The Sea's Daughter: The Lightning Thief.
Chapter 14: Of Truths and Chemistry.
Hades had been having a rather frustrating year, and it had all began with a thief.
"They approach, Lord Hades," Tisiphone's scratchy voice said.
The three furies (Tisiphone, Alecto and Megaera) had reported to him the moment his nephew, niece, the satyr, and Athena's girl got past Cerberus and his skeleton guards.
He waited. He had no need to go find the little thieves, they would after all come to him in the end. It was clear to even the furies, and his skeleton army that Hades was in a foul mood, but he had a right to be.
His wife, his darling Persephone, was once again with her mother, doing Zeus knows what (on second thought, his brother probably didn't. He didn't know much of anything, really).
On top of this, war was being threatened – and at this rate would happen in less then eight hours, mortal world time – and most of all his Helm of Darkness was gone! As said before, this whole blasted year had started off with a thief.
Oh, he had a special punishment in store for whichever child of his brothers had stolen his helm. The problem laid with with one had done the deed, and of course, the girl.
Hades shifted in his throne of bones, placing his chin almost lazily, but confidently upon his clinched fist, the elbow bent and rested against the arm of his throne. He wouldn't deny he was curious with his brothers children.
It had been a long time sense any of them had a child, thanks to that blasted pact. He had thought it a waste of time, and hadn't wanted to agree but he was out voted and forced to swear on the River Styx.
Truth be told that hadn't been the thing that drove the wedge between him and his brothers to the breaking point, but what happened afterward.
His brother had basically ordered the death of any of their children that was younger then seventeen. Zeus had done this knowing his own children were all over the age of sixteen, not caring if his brothers children were or not.
Poseidon got lucky, if he recalled right his youngest son had been eighteen.
He on the other hand...he didn't wish to go there. But the death of one of the only women he'd truly loved out of his mortal lovers – though he'd loved them all in his own way - by his own brother no less.
That had broken his civility towards Zeus at least and he'd sworn revenge.
Thalia Grace had been the first part but now this new betrayal. Zeus could not have stolen his own bolt and his Helm of Darkness.
He had no children to do the deed for him, and the only one left with any motive was Poseidon.
He's sent Alecto after the boy, to keep a watch on him. At first Perseus, the boys name he remembered, was the only suspect. The only child he knew of, but then Athena had told Zeus of another. A daughter, born five years before Perseus.
Hades truly doubted the girl was the child of prophecy, she was turning eighteen in a month if the rumors were to be trusted, and his other sources.
But she could be dangerous, she was indeed powerful. Power that only a child of the Big Three to accomplish, but she was different from even the norm.
Melinda Potter, he mused to himself.
He'd sent Tisiphone after her once, to kill or bring back alive, he didn't much care. As long as it sent a message to his brother but this was before he'd learned his nieces name.
The first daughter of Poseidon that was of demigod heritage. Or even human form to be honest.
No one was sure why Poseidon didn't have daughters but it hadn't been something they cared to ponder before now.
He digressed though. Hades was very aware of the name, a girl who had cheated death twice. By a rule he wasn't fond of those who cheated death, but he supposed it wasn't true cheating.
If anything the girls mother had been brilliant enough to trick death and fate at the same time.
Lily Potter could have lived, she was supposed to live, but she'd done the most selfless thing a human or legacy – as her case appeared – could do and used her inherited magic and blessing of her grandmother, Hecate, to sacrifice herself in her daughters place.
Poseidon had truly outdone himself when he had a child with such a powerful and intelligent woman. He'd created a demigod which had become somewhat talked about, though even the gods knew she had her weaknesses.
It was the fact she'd been born under another prophecy, which could only compare to their current one, that worried them.
But even before she had come to camp her name was known by many, maybe not by most in the world of gods and monsters but by the dead – that was a different story.
He was familiar with the Girl-Who-Lived and now Woman-Who-Conquered's work. She sent many souls to his realm during Hecate's war.
A war which had kept his realm busy for over fifty years. Tom Riddle - later Voldemort – and Melinda Potter had caused him many a headache.
Both were beings of great power but great weakness. Both had blood on their hands, one by selfish and evil means, the other by righteous.
Many would say justified, and in war there was a blurry line between right and wrong. For those on opposite sides, especially leaders of wars that line did not exist.
Kill or be killed.
With the end of the war she'd disappeared, no one knew where she'd gone in the world Hecate was so fond of, no one but a select few according to hear-say.
But he knew, and it had created problems for him. If she was the thief...well he couldn't exactly punish her to his full desires.
Centuries ago when Thanatos had been tricked by the Peverell brothers, Hades had been angered, but also amused at how the Hallows, while separate caused such despair for those foolish enough to think they could have unlimited power.
The youngest brother, though, he'd been a cunning one. And the cloak had been passed down the line of his family which had ironically ended up the Potters.
With one hallow in her possession Melinda Potter wasn't much of a concern, but when she'd gained the stone and then the wand.
Thanatos had of course reported to him the news of a new Mistress of Death – he'd be honest the fact it was a female had thrown him at first – as was the deal stricken between them when Thanatos fell for the brothers cunning ways.
He unfortunately could not do anything to her, permanently until she died. A perk of being the holding of the Deathly Hallows. Of course the title did not make her his or Thanatos' master, they had more power than her in their right hand.
It just meant she was able to come and go from his realm as she pleased and he could say nothing, and she was more sensitive to his and Thanatos' domains. Recalling the dead in a similar manner to one of his children, but also different as hers was more...instant.
They had no choice but to come to her if she called, and it could dangerous had she only the stone in her Poseidon. Many wielders had gone insane and kill themselves in the past.
Her cloak would grant her invisibility on pair with his helm, seeing as if was made from Thanatos' cloak, and infused with his power of invisibility.
Even a god would have to concentrate to realize she were there were she wearing it, especially with her having the stone and wand.
The wand...what was to be said of that cursed piece of wood? It's bloody history had amused and annoyed him to no end. But it was the most powerful wand in existence, but what was a powerful wand without the wielder being of comparable power?
There had been few with the skill and power to wield it right and all had gone corrupt under it's whispers of power and indulgence.
It was a curse to wield only one hallow – though the cloak was the most mild and had no dangerous effects it seemed – but to wield them all was only half the trouble bypassed.
He sat up some when he heard the commotion outside, and felt the presence of the demigods and satyr. Flexing his left hand the doors flew open, leaving him clear view of the questing quartet.
The first he saw was the curly haired satyr which was staring at him, or more accurately around him at the throne room he'd built to keep his resentment at his Olympian family at bay, with a dropped jaw.
He was rather amused that this was the same satyr his brother had spent so much breath on cursing for being unable to stop little Thalia's death.
He couldn't help but smirk mentally, but kept his face blank on the outside.
On either side of him were two twelve, or thirteen year old. The girl was taller then the boy, and the first he noticed.
She was the spitting image of her mother, Athena. With curly blonde hair and startling gray eyes that seemed very out of place in his dark palace. She seemed just as surprised, but he also could see the fear and anxiety in her eyes. She was unsure they'd leave this place alive, and he felt his lips twitch ever so slightly.
The Daughter of Athena was wise like her mother it appeared, she had good reason to fear. The boy on the satyrs opposite side was undoubtedly his brother's son.
Perseus Jackson, or Percy he thought was his preferred name. He was exactly the mirror image of Poseidon, so much so from the angle he was at, looking up at a person slightly behind him, Hades felt his anger ebb away some.
Memories of growing up in his father's disgusting stomach flooding back to him. For years he'd taken care of Poseidon as they grew up, and he had seen the way Poseidon had looked up to before Zeus had come along and freed them from their prison.
He's been thankful to Zeus as well, but it soon became a battle between the three brothers, only a few centuries after they'd decided the domains in an unfair game of straws.
It was his birthright to be King of the gods, yet he'd accepted his place here, that didn't mean his relationships with his family did not suffer.
Percy Jackson was the growing thorn of a long forgotten past, of a Poseidon much younger and more naive, blameless.
Hanging on words of a big brother who protected him from a nagging Demeter or an angry Hera.
Or a smothering Hestia – she'd been the dotting older sister, trying to keep the peace even then and care for their youngest sibling.
As the boy turned to face him he could see the subtle differences. Inherited from his mother no doubt, like his eye shape which wasn't as sharp as his brother or the way his nose was slightly wider, just slightly.
Those who hadn't grown up with Poseidon or weren't looking wouldn't have noticed.
It was enough that the anger could come flooding back. Poseidon had betrayed his trust for the last time when he'd sent his children to take his symbol of power. There would be no mercy.
Then, he looked up slightly to the last member of the group. The oldest, who stared with calm curiosity. She was undoubtedly his brother child, with long dark hair and tanned skin, sharp features. The differences with her were similar to the boy, but her eyes were also different.
They were at first glance sea green, but as he kept eye contact with her he realized they weren't the same shade of sea green and were actually a mix of sea green and emerald.
But just as bright as his brothers and seemed to portrayed either a perfect poker face or reveal everything the holder felt.
At the time they flashed between many emotions and Hades could help but trail his eyes over the woman – and it was clear this was a woman, not a girl.
She was young, but she was different, she'd seen the darkest the world had to offer. Yet it was hard to believe the rumors about this girl could be true when confronted with her.
She was almost...delicate looking for lack of better term. How could so much power be in her? At first glance she did not seem a threat, she was almost dainty and even seemed naive, like she'd trust a total stranger unless given a reason not to.
For a moment he felt some emotion he hadn't expected when confront with the possible thief of his property, a thorn in his side from all the souls she'd sent into his realm to be judged. All of which had gone either to the fields or to punishment.
He felt a spark, and regret oddly enough. His chest got that funny feeling he'd only gotten with the dozen of mortal lovers he'd had in his thousands of years, a feeling only comparable to the ones he'd felt with Persephone the first time he'd seen her or Maria.
Not quite as deep, but for that moment he didn't want to cause his niece pain, but he did want answers and his Helm back, and if the Master bolt fell into his hands in the process...well all the better.
And maybe he didn't need to be able to harm her to hurt Poseidon, maybe he couldn't simply persuade her into eating enough food – whatever she took a liking for, be it pomegranates or tea – that it would not matter that she was the Mistress of Death. She'd never be able to leave, not even for a few months like his darling wife.
He grew frustrated at the sharp stab of guilt that came to his chest but was gone nearly as fast as it had come. Melinda Potter intrigued him, and he'd enjoy figuring her out.
"Come forward, little thieves," Hades said, and he watched them enter one at a time.
Melinda kept close to the younger demigods, especially her brother, and the satyr but didn't seem all that phased by his words or tone. She was simply staring at him with what appeared to be curiosity and was that...pity?
He growled low in his throat, he did not need anyone's pity! Least of all hers.
"Uncle..." Percy began, after sharing a quick look with his sister who nodded.
Hades was pretty sure he saw a flinch cross Melinda's face, and her eyes linger to his robes which were sown with the most cruel and evil of all souls. He noticed, before turning his full attention to his nephew, that her hand came up to brush the scar on her forehead, her eyes showing a bit of shock, fear and confusion. Before there was a flash of realization.
"You were very brave to come here, nephew," he said. "After what you have done to me! Or perhaps you are simply very foolish."
"Lord Hades," Melinda began, stepping up next to her brother.
Hades noticed with some smug pride that the boy looked like he was forcing himself to stay awake. His presence was known to have this effect, he made others want to call him master. In was simply in his aura.
"We didn't come to do anything but ask you for clarification," Melinda said, rather diplomatically he noticed.
Percy nodded.
"We came with two request," he added, more confident.
Hades narrowed his eyes harshly and raised an eyebrow. He sat forward, no longer lounging comfortably in his throne but giving his full attention to the demigods before him.
"Arrogance is a trait among my youngest brothers children, but I've seen it among Poseidon's as well," he said, sneering. "You only have...two request you say? You should take a leaf from your older sisters book, nephew, less I strike you dead for such cheek. Speak, though, I am amused to hear more."
The boy swallowed fearfully and he noticed him glancing at his wife smaller throne next to his. Typical, all heroes thought his wife could save them, just because she was duped by a few and there was the whole...Orpheus fiasco.
"Percy," he heard the daughter of Poseidon mutter to her brother as the daughter of Athena poked the boy in the back as if to move him forward with his words. "Do you want me to..."
"No," he said, maybe louder than he meant. "I have too, it's my quest."
Hades watched the two with a small amount of impressed emotion, but only a bit. He was mostly getting impatient. The boy got the hint though and came closer, confidence back on his face.
"Lord Hades," he said. "Sir, there can't be a war among the gods. It would be … bad."
"Really bad, sir," the satyr added.
"Please, return Zeus's master bolt," Percy said. "Please, sir. Let me carry it to Olympus."
Hades' eyes grew wide, and angry as he stood up with such speed the younger demigods took a step back, along with Melinda. Though she seemed far less frightened, but he did see the fear growing in her green eyes.
Beautiful eyes, he had time to admit.
"You dare keep up this pretense, foolish boy! After what you have taken from me?"
They all looked confused.
"Uncle, uh, what exactly did we take?" Percy asked.
The throne room shook with a tremor so strong, debris fell from the cavern ceiling and doors burst open in his anger. His skeletal warriors marched in, hundreds of them, from every time period Western civilization could come up with. They lined the perimeter of the room, blocking the exits in case they decided to run.
"Do you think I want war?" Hades bellowed and growled at the same time.
Hades noticed his niece looking around her in a calculating manner and sighing, as if she knew their chances of fighting their way out were one in a million, even with her power.
"You're the Lord of the Dead, aren't you?" Percy asked carefully.
Hades sneered, stepping down to be closer to the demigods and shrinking to a mere 6'2. it seemed to startle them, which was exactly what he was going for.
He noticed instantly Melinda slipped a bracelet to Percy, and a ring to the satyr who looked at her with wide eyes. He had his suspicions these were her main weapons in a mortal form.
"Have you not seen the lines into the Underworld, the over flowing herds of souls in the Asphodel fields? Or the ones still waiting for judgment and those still at DOA Studios?" Hades asked darkly.
Percy looked ready to speak but he continued, shutting his nephew up for the time being.
"I've had to make subdivision after subdivision! This kingdom was once very wealthy and yet I am not the as wealthy as I was in the beginning because of this fact! More security ghouls, more pay checks to give out. Everywhere I turn more souls, more begging!"
"Charon wants a pay raise," the boy blurted out.
"Percy!" Melinda gasped, looking at the boy with slightly wide eyes. "Now is not the time." just remembering the fact. As soon as I said it, I wished I could sew up my mouth.
"Charon! I should have guessed!" Hades yelled, nodding in agreement at what his niece had said. "He's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits! Problems I must comes and take care of. The commute time alone from the palace to the gates is enough to drive me insane! And the dead just keep arriving. No, I did not ask for this war, It was my dear younger brothers who brought it upon us."
"But you took Zeus's master bolt."
"Lies! Your father may be able to win Zeus over with such a lie but I am not stupid. I know the things I do and I have not taken his bolt. How could I have? I have no children to take them for me, and no one but a demigod can accomplish such a thief."
"Another demigod stole it for you..." Annabeth began, but the glare he sent her was quick to shut her up.
"More lies, what demigod would have done such a thing for me? Why would I want my brothers electric night light anyways? No, you stole the bolt and my helm."
He watched as their eyes widened and Melinda stepped forward.
"Your helm is missing, uncle?"
He glared, but for some reason his glare was not full of the rage he felt.
"You know it has been girl," he said. "You may be the Mistress of Death, but this is still my domain!"
The girls eyes widened but she nodded.
"I'm sorry uncle but we did not still your helm or Zeus' bolt. I swear on the River Styx and River Nile I have nothing to do with the thief of either item."
The room shook and Hades looked at her in shock, having to find a way to hide his nearly dropped jaw.
"I see," he said, more gently. "It may be so for you, niece, but for them..."
"No!" Percy said. "Poseidon didn't-I didn't-"
"I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance," Hades snarled, "because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can not afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear has been taken from me so easily. When I heard of your quest from my furies, I decided to wait. You would come to me in time, now return my helm boy!"
"Uncle, please. Percy did not take it, I have been with him..."
"So naive," Hades interrupted. "Your father is not as innocent of a man as you wish to believe, Melinda. I know much about you, having heard many whispers from the dead. You were not as I expected, vouching for a thief."
Melinda's eyes flashed darkly, and her face contorted in anger. It only served to make her prettier, beautiful even. He shook his head, unbelieving he'd think such things about his brother daughter – not that he cared the girls relation to him, Persephone was his niece as well – at a time like this. After such a betrayal on his brother behalf.
"I am not naive, and I know my father has done his far share of bad things. Made his mistakes but that was then, this is now. Please, just think about this for a moment."
"I have had months to think, daughter of my brother," he snapped. "Here is all I have to say. I will stop death, I will open the earth and allow the dead back into the world of mortals. There will be chaos, disorder and nightmares. Maybe even death, and you Percy Jackson, will lead my army of skeletons."
At his words the skeletal soldiers all took one step forward, making their weapons ready.
"Don't talk to my sister like that!" Percy snapped, stepping forward. "You're as bad as Zeus. You think I stole from you when I didn't even know about any of this until you sent the furies after me!"
"Do not speak to me that way, Jackson," Hades sneered, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"And the other monsters?"
Hades curled his lip. "I had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you- I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?"
"Easily? You call that easy?" Percy asked, and the skeletons got restless.
"I will not say this again, return my helm!"
"I don't have it, I never did. I came for the bolt!"
"Fool, why come for the very thing you already have!" Hades roared. "Inside you pack, child. I am no fool, I can easily sense it's presence within my realm."
their eyes widened and Hades watched as the boy took the pack off slowly and opened it. Inside sparked blue and the boy looked up at him pale.
"Percy," Melinda breathed. "How did that get there?"
"I...I don't know," he answered her.
"Ares," Annabeth gasped. "We got the bag from Ares!"
Hades furrowed his eyebrows and looked between them at his immortal nephews name.
"I did not ask for the bolt, but seeing as it is here, you shall give it to me," Hades said, slowly and demanding. "Now give me my helm and the bolt, Perseus."
"Wait, there's been a mistake," Melinda said.
"A...mistake?" Hades asked, wanting to sound more angry then he did.
The skeletons aimed their weapons, ready to attack. From high above, there was a fluttering of leathery wings, and the three Furies swooped down to perch on the back of his throne.
"There is no mistake," Hades said. "Do not take me as stupid, niece. I know why the boy has come, my brother must be heart broken it was not for his desires. No, he came for her."
He held up a ball of gold fire and it exploded a moment after he tossed it onto the ground between them. A shadow of a older woman, thought still probably in her early thirties formed.
Frozen in a shower of gold, just as she'd been when he'd taken her before the Minotaur could kill her.
"Yes, I know what you seek. Give me the helm and the bolt and I will, perhaps, return her to you. You do want your mother alive, don't you godling?"
Melinda's face turned as hard as stone.
"Let her go," Melinda said, forcefully. "Return her, how could you take a boys mother? It's cruel!"
Hades laughed darkly.
"Maybe I am a cruel man, Melinda," he said.
"I don't think you are," she said, shocking him. "I think deep down you could be the complete opposite, I think you're bitter. I think you're lonely."
He looked at her for a moment, and saw the honesty in her eyes. He gritted his teeth, unsure of how to move forward from that display of emotion.
"You are a trusting fool, Melinda Potter. You wish to believe in the good in everyone, it'll be your downfall one day," he muttered, almost sadly.
"She's alive?" Percy suddenly asked, still staring at his mothers golden form.
"For now, but that can easily change," he replied.
There was silence and then he noticed the movement of Percy's hand to his pocket and he smirked.
"Ah, the pearls," Hades began. "Yes, my brother always did love his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson."
Slowly the boy brought out the pearls.
"Only three," Hades said, amused. "What a shame. You do realize each one protects only a single person. Try to take your mother, then, little godling. And which of your friends will you leave behind to spend eternity with me? Go on. Choose. Will it be your friend, the satyr. The blonde child of Athena..."
Hades then stopped and with a glint in his black eyes looked towards Melinda's figure.
"Or your sister," he finished, his tone like silk.
It pleased him to see the widening of her green eyes and the slow build of defiance in her eyes.
"You can not keep me here, Hades," she said. "I am able to come and go as I please."
He laughed.
"Maybe, but can you battle your way out of here, and rescue his mother at the same time?" he asked.
"I won't choose," Percy muttered. "You can't have my friends or my sister. You can't have my mother either!"
His voice gained volume as he spoke.
"Can't I, boy? I am the Lord of the Dead, as you yourself said. I can have anyone, now. Your choice?"
Hades waited, and rolled his eyes discreetly when the demigods began talking amongst themselves. As if to plan, as if he wouldn't hear them.
"All of you shut up," Melinda said, finally. "Percy, take the pearls for yourself, Annabeth and Grover. I will join you on the surface when I can. I will stay, and I won't leave without your mother returned safely."
"No!" the demigods cried along with the satyr.
"You can't," Percy said. "Please, you have to come too."
"Hades is right, Percy," Melinda said, turning her gaze to his black one. "We can't fight our way out. Take Abyss, and Tachýs in case you need them to protect yourself."
"What about you?" Grover asked, wide eyed.
"I still have weapons," Melinda said, and they recalled her bone dagger and wands. "Go, now!"
"But -" Percy began.
"I am your older sister, listen to me and go!"
Hades couldn't help but find this amusing, but to his surprise the boy listened. With wide eyes he watched as he handed a pearl to his friends and they stepped on it.
"PERSEUS JACKSON!" Hades roared as the bubbles, protected from harm as the skeletons fired their weapons. "Do not defy me!"
"I think...he already did, uncle," Melinda said, looking at him cheekily.
He looked back at her and held up a hand to stop his army and furies from attacking her further. He noticed she held a bone dagger in her hand and chuckled.
"You expect to fight your way out of here?" he asked.
She shrugged.
"Maybe, but I promised not to leave without Sally, I don't plan too," she said.
Hades grumbled and turned to his furies.
"Follow the boy and his friends," he ordered them. "Leave me with Melinda, we have much to learn about one another."
Soon after he dismissed the furies he dismissed his skeleton army. Leaving him alone with Melinda.
