Emily's pov
It seem that after the four were pulled into that it seem everything was being ripped, Emily was sure that if she had fallen into Tartarus as well that their spirits would be worse than what they were. Emily had to keep on helping Leo with the repairs when they kept getting hit by the mountain gods. That was mostly due to the fact that they don't like children of Hades/Pluto. But it seem hard to figure out what to do at the moment but however Arion had showed up and took Hazel to where the storm was brewing. Emily felt unease of letting Hazel to by herself into that storm, but Emily had sense hope in that storm a hope that would help solve their problem.
Hazel's pov
When Arion had left that Hazel felt alone and she took a couple steps to the center of the courtyard. There was stone archways and ruins here, there was two cobblestone paths intersected. A dog had howled though the mist that surrounded this place, Hazel wasn't sure of how she knows this but what hang in the air was pure magic as well as the mist. The hairs on her arms had stood up from the feel of magic in the air, than there was another howl but it was closer this time than last time. The mist seem to be clung onto almost like she was a freezer bag or fog or something like that. Hazel wasn't sure why she was here or why Arion had brought her here for, Hazel did the only thing she could now of which was to say something and hope someone would answer her.
"Hello."
"Hello." A woman appeared at the northern gate, but another two appeared in the east and west. All three walked forward and merged into one woman, she has blond hair was set in a high ponytail, Greek style and she was wearing a sleeveless dark dress and there seem to be something trailing the woman that looked like smoke but Hazel figure that those were the woman's pets. The woman was beautiful but deathly pale, this woman radiated power and Hazel knew that this woman was a goddess.
"Hazel Levesque."
"Who are you. I mean which goddess."
"Let me give you some light." The woman had raised her hands and she was holding two old-fashioned reed torches that had flames in them. The mist had receded to the edge of the courtyard. At the woman's feet was a dog and what looked like a rodent of some kind, Hazel wasn't sure what it was. Than the woman had smiled. "I am Hecate, Goddess of magic. We have much to discuss if you're to live through tonight." Hazel had wanted to run but her feet didn't seem they want to move. Two dark metal torch-stands had appeared on either side of the crossroads and Hecate had placed her torches in them before walking around Hazel. "You are like your mother."
"You knew her?"
"Of course. Marie was a fortune-teller. She dealt in charms and curses and gris-gris. I am the goddess of magic. Many fear me, but magic is neither good nor evil. It is a tool, like a knife. Is a knife evil? Only if the wielder is evil."
"My – my mother … She didn't believe in magic. Not really. She was just faking it, for the money." The weasel has chattered before it had bares it's teeth at her, the rodent's red eyes were glaring at her.
"Peace, Gale. Gale does not like hearing about nonbelievers and con artists. She herself was once a witch, you see."
"Your weasel was a witch?"
"She's a polecat, actually. But, yes – Gale was once a disagreeable human witch. She had terrible personal hygiene, plus extreme – ah, digestive issues. It gave my other followers a bad name."
"Okay."
"At any rate, I turned her into a polecat. She's much better as a polecat."
"And your Labrador …?"
"Oh, she's Hecuba, the former queen of Troy." The dog had than grunted.
"You're right, Hecuba. We don't have time for long introductions. The point is, Hazel Levesque, your mother may have claimed not to believe, but she had true magic. Eventually, she realized this. When she searched for a spell to summon the god Pluto, I helped her find it."
"You …?"
"Yes. I saw potential in your mother. I see even more potential in you."
"My mother suffered because of that magic. My whole life –"
"Your life wouldn't have happened without me, I have no time for your anger. Neither do you. Without my help, you will die."
"What kind of help?" Hecate had raised her pale arms and the three gateways she had come from began to swirl with mist. In the western door that there was roman and Greek demigods in full armor fighting against each other there was wounded and dying around and the fighting was happening under a large pine tree. Hazel had saw herself riding Arion trying to stop the violence between the two groups. In the eastern door that she saw the Argo II plunging through the sky above the Apennines, the rigging was in flames. There was a boulder that had smashed into the quarterdeck and another punched though the hull. The ship had burst like rotten fruit and the engine had exploded. However the one in the northern doorway was the worst of the three doorways that she was seeing, Hazel could see Leo falling, either unconscious or died, falling though the clouds. She saw Frank staggering along in a dark tunnel clutching his arm and the worst part was that his shirt was soaked in blood.
Than Hazel had saw Elizabeth laying in the middle of the forest wearing her Lieutenant America uniform. Her uniform was covered in blood and there was blood coming out of one of hence legs and Elizabeth's eyes were losing life quickly. But that was not the thing that had bothered her the most out of what she was eyeing with Elizabeth. For it seem her eyes were filled with hopeless of which disturb Hazel greatly. Even before learning that Elizabeth was a demigod and they had meet the first time that Elizabeth's eyes were always filled with hope. Even with the past few days without Percy and Annabeth that the hope was still there even though it had dimmed some since Percy and Annabeth had fell into Tartarus. Than Hazel had saw herself in a vast cavern that were filled with strands of light like a lit up web. While she was struggling to break through that in the distance that Percy and Annabeth laid sprawled on the floor unmoving at the foot of two black and silver doors.
"Choices. You stand at the crossroads, Hazel Levesque. And I am the goddess of crossroads." Hazel felt the found rumble at her feet and she looked down to see the glint of silver coins. There were thousands of old roman denarii breaking the surface all round her, it was like if the surface was going to boil over than and there. Hazel must have been so agitated by the vision that she must have summoned every bit of silver in the countryside. "The past is close to the surface in this place. In ancient times, two great Roman roads met here. News was exchanged. Markets were held. Friends met, and enemies fought. Entire armies had to choose a direction. Crossroads are always places of decision."
"Like … like Janus."
"Janus and his doorways. He would have you believe that all choices are black or white, yes or no, in or out. In fact, it's not that simple. Whenever you reach the crossroads, there are always at least three ways to go … four, if you count going backwards. You are at such a crossing now, Hazel."
"All the choices are bad."
'All choices have risks. But what is your goal?'
"My goal? None of these."
"You could go backwards, retrace your steps to Rome … but Gaia's forces are expecting that. None of you will survive."
"So … what are you saying?" Hecate had went to the newest torch and she scooped a handful of fire and sculpted he flames till she was holding a miniature relief map of Italy,
"You could go west. Go back to America with your prize, the Athena Parthenos. Your comrades back home, Greek and Roman, are on the brink of war. Leave now, and you might save many lives."
"Might. But Gaia is supposed to wake in Greece. That's where the giants are gathering."
"True. Gaia has set the date of August first, the Feast of Spes, goddess of hope, for her rise to power. By waking on the Day of Hope, she intends to destroy all hope forever. Even if you reached Greece by then, could you stop her? I do not know. You could go east, across the mountains, but Gaia will do anything to stop you from crossing Italy. She has raised her mountain gods against you. But there is one who can keep the hope strong as long as she stands on Mount Olympus the day of hope. Unlike with Gaia, she intends to keep the hope strong and she is the only one who stands in the way of Gaea breaking all hope. That is why she is so important in this quest." Hazel's heart had started to race. For Hazel knew who Hecate was talking about, Emily, but does that Emily would become a goddess or just remain as she was. Hazel had no idea of what could happen to Emily on that day.
"We noticed."
"Any attempt to cross the Apennines will mean the destruction of your ship. Ironically, this might be the safest option for your crew. I foresee that all of you would survive the explosion. It is possible, though unlikely, that you could still reach Epirus and close the Doors of Death. You might find Gaia and prevent her rise. But by then both demigod camps would be destroyed. You would have no home to return to. More likely, the destruction of your ship would strand you in the mountains. It would mean the end of your quest, but it would spare you and your friends much pain and suffering in the days to come. The war with the giants would have to be won or lost without you.'
"What about them? Percy and Annabeth?"
"West, east or south … they die."
"Not an option."
"Then you have only one path, though it is the most dangerous."
"There is a secret pass here in the north, a place where I hold sway, where Hannibal once crossed when he marched against Rome."
"Once through the pass, you would travel north to Bologna and then to Venice. From there, sail the Adriatic to your goal, here: Epirus in Greece."
"That's so far out of the way."
"Which is why Gaia will not expect you to take this route, I can obscure your progress somewhat, but the success of your journey will depend on you, Hazel Levesque. You must learn to use the Mist."
"Me? Use the Mist how?" Hecate had put out the map and than she used the mist to cover the dog up and than it cleared to a kitten in place of he dog.
"Mew."
"I am the goddess of the Mist, I am responsible for keeping the veil that separates the world of the gods from the world of mortals. My children learn to use the Mist to their advantage, to create illusions or influence the minds of mortals. Other demigods can do this as well. And so must you, Hazel, if you are to help your friends."
"But … I can't do that."
"Your mother had the talent, You have even more. As a child of Pluto who has returned from the dead, you understand the veil between worlds better than most. You can control the Mist. If you do not … well, your brother Nico has already warned you. The spirits have whispered to him, told him of your future. When you reach the House of Hades, you will meet a formidable enemy. She cannot be overcome by strength or sword. You alone can defeat her, and you will require magic."
"Who? Who is this enemy?"
"I will not speak her name, That would alert her to your presence before you are ready to face her. Go north, Hazel. As you travel, practise summoning the Mist. When you arrive in Bologna, seek out the two dwarfs. They will lead you to a treasure that may help you survive in the House of Hades."
"I don't understand."
"Mew."
"Yes, yes, Hecuba." Hecate had flicked her hand and the cat disappeared and the dog had took it's place again.
"You will understand, Hazel. From time to time, I will send Gale to check on your progress."
"Wonderful."
"Before you reach Epirus, you must be prepared. If you succeed, then perhaps we will meet again … for the final battle."
"Why are you helping me? At Camp Jupiter, they said you sided with the Titans in the last war."
"Because I am a Titan – daughter of Perses and Asteria. Long before the Olympians came to power, I ruled the Mist. Despite this, in the First Titan War, millennia ago, I sided with Zeus against Kronos. I was not blind to Kronos's cruelty. I hoped Zeus would prove a better king. When Demeter lost her daughter Persephone, kidnapped by your father, I guided Demeter through the darkest night with my torches, helping her search. And when the giants rose the first time I again sided with the gods. I fought my arch-enemy Clytius, made by Gaia to absorb and defeat all my magic."
"Clytius. Is he the threat in the House of Hades?'
"Oh, he waits for you there. But first you must defeat the witch. Unless you manage that …" Than Hecate had snapped her fingers and all the gate ways turned dark and the images were gone "We all face choices. When Kronos arose the second time, I made a mistake. I supported him. I had grown tired of being ignored by the so-called major gods. Despite my years of faithful service, they mistrusted me, refused me a seat in their hall …"
"It does not matter any more. I have made peace again with Olympus. Even now, when they are laid low – their Greek and Roman personas fighting each other – I will help them. Greek or Roman, I have always been only Hecate. I will assist you against the giants, if you prove yourself worthy. So now it is your choice, Hazel Levesque. Will you trust me … or will you shun me, as the Olympian gods have done too often?"
"I'll go north. We'll take your secret pass through the mountains."
"You have chosen well, though the path will not be easy. Many monsters will rise against you. Even some of my own servants have sided with Gaia, hoping to destroy your mortal world." Hecate had than took her torches from their stands. "Prepare yourself, daughter of Pluto. If you succeed against the witch, we will meet again."
"I'll succeed. And Hecate? I'm not choosing one of your paths. I'm making my own. We're going to find a way to stop Gaia. We're going to rescue our friends from Tartarus. We're going keep the crew and the ship together and we're going to stop Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood from going to war. We're going to do it all."
"Interesting. That would be magic worth seeing." There was a wave of darkness and when her eyesight had returned that the storm, the goddess and her minions were gone. Hazel was standing on the hillside along in the ruins expect for Arion of who was nickering.
"I agree. Let's get out of here."
Emily's pov
Emily was worried when she had saw that storm had seem to grow worse and than disappeared all together. After a few minutes of waiting that she saw Hazel riding on Arion coming back and Emily was relieved when she saw Hazel and she ran over to where Hazel was getting back. However Leo was the first one to get to Hazel besides Nico and it was Leo who had spoke.
"What happened?" Emily had notice that Hazel had looked over the rial and watched Arion leave. Emily knew something had happened out there, Emily couldn't senses every emotion but Emily had sense the hope Hazel had grew some. But in her eyes Emily could tell something was bothering but Emily had no idea of what it was though.
"Hazel?" Suddenly hazel's knees seem to buckle or that what Emily guessed had happen. Leo and Nico had grabbed her arms and helped her to the steps of the foredeck and Emily followed the three of them.
"I met Hecate." Hazel had told them of what she could, Emily had a feeling that Hazel didn't tell them everything. Emily wasn't going to bother Hazel more of what had happen with Hecate. When Hazel was done that Nico had too Hazel's hand and Nico looked concerned.
"Hazel, you met Hecate at a crossroads. That's … that's something many demigods don't survive. And the ones who do survive are never the same. Are you sure you're –"
"I'm fine."
"What if Hecate is tricking us? This route could be a trap."
"If it was a trap, I think Hecate would've made the northern route sound tempting. Believe me, she didn't."
"Besides when someone meets Hecate, as far as I know at the cross roads that Hecate's makes sure that they are aware of what they are facing or at least a better idea than Janus. Each choice has a side effect." No said much of anything when Emily said that, for Leo and Hazel knew what Emily meant by that and the choice her uncle and made seventy years ago, Leo had than pulled out a calculator out of his tool belt and punched in some numbers.
"That's … something like three hundred miles out of our way to get to Venice. Then we'd have to backtrack down the Adriatic. And you said something about baloney dwarfs?" Emily rolled her eyes when Leo had said baloney dwarfs, Emily was close of laughing but she seem to unable to laugh.
"Dwarfs in Bologna, I guess Bologna is a city. But why we have to find dwarfs there … I have no idea. Some sort of treasure to help us with the quest."
"Huh, I mean, I'm all about treasure, but –"
"It's our best option. We have to make up for lost time, travel as fast as we can. Percy's and Annabeth's lives might depend on it." Nico had helped Hazel to her feet.
"Fast? I can do fast." Leo had went over to the console and Emily followed Leo over to leave Nico and Hazel alone to talk. For Emily had a feeling that Nico and Hazel needed to talk. When Emily reached Leo that he was already punching in the numbers that would take the ship to where Hazel had mentioned. Emily didn't say anything for a minute but Leo had than broke the silence.
"Emily?"
"What is it, Leo?" Leo had looked away from the console and looked at Emily.
"Who is Spares?"
"Spes, she is the roman goddess of hope and her Greek aspect is Elpis. She is the only left in Pandora's Pithos or box as most people talk about it. Percy had gave Pandora's Pithos with Elpis in it because hope lives best in the hearth." When Hazel reached the part about Gaea rising on the day of hope that things started to click of what she was meant to do and what her mother, Hestia and Artemis had be getting her ready for. Emily hoped that when Gaea rise that Emily would be there waiting to make sure that Gaea doesn't break hope.