I don't own any characters in the Percy Jackson universe which is rightfully owned by Rick Riodan. However, the Greek gods and/or other mythological figures are used in my imagination and well you can't claim copyright on history.

Chapter 39

He was sleeping peacefully on the grass and he was covered in dirt and leaves.

"Hey, Grover."

He just mumbled something about food and rolls over the grass. I shouted louder and he completely ignores me.

"How do we wake him up?" Nico asks worriedly.

"Don't worry this happens sometimes. I'm just worried because he doesn't fall asleep for months."

I materialized a vegetable enchilada and summoned an ore of tin. I waved it by his nose and he shoots up.

"FOOD! Oh, Percy. Hey, Nico." He grabs the food and starts eating.

"So can you tell us what happened? You were gone for a while."

He looks at us in surprise and looks around in shock.

"I could swear I fell asleep for a couple of hours. What's today's date?"

We don't him the date and he grows pale. He opens his mouth to say something but no sounds come out.

"I've been asleep for months…" He finally manages.

Nico glances at me in confusion and all I could do was shrug because I didn't get it either. Grover closes his eyes and focuses, probably trying to recall what happened that day.

"I was walking along the path of the park and this strange man was walking around. Whenever he passed someone they'd just curl up into a tight ball and just pass out on the ground and they would wake back up and keep walking like nothing happened when he gets to a certain distance from them. I approached him and said something like 'This forest is under my protection!' and he just laughed at me. He told me to tell you guys there was going to be a surprise and I fell asleep." He sighs and sits still.

"Well we have a plan and we're going to need your help for a bit."

We walked over to a pile of rocks that lead straight to the entrance of the underworld. He looks and pulls out his pan-pipes, playing a long and dramatic tune. The stones move and split clean in half.

"Thanks, Grover. Now you should head back to camp. Junipers worried sick about you."

He mumbles something unintelligible and runs off.

"From what he was describing, I think he ran into Morpheus, the god of sleep and dreaming. That's bad news because that means more and more minor gods are joining the titan army." Nico tells me.

It was nice to have Nico around because he had done his research and knew a lot of things I didn't. We made our way down the tunnel. Mrs. O'Leary barks and follows us making me a little worried. If she got stuck I wouldn't know if my bank account could survive the amount of WD-40 and vaseline we would have to use to get her loose. Fortunately, the boulders seemed to shift to make room for her large size. When we arrived we made out way near the main gates of the underworld, Cerberus starts growling when he saw me. He remembered me and calmed down but Mrs. O'Leary runs off and starts sniffing around Cerberus. It was funny because she was about a third of the size of him and we laughed. I stopped when she started to sniff his butt.

"Mrs. O'Leary! Stop sniffing his butt!"

Nico snickers and reminds me why we were here right now.

"So do I just step in the water and do I have to take my clothes off?" I asked Nico.

"It's not as simple as that. You have to focus on a point that binds you to the mortal world or all you'll be doing is dissolving your very existence from this world, so unless you would like to join the line over there, you should do as I say. And keep your clothes on thank you very much." He explained.

I stepped in the water and noticed I wasn't getting wet, so I submerged my whole body and willed myself to get wet. The water was cold and starting burning my skin. I quickly imagined a bungee cord on the small of my back and continued in deeper. As I dived in deeper I could see garbage rolling through the water. A spirit appears and faces me.

"Who are you?"

"I am the spirit of the river Styx. The garbage you are wondering about is the dreams thrown out by you mortals all over the years throughout the years. I wonder if your own dream will be thrown out here."

"Are you here to help or just make fun of me?"

"Do not talk smart with me Perseus Jackson. You made your own stupid promises to my rivers and even as we speak your existence is slowly yet surely dissolving. Your friend may know a lot about many things about the river but there is something he does not know. I will help you only because if you do not uphold your promise, I will personally deliver your punishment. This is your last chance to back out."

"I don't fear your punishment because the very promise I have made is what I will uphold," I said confidently.

"Alright then, think of an anchor that connects you to the mortal realm. In your case, your two lovers will do."

"How do you even know about that?"

"The invincibility of this river is no blessing. It is a curse. In return for powers beyond your understanding, it allows me to peer into the minds and hearts of the person. It will be your undoing eventually." Was all she said before she disappeared.

Suddenly, my blood felt like it was boiling despite the frigid cold waters. The temperature of the water was burning my skin. [Please note that you can get burned from very cold temperatures]. I felt death crawling over my body when suddenly Artemis appeared in front of me.

"What are you doing idiot. Get out of the water."

Then suddenly I heard Annabeth calling to me.

"Grab my hand, seaweed brain."

Artemis grabs me and lifts me through the water and Annabeth takes my hand. I broke the surface of the water gasping and shivering. Nico was yelling at me but I couldn't hear any of it. I eventually made my way to the river bank and Nico pulls out a square of ambrosia. It helped me feel a little better than before.

"Who dares to go near the river Styx!" A voice booms off in the distance.

I barely lift my head up to see Hades looking off into the distance. He teleports over to us.

"Percy? " He turns to Nico, "Explain this at once."

He tries his best to explain and Hades looks calmly over to me.

"He needs to rest." He says simply.

I woke up to see Nico and Hades sitting around talking.

"Nico, you should've just told me. If he was in those waters for even a couple of seconds longer, he would've been on the line to the afterlife."

"I'm sorry, dad. I just felt confident that we could pull it off."

"Well, whatever or whoever made him get back up to the surface, we should be grateful."

I sat up groaning.

"It was Styx herself."

"What?!" Hades yells.

"Is something wrong?"

"She hasn't ever talked to a hero before. That's unheard of. She barely talks to gods."

"So is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"She either admires you or wants you dead."

He beckons me up and leads me towards the throne room. Persephone was sitting on her throne arguing with Demeter.

"Why do you insist living here with that dirtbag? He's dark and gloomy. He's a loser and there's no sun here." Demeter complains.

"Mom, did you actually get to know him? He's sweet, kind, and treats me with love and respect."

"Demeter! You are in my throne room and we have guests. Show some damn respect."

"Yeah, sweet and cuddly alright." She mumbles.

"Alright, sorry to interrupt but how do I know this invincibility even works?" I interrupted.

"Don't move." Was all Hades said to me.

He snaps and ten skeleton warriors form a ring around me. They drew their blades and swung at me and suddenly I was dodging the attacks that I could in fractions of a second. What I couldn't dodge, the blade just glances off my body. I looked up thinking it was finished and saw blade hurtling towards my face.

End of chapter 39. Thanks for reading and please leave a review! Till next time.