The House of Hades

Chapter 12: A New Life

Jason's POV:

His heart pounded and he couldn't look at his friend. Alex had blood streaming down her, but her body language stated that she was beyond pissed. Piper was next to him without touching. He looked around to his friends. Leo had smoke drifting off of him from using fire against the creatures. Nico had his sword drawn along with Frank with his bow. Hazel was hanging on for dear life at the edge of the boat, griping the rails.

Alex disappeared and suddenly appeared besides Hazel, holding out her hand. Hazel reached forward and Alex pulled her up. Hazel groaned in pain and Alex set her down gently.

"Are you ok?" Alex questioned.

A spam went through Hazel. Then she threw up.

Alex had her eyes closed as the puke went all on her. Kids cried out in shock and stood frozen. Jason had to force himself to hide the smirk forming on his lips. He wasn't being rude, but that was purely funny. After all, having someone puke on another is something worth laughing about. But poor Hazel, no one will let her live this down.

Alex gently patted her back, encouraging her body to get all of it out. Hazel puked once again, shaking and coughing. Then Hazel looked up, right into Alex's eyes.

"Oh gods!" she cried out, "I'm so sorry!"

Alex gave a kind smile. "Its okay, Hazel. Besides, I think I deserve that."

Hazel groaned and put her head in her hands.

It was too much for Jason. He leaned forward, bursting with laughter. Soon, the others joined them. Hazel was deep red and Alex only smiled.

"Come on," she said, "lets get you cleaned up."

Alex stood up, the puke sinking down her beaten-up clothes. Hazel took Alex's hand and got pulled up.

"Feel better?"

Hazel nodded and wouldn't look at the rest of them. Alex turned to Jason and the others and shot them a dirty look. Nico stopped immediately with Frank following his lead. Piper wiped away tears. Alex led the Hazel to the stern of the ship and water rose to cover them. A second later it collapsed on the two of them. Hazel chocked and Alex waved her hand. The water went back to the sea and their clothes were instantly dried.

Then there was the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Jason spun around to face the imposter.

"You have to be joking me," he snarled.

"No, no, no," Piper moaned.

Alex's crystal laugh echoed through the ship.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

Nico spun back to her.

"You knew he was coming?"

He could feel Alex's lips pulling back to her horrible-knowing smile.

"Zack only comes unless I'm about to bite too much food." She said. "And that always happens before Mercury shows up."

The man before him bellowed with laughter.

"Zack was a smart man," he said quietly. "Such a shame his fate had to be by John's hand."

Alex and Hazel jogged up to the group.

"What brings you to the humble Argo II, Hercules?" Alex asked.

He grinned at her. "A quest of course!"

Alex threw her head back and laughed. No one followed her lead.

She stopped after a few seconds and gave Hercules a long look.

"The quest you gave the son of Jupiter and the daughter of Venus was wrong."

"You know my rules Alexandra-"

"-it is a quest only for SEALs-"

"-And it had to be done." He said forcefully, "Hera and I have been at each other's necks since the gods made me immortal. When he-" Hercules pointed at Jason, "showed up, I had to do it."

"Then it was an error on words," Alex said. "Not to be answered on such hostility. We were trained better than that cousin. Try to remember that next time. I don't want to find out while I'm gone you got another demigod to do your bidding."

Hercules gave her a long look.

"You've changed, daughter of Neptune." He said.

Alex nodded.

"Indeed, I have. It must have been John."

Hercules nodded. Then he pulled out a backpack. It was black as midnight with purple lace stitched into it.

He tossed it at Alex.

She caught it with one hand, tested its weight, and then frowned at him.

"What is the purpose of this?"

"Look into it."

Alex unzipped it.

"The underworld is dangerous, Alex. But Tartarus has multiplied in its strength."

Alex paled and looked at him.

"Would I have anything left by the end?"

Hercules shook his head.

"That was all the gods could scavenge for you."

She took in a shaky breath and threw it over her shoulders.

"How many of them?" she asked.

"At least two hundred more per one then the last time you were there."

Jason saw the look on Alex's face. The color had drained from her face, neck, and her arms turned deep red.

"What are you two talking about?" Leo asked.

Hercules gave Leo a long look. "Nothing of your concern."

Alex's hands tightened into fists.

"It's ok guys," she said with fake happiness. "It's just a problem going on with the gods."

"No its not," Piper frowned. "It's got something to do with Percy and Annabeth. Why else would Hercules come just before you leave?" Her voice shook. "Their dead aren't they?"

"No they're not." Alex snapped back without turning, "if they die, then that means that I died. They're not dead. Not on my watch."

"Come on," she said forcefully, "we have to go. Jason, Hazel- lets go."

"Hold on right there!" A deep voice demanded. "Where do you think you're taking my Cupcake to?"

Jason would have laughed if it weren't for this.

Alex spun around to face Coach.

"Do you want Percy and Annabeth back?" she demanded. "Because I'm the only one who could get them back safely. Now you will let Jason and Hazel come with me to save the two or I will have to show you what the term SEALs truly means."

"Its ok, Coach." Jason said quickly. "We'll be fine. Alex will make sure we'll back safely."

Coach Hedge huffed.

Alex turned around and started to walk to the bow of the ship. Hazel and Jason exchanged glances of wariness. Then they both turned around and went after their friend. Alex had climbed up to the top of the railing, balancing on her balls of her feet. She squatted down and held out both of her hands to Jason and Hazel. Her back faced them and they grabbed on.

Alex pulled them up and they slowly tried to find their balance on the rails.

"On three we jump," she whispered.

"One."

The sea below them turned and twisted into a whirlpool.

"Two."

Jason could hear Piper screaming his name and the others crying out as they held Piper from running toward them.

"Three."

They all jumped at once, going down into the whirlpool. Hazel yelled and Jason swore. They hit the water and Alex let go of their hands. Water went into his mouth and down his lungs.

Everything went black.

When he came back, everything was dark. Sunlight poured from the cracks, but it didn't make a difference. It took a second to realize where he was at.

He closed his eyes tight and then opened them again.

"Sleeping Beauty finally wakes from her spell." Alex laughed.

"Are you ok?" Hazel questioned.

She leaned over him, her dark eyes swimming with tears.

"Can you get up?" Alex called.

Jason groaned and sat up. His chest burned and his body felt as though it was microwaved. He slowly got to his feet with Hazel's help.

He was suddenly sure where he was at.

This was the place where he last saw Percy and Annabeth.

The hole was buried under tons of rubble and seemed to go up a story at least. Alex walked over to it, her whole body in blue flames and sent the flames to the rock. Steel and rocks melted and fell to the ground. Hazel cried out as gems popped from the ground.

Alex swore and stumbled back as the gems got to close to her.

"Come over here," she called.

Jason shrugged and they walked to the sides of Alex. Jason was at her left and Hazel was at her right.

"I'm going to lift the rock," Alex said, "Hazel, make sure it doesn't touch the ground. Jason, help her keep the rock off. When it's high enough, I'll send you guys back to the ship when I jump. There will be a drain of energy from you guys and you'll pass out for a few days. But you guys should be awake by a week at most."

Jason nodded.

Alex took in a deep breath.

"Ready?" she questioned.

Both of them nodded.

"Good."

Alex took a step forward with her hands raised in front of her. She tilted her head forward and screamed. The rock rose, and Jason saw at the flickering blue flames slowly rising by the passing second. Jason glanced over to Hazel and saw her on the balls of her feet. Her hands were pressed to the ground and suddenly her back arched up. She started to pant and the ground started to shake.

Jason knew that was his cue. He slowly brought his hands out in front of him. Then with a fluid motion, he flexed them to his sides. His palms were faced up and his shoulders arched tighter. He tilted his head back and could feel the power surging though him. His gut twisted painfully, but he ignored it with everything in him.

His vision turned red and he tilted his head back down.

He could see Alex twisting her body as the rock continued to rise. Hazel screamed and the rock rose a foot. Jason could almost feel the rock upon his shoulders, threatening to collapse on him.

Minutes passed, and the power strain was becoming too much for him. The rock was now over three feet tall. He could see the hole that took his friends. Sweat beaded down his face as the rock went higher.

"LET GO!"

Jason let go and screamed from the sudden pressure off of his chest.

Alex launched herself through the falling rock. She twisted and threw her hands to them. She screamed an incarnation and suddenly Jason fell into darkness.

She was gone.

She was going to save Percy and Annabeth.

Even if it meant her life.