Word had gotten around of the fallen queen very quickly. When the others had tried to help her she screeched and writhed as if they terrified her.
In the end, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Apollo, and Hercules had to carry her. It was inhumane but anywhere else she would've harmed herself, so they locked her in the dungeon of Hades' palace.
It was the only place, they were gods, why would they need an asylum? And for the gods that were severely punished, off to Tartarus you go!
But as they locked her in the cage she screamed and cried out. Finally, when they locked the door, she hissed at them like a cat, and she crawled away like one into the farthest corner away from the light.
Hades was nervous, this was supposed to be living in the same building he slept in,"Dionysus, you couldn't do anything?"
Dionysus stared at mental goddess with blank eyes, he turned to Hades,"Nothing. I can't cure her."
Hades lips thinned, he was actually considering sending Persephone back with Demeter.
Hera had become more aggressive in the Underworld, he wasn't going to risk Persephone. So when dinner came around he talked to her across the long table filled with goodies over the shrieks of Hera.
"I don't know how we're going to sleep tonight, Hades. She's louder than the minotaur. Is something wrong?" she asked him.
"Persephone, you know I love you. That's why I want to do this."
She rose a brow,"Do what?"
"I'm not comfortable having you around when a loony queen of the gods is in our basement. I think it's best you go back with your mother this year, until things get better,"he looked at her pleadingly.
She stared back in awe. She thought this would only happen when the world ended. Maybe this was it, no. She was queen of the Underworld, she would stay and help Hades,"I'm afraid, I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Right now, my place is beside you. So whether you like it or not, I'm staying," Persephone stated, the tone saying she made up her mind.
Hades knew how tenacious she could be and sighed in defeat,"Fine, but I want you to stay away from the dungeon."
Persephone frowned, but she sighed and agreed.
~oOo~
Annabeth and Percy were on their twenty fifth undisturbed date. Or so they thought.
They had gone to the movies to watch a popular new movie. Suddenly, they felt someone poke their shoulders. They turned to see Hermes.
Percy asked, confused but with an idea of what it could be,"Hermes? What are you doing here?"
In a quick voice he replied,"Sorry to interrupt, but we need you to see something."
"But-" Annabeth had started but Hermes cut her off.
"It's urgent, close your eyes."
"Hermes!"
"Not now!"
But it was too late. He'd started glowing and they closed their eyes, suddenly they were in a dark living room. Literally, the walls were obsidian, the furniture was black. In front of them were four familiar figures.
"Jason, Hazel, Frank, Piper. They brought you here too? "Percy asked.
They stared at him, it was an obvious answer.
" Any idea, why?" Annabeth finished.
"Do you know where we're at?" Percy added.
They shook their heads.
That's when Hades emerged from the hallway.
Immediately, they realized they were in his temple,"Do not be alarmed, there is something you must see."
They followed Hades into the dungeon. They'd heard the terrible shrieking but they thought it was from outside. But when they entered the cellar they realized it was from inside. Suddenly, the screams stopped. Hades became visibly nervous.
They stood in front of the last cell, they never thought they'd see Thalia and Nico here, but there they were. Staring unbelievingly inside the cell.
Hades turned on a flashlight,"She doesn't enjoy the light."
He turned the light towards the cell into a corner. There she was. She had curled up into a ball, the floor was scratched and so were the walls, you could hear her whispering to herself. Her head slowly looked up, the shock of who it was was enough to make the four take a step back.
Hera glared at them with large, crazed eyes. Her face had numerous scratches, they were all bleeding and her hair was a brown, matted friz.
She hissed at them and in a hoarse voice she scorned,"Take that light out of my face. NOW!"
They all jumped. Hades fumbled with the flashlight and turned it off. She disappeared into the darkness.
"What - what happened to her?" Annabeth asked unbelieving.
Instead of an answer he pushed them back. As he did Hera jumped at them only having to crash into the bars. Her fingers bled.
Thalia stared at her, mouth open,"He-Hera?"
A twisted grin grew on her face,"I like visitors. Do you want be my friend."
Her voice sounded lost and her eyes haunted Thalia. Gods, her eyes terrified her. Hera twitched and gave them a toothy smile.
Hades spoke up making them jump,"We found her this way. Dionysus can't cure her. We need your help trying to find out what did this."
Percy frowned,"Us? You want us to go look for something that makes gods go insane? Imagine what it can do to us!"
Before Hades could reply there was a scream at the front door and in came Ares and a few other gods carrying a squirming Athena.
"What are you doing to her!? Stop!" Annabeth yelled.
They put her in an empty cell and Ares looked back at them with a sad look in his eye,"We found her this way in her temple. This is why we need your help. We can't have anymore incidents like these."
Hera laughed with glee,"More visitors! YAY!"
The half bloods stared at each other. Finally they gave in.
As they left, Annabeth looked back towards her screaming mother and the smiling Hera. Something would happen on this new quest, she was sure she wouldn't like it at all.