The next chapter might take longer to upload, just a warning.


Even before I'd reached the underworld my wrists were bound tightly behind my back and two sets of hands grasped my upper arms whilst a third held the handle of the whip that was now threatening to beat against my back. 'This just keeps getting better and better. Not one but all three kindly ones, to Hades with that...oh yeah that's where I'm going, but since I'm going this way I might as well call them by their proper names.'

I stumbled and heard the whip crack across the backs of my legs. I didn't register the pain. There was maniacal, old women laughing heard behind me. I gritted my teeth, to get through the 'torture'. There was a blinding white flash and I collapsed to my knees.

When it cleared, I had to blink hard to clear my vision. I swallowed and I could hear loud voices trying to be quiet. They were failing, badly.

I stumbled to a stand but a pair of hands placed themselves on my shoulders and pushed me back to the floor. If I still had a physical body, my knees would have been scraped and bloodied by now. Hades, if I still had a physical body I'd have been eaten by Cerberus by now. I cursed under my breath. "Damn Fury." It didn't help and only earned me a kick to the ribs. There was a sickening crack. I winced. Guess that I was going to the field of punishments if I could still feel pain. 'Damn.'

"Leave the boy alone, he's been through enough already." I looked up only to have my face forced back into the tiled floor. There was no second scolding just more murmurs. I strained my hearing, like Atlanta told me all those years ago, to try and figure out what they were saying.

"Give him a break; he's been through a lot."

"You're just being soft because he's your son; I vote he gets what coming to him."

"As much as I hate to say it but I agree with Hades, he did try to resurrect Kronus and put him in power."

"I don't really care; it's one less half-blood I have to 'care for.'"

"Dionysus! A bit more respect please."

"The guy is guilty,

He should get what he deserves,

I am so cool." I winced; Apollo's haikus really were bad. Audible moans were heard.

"Two things, Apollo; one: that last line only four syllables, two: I have to perfectly honest that I agree with you. Well, the first two lines anyway."

"You do?"

"He took something from my daughter that can never be replaced and then tried to kill her. I can never forgive him for that."

I decided that this conversation needed my input. "Actually, she let me take that and I didn't have control at the time, I could never do that to her. It's kinda your fault that she chose to..." I knew as soon as the words left my mouth I would regret saying that.

Artemis was fuming and within a second she was in front of me, scowling down her nine year old nose. She looked just like Atlanta soon after we first met. I grinned which really didn't help.

"Artemis, ignore him; he'll be gone soon." I did not like the sound of that.

She scowled at me one last time before turning away. She took one step before turning round and setting a punch square into my jaw. "That's for what you did to my daughter you bastard!" 'Yep, just like Atlanta.'

Hermes ran up behind her, grabbed her from behind before she could launch a full hunter attack on me. I could hear his voice, small, in her ear: "That's enough." Her struggles became less hearted.

He gave me that apologetic look. 'I don't need your sympathy, damn it!' I glared at him. I didn't regret anything, even when he looked hurt.

I don't know how much time went by; minutes, hours, days? I wondered if Atlanta was alright now, actually I didn't want to think about it. I shook my head which only resulted in another cracked rib. I lost it. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to get it over with. "Will you just bloody hurry up? I can't take it anymore!" Everyone turned to look at me after my sudden outburst. "Can't you just agree for once? It's been ages." They turned back round to continue their conversation. I got kicked in the ribs again. I groaned. I was right though and they knew it. I could tell just by looking at them that they wanted to be here as much as I did; that being not at all. I just wanted to be with Atlanta; I wouldn't care where just anywhere where she was.

I thought again if she alright. I didn't want to but it was the only thought other than the ones about what was going to happen to me. Annabeth said I was a hero. I had no idea about what would happen next but I had to stay strong for her. She was the little sister I never had; Thalia too, just not in the same way. Gods, I didn't get to say good bye to her either, or Mom. Until Hermes tells her, maybe even after that, she'll be sitting in that kitchen waiting for the son that'll never come home. Last year I wouldn't have thought anything of it; but now, after spending twelve months 'sharing' my body with a titan lord, I'd changed my perspective on everything. Maybe that's why I've done what I did. I couldn't go through any of that again even if I wanted.

"Luke Aiden Castellan." My head shot up. Only three people knew my full name: May, Hermes and Atlanta (I only agreed to tell her if she told me hers. It's Atlanta Charlène Hunter. Great name right?) I got kicked in the ribs again. "Alecto! This is serious. Leave him alone." She grabbed the scruff of my ruined shirt and yanked me to my feet. Due the fact I'd been curled up in a ball for the last however long it's been I literally fell over as soon as I stood up. I shook my head and stood as sure as I could facing them. "I'll continue, Luke Aiden Castellan, you are charged with attempting to overthrow Olympus and the resurrection of the titans resulting in the death of 173 half-bloods and 66 mortals and damage costing approximately 2,592, 245 drachma. How do you plea?"

There was only one answer I could give. I looked done at my feet to avoid eye contact with any of them. "Guilty." There were a few murmurs of agreement which soon petered out.

"You are allowed the weapon of your choice and a selection of items chosen by us-"

I didn't care about what my rights were; I just wanted to know where I'd go. "Just tell me what's going to happen to me."

"As you wish, Luke Aiden Castellan; I, Zeus king of the Gods and ruler of Olympus-" He didn't finish his title; Artemis interrupted him.

"Get on with it!" I rolled my eyes. 'Still don't see eye to eye even when they agree."

"All right, calm down. As I was saying, I hear by sentence to," He paused for effect, "Tartarus."