HELLO HELLO HELLO!
Here is the next chapter for you!
Thank you to anyone that reviewed!
Now, from Beauty and the Beast:
I (dramatic pause) don't (dramitic pause) OWN!
I don't own!
Percy Ja-a-a-ackson!
Hades was in a good mood - that is, before a dead soul showed up. And that was before he even knew their problem.
He was outraged when a mortal soul entered his palace without invitation. He was so annoyed that he didn't even notice the golden aura surrounding them - the aura that marked a soul as a hero from the Isles of the Blest. He calmed down, though, after they bowed and he finally noticed their gold glow.
"Annabeth, my dear," Hades said with a small smile. "Tell me: why have you come?" He thought of her last visit. "I assume Percy returned safely?"
"Actually," Annabeth said, looking down, "that's why I'm here."
Hades was a bit confused. He had always liked the dead more than the living - especially the souls of heroes. But was she suggesting that he hadn't delivered Percy safely? The thought made him a bit angry.
As if the girl had read his mind, she bowed quickly and said, "He reached us safely, thanks to you. But something happened while he was in the Fields of Punishment."
Hades was now concerned for the hero that was one of his personal favorites. Sure, he acted all grumpy around demigods, but this kid had helped him become accepted by his fellow Olympians. And he had been friends with his still-alive son, Nico (though he was very old). He still didn't understand, though, why he wasn't his type.
"What happened?" Hades asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Annabeth took a deep breath. "He . . . he was forced into the Acheron, sir."
At first, Hades didn't really comprehend what she'd said. When he did, he couldn't really help but go ballistic.
"WHAT?!" he bellowed.
Annabeth winced. "He said that Gabe told him it was part of an initiation."
Hades had never heard of that being part of the initiation. As far as he knew, there was only a whipping. And he should've know - he came up with dam thing.
He told Annabeth this, and her eyes lit up with hatred.
"I can't believe he would do this," she muttered.
Hades shook his head in disgust. The sorry excuse for a man had abused Percy up until his own death. People like that truly disgusted him.
But then there were people like Annabeth - heroes. People like her truly inspired him.
He shook himself out of his thoughts and looked down at her. He was a bit shocked to see tears in her eyes.
"Is there anything you can do?" she almost pleaded.
Hades smiled. "As a matter of fact . . . ." He snapped his fingers to summon a particular vial filled with a bubbly, translucent blue liquid. "This potion will cure him over a twenty-four hour period." He willed it to float down to her.
She caught it in her hands, her face in an eternally grateful expression.
"But I must warn you of three things," Hades said grimly.
Annabeth's smile faltered.
"One: that vial is all I have at the moment. Do not let anything happen to it. It takes me half a year to make it properly."
She nodded, her eyes as wide as saucers.
"Two: he must take it as soon as possible. If he does not take it, his soul will fade away into nothing. The water of the Acheron takes about two months to fully destroy its host. I believe I am correct in saying that he has about one month left, but do not wait. It must be done as soon as possible."
Annabeth looked ready to faint, but she nodded weakly.
"Three: I must inform you that. . ." Hades started to say, but he was unable to find the right words.
"What is it?" Annabeth whispered.
Hades sighed. "Did Percy mention anything about the Acheron?"
She shuddered. She got a far-off look in her eyes, as if she were lost in a memory. "He said that five seconds felt like a thousand years."
Hades nodded. "The pain of the River Acheron is indescribable. Those that endure it for too long often go insane, even after death." Hades took a deep breath. "The pain of having the curse removed is infinitely worse."
Annabeth was silent for a long time. Hades felt so bad for her - the two of them had endured so much together, and now they were facing this.
"What?" she finally said, even softer than the faintest whisper.
He sighed. "The pain will be literally unbearable. It will take a few moments to work, but after those few moments, the pain will come, and it will stay for twenty-four hours. But then he will be completely cured. No more pain. Ever."
The mortal girl was silent for a long time. Hades knew that she was a daughter of Athena, so she was probably over-analyzing - just like her mother (that got really annoying during the Olympian council meetings).
When she finally spoke, it was quite quiet. "Okay?" She repeated it again, but with more certainty: "Okay."
Hades snapped his fingers, and she was gone.
854 words. Pretty short. Whatever.
Did you guys like it? Do you feel bad for Percy? Do you think anymore problems will arise for our heroes?
Well, whoever was asking about Nico, there's your answer. And same with Calypso: they're both alive but like really old.
Whatever. See ya next time!