First and foremost, let me say that your line names were beautiful, and at some point I promise I will use each and every one of them. I putt… 6 names in here today! I'm going in order of reviews, so the first who reviewed get their name in first.

And Fredrick Finkleberg got its own line because it made me giggle XD

Alright, I have no excuse why this chapter is so late. I was just busy with school. And lazy.

Disclaimer: I've said this like 40 times. I don't own anything :P

Isabella was terrified.

Why? I have no idea. I guess there was something about the whole idea of meeting the god of death that was unsettling to her.

While shadow traveling is usually tiring and tedious for me, in the Underworld it's much more refreshing and a whole lot easier. With shadows virtually everywhere, I didn't have to walk around for a half-hour looking for an entryway to the shadow world.

Isabella and I were at Hade's palace in no time (much to her dismay).

Once we got there, we were greeted by a duo of American Civil War soldiers (or at least their skeletons), with their guns at the ready as we approached.

Isabella looked like she was about to pass out from fear just from the thought of meeting Hades, and I'm sure the undead warriors weren't easing her feelings. Though I'm sure she hadn't meant to and would surely curse herself later for it, she was clinging to my side as if I were her lifeline.

I approached the soldiers, and they raised their guns (though I'm no wimp, the image of a gun being pointed at my face made me take a small step back in fear). Hiding every emotion I had besides cockiness (which, like a loyal friend, was always there for me), I took another step towards the undead. "Hello, kind gentlemen." I said more mockingly than respectfully. Their position did not waver. "Alrighty then. Well, I'm kind of a VIP around here, so if you would just move over so I could get through, it would be greatly appreciated." They remained where they were.

One of them attempted to say something that I'm sure was very fascinating; but sadly enough without lips or a tongue, the words were lost.

"Yeah, alright, this is very fun and all but I'm afraid I really have to get through, so…" I attempted to slip past them, but they countered my move and were blocking the door immediately. "Alright, be difficult. Have it your way!" I grabbed Izzy's arm, and before she could yell at me we had shadow traveled inside the palace and were on our way to see Hades. Fortunately, she had thought to hang onto her crutches before we left, or I would've been stuck carrying her the whole way. Unfortunately, she wasn't used to the cast on her leg and was sent off balance as we landed, resulting in her going tumbling away once we arrived.

She cursed loudly (and I'm sure if her older sister were there, Isabella would've been in a boatload of trouble), but stood up and wobbled over, glaring at me all the while. While I thought she was going to yell at me for being so insensitive and stupid and blah blah blah, she just took a glance around the hallway and said "Your dad has horrible taste."

Many would agree.

The palace was decorated in some kind of mixture between dark medieval and gothic, and of course there were hints of Greek décor here and there. Shelves ran throughout the entire castle, displaying an plethora of skulls from throughout history (many of which belonged to souls Hades had slain himself).

Candles mounted onto holders on the walls provided dim light that was nearly devoured by the darkness that was always present in the Underworld. If I my eyesight was any worse, I wouldn't have been able to see five feet in front of me.

The whole place basically looked like the lair of some kind of evil wizard from a few centuries ago.

Personally, I kinda liked it…

"Regardless of the décor, we should probably go look for Hades." I told her. The expression on her face and the way she practically dragged herself along let out an unspoken "Do we have to?" Unfortunately for her, my confident strides and cocky demeanor answered with a "Yes, yes we do."

(Hello! I am a line and my name is Giovanni Shaynaynay Helga Arnold. GREETINGS FROM SWEDEN!)

It wasn't long before we found Hades' throne room. It could be just because my sense of direction is so accurate that I guided us throughout the long maze of hallways and straight to the throne room. (It could also be that there were signs throughout the palace with arrows saying "Hades' Throne Room: this way.", but let's not dwell on that small little detail.)

When I walked in, I expected one of a few things to happen:

1) We would quickly be ushered out by the undead, and told Hades isn't there at the moment (aka: He's there but just doesn't particularly want to see us).

2) We would be attacked by those same undead and I would be forced to use my extremely impressive fighting skills to fend them off.

3) Isabella would see Hades and get so scared that she may indeed, as you may say, wet herself.

What I did not expect was to see Hades sloppily dining on a rack of barbeque ribs and lounging in his throne in a very ungodly way.

"Ah, Nico. I had expected you would be arriving here soon." He said nonchalantly. The undead warriors, who usually act as guards, were now acting as what can only be described as servants. They were serving him the meat, and after every bite he took they would dab at his mouth with a cotton napkin, wiping the excess sauce off of his face.

"And how exactly did you know that?"

"Nico, I am a god! I am all knowing! There's that, and the fact that my soldiers brought in that girl you fancy so much a little while ago. I figured you would be here soon enough to play hero."

"What girl?" curiously wondered Isabella.

"Nobody." I answered, maybe a little too quickly to get past suspicion.

"Ahh, and who is this exactly? Is she Ceberus' dinner? Oh, how positively delightful of you, Nico. You know Ceberus loves it when we bring him humans for his meals. But this one's a little small, don't you think? He may accidentally swallow one of her bones!"

If there was one point Izzy looked as if she were about to pee her pants, this was that point.

"Not quite. This is Isabella, daughter of Athena." I explained.

"Oh, your wife's sis-"

"I don't have a wife!" I explained, and not for the first time.

"You two still didn't tie the knot? By gosh, boy! What are you waiting for?" he asked, exhasperated.

"My twenty-fifth birthday, maybe?"

"Ah, that's much too far away! You think she's going to save herself for you? Think again! Some strapping young lad who has killed much bigger monsters than you is going to come around one day, sweep her off her feet, and before you know it you're going to be all alone with nothing but a bunch of skeletons for company!"

"Uh, I think I have plenty of time." I told him.

He shook his head, like I was the crazy one in this situation. "I'm not sure, Nico. She's a smart one, that girl of yours. She already figured out how to escape three times since I trapped-"

"Wait, you're holding them captive?"

He seemed surprised by my surprise. "Well, yes. How else was I supposed to hold them?"

"Uh, comfortably?" I suggested.

"Could you imagine what that would do to my reputation?" he exclaimed, "Who's going to fear me, the might Lord of the Underworld, if they hear I let three demigods lounge in my palace, hm? What if I had my butler take their coats, and maybe make them some nice hot tea? While I'm at it, I might as well put out a few magazines for their leisure! Maybe even serve them some fancy cubed cheese! How does that sound?"

"That depends. Will there be crackers provided with the cheese?"

He let out a very loud and dramatic sigh. "If there's one thing you've inherited from me, besides your good looks, of course, it's your ability to annoy somebody until they're prepared to throw you into the mouth of a hellhound just to shut you up."

"…Thank you?"

"Yes, yes, your appreciation has been noted. Now, go retrieve your obnoxious friends. All their shouting is rather annoying." He waved us away, and took a large bite out of his rib. On our way out, he started to mimic the three demigods he was currently holding captive using an annoyingly high pitched voice. "Oh, help me! Help me! The evil god has trapped me in the dungeon! Oh, woe is me! Blah blah blah! I'm a big crybaby!"

Once I was about to close the door behind me, my father discretely ("PSSTTT! NICO! COME HERE FOR A SECOND! AND LEAVE THE FIVE YEAR OLD IN THE HALLWAY!") called me back into his throne room.

"Yes?" I asked curiously.

He leaned forward, like he was about to share some big secret with me. "Alright, here's the deal. So you can look good in front of that girl and possibly speed up the marriage process, I'm gonna do you a huge favor."

"And what would that be…?" I had decided then that if he gave me an engagement ring, I would never talk to him again.

He had a maniacal smile on his face as he whispered his plan to me. "Just as you rescue them from the dungeon, I'm going to release an army of my undead soldiers after you!" he said, absolutely delighted by his idea.

"What?" I shouted, "How would that help me?"

"Oh, you can run around, showing off, impressing that girl, blah blah blah. It's really every hero's fantasy; you're fortunate enough to have such a wonderful father that he would do these great favors for you." He sat back, content with his idea.

I stared at him in disbelief. "You call sending an army after me a favor?" Could be possibly be that delusional?

He seemed confused at my dismay. "Yes; what would you call it?"

"Uh, a death sentence?"

"Oh, nonsense!" he waved his hand, "Make me proud now, son!"

"Wait-!" I tried to shout out more, but soldiers were already ushering me out of the room.

Once the doors were shut and we were on our way to the dungeon, Isabella, who had been quiet nearly that whole conversation, commented, "Your dad is annoying and kinda insane." she said, "Just like you."

(Hellooo! I am a different line! And my name is Fredrick Finkleberg! Ahoy mates!)

It wasn't hard to find the dungeon either. Considering the dungeon was always the creepiest part of the palace, we just followed the scariest hallways until we arrived at the stone fortress. Isabella's metal crutches clanged every time she stepped, so I wasn't surprised when a duo of soldiers ran over to us, guns once again pointed at my face. Before I could say anything a dozen bayonets were on my neck; threatening to pierce the skin and rip my head clean off my shoulders.

But not to worry!

One flick of my wrist and they were all passed out on the floor. Yet another perk to being the Prince of the Underworld.

We passed cell after cell; most of which were inhabited by skeletons. A few held some pretty gruesome looking monsters, and others held some gruesome looking demigods.

It wasn't long before we heard our dearest friends.

"IIII AMMM SITTINGGG! I AM SITTING IN PRISONN! III AM SOOO SADDD; SOO SOO SADDD." Sang a voice from down the hall. Hailey's songs usually described what she was doing at the moment (it gets annoying after an hour of listening to "I am walking! I ammm walking! Walking! Walking! Walking is so fun!"), the lyrics were always horrible, and she screamed more than she sang; and yet she still sounded like she belonged on the radio every time she opened her mouth.

"Hailey?" I shouted.

"NICOOO! That is my friendddd, Nicooo! HEEE HAS COMEE TO SAVE US! HEEE ISS MY NEW BEST FRIENDD!" I heard, and followed the singing straight down the hallway.

Their cells were near the end of the hallways, and the others surrounding theirs were all taken up by century old skeletons.

"Jill!" exclaimed Isabella as she wobbled herself over to her sister's cell.

I leaned against the wall. "I'm considering leaving you guys here as a punishment, you know."

"What did we do?" cried out Hailey.

"Name the one instruction I gave you before I left."

"Don't eat yellow snow?" guessed Hailey.

"Wrong."

"Don't talk to strangers, even if they're really nice and are giving out free candy?" she tried.

"Wrong again."

"Don't move from where you left us?" she asked hopefully.

"Correct! And what did you do?"

"We moved from where you left us..?" she asked shamefully.

"Wow," I clapped for her, "you are just on a roll today, Hailey!"

"We're so sorry! We were bored!" she apologized.

I thought about the skeleton army that would surely be surging in within minutes. "I would yell at you all and maybe make you stay here for the night to teach you a lesson, but we really need to get out of here before something bad happens."

Just as I finished, the ground began to shake. "What is that!" cried out Riley, who had been silent this whole time.

"That would be the 'something bad' I was talking about."