The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus Book 4) by Rick Riordan Page A

ground. A monster clawed its way out … a glistening telkhine with slick fur, a seal-like body and stunted human limbs. It managed to crawl a few yards before something shot out of the nearest cave, so fast that Percy could only register a dark green reptilian head. The monster snatched the squealing telkhine in its jaws and dragged it into the darkness.
    Reborn in Tartarus for two seconds, only to be eaten. Percy wondered if that telkhine would pop up in some other place in Tartarus, and how long it would take to re-form.
    He swallowed down the sour taste of firewater. ‘Oh, yeah. This’ll be fun.’
    Annabeth helped him to his feet. He took one last look at the cliffs, but there was no going back. He would’ve given a thousand golden drachmas to have Frank Zhang with them right now – good old Frank, who always seemed to show up when needed and could turn into an eagle or a dragon to fly them across this stupid wasteland.
    They started walking, trying to avoid the cave entrances, sticking close to the bank of the river.
    They were just skirting one of the spires when a glint ofmovement caught Percy’s eye – something darting between the rocks to their right.
    A monster following them? Or maybe it was just some random baddie, heading for the Doors of Death.
    Suddenly he remembered why they’d started following this route, and he froze in his tracks.
    ‘The
empousai
.’ He grabbed Annabeth’s arm. ‘Where are they?’
    Annabeth scanned a three-sixty, her grey eyes bright with alarm.
    Maybe the demon ladies had been snapped up by that reptile in the cave. If the
empousai
were still ahead of them, they should’ve been visible somewhere on the plains.
    Unless they were hiding …
    Too late, Percy drew his sword.
    The
empousai
emerged from the rocks all around them – five of them forming a ring. A perfect trap.
    Kelli limped forward on her mismatched legs. Her fiery hair burned across her shoulders like a miniature Phlegethon waterfall. Her tattered cheerleader outfit was splattered with rusty-brown stains, and Percy was pretty sure they weren’t ketchup. She fixed him with her glowing red eyes and bared her fangs.
    ‘Percy Jackson,’ she cooed. ‘How awesome! I don’t even have to return to the mortal world to destroy you!’

XV
     

PERCY
     
    P ERCY RECALLED HOW DANGEROUS Kelli had been the last time they’d fought in the Labyrinth. Despite those mismatched legs, she could move fast when she wanted to. She’d dodged his sword strikes and would have eaten his face if Annabeth hadn’t stabbed her from behind.
    Now she had four friends with her.
    ‘And your friend
Annabeth
is with you!’ Kelli hissed with laughter. ‘Oh, yeah, I totally remember her.’
    Kelli touched her own sternum, where the tip of the knife had exited when Annabeth had stabbed her in the back. ‘What’s the matter, daughter of Athena? Don’t have your weapon? Bummer. I’d use it to kill you.’
    Percy tried to think. He and Annabeth stood shoulder to shoulder as they had many times before, ready to fight. But neither of them was in good shape for battle. Annabeth was empty-handed. They were hopelessly outnumbered. There was nowhere to run. No help coming.
    Briefly Percy considered calling for Mrs O’Leary, his hellhound friend who could shadow-travel. Even if she heard him, could she make it into Tartarus? This was where monsters went when they died. Calling her here might kill her, or turn her back to her natural state as a fierce monster. No … he couldn’t do that to his dog.
    So, no help. Fighting was a long shot.
    That left Annabeth’s favourite tactics: trickery, talk, delay.
    ‘So …’ he started, ‘I guess you’re wondering what we’re doing in Tartarus.’
    Kelli snickered. ‘Not really. I just want to kill you.’
    That would’ve been it, but Annabeth chimed in.
    ‘Too bad,’ she said. ‘Because you have no idea what’s going on in the mortal world.’
    The other
empousai
circled, watching Kelli