XII - the land of the Dead and a New Mission

2015

I looked out at the sunset over Los Angeles. I stood in front of the DOA studios and at the entrance to the underworld. I met lord Hades during my years in Tartarus. My father had taken me to visit my Uncle Charon and the lord of the underworld one day. I had done Hades a few favors over the years and this time was no different.

Hades had me to do a lot for him because I was A) immortal B) A son of Thanatos and C) off the radar of most Olympians.

I wore a pair of jeans and a black short-sleeved shirt with a blue skull on it. The bead necklace that I had been gifted to me by Chiron hung just below my collar bone. I had added beads to represent all of the pantheons I had visited. For example, the Nordic pantheon bead was Yggdrasil the tree of life.

I entered through the doorway taking one last look at the pink and orange sky. Going down the steps I found myself in a familiar catacomb-like cavern with a familiar boatman in a dark wooden boat.

"Hello Uncle," I said.

The man looked up and gave a small grin "Hello nephew, Died have you?"

I shook my head "Nope I'm on my way to see the boss man. He's got another mission for me apparently."

"So not a social visit then."

I looked at him apologetically. "Well do you have a drachma?" he asked.

I grinned and pulled out a large pouch filled with drachma. I tossed it to him and he caught it with a matching grin. "I knew there was a reason you were my favorite nephew."

I rolled my eyes. "Charon I'm the only nephew or niece of yours you've ever met, who is alive at least and I give you like 500 drachma and 200 dollars for suits every time I visit. I would feel betrayed if I wasn't."

Charon chuckled "well I did meet this one soul who was a daughter of Nemesis." I glared at him and he laughed. "Come on I don't have all day."

I boarded the boat and sat in the back next to my uncle.

Charon is a tall, elegant, and handsome man with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair, shaved military style. His eyes are empty, full of death and despair. Charon prefers to wear tortoise-shell shades and a silk Italian suit that matches his hair. He has a black rose pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag. Reading Charon - the Ferryman. On his back, Charon wears a black cape robe.

We sailed along the Styx till we got to a dock made out of obsidian. I waited with my uncle until all of the souls had exited the boat and filed in a line to where I knew the judge's table would be. As I exited the boat Charon called at me.

"Hey, Nephew do you think you could get me another pay raise."

I turned around "Charon you are paid 350 drachma an hour and when you transport more than 1000 souls you get an extra 100. Every time I come I give you 500 drachma and 200 dollars I am not asking the lord of the underworld to give you more money."

Charon shrugged "Worth a shot." Charon asks me that same question whenever I am here to visit lord Hades.

I walked along the grey path till I reached a cave. From inside the cave, 3 pairs of glowing red eyes looked out at me. Suddenly a paw hit my chest and 3 slobbery tongues started taking turns licking my face. Then it stopped and I found Cerberus looking at me with half happiness and half expectantly. Tongue hanging from his mouth.

I smiled and reached into my pouch for a big red ball. Then placing my fingers to my lips I called for Alpha using my special whistle.

Darkness started gathering next to me and a giant wolf of shadows seemed to form. Alpha trotted up next to me and looked at me questioningly.

'You called Boss?' he said metally.

"I thought you could hang with a friend of yours while I meet lord Hades."

Alpha looked at Cerberus and both started to wag their tails. They glanced at each other and then raced off towards the fields of asphodel. I could faintly hear a:

"See ya, Boss,"

As they ran off into the distance. I smiled fondly. Alpha and Cerberus were best friends and had been ever since their first meeting.

I looked off into the distance. Through the mist, I could see the shape that was Hades Palace. Behind me was the forest and fields that makeup Asphodel and up ahead I could faintly see the glowing silver walls of Elysium.

I saw the gloomy Palace getting clearer as I walked closer. I crossed the stygian iron drawbridge over the Styx and found myself in a dark throne room.

Sitting on a throne made of bones, stygian Iron, Metals, and shadows sat the king of the underworld himself, Lord Hades. Hades noticed I was there and was about to begin when Persephone walked in and sat on her throne and Hades started to glance at her nervously.

He began talking, telling me what he wanted me to do. As he talked Persephone's glare seemed to intensify. When he was done he gulped.

I stood casually in front of the Lord of the Dead and his wife, watching as Persephone glowered at her husband.

Hades looked very nervous. "They aren't new! I swear!"

Persephone didn't look convinced. "Whatever. I'm off." In a flash of gold, she disappeared, leaving a relieved King of the Underworld. "Phew. She's gone. Now Perseus, do you remember the task?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Keep the kids safe and keep their father's identity a secret ... but Persephone knows, so how can it be a secret if three people already..." I stopped, noticing the deadpan stare I was getting from the god.

The Kids he was talking about really weren't new. When Zeus had killed their mother they had been given to me and I brought them to the Lotus Casino. The Lotus Casino is a place in this world where one does not age so these kids were actually like 70 something years old. They were born before the agreement. Before world war 2.

"Fine. I'll get them. But you owe me a favor plus I want that credit card that has unlimited money." I can't believe I've never asked for that before.

Hades grumbled. "Kids these days."

Perseus frowned. "Hey! I resent that."

"Fine here's your card." He summoned a silver and black card with the symbol of Hades on it and my name.

I was about to say thanks but I was cut off.

Hades rolled his eyes. "Just. Go."

With a snap of his fingers, Hades teleported me out of the place.

[A.N: we have reached the present time. Yes! If you guys have any Ideas that could help improve my story feel free to let me know. Also, the chapters will be longer after this. (The author says knowing he will probably fulfill that promise for a while and then the chapters will be shorter again. Maybe.)]