Happy independence day to those who live in america and happy 4 of july to those that don't! I am gonna shoot fireworks ad swim in my pool! I am also gonna eat sugar all night long!

Chapter 24 - Morpheus is Exodus

I ran from the throne room of Hades Palace and looked for the spirit known as Hazel. The prophecy says she should be able to help me find a way out. I guess it makes sense since she is Pluto - Hades- Pluto - I don't know's daughter.

"Hazel!" I called into the crowd of wraiths, spirits, and other undead creatures that I don't really want to meet.

"Peyton! Your friend is creepy!" a voice yelled.

"He still frozen?" I asked when I finally figured out where she was.

"Yes, he unfroze once and immediately froze again when I tried to talk to him." Hazel responded.

"Sounds great, now tell me. Do you know of a way to get out of the world of the dead…?" I asked tentatively.

"I might… do you mind risking your life to go to a secluded section of the underworld also known as Somnia's realm?"(Somnia is the roman counterpart of Morpheus, I heard that you can access his realm on the edge of the lethe… I don't remember where I found that and I can't find it again so… lets pretend it's true?)

"Somnia… you mean the god of sleep how could he.. Nevermind," I stopped one because Hazel is older than me and because all the facts flowed into my head, "I didn't realise he had an entrance to his realm in the physical world. Well, if you can call the underworld that."

"It is on the right bank of the Lethe, meaning we have to cross it." Hazel bit her lip.

"Can I control the water?" I asked Hazel.

"Most likely not. You would have to be insanely powerful to wrestle for control with the river spirit that controls the Lethe." Hazel said.

"It's that or die from a broken oath. Is the Lethe in the fields of Asphodel?" I asked.

"I think I should be able to follow you until we reach the entrance." Hazel said, though she seemed kinda down about it. Probably the first time she has had someone to talk to since the 1940s.

I grabbed the time-frozen Connor and arranged him on my pack in a piggy back stance.

"Let's go!"

We hiked for nearly half an hour (I hope Percy hasn't gotten himself killed in that time).

We stopped at the edge of a swirling river. The water was a dark shade close to black and it radiated hopelessness and forgetfulness…

"Here we are. You ready to test the powers of Neptune?" Hazel asked.

"I'm sad to have to say goodbye since it isn't very likely that I will be able to visit." I said sadly.

"We don't have to say goodbye yet." Hazel said.

"K, can you hold Connor?" I asked.

"Uh, I haven't really held anything since I died so I don't know if I can…"

"Well, you are a spirit not a ghost. So… let's say you can." I said pulling Connor off my back and shoving him at Hazel. Luckily he didn't go through her.

"Ok, let's hope you can do this." Hazel held Connor on her back with one hand while patting my shoulder with the other.

I closed my eyes and directed my hands over the water as if it would help me. I felt a violent tug in my gut that almost pulled me onto my knees but I kept my focus on the water and willed it to be stiff enough that we could walk on it without our memories being erased.

"Go!" I grunted out. I could feel the river wrestling for control. Maybe someone really does live there…

"But.."

"GO! I can't hold it for long!" I said. I could feel my sweat pouring down my face and the tug in my gut getting worse by the second. I stumbled across the Lethe with Hazel close behind. Soon we were on the other side and I fell on my stomach almost passing out from exhaustion.

"I think I just aged 20 years." I groaned.

"Peyton, that was incredible." Hazel said clearly impressed.

"Yeah? well I don't wanna do it again anytime soon so what do I do now?" I asked.

"We just wander until we find the entrance." Hazel suggested.

That is exactly what we did. How we found the place was I almost fell asleep on my feet and then I stuck my hands forward to catch myself from falling over when all of a sudden I couldn't see them anymore.

"Hazel, can you cross this point?" I asked.

Hazel stuck her hands up to the barrier but she couldn't go through it.

"Well, I guess this is where my journey ends." Hazel said.

"Yeah, but at least you had an after death adventure! That had to be fun." I said.

"Yeah, you know. Before I died my father, Pluto, told me a descendant of Neptune would wash away my curse. It may be you, it may not but I am really glad to have met you." Hazel smiled.

I wasn't really sure what to do with that information, "Uh- curse?"

"I can summon jewels but if someone grabs them it gives the person horrible luck." Hazel said.

"Hmm, if you ever get revived or anything I bet we could come up with something but, until then…"

Hazel ran up and hugged me. It was kinda cold since she was a spirit but it felt nice. I haven't been hugged many times in my life.

"Thank you." Hazel whispered.

"I would say I would come to visit but… if I die I will find you though." I told Hazel with a smile.

"I'll be waiting." Hazel smiled.

"See you soon." Then I grabbed Connor off her back and crossed the barrier.

I definitely looked back but the only thing behind me was gray space.

I looked around.

I am in Morpheus's realm. Now, I just need to navigate it.