Chapter 2: A Short Ride to Hades

We are told to follow her to the pine tree that stands as a monument to Thalia. As we walk I notice that my friends that have talked to me for almost the whole time I've been at camp are looking at me as though there was something wrong. When I smiled at them, they just looked at me like I was never going to come back.

By the time that we reached the crest of the hill I was feeling pretty down. Percy noticed and told me "You know what? They always seem to be Debby downers when it comes to someone leaving on a quest. And you know what else; this is not going to stop unless we come back from it in one piece." Though he didn't tell me something I didn't know already it seemed to help calm me down hearing it from the toughest guy at camp.

"What are you thinking about?" I hear someone ask me interrupting my thought. I look over at Percy and see that he is looking at me waiting for me to answer.

"You know, it's kind of a little bit of everything. Mostly about the summons to Olympus and who the third person could be. I can understand you, but I'm new and not very experienced in the way of the gods. The only thing that I have any experience in is magic but I don't see the helpfulness of that." By the time that I finish speaking, I realize that we are at the hill. At the bottom of the hill, I see a chariot waiting. Percy looks at it and says, "That looks familiar."

"Yes, I bet it does especially since you saw it last year after rescuing me and that other girl, the one who betrayed you and Olympus, Annabeth Chase.

Percy looks at me and then back at my mom before saying, "We all know what she did, now can we please go. I would like to find out more about this quest.

We climb into the chariot and my mom gets the reindeer moving. Before we know it we are soaring above the Hollywood sign. We just beginning to descend when Percy curses and turns to Artemis to ask a question. She holds up a hand "Yes we are going to the underworld. And yes that is where we will find the last member of our little party. Now please try not to upset Hades no matter how tempting it may be." She finishes this with a smirk, knowing that Hades is likely to be ticked of no matter what.

We head down the street and the sleigh transforms into a sports car. We pull into the parking lot to DAO recording studios. After we are sure that everybody has what is needed we enter. When we are in the front lobby the first thing I notice is the dead. There seemed to be quite a few of them. Following my mom to the front desk, I see a man sitting there; Percy looks at him and says "Good to see you Charon. Still like those Italian suits I see." Charon looks at him and smirks as if sharing an inside joke.

He looks down and says "Drown in another bath tub? Or are you smarter than last time you were here? "

He turns to Artemis and says, "I see that you have something on your mind Lady Artemis. Care if I pick your brain for a second?"

She looks at him and he smiles as if he had just found a better suit than the one he is currently wearing. He nods and I see that he and my mother are communicating telepathically.

He turned to me and says "If offered anything today do not refuse for if you do it will be the end of all things good, like Italian suits." He turns to Percy and says "same for you Jackson. Your role may not be what you were expecting but important nonetheless will it play. Now if you all would follow me." Without another word he turns and we step into the elevator with him.

He presses a button and we start sinking while we descend the metal box transforms forms into a boat and we splash down into a river filled with rubbish. I turn to Percy and he says "The river Styx, polluted by all the dreams that people have thrown away. It's sad because this probably used to be a beautiful river before."

"How do you know what I was going to ask?"

I look over at him and I see that his face is in a turmoil of intense emotion. After a few minutes he sighs and says "When it's twelve I had my first quest. Me, Annabeth, and Grover had to retrieve the Master Bolt from Hades. Except he never had it. Turns out a demigod son of Hermes who I had started to think of as a friend had betrayed us to Kronos the titan lord of time. And we came here Annabeth was the one to ask. Charon told us exactly what I told you."

After that, I decide to stay quiet after that to digest what I was told. After what feels like an eternity of waiting we arrive at the banks of the Styx and we disembark. Just as I'm about to step off Charon stops me "Remember what I told you. Don't reject the gifts given. And that goes for you too punk." He says the last part loud enough for Percy to here.

With that I climb out of boat and begin the incredibly long walk to Hades Palace. While we walk I look around at everything after we get through the fields we come to this huge palace that looks like its built out of obsidian. We walk in and I see a middle-aged man. He has skin so pale that it looks like he has never seen the sun. I look toward Percy and he is bowing so I do the same. My mother on the other hand stays standing and addresses the pale man in a polite voice "Hello Hades. We have come for what we discussed the other day."

Hades looks at my mom and then turns to look at Percy and me. "I hope you know what you are doing because this is really dangerous even for you. And should anything go wrong it will not come back to me because have warned you."

My mom smiles "Well let's not delay any longer. I would like to see my husband. And return to Olympus so that these matters can be competed without any issues. So my family can reunited once more."

With that Hades waves his hand and we are all engulfed in shadows and are transported out of the underworld and right smack dab in the center of the Olympian throne room. When the room stops spinning I look around in wonder until my eyes land on a man who I've only seen in photos. Without waiting any longer I lunge at him and we both fall to the floor with tears in our eyes while I cry he pats my head slowly I come back to my senses and stand up helping my dad to his feet I look at him and see the happiness in his eye.

Still smiling I turn around and bow to the gods and goddesses but before I can offer my apologies Zeus smiles at me holding his hand up to stop me "There is no need to apologize this reunion is something that should be cherished and that reaction alone was enough to warm our hearts that we haven't felt in some time. So for that I thank you for showing that you have compassion of the caliber that used to be seen more when humans were more simple beings." Without missing a beat, he turns to my mom to see that she has tears trickling down her face as she looks at my dad and me "Now the reason that you were summoned is that it has come to my attention that you Rose got to that death trap that passes as a school. Before you protest Rose that is where your father and Percy come in. James, you were brought back so that she may continue her schooling without that manipulative old man try to get her killed or signed off to that disgusting pig Weasley or any other wizard. Now Percy I know you are wondering why you were brought here, we need someone to watch over her while she is in the school so we talked to Hecate and she agreed to grant you the magic needed to attend Hogwarts" At this point Percy snorts and everybody looks at him. Apologizing he asks Zeus to continue. "This is considered a quest for the safety of Olympus as Kronos has been known to recruit those who he believes will join if he promises something in return especially like that Voldy-guy. Or even the manipulative old goat. Now this will be Rose's quest but if you accept you will get to choose one more person to accompany you and will be give the same magic as you Percy and you will be there as an adviser as sorts as this will be your third quest."

At this point he looks at Percy "Lord Zeus I would be honored to accompany Rose on this quest as for companions I would like to have Clarisse La Rue daughter of Ares accompany us. I know that we haven't always seen eye-to-eye Lord Ares but I can respect a good fighter and as much as I hate to admit it your kids do have some of the best fighters in camp. So if that is all when do we start our mission? I doubt you are going to send us there completely unprepared."

At this, Hecate flashed into the throne room with a very disoriented looking Clarisse. She looks around and bows respectfully to the gods "My lords and ladies what do I owe the pleasure of this summons."

Ares looks at his daughter and smirks "Well, you were asked here at the request of Rose and the sea spawns hope that you would accompany them on a long term quest." After he finished speaking Clarisse turns to us with a raised brow, after finishing explaining the mission again, she looks impressed.

I speak up at this point "I know you and Percy may not get along all that well but I could use the help. Plus my dad and I can take care of the shopping expenses in the alley." After that, we discussed all the smaller details near the end of the meeting I suggested that the group of questers and my dad leave the day after tomorrow giving us time to gather supplies and get my dad to Gringotts.