Nico thrashed violently against the two giants Otis and Ephialtes as they shoved him down to the ground none too gently. In his weakened state, the resistance was all but useless. He fleetingly wondered if Percy and Annabeth had managed to escape Tartarus yet.

The Ghost King rested his sweaty forehead against the ground and gasped for breath as his entire body shook from shock and exhaustion. He coughed, inhaling some dirt in the process. Great! He thought hysterically. I just swallowed some of Gaea. The son of Hades laughed out loud. Even to his ears it bordered on the maniacal.

He found he couldn't stop laughing until he started coughing again, wincing as he felt his ribs creak in protest. Suddenly, he turned his head and vomited the contents of his stomach and then some.

One of the giants made a disgusted noise and then he was picked up again by one of his arms and dragged away from the mess.

"What should we do with the whelp?" Otis asked as he cracked his knuckles loudly, grinning at Nico the entire time. "Ooh! I know! We could build a sludge pit and hang him up by his thumbs as he slowly sinks to his doom."

The two giants guffawed at the thought. "I like that idea, but it lacks finesse," Ephialtes said.

"You don't even know what that word means! You just like using words that make you look smarter," Otis scowled.

Ephialtes glowered at his brother. "Shut up! Make yourself useful and collect our prisoner!" He pointed past Otis' shoulder toward Nico as he struggled to crawl away while they were distracted.

"Oh no you don't!" Otis scooped him up roughly by the collar and dragged him back to where Ephialtes stood. "How should we use him as bait to trap those seven demigods?"

Ephialtes grinned. "I'd rather have some fun with him. Let's seal him in a jar like we did with that war god. Oh! We could suspend the jar over a fire or burning oil!"

"Mother said-"

"Mother said," Ephialtes mocked him. "You are such a mama's boy!"

"Take that back!" Otis responded hotly.

"Or what you'll go crying to mama?" Ephialtes sneered.

"I'll -I'll-" Otis was so angry he couldn't think of a good enough threat.

"Oh please put me out of my misery," Nico groaned. His head was already pounding from the severe beating he had taken and if he had to hear anymore of this it would explode.

Ephialtes yanked him up until he was eye level with his big ugly face. "Be careful what you wish for demigod." With a cruel laugh he shoved Nico into a giant jar and screwed the lid on tightly. He smiled satisfactorily at his twin brother. "Let's go plan our epic party for when we defeat Dionysus and take his place. I want a big banner that says my stage name, 'The Big F'."

Otis shook his head. "I still think you should change your stage name, bro."

"You're just jealous because I thought of it."

"No, I think it's a lame name."

"Is not! Take that back."

The giants voices faded as they walked further away leaving Nico alone as he struggled to breathe in the jar. The air was already running out and he could feel a panic attack coming on.

Think! Think! Was there anything that could help him get air?

He dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small leather bag full of pomegranate seeds. He grimaced at them, knowing there was no other way he could survive in the thin air. Cautiously, he ate a seed, scratching on the side of the jar so he could keep track of how many he ate.

He sat down heavily, already feeling the effects of the pomegranate working as his breathing slowed and he slipped into a death trance. Percy, help! Was his last thought.

Hello everyone! When I first started Arguments Over Breakfast and Other Phenomenon's I intended to continue writing short stories about Nico indefinitely. Sadly, I lost interest in the character a long time ago. He remains one of my favorite characters from the Percy Jackson books, but has been bumped down in favor of other characters.

I hope you have had as much fun reading this as I had writing it. Thanks for all the support and advice given to me over the years by you, the readers.