DISCLAIMER: Percy Jackson and Crew are the intellectual property of Rick Riordan
WARNING: OOC Characters!
Whew! At last I get a hold of a computer! Sweet Internet, I adore you! I missed you, damn it! :)) Hey there guys! Erm, am I late? (ducks a multitude of thrown items) Okay, okay! I'm late in posting! Sorry! I tried to do my best, but, well. I'm currently calling my Boss (at least in my head) Muse-killer, but, thankfully, she gives me a little paragraph at a time to write before fainting. -.-
This chapter, to be honest, gave me a headache when I proofread it. I have no idea where in Hades I pulled out the things I've put in this chapter. Just so you know, beware. I also think it's a little flat. Hmm. Anyways. :))
Guys, you really are the best an author could ever ask! Those who favorited, followed, or just plain read and enjoyed this story, THANK YOU ALL! I'm feeling warm and fuzzy inside. :3
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sharonpijl - He wanted to, remember? :D But then, Triton and Poseidon knew that the whole Council would be watching, so they tuned it down a ton. Plus, Luke deserves to be treated with some leniency, right? :)) Ares is always stupid, my dear. :)) And Hera can't do that. She'd be humiliating herself in front of Olympus because she herself is mocking her own domains. And that's never a good thing. :D
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Εδώ είναι το επόμενο κεφάλαιο! (Here's the next chapter!)
Chapter 21: Enter the Underworld!
"You guys ready?"
"Err, define ready, Mare?"
"No shaking knees at the very least?"
Grover sighed as he stared miserably at his own violently shaking knees. "I don't think this is going away anytime soon, Perce."
Ethan clamped down a steady hand on the satyr's shoulder in comfort. "Come on, Grover. We aren't the first ones to go to the Underworld and survive, you know."
"Do any of you know how to make music so sweet it'll charm anyone? Or super strength? Or a Blessing of Hecate?"
"Nope! But we have Luke!"
Ethan and Grover stared at me while Luke raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"He's a Son of Hermes." I shrugged at them, making Luke smirk and the other two stare at me.
"So?"
"Escape artist, anyone?" The two just sighed and shook their heads while Luke winked at me.
"So nice of you to take note of my talents." Luke murmured as he swung a casual arm around my shoulders, bringing me flush to his side. Well. My face couldn't be redder than this, now could it?
"Okay, okay. Break it up." Ethan then all but plucked Luke's arm from me and at the same time separated the both of us with a heavy scowl in Luke's direction. Luke just smiled unrepentantly. Grover and I just looked at each other and sighed.
We were standing in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at the golden letters etched in the black marble of the building: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS. Underneath the glaring sign, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS, NO LOITERING, NO LIVING.
"Geez. I feel really, really cold all of a sudden." Grover murmured as he rubbed his hands along both of his arms, shivering slightly.
"Grove? It's midnight. It's supposed to be cold." Luke laughed a little as Grover's expression turned indignant.
"Oh, you know what I mean! Not the normal cold! The 'dead' cold!"
"Is there even such a thing?" Ethan mused as he smiled at Grover's betrayed look at him.
"Oh, don't listen to them, Hircum. I understand. They're just bullies." I hugged Grover, tucking his head under my chin as I patted his curly brown head while mock scowling at the two. Luke looked like he wanted to rip Grover away from me while Ethan just pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Erm, Mare?"
"Yes, Grover?"
"Can you let go now? Luke looks like he's seconds away from committing murder." I looked at Luke and had to swallow my laugh at the scary face he was aiming at Grover's back. I just smiled indulgently and let him go, in the process, gazing back at the building, feeling my smile slide away, and the apprehension start to seep into my bones.
Despite it being currently midnight, the lobby was currently brightly lit, which enabled whoever would pass by to see the inside, wherein there was an influx of people, but not much of activity. It was like they were standing there, waiting for something, or someone. To make matters even creepier, there was a tough looking guard behind the security desk. What a nice reception, don't you think?
"Ok. Everybody know the plan?"
Grover grimaced and Ethan just looked plain put out.
"Damselfish, I have to let you know, for your own good, that your plans really do have suicidal tendencies." Luke pointed out.
"Well, we won't know until we're there, right?"
"Right until we're close to being eaten, is more like it." Grover sighed as he massaged his temple warily.
"Relax, Hircum. We'll be fine, alright?" I smiled at him, hoping to relieve some of his, and in turn, some of my, anxiety. Grover looked at me, took a large breath, and nodded, knees still shaking, but his face carved with resolve.
Ethan must've noticed because he smiled at me as he clamped a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, sis. If something goes wrong, we'll just offer Luke as a sacrificial lamb, okay?"
"Then don't worry, Damselfish. With me around, you'll be sailing home scot-free in no time." Luke winked at me as he bumped his shoulder against mine.
I smiled at them, once more looking at the building, only this time with firm resolve. "Okay. Let's go have a chat with Uncle Hades, shall we?"
As we walked inside, I couldn't help but snort quietly at the softly playing music on hidden speakers. Really? Muzak? Uncle Hades couldn't even go with soothing ballads? I didn't know he was…. cliché. All in all, the lobby looked straight out of one of those old black and white detective movies, except this one had an elevator. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cacti decorated the corners of the room like creepy skeleton fingers digging out from the grave. The furniture was all black leather, but each and every seat was taken. There were people sitting down, people standing up, people staring out of the windows, people waiting for the elevator; everywhere. The creepy thing was, even though it clearly was full of people, there was a clear absence of sound. You know, the low buzzing in the background that's made when there are too many people talking at the same time? And another creepy thing, well, the people were, sort of, transparent. So, yeah. Not my ideal place to audition for a movie role.
We walked up to the security guard's desk and looked up at the guy since the desk was on a raised podium. The security was a tall, elegant, chocolate brown skinned man with bleach blond hair shaved into a militaristic fashion. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit (probably Armani, judging by the design) the same color as his hair. He had a black rose pinned under the silver tag that held his name. Hooboy. Here goes nothing.
"Erm, excuse me. Mister?" I looked at the shades which hid, if my Mom was right, black holes as eyes. I didn't look at his name tag, fearing my impulsive nature to blurt out the wrong name as my dyslexia acts on it.
He looked at me and smiled, cold and sweet. I mentally shivered at that. Sheesh! Charon sure takes creepy to a whole new level! "It's Charon, sweetheart."
"Charon."
"Wonderful. Now, Mr. Charon."
"Mr. Charon."
"Excellent. Now, what can I do to you young dead ones?"
The question made my brain stop working, and a cold feeling to start creeping in my stomach. Dear Poseidon, if I go further..!
No! I give myself a rough mental shake. I came here exactly for that reason! I need to go to Uncle Hades to prevent World War IV from ever happening! I can't lose it here! Dad's counting on me! Pull yourself together, girl!
Luckily though, Luke noticed my disconcertment in time and took over flawlessly. "I know mythology pretty well. If you're Mr. Charon, then we want to go to the Underworld."
Charon then did something I didn't expect. He laughed. My jaw must've hit the ground as deep, raspy chuckles echoed though the lobby, making the restless spirits less agitated. And I knew I didn't have to turn around to guess that the boys had their jaws as wide open as I have.
As Charon's chuckles abated, he regarded us with an amused air about him. "Well now, that was quite refreshing."
Ethan managed to scrape his jaw off the ground as he eyed the Ferryman warily. "Is it?"
Charon scoffed a little. "Of course it is, young man! No 'There must be a mistake, Mr. Charon! I can't be dead!', or 'I don't believe this is real! I don't believe in you!' or any kind of shouting and denials. It's quite a welcome change." He eyed us a little, his eyebrows raising slightly. "How, exactly then, did the four of you die?"
"My deranged Uncle took us for hostages. He wanted money, but our families didn't have the sum he was asking for. He had us at the 40th floor of the hotel we were at. He didn't get what he wanted, so he pushed us off the balcony." I immediately interjected when I saw Grover opening his mouth to spin a most likely lame and non realistic story. As much as I love Grover as my best friend, I have to admit that he had the imagination of a rock. Besides, this was our deaths we're talking about! Or, fake deaths rather. I'm not even sure Charon will believe something like drowning in an exaggeratedly large bathtub, which, if I know Grover, will be his cover story for the rest of us. At least, my story has a believable tinge to it, doesn't it? Grover immediately closed his mouth as a sheepish look flitted about his face before disappearing.
"Quite the death then. He did that during a party of some sort?" Charon gestured to our clothing.
"Yeah. Grover here is from a rich family, though he's shunned because his mother's the third one his father has." Luke patted Grover's shoulder, who at least didn't fake the grimace he made. Luke sure could spin a story.
Charon looked impressed, though something in my gut told me that he was skeptical at best. "So, would that make you have bills? Or credit cards at least." As we shook our heads simultaneously, the Ferryman sighed, surprisingly sounding genuinely disappointed. "Pity. I would have liked to send you four on your way. It's not every century I meet demigods. Alive, that is."
The four of us tensed, Luke and Ethan instantly shielding me, Grover flanking me from behind. Charon just smirked at our actions, as if mentally laughing at how we thought we could stand a chance against him. "Children, I am Charon, Ferryman of the Underworld, God of Boundaries. Surely, you didn't think you could trick me into believing you four were actually dead, now do you?" At his raised eyebrow, I had the decency to smile sheepishly. Well, at least he wasn't as dumb as Ares had been.
Seeing my reaction, even if the others, well, except for Grover's cringing, hadn't moved besides glaring at the Ferryman, was all the confirmation Charon needed. "Well, I do have a pretty good sense of self-preservation on not wanting a war, but I need a reason. Lord Hades is terrifying on a good day, you know."
Ethan hesitated, Luke growled and Grover twitched. Damn it! What could we do to convince him? Charon just raised an eyebrow impatiently, tapping his fingers in a slow rhythm.
"All right. We're not mind readers. Do we have something you want?" Luke growled at the Ferryman, making Charon smirk at him.
"I have it on good authority that you've just come from the Lotus Hotel and Casino. And you've had a friendly run-in with your wonderfully accommodating half-brother." Charon casually said, but his eyes, black holes that they were, never left me.
"Please elaborate." Ethan warily looked at the smirk Charon was still sporting.
"Easy. What did you bring when you left the Hotel?"
"Nothing. We left everything behind in panic."
His smirk widened as he unmistakably leered at me. "Everything, Princess?"
"Everything. And don't call me that."
"Are you sure about that, Princess?"
I scowled at the leering god. Really now. Can they stop calling me that? I mean, even if I was the only Sea Princess they have, would they please stop calling me that? ….. Wait. How the heck did he know!? I gaped at him, while his leer turned into a full-blown evil smile.
"I was wondering when you're going to figure it out."
"H-How..?"
"Sweetheart, gossip travels fast in our world. Is it really a surprise that I know about you and the impending war?" He smirked as he casually buffed his fingernails on his suit. "All I want is compensation, children. Lord Hades barely gives me enough to pay for my wardrobe, you know."
The realization rushed onto me with the speed of a bullet train. Money. Duh. The others must've come to the same conclusion as Grover hurriedly dug out his green LotusCash card from his pocket.
"Will this do, sir?"
Charon smiled, this time a smile one would often find on a businessman who had talked himself a very good deal from a clueless chump. "It will do perfectly. Now, come. I have four more slots to fill." He then snatched the green card from Grover's grip before fully standing and gesturing for us to follow him.
As we followed him, the restless spirits immediately tried to latch onto us, but it was like wind latching onto trees. They simply didn't have the capacity of touching live humans. When they saw this, the spirits garbled nonsense at us, their tones imploring. Several of them even started to raise their voices, but one sharp look from Charon had them all cowering back and keeping mute.
"Freeloaders," he muttered contemptuously. "There's nothing more that I hate than freeloaders."
"What happens to the spirits who don't have money for passage?" Ethan asked as he gazed at the desolate spirits with sympathy.
"Nothing. Until as such Lord Hades gives me a couple of free slots every decade."
"That's not very fair, is it?"
Charon snorted elegantly. "Believe me, godling. You'll understand when you see the Fields. And that's why every god occupying the Underworld holds the Lord of the Sky in contempt. Almighty knowing ruler my ass. Bah!"
The four of us exchanged raised eyebrows as Charon escorted us to the elevator, which already was crammed chock full of souls who were all holding green boarding passes. Charon then gazed at the room with a severe frown. "No one is to cause unruly chaos once I'm gone. Or there will be severe consequences. Understood?"He shut the doors without waiting for replies. He then put a key card into a slot on the elevator panel, and slowly, we started to descend.
"Aren't we travelling by boat, Mr. Charon?"
"Oh, we will, Princess. We will. You're in a hurry to meet your Uncle."
"Seeing as we have a deadline and all…..!"
"Why don't you enjoy being alive a little while longer, Princess?"
"We WILL live through this."
"We'll see, Princess. We'll see."
Before I could snap back a retort, I shut my mouth hurriedly, swaying a bit as a wave of nausea hit me. I felt the elevator shift gears, and instead of going down, we were moving forwards. The air gradually turned misty, and with it, the souls started to change. They lost their modern clothes, and were replaced by long flowing gray robes. The floor began swaying.
"What..?"
I shut my mouth as slowly but surely, Charon started changing. His suit had disappeared. In its place was a long black robe. His sunglasses were also gone. And yipes! Mom was right about his eyes. They looked like black holes that sucked life and light in. He saw my horrified gaze and grinned at me, only his skin had started to become translucent, beginning with his face, so I was pressed hard not to scream or whimper in fright. It was straight out of a horror movie, damn it!
"I'm getting seasick." Grover whimpered, a hand covering his mouth, his face green.
"If you puke, I'll throw you overboard, satyr."
At his statement, I blinked and looked around. The elevator that we had boarded was nowhere to be seen. Instead, we were standing on a boat; a wooden barge. Charon was poling us along what appeared to be a dark, oily river that was swirling with bones, dead fish, and many strange things: plastic dolls, wilted carnations, soggy diplomas with gilt edges. What the heck? Is this supposed to be the river that grants immortality?
"The River Styx. It so…" Ethan murmured, horrified eyes taking in the things floating on the surface.
"Polluted, yes. As you humans make the journey, you throw away everything you've failed to accomplish: hopes, dreams, aspirations." Charon's voice was condescending. "How your species had fallen."
Mist curled above the murky water. Above us were dangerously sharp stalactites. Ahead, the far shore glittered a nasty poison green. This. This is the Land of the Dead.
I felt an arm curl around my shoulders, and a quick look told me that it was Luke. Normally this would've resulted in me glowing red, but now I just snuggled closer. I needed the assurance that I wasn't alone. I wanted to murmur a prayer, but I knew Dad couldn't help me this time. I was on my own.
The shoreline came too fast for my liking. Craggy rocks, black volcanic sand that stretched out to end at a high stone wall in the far distance. And an eerie sound echoed around us; the howl of a very large animal.
"Well, well. It looks like he's a little hungry. Still want to cross over, Princess?" Charon's grin was creepy and mocking at the same time. Wonderful.
The bottom of the boat then skidded on the black sand, prompting the other souls to disembark. An old man and woman had gotten off together, hand in hand. A mother and her child followed, the girl's pigtails bouncing in a floaty, ghostly sort of way. A boy no older than I was shuffled behind all the rest.
"I'd wish you luck, but it wouldn't do any of you good. Only one god makes the rules here, and I'm not sure he'll be in a good mood, with what's happening. Still, nice doing business with you, Princess." He smirked as he took up his pole and started the journey upstream.
As for us, we followed the spirits up the well worn path.
I'm actually not sure what I expected to find upon arriving, Pearly Gates or a big black portcullis, but after the experience with Charon, I was pretty much teetering between horror and amusement at what awaited us.
The entrance looked like a cross between the Jersey Turnpike and airport security. Again, wonderful.
There were three separate entrances under one large archway that boasted the sentence YOU ARE NOW ENTERING EREBUS. Each of the three entrances had those pass through metal detectors with security cameras mounted on top. Beyond these were tollbooths that were manned by black-robed ghouls eerily like Charon.
The howling was really loud now, but curiously enough, I couldn't see its origin. Funny, you'd think that a monster as big as the Guard Dog of the Underworld would be easily seen from a hundred feet, but there you go.
The spirits were separated into three lines, wherein two were marked with ATTENDANT ON DUTY, while the middle one had EZ DEATH. The EZ DEATH was moving continuously, while the other two were crawling.
"Plan?"
"The EZ DEATH must go to the Fields of Asphodel. They don't want their lives to be judged and found lacking enough to be booted to the Fields of Punishment." Ethan murmured, gray eyes watching the steady line with pity.
"Who usually judges?"
"Shakespeare, King Minos, Thomas Jefferson, people like that. They decide if the one they're examining is evil enough for the Fields of Punishment, or good enough for the Fields of Elysium." Luke said, but there was an underlying hint of bitterness in his voice. And I totally understand. Gods. What right do those people have to judge others? They're not Hades. Who in Tartarus' name thought about this system?!
"What happens on the Asphodel Fields?"
"Imagine a pre-concert to a famous band. In a wheat field. In total silence."
"Gee, thanks for the depressing thought, Hircum."
"Hey, at least I won't suffer alone."
"Guys, look." Ethan interrupted our ribbings, nodding towards two black-robed ghouls that approached a spirit and were frisking him at the security desk. The guy looked awfully familiar.
"Oh. He's the preacher in the news, remember? Embezzling the money given to their church?" Grover cringed as he laid eyes on the man.
"Oh. Yeah. I remember." He was featured in one of the news feeds we saw down in Yancy. He was an annoying televangelist from upstate New York who raised millions of dollars for orphanages and things, only to be caught spending most, if not all of the money on his own mansion. Hypocrite, if I ever saw one. Last thing anyone heard from him was when the news aired that his 'Lamborghini for the Lord' went off a cliff.
"Let me guess. Fields of Punishment?"
"Yeah. The Fu- err, Kindly Ones are going to be arranging his eternal punishment."
"Does he even believe in this place?" I asked, shivering as I realized that old Mrs. Dodds would be here, licking her lips hungrily for me.
"Who knows. He could be seeing this place as he imagines it, or the truth. You humans could be stubborn that way."
"Wow, Grover. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside."
"You're welcome, Mare!"
We walked closer to the gates. The howling was so loud now, I could feel the ground rumbling, but I still couldn't see him. Just then, about fifty feet in front of us, the mist shimmered, and a huge form materialized, shadowy but terrifying. It was transparent, blending in with whatever background it was in, but it's teeth were as solid as any dog's, and it's eyes, all three pairs of them, were as visible as any others. The clincher was all three pairs were staring straight at me. So, forgive me for saying the first thing that popped into my mind at the time.
"He's a freaking Rottweiler!"
When Mom told me about Cerberus, all I could imagine him being was a big, black Mastiff with three heads, but apparently, Uncle Hades prefers Rotties, well, Rotties that were two times the size of a wooly mammoth, and has two more heads than norm.
The dead walked up to him, well, under him and around him, to be more precise. The two ATTENDANT ON DUTY lines both parted to either side of him while the EZ DEATH easily line went straight under him, the souls not even having to duck to pass through.
"Uh, guys?"
"Yeah, Damselfish?"
"Why can I suddenly see him clearer?"
"I think it's because we're closer to being dead, Sis." Ethan gulped a little at the thought.
Cerberus' three heads rose, and each of its mouths growled menacingly, eyes never leaving my form.
"Okay. I think he knows were kinda not dead, guys."
"Are you sure about this, Mare? Cerberus maybe a dog, but I don't think this applies to him." Grover whimpered, wincing at the growls the large dog was emitting. "On second thought, why don't we just run? He's being nice and allowing us twenty seconds to escape."
"What's he saying?" Luke asked as he casually strode a little faster so he could be at the front, covering me. Ethan titled his head questioningly at Grover as he moved to my flank.
"I really don't think it should be said to the ears of minors." Grover cringed as another growl escaped from Cerberus' mouth. "Err, we really should run now. He hasn't had any breakfast yet."
"We don't have that option, Hircum. Okay. Wish me luck." My smile was definitely wobbly, but I hope that won't be the last one I give. As I walked forwards resolutely, Luke grabbed my arm, halting my progress. I looked at him inquisitively, but he just smiled at me.
"Don't get killed, Damselfish."
I smiled at him, oddly comforted. "Don't worry. I don't plan to. I haven't had my first kiss yet." With that out there, I pulled my arm from his grip and sauntered up to Cerberus.
"Hello, Cerberus! I have something for you!" As I spoke, I rummaged around my purse until I found the vial of perfume Silena had shoved inside my purse. Earlier, in Crusty's place, I emptied the container, murmuring an apology both to Silena and Aphrodite, seeing as it was Bvlgari, of all things (and believe me, those things are really expensive), and filled it with soapy water (Aphrodite must be crying right about now). "Want to see something fun, boy?"
Cerberus growled, his six eyes never leaving my form, but his three noses sniffed the air curiously. I poured a little of the soapy water on my hands and started to lather, making them foamy and sudsy. Cerberus lowered all three heads so that they were level with me, his eyes still holding their animosity, but there was a sliver of curiosity in them. I smiled at him as I cupped my hands together, made a circular shape with them, and blew on the hole I made. The lather expanded as I blew air into it, making a relatively big bubble. Cerberus' middle head surged forwards, making Grover yelp and the other two curse softly, but he stopped just before his large nose touched my form, the eyes on his middle head trained on the bubble I made. He then nudged forward a little more, his wet nose touching the bubble, making it pop. Instantly, the head reeled back, shaking as if he took a bath. He then stilled and tilted its three heads to the side simultaneously, making me aww in cuteness on the inside. He's cute!
"You like that, boy? I'll make another." I happily said as I poured a little more soapy water unto my hands, rubbed them together, then blew on them again, making a larger bubble in the process.
This time though, Cerberus barked and its left head was the one who surged forward to pop the bubble, only he snapped his large jaws at the bubble, narrowly missing my arms. I knew I was white with fright but I managed a shaky smile at the steadily excited dog. "Very good boy! How about another one?" This time, Cerberus shifted on his haunches, stretched his two front legs forward, lowered his front half to be level with me, and wagged his tail, all three heads looking at me expectantly, their tongues lolling eagerly.
"Sit, first though, boy. If you want another bubble, sit!" I ordered in the most commanding voice I could. Cerberus blinked at me, all six eyes as he licked his three sets of lips, shifted a little, then sat down, crushing the souls that were travelling under him in the process. I winced at that, offering up a silent apology to them, before looking at my friends. Grover was pretty much gaping at me, and Ethan and Luke had looks of awe plastered on their faces. "When I give the signal, run for the EZ DEATH line."
Before any of them had a chance of responding though, I was rummaging around in my purse again, determined not to lose Cerberus' complacent manner. I smiled as I gripped the fuzzy sphere and took it out of my purse. "Hey, boy! Know what, let's play another game! How about this ball, boy? Do you want the ball, Cerberus? Stand!" I shoved it up high, waving the yellow fuzzy ball side to side.
All of Cerberus' heads followed the ball. He gave out a whine that normally would have sounded pitiful, but his sent shivers down my spine.
"Stand, Cerberus!" I shouted sternly. Cerberus barked, hurriedly standing up, tongues lolling out of his mouths as his tail wagged behind.
"Good boy, Cerberus!" I tossed the ball as high as I could. Cerberus caught it with his middle mouth. The two other heads weren't happy about that, and began snapping at the middle to claim the prize.
"Stop it! Drop it, Cerberus!"
Cerberus looked at me, the yellow ball only big enough to impersonate a TicTac in his mouth. The heads simultaneously gave another whimper as he dropped the ball, half-bitten with drool all over it, at my feet.
I picked up the ball, generally ignoring its sliminess. "Now, guys!"
At my peripheral, I could see the others inching slowly forward. Instantly, Cerberus' heads snapped towards them and started to growl.
"No, Cerberus! If you want the ball, stay! Stay, Cerberus!"
Cerberus let out a keening whine, but did as was told.
"Percy, hurry!" Ethan muttered as they passed me. I nodded as I watched them walk steadily under Cerberus' huge body. When they were safely out under the Guard Dog, I smiled at up at him.
"Good boy, Cerberus!" I didn't hesitate. I threw the ball towards him, even though I'm fresh out of ideas. Hopefully he'll be distracted enough so I can power-walk under him and join the others.
This time, it was the left head that caught the ball. Immediately, the middle head started attacking the left, while the right head just moaned in misery.
I immediately made a beeline for the EZ DEATH line. Soon, I arrived where the others were waiting for me.
"Holy Zeus, Percy, how did you know how to do that?" Ethan immediately demanded as he snatched me and spun me around, checking for injuries.
"Never mind that! Where did you get that ball?" Luke's eyes were furrowed as he looked at me with confusion and a glimmer of respect.
"I tore it out of one of Crusty's beds. You know, the tennis themed one."
"And how did you know your plan would work? Heck, I thought the plan was a bust!" Grover's wide eyes looked at me with awe.
"I wanted to have a dog, but Gabe wouldn't pay for one. I was at the pound every day when I was six."
"Okay. Now that we've established that Percy enchants even animals, shall we get a move on?" Ethan muttered, uncomfortably looking at my getting watery eyes. We all nodded, and about to bolt through the line to the metal detectors, but Cerberus moaned pitifully from all three mouths.
I turned to look at him, feeling my eyes water even more at the imploring look Cerberus was shooting me as he did a one eighty.
"Good boy, Cerberus. Very good." My voice sounded warbled even to me. The dog just looked at me, at us, with shining eyes as he whined again. Somehow, even without Grover's help, I could tell he was worried.
"I-I'll get you another ball when I visit again, Cerberus. How's that sound?"
He whimpered as he anxiously pawed the ground, making the earth itself rattle.
"Don't worry, Cerberus. I-I promise I'll see you again."
I turned around, feeling a few tears leak through. I felt an arm surround me, giving me comfort.
"Hey, it's okay, Perce. It's okay." I looked at Luke's softly smiling face and nodded. Seeing this, Ethan and Grover nodded and went through the metal detectors. Unfortunately, it seems that it wasn't metal they detected, because they immediately started blaring, and red lights started to flash.
"Magic detected! Unauthorized possessions!"
We burst through the gate, which started even more alarms and raced towards the Underworld.
A few minutes later, we stopped and hid inside the rotten trunk of an immense black tree, catching our breaths as security ghouls passed by us, screaming at their walkie-talkies for backup from the Furies.
"Well. Now I can say I've lived through a lot of things and still came out sane. And whole." Grover panted as he leaned against the bark of the trunk.
"We're proud of you, man. Really proud." Ethan patted Grover's shoulder as the satyr slumped down to the ground.
"Still. I think-."
"Yeah, Damselfish?"
"If what I'm thinking about turns to be true, I'm really going to have to give Uncle Zeus a piece of my mind."
"Okay?" The three exchanged confused looks.
Really. With Cerberus as an example, everyone needs attention, needs approval once in a while. Nobody deserves to be cast off just because they're different, or just plain uninteresting. If what I'm dreading turns out to be true, Uncle Zeus might as well look for another symbolic weapon of his, because if I find that all of his unending glory and mercy is just utter bull, I might as well give it to Dad or Uncle Hades, as payment for all of the things Uncle Zeus did.
This I swear.
FINISHED! XD
I'm not really sure about that last part. I really wanted to tack on some things I want to get out there, but if I started, I wouldn't be able to stop until they escape the Underworld, so I just put it in the next chapter. Sorry about that! O.o
On the other hand, bookwormultimate had just posted up his version of 'Reading' Ocean's Wings! Yay! Please visit the story and tel him/her what you thought about it! :D
Okay, sooo, I fibbed a little. Hades wasn't in this chapter. Sorry for all those who were hoping to catch a glimpse of our lovable Lord of the Underworld! But, the good news is that, we'll get an overdose of him VERY SOON! XD
The next chapter! Another day, another Council meeting to endure! Watch as Hera finally discloses a secret that made Hephaestus' life hell! Watch as Apollo and Hermes strike another costume prank! And cheer as slowly but surely, the Olympians are made aware of a threat so dire, it could destroy the world!
Well, read and review, my dears! XD