Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in a while, here's another chapter, and remember if you haven't read the Percy Jackson books you should their all amazing, Rick Riordan is an amazing author. I would like to thank everyone who favorites and follows the series. And someone has recently asked for the paring, and it will be a Percy and Thalia. I thought she would be better for Percy's more serious and cold nature. There was also someone who told me about some spelling errors and I will be more careful with the spelling, sometimes I just get into a grove and don't notice. Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing the series, and I hope you guess enjoy this chapter.
Annabeth
As soon as we walked in the first thing I noticed were the multiple people standing around. The place looked normal, it had black carpets, short wooden chairs with black cushions, and a weird looking white walls. The thing that made them look weird was because they looked dirty because they weren't a normal bright white, but a dim looking white that looked like the walls had mud thrown all over them and had to be scrubbed clean, but you could still see that they were dirty. Other then the dirty looking walls everything else was surprisingly clean for the entrance to the Underworld. I looked around at everyone in the room. They all looked normal if you quickly glanced quickly at them. The exception being a couple that were dressed in weird clothes, and all of them looking extremely depressed. But if you stared at them and looked really close you could see through them, along with every time you walk past them they grabbed you saying inaudible words, since the dead couldn't talk to the living, but I guested they were asking for money to get into the Underworld. We walked up to a stand with a tall pale man wearing a dark blue Italian suit. We walked up to the man and without a word Percy walked up to the counter and placed three pieces of drachma, one for each of us. After that Percy stared the man I presumed to be Charon dead in the eyes, with the same expressionless and cold look that Charon was giving us.
And then Charon said with great distaste, "Demi-gods." he said while grunting. "You children do relies that the living can't enter the Underworld."
I got a bit nervous at those word thinking that it would be bad if we got all the way here and could finish the quest because some immortal doorman wouldn't let us in. I looked over at Percy and he didn't seemed affected, he actually looked like he expected this to happen. Gods, how can the son of Poseidon come up with the all the plans and have thought of everything on our way here, the irony. The son of Poseidon, nemesis of my mother, Athena, goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, was the one coming up with the battle plans.
Percy still staring at Charon with no expression said, "I don't know what your talking about." he said while putting a bag filled with drachmas, that Charon grabbed while smiling.
"Right this way." Charon said gesturing us towards the elevator.
We all walked in, we stood huddled up on one side while Charon pressed the button to go down with a smug and content smile. On the way down we didn't say one word, me and Grove fidgeted in the back corner while Percy stood tall and confident right next to Charon. He was very admirable, we were going to the Underworld and he stood there not scared at all, he looked a little eager to get into the Underworld. The entire way down we stood there in silence with annoying elevator music playing. And as the doors opened I saw a dark cave area with a rowing boat on a small pear. As we got closer I looked into the water that the boat was sitting on and nearly screamed with fear. The water, if you could call it that, was a bluish, whitish color, with the same color mist coming off in. The water was filled with bones, eyes, ears, and other human body parts, it was disgusting and creepy. I even saw a couple of skulls just floating on the top, and they looked like it was staring at the boat. But the worst part was the souls. They were damned in the water forever. Some looked like normal people, others didn't look so lucky, if you could call any of these damned souls 'lucky'. There were some that were missing an eye or ear, even an arm or leg. Others had no skin on their bodies at all, there was ones that had half their face ripped off and just hanging. There was some that actually ripped their own ear or hair off as the boat pasted. As we sailed in silence the only thing we heard was the screams in the water and far off from the fields of punishment. We sat there with nothing going on for a while excepted the screams. Every now and then a soul would try to get on the boat and Charon would beat them with his paddle. The entire ride felt like a century, it felt like we weren't moving at all because there was no waves to show that the water was moving, just souls. Once we got to the other side it looked just like the other side, except for the giant line of souls that were waiting to be judged. We didn't bother specking to Charon when we got off, mainly because he creeps me out.
"So where to now?" I asked not knowing where to start.
"I think the giant black palace would be a good place to start." Grover said smirking at me, which didn't last long because I slapped the back of his head, getting bleat from Grover and a small smile from Percy, which for some reason made me blush.
"Okay then, since your the one who found it lead the way." Percy said smiling at Grover gesturing him to go forward.
At Percy's response Grover paled a little, since he didn't want to be the one to lead us further into the Underworld. But eventually he lead the way, with me walking past Percy looking down trying to hide my blush. Which in doing so got me a confused look from Percy, and another smirk from Grover since he immediately put two and two together. But the smile once again faded when he remembered he had to lead the way into the dark and coldness of the depth of the Underworld.
We walked towards the palace in silence not wanting to gain attention to ourselves. Which didn't work since we were getting glares from every soul, they probably thought we were skipping the line, and they were pissed. I couldn't blame them the line was huge. As we got closer to the front of the line there were two giant and elegant gate made of obsidian. The carving of the gates were beautiful, I would have stared at them for hours in awe if it wasn't for what was in front of the gates. In the front of the right gate was a long conference table that could easily hold fifteen people on just one side, but there was only three seated on the opposite side of the souls. They were the judges of the Underworld, they decided where you would spend you eternal after life. Weather it would be Elysium, which is the Christian equivalent of haven. Asphodel Meadows, which is basically a limbo for souls that weren't majorly god or evil. And The Fields of Punishment, which like the name states, is were the evil and wicked go to be eternally punished.
But the three judges of the Underworld wasn't he worst part. The thing that was guarding the left gate was a giant three headed dog. The legendary Cerberus, Hades pet and the guarding of the Underworld. All three heads were laying down looking bored, the one on the left was drooling and asleep, the one on the right was looking off to the distance, and the alpha head, the middle one, was wide awake looking around alert and ready to fight like any good guard dog would.
Grover and I were practically shaking with fear," Wh-what do we do now?" Grover stuttered shacking even more then me, it was probably his animal instincts kicking in telling him to run from the giant three headed predator.
I was trying to think of a plan. What should we do? We needed to get to Hades' palace. But how? If we went through the left side they would know we are still alive and send for guards, which probably consisted of the furies, and a whole lot of dead soldiers. And if we went through the right side we'd be turned into a chew toy for the three head dog that was sitting in front of the gate. Before I could think of anything that wouldn't end in use dying, Percy walked straight up to Cerberus.
"Percy! What are you doing?" I said in a whispered scream.
"I'm going to pet the dog." Percy said like it was the most obvious thing ever.
"You can't just walk up to Cerberus." I said in the same whisper, but it was to late. Percy was already standing in front of the three headed dog.
"Hey there big guy." Percy said smiling at Cerberus.
Which now all three heads were fully awake and staring at Percy. The one on the left that was previously drooling in it's sleep was now waking up, drowsily looking at Percy with curiosity. The one on the right now staring at Percy with excitement looking ready to play. And the one in the middle now growling at Percy. It seemed as each head had a different personality, which seemed reasonable since it had three head, three brains, all thinking differently. The one on the left seemed to be the lazy and easy going one, the right one seemed to be the happy and playful one. And finally the middle, which was the alpha head, was the serious, angry, dangerous one that all the myths described Cerberus as a whole, instead of the multiple personalities between the heads. It was now standing, bigger than a truck.
"I got you something buddy." Percy said pulling out a red rubber ball that had the same symbol that was on Medusa's warehouse, he the through it into the air, at which all three dogs looked identical to the right one. All looking happy with their tongues hanging out their mouths drooling at the rubber ball in anticipation. Percy then threw the ball to the head in the middle, which cased all of them to play tug of war with the extremely stretchy ball, before dropping it down next to Percy's feet, then moving back happily wagging its tail and moving around waiting for Percy to throw it again. This went on for a few more minutes. I thought it was to make sure that Cerberus was in a good mood, but it looked like Percy was enjoying thing game of catch just as much as the three head dog. Percy then pet the middle dogs head and scratch the chin of the right before saying, "Okay guys I have to go. I have a quest to finish, but I promise to visit again." Percy said as he heard the dogs beginning to wiper in an attempt to reassure them.
We all then walked past them, both Grover and I very confused at what just happened. We walked up the path not really knowing how long it took since everything around us seemed the same and time was a little weird down here since you didn't have the sun to try and tell the time. As we walked down the path Hades' came into view. It's design was beautiful, the old Greece design, the only part that looked weird was that it was all made in obsidian, and it wasn't really weird, I was just used to seeing this Greek style of architect in white marble. Before we got to the palace we were meet with another gate, but this one was bigger then both of the previous gates combined. Which were both pretty large, since a three head dog the size of a truck could stand under it with ease.
Once we were right in front of the gate I say that perch on the top was Alecto. At the sight of her I panicked a little. Percy was able to beat her and both her sisters, but now we were in her home, with an army of the dead at her disposable. But the she-bat did nothing, she just sat on top of the gate glaring at us before saying, "Hades had been expecting you." And after she finished her sentence her glare fueled by rage and hate changed into a smirk. I was getting even more nervous, somehow she looked scarier smiling then when she was glaring at us. I looked over at Grover who looked to share my thoughts as he was now shaking and sweating a little. I gulped, getting even more nervous as we walked through the front doors of Hades' palace, I looked over at Percy to try and calm myself, since he usually had an expressionless face, but you could always see the confidence in his eyes, a look saying, 'I can do anything,' and every time I say his eyes I thought I was safe and everything was okay. But when I looked over at him he had the strangest expression you could have in the Underworld, happiness. Percy walked up the stairs to the palace with a smile on his face and the same confidence in his eyes. I was really confused. Percy rarely ever smiled, and here he was, in the middle of the Underworld, walking up to the king of the dead's home, about to demand the Master Bolt that he stole from Zeus. And he was smiling, I was even more nervous now, I started erratically looking around, trying to come up with plans or perfecting plans I already had. I was also a little worried, I thought the land of the dead had gotten to him. Was he going crazy?
At last we were in front of the doors that lead to Hades' throne room. The doors we huge, maybe fifty, sixty feet high, probably so Hades could walk through easily in his larger god form. Or if his giant pet decided to go to the throne room. The doors, like most of the place, was made of obsidian with precious jewels all over the door. It also had Greek carving on the door similar to the rest of the place. Along with carvings of his domain and symbols. The were carvings of the dead all over the door, along with his Helm of Darkness in the center with his black obsidian sword and his bident clashing with each other behind the helm. It was quite beautiful along with the rest of the palace. I wish I could have more time to analyze and study the place.
Percy was leading us into the throne room, since Grover and I thought he should since it was his quest. And we were both terrified to stand in front of Hades. Percy walked up to the doors and pushed one open. He walked into the throne room with the same smile on his face as we followed close behind him. He walked in front of Hades and Persephone, and Hades didn't look happy at all when he saw Percy, and Percy knelt in front of Hades and lowered his head.
Percy looked up at Hades and smiled, and I immediately understood way he looked happy all the way down to Hades' palace
"Uncle, we have come here looking for Zeus's Master Bolt. We have been given a prophecy that we believe says the Master Bolt is somewhere here." Percy said politely getting a confused look from me and Grover, since Percy himself said he thought Hades was the one who stole it.
"So what you are saying is you think I stole my younger brothers symbol of power. Is that correct?" Hades said stiffening up and growing angrier at being accused of stealing his brothers weapon.
"No, uncle that is not what I believe. I don't think the Lord of the Dead would want to make more work for himself by starting a war." Percy said getting a shocked look from both Hades and Persephone.
"You don't think I did it? Then why..." Hades paused looking to his right, making us all confused, until I saw Percy's face turn into an expression of understanding. Like he knew what was going on. "...No, this is trickery."
"Uncle, I assure you that..." was as far as Percy got until he was interrupted by Hades.
"SILENCE! You will acknowledge me as Lord Hades. My brother my be paranoid and power hunger, but he was not wrong to worry about you, I can feel your power radiating off you from here. You may not be strong enough to take on an Olympian now, but when you are sixteen and the prophecy starts, you will be a very powerful foe. And it isn't like your father hasn't tried to take the throne before. And now that he has you, sea scum, to do his bidding; why wouldn't he try again?"
Percy looked like he was just slapped in the face as he stared back at Hades. "You truly believe I would betray Olympus? They are my family." Percy said backing up to me and Grover.
"Ha, family. Don't make me laugh. The Olympians are the furthest thing from family." Hades said with a huge grin on his face, who like Alecto just looked scarier.
Percy was now in front of me digging through his hoodie. "Lord Hades, please. I didn't steal anything." Percy said with some much hurt in his voice it made me want to cry, and by the looks of it so did Persephone.
"Maybe the boy speaks the truth." Persephone said putting her hand on Hades arm; which at her touch made his anger submerge a little.
Hades looked off to the side once again, and Percy's expression change from hurt and pleading to anger and annoyance. Percy could look pretty scary if he wanted to, luckily since we were in the presents of the King of the Underworld, so she was already scared out of her mind. It also helped that Percy was still a little scrawny from just being introduced to the mythological world. And after Hades was done looking off to the side he looked back at Percy with his anger rising again.
"NO! You will not rid me of my only chance get a set on the council, and finally be able to live this, vial, place more then once a year." Hades said standing up. The room was now shaking with power, along with Grover and I, but that was for a completely different reason. Even the skeleton warriors that previously surrounded us. But something even worse was now surrounding us, the shadows, the were now curling around us like wind. My knees were shaking in fear, and the only reason I didn't collapse right there is because me and Grover were now holding each other in fear as Grover bleated in my ear out of fear. Percy on the other hand was standing in front of me and Grover protectively with no fear at all, he's so amazing, snap out of it were about to die.
Percy covered the little space that was in between him and us, his hands slipped into mind making me blush and anger slightly, but the fear immediately returned and when that happened I noticed the perfectly round and white perfect into my hand. I looked over to Grover and saw Percy did the same with him. I looked back at Percy with confusion, but he answered right away still staring forward at the shadows.
"Smash them under your foot on my say." He whispered to us not wanting Hades to hear, but being surrounded by shadows Hades heard us easily.
"You think you can escape with those, looks like you truly are working with my brother." Hades said thrusting the shadows at Percy, to which he dove out of the way and turned to us.
"NOW!" He said now that all manner of stealth was gone.
Grover was the first one to do so. I stared at Percy with fear, not for my life but his. We couldn't just leave him here all by himself. As I watched him he dove out of the way of shadow spears that Hades was angrily throwing at him as the palace shook, and as he dodged the last spear and landed the shadows launched at him and he quickly took his sword out and cut the shadows away from him. Percy was incredible, he faced Hades with no fear and was dodging Hades attacks, while also being able to think quick enough to dodge the shadows and take his sword out to protect himself.
"Percy I can't just leave you here!" I yelled at Percy while he dove out of the way from another shadow.
"It's fine, I have one too, but I won't leave until you do." He said showing an identical pearl in his hand.
I immediately felt relieved. I gave Percy an understanding nod and the through down the pearl and stomped on it. As soon as I smashed the pearl I was surrounded in a bubble that was head right for the ceiling with pointed rocks coming out of them. I began to panic. The bubble was going to pop and I was going to end up in the same scenario just with some broken bones, but the bubble didn't pop it went straight through the ground and I was in now in the water. As soon as I got to the surface the bubble popped and I was now treading water next to Grover.
"Where's Percy?" I said looking around frantically looking for Percy as Grover followed my lead.
Percy
"NO! You will not rid me of my only chance get a set on the council, and finally be able to live this, vial, place more then once a year." My uncle said standing in front of me making the room shake and the shadows swirl around us.
I looked at my uncle with mixed emotions. I felt hurt and betrayal, my own uncle thought that I was thought I could betray Olympus and he would give me up just for a seat at Olympus. I felt anyone and anger at the voice that was manipulating Hades, not once but twice, this could've been over by now. But the emotions I was feeling the most at that moment were fear and determination. Of course fear, you try staring down the God of death and the dead, and was standing in his domain, the Underworld. I was terrified, I could feel the power radiating off him in the form of shadows. This was nothing like the other monsters I have seen, he was to powerful, he could schwas us like bugs without a second thought. I backed up out of fear and I could feel my friends behind me shivering out of fear and Grover bleating. I froze in the spot I was in,'I can't be acting like this', I thought to myself,' I need to calm down and get my friends out of here.' I quickly calmed down remembering about the pearls I got from the nymph. I backed up into my friends as slowly and naturally as possible so Hades wouldn't get suspicious. I stood in front of them defensively, not wanting them to be hurt. I slid the pearly into each of the hands and told them to break it when I told them to. Grover nodded furiously obviously scared out of his mind, I put on my most confident look ever to calm him down, it worked a little and at seeing him relax I smiled a little knowing my friend was calming down. I looked at Annabeth and got a mixture of emotions, I saw her relax, look at me in awe, blushing a little, which confused me, and finally confusion when she looked back at the pearl in her hands.
"You think you can escape with those, looks like you truly are working with my brother." Hades said thrusting a spear of shadows at me which I dove out of the way turning back to my friends to make sure there okay.
At seeing there okay I screamed for them to smash the pearls so I knew they were okay. Grover did it almost immediately. He hesitated not wanting to leave us behind but I gave him a quick reassuring look and he left with a bubble surrounding him and rising him into the air until he fazed through the ceiling. Hades shoot two more shadow spears that I barely dodged and tried to grab me with the shadows, but I took out my sword just in time to swipe at the shadows that were trying to grab me. I looked back around to find that Annabeth was still here and before I could ask why she was still her see spoke, well yelled.
"Percy I can't just leave you here!" She yelled slightly tearing up.
I went to my pocket right away to retrieve the pearl that I would use to leave and pulled it out to show her,"It's fine, I have one to, but I won't leave until you do." As soon as she saw the pearl in my hand she looked a little relived before taking out her pearl and doing the same a Grover slowly going up to the ceiling and fazing through it. I was filled with relief when I new my friends were safe, but I wasn't. Hades had thrown half a dozen more shadow spears at me. I rolled to the left dodging three that would have pierced my head and chest. I then side stepped two more going at both of my legs, I dodged the left easily but the one going for my right leg grazed me and I went to one knee at just the force that it was thrown at. There was now only one more spear head for my chest, and since I was now on one knee with a deep gash on it I couldn't get the momentum to dodge it, so I slashed at the spear with my sword, swiping at an upward angle. When my blade touched the spear of darkness, the engravings of waves on the blade began to shine a brilliant sea blue, that light up the room. As it began to shine the spear disappeared and the force of the spear sent me flying sliding on my back twenty feet hitting my head on the door.
I got up groggily, rubbing the back of my now aching head. As I looked towards my uncle still dazed from the flash bang like flash that just went off. I scrambled around the floor looking for the pearl. I then found it just five feet in front of my uncle, just my luck. I sprinted towards the pearl wanting to get there before my uncle was out of his dazed state, but he must have realized what I was doing, because as soon as I was about to stomp in the pearl he through his hands towards me sending a wall of shadows at me that through me back into the door, this time my entire body hitting the door before falling back onto the floor. I once again rose, my back and head now killing me. I stood in front of the door while my uncle regained his sight now glaring at me.
"I am sick of these childish games! Seize him!" Hades said pointing towards me as dozens of undead warriors came from the ground.
There were all kinds of warriors, there was soldiers from WW1 and 2, along with ones from the american civil war, but it mainly consisted of ancient Greek warriors. As the first group of soldiers came up at me they thrusted and slashed at me with there bayonets, but seeing as I had a three foot long Greek sword and the had eight inched knives on their guns they didn't cause me much trouble as I slashed downward at the first one that came at me cutting him in half making him unable to fight. The next one lunged at me but I side stepped and kicked him in the back causing a loud crack as he hit the floor, after he hit the floor I turned around to see three skeletons charging me, so I charged back, thrusting my sword into his skeleton rib cage along with the two behind him then lifting my sword up cutting them all in half from the waste to head. As soon as I regained my stance I saw the next group, WW1 and 2 soldiers, and since they had better guns they started to shot at me forcing me to hide behind an obsidian pillar. They shot at me for a minute before they had to reload, I was so thankful they still had to reload their guns. As they were reloading I sprinted towards the group of Spartan and Greek warriors, about a dozen and a half. I knew there was no way I could beat all of them, I have only been training for and all of them have been training for all their lives, plus there was eighteen of them all against me. The first one to charge me was a eighteen year old in bronzer breastplate with an oval shield and two foot long bronzer sword. Before he could do anything I kicked the shield he had causing him to fall on three of his friends that were behind him to fall with him. The next three to come at me were also Spartan warriors who were all around my age, unlike the three I just took down who were all in their twenties. The ones that were now in front of me were all around fourteen and all had two foot swords. The first one swung downward at me and I meet his sword with mine then took out one of the hunting knives I had a stabbed him in the gut causing him to start bleeding, well it wasn't really blood since it was a skeleton, it was more like a white mist that fell out of him. As the skeleton fell I watched the white misted that fell out of he floated back to Hades before seeping into his black robe which was met by other souls screaming out for escape.
I turned back to the other skeletons jumping into the air kicking one's head off, and as I was landing the third went to swing his sword at me, before I fully landed I rolled to the ground ducking under his swing before turning around and back swinging my sword into his head. I turned around to see the four gunners taking aim at me but before they could I took out four throwing knives and threw it at all. As I was turning around to face the last twelve I was stabbed in the back of my thy cause me to fall to the ground and I held in my pain not wanting my now grinning uncle the satisfactory of hearing my scream. I rolled onto my back taking my dagger out trying to ready myself for the skeletons that was envadible going to try and finish my off. When I turned around I saw exactly what I was expecting, one of the skeletons with a sword raised above their head about to kill me, but before he strike me he was stopped.
"Stop." Hades said raising his hand as he sat in his throne,"I have a few words for him," he continued as he sat lazily on his throne,"First of all sea scum, what are you and your father planning?" I sat there in silence glaring at him and his skeleton bodyguards. "Answer me when I speak to you, scum." Hades said growing angrier before looking back to his right.
Damn Kronus. My first quest and I already have a the King of the Titans messing with me.
As Hades looked back to me he had a cocky smile that I didn't like. "Oh Perseus, how much fun I can have with you, I could make you have to fight armies, and when they shred you limb from limb I will bring you back to life just to do the same thing again. Or I could send you to the field of punishments, the furies are very angry at you. But. Something tells me non of that will faze you to much. So I have something better in mine. Maybe I could send the furies to go have a chat with your friends at Camp Half-Blood." At those words I felt my blood start to boil, I was getting angrier my the second and Hades knew it. "There's the reaction I was looking for," He said with an evil grin, I stayed quite trying to keep my anger under control," No," he said not fazed at me not answering,"Very well. Maybe I could go have a quick chat with your mother than." As I heard those words I froze, all anger left me, until it came back ten folds.
"YOU TOUCH HER AND I WILL KILL YOU!" I said lunging at him only to be stopped by the his skeleton servants.
Hades sat there laughing at me,"You think you can kill me child, just give me the Bolt, or I will put your mother in the Fields of Punishment for all of eternity." He said calming down.
I just glared at him with the intent to kill. Minutes pasted as I stared at him grinning happily back at me. I couldn't contain my anger. I could feel my blood pumping through my blood, faster and faster, more than I have ever felt it going. It felt the same as when I was close to the water, the feeling that I could bend it to my will. That's when I let go of my anger. I couldn't contain it anymore. I let a loud battle cry as I threw off the skeleton warriors that were holding me I sprinted towards Hades with clenched fist. Hades did nothing but smile and lazily throw his hand towards me causing the shadows to lunge at me. I kept running towards Hades, I felt my blood and anger coursing through my body, and I let out another battle cry, putting all my anger into the yell and pushing it out. And before the shadows could reach me they started to shake along with everything else in the room, but I was to blinded by anger to notice any of this and by the im I got to Hades he was trying to stand steady and meet me at his throne but the couldn't keep himself steady let alone defend himself. So when I got to him I superman punched him in the face causing his nose to break shown by the ichor now flowing out of his nose. As he fell I noticed the only white thing in the room at the foot of his throne. It was the pearl. I sprinted to it as fast as I could, but before I could get to it I was tripped by one of the skeletons that were grabbing at my ankle. It began to climb up me. I held up my sword and smashed the hilt into its head shattering its head, then I turned to smash the pearl with my sword before the other skeletons could get to me, and I was enveloped in a bubble that brought me up to the ceiling. I laid on my back, my leg killing me and my entire body tired from what I just did back there, which I wasn't really sure what happened. As I floated through the ground I was soon meet by the refreshing feeling of the ocean, which for the son of Poseidon, was like heaven, especially with me being tired and injured. As soon as the bubble hit the surface it popped leaving me floating on the surface of the ocean allowing the water to get me wet, since it always felt better, I was content as can be, until I remembered why I was there.
I bolted up treading the water looking all around me," Annabeth, Grover where are you!
Hello, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Once again I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'll try to post another story soon. Until next time, see ya.