A/N: omg guys!!! I got so much good feedback and reviews that I decided to give you guys the next chapter today!! I wasn't going to post it until Sunday but I just had to thank you guys in some way. Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Please keep reviewing and if possible give me some ideas of stories you would like me to do or some ideas for this story! Now, I present to you! Chapter 9!!

Disclaimer: not mine and never will be

Chapter 9:

Hestia pov

I sat quietly by my hearth, observing as the Olympians fought about Percy. As I tended the gentle, steady flames I listened intently, trying to hear everything at once.

"Just leave him! He's just a little punk!"

"-just a demigod!"

"He's my son!"

"-last decent man!"

I sighed as the arguing escalated into a gigantic shouting match. They've gotten better at being a family of sorts ever since Percy came along but nothing is perfect, not even the gods. Definitely not the gods.

I poked at the coals in the hearth. The fire wasn't as bright as it used to be. The fire is fueled by hope and people are starting to lose hope. The demigods and even so gods have lost much hope due to Percy being sent to Tartarus. It saddens me whenever someone loses hope completely. I can feel when someone gives up. It's like a punch in the gut when someone loses hope.

Suddenly, the coals sputtered and flickered. I stared in shock at the fire. There was only one person that could make it do that... The rest of the gods had fallen silent and were gaping at the hearth, disbelief and confusion written on their faces. Poseidon however was staring at the hearth with a horrified expression on his face. He knew what was happening.

I watched as Poseidon's face drained of color and he started trembling. "Percy..."

The Olympians faces turned to one of horror as they realized what must be happening to make the fire act like this. The coals sparked and my attention snapped back to the hearth. I grabbed my pole and desperately tried to revive the fire, tried to spark some hope in Percy. The fire was going down, burning out.

"No..." Poseidon whispered. "Don't give up Percy. Please, hold on." Poseidon then turned to me and locked his desperate, tear filled eyes with mine. "Please, Hestia. Can't you do anything?" I opened and closed my mouth, wracking my brain for something, anything, that could help Percy. I caught sight of Poseidon's pleading eyes with a small spark of hope. I scrunched up my face in thought as a new thought entered my brain. Hope...mmmm.

I gestured towards Poseidon to come towards me. He must have seen the light in my eyes because he practically flew over to me. "Sit down," I said quietly. He did and looked at me with readily with an eager expression on his face. "Give me your hands."

He looked at my uncertainty for a moment but gave me his hands. I held them and closed my eyes. I let his salty scent fill my nostrils and I felt the roughness of his hands. I let myself be consumed by his entire being and felt myself connect. Percy. I could feel him. Experience what he is feeling right now.

A wave of pain overtook me and I gasped. My face twisted into a look of agony and I cried out. So much pain. So much. He was hurting. I had to help. I tried to transfer some of my energy into him. It must have worked because I felt his pain lessen slightly and my face relaxed slightly. I could feel Poseidon's hands clutching mine tightly, almost breaking the fragile bones.

I heard the hearth grow slightly in power and warmth. It was working. I had done it. I let my grip on Poseidon's hands relax slightly. "Hestia?"

I opened my eyes and met Poseidon's sea green orbs. Just like Percy's. He stared at me intently. "Did it work?"

I smiled and relaxed my body. It was ok. It worked. "Yes-" My sentence was cut short and I hunched over as if I had been sucker punched. I scrunched my eyes shut and cried out. The pain. The agony. It hurt so much. The fire turned black and died, leaving only a few slightly red coals.

Then suddenly, I wasn't in the throne room anymore. I was in water. Something about the liquid was strange, though. Not like normal water. It was a combination of red, grey, black, and white. It was evil, menacing.

I looked down at myself and saw that I wasn't wet. I was perfectly dry. It was as if I wasn't really here, just seeing in my mind. Something about the waters seemed familiar, though, and I thought I should know what it is.

Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I angled myself towards it and willed myself forward. As I got closer, the figure became more clear. My face turned to one of horror and I reeled back in shock. It was Percy. He had chains wrapped tightly around his body and he was thrashing wildly in the water as if he couldn't breath, which shouldn't be possible. His face was twisted in agony and his mouth was open in a silent scream, bubbles streaming from his nose and mouth.

We were in the lake of the underworld. It was a place very few know about and incredibly dangerous. A place where all the rivers of the underworld come together in one lake. Something that never should have happened. And Percy has to be the one to endure its horrors.

It was horrible to see Percy like this. He was always so strong, never showing when he was in pain. The look of pure pain etched on his face completely broke me. I tried to wrap my arms around him and stop his pain, but my arms just passed right through him. Tears were steaming down my face as I tried to comfort him, tried to do anything that could help. In the end I just sat back and watched, tears making their way down my face. I couldn't even give him hope; the Cocytus prevents him from feeling anything but despair.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Percy was pulled from the water and dropped unceremoniously into the black shore. I followed and stepped on the shore. I saw Kronos standing over the shivering form of Percy, muttering to himself.

I rushed over to Percy and knelt beside him. I tried to cup his cheek but my hand passed through him. I settled for just being close to him and trying to transfer some of my power into him, to give him some hope.

I felt us connect minds and I could tell he was on the verge of unconscious. I spoke to him. Just his name over band over again in his mind. I saw his face relax and I knew that he had heard me. I spoke one last time before he lost consciousness. Perseus. Hold on. I'm here. I saw his mouth form a small smile as his eyes slid closed.