Finishing the Quest?
"Um, I can't go inside," I stated, looking at Percy.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I have a bad feeling and it feels like there's a brick wall in my mind. Almost as if it's blocking my visions."
He walked up to me and whispered, "I thought you hated getting visions."
"I do, but it's not okay for me to try to block them out. I get them for a reason, so I can stop whatever's going to happen."
"Are you sure?" he asked, gently gripping my hand.
"Yes, it's not my choice and it's not in my control."
He dropped my hand and nodded, obviously disappointed. I waited in the truck, falling asleep by the end of the day. By the next morning, I decided to go check on them. I saw Percy and Anna Beth standing by a bar and I walked up to them.
"Percy," I looked at him, trying not to think about the headache I was getting.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Apolla, I've been waiting in the truck."
"Oh, yeah, wait why have you been waiting out there, the fun's in here."
"We already talked about this. I really shouldn't be in here right now."
"Would you like a lotus flower?" a woman in a skintight dress asked.
"No thank you," I said, holding up a hand.
She walked away and my legs went weak.
"Whoa, are you okay?" Percy asked, while stabilizing me.
"No, I-I need to get out of here," I stuttered, running out to the truck and sliding into the seat. It had been a couple of days, I passed the time going for runs and eating, until I saw Percy, Anna Beth and Grover getting into the show car and I was lucky to have my stuff with me when I jumped into the car.
"Glad to see you're awake," I greeted, "It only took you five days."
We looked onto the map and saw that Hades was in Hollywood and started driving. We made it to the Hollywood sign, unable to tell what time of day it was.
"Woe to all depraved souls," Percy read.
"Charming," I said sarcastically.
The hill nearby started to open and we walked through after an exchanged look. The opening shut behind us and we continued until reaching the river of Styx. A hooded man stood at a small gondola and Grover handed him some cash, making me rub my temples. Percy held out the drachma's and he let us climb aboard. As we sailed, we saw human dreams and I clutched my head, the screams sounding louder than anything I have ever heard.
"This is as far as I go," the hooded man said.
Percy helped me out as I gripped my head, trying to block the screams. Once we made it into the castle, I was able to drop my hands and saw a fountain of fire in front of me.
"Guy do you hear that?" Anna Beth asked.
"Yeah, what is that?" Percy asked.
"I really hope it's not what I think it is," I piped up.
Two hellhounds jumped out and while they yelled I said, "Of course it's what I thought."
Persephone walked out and held out her hand to me. I stepped forward, taking it and she pulled me into a hug.
"What were those things?" Grover asked. "Hell hounds," Persephone shrugged.
"Well maybe you should feed them," Grover snapped.
"They sense the presense of another animal," she explained.
"Great, they smell goat," Grover mumbled.
"A satyr, I haven't had a satyr visit before," she said walking closer to Grover.
"How do you know each other?" Percy asked.
"I'm allowed to spend 6 months with my mother, I'm the one who found her and took her to camp half-blood," Persephone replied.
"You're friends with Hades' wife?" Percy asked me.
"More like friends with his slave," Persephone muttered.
I nodded and walked towards him, hoping he wouldn't step back. When he didn't Persephone opened her mouth to speak when Hades yelled something.
"Or what? What will you do?" she yelled then added, "I'm already in hell."
We followed her down the hall and she announced us as visitors.
"Wait, wait, you're Hades?" Grover asked disbelieving.
"Yes," he said annoyed.
"I'm sorry, I just didn't expect you to look like this man. It's kind of styling." he chuckled.
We all looked at him like he was crazy, when Hades responded, "Would you prefer that I looked like, this?" as he transformed into a fire demon.
They all ducked back and I stood still as he moved towards us and Grover yelled, "Stick with the Mick Jagger thing, it works for you!"
He transformed back and told Percy, "You're very brave, coming here. Come closer," Percy looked at me but my gaze was fixed on Hades.
As he approached, Hades spoke, "I can see the look of disgust in your eyes. I can tell you that it was not my intention, I was banished here by Zeus and you're father..." I lost track in what he was saying when something caught my eye.
Walking over to Persephone, I saw her follow my gaze and she shook her head no, telling me to stay still. Stopping in my tracks, I walked back to Anna Beth and Grover.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not the lightning thief. I don't have the bolt, I never did," Percy answered.
"Why did you come here then?" Hades asked, making my bite the inside of my cheek so hard it bled.
"Well, I was hoping that when you found out that I wasn't the thief, you'd let my mother go," Percy said.
Hades acted as though he were thinking it over, before saying, "Do you think I'm an idiot? I'm Hades! Now Give me the bolt, or say good bye to your mother!"
Walking over to a table and throwing the woven candle holder onto the ground, Hades watched the broken pieces turn into Percy's mother. "Percy," she called making him drop the shield, and run over.
I walked over to the shield and pulled the lightning bolt out, making Hades walk over to me. He grabbed it from my hand and announced, "Zeus's master bolt. Liar."
"I swear, I don't know how that got there," Percy assured him.
"I have an idea," Anna Beth said, looking at me.
"You think I'm stupid enough to steal from Zeus?" I snapped.
"Who 'found' the bolt, right as Percy got his mother back?" she asked putting air quotes around 'found'.
"It's Luke's shield, he's the only one who had enough time with it. Why would I frame you for something like that?"
"I really appreciate this, a favor from the daughter of Apollo," Hades said, making me turn.
I was kicked hard from behind, sending me face first into the ground. Rolling over, I was trapped by a boot, and a face became visible.
"Percy," a sob escaped my throat.
Tears streamed down his face and he yelled, "You betrayed me! I trusted you!"
He brought his sword up to his shoulder and I screamed, "Percy!" as the blade swung towards me.
"Percy!" Grover yelled.
I looked over at him my face streaked with tears.
"She wouldn't do this, maybe she's right, maybe it was Luke," he continued.
He lifted his foot and I gasped for breath, coughing hard. He held out his hand to me and I looked at him, standing on my own.
"Now that the theatrics are over, feed them to the souls," Hades brushed it off.
The gates opened and Persephone called the hounds, nodding her head at me, signaling she had a plan. As we backed closer to the fire, she managed to get the bolt from Hades and used it to shock him. After she called off the hounds, explaining why she did it and handed Percy the bolt.
He opened his hand and said, "Only four, they're are five of you. Which means, one of you will have to stay."
I started to step forward, when Grover volunteered.
"What no, I've achieved my quest, I stay," Percy said.
There was arguing and Grover said, "I'm the protector, I'm staying."
"Grover come on," Percy stepped forward.
"Don't worry, I'll take very good care of him," Persephone stated, turning Grover to face her.
"Alright, now move it guys, each of you stomp on the portal and think of were you want to go," Grover instructed.
"Olympus," Percy stated.
I placed my pearl on the floor and crushed it, being engulfed in a smoke. We traveled through New York and stood at the top of the Empire State Building.
"No, this isn't right, this isn't the entrance to Olympus, this is the Empire State Building," Percy panicked.
"Percy, the entrance to Olympus is there!" his mother yelled.
We walked towards the entrance and Luke showed up and admitted to being the thief.
"You hid the bolt in my shield, why?" Percy asked.
"When you said that you were going to the underworld, it hit me. This the perfect opportunity to get the bolt to Hades," Luke explained.
"Why would you do that?"
"To bring the weapon that brings Olympus crumbling down."
"Percy let's go," Percy's mother said, "Let's go."
"Well it's to late, because I'm returning the bolt to Zeus, right now," Percy announced.
"Not before Midnight," Luke smirked.
Luke and Percy fought, Anna Beth joining in while I protected Percy's mother.
"Luke, why do you want a war of the gods?" Percy asked.
"Control, they've been in power for too long, it's time for our generation to take over. To remold the world into our image! A world of new heroes!"
"You're no hero," Percy seethed. Luke shot at us, and I shielded Percy's mother with my body, as the dust cleared. Percy and Luke fought in the air, and I pulled his mom away from the edge.
"Do something!" Anna Beth yelled.
"I can't the sky is blocked, there's nothing that I can do!" I yelled back.
Percy showed up and we ran into the elevator to Olympus, with only two minutes left. We ran to the top, and just barely made it to the grand hall in time.
"Time has run out," Zeus said emotionlessly.
"Wait!" Percy yelled, then said, "Wow...My name is Percy Jackson and I think you might be looking for his."
He held up the bolt and we ran forward, as Zeus walked around the sundial.
"Give me the bolt, Lightning Thief," he ordered.
Percy threw the bolt to Zeus and it grew in size.
"You weren't wise to betray your father," he muttered.
"I didn't steal it and I have no connection to Poseidon," Percy responded.
"But tell me, if you didn't steal it, then who did?" Poseidon asked.
"Luke, son of Hermes. You see, he was angry with you, all of you. He wanted you to destroy yourselves."
"You have done well," Zeus stated, "Let there be peace."
"Hi mom," Anna Beth spoke.
"Anna Beth, I am so proud of you," Athena spoke.
"Zeus, you see, I have a friend. He's a satyr, named Grover, he's my protector, the only reason that we escaped the underworld is that he stayed behind."
"And now you expect me to bring him back?" he guessed, "Very well."
Poseidon wanted a minute to talk to Percy, so Anna Beth and I waited outside. We stood in silence, because I had nothing to say to her.