Harry awoke with his head in someone's lap. His eyes stubbornly remained closed, but he could hear what was going on. "Bombarda!" Hermione yelled. She growled. "Why won't this spell work? I'm doing everything right! BOMBARDA! BOMBARDA!" On the final Bombarda, there was a roaring noise and an explosion.
"Damn, Hermione!" Percy yelled. "That thing didn't know what hit it."
Harry pried his eyes open. He saw Annabeth's gray eyes looking down on him worriedly. Looking around he realized that they were in some kind of vehicle that was going really fast, because the trees were going by so quickly that they were all blurring together.
"W-Where are we?" Harry croaked.
"Shhh." Annabeth pressed a canteen to his lips and he gulped it down. IT tasted like pumpkin juice.
Harry sat up. He couldn't really remember much. It was hazy. "Where are we going?"
Annabeth smiled wearily at him. "We're on our way to Los Angeles." She yawned. "It's where the Underworld is located. We think that Hades is the turned god."
"I don't think so, Annabeth. It doesn't make sense. Why would Hades want a war on Olympus? Sure, he doesn't get to be on Olympus often, but he is smarter than that. I bet Ares did it. He's the god of war, he'd love this kind of stuff." Harry said.
Annabeth looked tired. "I'm going to go to sleep. You've been out for quite a while."
Harry nodded to her. Percy was driving the car, and he seemed to be enjoying it. He was quite literally 'putting the pedal to the medal' because the car was accelerating at 125 mph.
"Perce, how close are we to Los Angeles?" Harry asked.
"Oh hey man, good to see you back up. Hmm, I'd say a day or two. We just entered Nevada this morning." Percy replied. He clicked the radio, and tuned to a news channel. "Might as well see what's going on."
"Hello. This is Carl from Channel 89. Sally Jackson and son Percy are still missing one week after their mysterious disappearance. The family's badly burned '78 Camaro was discovered last Saturday on a north Long Island road with the roof ripped off and the front axle broken. The car had flipped and skidded for several hundred feet before exploding.
Mother and son had gone for a weekend vacation to Montauk, but left hastily, under mysterious circumstances. Small traces of blood were found in the car and near the scene of the wreck, but there were no other signs of the missing Jacksons. Residents in the rural area reported seeing nothing unusual around the time of the accident.
Ms. Jackson's husband, Gabe Ugliano, claims that his stepson, Percy Jackson, is a troubled child who has been kicked out of numerous boarding schools and has expressed violent tendencies in the past. Police would not say whether son Percy is a suspect in his mother's disappearance, but they have not ruled out foul play. Below are recent pictures of Sally Jackson and Percy. Police urge anyone with information to call the following toll-free crime-stoppers hotline"- Percy changed the channel to music.
"Don't sweat it. We'll get your mom back, we are going to the Underworld anyways, right?" Harry tried to comfort him.
Hermione nodded encouragingly. "Oh, Harry, here's your wand. Some snake thing was tailing us so I had to take it out."
Harry shook his head. "Keep it. I don't need a wand to do magic."
They rode in silence for an hour or two. "Hey, we just passed a sign for the Hoover Dam. I think we should take a pee break and maybe check out the dam." Annabeth said, sitting up.
"Couldn't hurt." Harry agreed.
"Gotcha." Percy veered into the right lane and they took the exit for the Hoover Dam. 30 minutes later, they were all sitting in a table in the visitor center overlooking the dam.
Harry brought them all burgers and sodas. He set their trays down and looked at each one of them in turn. "What's the plan?"
Annabeth took a sip of her drink. "Well, we probably shouldn't be eating out here like this…"
Percy laughed. "It was your idea, Bird Brain."
Annabeth glared at him. "Anyways, I think we should probably get to Los Angeles by tomorrow. There, we'll get Percy's mom and see if Hades has the bolt."
"Which I doubt he does." Harry added in.
"Um, guys." Hermione nervously said. "There's someone coming this way."
She had beady eyes; pointy, coffee-stained teeth; a floppy denim hat, and a denim dress that bulged so much, she looked like a blue-jean blimp. Next to her, a Chihuahua growled.
Harry's hand flew to his sword and Percy uncapped Riptide. Annabeth drew her dagger and Hermione pulled out her wand.
"Hello. Can we help you?" Harry asked politely, eyeing the Chihuahua which eyed him back just as intensely.
"No thank you, prince. Perhaps you could gesture me to the Information Desk?" The fat woman smiled, showing off her teeth.
"It's right over there." Percy pointed to the desk, where a woman was currently helping out an elderly man.
"Thank you, prince. Come now Sonny." The woman left with her dog.
"That was weird." Annabeth pointed out.
Harry was too busy thinking. Something about that woman set him off. Why'd she call him prince? Wait...Hera was the queen of Olympus, right? So that made him...
"Guys, we need to leave. NOW." Harry urged.
"Harry, stop being so uptight." Percy smirked. "She was just looking for some help, that's all."
People were beginning to file out of the Visitor Center. Harry hurried up and ate his food. He never sheathed his sword. Or dispelled it, rather.
In a few minutes' time, they were the only ones in the Visitor Center, except for the fat lady. Harry growled and stood. He walked to the fat lady and asked: "Who are you?"
She turned, her fork-like tongue slipping out between her teeth. Wait- what! She punched Harry in the face, and he slammed out of the window and went spiraling downwards.
"Harry!" Annabeth cried.
Harry desperately thought for a solution. He could try to Accio a broom, but he'd probably die before it got to him. Harry thought back to his dream. You have powers over the sky, my son a voice reminded him in his head. He closed his eyes, and he felt the winds die. The air suspended him in midair. Up, he thought and he felt himself rocket upwards.
When he got back, his friends were battling a monster. It had the head of a lion with a blood-caked mane, the body and hooves of a giant goat, and a serpent for a tail, a ten-foot-long diamondback growing right out of its shaggy behind. A rhinestone dog collar hung around its neck, and the plate-sized dog tag was easy to read: CHIMERA-RABID, FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS-IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS-EXT. 954.
The lady made a hissing noise that might've been laughter. "Be honored, Percy Jackson. Lord Zeus rarely allows me to test a hero with one of my brood. For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!"
The beast opened its mouth and fire burst forward. Quickly thinking, Harry raised both of his hands and yelled, "AGUAMENTI!" 2 arctic streams of water slammed into the flame, evaporating it and causing steam to rise.
"You!" Echidna screeched. "How are you alive?"
Harry twirled his sword. "You must just be losing your touch." Harry flew forward and kicked the Chimera right in the snout, causing it to stumble backwards.
Percy went to slash its neck, but Riptide bounced harmlessly off of it. The Chimera wrapped its tail around Percy's leg and bit into it. Percy yelled in pain, and the Chimera whipped him off the Arch.
"Percy!" Harry went after him, but the Chimera slammed him down with one hand. Flames began to grow in its maw. It opened its mouth, but Harry was quicker. Harry held up both of his hands. "FIENFDYRE!"
Cursed flame spread all over the Chimera. It roared and tried to shake the flame off, but nothing would put it out. With another agonizing yell, it burst into golden dust. Echidna was nowhere in sight.
Annabeth was dangling from the ceiling, a spike embedded in her shoulder, and Hermione was sprawled across the ground, shivering.
First, Harry flew to Annabeth. "This may hurt." He ripped the spike out and caught Annabeth. She was sobbing quietly. Harry gently laid her on the floor. His heart tore at her expression of pain. Harry's hand glowed golden, and Annabeth's wound closed. White bandages sprouted out and wrapped around it.
Without thinking, he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers. "Hang tight, Annabeth. " He whispered. "I need to help Hermione."
Harry ran to Hermione, who stood shakily. He gave her his hand and picked her up. Flying to Annabeth, he picked her up too and flew downwards.
They couldn't find their car, so he broke into someone else's. When the owner came, he simply obliviated him. He enlarged the back, and conjured two beds for both Annabeth and Hermione.
He drove to the bank of the Mississippi, where he had seen Percy fall. Percy walked out of the river, pale and shaking, but otherwise fine. He opened the door to the passenger side and sat down.
"Took you long enough." Percy good-naturedly punched Harry's shoulder.
"We have to get to Santa Monica. Is Hermione okay?" Percy asked, looking back at her sleeping form.
Harry nodded. "Shock and minor injuries."
They drove for a couple hours, stopping only to get snacks once. "I think we need to settle down for the night. How about- The Lotus Hotel and Casino. Sounds good?"
"Yeah man, pull up and park." Percy affirmed.
They all got out of the car. Harry offered Annabeth his hand, which she took gratefully. The entrance was a huge neon flower, the petals lighting up and blinking. No one was going in or out, but the glittering chrome doors were open, spilling out air-conditioning that smelled like flowers.
The doorman smiled. "Hey, kids. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?"
Harry nodded, and they went inside. The whole lobby was a giant game room. There was an indoor waterslide snaking around the glass elevator, which went straight up at least forty floors. There was a climbing wall on the side of one building, and an indoor bungee-jumping bridge. There were virtual-reality suits with working laser guns. And hundreds of video games, each one the size of a widescreen TV. Basically, you name it, this place had it. There were a few other kids playing, but not that many. No waiting for any of the games. There were waitresses and snack bars all around, serving every kind of food you can imagine.
"Hey!" a bellhop said. He wore a white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops. "Welcome to the Lotus Casino. Here's your room key."
Harry pulled out the bag Chiron had given them. "How much does it cost?"
"No, no," he said, laughing. "The bill's taken care of. No extra charges, no tips. Just go on up to the top floor, loom 4001. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, or skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk. Here are your LotusCash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides."
"Um, cool?" Percy said as he was handed a card.
Their room was amazing. It was a suite with four separate bedrooms and a bar stocked with candy, sodas, and chips. A hotline to room service. Fluffy towels and water beds with feather pillows. A big-screen television with satellite and high-speed Internet. The balcony had its own hot tub, and sure enough, there was a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun, so you could launch clay pigeons right out over the Las Vegas skyline and plug them with your gun. The view over the Strip and the desert was amazing.
They were all playing in the lobby, when Harry realized something was up. This boy he was playing next to looked like someone out of a 80s movie, and talked like it too. In fact, he even thought it was 1980. Harry's heart went to his throat.
Do not make haste, my son. Your deadline is the Summer Solstice.
Thank you mother, Harry thought.
He imperiused Percy, Annabeth, and Hermione and got them out and into the car. He turned to Percy and said, "Your mom is with Hades." Percy's eyes cleared.
His mouth was opened slightly. "How-How long were we in there?"
Harry checked the dashboard. His insides coated with ice. "5 days. It's June 20th."
"No way!" Annabeth exclaimed. "That means..."
Harry nodded grimly. "We have one day left to complete this quest. Luckily, we're only a couple miles from Santa Monica." The 3 passengers shared a look, because the speedometer in the car was at its very end.
"Hermione, I gotta ask, how is it you're the daughter of Demeter, but you were terrible in Herbology?"
"I wasn't terrible," She argued. "And, I guess it's because those were magical plants. I've been practicing a little, and I have pretty good control over regular plants."
"What was your old school like?" asked Annabeth. Her hair was slightly tousled from sleeping, but her gray eyes were was alert and pretty as ever. Harry had to pry his eyes off of her and put them back to the road.
"It was this huge castle," Harry started, switching lanes. "We got together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
They reached there fairly quickly. There were carnival rides lining the Pier, palm trees lining the sidewalks, homeless guys sleeping in the sand dunes, and surfer dudes waiting for the perfect wave.
Percy waved a hand near his nose. "Place smells like a dump."
Harry nodded. "Percy, get to it. I think there's someone here I need to talk to." Harry pointed to a man sauntering towards them.
He was dressed in a red muscle shirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red wraparound shades, and he had the cruelest, most brutal face Harry'd ever seen. He was handsome, but wicked-with an oily black crew cut and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights.
He emitted this aura. Harry's mind flashed with Dudley and Draco. He could feel his magic and his power reacting violently. The skies darkened, and lightning flashed. The waves became choppy and rose higher and higher.
Harry gritted his teeth. "Ares,"
The said man grinned. "Show some respect, punk."
Harry's vision tinged red. "You did it, didn't you? You have the master bolt. I'd be willing to bet you have something from Hades too. You want to start a war."
Ares' grin faded. "Smart. And yes, you're right." He lifted up his biker's helmet, which morphed into a helmet that radiated darkness.
"The helm of darkness." Annabeth said in awe.
Hermione looked stunned. "But wait- you couldn't have done this alone. Who are you working for? Who's the one giving you orders?"
"I am the god of war! I take orders from no one! I don't have dreams!" Ares yelled, and a huge boar hurtled towards them. Harry simply yelled, "BOLT!" And a large arc of lightning burnt the boar to a crisp.
"Who said anything about dreams?" Hermione smirked. She moved her hands, and the palm trees began to snake around Ares. He simply banished them with a wave of his hand.
"Nice try, girl, but you're not powerful enough." Ares taunted.
"How about this?" Harry prompted. "We fight. If I win, you give me the bolt and the helm. If you win, you can kill me."
Ares' grin returned. "Let's go, punk." A large sword appeared in his hands. The hilt was a large silver skull with a ruby in its mouth.
"Harry, that's a god. The god of war." Annabeth told him. Her eyes were stormy, and her eyebrows were knit together/
"No. It's a dead man." Harry snarled.
"Please, Harry." She turned him around. He was shocked to see her eyes welling up. "You don't have to do this. We can go to Olympus and they'll take care of it for us."
Harry shook his head. "You think they'd take our word? I'm sorry, Annabeth, but I have to."
Annabeth briefly closed her eyes. She took a shaky breath and kissed Harry. "Come back to me, Peacock Head."
Hermione hugged him. "You still have some spells to teach me, Potter."
Harry nodded and turned to face Ares. Ares smirked, "Said your goodbyes?"
"The only one saying bye here is you." Harry jumped into the air. Lightning zigzagged down and hit Harry's sword. Harry swung right. Ares parried the strike, but the lightning forced him back.
Ares came at Harry with a series of quick and powerful punches and kicks that Harry was barely able to block with his sword. The sword vibrated and hummed as it let loose a bolt of lightning. Ares jumped back to dodge the lightning. He waited for Harry to attack again.
"Not bad, godling." Ares pressed forward, his blade feinting right then slashing left. Harry blocked the strike, but the impact sent him skidding back.
Harry was done. All his life, he'd been pushed around. First by the Dursley's, and then by Draco. Now, by Ares. He was tired of being the victim. His eyes burned. He didn't even realize he was crying until Ares laughed about it.
"Aww, is the little baby crying?" Ares jeered.
Harry looked up, and Ares' smile died. "What is this? I've never seen this before."
Harry roared and slashed his sword. Even though he was a couple feet away, Ares hobbled back, a large gash appearing on his face.
Ares grunted and advanced forward. Harry raised his sword, but Ares was quicker. He smashed the hilt into Harry's face, and Harry went flying in the air. Luckily, he landed on a sand dune.
Harry stood and ran to him. Ares slashed. Harry deflected his blade. Harry got close enough to strike, tried to fake him out with a feint, but his blow was knocked aside.
Ares slammed his blade against Harry's head. He began to see double, and his head was oozing blood. Suddenly, he was swept off his feet and blasted backwards.
Ares stalked forward. Smoke rose from his glasses. His jacket was cut in many places, but otherwise he looked fine. Harry closed his eyes and prayed to Zeus. I know you don't know me, but I'm your step-son. I can get your bolt, but I need your help. If you have any love for Hera or Artemis, please, please, help Harry thought frantically.
Suddenly he could smell the metallic scent of a storm. Darkness swallowed the sun. Ares froze, sensing it too. Every hair on Harry's neck stood up. The clouds parted. Crack! A red lightning bolt as wide as an oak tree slammed into Ares, crushing him to the ground. He wasn't actually hurt, it seemed as if he simply being restrained.
The message was clear: Get the bolt.
Harry raised his hand. "Accio bolt! Accio helm!" A 2 foot bronze cylinder flew into his hand and a black helmet flew into his other hand. He held it up to Ares, and it lit up white. He was forced to close his eyes, but he heard Ares yell.
When he opened his eyes, Ares was standing shakily. His entire body was steaming, and his eyes were dim. His hair had been charred off and his skin was blistering red. "You have made an enemy, godling," he growled. "You have sealed your fate. Every time you raise your blade in battle, every time you hope for success, you will feel my curse. Beware, Harry Potter. Beware."
"Harry, look away!" He heard Annabeth yell.
Harry averted his gaze. Once the light died down, he heard a flapping noise. 3 ravenous monsters descended upon him. They looked like mean old ladies with leather wings. The middle one stepped- or flew rather, forward. "The helm. It is our lords. Give it to us now."
Harry held it back. "Tell Hades I want Sally Jackson. When I get her, and only when I get her, I'll return this helm."
She glared at Harry. "Our lord does not meddle with mortals."
Harry glared right back. "Look, hag, I just fought a war god, and I'm really not in the mood. Give me Sally Jackson, or no Helm."
She cackled. "I like this one. We will return momentarily." She and her friends flew away.
Percy rose from the surf, his hands clasped around a bag. He raised an eyebrow at Harry. "You look like you just got in a fight with a lawn mower and lost."
Harry snorted. "Try war god."
Harry recounted what had happened to Percy. He looked towards the horizon. "So, they should be bringing her back?"
Harry nodded. "If they want the Helm. Considering its Hades' symbol of power, they should be here any- ah there they are."
Sure enough, the hags were back, with a woman who he assumed was Sally Jackson. They dropped her to the ground, and looked at Harry expectantly.
"Well, I see that's Mrs. Jackson, so here's your helm. As promised." Harry handed them the helm while Percy hugged his mom.
Harry glanced at the darkening sky. "Shoot, Perce, we have no time. ANNABETH! HERMIONE! OVER HERE!" Harry picked up a seashell. "Portus." It glowed blue for a second. He handed it to Sally.
"Mrs. Jackson, simply say 'beach' and you'll be taken home." Percy shared a couple words with her, handed her the back, and then hugged her. She gratefully took the seashell.
"Come stay with us sometime. Beach." Sally was port keyed away.
"Now to make one for us." Harry said, picking up a rock. "Portus." They all felt a tug behind their navel and they were whisked away.
They reappeared in the lobby. Harry walked to the guard at the front desk. "Six Hundredth Floor."
He looked up distastefully. "There is no six hundredth floor."
Harry sighed and pulled out the master bolt. "Do you really want to do this?"
He scrambled out of his seat, fumbled around his desk for a key card, and then handed it to Harry. "Insert this in the security slot. Make sure nobody else is in the elevator with you."
"Thanks."
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Harry slipped the key into the slot. The card disappeared and a new button appeared on the console, a red one that said 600.
"Oooh, can I press it?" asked Hermione.
"Hold your horses, I want to press it." Annabeth interjected.
"Hey what about me? Son of Poseidon." Percy added.
Harry grabbed all of their hands and smashed the button. Each person withdrew their hand instantly and glared at Harry.
He shrugged. "You were taking forever."
Ed Sheeran played. "And if you hurt me, that's okay baby only words bleed..."
Once the doors dinged open, Harry was standing on a narrow stone walkway in the middle of the air. Below him was Manhattan, from the height of an airplane. In front of him, white marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud, into the sky. His eyes followed the stairway to its end, where he froze.
From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces-a city of mansions-all with white-columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires. Roads wound crazily up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens bloomed with olive trees and rosebushes. Harry could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippodrome and a coliseum on the other. It was an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins. It was new, and clean, and colorful, the way Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.
"It's beautiful." Annabeth whispered. Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione lunge and kiss Percy. They ran to the throne room. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which was gilded with moving constellations. 12 thrones rose in a U shape. Only 6 were occupied though.
"My daughter"- A goddess began, but stopped as she saw the demigods enter. She had gray eyes like Annabeth's and her aura radiated confidence and intelligence.
Harry nervously walked in front of Zeus and knelt. Zeus, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was proud and handsome and grim, his eyes rainy gray.
He cleared his throat. "My lord Zeus. I have your bolt." Zeus opened his palm. The lightning bolt flew into it. As he closed his fist, the metallic points flared with electricity, until he was holding what looked more like the classic thunderbolt, a twenty-foot javelin of arcing, hissing energy that made the hairs on Harry's scalp rise.
He looked down at Harry, his eyes flickering with power. "You, boy. You are the one that prayed to me?" He asked.
"Yes, sir." Harry kept his head down. He told Zeus of his entire quest. The entire room was silent except for the crackling of the fire.
Zeus leaned back into his throne. "Look at me, boy." Harry looked up at Zeus. Zeus' eyes widened. "No. This does not make sense. You are a son of…"
"He is my son." Spoke a woman to his right. She had multicolored eyes and dark hair. Her staff was tipped with a lotus flower. She looked down at me, her gaze that of a proud mother.
"Hera, what do you"- Zeus began, but was cut off by another goddess.
"He is my son as well." She had silver eyes like Harry and his auburn hair too.
Zeus slowly exhaled. "That is fine. I don't not understand how this is possible, as he's a demigod, but I will choose to not question it."
AN: I'll end it there, cuz I'm kind of tired. How was it?