"What is it exactly that you want, uncle?" I spat. Hades put his thumb to his lip, as if he had to consider what he wanted from me. I sighed, I already knew he had figured it out and was just testing me. Judging by the mischievous glint in his eyes, he knew I was on to him.
"You will bring me my child. Preferably in the next forty-eight hours," he responded. I gawked at him, expecting just about anything but a request to see his kid. Don't get me wrong, I believe that parents should see their children as much as possible, but Hades didn't fall under the category. He saw his kids rarely, if at all.
"You want me to find Nico? Are you crazy? He could be anywhere! Gaea could have him locked up somewhere with millions of soldiers to keep him there. It could take months, maybe even-"
"Quiet, young one. I wasn't talking about my son," he snapped. My mouth shut on its own accord as I mulled over his answer. Not Nico? Wasn't he the only one he had left that was living? Even if it weren't so, it would make more sense for him to want someone to find his missing son.
"Then who? W-why?" I stuttered. Hades rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked at me again I could see the growing impatience bubbling inside of him.
"I will find Nico when we destroy Gaea. It would be nearly impossible to rescue him before the war." he stopped talking, a far away look in his eyes. In that moment, it was one of the most vulnerable times I have ever seen him. He's always so steady and controlled, but that one little boy has the power to shake his foundation. He must really love his son. Hades cleared his throat, his features returning to its former indifference.
"I want my daughter, Hazel. She's at a Camp Jupiter in California as of now. Seven demigods are about to leave to fulfill the prophecy, and she is one of them. Which is why your deadline is cut so short. I need her before she leaves."
"Why can't you do it?" I complained. Hades yawned and waved his hand through the air. Upon the simple motion, a cloud of smoke burst through the ground, morphing into a mushroom shape. Slowly, the smoke evaporated and a hologram appeared. It was a 3D map of San Francisco.
Monsters walked passed what looked like a secret passage way inside of a hill. Disgusting beings ranging from enormous cyclops to sleek fire-breathing snakes. Their heads were held high, sniffing the area rapidly. Searching for something, I presume.
"This is where the entrance to the camp is," he pointed to the gate inside of the hill. "Gaea's army is passing through, and they can smell the demigods, but they can't trace where the scent ends. It's protected by the mist. The more demigods that leave the camp, or are killed in battle, the weaker the mist will be." He paused. He rose from his throne, pacing the perimeter of the small room.
"This is where you come in. The army is separated into packs, so if you kill off the tail end none of the others will notice. I'm sure they will catch on after a while, but by then you would be gone."
"Exactly how big is the pack that I have to single-handedly kill?" I stressed. Judging by the map, they as big as they seemed. But usually the front and the end were the largest of the army. Hades suddenly took interest in the details of his cape, and shifted uncomfortably under my gaze.
"Just a few..or thiry, but really who's counting?" he mumbled so quickly that I almost didn't hear what he said. Almost.
"Thirty? Oh no. I am not going to risk my life just so you can have a chat with your kid," I yelled in disbelief. How could he possibly be serious?
"I was afraid you'd say that. I guess I'll have to provide you with some sort of motivation, you could say" Hades grinned. In a flash, the hologram of the city vanished. In its place was a map of the Field of Punishment. The map was focused on a certain part of the terrifying consequences a man had to suffer through.
He was chained to a fence, the restraints wrapped expertly around his lean frame so that he couldn't move. A woman was being burned alive in front of him. She was only an illusion, but judging by his screams of anguish, he wasn't aware of it. The scene of her death changed multiple times; drowning, bleeding to death, being shot or stabbed, stroke, etc. Different forms, but the same result.
His breaths came out in sharp gasps, his body fighting the restraints relentlessly. I looked away, my eyes watering in sympathy for the poor man. I tried to focus on the fact that he must have done something really horrible to end up there, but in the end I still couldn't fight the pity I had for him.
"You don't recognize him?" Hades asked. My eyes snapped to his, disbelief clouding my mind. I stepped closer to the hologram, squinting down at the man. At first, I couldn't see anything familiar about him. His head hung low, depriving me of the opportunity to see his face.
I was about to bend down to get a better look, when his head snapped up. He looked up and bellowed a heartbreaking scream. A flash of bronze and green invaded my eyesight before he resumed his previous position. I tried to think of someone who had bronze hair and green eyes, but no one came to mind. I know Edward has bronze hair, but his eyes are golden..
"Oh my God. Why didn't I think of that? He had green eyes when he was a human so it would only make sense that he had green eyes in the afterlife," I whispered to myself. Hades nodded in approval, seemingly surprised that I had figured it out.
"What the hell is he doing there?" I demanded, my tone deadly. Hades rolled his eyes, seemingly unaffected by the force of my glare.
"He will stay there until you complete your quest. I told you all you needed was a little motivation," he smirked. My fingers curled into fists, my nails digging into the palm of my hands. It took every ounce of strength I possessed not to chop him up and throw the pieces in Tartarus.
"And if I don't?" I growled through gritted teeth.
"Then he stays," he answered swiftly. I sat down, all of the air escaping my lungs in a flash. Gone was the anger, I was left with only fear and adrenaline. If I don't make it, then Edward will suffer for eternity. I glanced at the hologram, silently promising Edward that I would get him out of there as fast as possible.
"Before I agree to anything, I want answers. Why do I have to do this? Why can't you?" Hades smirk turned into a grimace.
"I would've if it hadn't been for your father," he spat. "He ordered all of the gods and goddesses not to meddle in their childrens' lives, or at least until the war is over. Usually I wouldn't have to obey these obnoxious rules of his, but since I attend all of the meetings I have to as well. I don't know whether to be grateful or to kill that Percy Jackson kid for getting me a seat in the throne room."
I had heard many stories about that young hero. The obstacles he has overcome and the quests he has conquered was rather impressive. I had taken a liking to him, although I had never met him.
"It's not the boy's fault. He was only trying to help you," I chastised. Hades sighed and feigned indifference, but I knew he had great respect for the hero.
"Anyways, so all places where Gods' children have been blocked off. The only way we can communicate with our children is through dreams at this point, but I can't even do that. Hazel has grown restless and can't sleep for more than a few minutes." He stood up straighter and looked down at me, as if he was about to lecture a young child.
"Seeing as you have no more living children to meddle with, you have more freedom that any other God" he grinned.
"Why me? Why not a hero?" I demanded. This may be one of the most aggravating situations I've ever been in. Is it really that hard to sumon a demigod and assign them this task?
"You honestly believe a mere demigod could survive all of those monsters? Ha! That's setting someone up for failure indeed. Not that I oppose to that entertainment, but unfortunately we are running low on time. So it is you, my dear niece, who must go." I recoiled from his cruel sense of humor, repulsion weighing heavily on my composure.
How cruel would that be sending a hero to face all of those monsters? It would be like sending a duck with a knife inside of a village full of starving men. Suicide.
"Fine. I will do it," I conceded. Hades smiled in thanks and sent me off on the quest. No one knew what the perilous adventure would result in.
Oh Bella, you always get stuck with the dirty work. Next chapter is her quest. Please R&R!