Sorry for the late update! This features Percy and Hades' talk- and Hades is secretly a soft uncle who loves his family but he will not ever admit that. Also, Bianca has her own questions, ones that she's not gonna get answers for yet. And I can't say I blame her for having them. Anyways- please please please read and review- tell me what you think will happen, what you want to happen, what ships you want- everything and anything. Anyways, you guys should enjoy the next chapter with it's fluffy cute adorableness.
It didn't take long for Persephone to escort Bob, Nico, Bianca and Thalia out of the throne room, leaving Percy alone with her uncle, who rose from his throne, a frown on his lips as he shrunk himself down to the size of a normal mortal, "Now tell me child, what reason do you have to ask for a private audience?"
Percy took a deep breath, pressing her lips together. "It's... complicated uncle." she shook her head, "And it's not good-"
"If it's about the Titan then I can see that he's taken care of- he may become an invaluable ally given his amnesia- if nothing else it will be best if we keep him close to stop him from regaining his memory."
"It isn't. But thank you- he healed me when I was hurt. I wouldn't want him to get hurt. I mean- yeah he did kinda try and kill us but he doesn't remember anything now. He's like a little kid." Percy let out a breath as she focused on Hades. "Uncle- it's about Alabaster."
"Oh?" Hades raised an eyebrow once more, clearly he hadn't been expecting that. "What about the traitor?"
"You-" she let out a nervous cough, "I'm sure you were told what happened when Leo and I blew up Mount St Helens."
"Yes." Hades nodded, "I knew you were alive, and it wasn't difficult to piece the pieces together when I heard the rumors that you'd been found a week later. You were captured."
"Yeah." Percy nodded, her voice small. "I was held on Mount Orthys. I'll spare you the details but when I tried to attack... Alabaster's skin was like steel- it was so strange, it didn't feel weird when he touched me, but when I tried to fight back it did nothing. I had some glass and I tried to slit his throat but it didn't leave so much as a mark."
Hades' expression shifted to one of concern, "We know he must have done something to prepare himself for possession. It's not surprising. Some kind of spell-"
"That's what I thought at first. But a friend- she's an ally, she used to work for him but she betrayed him and helped me escape. She thinks he bathed in the Styx-"
"I see." Hades closed his eyes, "Well, it would explain how his body could hold father. That is very bad news indeed if he did-"
"I don't suppose you know if he did or didn't."
"No, I don't have anyone guarding the Styx- I haven't heard any word of him being in the Underworld but the boy has magic enough that he could likely conceal his entrance and exit with the help of Kronos. Your friends theory may well be correct." Hades shook his head, "But I will personally visit the Styx. Achilles guards it to speak to any who would dare try. He will certainly know if the boy's done it."
"Thank you." Percy gave a small nod, "I appreciate it uncle."
"I'll send word to you if he has. And tell me niece, what will you do if he's bathed in the Styx?" he was frowning, "It will make it near impossible to kill him if you don't know his mortal spot- the mortal body he's wearing now... we had hoped it would be a weakness that could be exploited but..."
"But it's not." Percy looked away, "If- if he has bathed in the Styx then I think I already know what I'll have to do."
"Many have tried Persephone." Hades' voice was almost concerned, he had probably realized what she'd have to do as soon as she told him what Alabaster had done, "Until now none other than Achilles have survived- Alabaster would be the second in history."
"Then if I'm right I'll just have to be the third." Percy met the gods eye, "Will you allow me to come down to your realm and do it when the time comes." her voice was incredibly small and she hated how scared she sounded.
There was a long moment of silence and Hades stared at her before he let out a slow breath. "So be it. If it is necessary then you have my blessing to come to my realm and bathe in the Styx- but you will come to see me in person before you do."
"Thank you uncle." Percy bowed her head, letting out a slow breath, a feeling of relief flowing over her. If it came down to it she would have snuck in without his permission but it was nice knowing that he wouldn't try and stop her if she did need to do it.
She'd wait of course- she didn't want to do it unless she had no other choice, the Styx was deadly. But if Alabaster had done it like Drew thought then it would be the only chance Percy had of surviving the coming fight. And even with the curse of Achilles it would only be a chance. It would even the playing field.
"There's no need to thank me niece." Hades let himself give her a ghost of a smile. "You are one of the few heroes I can tolerate-"
"I feel like that's a compliment-" Percy couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips at that.
"Do not get used to it." he closed the gap, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Do not be too hasty. Make sure your choice to bathe in the Styx is truly necessary. I would hate to deal with you here annoying me for eternity-" and that made Percy laugh, a bright brilliant noise.
"That's mean uncle." She hesitated then, eyeing the god carefully, "Lady Persephone loves you a lot. I can tell."
"Oh can you?" Hades raised an eyebrow. "Are you about to be nosy my little niece?"
"She did it without your permission didn't she? The sword."
"She suggested it." Hades admitted, "I know my brothers would be furious, I admit that much so I said no."
"So she ordered it made anyway. And then when it got stolen she recruited us to get it back before you found out it was stolen."
"The first I knew of the sword was my sons message telling me that you had retrieved it."
"I don't blame her for thinking the others are unfair to you." Percy said quietly, "It was a dumb mistake to have it made but I think she had good intentions."
"And in doing what she did she almost got all four of you killed."
"I didn't know you cared uncle-"
"Mind your tone niece mine." Hades' voice was almost amused, "As I said before, I wouldn't like having to deal with you for all eternity. I feel sure you'd end up slipping out of Elysium to cause me a world of trouble. And I'd rather the daughter of Zeus stays away from here for as long as possible."
"I think Thalia feels the same, as for me slipping out of Elysium- probably." Percy let out a laugh, "I'd get your son to help me-"
"And I'm sure he would." Hades let out a long suffering sigh, "Alas I know where his loyalties lie these days and it's not with me." together they headed towards the doors of the throne room, Hades hand not moving from Percy's shoulder even as the large doors swung open at their approach and they stepped through them, Hades guiding the daughter of Poseidon to where the others were waiting on a balcony overlooking Asphodel.
When they arrived Bianca and Nico were sat with Bob, who was cross legged- Nico had summoned up some bones for him and he was building a toy house out of them, laughing every time it collapsed.
Thalia was sat on the railing of the balcony, watching the others- and everyone turned when they heard the footsteps- Bob beaming happily and giving a little wave before he turned back to his game.
"Percy." Nico's expression was curious, "Is everything okay."
"Our talk went well enough." Hades stated smoothly, "I have told your sister she must be more careful in the future. I fear for my sanity when she does eventually pass on and get Elysium." and it seemed that he, just as Percy already had, had decided it best not to tell anyone else what they'd discussed.
"It's nothing to worry about Neeks." Percy gave her brother a grin, "All is good."
"If you say so." Thalia straightened up, "Lady Persephone gave us these." Thalia tossed something red through the air and Percy caught it, looking at it curiously.
It was the flower of a rose, very pretty- before she could voice her question Bianca spoke, "She said if we crush them they'll return us to the world."
"Sounds good to me." Percy turned to look at Hades, "I'll see you again sometime uncle-"
"Yes, I'm sure you will." Hades gave a little nod.
"Sure, bye I guess." Thalia was clearly still weary of the god- not that Percy could blame her. Even after Hades apology there was no denying the history.
"I'll visit soon too." Nico grinned, "It was great seeing you dad-" and that made Hades expression soften.
"It was good to see you too my son-"
"Can I talk with you dad?" Bianca asked suddenly, "Please?"
"I suppose I have some more time to spare." Hades frowned slightly.
"The others can head home without me. I'll have to go back to the hunt anyway so we'd be splitting up when we got back to the mortal world anyway."
"See you round then." Percy grinned slightly at Bianca as her friend hugged Nico goodbye before giving Thalia and Percy too.
And once all of the goodbye's were said Percy, Thalia and Nico crushed their roses, which glowed a soft gold that spread out to envelope them- and then they were back in the park- and Percy was almost instantly knocked over by Mrs O'Leary, the huge tongue giving her a quick doggy slobber bath.
Percy let out a laugh, unable to help herself as she wrapped her arms around the hellhound, reaching up to scratch him between his ears. "Hey there girl." her voice was bright, incredibly loving, "Good girl, did you wait for us-" there was a huge bark and Percy grinned "You're such a loyal girl- I love you so much-"
"She waited the entire time?" Nico's voice was incredulous, "We have to have been gone hours-" he looked up at the sky- which had turned dark and the stars were starting to show. "Oh gods-"
"Everyone is going to be so worried." Thalia groaned, "Luke's going to be going insane-"
"Wonderful." Percy huffed the word. "At least all of us went missing at the same time. They'll have probably figured out that we were together at least."
"That's a small mercy. They should at least feel a bit better about it."
"We should head straight home."
"Can we swing by Mc Donalds on the way home?" Nico asked hopefully, "It shouldn't add much time to the walk and I'm starving."
"That does sound good." Thalia admitted. "I don't have any cash but-"
"I have my card on me." Nico gave a small grin.
"Sounds like a plan then." Percy turned to Mrs O'Leary, scratching her between the ears, "Mrs O'Leary, be a good girl and go back to camp okay? I'll be coming to play with you soon."
The hellhound let out a loud yap at that, and gave her one final lick before she seemed to melt into shadows.
Once she was gone Nico turned his head to Percy. "You might want to do my jacket up." and Percy looked down and flushed- because yeah, that would be a good idea- the bandages and her bra did mostly cover her up but still, she didn't want to wander the streets like that- especially since the blood had seeped through the bandages.
She quickly zipped the jacket up- and she had to admit that she was glad for the extra warmth it gave as they headed out of the park- thankfully there was a Mc Donalds between the park and home- it was the work of a few minutes for Nico to pop inside and bring out six burgers- two each, and soon enough they were walking the twenty minute stretch home eating their burgers and relaxing.
They'd finished up their food and the bag from the burgers was balled up and shoved into Thalia's pockets by the time they were making their way up the path to the house.