ATTENTION: THIS IS A DOUBLE UPDATE. REPEAT. DOUBLE UPDATE. Go back one chapter if you wanna see some Alex/Percy bonding and if you're curious about Alex's past and relationship with her mom.

There's also a hint as to what lies in store for our protagonist ;)

Yes, this is an apology for the long wait, hope you can accept it.

BTW, I answered your reviews in the previous chapter. Thanks so much for them! They helped me get me through the first scene with Hades (which was quite hard to write, and hope lives up to your expectations).

Without further ado, ENJOY!

IX: About That Time A God Was Honest

June

Somehow, I'm not sure how, but somehow, we made it to LA in one piece, despite the fact that we seemed to have fought against every single monster in the country. I lost a bit of skin here and there, along with my backpack and some of my sanity, but so far, my heart was still beating while we entered the 'DOA Record Studios'.

I rubbed my sore wrists, courtesy of Crusty, and waited for my brother and friends to go in first, making sure nobody was onto us before taking a step in.

Percy slipped his pearls inside his pockets. I was worried about those, but didn't say anything, and prayed we were way deep inside the Underworld before Annabeth took notice of what had happened while we ran from those mortal boys.

"Let's whoop some Underworld butt." said my brother, leading our little group.

He was my only brother, so I wasn't entirely sure what I felt was normal, but even though he was the young one, I didn't really mind it when he took charge. Percy had this aura about him that made people listen to him. He was a natural leader, and I was proud of the little brat. It almost made me forget of all the times I jumped in front of danger to protect him these past few days.

Almost.

I scratched my arm absentmindedly.

The first thing I noticed about the lobby was that it was full of people. They all looked miserable, some more fresh than others, but everybody shared the same look. It wasn't just the being death part, no; they looked lost. They didn't belong with the living anymore, yet they weren't allowed to pass into their new land.

I felt terrible. If we weren't practically broke, I would have given my drachmas away.

I looked away as we came to a stop in front of a podium, and we all almost fell on our asses while looking up.

The man sitting there was tall and lean, with dark skin and bleached hair. He was wearing an italian suit, and had a black rose on the lapel.

"Your name is Chiron?" asked my idiot brother.

"Oh my Gods, Percy!" I elbowed him "Even I couldn't mess that up."

"What?"

He leaned down and smiled at us. It was the kind of smile Miss Dunbar would give me right before having my mother bought into the school. I almost wet myself and I looked briefly over my shoulder, almost expecting for Maris to come in with the physics teacher/fury, the former nodding while the latter talked about what a mess her daughter was, how she shouldn't expect anything good from me in the future.

I looked back at Percy, who had gone pale and was taking a reading lesson from Charon.

"See? Care-On."

"Charon."

"Amazing! Now, ."

"Mr. Charon."

"Well done:" he sat back. "I hate being confused with that old horse-man. And now, how may I help you, little dead ones?

He looked at each of us, his eyes narrowing slightly when they landed on me. I almost touched my hair and face in search of some mud or anything out of place, but then remembered that we had been on the run for days, being attacked at every corner. Of course I didn't look particularly nice! But there was no need to be so rude.

Still, I wasn't about to piss off this particular guy, so I just gave him a shaky smile.

"We want to go to the Underworld."spoke Annabeth.

His eyes flickered to her, and his lips twitched.

"Well, that's refreshing."

"It is?"

"Straightforward and honest. No screaming. No 'There must be a mistake, Mr. Charon.' How did you die, then?"

Percy nudged me.

Right. Technically, I was an actress, I could get us past the doors.

"Car accident. We were on our way to the movies to,...well, see a movie, and the brakes stopped working."

He gave us another once over.

"Well, you certainly look like you died terribly." he pressed his lips into a thin line for a moment, and after opening his mouth, took a moment before continuing. "I don't suppose you have coins for passage. Normally, with adults, you see, I could charge your American Express, or add the ferry price to your last cable bill. But with children ... alas, you never die prepared. Suppose you'll have to take a seat for a few centuries."

"THE FUCK, MAN?!"

"Alex!"Annabeth hissed, pinching me on the side while Percy searched in his pocket and took out four drachmas.

"We have some money." he set them on the desk and took a step back, while Charon raised them one by one, inspecting them with his long fingers, so close to his eyes that there was no way her was actually studying the coin.

"Well, now ..." Charon moistened his lips. "Real drachmas. Real golden drachmas. I haven't seen these in ..."

He set them all back down, his fingers twitching around the gold like a dog, anxious for his food.

He looked at Percy.

We were so screwed.

"Here now. You couldn't read my name correctly. Are you dyslexic, lad?"

"No." he said, and always the smart ass, he added: "I'm dead."

"He was already dumb when we were alive."I contributed.

Charon leaned forward and sniffed us.

"You're not dead. I should've known. You're a godling."

"We need to get to the Underworld, sir. Please." I stepped forward, giving him my most pitiful look.

"You can go in. The rest of you, leave."He took the coins. "This will buy my silence."

"No! We all have to go." I insisted.

He leaned forward across the podium, and the next second his face was inches from mine.

Gods, his pores were huge. Silena would have a heart attack.

"You, young lady, are lucky. I have been forbidden from hurting you." He nodded to the doors behind him. "Go. The rest, leave."

"It's a shame."Percy sighed behind me. "We had more to offer."

He held up the bag from Crusty's, almost full to the top. For better effect, he also took a few and slid them between his fingers, shaking the bag a little, letting the sound of wealth ring through the space.

I was so proud of the little shit.

Charon's growl changed into something more like a lion's purr. "Do you think I can be bought, godling? Eh ... just out of curiosity, how much have you got there?"

"A lot. I bet Hades doesn't pay you well enough for such hard work."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it. How would you like to babysit these spirits all day? Always 'Please, don't let me be dead' or 'Please, let me across for free.' I haven't had a pay raise in three thousand years. Do you imagine suits like this come cheap?"

"You deserve better."Percy gave him a sympathetic look. "A little appreciation. Respect. Good pay."

"I must say, lad, you're making some sense now. Just a little."

"I could mention a pay raise while I'm talking to Hades."

He sighed. "The boat's almost full, anyway. I might as well add you four and be off." He stood, scooped up our money, and said, "Come along."

We evaded the spirits as well as we could while Charon guided us to the elevator doors.

"What the fuck just happened?" I whispered to Grover, who only shrugged in response.

We got into the elevator with the other spirits, and in no time, we were off.

After a few seconds, the elevator switched directions, and I grabbed onto Percy's shirt so he wouldn't hit his head against the doors.

Everything began to flicker, and not wanting to return what little food remained in my stomach, I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, we were standing on a wooden barge. Charon pooled us across a dark river. There wasn't a single lively thing floating there, and looking at the passing rotten limbs and melted toys was only making me dizzy, so I just stared ahead.

I was suddenly very nervous. My stomach ached a bit, like when I had to sit outside the dentist office waiting for my turn and hear the sounds of the torture machines the women was currently using on another patient.

Then I remembered Karen, the freak who actually enjoyed going to the dentist.

I briefly noticed how my brother and my friends seemed to be about to shit themselves. They were all holding hands, looking more scared by the second, while my stomach ache abandoned me from one moment to the other, and it was replaced by a sense of serenity and warmth I wasn't familiar with.

The boat slid into the dark sand and stopped. I was the first to stand, but I waited until the spirits exited before jumping to the sand.

Charon said, "I'd wish you luck, mate, but there isn't any down here. Mind you, young lady, don't forget to mention my pay raise."

I extended my hand towards Annabeth, who held onto it with the strength of a python.

"Sure, sure."I dismissed him, eager to continue.

"What now?" asked Grover as we watched Charon while he ferried away.

"We follow the death?" I shrugged.

Because demigods have the worst kind of luck in the universe, it wasn't as simple as following the dead people.

We almost became the lunch of a three headed dog, and then we almost fell into Tartarus. At least we were still alive, even if I wasn't so sure that it mattered, given the fact that we were strolling down the Underworld.

Hades castle was,...not the one I dreamed of living in when I was a kid. I always liked the one from Little Mermaid, and the palace where princess Jasmine lived would always be my favourite. Hades castle, however, looked straight out of a horror movie. With so many dead people, he could easily get staff to maintain the place.

"Let's hope is better on the inside." I muttered, eyeing the garden of jewels with suspicion.

I let my hands breeze past some unusual flowers which names I didn't know. I took something in my hand and lifted it.

Holy Hera! The smell was heavenly. My stomach rumbled and my other hand went to the object, wanting to rip the fruit open.

"ALEX!"

Annabeth took the fruit from my hands and threw it so far it went out of sight in the blink of an eye. That girl could throw.

"What?"

She gave me an incredulous look and took my hand, guiding me towards the big, black doors.

"You almost ate the pomegranate."

"Oh."

The doors opened as we climbed up the steps, and on the walls, torches lit up one by one, casting a soft light through the entry hall.

At every side, standing straight against the walls, there were soldiers from different eras. And they were all giving us creepy grins.

"Should we call or…?"Percy began to ask.

I heard something in my ear, and my eyes narrowed into the dark hallway, which was slowly being lit by more torches.

"No. The doors opened. He's expecting us."

I gave Percy a little push and placed a hand on Grover's back, lightly nudging him along with me. Annabeth didn't let go of my hand.

I noticed a few doors here and there, and also saw how the hallway connected to some smaller ones, but there was no light in those directions, making it impossible for me to see what laid beyond.

We neared another set of tall doors, this ones of a dark bronze, which also opened by themselves.

The room was spacious. The floor was covered by a big carpet of a dark red, so dark, it took me a few seconds to identify the colour. There were guards in the cornes, though I seriously doubted Hades would ever need them.

On the north side of the room there were two thrones, and upon the biggest one, he sat lazily.

Hades was some good three meters tall, dressed in black robes, and wore a proud golden crown atop his brown curls. If it hadn't been for the fact that the throne was clearly made of human bones, I would have found the picture utterly hot.

His dark eyes fell on me, and again, I felt like I should've taken a shower before coming here. I bit my lip and looked down at my feet, fidgeting with my hair. His intense stare was slightly uncomfortable. It was as if he were debating between punching me or hugging me.

Weird guy.

I could still feel his gaze on me, but there was no way I would grace him with another look.

I also felt when he looked away.

"You are brave to come here, Son of Poseidon," he said in a cool, collected voice. "After what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or perhaps you are simply very foolish."

'Foolish' is the family name, after all.

Making sure his gaze wasn't focused on me, I dared to look up, and thought I saw a flash of a smirk threatening to make its way across his face.

Please, please, please tell me he's not reading my mind.

Percy took a step forward.

"Lord and Uncle, I come with two requests."
Hades raised an eyebrow. When he sat forward in his throne, shadowy faces appeared in the folds of his black robes, faces of torment, as if the garment were stitched of trapped souls from the Fields of Punishment, trying to get out.
"Only two requests?" Hades said. "Arrogant child. As if you have not already taken enough. Speak, then. It amuses me not to strike you dead yet."
"Lord Hades," he said. "Look, sir, there can't be a war among the gods. It would be ... bad."
"Really bad," Grover added helpfully.
"Return Zeus's master bolt to me. Please, sir. Let me carry it to Olympus."
Hades's eyes grew dangerously bright. "You dare keep up this pretense, after what you have done?"
He glanced back at me, but I didn't know what Hades was talking about.

"Um ... Uncle, you keep saying 'after what you've done.' What exactly have I done?"
The throne room shook with a tremor so strong, they probably felt it upstairs in Los Angeles. Debris fell from the cavern ceiling. Doors burst open all along the walls, and skeletal warriors marched in, hundreds of them, from every time period and nation in Western civilization. They lined the perimeter of the room, blocking the exits.
Hades bellowed, "Do you think I want war, godling?"

Before Percy could open his big mouth again, I stepped forward, drawing his attention almost immediately. Hades gave my brother one last defiant look, and then like a snake on guard, his eyes fell on me. I swallowed hard, feeling self-conscious once again

"Of course not, sir."I smiled as sweetly as I could without risking diabetes. "Overpopulation is an issue on earth and we're just seven billion, I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like down here."

I eyed the armed skeletons, trying not to panic. I would rather face something I could kill, even if killing it in the land of the dead meant that they would regenerate rather quickly."

"Thank you!" he let himself fall back on the throne, a look of mocked relief on his appealing face. "Just in the last century, I've had to open more than two hundred divisions on the Asphodel Fields." he sighed, rubbing his temples. "And my workers! I've had triple the staff, and even that didn't help. Now they also have double overtime. I used to be rich, godlings. I control all the precious metals under the earth. But my expenses! I don't even want to think of what'll happen once there's nothing to pay salaries with."

"That sounds terrible!" It didn't sound completely inscenciere. The poor guy looked stressed, no wonder he had that maniac gleam in his eyes. "One would think that after the humans invented contraception, the mortality rate would slow down a bit."

He scoffed.

"I wish. It only made it worse."
"Charon wants a pay raise," Percy blurted, and I gave him a glare that had him cowering behind Annabeth.
"Don't get me started on Charon!" I was sure he almost groaned, but instead spoke with controlled annoyance. "He's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits! Problems everywhere, and I've got to handle all of them personally. The commute time alone
from the palace to the gates is enough to drive me insane! And the dead just keep arriving. No, godling. I need no help getting subjects! I did not ask for this war."
"But you took Zeus's master bolt."

"Percy, shut it!"
"Lies!" More rumbling. Hades rose from his throne, towering to the height of a football goal post. "Your father may fool Zeus, boy, but I am not so stupid. I see his plan."
"His plan?"
"You were the thief on the winter solstice," he said, gesturing wildly. "Your father thought to keep you his little secret. He directed you into the throne room on Olympus, You took the master bolt and my helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at Yancy Academy, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open. You will be exposed as Poseidon's thief, and I will have my helm back!"
"But ..." Annabeth spoke. I could tell her mind was going a million miles an hour. "Lord Hades, your helm of darkness is missing, too?"

I looked from her to Hades once more, wondering if that was the reason for his erratic behaviour.
"Do not play innocent with me, girl. You and the satyr have been helping this hero, coming here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?"
"No!"said Percy. "Poseidon didn't-I didn't-"
"I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance," Hades snarled, "because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can ill afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me to deliver your threat, I did not try to stop you."
"You didn't try to stop us? But-"
"Return my helm now, or I will stop death," Hades threatened. "That is my counter proposal. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Perseus Jackson, your skeleton will lead my army out of Hades."
The skeletal soldiers all took one step forward, making their weapons ready.
"You're as bad as Zeus," Percy spat out, and I couldn't resist the facepalm. So much for my efforts. "You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me?"
"Of course," Hades said.
"And the other monsters?"
Hades curled his lip. "I had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you. I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?"
"I wouldn't call that odyssey 'easy' "
"Return my property!"

Great, now I was being ignored.
"But I don't have your helm. I came for the master bolt."
"Which you already possess!" Hades shouted. "You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could you threaten me!"
"But I didn't!"
"Open your pack, then."

We all looked at Percy in time to see the colour leaving his cheeks. A horrible sense of dread filled me as I saw him placing the backpack on the ground and unzipping it. He didn't try to reach for it, but it was visible even from where I was standing in the middle of the room, as a mediator for each side. There was something shiny inside the backpack, it radiated a light grey glow, and it sparkled full of power.
"Percy," Annabeth said. "How-"
"I-I don't know. I don't understand."
He couldn't have done it. No! He's never been to Olympus, and he didn't know about the Gods before he arrived at camp, right?

I took a step back, and then another, fighting back tears. The evidence was there, but I didn't want to believe it. I took another step back, searching my brother's face. I had only known him for a few weeks, but I couldn't accept reality if he was the traitor.

A warm hand sneaked around my upper arm, and gently, a tall figure stepped ahead of me. It took me a moment to realize it was Hades.
"You heroes are always the same," the God said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now ... my helm. Where is it?"
"Lord Hades, wait,"said Percy, his voice shaking, looking for me. "This is all a mistake."
"A mistake?" Hades roared.
The skeletons aimed their weapons at them. From high above, there was a fluttering of leathery wings, and the three Furies swooped down to perch on the back of their master's throne. One of them flicked her whip.
"There is no mistake," Hades said. "I know why you have come; I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her."
Hades loosed a ball of gold fire from his palm. It exploded on the steps in front of Percy, and there was a tall woman, frozen in a shower of gold, looking like she was being squeezed by something.
My brother didn't say anything, and when he reached out to touch her he hissed in pain, retracting his hand..
"Yes," Hades said with satisfaction. "I took her. I knew, Percy Jackson, that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my helm, and perhaps I will let her go. She is not dead, you know. Not yet. But if you displease me, that will change."
I tried to step around Hades, but his hand found my arm again, this time holding me with inhuman strength.
"Ah, the pearls," Hades said, and I swallowed, briefly looking at his profile . "Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson."
He reached into his pockets and got them out..
"Only three," Hades said. "What a shame. You do realize each only protects a single person. Try to take your mother, then, little godling. And which of your friends will you leave behind to spend eternity with me? Go on. Choose. Or give me the backpack and accept my terms."
Percy looked at Annabeth and Grover, both of them looking equally ghastly.
"We were tricked," he told them. "Set up."
"Yes, but why?" Annabeth asked. "And the voice in the pit-"
"I don't know yet, but I intend to ask."
"Decide, boy!" Hades yelled.
"Percy." Grover put his hand on my brother's shoulder. "You can't give him the bolt,"
"I know that."
"Leave me here," he said. "Use the third pearl on your mom."
"No!"
"I'm a satyr," Grover said. "We don't have souls like humans do. He can torture me until I die, but he won't get me forever. I'll just be reincarnated as a flower or something. It's the best way."
"No." Annabeth drew her bronze knife. "You two go on. Grover, you have to protect Percy. You have to get your searcher's license and start your quest for Pan. Get his mom out of here. I'll cover you. I plan to go down fighting."

Those three were idiots if they thought there was a safe way out of here for all of us.

"B-but, Alex…"Percy looked at me.
"I'll stay for her," Grover said.
"I'm staying too. Take Alex and your mom and go," Annabeth said.
"Stop it, both of you!" Percy yelled, panic written all over his face.

"Excuse me." I tapped Hades fingers, and he let go of me.

I crossed the room in a few long steps and snatched the pearls out of Percy's hands.
HE could be a traitor for all I knew -I doubted it- but he was still my brother. Annabeth and Grover were family as well.

"Alex! Don't do anything stupid!"Annabeth tried to reach for the pearls, but I held them up.

"Return the bolt and find the helm. Don't worry about me." I told them, acting like staying on the land of the dead with a maniac God was no biggie. I looked solely at Percy. "I promise to watch over Sally."

"Wait!"Hades yelled behind me.

Percy's eyes widened, realizing what I was about to do, but I didn't give him time, smashing the pearls at their feet, and taking a step back, watching as a cloud of green smoke surrounded Percy, Annabeth and Grover, only to raise, higher and higher, until I couldn't see them anymore.
For the first time in a while, I sent a silent prayer to whoever my father was, asking him to keep that trio safe.

The ground of the throne room shoke and I came back to reality.

Gulping, I turned around slowly, terrified at the prospect of facing Hades. Might as well face the music as soon as possible, seeing as I would have to stay here for a long time.

His jaw was clenched tightly, and he was staring at me again. With a small gesture, the small army he had summoned returned to their respective posts, and Percy's mom disappeared.

He walked towards me slowly, each step echoing in a familiar way.

"That was foolish, girl." he said, his voice even. "Brave, yes, and noble, but mainly foolish."

I forced myself to keep eye contact.

"Wouldn't you have done the same for your brothers?"

It was a dangerous question, but now that I knew Percy and the others were safe, my survival instinct seemed to be retracting, going back to hibernation.

"No." he answered easily, without hesitation.

I nodded once.

"Yeah, I assume that family gets complicated after a few millennia." I opened my mouth and closed it, only to do so again. "But, personally, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to Percy."

"Careful with your words, Alexandria." he drawled, walking in a circle around me. "The fates enjoy making us regret them."

"Yeah, I know a thing or two about that."

He looked at the Kindly Ones and made a gesture. The three took flight, and Miss Dunbar gave me a malicious grin as she left.

"You must be tired, and hungry." Hades spoke to my left, spinning on his heels and marching to one of the doors on the east side of the room. "Come. I'll show you to a room where you can clean yourself."

The guest room Hades left me in was as dark as the throne room, but I found it significantly less scary. The tall walls were of a deep burgundy, and the floor was covered in a soft, black carpet. The bed was king sized, and it had a canopy; the fabric looked like tulle, but it was as flexible and soft as silk, and it fell around the bed in a mesmerizing silver cascade.

There wasn't a lot of furniture besides the tempting bed. In the wall opposite of it, there was a big fireplace, although I doubted it had a lot of use several kilometers deep into the earth. To the east side there was a desk of walnut, and a wardrobe of the same material. I almost asked Hades if it lead to Narnia, but when I looked over my shoulder, I saw him leaving, closing the big doors on his way out.

Strange guy.

I took a long shower. The bathroom was as dark as the rest of the place, but it had better lighting. I scrubbed my skin until it was red, and giggled in delight while applying the shampoo. I would have to ask what brand it was; it smelled divine.

Grabbing a towel, I wrapped it around my body while I took another for my hair. I quickly found a hair brush, which unsurprisingly was made of gold and had emeralds embed into it and set myself to work, untangling the mess of curls and cursing under my breath every few seconds.

When walking back into the room, I saw a red chiton waiting on top of the bed, and a pair of leather sandals on the floor.

We didn't really dress the part in camp, and as a theatre kid I was more than eager to play dress up, so I didn't waste any time in getting into the dress, tying a belt around my waist and gently pulling fabric until it looked perfect. Even though my hair was still wet, I pulled some of it back with some pins I found in the bathroom, and sighed in delight at my reflection. Gods, I wished I had an armlet.

I decided to go back to my room and put on the sandals. I had more important things to do than play around in a dress, like convincing a God of my brother's innocence.

I was starting to consider going around barefoot, seeing as the sandals were more complicated to tie up then anticipated.

"Ballocks."

I heard a knock on the door.

"Yeah!"

After a few seconds, just when I was starting to think I might have imagined it, the door opened. Hades was standing on the other side, a puzzled frown on his face.

"I knocked."he told me.

"Yeah. I told you to come in."

"Is that what you consider an invitation?"

I had an answer on the tip of my tongue, but I kept it to myself, not wanting to sink deeper into the ocean. I had a new mission: convince this guy of Percy's innocence and to let me go. Frankly, just achieving the former would suffice; I could take some time as a prisoner before eternity on the Asphodel Fields,..I hoped I would go there and not the Punishment Fields. The things I heard coming from that section on my way to the palace was stuff for nightmares.

"Sorry?" I said lamely.

"That's alright."he coffed, avoiding eye contact. "Are you ready? I imagine you must be hungry."

Great, now I had to have lunch with him. Or dinner. Down here I couldn't tell the pass of time.

"Um, yeah, almost. I just need to figure out how to tie these."

I pointed at the other sandal laying on the bed. He eyed it for a moment, and after some almost imperceptible hesitation, he stepped closer, walking around the bed and stopping right in front of me.

"May I?" he asked, pointing to my right leg.

I nodded, not daring to refuse.

He knelt in front of me and gently placed one of his hands on my calf, steading it while the other accommodated the sandal. I gasped in surprise at the feel of his cold skin, looked away and started humming when he gave me a questioning look.

I felt his fingers brushing the skin as he quickly tied the sandal.

"I apologize. I should have given you modern clothes." he muttered, taking the other sandal.

"That's okay. I think the outfit is cool."

"Yes, they must be to someone of your era and profession." he made a quick work on my left leg, tightening the straps but knowing without asking when it was enough.

"My profession?"

"You act, don't you? You like theatre."

"Um, yeah, I do. One of my bro,... a friend from camp got me into it."

"You sing as well." he stated, as if talking about the most mundane subject. "Quite beautifully, I might add."

Holy shit! Did he always have that accent?

I stood on shaky legs, letting the skirt fall freely. He did as well, and for a moment he just stared from head to toe; not in a creepy way, but my heart did trip and fell in response.

"H-ho-how do you know all this?" I asked him, accepting the arm he was offering.

He guided me out of the room and back through the hallway I had previously came through. Instead of taking the left turn to go to the throne room, we kept going forward and up a set of stairs.

I couldn't see any windows, so I could guess we were somewhere in the heart of the palace.

"I've always been aware of your true parentage, Alexandria. I kept tabs on you, to make sure you weren't a threat."

I felt like there was more to what he had just said, but I let it slip by.

"So, do you know who my real father is?"

"I do."

That was it? Did I really need to be that specific with him? Is he always like this? Poor Persephone.

I gave him an expectant look.

Please, be Apollo. Please, be Apollo. Please, be Apollo.

"I am afraid it's not who you hoped it would be."he told me gently, as we arrived at a small dining room. There were some couches put together in a circle around a small coffee table, and upon said table, plates and more plates with all kinds of fruits.

I took a seat, feeling deflated. He sat on the couch to my left.

"So Poseidon is my real father."

"He is. But you always knew that." he said matter of factly.

"That's not true! Apollo claimed me; I spent two years living with his kids."

"Apollo claimed you, yes." he conceded, serving water on a golden cup and offering it to me. "As a favour to your father."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid that is a conversation you should have with him. It's not my place to explain everything."

I took a big gulp, gathering my thoughts.

"Did you honestly think that it was normal for a child of Apollo to talk to horses and fishes? To have water bend to your will, and nereids paying you so much attention?"

He had a point. Of course I had noticed all this. After all, who could forget a talking horse? I just didn't want to believe it. I spent so many years without a parent, that when Apollo claimed me, the whole in my chest filled; not completely, just a little. But even that was better than nothing. I still resented my father for leaving me alone with my mother, for never being there or even giving a sign. Even just a postcard that said 'Hey kid, I'm aware of your existence.' would suffice.

Was it too much to ask for a parent who cared just a little?

"That explains why I suck at archery." I tried to joke, tried to brush it off.

I could tell that Hades saw right through me, and I hated that he did, but he was kind enough to let it go, smiling lightly at my comment.

"Yes. I have heard of some accidents on the training field,...and the infirmary."

I smirked, remembering the look in Will's face when I almost used cotton instead of gauze to wrap an open wound.

"At least I have some artistic traits."I compensated, taking a grape.

Hades winced, and I stopped chewing.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

"It's nothing, Alexandria. Cheese?" he offered me a plate, which I refused.

"Please, just tell me."

It was strange to see him almost nervous, it was almost as if he had spoken too much and he knew it.

If it weren't for the cold stone in my stomach, I would have found it fascinating.

"You do have a naturally beautiful voice, Siren."

"Spit it out."

"The reason why in just two years of vocal training you achieved so much is because Apollo interfered."

He said that like someone reading from a manual.

I blinked once. Then twice.

"You're saying,...that this isn't my voice."

"No! It is, it is, but," he made emphasis on that word, raising a finger the way Luke did when trying to justify one of his stupidities. "he gave you a small blessing, to develop it faster."

"Like mystic steroids."

"Usually, I don't make excuses for the rest of my family, but I'm sure he was only trying to help."

I just sat there in silence, fighting against the anger building up inside of me, threatening to explode and consume it all. I shouldn't be surprised that the Gods would do such things. My mind tried to fill me with hateful thoughts, but I forced myself to remain calm. What good would it do to get angry? I was just a half-blood, and they were Gods; the only thing I would get was a permanent stay in this place, or worse, the Tartarus.

I felt something nugging at the back of my mind, trying to fuel the flames, but I shook it off.

With robotic movements, I placed the cup on the table and took an apple instead.

"It doesn't matter."

"It doesn't…?

"I need to talk to you about my brother." I interrupted him, hoping he wouldn't get angry, but at the same time not really caring if he did. "I urge you again to believe me: he's innocent."

"I know."

"He didn't steal the master bolt."

"I know."

"Nor the helm,..wait what?"

Hades placed his own cup down.

"I sent the Kindly Ones after them when they fled." he explained, ignoring my gaping mouth. "They witnessed his fight with Ares…"

"His what?!"

"Stop interrupting, Alexandria; it is quite unpleasant." he reprehended lightly. "He confessed to stealing both. He and your brother fought, and once defeated, Perseus recovered my helm and my servants delivered it back."

"So, he's safe? How about Annabeth and Grover?"

"They are all alive and well, and on their way back to New York to deliver the bolt."

I slumped back against the couch. Percy was fine! I was right, he was innocent. The relief almost obscured the anger and betrayal that I had been feeling just a minute ago.

"So, you'll leave him alone?"

"I see no reason to annihilate him for now."

"Sweet!" I smiled brightly, and Hades eyes sparkled in return. Carefully, I added. "What about his mom?"

"Miss Jackson is back in her home, perfectly safe."

My smile recovered its light, and I couldn't help but lunge, wrapping my arms around my companion's neck.

"Thank you, thank you, mister Hades! I knew you were cool!"

He patted my back awkwardly, but then left his hand there, right in the middle. He was clearly uncomfortable, so I sat back and apologized. He dismissed it like it was nothing. I stayed seated right next to him, almost jumping with joy.

I didn't care anymore that I was now a captive in the Underworld with a maniac God for company. Percy, Grover and Annabeth were successful and still in one piece -I wasn't absolutely sure about that bit, but I choose to believe it-, and Sally was alive and kicking.

Maybe Hades was a hot head with an unstable temper, but at least he kept his word. So far, he was a nice guy.

He's still one of them, a familiar voice whispered in my head, but I ignored it.

"I am glad you're pleased with the news." he said, lightly patting my hand and gesturing at all the food. "Please, you haven't eaten."

I ate like there was no tomorrow, all the while trying to keep a civil conversation with the God sitting next to me. I had to be on his good side if I wanted to survive down here.

Hades was, for the most part, a very sober man, but I would give my right leg to whoever contradicted me when I say that I almost got a tiny smirk out of him. Twice.

I sat cross legged in front of him while I asked my questions about the Underworld and how it was run. He explained in a very simplistic way, probably aware of the short span of attention of the half-bloods.

At some point, I fell asleep, the previous day's activities catching up to me.

For the most part I didn't dreamt, which was a nice change. A nightmare almost broke its way inside my head, but a dark curtain blocked my path and after that, I don't remember what happened.

When I regained consciousness, the first thing I was aware of was something cold against my hot forehead.

I opened my eyes, finding my vision blocked by a forearm covered in dark fabric. I placed my hand on the person's wrist, surprisingly calm by the strange presence and I sat, looking around, disoriented.

I was in a room, and it took me a few seconds before I realized it was the same room Hades had brought me to earlier.

Speaking of the devil,...he was sitting at the edge of the bed, angled towards me, my hand still wrapped around his wrist.

"What exactly were you doing?"

I sure hoped he wasn't trying to pull a 'Sleeping Beauty' on me.

"I'm sorry, but you seemed drained and I dared not to wake you." he explained, imperturbable. "I felt something trying to penetrate your mind in your slumber, so I kept it away."

So, that explained my lack of disturbing dreams.

Call me crazy, but I believed him.

"So, you just sat there for who knows how long,..."

"Five hours."

"Right. And then watched over me."

"We could phrase it that way, yes."

I felt embarrassed. This dude was a busy guy, and here I was, using him as a dreamcatcher to keep the boogeyman away.

I was also a little warm inside at the idea of him watching over me.

"Sorry I kept you here."

"Nonsense; it was like a vacation. You gave me an excuse to postpone my work."

"Your life must be real sad if this is your definition of a vacation."

There it was! That amused twinkle in his eyes.

Hades swallowed, looking away.

"In any case, it's not like I can stop it." he muttered, more to himself than to me.

I wanted to ask what he was talking about, especially when he turned his head again, face as composed as ever, but his eyes sad.

"Your brother will be arriving to the Olympus shortly." he informed me, setting himself free of my grip and standing up. "Come, or you will miss him."

"W-what?"

"I imagine you won't want him going to face Zeus alone."

"Y-you're letting me go?" I asked, unbelieving.

"Of course. You didn't think I would keep you here forever, did you?"

I didn't answer, but he didn't need me too. He sighed, whistling softly and placing his hand on the middle of my back.

"I would prefer it if you did stay, but trying to go against the fates is a terrible idea."

"What?"

The biggest hellhound in history appeared out of the shadows, moving its tail in glee, red eyes twinkling with the purity of a regular dog.

"Mrs O'Leary will take you to Perseus." Hades told me.

"Mr. Hades?" he raised his eyes, and suddenly there was a knot in my throat. I didn't really want to say goodbye. "Thank you. For doing this,...for everything."

This time, his lips twitched upward in a smile, but it was a nostalgic, resigned one. His hand found my cheek, a whisper of a caress, and I realized that instead of wanting to step back, I wanted to step forward and hug him again.

"Remember that I am always watching over you, Alexandria. And be strong."

He dropped his hand, and my cheek felt cold. Gesturing to the hellhound, I warily stepped closer and yelped when a pair of hands settled on my waist, lifting me up like I weighed nothing. One leg went over the back of the hound, and I settled as best as I could, gripping her fur tightly.

I looked at my host one final time as he stepped back, a strange look in his eyes.

Like he was sending me to my execution.

"Don't worry Siren, our paths will cross again; when you are no longer weak."

What? Where have I heard that?

Yes, that was what the Grey Sisters had told me the other day on the train, but there was something else…

Siren? Where in Hera's ass have I heard that?

"Wait! NO. FUCKING. WAY! You're that...AAAAHHH!"

Suddenly, Mrs O'Leary jumped, and everything turned black.

A/N: Next chapter 1. Alex meets her dad.

finds out what the oracle told Percy in Camp.

Alex meets Sally.

What do you all think of Hades? Of the chapter in general?

Am I forgiven for the long wait?

I hope you had a great start of the year!

Until next time,

Nos leemos :)