Ch63

Percy rubbed his head as he looked around his surroundings. "Why are we in San Francisco?"

He along with Bianca and Mrs. O'Leary had just visited his own mother to gain her blessing in order to enter the River Styx and they had just come from visiting Luke's mother to understand him more.

"We are going to visit Annabeth's dad," Bianca said as they walked down the street. "She is Luke's right hand man and you should know her past as well."

"Sounds good," he said his heart racing in his chest as they walked through the streets of San Francisco.

"Mrs. O'Leary wait over here ok?" Bianca said pointing to some shade underneath a tree. The hell hound barked in agreement and went over to the shade and curled herself up in a ball.

He followed Bianca up the steps to an ordinary looking house. Frankly he didn't know much about Annabeth's home life though from the bits he gathered from Malcolm and Chiron it wasn't that good.

So to his surprise a man wearing an airplane hat answered the door. "Hello are you here to deliver the other half of my engine?"

"Mr. Chase long time no see," Bianca said. "We need to talk about your daughter Annabeth."

Mr. Chase's eyes widened, "Of course come on in." The door quickly opened and they were let in. "Don't worry my wife is out doing errands and my kids are at school."

"I see," Bianca said as they both sat on a couch. "Anyway Mr. Chase this is Percy Jackson he has fought against your daughter many times."

"N-Nice to meet you," he said awkwardly. What do I say sorry for almost killing your daughter?

Mr. Chase sat across from them his features looked gaunt and eyes hid sadness in them. "So last time you came asking about her. It was the first time in a while since I heard from her," his voice croaked his eyes watered up.

"The camp didn't tell you she left?" He asked in surprise.

"At first I thought she might have been angry at me or something," Mr. Chase said grabbing a tissue to clean his eyes. "But then Chiron sent a message saying she had disappeared I thought something happened. Then her mother came in my dreams and told me to be careful as she joined the side of her enemies."

Mr. Chase shook his head his body shaking as tears fell down his face. "My poor Annabeth. I should've been more attentive but now she is on the side of the enemy." His voice croaked as he cleaned the tears. "I was distraught for weeks. My poor baby girl gone."

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said softly his heart panged as Mr. Chase cried in his chair. "I fought against her many times and she was definitely strong."

"Mr. Chase we are because the final battle will soon be approaching," Bianca said firmly. "We want to know your opinion on your daughter. Do you think she can be saved?"

He was taken by surprise by the question, Annabeth had always been loyal to Luke and had been fighting by his side since his first summer at camp. Yet he didn't want to argue to tell Mr. Chase that he thought she was brainwashed and working to destroy the world.

Yet looking at Mr. Chase he felt sorry for him, his gaze looked tired and he could tell that he hoped for his daughter's safe return.

"I know she has done a lot of bad things," Mr. Chase said looking up at him. "But I beg you if you can protect her, she is a good person deep down. Maybe she is manipulated or brainwashed but I know she has good in her."

Mr. Chase then took a deep breath as he cleaned his face with a tissue. He swallowed a lump in his throat. Luke's mother would probably spend the rest of her life waiting for a son who would probably not come home yet Mr. Chase still had that hope inside of him.

"I know she may have done horrible things and fought against you," Mr. Chase said looking him in the eyes. "But I know she will eventually make the right choices. You have no reason to trust me but as a father, I miss my daughter and regret how things turned out between us."

Mr. Chase cleaned his eyes as tears began to fall. "I would do anything to make things right between us and if I could I would give her a hug for all the things she suffered through and apologize for everything."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. His mind wandered to his own mother, he knew she would beg anyone for him if he were in danger. "Thank you Mr. Chase. I can see that you love your daughter dearly, if I can I'll see what I can do."

"That means a lot to me," Mr. Chase said with a small smile. "You have no reason to believe in the words of a middle aged mortal like me but I know that my daughter has good in her deep down there. If only she felt at home maybe she wouldn't have left."

Taking a deep breath Mr. Chase looked at him. "I you no reason to save her and you don't know me but if you could save her I would be the happiest man in the world if she could be saved and redeemed."

"I understand," he said. "Mr. Chase Annabeth won't be an easy opponent but if she is willing I will see what I can to save her." The words came out of his mouth before he realized it. Maybe it was because of how sad Mr. Chase and Mrs. Castellan were, both of their children were gone and they wanted nothing but their children's happiness.

If I suddenly disappeared my mom would be distraught. He shuddered at that thought, of how his mother would react if he just disappeared only to join the side of the Titan army or some other bad force in the world. She would beg for someone to help me if they could, I know she would. Even if there was only a slim chance of saving me mom would do anything for it.

"Me and your daughter fought many times as enemies but if I can I promise I'll do my best to save her," he said firmly.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me as a father," Mr. Chase said. "Anyway thank you both for this update, I wish you both luck on your quest."

"Thank you Mr. Chase," Bianca said as they both got up.

Once they left the house Bianca quickly summoned Mrs. O'Leary with a whistle. "He seemed nice," he said as the hell hound met them at the steps.

Bianca nodded, "He is. I met him a while ago, the hunt wanted intelligence on Annabeth. Nice guy, he was willing to talk to me to get some information about his daughter."

"That's nice," he said taking one last look at the Chase house. I'll try to help her if I can, I really will but it is easier said than done. "Come on lets go to the Styx."

Bianca nodded and grabbed his hand. "We have to be careful. My father is still upset at me for Nico."

He frowned, "Has he done anything to you?

Bianca shook her head, "Just yell and say how could I have I just left him." She cleaned her face, "He said I was a disappointment for allowing Nico to join the enemy and now the other gods view him with even more suspicion."

"It's alright. It wasn't your fault," he said firmly. "He made his own choices, you cannot be responsible for everything he did."

"I know," Bianca muttered before looking up at him. "If I may ask how is he?"

He avoided his gaze, "No one is allowed to see him. Mr. D keeps him under tight guard and well rumor has it that he has lost most of his sanity."

"Well hopefully this can work out," Bianca said grabbing his arm. "Come on we need to get going."

He felt the familiar tug of the shadows followed by a squeezing sensation. Damn it this shadow travel is a real pain. When he felt the ground again they were in the underworld next to an ominous river.

"So this is it?" he asked looking down at the river and seeing all the lost dreams that mortals left behind in life.

Bianca nodded, "Go ahead. I'll keep an eye out for my father."

Taking a deep breath he approached with river and a ghostly figure in Greek armor appeared in front of him. "I am Achilles I protect this river and am here to warn you about the burden you are about to take."

"I'll do it," he said firmly meeting Achille's gaze. "I need to have the curse to defend those that I love."

Achilles nodded, "Then go but we warned of the burden you will take. Think of a single spot and focus on your mortality."

"I will," he said. Achilles disappeared leaving the expanse of the river in front of him. Taking a deep breath he took a step into the river and a surge of energy hit him making him fall flat on his face and the water enveloped him.

Usually water would be his element but the Styx would not obey him and seemed to be suffocating him. He struggled to move around as his entire body burned. He wanted to scream but then he felt a small peaceful presence.

"It's ok Percy I'm for you," his mother said her voice ringing calmly in his head.

Mom. He thought of his mom and all the love and care she gave him over during his life. All the things she sacrificed and did for him and to ensure his safety.

He could see her smile in his head, feel her touch as if she were embracing him after returning home from school. I'll return home mom I promise. The burning sensation eventually became centered around a single area on his back and the river slowly pushed him up.

His mind was still fuzzy as he found himself on the shores of the Styx. "Percy!" Bianca yelled as she went up to him. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," he said as she helped him up. His legs were wobbly but felt fine, great even. "Come on we should get going."

"Well look what we have here," said a familiar voice that made him freeze and Bianca's eyes widen. Hades appeared in front of them wearing his helm of darkness. The god's gaze was anything but friendly. "Bianca you know it's rude to allow uninvited guests into my domain."

"Father I was just helping him," Bianca said standing in between them. "Percy needs the Curse of Achilles to win."

Hades chuckled, "Bianca dear you've disappointed me enough. First you abandoned your brother which resulted in him joining the enemy before nearly dying and now." The god's gaze became cold, "Why don't you go back to your hunters I don't want to see you around here again."

Bianca avoided her father's gaze. "Hey don't speak to her like that," He said stepping in front her. "She isn't responsible for Nico's decisions."

Hades laughed, "Well she is my daughter I'll talk to her as I like." The god turned to face them with a cold look, "Do what you wish to do Bianca and continue with your selfish desires."

With a flick of his fingers, Hades disappeared leaving him and Bianca alone. "Hey it's alright," he said patting her shoulder.

"He has been harsh on me for what happened to Nico," Bianca said softly. "I feel so bad for what I did."

"You did nothing wrong," he said firmly. "Nico made his choices and now suffers the consequences of his actions."

"My father doesn't want to help the other gods. He is upset over what happened to Nico," Bianca said shaking her head.

"Well maybe you can try and convince him," he said. "I have to head back to lead the campers but maybe you can stay here and convince your dad to help."

Bianca sighed, "That's easier said than done. He constantly feels like the other Olympians snub him but I think I can convince him. Maybe even make him swear on the Styx or something."

"I you'll do what you can," he said as Mrs. O'Leary approached him. "Good luck Bianca."

"You too Percy," Bianca said as he grabbed Mrs. O'Leary by the collar and he felt the shadows envelop him again.

When he opened his eyes he found himself in front of the Empire State Building. "Percy!" He turned around to see Ellen and Malcolm along with a bunch of other campers. Well most of the campers, the Ares cabin wasn't there. Damn them.

His brother Chrysaor ran up to him he was wearing Greek style armor with his golden sword at his side. "I got them all here like you asked."

"Thanks," he said looking at all the campers around him who were awaiting his instructions.

Chiron approached him. "Well Percy the campers are here awaiting for your instructions. I will visiting my brethren to get some more help."

He sighed, "Fine we'll do our best here. We need to see the gods right away. Chris you and Reyna keep an eye on things out here. The other cabin heads come with me."

Reyna nodded. "Good luck."

With that, Chiron left them in his hands. "Alright I'll be right back," he said looking at the campers. "Keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

He and the other cabin heads went into the Empire State Building. After convincing the secretary to let them in they entered the elevator and soon were Olympus.

The other campers followed him apprehensively as they walked to the throne room. Inside he saw Hestia, he bowed to her when he felt another powerful presence in the room. Hermes appeared on his throne wearing a fighter pilot uniform and from the looks of his scowl wasn't in a good mood.

"What do you all want here," Hermes said curtly.

"Hey George Hey Marta," he said in his head the snakes greeted him as he turned to face the god. "We need to speak with Lord Zeus."

"He is busy if you want to speak to him I can deliver a message to him," Hermes said folding his arms. "We are busy dealing with Typhon and cannot afford to come back here. With your father choosing to defend his realm and Lord Hades not wanting to participate we are short of hands, even if Lady Hecate can provide some support Typhon is not an easy opponent."

Malcolm turned to the Stoll siblings, "Why don't you and the others go help Chrysaor with the defenses." The Stoll siblings nodded and quickly left the room leaving him, Malcolm, and Ellen with Hermes.

The son of Athena took a deep breath and bowed to the god. "Lord Hermes Kronos is going to attack New York, my mother sure must have foreseen it."

Hermes frowned and rubbed his head. "Oh she does but Zeus will not spare any hands saying that Olympus is already well defended by air and other powerful defenses. If Kronos wants to come he'll have to march on foot."

"I see," Malcolm said. "Did my mother say anything else?"

Hermes nodded, "She told me to warn you that you are on your own and must hold Manhattan without the help of the other gods, also something about using Plan 23 along with Percy to remember the rivers and don't overexert yourself."

"Um thank you," he said.

Hermes nodded and turned to Malcolm his shining menacingly. "Also if you see your sister treat her like an enemy, don't fall for any tricks." The god's voice was colder and the tension in the room became so thick a knife could cut it.

Malcolm clenched his fists. "Oh I will don't worry about that."

Hermes then turned to Lou Ellen. "Your mother is proving her worth, she expects you and your siblings to make her proud. She has great expectations for you."

Lou Ellen nodded, "I will Lord Hermes."

With that Hermes snapped his fingers and disappeared. He took a deep breath, "Well that went better than I thought it would be. Come on lets go," he said.

Ellen and Malcolm nodded as they followed him down the stairs. "What do he mean by don't overexert yourself?" Ellen asked.

"I bathed in the Styx," he said softly.

Malcolm and Ellen stared at him in surprise. "Percy you bathed in the river Styx?" Malcolm said his eyes wide.

He nodded, "I did. It will be necessary for this fight."

As they headed downstairs they were quickly met by Connor Stoll. "Guys come outside now!"

"What is it?" Ellen asked as they ran outside.

"Percy something happened to the city," Reyna said as she handed him some binoculars. He looked through them and saw that the city was at a standstill, all the mortals were asleep.

"The fighting has begun," he muttered. He took a deep breath and looked at all the campers, everyone was watching him, waiting for his instruction. "Everyone we are the children of the gods. Lets show Kronos what we can do. "For Olympus!"

There was a roar throughout the campers. "Alright everyone lets get into positions," he said looking at the crowd. Calm down I can do this. "Reyna you, Malcolm, Chris, and Ellen will stay with me. Each Cabin will defend an area we'll work together to hold off the enemy army."

As he was delegating the tasks he noticed a few Amazon vans along with other vehicles drive towards them.

"Looks like we have help," Chrysaor said as Zoe and Hylla exited their respective vehicles.

"Hylla you're here!" Reyna said as she ran to hug her sister.

"Don't worry I'll fight with my little sister," Hylla said as the two sisters embraced each other. "The Amazons and the hunt stand by Olympus."

Zoe stepped forward. "Indeed we must all work together. Percy Jackson, where do you need us?"

AN: Since the Amazons are in Greek mythology I decided to add them because why not.