Hi there again! :D I hope the first chapter wasn't too boring. Things finally start up here... at least I THINK they do.

Do they? Oo

R&R please!


2.

- What do you mean you "revoked" it? You can do that?

Poseidon could hardly find words, but he managed to choke up these two questions. Zeus raised his eyebrow at this.

- Of course we can do that. You see the result right here – he gestured at the widely smiling Persephone.

- But… how? That's an Ancient Law!

- And it had a loophole! – announced Demeter happily. – Now my daughter will no longer have to descend to that horrible place again!

- It's been so long since I had seen a fall or winter – Persephone smiled. – I even forgot how they look like. It will be so much fun getting back in the world again.

Poseidon slowly turned to Zeus, bewilderment written all over his face. The King of Gods let out a heavy sigh.

- Come, let me show you!

In the kitchen many things were held, especially in a carved wooden cupboard: magical plants, animal parts, spices and mushrooms that were very hard to find in the mortal world and most of them had immense power. Zeus lifted a small casket from one of the shelves and opened it. Inside there was a small heap of strange, pure gold ambrosia. Usually it was white or light yellow or cream colored.

- What's this? – Poseidon leaned closer. He had never seen this before.

- It's a special kind of ambrosia – said Zeus. – Chaos gave it to me when I was preparing for the war against Father. It has the power to remove any curses or such things. Including…

- The Curse of the Underworld's Food – murmured Poseidon, finishing the sentence. – But I don't get it! If you had had it for so long, why didn't you use it when Persephone ate the pomegranate?

- Those were tensed times – growled Zeus, closing the box and placing it back into the cupboard. – Don't you remember? It hadn't been long since we had split the world among us! Hades wasn't that happy about his share, remember? I had to let him have my daughter if I wanted to avoid a war.

- Don't tell me you were afraid of him – snorted Poseidon gleefully.

- I wasn't! – hissed Zeus, his stormy eyes growing darker. – But he had an endless army, while I had nearly nothing back then. No, it was for the best. Besides, it would have been a golden opportunity for the Titans to break out of their prison once more.

Poseidon, even though he knew the main reason behind Zeus' decision was to save his throne, had to admit he was right. It was really for the best and it silenced Hades for quite some time.

- Shouldn't we at least tell him that his wife won't return to him any time soon? – he asked.

- I've already informed him about this, don't worry.

- When?

- Hell if I know, three hours ago? – grumbled Zeus.

...

Something was not right.

Something was really not right.

Poseidon was pacing up and down restlessly in his underwater throne room. Something felt out of place but he couldn't put his finger on it. Was it Triton? No, the kid was fine, practicing outside with some mermen.

Percy?

No, he was fine. That much Poseidon could tell and he was hoping it would last for long. But as he knew his son, Percy would find trouble soon.

So what was it then?

Amphitrite was worried about him and he knew she had a point. He himself didn't know what was wrong with him! Like something was amiss in his mind or soul? Yes, there was the source, but what was it?

Poseidon forced himself to sit down onto his throne, inhale deeply and concentrate. Okay, so the disturbing thing came from his soul. Now he just had to find the source. This sensation was getting very unpleasant. At first, two days ago, on 1st September it was hardly detectable, but now it grew into a very bothering feeling. Poseidon searched for it, determined to know what was going on. Maybe somebody was messing with him, in which case he will gladly retaliate with a mental punch.

He was sitting there for an hour when he finally found the cause. Immediately he sprung to his feet and called out for Amphitrite with his mind.

- Honey!

- Yes, sweetie, what is it?

- I'm going away for some time. Gotta… eh, check on something real quick.

- Is it another mortal woman?!

- Wha—no! It's, uh… immortal stuff.

- Pfh, fine – Amphitrite huffed in annoyance. – But be back as soon as you can!

- But of course, sugar.

And with that Poseidon teleported to the Underworld.

Not really his favorite place in the world, but he had to check on something.

He arrived just outside the massive Gate. The three-headed dog, Cerberus barked but quickly fell silent as he recognized the newcomer. Poseidon made him retreat with one glance as the Sea God stormed across the line of dead souls. He had managed to quickly get through the complaining Judges and rushed to the palace. The skeleton guards didn't even try to stop him. He walked into the main throne room.

It was empty. Both thrones, the one made out of bones and the other of flowers (it was very out of place) sat there lonely. Not a soul was nearby. Poseidon's worry grew as he looked around for another door. He hurried through corridors, quickly getting lost. No sign of his brother. Thankfully he soon ran into another skeleton servant. The thing couldn't talk in a language he knew but it understood what he said.

- Where is your king? – asked Poseidon.

The skeleton looked at him for a second, then shrugged and gestured for him to follow. It led him to a huge bronze carved door, pointed at it and shrugged again. Poseidon pushed down the door handle. It didn't open. The skeleton shook its skull and left. It didn't know what was going on in there. Poseidon tried again, leaning against the surface with his body. Still, it didn't move.

- Hades! – he shouted.

No answer.

- Hades, open this goddamn door, I know you are in there!

Still nothing. Not even the smallest of sounds could be heard.

- Hades? Stop this, okay? Just open the door.

Poseidon waited but the result was the same.

- That's it! – he shouted, summoning his Trident. – I will count to three then blast it in! One… two… THREE!

The light blue energyball smashed into the door which responded with a painful creak and flew open. Surprisingly it stayed in one piece. Poseidon stepped in and then…

He dropped his Trident.

...

Persephone hummed happily as she was dressing up in her room. It had been two days in autumn and she was still here in the Overworld, still well. She felt so relieved! Finally, she was no longer forced to spend half a year in that cursed dark rathole. It was an amazing feeling! She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it earlier. She guessed she had gotten used to it that much. But now that she was free she was pretty sure she would never ever go back to that place.

As she was trying on some jewelry, her fingers caught something: it was a necklace made of bronze and gold and it had small flowers on it shaped out of all kinds of gems. It was a very nice jewelry, even though it had many flaws: the chains were put together awkwardly and some of the flowers weren't shaped perfectly. It was made by Hades as a present for her. After all, the God of the Underworld was not Hephaestus, but it didn't stop him from making this necklace with his own hands. It turned out quite good for him, he had said. He had also said he hoped she would wear it often.

Persephone smiled sadly. She was going to miss Hades. Guess from now on she will only see him during the Winter Solstice, the only day when he was allowed onto Mount Olympus. She hoped her husband won't be so angry and will understand her. Hades, even though he was usually a gloomy and moody god, always understood Persephone's every feeling. She hoped it would be the same in this case. Or, if he really was angry, he would forgive her.

Maybe I will visit him every once in a while, she mused to herself.

She put on the necklace.