Longest chapter, bear with me on this

Chapter 10: Rebirth

They ventured away from the dying valley and back out to the rusting pick-up truck. Frank Leo and Jason volunteered to carry the limp, lifeless, and heavy body of Perseus Jackson. It was a hard job, only because of the emotional aspect. Placing Percy gently in the bed of the truck, they strapped his body down with everything they could find. Jason didn't have it in him to go after another flying Percy. The group of friends all buckled up and enjoyed the long ride out to California.

The sun burned the boys' skin, only the lashing winds kept them cool. However, the gusts didn't prevent burning. Eventually, they decided to pull over to a rest station. Eris' wrath had plundered these wastelands. Even in the barren world of the desert, it seemed even emptier of life. There was no subtle rattle of the snakes, or a rare howl of a coyote. Silence. No humans wandered throughout the plaza. They made themselves at home.

All the kids stormed in to the rest area, crashing through the doors. They ran over to their favorite fast food chains and created their own meals. It wasn't a happy feast; it was silent besides the sizzling of grills and blending machines. Annabeth was the only on e with the decency to leave behind a few dollars. They congregated at a large table near the window when Rick strolled in. He had a solemn look, not uncommon amongst the travelers, but his seemed even more full of sorrow. He sat down while the others munched.

Annabeth studied him like a math problem. She read his expressions, his breathing patterns, the path of his eyes, and even the discreet twitching of his fingers, yet she couldn't figure out what had happened within the last 5 or so minutes. He looked down at his shining watch. He looked up nervously, when he caught Annabeth's endless stare. They averted their eyes.

Leo led out a loud belch then announced to the group, " I have to go to the bathroom!" he stood up dramatically and marched army style towards the little boys room.

His feet slid on the freshly mopped, white, marble floor. In the polished marble on the wall, he saw his own reflection. The counters were made of black granite with pure silver sinks. Outlining the spotless mirror was gold leaf. He soon heard classical music bouncing lightly off his eardrums. He closed his eyes and felt peace. When they opened, there was a man behind him.

The man stood tall, well over 6 feet. A beard straggled down just below his neck; it had gray streaks forming inside. He was well built but aging probably in his mid fifties. He had brilliant eyes; they were a light blue with a bright yellow streaking around the confines of the iris. He looked down at Leo from and extended his hand. Leo shook it.

"Leo Valdez?" he said with a powerful, booming voice. Leo shook his head nervously. The giant gave him a slight smile, "Good, good. You know who I am, don't you?"

Leo knew, but his voice was still gone. He nodded his head once again, "You better. What are you doing here?" The fancy bathroom vanished, became the less than classy rest area bathroom it once was, and then transformed into the swanky appearance once more.

"Sir…Lord…Your Highness…Mr. High and Mighty…" Zeus scowled with him and Leo settled with sir," Sir, it was Annabeth's idea. We're on our way to the Underworld! Bring Percy Jackson back to life! Save the world!" Leo's enthusiasm angered Zeus slightly; there was a small sound of thunder in the distance.

"Not your quest, this place you are in! Do you have any idea where you are?"

Leo didn't even know what state he was in, and frankly he didn't care. But, he wanted to sound good in front of the king of the gods, "Oh, yes, of course sir!"

Zeus shook his head, " Clearly you do not," the god thrust his hand and the walls vanished they were standing on the side of a mountain. In the distance city lights lit up the sky, but to all other directions it was black. Leo looked around his surroundings. At the bottom of the hill laid strange red stones. The mountain was covered in words, no pictures well small pictures. Zeus breathed in heavily, "it's more complicated than you know, Leo. I can't explain it to you all. But, truly I am shocked Rick was such a fool, bringing you here. The city over there, that's Phoenix. This mountain is Camelback Mountain. This is the setting of Eris' last attempt at power. He tried to raise Python, create chaos your world couldn't handle. We gods would be running amuck trying to capture it, Eris would seize control of Olympus. Special mortals stopped him. Rick helped them, much as he is helping you. He was a fool to bring you here," Zeus sighed then the bathroom was restored to its former glory he looked at Leo and told him, " You will bring Percy back to life, Leo. When you're down there, don't get tempted. Let go of your greed," Leo was left confused.

He stood in the middle of a dirty bathroom, hearing the shrieks of his friends outside. Sprinting towards the exit, he created a small weapon for himself just in case. Outside of the restroom a battle was occurring. Jason was soaring high into the rafters above with a giant boa constrictor circling around his body. Annabeth and Piper fought off two smaller ones. Hazel was chucking precious gems at her targets. Meanwhile Frank was trying to summon his magical boar. Rick sat alone at a far table. Leo knew that their guide had brought them here and set them up for failure. He was about to launch his weapon at him when a snake leaped at him. His small machine expanded into a long spear, and he whacked the serpent with a thousand volts of electricity. He plunged the sharp tip into the midsection of the monster. It oozed out green blood that burned the cement below. Soon, the others finished off their beasts with out much trouble.

Rick finally got up and moved. He collected the serpents' acidic remains in glass vials. Storming over to yell at him, Annabeth pulled Leo back. She said the exact words Leo had thought of, but her voice was more interrogative than demanding, " You knew they were coming didn't you?"

Solemnly Rick nodded, "I'm sorry, I did indeed bring them here. However you do know why Miss Chase?"

Annabeth sighed then said gloomily, " Yeah their blood doesn't kill you, but brings you to the underworld,"

Leo screamed wailing his hands in the air," You still could've warned us!"

"I couldn't figure out how to tell you I-"

Jason cut in before Rick could finish, "Okay, okay, it doesn't matter. Now how do we do this?" Rick smiled half-heartedly. He handed each demigod a vial. There were only seven vials. Rick would not be coming with from this point on.

They said their goodbyes, hugged, and thanked him for his help. Next, they prayed that this stuff didn't kill them. They looked shyly at their vials. Annabeth stepped up, "Aw what the hell!" She threw her head back and chugged; she wanted to be with Percy. The others soon followed, and Frank carried Percy. Soon enough they stood outside of D.O.A recording studios all the way in Los Angeles.

"I guess it makes sense, Los Angeles, meaning the angels in Spanish," Leo said absorbing the fact that the entrance to Hell stood before him. They all felt alive. Feeling their chests to see if their hearts were beating, they walked in. Charon smiled at Annabeth remembering her perfectly. He wore a brand new Italian suit. A gold silk tie dropped from his neck. Covering his eyes were dark sunglasses. Hades wasn't the only one enjoying the new luxury.

The souls were even more restless than Annabeth remembered. They were running around muttering words that couldn't be made out. Their ghostly eyes were scattering around the room looking for a way out. The elevator doors remained open and a long line stretched as far as she could see.

She looked up at the ferryman, "A few drachmas won't cut it this time, will it?"

To her surprise he replied," Feel free to walk right on through," he smiled a toothy grin and pointed to the elevators. Charon wasn't too bright apparently. All seven demigods sprinted through the souls with ease. They felt disrespectful, and thought they had destroyed the souls, but they rematerialized looking just as they had before. They ran across a bridge over the Styx. They passed millions of dead people. It was hopeless they all thought, how would they find person in this?

Annabeth ran to where she had seen him before. She took a close look at each face, but none were his.

She dropped to her knees and prayed. The faint green light appeared. They ran towards him. He showed no expression. He did not move until his body was placed at his feet. He scattered around it poking it, and it seemed like he was trying to get in.

Hazel felt uncomfortable. These were her people. Nico had such ease making them listen to her, but she felt like she didn't possess that gene. But she felt the newfound power of Pluto running in her veins she stood up straight and announced, "Perseus Jackson, we are going to bring you back to life," to everyone's surprise he nodded his head.

They looked around at each other panicked, "Now what?" asked Frank.

Leo took charge, and he obeyed his orders form Zeus "I know what to do, Hazel tell him to follow me," He had seen this in a dream when he was such a little kid. Of course it was a little different, he wasn't in the Underworld or with these people. They walked over to the River Styx, "Frank, on my go toss Percy's body in. Hazel, tell Percy's ghost to join with his body. Everybody else, pray to the gods I'm right. Frank, now!" Leo's remembered the dream.

He stood at the side of a flowing stream. A ghost the shape and size of Casper floated beside him. On the banks of the river was a body that the ghost kept pecking at. His babysitter Tia Callida stood on the other side. "There will be others," she said and faceless being appeared around him, "You will have to give up all your dreams to the river," His memory of his mother and the ship he once drew faded, "You will save him," The big and bulky one pushed the body into the water. The one next to him said 'join'.

He never saw how it ended, but he would now.

The water fizzled. The smell of burning flesh filled the air. Leo let go of all his dreams. He let go of his quest, of the ship, of his future mechanic shop, of making his father proud, being Hazel's boyfriend, but most of all bringing his mother back. The river of broken dreams and lost hopes absorbed each one.

Percy felt a burning sensation and a need for air. He clawed out of the murky waters. Surfacing he gasped in more air than a tornado could provide. He laid sprawled out to gasps, sobs, and shrieks. Annabeth threw her arms around him. They held each for so long with out a word. It wasn't either of them who said the next ones.

Green flames erupted feet away from where they sat. a cloaked figure towered over the heroes. A long two-pronged spear was wedged between his muscular hands. He voice echoed throughout the realm, "He is still my soul," with that Hades charged.