A/N: Note to all, I added more brothers of Ares just because I thought it was a cool concept that they would band together in my interpretation of the story and be a sort of all powerful Platoon. So if you see names you don't recognize...I added them. happy reading!

X

Alcander

Alcander stared up at the daunting Hollywood sign as the wind blew back his hair. They were high above Los Angeles, in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. Sherman walked up to one of the letters and noticed it was written in Ancient Greek. He looked to Alcander and then back to the sign as he read the greek for everyone to hear.

"Woe to all depraived souls." Sherman uttered.

Just the the ground began to shake a bit as a pile of earth under the sign began to crumble away and reveal a portal of sorts. It was dark and Alcander looked to it and then to Sherman.

"Here we go." Alcander said as he hoisted Arina up more in his arms. He took the first steps and down into the slope that was the entrance to the Underworld. It definitely looked like a river to hell as the smell was dank and thick and skulls holding candles lined the walls. Everyone drew their swords and looked about, half expecting the worse to happen.

However nothing went bump or tried to attack them.

In the boat by the edge of the river stood Charon; the ferryman of the dead. The ferryman sniffed as he turned his head to look at the new party of arrivals. It normally wasn't in his fashion to even acknowledge the presence of those who weren't dead, but this time something had peaked his interest.

"You have come with a body, that has not yet paid the price to the underworld. The soul remains here, in this river." he said in a drone like voice, his eyes bulging a bit as he said so. "But a price must be paid."

"I don't have any drachma's." Alcander said.

"Then you may not get the soul of the Champion back."

"Then we'll talk to the fates." Alcander made to walk down the stone steps but Charon stopped him with his words once more.

"A life for a life, will ressurect the one of your choosing." Charon pointed a spindly finger at him and Alcander froze as he contemplated.

"No Al, we'll find another way. There's no garuntee he's telling the truth."

"The ferryman doesn't lie." Alcander said carefully.

"Hade's controls him, he could have manipulated him into doing the same to us."

"Sherman." Alcander said strongly. "The ferryman can't lie."

"Well we need you."

"We need Arina more."

"Dude, how many drachma's for a soul?" Sherman turned to Charon, refusing to accept his friends sacrificng himself so he'd get his cousin back. There was no justice in that.

"Two, the same price as it takes to ferry them to their fate."

"Mark, please tell me you have at least two?" Sherman turned and looked to his brother and Mark shrugged as he searched through his pants. "The one time Mark you have no money on you..."

"Got one." Mark said as he finally fished the gold coin out of his pocket. He tossed it to Sherman who caught it and then held it up to the candle light just for good measure. They had half a payment for the soul but did not have another. Sherman looked at Mark expectantly but Mark shrugged and shook his head. Sherman then looked at his other brothers expectantly and Edward the youngeset of the group rolled his eyes as he reached into his leather armor and pulled out a gold drachma on a golden chain. He ripped it off and tossed it to his brother who looked at him eyebrows raised and not to pleased.

"What, dad left it for me." he said looking away.

Sherman ripped the gold chain off the coin and then handed them to Alcander. Alcander closed his fist around the payment and then walked up to Charon as he deposited the currency in his spindly, outstretched and waiting hand. The ferryman examed the drachma's and then nodded as he put them in the pocket of his dark cloak. He then held his hand out to the river below him and Alcander looked to the murky deep waters.

"What do I do?" Alcander asked Charon.

"Put the body in the water, and the soul will fill the vessel once more." and then he turned into a stony state once more, ignoring all that they did.

Alcander looked to Sherman and Sherman nodded. Alcander then started towards the edge of the river and he gently knelt down and settled Arina into the water. At first she floated, her dark hair swimming around her like ebony seaweed. Then the body started to sink into the depths of the water. Everyone watched, unsettled as the air around them thickened and charged. Then, the sound of a heartbeat rattled through the cavern and Alcander leant over the edge, the stone cold body unmoving.

Moment's ticked until the eyes snapped open, revealing a glowing blue and suddenly the river turned into a hurricane. Water splashed about, spirals of discord and mayhem as if it was fighting against something. Alcander was thrust back, as he hit Sherman and they went sprawling to the damp earth beneath them. They shielded themselves the best they could but the aura was keeping them from moving.

Finally the water ceased to move, and all was still in an instant. Everyone looked to see Arina, standing on the bank of the river, and she stretched her neck to the side and grinned.

"Good to be back in my own skin." she said.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover

Percy and Arion rode back to the house later in the evening around sunset. Percy dismounted and walked up the hill and turned to look at Arion, as the horse trotted back around the house towards the large brown barn. He sighed as he walked up the front steps and through the wide open double doors. He passed through white curtains as they had lined the door almost like a dream, until he entered the large foyer. It was decorated with a Western-Roman fashion as a small fountain lay in the center, to the left was a curved stair case and then a split hallway that led somewhere further into the house and then a fine sitting room all in white's and browns.

He heard voices and headed towards them as he smelled the familiar smells of food. He hadn't remembered the last time he had a good meal that wasn't pretzels on the flight here and the taste if lightly carbonated soda. He walked into a kitchen, clearly warn and used as it had a home feeling to it. It reminded him of the kitchen back at his mothers home in New York as he gazed upon the rough pale blue wood of the cabinets and the seashells that adorned the counter.

"There you are." Mrs. Bishop said. "I hope you like grilled cheese and tomato soup. It just kind of seemed like one of those days."

"Sounds great." Percy said as he came up to the center island and slid into a seat next to Annabeth. Percy reached out as he hooked his forefinger around her's and Annabeth smiled at him.

"How was your talk with Arion?" she asked and he shrugged.

"It was informative...calming. Almost like talking to Chiron, but, Arion understands certain things about water-kenetics that no one does. It was nice."

"That's good. You seem better."

"Yeah." Percy shrugged.

It was then that something was dangled in front of him and Percy looked up to see Mrs. Bishop lean over the counter and settle Arina's pennant on surface before him. He unhooked his hand from Annabeths and reached out towards it as he picked it up, running his fingers over the grooves as he so often liked to do. Turning it over he gazed into the flat surface of the shell, reading the greek on it as it illumiated to him once more. It wasn't an erie glow like before, it was normal, and there was no ghostly whisper of the ocean and a flute. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at it and he then looked up to Mrs. Bishop.

He watched her float about the kitchen, ordering Grover to help her with the dried spices for the soup. Mrs. Bishop took a fresh tomato and a kitchen knife and started to cut triangular slices as they fell onto the cutting board with such precision.

"It's time." the deep voice said.

And just then Mrs. Bishop gasped as the blade she was holding cut her delicate finger. Percy arose slowly, staring at the little drop of blood forming and he walked up to her as he took her hand staring at the blood as if he was in a trance.

"Percy?" she inquired trying to grasp his attention.

"Perc!" Grover said louder but Percy wasn't listening. It's as if he was suddenly deaf.

He didn't know what happened but the little drop of blood on Mrs. Bishops finger trailed down her palm and he reacted. He slammed his hand up against Mrs. Bishop as the pennat was cupped between them and suddenly a aura appeared around their intertwined hands. It was green, the color of seafoam and it pulsed as if it were a heartbeat. Moments ticked by as the aura turned red, as the blood seeped into it and suddenly dissolved.

Percy gasped as his threw his hand away and watched the bloody pennant fall to the stone floor beneath them. Something had changed, and he felt a pull in his chest, like something had reformed in that instant. He grew anxious suddenly, like he needed to be somewhere other than here.

"What did you do?" Mrs. Bishop asked as she herself was unsure.

"We need to leave." Percy mumbled as he bent down swiping the pennant off the ground. Bood and all he pocketed it and turned to leave but Annabeth got up and grabbed him by the upper arm before he made any more steps towards the exit.

"What just happened?"

"There's no time. We need to go."

"Go where, man?" Grover asked and Percy looked to his best friend his mind still a bit muddled.

"I...what?"

"You said we need to go somewhere?" Grover said and Percy's brow furrowed.

"I don't know where, I just...we need to go."

Just then the ground shook in a tremendous quake and the sky darkened outside. Rain began to fall, and winds began to pick up and it was as if a hurricane had hit. It wasn't until the faucets in the house started to rattle, and the sink burst that everyone was brought out of their momentary daze. Water spilled out onto the floor and it rose in the air as it swirled around starting to take form.

"Stop it Percy!" Grover yelled.

"It's not me!"

It then solidified as it was given color and human shape. There before them stood a handsome dazzling man. He had salt and pepper hair with a beard to match as his eyes were bluer than the Agean sea. He wore a white shirt and slacks and looked utterly breathtaking as his skin was lightly olive complected. He had crinkles around his eyes as if they were too tired and old but yet joyful from so much previous smiling. And the man did smile.

Mrs. Bishop leant against the back counter and placed a hand over her heart as she looked utterly stricken and then rushed towards this man.

"William!" she threw her arms around his neck and at that moment everyone knew.

This was Arina's father. This was Oceanus, and he was free.

Arina

Arina stepped forward as she looked at everyone around her, she smiled as she then ran forward and wrapped her arms around her cousin and Alcander himself tugged her close to him as he buried his face in her hair. He had missed her, he had patiently done what was asked of him and the reward couldn't have been sweeter. Arina pulled back, placing both of her hands on either side of his face and Alcander studied her. Her face had a glow to it, as it seemd to come from within. It was bright and her flawless skin was no longer ash and dead but full of life and presence. Her tan radiated, her hair shined and glowed, her skin was renewed and her teeth shone like the whitest pearls. She was dazzling.

"Thank you." she whispered to Alcander. Arina kissed Alcander's cheek and then parted from him as she circled about taking in her surroundings. Sherman still stood there in awe, as he stared at Arina. It was hard to imagine her being this way when for four days straight she was dead. He felt the need to reach out and touch her.

Almost as if the thought had resonated, Arina's eyes snapped to him and a knowing smile spread across her face like dye in water. It was a look that was much older than time, yet newer than a newborn baby. It was as if everything was passing through Arina...a great understanding of the here and the now, as well as the past, and what's to come.

She had transcended, no longer was her skin vunerable but inpenetrable. You could see it by the way she held herself, by how smooth the skin looked but at the same time you knew it was hard as a rock. Sherman stepped closer, as if he was captivated, pulled by a impulsive need and reached out with his hand. Arina let him near as his hand ghosted across her cheek, and Sherman felt like he was at the Ocean. A calm and warmth settled over him, he felt the cool summer breeze whisper across his face and he stared into her eyes and seeing for himself the vast plain of forever.

He was in the presence of a goddess, and immortal being, someone far more powerful than he. He pulled his hand away and her face still had that inky smile that seemd to be so welcoming. Edward and Mark stood there also transfixed, as well as Trent and Peter. They all had their turn as they touched her skin, a hand on her shoulder, her hands, her face. She closed her eyes and relished it as it was human contact, the awe she felt, the power. She felt reverence and love, and it was all for her.

It's a God's fuel to be honored and loved. If they are present in people's minds they have a power no one can understand.

But in those moments she felt something break. A long thick connection was made and she looked blank, the inky smile retreating and her brow furrowed in thought. Alcander watched her intently as she froze, still and unmoving as a perfect statue.

"What's wrong?" Alcander whispered and her glowing eyes turned to him.

"We must wait." she said softly. "They will be coming shortly."

"Who?" Sherman asked and Arina sighed almost as if it was an obvious thing. She said nothing further, just kept her eyes on the ground.

Percy, Annabeth and Grover

Everyone stared at the dazzling man before them, bewitched by his very presence. They all stood there, watching, as Mrs. Bishop kissed her husband and wept. Oceanus held her tight, possesively and it mirrored so perfectly, to Percy, how he held Arina. Oceanus, parted from his wife, wiping the tears away with his weather worn hands and she smiled a large bright smile.

"I missed you." she said her voice thick and he nodded.

"I have thought about you every moment since I had to go away." he kissed her hair and then her face. It was so attentive, so loving and caring and it was deep. You can tell when two people really, truly and passionately love one another. You saw perfection, something that can't be traced to a specific origin as it was just there, but at the same time all the indicators were there. It was all in what wasn't said, those pauses in between moments, the looks, the smiles, the way she turned her body into his and the way his arm went around her.

The bond.

Oceanus then looked to Percy and smiled. He parted from his wife and then held his hand out and Percy saw as a golden pennant materialized into his hand. He looked at it, the blood smeared across it and he tilted his head to the side. Percy looked down at his pocket as he placed his hand over the jean material to find that Arian's pennant was no longer in his possession and in fact it was the same that was now in her father's hands.

"I suppose you are the one to thank for my release?"

"Y-yes sir." Percy said, still quite confused. This whole experience was like a train crash and the moments weren't slow and simple but fast, wild, with much need and hurry.

"Arina gave this to you?"

"Before she went away...yes." Percy just stared at the man.

"Hm." Oceanus reached out as he tilted Percy's face up by the chin and looked with intent into Percy's eyes. Percy had the chance then to look into Oceanus' gaze, and what he saw astonished him. It was like he was having a flashback of Arina as he looked into the mirrored eyes. Oceanus and Arina had the exact same eyes down to the little gold flecks that seemed to float in the iris.

The feel of her skin, the smell of her hair and the sound of her voice. It was like whisps of smoke he was trying to grab onto. He saw her walking around his cabin dressed in her little blue dress as her hands touched his things. A book, the dresser, the wooden pillars. Her feet dusting against the floor, the way her leg brushed up against the chair, or how her hair swirled around her as she turned to look at him. He saw her training with her sword, saw her laughing as she looked across the mess hall at camp to look upon him. It was as if he was reliving every single moment in such a fine overwhelming detail.

Then all those moments swirled around the first time his eyes had ever seen her. She was walking with Alcander, it was late August so the Autumn leaves where dancing around, falling randomly. She was coming down the hill from training, her face flush, her eyes bright. He remembered her eyes, casting up to look upon him as he stood there with Annabeth. In that moment, it was as if understanding had formed...and then this overwhelming need to be everything she ever desired.

It was as if his confusing universe finally made sense.

"You have my nephew's eyes." Oceanus said deeply as he let Percy go. "And in those eyes I see something. A bond. Others who have it are able to see it, even just by walking by on a crowded street. You feel, you are confused and you don't understand. But there was a reason it was you young Perseus...there's a reason for all things, just as now, and here, the way things are."

"I don't understand."

"Where is it, you want to be most right now?" Oceanus asked curiously and Percy shrugged. "Be honest, tell us all what you feel."

"I want to be...with her."

"Where?"

"Styx."

The moment Percy uttered the words it was like being engulfed in water and as that water swirled around them, the house in Washington melted away, the remnants of their food, the stove, the tile, windows and floor brushed away as if it was a dream. It was only himself, Oceanus, Annabeth and Grover. Mrs. Bishop had faded along with everything else, as if she could not pass, all looked around to see they were underground and Percy turned on heel as he near about fell to his knees.

There before him, standing as if a day had not passed, as if her death did not happen...was Arina.

You know how time suspends in certain moments? You watch people pass on the street, cars drive by, birds in the trees. You smell sunshine and grass and you are so untarried by the world as you watch and you feel. There's no sense of time, or a sense of belonging. You are merely there, observing. Moments that stretch through forever yet they only take a few seconds.

Percy was having one of those moments. And in that moment he watched Arina's face laden with such shock as if she was reliving something. Her hand ghosted up to her side and she looked down to the torn shirt where she had been stabbed. Her gaze shot back up to him and she dashed for him and in an instant, like one big blur, she was right in front of him.

She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close and he closed his eyes as his lips met hers. He held her face in his own hands, sensing so much need and as they parted she rest her forehead against his.

"I thought I lost you." she whispered and they embraced.

Someone cleared their throat then and Arina pulled away from Percy as she looked around him and there standing there was a man she had only seen pictures of. Neither moved, nor anyone spoke as the reunion played out. Oceanus then took a careful, purposeful step as he walked up to his daughter and then taking the pennant in his hand he lifted it up and reached forward as he hooked it around her neck. He pat her face, a gesture only a father could do and smiled.

It was then that a high clanging sound was rining through the cavern and out of the darkness, red eyes started to appear. Hissing, growling, evil things as Hell-Hounds snaked out of theh darkness. Arina was the first to react as she turned, her eyes glowing white hot blue as she held her arms out her palms flat, fingers splayed as if reaching. Suddenly the earth shook like several earthquakes were happening. Water seeped from above instead of below and turned to ice as one large spike went through one hell-hound, then another until they were retreating.

"Good to see you awake and alive." a voice echoed.

Out of the darkness Dea came as she was flanked by Fury's. Dea stood stock straight and smirked, her yellow eyes boring into her cousins.

"I should be thanking you Dea." Arina said, the glow to her eyes never fading.

"For what?" Dea's smirk never faded but once Arina's became more pronounced it faded.

"For making me immortal."

At that the cavern shook again and water flooded. Arina dashed at Dea, the two of them making a thunderous sound as they tumbled down stone steps leading them down further into the underworld.

Oceanus faded into a mist as the mist carried after his daughter and everyone drew weapons and charged in head first.

The ash of the ground became hot as they descended the steps into darkness. The deeper they went, the more thunder they heard and soon they saw light at the end of the tunnel. Coming to it, they came to a rocky ledge and they all halted as they looked into the firey pits of hell. Screams of the tortured souls filled their ears and Percy watched as Arina and Dea were standing on top of two vocanic ridges, dashing at each other in blurs. Oceanus was no where to be found and Annabeth pointed to a bridge made of bones. The bridge that went to meet the fates.

As they headed for it, something came at them and they all looked up to see Luke. He hovered there in all his glory, the winged shoes keeping him afloat as he then landed on the ground.

"Long time no see." Luke chuckled as he looked at them all. Percy's face contorted to a look of pure distane as he gripped Riptide's hilt.

"You're gonna pay for what you did." Percy uttered and Luke laughed.

"Well I'm already in hell, there's not much more you can do to me."

"We'll see about that." Percy spat.

"There's no water in hell, water-boy."

Luke did have a valid point.

"Their still air..." and with that and a great amount of practice and concentration Percy formed a trident out of thin air as the water swirled around. He threw it at Luke, catching him off guard as Luke went flying and up against a stone hedge. But the impact did little effect as Luke merely pushed off of it and rocketed at Percy.

All the while, in Hade's mansion, Oceanus was facing off with Cronus.