Annabeth's POV

We walked in the room, hand in hand. I gasped. Chiron, Mr. D, Grover, Jason, Piper, Hazel, Reyna, Leo, Calypso, Frank, Poseidon and Athena were in the room. "We need to talk." said Athena. I shivered. The way my mom put it, sounded like me and Percy were in huge trouble. I went to speak but Percy shook his head. My mom was draped in full battle armour, not surprisingly. "It has come to the gods' attention that the son of Hades has bargained his own life for the son of Poseidon." Athena fixed her cold glare on Percy. I clutched his arm a little tighter. Yeah, I was a little scared of my mom. Athena sauntered around the room, and everyone parted to let her through. "A rash decision. But an honourable one. Up on Olympus, let's just say that everything is in chaos." she sniffed. "Hestia is the only god keeping us from tearing each other to shreds. And what is the cause of this argument you ask? Well, the matter of Percy Jackson, Nico Di Angelo and Hades." Athena slammed Aegis on the wooden table, causing everyone to look away. "So, Zeus asked me to resolve matters." I looked at my mom, who looked at Percy. I stepped in front of Percy.

"You are not taking Percy away again." Athena sighed.

"Then I won't. You have three days to balance the scales. If Nico is not freed from his debt, then Percy will pay the price." said Athena.

"Nico swore on the River Styx." said Percy, through gritted teeth.

"Then find a way to undo it. Otherwise, Perseus Jackson, things are going to get bad." and with that, the goddess of wisdom vanished. The entire room burst into arguing. The only person who seemed a little too lost in his thoughts was Lord Poseidon. Percy slammed his fist on the table. Everyone looked at him.

"I'm going to bargain with Hades."

"ARE YOU INSANE? That's what got us all into this mess in the first place!" I shouted. Percy grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

"I'm living my life, knowing that Nico sacrificed his. I can't live with that. And I know what you're thinking. It's my fatal flaw. But I just can't go on. So, I'll need Grover to play his tunes."

Then Poseidon spoke up. "There is one way to free him."

"That's impossible." I said. "An oath on the River Styx is binding." Poseidon laughed lightly and walked over to me.

"I'm sure you remember when Percy asked the gods to swear on the River Styx to break the pact of the Big Three. That same pact was also made on the River Styx. It would seem that a promise made on the River Styx can be cancelled out with another promise on the River Styx."

"Okay, I've heard the words, 'River Styx' way too many times." said Grover, coming forward. "What does this have to do with Nico?"

"Mr. Underwood, it has everything to do with Nico." replied Poseidon. "Basically, if someone here makes an oath on the River Styx to save Nico, it cancels out the oath that he himself made. Are any of you willing to make an oath as such?" Percy stepped forward. I grabbed his arm.

"Please don't do this." I begged.

"I have to Annabeth. It's only right." Percy said. He faced his father. "Let Lord Poseidon, god of the sea and my father witness this." he paused. "I swear on the River Styx that if I don't get Hades, god of the dead to release his son and my friend, Nico, I will suffer the punishments." Thunder rolled from above, and I knew that Zeus had heard. I gulped and looked at Percy. He too had a stern look on his face.

"It is done." said Chiron.

"I hope you know what you're doing." said Poseidon. Percy just grinned at his dad.

"Well that's the fun of it, isn't it? Not knowing what you're doing. But I have an idea for how to free Nico." said Percy.

"And what would that be?" I asked.

"You might not be glad when I tell you." he replied grimly.