here to offer you a place in his army, first. Those who refuse will experience eternal suffering in eternal damnation."

Leo sasses back. "Suffering? I love suffering! Especially eternal suffering!" 

Tartarus ignored him as Unknown approached Annabeth. He looked her straight in her eyes.

"Dearest Annie. You've told me everything about you. You trust me, remember? Then join us. Help us dethrone the sorry excuses of gods." Unknown says.

Annabeth must have realized something because she visibly pales.

"I-it can't be? I-I don't be-believe it!" she stutters.

Unknown sneered and lifted his dark veiled hood.

He wasn't Sepia.

A/N: Remember a few chapters back when I wrote in an UnKnOwN Person's Point of View?

Yeah I LITERALLY made that person's name Unknown.

In case that wasn't clear.

You're welcome.

Ahhh. It wouldn't be a chapter without a cliffhanger. 

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

Please comment. I want to have feedback on the story so far.

A very extra and sassy author,

Sapphy