Annabeth

Rest was all Annabeth wanted, after nearly getting stretched to death and then chasing Grover through the Underworld, she was exhausted.

She was ready to suggest that they sit and eat, but Olive had a better idea. She was already leaving. Some invisible force was pulling her towards Hades castle. Annabeth's immediate thoughts were magical flying Hermes shoes but the cursed flying shoes wern't in sight. The daughter of Athena sought an answer but ended up with none. Olive must have been walking at her own free will.

Percy and Grover were already collapsing to the ground. Annabeth grasped Percy's arm.

"We'de better go after her," she whispered. Olive got on Annabeth's nerves sometimes but she was worried about the younger demigod. She could tell Olive had feelings for Percy and Percy returned them, but Annabeth had feelings for Percy too, but she knew it only went one way. Percy may love Annabeth as a friend, no matter how bitter she was towards him at the beginning of the quest, but the was something more in his love for Olive. No matter how much Annabeth hated to admit it, Olive would always be Percy's first choice.

Percy jumped to his feet and was immediatly after Olive. Grove slowly climbed to his own feet, still shaking from his near death experience.

"Come on goat boy." Annabeth urged the satyr.

"Olive!" Annabeth shook her friend out of her trance. Annabeth studied the daughter of Zeus' eyes. Some kind of magic seemed to be dragging Olive towards the castle. They were in the Underworld so there could only be one god manipulating her friends moves: Hades. But why? Why would Hades want them in his castle when they've come to take the Master Bolt from him? Unless he didn't have the bolt. "Wait!"

Too late, her friends were inside the castle.

"I don't think Hades has the bolt." Annabeth urgently told her friends. "Why would Hades be drawing Olive towards his castle if he has the bolt?"

Percy was clueless. "I don't know but if it's not here then where is it?"

"It is here." Olive looked hurt, no, she looked more than hurt, she looked broken, like she did when Annabeth was petrified by Medusa. Annabeth shuddered at the thought.

"Hades didn't draw me here. I came on my own free will. I belong here." Annabeth couldn't make sense of what Olive was saying. She was indicating that she had died and come back from the Underworld. As impossible as just sounds, it has been done.

"Olive, what do you mean 'You belong here?'" Annabeth trusted Olive with her life. She couldn't believe that Olive's own life had previously ended.

"I-I don't know. It doesn't make sense. I feel as if I've been here before , but that's impossible, no one has every gone to the Underworld and come back alive." Olive was clause to tears, which amazed Annabeth. Olive was always so good at hiding her emotions. Annabeth didn't think this would break her.

Annabeth know it sounded crazy but she had to ask. "Olive, do you think maybe you've died and then come back from the Underworld?"

Olive shook her head. Annabeth expected her to shout that she was crazy and that Olive was no dead person. But the fact that Annabeth's question was completely unrealistic didn't arise.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I'm going crazy." Olive looked horrified at the fact that she might be going mad but held back her tears. Annabeth knew Olive was the last person to lose the plot. She was always so with it. She was gental and kind, but fierce and strong at the same time. There was no way that Olive was crazy.

Annabeth wanted to comfort Olive. Now, Annabeth wasn't one for jokes but nor wad she one for comfort. She decided the easiest and safest thing would be to agree.

"Yep, you're mental. Now let's go!"

Olive cracked a smile. "You're the daughter of Athena. Aren't you supposed to be wise?" Annabeth blushed. "When someone is in the worst mental state and accusing themselves of going mad, don't agree with them."

"Well it made you smile." Annabeth retorted. She was glad she could be the one to make Olive feel better. She didn't want Percy to beat her to it. That would make Annabeth feel worse.

Annabeth knew being jealous want going to improve their friendship, but she just couldn't help it.

"Ah, yes. You've brought it back. And the bolt with it!" Hades was sitting in a gem encrusted throne, surrounded by grey skeletal guards. Annabeth wondered what 'it' was. It couldn't be the bolt. He had said 'it and the bolt'. Besides, they didn't have the bolt. He had the bolt.

"Hands over the Master Bolt, Hades and we'll leave you in peace." Gods, Percy was brave. Annabeth just wanted to kiss him on the spot, but they had a quest the complete.

"You dare accuse me!?" The god's yell echoed through his castle. "After you've taken what is mine and what is my brothers!"

Percy looked around confused.

"But I guess I should forgive you, after all, you brought home my lovely Olive." Hades stood and opened his arms wide to embrace Olive.

Hades' niece looked frantically around the room for a means of escape. All doors were guarded by skeletal guards. No way out. She looked desperately at her friends but Annabeth was just as confused as she was. Olive mouthed 'help' but all Annabeth could do was shrug.

"Right!" Hades stepped back into his throne, embarrassed that his 'dearest Olive' didn't run to his arms.

The god of the Underworld held out his hand. "Where's my helm of darkness?"

Annabeth gasped in shock. Hades helm of darkness is an extremely powerful piece of magic. It allows it's wearer to not only become invisible like Annabeth Yankees cap, but become darkness itself. No one can hear, smell, see or feel it's wearer. Someone must have stolen Zeus' Master Bolt and Hades' Helm of Darkness, but it couldn't have been Hades.

"Lord Hades." Annabeth bowed. "I'm sorry my lord but we don't have your helm. We are searching for the lightning bolt and if we find it we will find your helm as well. We will return it too you. We thought you might know something about the whereabouts of the bolt."

"Fools!" Hades bellowed. "I know you came here because you wanted to accuse me of stealing the bolt. But i know you have the Master Bolt with you."

"I'm sorry lord Hades but we have no lightning bolt." Olive gained control over her thoughts and voice once again.

"How many times do i have to tell you, Olive? There is no need for you to call me lord." Hades was making no sense. As far as Annabeth knew, Olive had never met Hades before.

"You have never told me anything of those sorts. I've never met you in many life." Olive was trying to keep her voice steady but it shook.

"Oh, i see Hera's up to her mischief again. I guess you don't remember, do you?" Hades was purposely trying to confuse them to take their minds of the quest. It was the only explanation. "Do you remember anything from your childhood my dear?"

"How- how did you know?" Olives looked scared. Annabeth was scared. Who was Olive? If she couldn't remember her childhood then who knows what she's done in her past?

"Hera had taken your memories, my dearest. She's playing with your mind again."

Olive looked as if she was about to faint.

"Please just hand over the bolt so we can leave." Olive was losing her patients again.

"I've told you; I don't have it."

"Then where is it!?" Her temper was lost. She was scared and confused.

"I've told you that too. I don't know what games you're playing but he-" Hades pointed to Percy, "has the bolt."

"Percy?" Annabeth's voice was small. Percy wouldn't betray them would he?

Percy raised his hands, in surrender. "I don't have it."

"The backpack, boy." Hades was furious.

Percy opened the backpack that Ares had given them after they recovered his sheild from the 'Thrill o' love ride' and was surprised to find a buzzing cylinder of electricity.

"Now where's my helm?"

"I'm sorry Lord Hades but we don't have it. We didn't even know we had the lightning bolt." Annabeth was terrified but she had to speak up.

"Mm, yes, i believe you. I could sent you after my helm, to find it, and return it to me. Or, I havecould find the helm myself, and kill you." Annabeth's heart sank. For a second, a tiny, wonderful second, she thought the god of the Underworld would let them go.

"First!" Hades bellowed. "I have something Perceus Jackson might like to see, to convince him to TELL ME WHERE MY HELM IS!" Hades held his hand out and flicked them upwards. A column of flame erupted from them and in those flames was a woman's face.

"Mother," Percy whispered, only just audible over the roar of the flames, holding his mother afloat.

"Percy," the woman whispered back.

"Let her go!" Percy shouted at Hades.

"I saved her life from the Minotaur, you should be thankful. Besides, you havn't shown me where my helm is." Hades thought for a second. "Then again. I will let your mother go." Percy's mother fell to the ground as Hades closed his hands. Percy embraced his mother in a tight hug. "How are you going to get out of here, Percy, you have four pearls. What the Neides didn't tell toy is that one pearl only carries one person. Who will stay and who will go Percy?"

"Who will stay?" Percy said, in a daze.

Annabeth stepped forwards. She had failed her quest companions too many times. "I will."

"No," Grover scuttled forwards. "Satyrs' souls aren't like normal mortal souls. If I die I'll just be reincarnated as a flower our something. I'll be fine."

"No." Olive said the one word with such force that Grower stepped back and responded with "Okay."

"I've been here before, I don't know why or how but I havejust know it. I probably should have told you before but I have no memory of my childhood. And if Hades was telling the truth; Hera took those memories from me. And I believe what he said when we first came in: this is my home.

Ooh, cliff hanger.

Sorry for the wait but I couldnt get motivated. I got really excited when i got a tablet that i just kept writing so I finally got it up.

I'll be more motivated if i give myself a goal, so i'm aiming for a chapter a week. Once again, any tips, questions, comments or inspiration is very welcome in the reviews.

Also, I will be starting another story, just on the dieties, it'll be in Misc - Greek Mythology. Make sure you read it and review!