Hello, everyone !
I'm back with the eighth chapter :D
I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as well *bow*
Disclaimer: I own this plot and OCs only
"Are you sure about this, Alex?" Jason asked.
Alex nodded his head. "I'm sure. Nico said that it was Pluto—the Roman form of Hades—which went missing first. Camp Jupiter. We have to go there. Nico's Roman sister can take us to the Roman Underworld."
"Is it safe?" Piper asked. "Or are going to be obliterated by a bunch of angry Roman Artemis's Hunters?"
"Well, what choice do we have?" Annabeth asked. "We have to save Hades/Pluto, unless we want to let the Doors of Death be opened once more."
"I don't like the sound of that." Percy muttered.
"Let's go." Jason said.
"Jason!"
The child of Jupiter looked up and saw a huge eagle was coming to their way. Gripped by its talons, Hazel was dangling. The barrier opened up and they descended. The eagle morphed back to Frank Zhang, the son of Mars.
"Hazel?" Nico asked. "What are you doing here?"
"We sneaked out." Hazel replied. "Reyna isn't too pleased. For some reason, she knew that our dad is missing, and the whole thing started because of Artemis's daughter. She's coming here to find the girl."
"Artemis's daughter is not here!" Piper said.
"But Reyna thinks you know where she is." Hazel said. "Nico, just tell me what's going on? How come our dad's disappearance has anything to do with Artemis's daughter?"
Nico decided to tell Hazel and Frank everything they knew—including the prophecy—, as short but as detailed as possible. Hazel and Frank gawked at him.
"W—w—w—what…" Hazel stammered. "A demigod with three bloods?"
"Don't ask." Jason shook his head. "All we know is that her birth has weakened the border between Greek, Roman, and Egyptian, and all of this chaos is happening."
"We have to go now." Nico added. "I can feel the wrath of the dead. They're getting impatient."
"Hazel, we need you to take us to the Roman Underworld." Annabeth said.
"But what about Reyna? She's coming here!" Hazel said.
"Let's trade, then." Annabeth suggested. "Me and Piper will stay here to convince Reyna and the others. Hazel, Frank, Nico, Jason, Percy, Alex, you find Hades."
"Fine by me." Piper said.
"Are you sure you can handle her?" Hazel asked. "I forgot to mention earlier, but uhm… A bunch of Roman Hunters are coming too."
"We'll handle them."
They turned their heads and saw Thalia was there. Behind her, was her group of hunters.
"Sis, what are you talking about?" Jason asked. "They are your own kind!"
"Our Lady has given us a strict order not to kill the girl." Thalia said. She pursed her lips and Alex knew she still couldn't accept the fact that her patron goddess had a daughter. "We will convince the others. Until we know what is truly happening and until we make sure the girl doesn't pose any threat, I promise no Hunter is allowed to hunt her down."
"She's a fraud!" Ariana said. "She tricked our Lady and us!"
"Silence, Ariana." Thalia sternly said. "Now, go. You have an Underworld to safe. Leave this place to us."
They nodded their heads. Hazel reached out her hand to Nico. "Let's go, little brother. It'll take both of our power to access the mingling Underworld."
Nico took Hazel's hand and they both closed their eyes in concentration. A few seconds after, the ground rumbled, and they were swallowed.
"We're here."
Jason stumbled and fell flat on his bottom. "I don't want to experience that earth-swallowing thing anymore."
Right then, they felt a soft rumbled around them and tiny bits of rocks fell down.
"This place is starting to collapse." Hazel said. "We need to hurry."
"How do we find him?" Percy asked.
"Mental connection between father and children?" Jason offered.
"Worth the try." Nico nodded.
Deeper.
Alex blinked his eyes. What did he just hear?
Deeper, Alex., Brigitta repeated in his mind. He's at the deepest part of the Underworld, where there is no border.
"Tartarus." Alex blurted, which successfully gained his friends' attention. "The deepest part of the Underworld. Roman and Greek knew it as one name, hence there is no border."
"Uhm… You're okay?" Percy asked.
"She spoke to me." Alex said.
"Who?"
"Her."
Percy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, who?"
Alex glanced at him. "Who else?"
"Artemis's daughter?" Hazel gasped which Alex replied with a nod.
"I don't know how, but she can access my mind sometimes." Alex said.
"Can a demigod do that?" Frank asked.
"Normally, no." Nico answered. "But since she's an abnormal, maybe she can."
"So, what did she say?" Frank asked.
"We have to go deeper. The Lord of the Underworld is in the deepest part, where there is no border." Alex replied.
"I see. No wonder you said Tartarus." Hazel said.
"Let's go. This is place is collapsing by every minute." Nico said.
Nico and Hazel walked in front, leading their friends. With the two of them, the dead didn't bother to disturb them. Hades/Pluto might be missing, but his children still radiated power. They kept walking and ignored the souls' voices. The deeper they went, the narrower it became. And the deeper they went, the louder the voices became. Screams of agony and pleading filled the area. The six of them were using every of their willpower to resist the despair those souls carried.
Brigitta had stopped talking in his mind, and Alex wondered how the girl could talk to him in the first place. There had to be a reason why Brigitta contacted him, rather than everyone else.
Because you came from a family who is associated with Egypt., Brigitta's voice appeared.
Alex almost yelped out of surprise, but he managed to hold it in.
Brigitta?, he spoke back.
Hey, Alex., Brigitta greeted. It feels weird talking to someone in your mind.
Where are you now? Why aren't you showing yourself?
I'm still hiding. Besides, it's not the right time yet. Aren't you more interested on why I chose to speak to you?
Elaborate to me.
First of all, you're a demigod. The heir to the throne of Zeus, as Thalia has joined the Hunters and Jason is the heir to the throne of Jupiter. Second reason is that you came from a family with a connection to Egypt.
Egyptologist? Is that even considered as a strong connection?
Not strong, but enough., Brigitta said. It's strong enough to support our contact, although this is probably the last time. I have to keep myself as low as possible.
Alex went silent for a moment. Thinking how Brigitta had to hide in any way possible—by herself—made Alex felt uneasy.
Are you okay?, Alex decided to ask.
It was Brigitta's turn to go silent. After three seconds of no response, Alex started to get anxious. He wondered whether the connection was lost already, or she went silent because he had asked a stupid question.
I'm fine., Brigitta answered, which made Alex let out a small relieve sigh. He could hear her smile behind those words. Upon remembering Brigitta's smile which he had seen in his dream before, something tugged his heart once more.
Can I see you in the dream again?, Alex asked and felt instantly stupid. What kind of question was that? No, I mean—
I'll try., Brigitta answered. I've ran away from the dream world, as Morpheus is targeted if he keeps hiding me. Without his power, it's hard to appear in a dream, but I'll try.
It wasn't a definite promise, but Alex felt content already.
Alex, I have to go before they found me. Listen, it's your turn to do the battle of words. In time of uncertainty, remember, you came to Tartarus to save the Lord. Hades is the chosen Lord of the Underworld, no one could take the throne away by force.
What are you talking about?
Don't lose., Brigitta said. I know you won't. Stay focused. You've set Anput free of her chains, now you have to do it again.
Again, what are you talking about?
You'll know when you get there. Remember, Alex, don't hesitate.
Brigitta's voice went out and Alex called her a few times mentally. When she didn't respond, Alex knew the connection was severed. There was so much thing he wanted to ask her, but he lost the chance. Especially since Brigitta said this was the last time they could communicate telepathically.
"Guys, look." Hazel whispered.
Alex's senses were snapped back, and he found they were at the edge of a huge hole. Alex peered to a side of the wall and glanced down. Down there, Pluto was being caged. His face was contorting, and his form was flickering back and forth between his Greek and Roman form. Beside his cage, stood a hooded lady with chained feet. She whispered something to Pluto, but Alex couldn't hear it clearly. However, every time she whispered, Pluto's tremble worsened. Right in front of the cage, a lady with long jet-black hair was sitting on a chair. Unlike the hooded lady, the jet-black lady was chained to the chair, her feet and hands were also chained.
"My, my, my, look who's here." The jet-black lady said, her cold voice spread through the entire area. She looked up, right at the demigods, and a shiver ran down along Alex's spine. Brigitta's words instantly rang in his mind.
You've set Anput free of her chains, now you have to do it again.
Alex knew exactly what Brigitta meant. Saving Pluto/Hades wasn't the main goal. There were two chained goddesses down there, and it was his job to set them free.
Done !
I'm so happy I managed to finish writing this one :D
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