The very next night, I was laying in my bed staring at the ceiling. I was never going to get to sleep at this rate.

There was a soft knock at my door. It was so soft, that I had to pause and wonder of I was just hearing things. Then it came again, only louder.

I got up and cautiously opened the door. Two people were outside. Tabbatha and Hermes.

"Nice to see you again," said Hermes, walking in. Tabbatha followed her dad in, checking behind her shoulder to make sure no cleaning Harpies saw her.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, "It's after curfew."

"There's never a curfew for a god," said Hermes, smiling. He sat down on a chair and said, "We have important business to discuss."

Tabbatha and I could already tell what was coming, but didn't want to interrupt Hermes speech. "As you know, Zeus is plotting to kill you both," he announced. "The only way to stop him is to retrieve his eagle."

"So we go to the Underworld?" asked Tabbatha.

Hermes nodded. "You'll be going there either way. Best that you do it while you're alive."

"True," I agreed, nodding.

Hermes took out a bag of ambrosia and helped himself to a slice before continuing. "I can help you," he said through bites of ambrosia. "I can't take you there, but I can get you some transportation."

Tabbatha and I looked at each other, showing a hint of a smile. Hermes tossed Tabbatha small box that jingled. She opened it and smiled. "No way," she said, pulling out a key ring with a key on it.

"Yes way," said Hermes, opening the curtain. Outside was one super sweet godly car. "Sorry I forgot your 16th birthday, Tabbatha. Will this make it up?"

"Will it ever!" said Tabbatha, rushing to the window. It was a red Porsche, and about the coolest car I had ever seen. "The headlights have built in bullets," said Hermes, "and it has cup holders!"

Tabbatha and I began to scream like… well, like a teenage girl and her best friend who just got a Porsche.

Tabbatha hugged her dad. "Thank you, thank you, a million times thank you!"

"Whoa," said a voice from the front door that made us freeze. "My daughter is not riding in that… that thing!"
I turned to see my mom, looking really concerned. "Hermes," she said, "Why did you visit these girls?"

"Well," aid Hermes, putting on a convincing face, "to wish Tabbatha happy birthday, of course."

"Her birthday was three months ago," she said, steaming.

"Which is why I came as soon as I remembered that!" exclaimed Hermes as if that were obvious.

Hera was not amused. She grabbed Hermes by the shirt collar and dragged him over to a corner. "I told you that you were not to provoke these girls. They may not go to the Underworld and that is final."

I grabbed my mom's arm. "Mom," I said uneasily, "I don't want to die. And I don't want to live my life like a scared animal. I have to do this. Zeus's eagle is in the Underworld, and if I don't get it back, Then you'll just have Ares and Hephaestus as kids. You know that."

Hera looked shocked, but not angry. She kneeled down. "You forgot Nemisis," she said. She hugged me. "Phoebe, I don't want you to do this. The Underworld is so hard to survive through. It's nearly impossible."

"But I can try," I said, close to tears. "If I don't, then I'll die anyway."

My mom shook her head, as if unable to believe what she was about to do. "Okay," she said. "But don't do anything dangerous. Just get there and back. Promise me."

I nodded. "I promise," Is said.

Hermes sniffed, as if touched by it all. Tabbatha grabbed my wrist, as if to reassure me.

"Okay," my mom nodded. She began to glow, and she grabbed Hermes by the shoulder.

"Hey," he said, involuntarily glowing. They both disappeared just as we averted our eyes.

Tabbatha looked down at the key ring. On it was a small travel sized flashlight. "Cool," she said, pressing the button.

It didn't light up. Is changed to a faintly glowing bronze color and grew longer. In half a second, it was a long sword. She looked at it, disappointed. "I stink at sword play," she said, fingering the blade. She looked at me. "Tabbatha, why don't you use the sword?"

"Okay," I agreed. Tabbatha put the keys down on the table, next to my pet frog, and crashed in one of the beds across the room.

"Chiron won't be happy about this," I said getting into my bed. Tabbatha began to say something, but fell asleep midsentence. I wasn't much better. I was asleep two minutes later.

I was certain of one thing. The trip we would start tomorrow would be the hardest thing I have ever done.

/

Phoebe- Okay, we don't want to sound desperate…. But

Tabbatha- (gets down on knees) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!

Phoebe- The next 15 reviewers shall be the lucky owners of their own godly Porsches. Hurry, only available while supplies lasts!

Tabbatha- And remember, they have cupholders!