Once the entire group had been gathered once more, Blackjack and the demigods descended the steps, which led them into darkness. Leo had to light his hands on fire in order for them to see.
After what felt like millions of steps – though it had really only been just a little over a hundred – the group came to a dimly lit corridor, at the end of which stood large double wooden doors. A torch hung at each side of them.
Blackjack, assuming correctly it led into the throne room, turned to a different door. This one led to a single cell, where the boss was being held.
The son of Poseidon was hacking away at the bars of his prison with a butter knife. A plate of stale bread and melted butter was on the ground beside him, along with a coil of rope that had been cut.
He seemed to have been doing this for a while, for sweat had gathered on his forehead though it was quite cool in the cell.
When he saw who was in front of him, he dropped the knife and grabbed the bars of his cell. "Guys!" he called. "Get me outta here!"
Soon, he stood among his friends, a couple of iron bars on the ground behind him. There were hugs and kisses all around. Of course, Nico denied the physical contact with a scowl, Reyna's hug was short and slightly reluctant, and the kisses were reserved only for Annie, who started scolding her boyfriend as soon as the reunion ended.
"What were you thinking, running away from camp like that? Do you have any idea how worried we all were? We've been searching for weeks!" It would have been a strange sight – a brave warrior who had killed many monsters being chided by a girl – for anyone who had never met the couple before.
Blackjack wondered why the boss didn't just escape by destroying the bars with the green energy thingy he possessed, but it was apparently just Greek fire.
"Prometheus took the fire away as soon as he told the hellhounds to tie me up and throw me in that cell. I was able to cut through the rope with the butter knife that came with my poor excuse of a breakfast," the boss explained.
They re-entered the corridor, where a girl with a bandage wrapped around her head currently stood.
"Lady Hestia." The boss bowed. The others did the same.
"Let us leave this place at once. I cannot bear any more of Prometheus's attempts to seduce me," said the goddess.
So they climbed back up the steps and into the temple of Neptune. Blackjack pushed the top apple out of place and the ground slid shut.
"We have to get back to Camp Halfblood," said the boss. "And quickly, before Prometheus's monsters attack."