ch 15 Secret passages and the struggle for freedom

The air in the Lotus Hotel was thick with tension as the group pushed forward, desperate to uncover more clues. The red key in Cordelia's bag was a constant reminder that time was slipping away. They needed to find Nico and his sister Bianca before it was too late.

As they left the Lotus Hotel, Luke spotted something peculiar on the walls—a faint outline of a passageway, almost invisible to the naked eye. "Look here," he said, pointing to the faint lines. "This isn't on any map we've seen."

"A secret passage?" Annabeth's eyes lit up with curiosity. "It could be a way to get closer to where Nico and Bianca are."

Grover nodded. "It's worth a shot. We're running out of options."

Cordelia took the lead, her instincts sharp as they ventured into the hidden passageway. The walls were narrow, forcing them to move single file. The atmosphere became more oppressive with each step, but there was no turning back now.

Hours later, after winding through several labyrinth-like tunnels, they stumbled upon a small room. There, barely conscious, was Bianca di Angelo.

"Bianca!" Annabeth exclaimed, rushing over to her. The young girl was weak, her face pale, and she struggled to lift her head.

Cordelia immediately pulled out one of her special juices from her magical bag. "Drink this," she said softly, bringing the bottle to Bianca's lips. The girl took a sip, and color began to return to her cheeks, though she was still visibly exhausted.

"They've been… trying to use our blood," Bianca whispered, her voice hoarse. "Nico and I… we've been separated. He's being held… in the main chamber, with… my father's weapon of power. I overheard the monsters talking. They're using it as a lure, hoping someone will come to save him."

Luke clenched his fists. "They're trying to bait us."

Bianca's eyes fluttered, and she winced in pain. "Please… you have to save him. He's getting weaker… and they'll use his blood to open the gates. I… tried to fight, but they were too strong."

Annabeth knelt beside her, gently squeezing her hand. "We'll find Nico. We'll get both of you out of here."

Bianca nodded weakly. "There's… another passage. It leads straight to the chamber. But be careful… they're guarding it."

Cordelia looked around the room, her gaze falling on the barely visible doorway at the far side. "I'll go first," she said, determination flashing in her eyes. "If we can take them by surprise, we might stand a chance."

The passage Bianca had mentioned was narrow and dark, with only flickering torches lighting their way. As they approached the main chamber, the group could hear the growls and grunts of monsters.

Luke whispered to the group, "We'll need to be smart about this. If they've got Nico and Hades' weapon in there, they're expecting a fight."

Cordelia nodded and readied her weapon. Bubbles and Flame, who had been quiet up until now, stirred in her mind. Bubbles reached out to Cordelia with a sudden urgency through their mind link. I can smell them. Ten… no, twelve monsters. They're coming closer.

"We've got company," Cordelia warned.

The group tensed, ready for a fight, when suddenly, from the shadows, a large monster stepped forward. "They're here," it growled, loud enough for the others to hear.

But before it could attack, it let slip something crucial. "The boy is getting weaker… the gates will open soon enough."

Cordelia's heart pounded. That was the clue they needed—Nico was close, and the monsters were banking on him not holding out much longer. They didn't have time for a drawn-out battle.

"Now!" Luke shouted.

Bubbles and Flame leaped into action, summoning all the energy they could muster. With a flash of fire and water, they shot the largest beams they had ever conjured. The power was overwhelming, and the monsters stood no chance. The beams struck with incredible force, obliterating the entire group of monsters in an instant.

The intensity of the attack left the two small creatures utterly drained. They collapsed into an exhausted sleep, but the path was clear.

The group made their way into the chamber, and there, bound and unconscious, was Nico di Angelo. His face was pale, his breathing shallow. Next to him, encased in an iron grip, was Hades' weapon of power—a massive, darkly gleaming bident.

"Get the restraints off him!" Cordelia ordered, rushing forward. Luke and Annabeth quickly helped untie Nico, who was barely conscious. As soon as they freed him, Cordelia handed him a drink from her bag. Slowly, life began to return to his frail form.

"He's weak," Grover said, his voice trembling. "But we've got him."

Luke grabbed the bident. "We can't stay here long. Let's get out of here before more monsters show up."

As they made their way back through the secret passages, the group was on high alert. Nico was still barely holding on, and Bianca was in no condition to fight. They had to move quickly before the monsters regrouped.

Once outside the passage, they set up camp to tend to their wounds. The rain had begun to pour, soaking them to the bone, but Cordelia, always prepared, pulled out her pop-up tent. She helped the others change into dry clothes, and soon enough, they were sheltered from the storm.

"I'll take the first watch," Cordelia said, standing guard while the others got some much-needed rest. The weight of their mission pressed heavily on her shoulders, but they had taken a major step forward. They had Nico, they had Bianca, and they had Hades' weapon of power.

Now, they just needed to make it out alive.