Ch10

Percy was underwater in Santa Monica Pier looking around the murky water around him. Alright, Triton or whoever where are you? It had been a long ride to LA but he was ready to end this quest.

"Looks like you're still alive," Triton said from behind him. He turned around to see his other brother. Triton now was half merman and human, his upper body war armored and despite the smile his gaze was anything but friendly.

"Uh yeah I'm alive," he said with a nervous laugh.

Triton didn't laugh he just gave him this hard stare. "The hardest part is yet to come. Here is a gift from our father."

Triton held out three pearls. They shinned brightly in the water.

He held out his hand and accepted them. "Thank you."

"Use them wisely," Triton said his gaze hard as ice. "You only get three of them."

"Got it," he said. Chris was right about this guy's attitude that's for sure. Triton nodded before swimming into the distance.

He sighed as he gripped the pears. I don't know Poseidon and barely know Chris but I'm glad I'm getting some help here. Mom I'll save you soon. A lot was riding on this quest but he needed to make sure his mom was safe.

He quickly swam back up and met Grover and Chris on the dock. "Hey guys I met Triton again," he said as she showed them the pearls.

"They'll be of great use," Chris said looking down at the pearls. "Come on we should see Lord Hades as soon as possible."

"Do you know where the underworld is?" He asked.

"Not sure but I'm sure we'll find it," Chris said looking into the distance. "Come on lets go."

He nodded and followed his brother. Alright lets end this quest. Mom here I come.


Chrysaor walked aside Percy and Grover through LA as they searched for the underworld. They were quickly able to find the entrance to the entrance, it was an unassuming building with spirits entering and leaving.

"Don't worry let me handle this," he whispered as they entered a waiting room full of dead spirits.

They entered a waiting room with various spirits and a man at the reception desk, "Hello Charon long time no see," he said grinning beneath his mask

Charon looked at him his eyes narrowing, "Chrysaor what brings you here? You don't' look dead?"

"You know him?" Percy asked.

"Long story short I raided his party one day," he said.

Charon frowned at him, "You destroyed a perfectly nice villa and drank all the wine."

"Water under the bridge," he said putting a few coins and placing them on the counter. "Anyway, we are here to see your boss."

Charon sighed, "Fine. I'll let it slide this time but you still owe me a fine bottle of Italian wine."

"I'll see what I can do," he said smiling. "Come on we can't keep your boss busy."

Charon nodded and motioned them to follow him down the hall and into the depths of the underworld. The hair on his neck stood up as they were ferried through the underworld. "Good luck," Charon said once they got out of the boat.

"Lets go," Percy said. He and Grover nodded as they descended deeper into the underworld passing by the various levels of hell in the Greek world.

They were passing by a large pit when Grover suddenly let out a scream. "Help!" The satyr yelled as his shoes came to life and flew through the air.

"Grover!" Percy yelled as they raced after him. They managed to grab Grover's hands just as he was about to get thrown into the dark pit.

"Try and get the shoes off!" Percy yelled as they both tried to pull him up.

Tartarus is down there. He glared down at the pit, a sense of dread washing over him as Grover managed to kick them off. Something is off about this.

"Are you ok?" Percy asked.

"Yeah thanks for saving me guys," Grover said his face pale with dread. "I nearly was a goner."

"Yeah good thing you weren't wearing them," he said looking at Percy. "You would've died." Percy stared at him in disbelief. Luke gave those shoes to him, something isn't right. His instincts were telling him they were tricked, "This is a setup those shoes were meant for you."

Percy stared at him in disbelief as he looked down at the crater. "Let's discuss this later, Hades is waiting for us."

His heart pounded in his chest as they made their way to the throne room. To be honest he has every reason to throw me into a cell or something. It may have been being mortal but looking at all the trapped souls made him think of his own crimes which he was more than guilty of. Hopefully we have no other surprises. He looked back at the pit, he was no fool someone tried to kill Percy. They eventually arrived at Hades's palace and found the god sitting on his throne with a bored expression on his face.

Hades had a powerful aura his piercing gaze reminded him of various warriors he fought in his life. "You've done well children of Poseidon," Hades said his voice calm and cold. "I am surprised that my brother would send two of his kids to threaten me."

"Threaten you? We aren't here for that," Percy said in surprise.

"Silence!" Hades roared causing the room to shake. "I know why you are here Percy Jackson," the god snapped his finger and an unconscious woman in a golden sphere appeared next to the god.

"Mom!" Percy yelled.

"That's right Percy Jackson return to me what you stole and I'll set her free," Hades said. "I know what you have give it to me now."

"What are you talking about Percy didn't take anything," Grover said.

He noticed Percy frown and reach into his backpack, "What the hell?" Percy said as he took out a metal canister.

"The lightning bolt," he said his body going rigid. But how? He looked at Percy, his brother's face was in complete shock and disbelief. We've been set up. He wanted to laugh, he'd been set up many times before and had tricked many others in his life but he had to admit this one was pretty good.

Hades laughed, "You really did take it didn't you? I imagine you have my helm of darkness inside too? Give them both to me and I'll let your mother go?"

"Percy how did you get those?" Grover whispered.

"I don't know I honestly don't," Percy said in shock. His brother shook his head eyes wide. "I don't know how they got here."

"Someone set us up," He growled.

"Return them to me or you all will perish here," Hades said as he snapped his fingers and an army of skeletal warriors encircled them. "Your choice Percy Jackson."

"How can we get out of here?" Grover whispered.

"Our dad gave us these," Percy said as he took out the pearls. "But there are only three."

Hades laughed, "My brother always had his tricks. However, looks like you only have three. You can't save her and your friends."

"Percy leave me," Grover said quickly. "I'll just get reincarnated as a plant or something. Take your mom and get out of here."

"I won't leave anyone," Percy said his face tensing up at the army of skeletal warriors.

"Use them then we'll figure something out," he said as the army of the dead slowly encircled them. "I don't think he'll kill her." He looked over at Percy's mom, "No he would want to maintain a bargaining chip with you. Trust me I know how gods work."

Percy looked at him his eyes solemn and nodded. "Fine. Let's get out of here."

Percy quickly put the lightning bolt back into his pocket and turned to Hades, "We'll return your helm of darkness to you when we get it back right now we have to get out of here." Percy then handed each of them a pearl. "Crush these now!"

He didn't have to be told twice, he crushed the pearl and felt a bubbly sensation around him. His vision turned white as he felt the power and essence of the sea around him carrying him upwards.

The next thing he knew they were above water, not far from Santa Monica Pier. As soon as they got on land Percy touched Grover and the water fell off of the satyr, "Percy the bolt how did you get it?" Grover asked.

"I don't know," Percy said in gripping his knees tightly. "I have an idea though."

"Someone set you up," he said turning around to see Ares. He frowned at the god who smirked at them. "I believe I know who it was."

"Hey kids I thought you'd be dead," Ares said with a grin.

Percy stepped forward and glared at the god, "You did this! You stole the bolt and the helm of darkness!"

Ares laughed, "Guilty as charged punk. Now give me the bag or I'll stomp you both like cockroaches."

Percy handed the bag to Grover and drew Riptide, "If you want it you'll have to go through us."

"Percy are you crazy he is a god?" Grover said.

"Don't worry we are the sons of Poseidon we won't go down easily," he said removing his mask and taking his pen out. He uncapped it allowing his golden blade to shine brightly in the sun. Percy smiled at him and nodded as they turned to face the god.

"You boys have guts. How about this if I win I take your heads as trophies if you win I give you the helmet," Ares said as he drew his blade and summoned his shield.

"Are you ready?" Percy said as they walked in front of the god of war. They were both in the water, facing the god who smirked at them.

He looked at his brother and nodded, "He'll mainly focus on me, try to land a hit if you can. Lets show him what the sons of Poseidon can do."

"Got it," Percy said as he uncapped Riptide. They high fived each other as they faced the god of war.

They charged at Ares, Percy slashed at the god who easily blocked it. We have to do this well, one misstep and we are dead.

"Not bad but you both are no match for me" Ares laughed as he swung his sword at him.

He barely blocked the sword, the force of the blade nearly knocked his sword out of his hand, had he not been in the water he would've lost a hand. Damn this is suicide. We can't match Ares outright we have to think of another way.

Controlling the water around him he sprayed Ares in the face as the god tried to land another hit. "Percy lets try to land a hit," he said jumping back as the god of war glared at them. "We have to be cautious though."

"What do you have in mind?" Percy asked gripping his sword tightly.

Looking around the waters around them a smile spread across his face, "Have you ever summoned a large wave before?"

Percy shook his head. He smiled at his brother, "Then lets make one together, just feel the water and picture a large wave in your head. We need a distraction if we want to land a hit on him."

"I still have the hat," Percy said patting his pocket.

"Good we'll need it. For now, lets just focus on repelling him," he said as he took a deep breath and focused on the water.

"Are you both going to just stand there or are we going to fight!" Ares said gripping his sword and walking towards them in the waves

He and Percy raised their hands in sync, the water around them becoming more agitated by the moment. Ares' eyes widened once he realized what they were doing and charged at them. "Now!" He yelled as he released the wave of energy at him.

A fifteen foot wave hit the got of war sending him underwater. Percy quickly put on the baseball cap and turned invisible while he focused on the water around him. Just as Ares was trying to break free he willed the water around them into a whirlpool just as Ares pulled himself up from the water.

"Your tricks won't last forever you brats," Ares spat as he tried to move but the whirlpool was slowly impeding the god. Ares roared in frustration, his energy sending the water away and nearly knocking him into the water "I'm going to take great pleasure in killing you."

"Many have tried," He laughed gripping his sword. The water around him give him the strength he needed to charge at the god, it was suicide but he had been up against horrible odds before. He could her Percy walking carefully by his side occasionally willing the water to attack Ares but the god just ignored the small waves.

Alright father let me make you proud. Ares met his sword and the two exchanged blows, his body quivered but the water around him strengthened him not fall down. I can't keep this up forever. We have to end this now.

The god's brow furrowed as he barely managed to keep up with his sword. He slashed at Ares, in an attempt to find an opening but the god was slowly beginning to catch on to his movements and started blocking them with his shield.

"I'll show you what a real soldier is pirate boy," Ares said as he swung his sword at him.

He laughed as he managed to block the sword, "Well this pirate made your wannabe pirate kids look like chumps."

Swinging his sword he summoned a mini wave to attack Ares. He removed his sunglasses and met the god's eyes forcing all of his energy on him. I can't fully restrain him. Come on Percy we have to win this. His body tensed up, the pressure in his eyes building up as he tried to hold Ares in place. He couldn't restrain, maybe for a second or two max but right now every second mattered.

He forced his eyes to remain open as he held the gaze with Ares. The god flinched, it was only a moment but Ares managed to freeze in place and didn't notice the movement to his left as Percy slashed at his leg. The god cried in pain as Percy took that opportunity to disarm him, the god's sword fell into the water as Percy pointed Riptide at him.

"I am also the son of Medusa don't forget that," he said staring at the god with a wide grin forcing all the power to hold Ares down.

"Surrender Ares," Percy said pointing his sword at the god. "Leave now or the other gods will find out about your crimes."

The sounds of gun shots made him recoil as bullets hit Ares. The god hissed in annoyance, "You'll both pay for this," Ares said as he tossed them the helm. "Percy Jackson for that lowly strike I curse your blade to fail you when you need it the most."

The god's form began to glow and he realized what he was going to do, "Close your eyes!" He and Percy closed their eyes just as Ares disappeared in a flash of light.

When they opened them the god was gone and various cop cars were on the ground. "We did it," Percy said breathing heavily.

He smiled at his brother and patted his back, "You did a great job." He went over and picked up the sword Ares dropped. "Not a bad sword, lets's give it to our father as a token of our appreciation."

"Would he want it?" Percy asked.

"He did help us we should offer him something. Besides Ares would have an excuse to come after us if we took it," he said as he offered half of the hilt to Percy. His brother gripped the other half as they looked into the sea. "Lord father we thank you for your help in this quest, we offer you this sword as an offering."

Percy nodded, his face was red and his green eyes held various emotions. "Yeah dad uh thanks for helping us. Sorry I don't have a way of words but thank you for everything, me, Grover, and Chris made it out thanks to you. I couldn't have asked for a better brother."

He smiled at nodded at his brother, "You did a good job. Let's end this quest." With that they both dropped the sword into the dark murky waters of the ocean.