Hey guys! Sorry for all the typos- no spell check on my laptop. planning to get it soon! Oh, and my italics are jammed, so if a word is in slants (EX: /hi/) pretend it's in italics, 'kay?

She was right. The two girls were right outside DOA Recording Studios, Hollywood.

Amara and Thalia entered the studios. In the lobby many elderly (and to Thalia's sorrow, a couple of children) sat looking sad and confused. A few were hugging the children and sobbing. It made Thalia want to do the same.

Amara shuddered. "How sad," she whispered, moving closer to Thalia.

Sitting at the check-in desk was a tall man with chocolate skin and bleached/blonde hair cut military-style. He wore dark sunglasses and a pinstriped suit without a single wrinkle. Pinned to his lapel and it read 'Charon' and he was reading a magazine titled "Underworld Weekly".

Thalia and Amara approached him casually. "Hey, you," Amara said, putting on a brave face. "Can we cross?"

The man peered at the girls over his magazine. "You guys dead?" He asked flatly.

"Yeah," Amara continued.

"How?"

"I killed myself," Thalia said, hoping her punk style would make her lie easier to believe.

Amara went with the classic, "Shark attack."

"Can you pay?"

"I know I have one in here somewhere," Thalia mustered, digging in her pocket for the drachma she kept in case she needed to send an Iris Message. Then she set it on the counter.

Charon's eyes drifted over to Amara. She handed him her nail gun, which Thalia just noticed was bedazzled in green and pink rhinestones.

He raised an eyebrow but set down the magazine, leading them over to the elevator. "You two should probably wait in line," Charon said as the doors slid open. "I know that the 'EZ Death' line might seem, well, easy, but you girls seem innocent enough to make Elysium."

Thalia snorted. She wasn't innocent one bit.

Charon helped them into an old boat and began rowing them over a sea of darkness. It made Thalia shudder and hold Amara close when they heard the screams of the souls in the Fields of Punishment. She hoped Luke's punishment wouldn't be that bad.

The boat pulled to a stop in front of a path. We traveled up it to see three lines: one 'EZ Death' line and two 'Attendant on Duty' lines. Cerberus, the giant, three-headed Rottweiler guarded all of them. He fastened his eyes on Amara and Thalia and a low growl rumbled in his throats.

Something flashed in Thalia's mind. Something Percy had told her about his time in the Underworld. Annabeth had played fetch.

With Cerberus.

Thalia dug around in her pack for something to throw but came up empty handed.

"He knows," Amara whispered. "He knows we're alive."

"And that sucks," I muttered.

"What're we going to do, Thalia?" She hissed.

"Probably die," I said with a shrug.

"Who says you can die after death?" A girl's voice laughed. A woman walked over to us; a smile on her face. She had tan skin from spending many days in the sun and a a long, black braid woven with daisies. The flowers were dead from being in the Underworld. She wore a dark violet gown with an indigo ribbon tied around her skinny middle. Her eyes were a welcoming green. "My name is Persephone," the woman continued. "And I recognize Artemis's blessing anywhere. Come on, girls. My stupid husband wishes to speak with you." She said last part bitterly.

We were going to meet the lord Hades himself.

Persephone took us through the 'EZ Death' line, brutally pushing aside some irritated looking spirits who looked like they wanted to cuss her out but held back upon recognizing their queen.

"Now then," she said, flashing us a bright smile. "Basia will escort you the rest of the way. I hate my husband and will gladly retire to my chambers instead. Basia! Where Is that girl?!"

A small child, clearly no more than five, darted out from behind one of the columns in Hades's entryway. She had soft brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. She wore a red violet dress and her feet were bare.

Basia looked up at Thalia and Amara shyly. "Shall I take then to Hades, 'Sephone?" she asked in a small voice.

Persephone sighed, not enjoying her nickname, and nodded. "Yes, Basia."

The girl led them into the throne room, where a very annoyed looking Hades sat on an ivory throne. He had intense silver eyes, longish black hair, black silk robes, and wore a braided gold crown. He tadiayed so much power Thalia almost just wanted to curl up and die. Almost. "Why bother me, niece?" He asked, irritated. "There is a plague in Yemen, and I am very busy."

Thalia stepped forward nervously. "Sister Artemis told me the boy Luke Castillan was working for you as a punishment. Can I see him?"

Hades laughed, and the sound rumbled through the chamber.

"Good acoustics," Amara remarked.

"Daughter of Zeus, Luke Castillan is long dead. Died in the Titan War last year. Sacrificed himself, actually, to kill my father from inside of him. He managed to score Elysium for that, though I objected against it." He said.

Thalia froze as the news hit her like a rock. Luke? Dead? Artemis should've told her that! "Can I find him there?" She asked softly, a small tear rolling down her cheek. No! Impossible! Thalia Grace never cried!

But she was, now.

Hades shrugged. "Heck if I know!" He snorted. "Too many heroes in there to count! You guys should really take a break. You could check, but Luke moved on to another life like my daughter Bianca. Hmm, I guess she's Ares's daughter now..."

Thalia and Amara left Hades droning on about Bianca's death and had Basia take them back to the ferry.

"Sorry about Luke, Thalia," Amara said. "Boys are stupid anyway."

Thalia sighed. "You been talking to Phoebe?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Look, it's not just Luke. I gave up my immorality and my entire freaking /life/ to try to preform three Trials with him. But there's no way I can do it now," Thalia muttered as Charon began rowing back to the gateway.

"Wait!"

Someone was running towards the boat.

Thalia stood in order to get a better view of the boy trying to come aboard. Her throat constricted and she couldn't breathe. She only managed one word:

"Luke."

I'm planning on removing Amara in the next chapter, because I can only picture Thalia, Luke, and another surprise guest ;) but if you want her to stay please review!