Hailey jumped and screamed. Leo did not blame her. The warriors had some sort of transparent grey fleshy substance around their skeletal frame making their skeletons visible. Their eye sockets were hollow and dark mist swiveled in them. They held spears in their hands, whose sharp tips looked disturbingly bloody. The skeletal warriors stood around Leo and Hailey at four corners like bodyguards, facing the Palace gate.
There was a loud booming sound and the gates opened inwards. The skeletal warriors banged their spears on the ground and the two at the back pushed Leo and Hailey forwards towards the gate. Leo figured that fighting them would be suicide and he was pretty sure there were many more warriors who would quickly fill up for the fallen ones. If they were being taken to the Palace maybe they will have a much better chance at survival. They silently walked towards the gate and through them towards the Palace.
The Palace was huge. There was a fountain of lava in front of the palace which Leo figured was from the river Phlegethon. The Palace doors were as tall as a two storied building. The guards led them through the doors into a dark hallway that glowed from the Greek fire burning in the torches set on the walls on either sides of the hallway and the jewel encrusted ceiling. The walls on either side seemed to be moving and rippling with shadows. Once Leo felt that he saw a screaming face in the wall, he decided to stop looking at his surroundings and kept his eyes straight in front of him. He found that Hailey was doing the same. Leo once again couldn't help but admire the bravery of the young girl.
The guards stopped in front of a massive set of Stygian iron doors with golden carvings of the Underworld landscapes and more faces of tortured souls. The edges of the doors were moving with actual souls which Leo smartly chose to ignore.
The doors opened to reveal a room so huge Leo was sure he could easily fit the entire Bunker 9 in it. The ceiling of the room seemed to be lost in the dark or simply endless. The floor was covered with a red velvety carpet. Golden pillars on either side led the way to a raised platform encrusted with more jewels. On a shining black throne that seemed to be made of moving shadows sat the Lord of the Underworld with black robes that swiveled around him.
The god looked well above 6 feet. His skin was paler than ivory in stark contrast to his dark hair and "all black" theme of the entire surrounding making him stand apart. A dark golden aura radiated from the god making him glow.
Leo felt a sharp nudge at his ribs. He jumped and looked to his sideways.
"Kneel!", Hailey whispered and knelt down.
Leo quickly followed her suit, thankful for the company of a more sensible person. They bowed their head.
"Welcome demigods" Hades said. His voice was hoarse as if not used in a long time – which he probably hadn't – and tinted with amusement.
"LEO! HAILEY!?" a familiar voice exclaimed. Leo jerked up his head. He was so intimidated by the Lord of the Underworld, that he hadn't noticed two other thrones on either side of Hades' throne.
On the left side of the throne stood a golden throne adorned with fresh flowers that looked strangely out of place. It was smaller than Hades' throne and was unoccupied. Leo figured it belonged to Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.
There was another much smaller throne which was for some strange reason had its backrest shaped like arrows. On the throne sat a skinny boy wearing a black skull hoodie and black jeans, looking almost invisible if not for his pale face. Nico di Angelo stared back open mouthed, eyes wide with shock.