Sorry for being late. Again! Online classes suck. And hiding from Leo and Piper, even more so. So here's another chapter. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: No. just no…

[Okay. So this might be a slightly or very different depiction of the Underworld from the books. I just tried to go with my own imagination on this one. Please bear with me.]

The steps seemed to go on forever. Or maybe it was just how the Underworld felt. Other than Leo's fire there was no source of light. Leo led the way with Hailey close behind him with her sword drawn. Leo could no longer bear the eerie silence. It was killing him. Wow! Bad choice of words.

"So" he started. Hailey jumped up in fright. "Sorry. Just wanted to make a small talk" Leo apologized.

Hailey gave a watery smile. Leo could tell she was scared and tired. But she did a good job hiding it. She was really very brave.

Leo stopped. "Let's take a small rest. We can have something to eat as well. You like tacos?" he asked. Hailey gave him an incredulous look.

"Where the hell are we gonna get tacos here?" she asked.

Leo chuckled. "Hey! That's a good allusion!". They burst out laughing and then stopped. In the eerie silence of the Underworld – with the echoes and shadows – their laughter sounded very creepy.

They shuddered. The underworld felt like a cold storage facility. If not for Leo's fire they would have been certainly frozen.

Leo quickly made some fire and started pulling out ingredients from his tool belt. "Well," he said "haven't you heard of Chef Leo the Tofu Taco Expert?" He winked at Hailey. He placed the tacos on some paper plates and offered one to Hailey. She took out a water bottle from her backpack. They sat there munching their tacos.

"This is really very good!" Hailey praised. Leo beamed "Gracias, senorita".

They finished their tacos and stood up brushing off the crumbs. Hailey picked up her backpack and they started walking down the steps. After a few minutes of walking Leo heard a sound of gurgling water. The steps took a sharp turn to the right and Leo could feel the darkness getting more intense and colder.

The steps came to an end leading to a small tunnel. The sound of water – probably an underworld river – became more distinct. Leo put out the fire slowed down. He could see a strange dark glow coming from a small crack in the wall in front of him, which grew wider as he stepped closer. He cautiously stepped out through the crack, which now, looked like uneven door.

Despite of the darkness, Leo could strangely see his surroundings very clearly. There was a strange dark glow. Almost as if the darkness itself was glowing. There was no way of describing it. Everything was dark but one could see as clearly as in daylight.

Leo looked back at the tunnel. It was well hidden. No one would be able to find it, if they didn't already know about it. The opening was sideways into the wall. So that if someone looked from the outside, they would simply see a uneven, rocky wall.

In front of Leo a river flowed sluggishly. A flowing current of silky black. It merged so well with its surrounding that if not for the sound and movement, no one would know that there was a river. It flowed towards Leo's right where it disappeared down a waterfall.

To his left, about a mile farther, stood a massive gate of stygian iron, embedded with red rubies. On either side of the gate, tall pillars made of bones shone eerily in the dark from the glow of the Greek fire that burned above them. Behind the gates Leo could see the Palace of Hades towering over the place.

Leo felt a strange tug deep in his soul. Coldness swept across Leo's body making the hair on the back of his neck to rise. He knew that feeling. He had felt it on the day of the war with Gaea. When he had caused the blast that had killed Gaea as well as him.

Leo looked at Hailey to see if she too felt the same. Hailey looked pale. Fear evident on her face. She was staring wide eyed at Hades' Palace. But Leo could tell that she did not feel that familiar tug. She was scared of the Underworld, not her soul trying to run away from her.

Leo steadied himself. He knew the danger. He had willingly taken up the risk. He couldn't back down now. Not when he was this close to Jason. He couldn't be selfish. Not again.

Leo opened his mouth to speak. But before he could utter a word, a strange shimmering glow surrounded them and out of thin air four skeleton warriors materialized surrounding them.

I will post another chapter within two days to compensate my lateness. Till then take care, stay safe. Ba-bye!