Chapter Ten:
I stared at the piece of paper with elaborate cursive writing as I sat in the Hades cabin along side Nico. I was still irritated at the vague message our little friend had left. After we sent the Chimera to the Underworld, Nico and I had jogged to the cabin to discuss the new found evidence.
I have what you seek, but first… you must find us.
" What does it say?" Asked Nico. I showed him the letter, and his face twisted into confusion.
" Doesn't make the slightest sense, does it?" I frowned.
" Who even wrote this?" Nico asked, taking the paper in his hands. I shrugged and glanced to the cloth. I had figured out it was a dress, that had been torn to pieces. There was a lapse of silence, before I let out a sigh.
" We must show Lord Hades the dress." I decided with a firm belief.
" Why? We're not allowed to return, remember?"
" I know, but perhaps he could aid our search!" I said, trying to convince Nico. But, he was stubborn as a mule. Even more than I at some points, which to some was hard to comprehend.
Nico shook his head. " I refuse to go."
I knew Nico was like his father, and the gods in general. They both refused to accept help.
" Well, with or without you, I'm going." I growled, standing up. I headed for the door, opening. Talaiporía sat up from it's laying position, its tail twitched. I started forward, until Nico grabbed my hand.
" You are not going. I refuse to allow it."
" If you don't come with me, than I shall go by myself. I can handle myself without you, Nico." I snarled through my teeth, my infamous quick temper shredding.
" You'd be dead back in Chicago if it weren't for me." He snapped back in reply. I sneered at him, but pushed past. I whistled for Talaiporía, who trotted along my side.
" You're seriously leaving, Lyn. On a stupid quest like this? You'll die out there!" He yelled. I ignored him, grinding my teeth together to hold back a comment burning in my mouth. I looked over my shoulder to Nico. He was scowling. Walking away, I heard Nico call.
" Good luck. You're going to need it." He growled, Nico's own temper burning through. I spun around, curling my fists.
" You don't need to mother me every single day! Gods forbid I actually take care of myself! Trust me, Nico. I'll find Lady Persephone by myself. I don't need YOU!" I yelled at him. Spinning around, I headed right out of camp.
It took several tries to end up in the Underworld after shadow travelling by myself, with no aid from Talaiporía. The entire time, I was unfocused on my task, muttering about my fight with Nico. It wasn't our first scrap, but it surely had it's effect. The shadow travel didn't go too well. I ended up once in the middle of town in some place, then what seemed to be a country in East Asia. To say the least, when I finally stood before the gates of Hades, I was exhausted.
" Hello Cerberus." I greeted, breathless. The giant beast's three heads all acknowledged me. " May I enter?" I asked, pushing open the gate. Cerberus made no move to stop me, so I pushed through and closed the gate behind myself and my hellhound. I looked to Hades' Palace; I had heard rumours that if Hades did not want you to come , the trek to the palace would be endless. With a confident inhale of breath, I started forward. I passed the judging pavilion, and focused my ears to a far off point. Tartarus. Even from here, I could hear the agonizing screams of pain from the souls within. Kronos was there. All monsters ever slain were there. I thought about looking into Tartarus once, but hastily decided against the choice.
Before I knew it, I made it to the steps of Hades' Palace. I paused before going inside however. Lady Persephone's remarkable garden was nothing but severely wilted flowers. I knelt, taking a greenish-grey flowers in my hand. It felt soft and rotten under my finger tips. I stood back up, rubbing it back and forth in my fingers.
" It's Asphodel." Said someone. With a gasp, I spun around, my heart beating so fast and loud that I could hear it echo in my ears. Hades stood before me, clad in his black robes. If gods could age formally, I'd say he gained ten years in a mere few days. "Persephone planted it here. Said that it was commonly planted around tombs."
I looked up to my new master and then back at the flower.
" It's wilted… because of her lack of presence." I noted. I dropped the flower petal and watched as it flittered back to the ground. Hades pointed a pale, skeletal finger to my bag, a leather shoulder bag I had picked up along my shadow-travel-misfortunate-adventures.
" I have something to show you." I said lowly, starting to dig it out of my back.
" Inside." The god of death ordered. I looked to the human sized Hades as he entered his palace. I pushed open the door and let Talaiporía inside. I closed the door and looked up to the now towering Hades who sat in his throne at twelve feet.
" A Chimera attacked Nico and I, the whole of Camp Half-Blood. In it's teeth was this." I said, taking out the silky smooth black cloth, splattered with dried liquid gold. Stiffening, the god I had dedicated service to leaned down, outstretching his hand. The cloth seemed tiny in his hands, taking up only a quarter of his palm. Evaporating into shadows, Hades reappeared at human size. His throne did too. I watched, marvelling in the magic and power he possessed.
" I sense there is something else." Hades said, sitting rigidly upright.
" A letter, Lord Hades. But the letter did not make any sense." I explained to him.
" Show me the letter." He ordered.
" I could just tell you-"
" I said show it to me. Was that unclear?" He asked, his voice gaining volume. I nodded almost instantly. Despite the respect I held, I was still controlled like a puppet on a string due to the fear that came with his worship. I reached into my jeans pocket, unfolding the paper, a thick parchment, and holding it out to my master. Scanning the few words in a heart beat, Hades released almost an animalistic growl.
" A Chimera you say?" Asked Hades.
Nodding, I replied, " Yes."
Hades snapped his fingers, a black table of bones appearing beside his throne. He placed the cloth and paper onto it, his right hand rubbing on his temple, as if massaging a headache away.
" Was it's mother in sight?" Questioned Hades.
Mother? " Master, I do not understand-"
Hades snapped, " It's mother. A lady. Did you see a lady, or monster?"
" No sir. Just the Chimera." I replied, confusion swelling up inside my head.
" Just the Chimera? Strange."
I cracked my knuckles as I spoke, nervousness coming about my body, " Lord Hades. I am troubled as to what to do now. This letter, stating to come find this thing, this person and it is unclear as to where he is located. And without clues or hints, I cannot even fathom as to how to start looking."
Hades sighed, looking to the paper.
" It is apart of the prophecy that your father created. I know who wrote this now, I can see clearly."
" Great!" I exclaimed, " Who? I can start my search!"
Hades gripped the arms of his throne made of obsidian and bone, his hands turning even whiter if possible. The guards that surrounded Hades' throne looking nervously amongst each other, if the dead even bore feelings. My confidence I first felt at this news evaporated.
" But you can't tell me. My father said so." I grumbled. Hades nodded once. I started for the door, feeling depressed almost. I was so close to a break through, but I had nothing.
" Wait. I have one more thing to discuss with you." Summoned Hades. I turned, curious as to what it could be. He pointed to his own cheek.
" How did you come across that scar?" He asked. Gently, I ran a hand over my face.
" The Chimera caught my face as I defended Talaiporía from it's blows. It healed… abnormally fast." I muttered the last part. What was with this scar? I didn't have much time to think about before Hades yelled out " Krebura cave!"
I stared at him, my brows brought together in confusion.
" Leave. I have said too much. Take what I have given you and go." Ordered Hades.
" But my Lord-"
" GO!" His voice shook walls, and so I bowed. Before I could take another step, shadows surrounded me, and when they cleared, I was in a new place all together.
I sat up from my laying position, looking around. Realizing it was night, I stood up quickly.
" Talaiporía?" I called out into the gloom of night. The hellhound padded forward, seeming just as curious about it's surroundings as I was. The surroundings was… well, I wasn't too sure exactly. There was a black fog that swirled low to the ground, a darkness surrounding it. The fog lead up a steep hill.
" Where are we?" I murmured to the hellhound, running a hand through it's fur. I kept glancing around, but each time I performed a full circle, that hill came back into my head. I started to scramble up it, slipping on the wet grass. When I finally climbed to the top, the mist thickened until I could barely see past my knees. I felt a pulling chill, and wrapped my arms around myself to keep myself warm.
" This must be Krebura cave." I decided. Talaiporía looked up to me, sporting a look that if translated into understandable English, would be a sarcastic " No, really?"
It occurred to me for a second, if Talaiporía really could comprehend the feelings and thoughts behind my words or if it just based itself off of facial expressions. I started walking forward in this mist. Suddenly, I was falling. I waved my arms, desperate for my balance, but it was in vain. I tumbled forward, screaming as I fell. I fell for several seconds before something caught my drop before I tore through whatever it was and kept falling. I was caught by a more stable surface. The mere second I rested there, almost in a hammock was a blessing from the gods. However, it snapped with a loud whip and I continued to fall. I landed with a hard impact on what felt like steel. I cried out in pain, clutching at my ribs. A second later, I heard another thud and the whimpering of my hellhound.
" It's about time you arrived." Came a voice out of the darkness. With struggled and laboured breathes, I managed to sit up. I couldn't see anything. Immediately my senses fell into turmoil.
" Talaiporía!" I whispered, wanting nothing more than to see if my hellhound was alright.
" Lyn, it's rude to ignore your host." Said the voice from the shadows. " And hostess. You should than Persephone for saving you from your fate. Really, it was very stupid of you to just fall right in. There was a rope set up for you and everything."
" Who is this?" I spat out, shuffling backwards. I summoned up a bow from the surrounding shadows.
" Why.. Erebos, of course! God of darkness!" Exclaimed the voice. I racked my brain for information of this new god, but nothing came to me.
" You, like every single human being in the world forgot about me long ago! I was not worthy enough of remembrance! And now-" Erebos released a unhuman sound, resembling a laugh. " I will be remembered. For the first time ever, I will be responsible for the murder of a god! Or, goddess rather."
" Persephone!" I gasped. " You're the letter! Come find me…" I growled.
" Finally, the legendary surviving daughter of Apollo figures it out!" Erebos laughed once more. I winced at the sound.
" What do you want with Lady Persephone?!" I demanded. Frankly, I didn't care about the goddess of flowers, but my master did and it was my quest.
" Well, since I am the god of darkness, I feel that it's my rightful place in the Underworld. After all, it's the mortals who match darkness with death."
" Challenge Lord Hades, I dare you! I will laugh as you fall, crumble to nothing!" I yelled into the dark. The menacing laugh that followed destroyed my ears. I even heard Talaiporía whimper. My hands roamed across the hard stone and found it's muzzle. I began to quell the pain with all that I had to offer: affection.
" Come Lyn." Called the voice of Erebos. " I have much to show you."
I refused to move, but it seemed I had no choice. It was as if rope was tied around my wrists, tugging me along.
" Talaiporía! When you are able, flee this place!" I wheezed, my ribs flaring with pain as I moved. I heard no reply, but did I really expect one? I stumbled and fell as I crawled my way through the cave, continuously dragged about by an invisible hand. Finally, I had control of my own body. I collapsed onto the floor, the darkness that shielded my vision becoming a wall. I closed my eyes and reopened them, looking left to right for anything that would indicate where I am. Suddenly, something caught my light deprived eye. Light! No matter how faint, I knew it was light! I dangerously slithered along, trying to make it towards the light. Knowing my knees were cut up and bleeding, along with my forearms, I made it to the shimmering light. It was very faint, and almost blended in with the darkness, but it was there. I reached forward, wanting nothing more but to touch this glow. However my hands smacked against something hard.
" Oh good, you found your cell." Said the voice.
" Cell-?"
I began to question what this god meant, but I was not able. I was dragged along, the sharp stones beneath me jabbing and slicing my skin. I was thrown against the wall of this stone enclosure, knocking the wind out of me for the second time in the last ten minutes.
" Oh how wonderful it is for you to rescue me." Came a female voice in the darkness beside me. I turned my head, feeling that it was warm and sticky with my fingers, I knew I was bleeding. The very faint, light purple glow that encased this person was right beside me.
" Lad-lady Persephone?" I questioned, my voice coming out in pieces.
" Yes." Replied the voice.
" Why are you shimmering?" I asked. Out of all the questions to ask in this situation, I asked the most ridiculous one.
" I am wounded and weakened. Fading." Said Persephone. She didn't sound weak. If anything, it sounded as if she came to terms with her fate.
" What does Erebos want with you?" I asked her.
" You know I saved your life? A thank you is in order."
" You didn't save my hellhound." I growled in reply.
" There are plenty more." She replied, matching my dark tone. After moments of silence, my breathing had calmed.
" How do we get out of here?"
" I'm not sure yet. We'll have to wait and find out." She replied.
I rested my head painfully against the stone wall, frowning. I tried to bring together a clever plan, a plan that would go down in history! Nothing. Shadow travel wasn't an option, considering last time I ended up in China. I doubted I had even a scrap of energy to spend on it.
" I admit it. I need Nico." I whispered to myself, knowing that Nico wouldn't of let me do something this stupid. I looked upward, up towards the sky that I wish I could see.
" That boy won't be able to accomplish a damn thing. All we can do is pray that Erebos won't destroy your being. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're the last hope as the prophecy goes." Said Persephone.
I felt my heart sank.
That was a high expectation to fulfil.
I'm awesome. I finally wrote another chapter, and soon after the last! You are all lucky, I'm tellin' ya!
So Lady Persephone has entered the story, once again! And to all of those who noticed the scar *duh. It's hard to miss* it will come into play later! Although, I have no concrete plans for it just yet. If you didn't know, Erebos is a Greek god, God of darkness, but is not mention in many Greek myths. I just thought I'd share that piece of knowledge. So, review. Please? I wanna know what you all think of the story so far.
Flufferz: I love how you don't know who Percy and Annabeth are... You need to read the books, so you fully understand! XD
JustPlainOldMe: Here's your update! And thanks for the kind words!
Guest: Thanks :D I appreciate the kindness.