Chapter 5
Entering the Underworld was all the doom and gloom Percy could have imagined. It felt like he had walked into a super intense Halloween store. Skeltal faces that held glowing lights above them, bats hanging from the ceiling, and a constant flow of luminescent white spirits coming into the tunnel the two boys had entered. When they first entered they could hardly see the ethereal people, but as they descended further and further the more clear they became. The wails of the spirits made Percy's gut turn, and he felt his stomach doing flips as he felt the imaginary spiders crawling up his back for the second time today.
Jason talked quietly as if they were afraid of being overheard, "This is the creepiest thing I have ever seen in my life."
Before Percy could respond they came to an opening that displayed a giant cavern with a small river of water running through it. Percy stared at the water for a moment before saying, "The River Styx. Very dangerous. It's what they dipped Achilles in to make him invulnerable."
Jason stared in amazement, "Think we should take a swim?"
Shaking his head, "His mother dipped him in, and I don't think I have the strength to hold you by the ankle."
"You calling me fat Jackson?"
"Just saying you could lay off the cokes!" Percy Joked.
This caused the two to laugh, and suddenly a voice from nearby spoke, "I haven't heard laughter down in this part of the Underworld in a very long time. What is your business demigods?"
Percy looked at the ferryman with recognition, "Charon we request a humble passage to Lord Pluto's palace. We seek an audience with him."
"I am not Pluto's messenger demigod. I will only transfer you across with proper payment, and the rest will be up to you." Charon said ominously.
The two demigods looked at each other with trepidation. Both knew this was the point of no return. If they crossed the Styx with Charon there would be no going back any easy way. Jason stepped forward, "My name is Jason Grace Centurion of the Fifth Cohort of the Twelfth Legion. I will pay your toll and I request access to the Palace of Pluto."
Jason held out several gold coins, and the Guardian gave them a begrudging look and took the coins from his hand. The man growled, "This is satisfactory. This way demigods."
Taking a step on the boat made Percy feel like he was walking on his own grave. The River looked to have all sorts of objects floating at the bottom. He knew Lady Styx was the Goddess of mortality, and it seemed the broken dreams of many mortal lies in her river. A destroyed wedding day photo, a ring, a silver medal that looked Olympic, and countless other items. The ride was impossibly smooth as it floated across the deathly calm river. When they came into a large opening of the Underworld Percy could see the other rivers. The Lethe, the Phelegthon, the Styx, the Coctyus, and the Achereon, each had their own infamous tales from stories of ancient heroes, and none were pleasant.
When they made it to the palace of Pluto an obsidian black palace stood as high as the largest of Skyscrapers. It was surrounded by a plant that was spiky and clearly poisonous in nature, and it practically encased the entire palace. Percy wondered if that was Prosperina's doing or work, but decided not to dwell on it as they were allowed to exit the boat.
The two saw a short path to the palace of Pluto, and knew that the danger of their journey was about to spike to an unhealthy level. The two crept forward, almost anticipating the attack to come from any direction, and when they came into the final clearing that would take them the rest of the way in a bark that sounded more like a roar rang throughout the Underworld. Out of the nearby shadows stepped an enormous dog that was semi transparent, and seemed to be something close to twenty feet in height. Its red eyes glared at Percy and Jason as they both drew their weapons slowly preparing for the monster fight of their life. Suddenly a buzzing flapping sound was heard from behind them and Percy jumped to Jason's back making the two stand back to back as three bat shaped humanoids came into the scene. Jason swore, "The furies and Cerberus at the same time. I don't think we calculated this one right."
Percy stared at the four monsters, "What's the strategy?"
Jason flexed his shoulders a bit, "Well we are gonna die, so let's try and take all four of them down with us."
Percy nodded, "Sounds good to me. I'll take Cerberus, you take the furies?"
"Go!" Jason barked.
The two flipped stances, and Percy stomped on the ground causing the entire Underworld to shake. The monster howled in defiance as it came barreling towards Percy sensing the invaders of its home. Percy tried to jump out of the way, but the amount of area the monster covered was immense so instead he decided to try and go under the hulking beast. His luck was short lived as he made it past the monsters front legs, and then became the object of the game chase the tail. It was a stampede. Each of the three heads were biting at Percy, and he slashed at each one that got close enough with the full length of his trident. He was barely causing even scratch marks on the beast face, and suddenly the monster howled with pain when Jason landed on top slamming his sword into the beast back, and then flying straight back up to take back on the furies. To repay the favor Percy cleared out from under the beast, and hurled his trident at one of the furies that was focused on Jason and killed it instantly. This distraction allowed Jason to kill another sister leaving just now the injured Cerberus and a single fury.
Finally Percy was starting to feel confident when the trident came back to his hands, and before the combat could continue a voice boomed, "ENOUGH!"
Cerberus and the final Fury stopped in their tracks, and Jason landed next to Percy, getting behind him instantly so they could cover themselves from any direction. The man that stepped out of the shadows in a full tuxedo was something akin to Frankenstein. The man was about the height of the other Godly deities Percy had met around seven foot tall, possibly a little taller, but his super pale skin contrasted heavily with his dark black suit, a pinstripe tie, and black dress shoes. As the boys looked closer at his suit it seemed as if souls were trying to escape the jacket pockets.
The man strode to where he was about thirty feet from the boys saying, "You come into my domain, you kill my minions, attack my dog, and you look like you are surprised to see me."
Jason kneeled immediately causing Percy to turn and do the same, as Jason spoke, "Lord Pluto we-"
"Have come to question me on my brother's stolen weapon. My insolent brothers have gone too far in their disrespect this time. Sending their children into my domain uninvited was a very grave error." Lord Pluto said calmly.
Jason seemed to be struggling to form words, but Percy rose back to his feet, "Our fathers nor Olympus sent us Uncle. We know of your innocence. We merely wished to inquire if you had heard anything from the passing souls that have come through your domain. Perhaps someone who might have been smited by the Master Bolt."
The man looked Percy up and down, "Perseus Jackson I presume?"
Percy nodded his head bowing, "Yes... Uncle."
Jason was staring at Percy in surprise. It was not very Roman to address any sort of deity, by anything less than Lord or Lady, but the way the pale Underworld Lords smile spread Jason thought Percy might have been right on with this one, "I have seen and heard many screams about your destiny demigod. Perhaps it was not foolishness that brought you to my domain, but dare I say it wisdom."
Jason, trying to save face said, "We thought that as Lord of all the dead you would be the God to ask if anyone would know."
Pluto touched his dark moustache in thought, "Oh yes, and I do know who stole the bolt."
Percy felt his heart leap with excitement, "My Lord this is great news."
Pluto shrugged, "It is just news. I practically let it go in one ear and out the next when I found out. I knew accusations would likely land at my feet eventually, but it seems-"
"That I got them first my Lord? Yes. My father was forced by the High Sea Council to summon me to Atlantis for the first time for a trial. It was practically the fastest trial ever when I swore on the Styx that I had no idea what was going on. This is the only thing that allowed me to keep my freedom. Of course Lord Jupiter-"
"Doesn't believe you? Join the club." Lord Pluto said, finishing the interruption with his own.
Percy stared at the man, and Pluto stared back, "You and I aren't so different Perseus Jackson. Perhaps not the same story, but oh the upbringing changes a lot in an individual with great power such as myself, and even you."
"The hardships have made me into the warrior I am, sir. I am nothing without them." Percy said confidently.
The man laughed, "You slay a few D-list monsters, and you feel like a warrior. Oh I feel the pride of Rome in your blood demigod."
Jason started to speak, probably hoping to get them back on track, but with a snap of Pluto's fingers Jason disappeared from Percy's side, "Jason!"
He reached through the area that Jason had just been standing as if he were expecting the boy to have gone invisible, but before he could raise protest Pluto said, "Relax Perseus. Let us speak without formalities. I have temporarily placed Jason Grace outside the Hollywood sign where I have no doubt he will throw a tantrum my brother would be proud of. He wouldn't understand the conversation I wish to hold with you."
"Jason is my greatest friend Uncle...my only real friend. He agreed to go on this quest to help clear my name to Olympus." Percy said in defense.
"Peace Perseus. I am not saying the son of Jupiter is not a worthy hero. I am sure the two of you will have many adventures before the Great Prophecy fully unfolds, but I would like to speak with you as one outcast to another." Pluto spoke calmly, but seemed very interested in Percy.
Percy said nothing, but nodded, allowing the Lord of the Dead to speak, "I would be willing to hand you the information that could wrap up your little quest in a day, but I require something in return for this favor."
Percy looked like he was going to raise some concerns over this, but Pluto spoke, "Don't lecture me about what a war of the Gods would look like. I know what it would mean, and quite frankly I would like to avoid it, but here is a great opportunity for the house of Pluto, and I must take it."
Finally Percy spoke, "Very well Uncle. What is it I can do for you?"
The man grinned at the term he was addressed by, "This is my daughter Bianca Di Angelo."
Waving his hand the image of a young dark haired girl materialized in front of him. The photograph wasn't much, but Percy recognized her immediately. He had dreamt about her the night before. She was the girl in the casino that was being separated from the little boy. The large man with the sword had been after her. He had called her an abomination, and that her kind shouldn't exist. Was it because she was a child of the Underworld or a child of the big three?
Percy questioned, "You sent me the vision?"
"I did. I wanted you to see more, but there was interference most likely from your father." Pluto explained.
Percy knew this was not the case. The voice from the pit was certainly not his father, and he suspected certainly no Olympian, but he didn't express that opinion outloud.
Neither said anything for a moment, but Pluto finally spoke, "She is in terrible danger Perseus. If you and the son of Jupiter can save my daughter I will owe you the information. The name of the individual who stole the bolt, and where you can find him. If you go even further above that then the House of Pluto may even find itself indebted to you."
"Even further?" Percy asked worriedly.
Pluto sighed, "I am still a God. The ancient laws forbid the interference we could provide in our children's lives to keep them safe. That being said I cannot keep her in the Underworld here with me forever. She will need to go to camp and learn the ways of Rome. She will need someone to vouch with her for her entrance into the legion to go smoothly."
Percy then understood what the God was getting at. Children of Pluto were almost as bad if not worse than Children of Neptune. This girl would have a tough time in camp, and she wouldn't be trusted by most. She would be like Percy. It wasn't even a question, but before he could answer he realized it had to be a question. A child of Pluto may come with a stigmatism, and a little bit of prejudice, but not nearly the same amount of fear that a Child of Neptune came with. In Rome Pluto became the God of Wealth under the Earth unlike his Graceus counterpart which was much more sinister in the old tales of heroes. Pluto was considered a more helpful God, but still the Lord of the Underworld made people nervous. Many feared the return of Hades, and that's why the stigma never left. The old whispers from an old empire. People however feared Neptune like no other. Rome never had much of a Navy because of it, and they mostly prayed to him during times of strife like when hurricanes swept through the Empire, but even those were prayers of Mercy.
Taking Bianca under his wing would make the small niggling of fear that Pluto gives people and multiply it ten fold, "Lord Pluto with respect I think if you want to bargain with someone vouching for your daughter it should be Jason. He is Centurion of my cohort and-"
"Are you not his Optio?" Pluto asked calmly, not appearing at all worried about his answer.
This made Percy's mind shut off for a split second before he answered without thought, "Yes my Lord."
"Then I think you will do just fine. Like you I believe the son of Jupiter will raise to Praetor, and then if my daughter joins the fifth cohort her favored Centurion will have vouched for her entrance into the legion possibly making her quite loyal to you. I shouldn't have to tell you that any child of mine could be quite powerful, especially if nurtured properly."
"I have no doubt of that Lord Pluto." Percy said quickly, "But you must understand that like you said I am an outcast. Getting your daughter stuck with being vouched for by an outcast could be detrimental to her entire time at Camp."
"Things are stirring Perseus." Pluto turned away from Percy for the first time looking towards his palace.
For the first time in several minutes the registers of the screams from the field of punishment hit Percy's mind and he felt his adrenaline spike back up. Cerberus had put his head down on the ground, and appeared to be in a relaxed position as his master had healed him with the flick of his wrist, and the fury was nowhere to be seen. The two stood in silence with nothing left to be said, but the horrible sounds of the underworld in the background.
"If the cries of your destiny are true, then you can use all the allies you can get. My daughter could be a very powerful one to you, and so could I. I have not favored a demigod in many centuries, and you being the first could make a difference in the coming war." Pluto said once again, keeping his calm facade.
Percy thought only for a few moments, and realized that there was no real option, "Whatever it takes Lord Pluto. Jason and I will find your daughter and bring her to Camp Jupiter. How long will it take for you to get information to us once we have rescued her? Where is she?"
Pluto clapped his hands and a dark ball of energy appeared in his hands, and he motioned for Percy to come forward. The ball in his hands looked like a blob of shadows forming a solid shape. As he stared at the shadows in the man's hands he saw a different image take form. A young girl on a bed who was looking worse for wear. She had a good sized gash forming above her left eye, and a split lip. She was pretty bruised up, and Percy felt his anger swell inside. This is what could've happened to him had Triton and Jason not done what they did for him, and he was already planning on how he could give the training to her.
Pluto sighed, "Lotus Casino Las Vegas. I can get you all the way to the city, but from there you will be beyond my intervention. Be warned that this place is infamous for its deception. You must be on guard. As soon as you have saved her I will send my messenger to you. He will give you the promised information, and you may take my daughter with you to end the quest. The prophecy says the children of the three will prevail. You will need a child of all three sons of Saturn to be victorious. Your enemy if nothing else has more experience than you three. It may take all three of you to defeat him."
It was the first hint Percy got, but he knew that's exactly what it was. Pluto was throwing bait into the water, and he was just waiting for the son of Neptune to bite, "Very well Uncle. It will be as you said."
The man smirked, "Very well indeed. Good luck...nephew."
With a snap of his fingers Percy felt the feeling of weightlessness flow through his body like the day before when his father had done it to him the night before, and when he opened his eyes Jason was back at his side, and the Welcome to Las Vegas sign flashed before them.
(A/N) Got this chapter uploaded just a half an hour before midnight CST. I hope everyone enjoyed Pluto's arrival into the story. He will be making plenty of appearances throughout, but it will be a while before we see him again. Next Chapter takes us into the Cursed Casino, and our introduction to the pairing in the story of Bianca Di Angelo. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and please review!
-Orion
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