The Demigod Files - Nectar

“Die in pain, mortal!” Before I could raise my sword for defense, another daimon’s claws raked my shoulder. If I’d been wearing armor, no problem, but I was still in my school uniform. The thing’s talons sliced open my shirt and tore into my skin. My whole left side seemed to explode in pain.

Nico kicked the monster away and stabbed it. All I could do was collapse and curl into a ball, trying to endure the horrible burning.

The sound of battle died. Thalia and Nico rushed to my side.

“Hold still, Percy,” Thalia said. “You’ll be fine.” But the quiver in her voice told me the wound was bad. Nico touched it and I yelled in pain.

“Nectar,” he said. “I’m pouring nectar on it.”

He uncorked a bottle of the godly drink and trickled it across my shoulder. This was dangerous—just a sip of the stuff is all most demigods could stand—but immediately the pain eased. Together, Nico and Thalia dressed the wound, and I passed out only a few times.

I couldn’t judge how much time went by, but the next thing Iremember I was propped up with my back against a rock. My shoulder was bandaged.

Thalia was feeding me tiny squares of chocolate-flavored ambrosia.

“The Keres?” I muttered.

“Gone for now,” she said. “You had me worried for a second, Percy, but I think you’ll make it.”

Nico crouched next to us. He was holding the potted carnation. Only five petals still clung to the flower.

“The Keres will be back,” he warned. He looked at my shoulder with concern. “That wound . . . the Keres are spirits of disease and pestilence as well as violence. We can slow down the infection, but eventually you’ll need serious healing. I mean a god’s power. Otherwise . . .”

He didn’t finish the thought.

“I’ll be fine.” I tried to sit up and immediately felt nauseous.

“Slow,” Thalia said. “You need rest before you can move.”


- The Demigod Files: The Sword of Hades