Chapter 6

It took them two hours to get from Mystic Falls, Virginia, to Los Angeles, California, and during that time Percy really bonded with Blackjack and she knew that she was going to beg Chiron and her father to let her keep him and maybe a few others. Maybe Niklaus would let her build a stable on his property for them… her thoughts were interrupted by Blackjack talking once again.

There it is, Boss Lady! DOA Studios. Blackjack landed gently and stayed still for Percy to dismount and grab the bag that either Chiron or Poseidon had left for her.

"Thanks, Blackjack. Now head on home and make sure to ask Chiron for lots of apples and donuts, okay? You've really helped me out here," Percy said grinning and giving him another sugar cube.

You got it, boss! See ya later! Don't die completely! He neighed and then took off back into the night sky to head back home. Percy watched until he was nothing but a pinprick in the sky before turning to head inside the DOA Studios.

Entering, she saw that the waiting area was filled to overflowing with souls and at the desk stood a familiar man – Charon. He had yet to notice her as he played on a cellphone.

She strode confidently up to his desk and dropped a small bag of drachmas onto the counter causing Charon to jump slightly and look up, his eyes widening at the sight of her.

"Hiya Charon. Long time no see. I need to see Lord Hades and maybe Thanatos if he is in."

"Well, well, well. Persephone Sallydottir in the flesh! I woulda thought you would be dead by now. And you brought me payment? You sure have a good memory in how to get in to my good graces. Lord Hades has been expecting you, though. I'll take you down now." Charon said, stepping out from behind his desk and towards the back where a boat full of souls were waiting with a spot left for her and his own spot.

Percy calmly settled into her seat and made no noise as the boat began to move and as Charon began to ferry her into the Underworld.

They crossed the River Styx and Percy could still remember the burn that had consumed her when she had bathed in it all those years ago. They reached the designated drop point and Percy patiently waited for the souls to depart before doing so as well.

She turned back to Charon. "Thank you, Charon. It was good to see you again." Charon nodded once to her before turning the boat and heading back to his shop. Percy took a deep breath and turned back around. She could already faintly hear the barking of Cerberus from where she was standing and could see the lines for the dead to be judged. Percy walked the bank of the River Styx until she came to where Cerberus guarded the entrance to Hades' palace.

Percy was ten feet away before Cerberus shimmered into existence, growling at her.

"Hello, Cerberus. My name is Persephone Sallydottir, I assume Hades has been expecting me?" Cerberus continued to growl at her for a moment before stopping and stepping aside for her to enter. "Thank you, big guy."

Percy stepped past and looked back to see Cerberus was already back in position, growling at any poor souls that ventured near. Percy heard a flap of wings above her and looked to see a Fury coming towards her.

"Persephone Sallydottir, Lord Hades has been waiting for you. Follow me." She hissed and Percy did so. This certainly had been the easiest trip she had ever had entering the Underworld. She couldn't help but be suspicious, her Uncles weren't known for being helpful, especially to her.

They stopped outside of obsidian black doors that were guarded by two huge guards armed with machine guns and swords at their sides. With one look at the Fury leading Percy, the two guards pushed open the doors to allow the two into the throne room of Hades, Lord of the Underworld. As soon as she entered, the doors slammed close with a loud bang and the Fury mysteriously vanished as soon as they entered, leaving Percy by herself in her uncle's throne room.

She could already feel his dark aura sweep over her and she had to suppress a shiver because of it. Percy came to a stop in front of the dais that his throne and the lord himself sat upon. His dark brown eyes met her sea green ones as she knelt down before him. She was asking him for a favor, the least she could do was show him the respect that he deserved since she never gave it to him in the past.

"Lord Hades," she greeted. He was silent for a moment.

"Niece, it has been long since you've graced the Underworld with your presence. My brother had informed all of us when he found you and it brought me great joy to know that you wouldn't be here anytime soon to bug me. But yet here you are. Poseidon contacted me last night and informed me that you would be coming to visit me. What brings you before me?"

Percy took a deep breath. "Uncle, I have no right to ask this of you, and I don't know what all my father told you about what happened to me, but I would like to tell you, if you would allow me?" Hades nodded once, curiosity filling his face.

Percy began to tell him and his face began to darken with anger as her story continued. He may not get along with his brothers' or their children, but Percy had indeed wormed her way in both her uncles' hearts and treated her like an annoying but beloved niece. Hades was furious about what had been done to his favorite niece.

"What would you have me do?" Hades rumbled.

Percy hesitated. "I would like you to mark Esther and Mikael, whom are both residing in the Underworld, for special punishments, and also Dahlia when she joins them. I, uh, would also like to retrieve my youngest son if I can. I want my children and me to be a real family again."

Hades stroked his beard as he thought it over. "The punishments for your sisters and brother-in-law is granted. I'll be sure to let the Furies know the three shall have their personal attentions. As for your son, I'm sure you can take him but you know the rules. As soon as you begin to lead him out, you cannot look back. If you do, his soul will return to where it resides and you won't be able to try it again. I'll summon Thanatos and ask him to get the boy."

Percy smiled in relief. "Thank you, Uncle." Hades nodded once.

They didn't wait long before a tan, muscular man with black wings appeared with a specter of a boy standing next to him. The boy was that of a fifteen year old with brown hair and brown eyes, looking very similar to Finn.

"Henrik."

The boy looked at her confused. "Uh, hi?"

Percy wanted to hug him but she knew that he did not know who she was. "My name is Persephone. I'm here to take you out of here and to return you to your siblings: Finn, Elijah, Niklaus, Kol, and Rebekah. How does that sound?"

Henrik's eyes lit up. "That sounds awesome! I've missed them."

Percy smiled gently at him. "Well then grab my hand and hold on tight. We're busting out of here." Henrik's face filled with mischief and grabbed her hand.

Percy turned back to Hades and Thanatos. "Thank you, Uncle, and thank you, Thanatos."

Thanatos nodded once in silence and Hades smiled slightly. "You're welcome, Niece." His hand glowed in black fire and shot towards her and her son, lighting them up. "That will lead you to the nearest exit closest to your home. Goodbye, niece."

Percy smiled once more at the two gods before turning and beginning to lead Henrik out of the Underworld, letting the power Hades had given her lead the way and resisted the urge to look back at Henrik as his hand in hers began to grow lighter until it felt like he wasn't even there.

She kept pushing forward, ignoring her surroundings. She just wanted to get out and back to the surface as fast as possible with Henrik.

It felt like hours by the time she saw light at the end of the path they were on. Percy began to speed up in excitement, they were almost there. Finally Percy stepped out of the darkness of the tunnel and as soon as Henrik did as well, now solid and breathing like a regular person, the tunnel closed behind them and disappeared like it had never been there. Percy beamed at Henrik.

"Welcome to the land of the living once again, Henrik."

"Thank you, Percy. Where are we?"

Percy looked around and immediately spotted the 'Welcome to Mystic Falls' sign.

"Ah, we are just on the outskirts of the town that your siblings' reside in. Come on, we have a bit of a walk."

Henrik still held her hand and seemed determined to keep hold of it as they continued to walk into the town of Mystic Falls. Twenty minutes into their walk, they finally caught sight of the town square of Mystic Falls and the Mystic Grill.

"Say, are you hungry?" Percy asked, turning her head and seeing the wide-eyed fascination Henrik was having with his surroundings but his head jerked back to her at her question.

"Yes! Starving!" He moaned causing Percy to laugh loudly and continue to lead him into the Grill.

"Okay, we can stay here and grab a bite to eat real fast and then continue on to your brother's house." Percy said with a grin. They chose a booth against the wall and Percy looked around the Grill to see if she knew anyone. Her eyes lit up at not only seeing Kol but also Niklaus sitting at the bar rail. The two had yet to notice they were there. Percy didn't notice, however, that a few tables away sat some of the Scooby gang – mainly Elena, Caroline, Bonnie, and Stefan. "Niklaus! Kol!" Percy shouted causing several people to look at her and Henrik, and also for the two Originals to jerk around in their seats at the sound of her voice. The two males' eyes widened at the sight of not only their mother returned from the Underworld but also their long dead brother. The two quickly grabbed their glasses and moved to them as Henrik stood up from his seat to greet his brothers.

The two Originals didn't hesitate to pull Henrik into a hug. The two most bloodthirsty Originals had missed their little brother and were not ashamed to show it as they greeted him and also Percy when she stood beside them.

"It's been a long time, Henrik." Niklaus murmured as he pulled back from his little brother to see him beaming up at him. "I'm sorry for not protecting you."

Henrik smiled gently. "I forgive you, brother. I've never blamed you for my death. I've missed you all."

Kol hugged Percy. "Welcome back, Mom. I was worried about you."

Percy returned it. "No need to worry about me, Kol. I can take care of myself. Anyway, would the two of you like to call your brothers and sister and ask them to join us? Henrik is starving. And frankly so am I." Henrik's eyes were wide though at Kol's words.

"'Mom'? Kol, why'd you call Percy 'Mom'?"

Kol threw up a privacy word as the Scooby gang was no doubt trying to listen in to their conversation and nodded for Niklaus to explain. "Because she is, Henrik. Esther was not our birth mother, she was our Aunt and she forced Percy and Mikael to be intimate to produce all of us and then made Mikael forget about it afterwards. After Percy gave birth to us, she would take us and repeat the process. After you were born, Percy was then locked in a cave and put to sleep so that she couldn't try to escape and rescue us from Esther and Mikael."

Henrik looked at Percy whom was tucked in to Kol's side. "So you're my Mum? You brought me back from the dead so we can all be a family, didn't you?" Henrik continued after her confirming nod.

"I did. And when i get your eldest sister back from your other aunt, we can truly be a family then. Hey, we might even through a Mikaelson Ball to celebrate and to introduce ourselves officially to our neighbors."