I don't own PJO and TLH hasn't happened. Enjoy!

Lila's P.O.V

*Ashleigh's house*

"My mom resented me." Sam said. "Your mom resented me." he restated. I winced at the hatred in his voice. I wish my big brother, Percy, we here to reassure me. Althea's looking kind of neutral. "There is a reason, boy." Artemis said not liking his attitude. "Oh really? Feel free to defend her." Sam said. "What that tongue of yours! I'm a goddess and I will have no trouble turning you into an animal." Sam's eyes raged the air around us picked up and Althea calmed him down. "Sam, don't. Just listen first. You'll have your answers then." she told him softly. He took a deep breath and Artemis went on with the story.

"Your father pursued her with out her liking or permission. He fathered you hoping you would make your mother turn away from Poseidon. She ended up having a child from each of them. Zeus was outraged his plan hadn't worked and let his anger out on Lila by plaguing her with monsters. Hoping she would have a terrible fate." Artemis said mournfully. I tried to wrap it around my head that my uncle, Zeus, had been so heartless towards me. He was the reason for my mother being so jumpy. She'd probably suspected Percy as my half brother all along, she'd felt better when he was around me. He would protect me.

I didn't notice Ashleigh was crying at the story until she left to room to blow her nose. Sam looked guilty then he was mad. "I hadn't done anything to her! She blamed me for what Zeus did!" Sam spat. "Zeus blamed and punished Lila for his misfortunes. Who's really at fault here? Your mother, Zeus, Poseidon, or all three. Was is either of you two half-bloods fault? Everyone seems to be seeing it a different way." Artemis said.

"Well I'm gone. Sorry sis that I couldn't be of assistance to you. Good luck with your mother. Althea. Lady Artemis." He said before opening the front door and taking off with Althea chasing after him. I plopped on the soft, new, brown couch. I needed to think this through. "Ma'am, if Zeus didn't take her and is sending you and the other respected Olympians then who kidnapped my mother." I asked. Or was is mom-napped? Or mom-jacked? Whatever, that's the least of my worries. "Some gods would take advantage with the brothers' argument. Last time Hades was accused for stealing Zeus's master bolt but your brother fixed that issue. He seemed to have been wagering towards Poseidon's side of the argument. Maybe he wants a war. Maybe Ares again. Anyone could have a motive. Queen Hera is a suspect in some gods' eyes. She could be 'trying' to resolve this conflicted between her the two."

"I have not time limit I suppose but I want my mother brought to safety." I stated emotionless. Althea came back inside the house through the front door. "He's gone. He left by air." Althea said with watery eyes from either the wind or tears and Althea Andromeda Jackson has never been caught crying. "I must go." Artemis said. "Wait! Could you please watch over him? Please." I requested. "Me watch over a boy who disrespected me?"Artemis asked getting mad. "Please. He is my brother. Imagine if it were Apollo." I said. "Then good riddance to my brother! He is my brother and doesn't do too much but annoy Olympians and all others!" Artemis yelled then left exploding into a light which we looked away from. Good thing Ashleigh wasn't in here.

I stood up putting on a brave attitude like Althea does. "Well let's go." I said. Althea looked at me questioningly. "Where?" she asked bewildered at me attitude. "To the Underworld. I have to ask my Uncle a few questions." I said then went to Ashleigh who was in the kitchen sobering up from the tears. "We're going to leave now. Thank you and I'll try to get in touch with you." I said. "No." she answered. I looked at her confused. "I'm going with you I have to." she explained. "You can't we are going-" I began but she finished for me. "The Underworld. Realm or the Lord of the Dead." Ashleigh said. "I- I know I'm supposed to go. I saw it." Ashleigh said sternly. "She's like Rachel." Althea said and it made sense to me so I gave in. "It'll be dangerous. You could die and so could we." I warned her. "Don't let me think about it. I have to go. No ifs ands or buts." she said. "Alright." I muttered and we walked outside.

"How do we get to Hell?" Ashleigh asked paling. "A train." Althea said. Ashleigh looked confused but didn't ask. So once again we boarded a train but this time we saved a little money on Althea being invisible. We sat in our seats with me sitting alone. We couldn't leave Ashleigh unprotected and I needed time alone. We barely talked through out the days it took to get to California. According to Ashleigh we needed to get to DOA recording studio in Hollywood.

We had finally got there and were in Hollywood but when we asked someone how to get to DOA or where it was no one would know. We were walking along Ashleigh said, "Don't go down that street." "Why?" Althea and I questioned. "Look." she said pointing to an inviting shop with some fancy script over the door in hot pink lighting. "C.C. and Emy's trouble solver." Ashleigh read relieving me of having to try to read it with my dyslexia. Looking at the shop made me feel compelled to walk right in and get help for my problems. "What is there to be worried about?" Althea said dreamily. "Yeah. Let's go in." I said. Ashleigh yanked our arms and I punched her shoulder. "Let go!" I yelled then walked eagerly towards the shop.

I heard Althea behind me and Ashleigh whine like a spoiled rich kid not getting their way. Althea had caught up to me and we were at the shops door and Ally hesitated. Something flashed in her eyes for a brief second then they glazed over. Reason? I don't care, I'm getting troubles solved. We walked in and Ashleigh stayed behind holding her back of clothes and pulled out a celestial bronze knife that we'd let her hold for protection.

"Welcome!" two women greeted walking towards us with beautiful smiles. They bother were pretty but one of them seemed like a fake. She obviously wasn't thrilled about the customers too early in the morning. It was only 10 a.m. "I'm C.C." the one with a long braid with blue and gold ribbons intertwined in it. "And I'm Emy." The other said wearing a short red dress. "I'm Lila Monroe and this is my friend Althea Jackson." I introduced.

C.C's eyes got wider. "Jackson?" she asked. Althea nodded. "Percy Jackson?" he asked with a weird tone to her voice. "Yes ma'am. You know my father?" Ally asked and I listened too. "Yes. We've met before." she said. I smiled. "He's a cool big brother." I said her eyes managed to get even wider. Ally's eyebrows furrowed. "Wait how did you meet before?" she asked. "He needed my help." C.C. simply replied. "What would you like help with children?" Emy asked. I tried to think why we came in here but nothing came.

"Your brother. Your worried for him, about your mother, and why your father hasn't protected her." Emy said. "How'd you know?" I asked. "I'm good at reading people." she answered as if people did that everyday. She snapped her fingers and my mother appeared before me. "Mom!" I cried and ran towards her. My mother smiled and embraced me. Then next to her she had an arm draped around my brother, her son, Sam. "Sam." I said happily and hugged him too. I felt there touch but it wasn't warm. My mind processed it warm but I physically felt that they weren't even there. I could feel them but not feel them.

"You can have them just like that but you have to pay for service." Emy said to me. In the background I barely noticed how C.C. was doing Ally's hair and talking about how untrust worthy boys are. "What's the price?" I said eagerly. Ashleigh opened the door and ran in. "Lila and Althea we need to go." she said.

"Ash, I'm about to get my mom back and Sam." I said. Ashleigh's eyes widened as she saw my mom and Sam smiling at me. "No. Let's go now. These aren't the people we're looking for." she said carefully. "Come in and stay a while." C.C. said. "Why are you guinea pigs' cage so dirty?" Ashleigh asked randomly. I looked over to the back of the room and noticed there were cages with guinea pigs in them. They didn't seem to happy. Their beady eyes were on me and Ally as if trying to communicate with us.

"They don't treat us right. Why give them kindness when they only tear us down." C.C. said. "You talk to them?" Ashleigh asked. "Not anymore. They don't speak English or Greek now. Just their squeaks." Not anymore? They don't speak those languages now?" Ally asked. "It's the truth. C.C. said halfway through doing Ally's hair. "C.C. Oh gods! My mom and dad told me about you!" Althea said and gasped. "Your Circe, the sorceress!"

"In the monstrously flesh." Circe said. "And you your Medea aren't you?' I asked. "Well you really are the grandchild of Athena aren't you?" Medea said smirking. "Annabeth and Percy had a kid. There still together. Ew." Circe said and that made me mad. Annabeth and Percy were the nicest parents ever to live! I rubbed my trident charm and it turned into my two foot long sword with the hilt the color of sea's mood. I came forth trying to attack Media. She dodged and rolled out of the way. Althea's ring turned into her owl hilted celestial bronze sword with green waves up the blade.

We each fought a woman and Ashleigh couldn't stay idle she had to help. I was about to get one of Medea's potion thrown at me when Ashleigh grabbed three bottled and they crashed to the ground at Medea's feet. She screamed. "You know what you've done? You foolish mortal!" she screamed. "Hopefully it kills you or just lets us escape." Ash said. Medea turned into a shower of gold powder. "Althea you need help?" I asked. Althea's sword turned into a knife and she stabbed Circe and she disappeared like her friend. "No thanks." Ally said smirking.

"Let's get out of here." Ashleigh said. "Thanks, Ashleigh." I thanked her and she smiled. "Still think I can't handle myself in your world?" she asked raising an eyebrow. "You've killed a total of one more monster than I have. I'd say your more of a demigod than me." I said smiling. She smiled then said, "Well then let's find the Underworld. Anyone know where it's at now after our meeting?"

"I've got it!" Ally said holding up what looked to be a black and gold phone book. "It's got the studio's address." Ally said. "Let's get to bouncin then." Ashleigh said. We got a taxi to take us but the ride would be long and considering our cash was running low we were praying Hades was an answer someone to getting my mom back.

During the long ride I was thinking about how I was a terrible quest leader. Ashleigh was leading it more than I was and even better at leading too. While I was "leading" Sam left us, we almost got killed, Ashleigh saved us and my deepest troubles were spilled out my a sorceress. No wonder my dad didn't think it was worth the trouble in protecting me from Zeus.

Well I hope you enjoyed it! Please R&R give me feedback on what you like; didn't like; what you feel I didn't do good on or anything but no major flames this is my first story and like I said this one is helping me to be more organized with the new idea I've been tossing around!

~ Annabeth Chase-Jackson14