Chapter 38: Step 3: Anger a god

"You're not far from the palace," Hazel told them as the projection collapsed.

"It'll probably start with us there," agreed Grover.

"So we get to see Percy anger another god?" Piper said. "And one of the more powerful ones."

"Yeah. He's not that bad," Percy said. "I mean after a few times. Still wouldn't recommend doing what I did."

"And what did you do?" asked Reyna. Percy smiled and pointed to the new projection of Hades on his throne forming.

He was at least ten feet tall….be my master.

Percy's eyes glazed over. He looked down at his hands. Nico groaned. "It's dad's aura. It should last only a second with someone like Percy."

He was right. Percy looked up then snarled, "I hate that feeling."

"You are brave….of Poseidon."

"That's one thing I'd call it," Thalia said. "Or incredibly stupid and suicidal."

"Oh, like you wouldn't have done the same," Percy shot at her.

She stuck out her tongue as Nico and Jason rolled their eyes in between them. How come the younger ones were more mature? Probably because the older two were under the pressure of a prophecy.

"After what you have done….very foolish."

"See?" Thalia shouted indignantly. "Hades agrees with me."

"Almost everyone agrees with you on that," Clarisse told her. "Prissy's not known for being smart. That's why he has Annabeth."

Percy was too used to this to be offended he just leaned back, planning more revenge on Thalia.

Percy stepped forward. "Lord and Uncle….two requests."

"Were you just respectful?" Frank sputtered.

"Yeah. Didn't last long. It's usually only the first time I meet a god. Only if I like them do I continue being nice," Percy shrugged.

"He actually handled that surprisingly well," Apollo said.

"But then he requested something," Chris said. "The Lord of the dead is already upset. He won't like that."

"He'll put up with it if he's curious. Especially because he wasn't expecting Percy to be respectful, just to charge in and fight him," Nico said.

Hades raised an eyebrow...trying to get out. "Only two requests? Arrogant…..you dead yet."

"See?" Nico said.

"He said yet," Jaz pointed out.

"He's acting strange," Sam mused. "Like he wants something from Percy as well."

"What could Hades want from him?" scoffed Leo.

Percy held back a laugh. There was a lot they didn't know.

Percy stayed silent for a moment. Then Annabeth poked him in the back clearing her throat. Percy continued. "Lord Hades…bad."

"It would be bad," repeated Calypso. "I believe that is understating it."

"It would be bad," Tyson said. "Not as bad as gods having to fight giants and titans. Still bad."

"He's got a point," Rachel agreed. Calypso didn't seem to know what to say to that.

"Really bad," Grover put in.

"Return Zeus's master bolt…..to Olympus."

Nico sighed. "Okay, now you've got him mad."

"No, really?" Percy told him.

"Why? If he stole it…." Jason said.

"But he didn't," Hazel argued. "He wouldn't do that."

"But…" Jason started till Percy covered his mouth and glared at him and Nico.

"Let's all just watch."

"You dare keep up….have done?"

"What did he do?" Sadie asked. "I mean besides be born and then breaking that promise."

"Nothing," assured Grover. "Percy didn't do anything."

"Then why's this guy so mad at him?" Sadie asked.

"Because he's powerful. And some other reasons," Annabeth explained.

Percy glanced back at Grover and Annabeth. They wore equally confused expressions. "Um….Uncle…..have I done?"

"That's what we're all wondering," Alex agreed. "I mean you've done some pretty cool stuff but I don't see why he's upset."

"It will get to that," Percy sighed.

"Can we just move past that and look at the fact Percy called Hades Uncle?" snorted Piper.

Several people erupted into laughter. Percy shrugged. "He is. I don't call him that but I have. They only get titles when they deserve it. Like my cousins here." He put his arms around Hazel, Nico and reached to Jason. Thalia shrugged away from the hug shocking his grabbing hand. "Or Aunt Hestia. She told me to call her that instead of Lady," Percy continued.

"She would," Apollo commented.

"Yeah. She said it to me too," Nico said under his breath.

Percy finished speaking over them. "It's not that weird. So get over it."

The throne room shook….blocking the exits. "Do you think…..war, godling?"

"Yes," Reyna said.

"No," Hazel, Nico, Percy and Annabeth said.

"Either way," Magnus said. "It wouldn't be smart to say so and anger him more when the exits are blocked."

"Yeah, I kind of realized," Percy told him.

"Kind of one of my jobs to keep the peace," Magnus shrugged.

"You are the Lord of the Dead…your kingdom, right?"

"Exactly," Jason said.

"You're just like your dad," Percy muttered. "Move Nico before you, Jason and Thalia actually fight." Percy sat between his Grace cousins and the children of the Underworld.

"A typical thing…..the Asphodel fields?"

"Yeah," Carter said. "But does that have a lot to do with it? More troops never hurt."

"It has everything to do with it."

"Well…"

"Have you any idea….had to open?"

Percy opened his mouth but Hades kept going. "More security ghouls….but my expenses!"

"They actually have to be paid?" Will gaped.

"It's a minimum amount," Nico said. "But we're not evil."

"So then maybe he didn't do it," Reyna mused. "But then someone still has the master bolt and he is still accusing Percy of something."

"What though?" asked Sam. "He hasn't done anything."

"Yet," Grover laughed.

"What stupid thing did you say?" asked Rachel.

Percy smirked gesturing with his arm lazily toward the projection.

"Charon…pay raise."

"You're an idiot," Nico groaned. "He doesn't need one!"

"Can you shut up?" Percy rubbed his face. "I've realized how stupid that was. Thanks to your dad's rant. I don't need another from you."

"Don't get me started on Charon…..for this war."

"We already have enough to do without a war," Nico said.

"We?" Walt asked.

"Yeah. I help out. Dad has put me in charge of some things in the past."

Walt nodded thinking it similar to what he had to do as Anubis's eye for Osiris.

"But you took…..bolt."

"He just pretty much told you he didn't," Chris pointed out.

"I'm sorry, he was the only option or I had failed my quest."

"Obviously you didn't though," Piper said.

"Doesn't mean I was right…" Percy said. "Hades didn't take it."

"So who did?" asked Jason. He received no answer but he was starting to think he knew where this all led. Not just who was involved beside a certain titan.

"Lies!" Hades stood. "Your father…see his plan."

"Okay," Apollo said. "Now I can agree that is ridiculous."

"Totally, Poseidon's one of the only gods not always plotting," agreed Thalia.

"Hey!" Apollo was shut up after Calypso sent him a look.

"His plan?"

"You were the thief…..my helmet back!"

Through Hades rant everyone stayed silent absorbing the information. Then suddenly Leo burst out laughing. "Percy couldn't have taken it."

"You're right, he's hopeless at stealing," Chris agreed.

"It is the way of the gods to be suspicious of one another," Reyna noted.

"Yeah, but Percy wasn't on Olympus. If you watched you could all tell he knew nothing about being a demigod," Grover said.

"So who took it?" asked Jaz.

"Now there are two things stolen," Zia reminded her. "What is the helm?"

"It's my dad's symbol of power. He can literally become darkness and watch people. It invokes fear among other things," Nico told her.

"So a lightning bolt with the power of a nuclear bomb and a helmet that can be used to spy and invoke fear," Alex said. "Powerfully, and super awesome destructive weapons. Probably not good if they're gone."

"Not at all," agreed Apollo. That left everyone in thought.

AN: Again I have to Split the Chapter in Half