For the first time ever seeing the Underworld, it was mildly impressive. The Feilds of Asphodel was massive, with grass trampled by who knows how many feet, black trees (much like the one we were hiding in), were growing here and there and stalactite spires jutted out periodically throughout the grass. The stalactite had fallen from the large cavernous ceiling, where the sharp edges of some could be seen through the misty clouds above. After hiding out for who knows how long, we exited our hiding place. We tried to blend in, hoping to whatever God was the best at sneaking that we wouldn't be spotted by the security ghouls. We followed along a line of new arrivals towards the main gate to a black-tented pavilion which had a banner reading 'Judgements For Elesyum and Eternal Damnation. Welcome, Newly Deceased!' That was comforting. From the tent split two new lines, one line with security ghouls were being marched down towards the Fields of Punishment, and the second led to what looked to be a gated community, Elysium, definitely, the cleanliness and overall happy look definitely tipped me off. I could see three islands in the middle of it, the Isle of the Blest, those who worked hard enough and were re-born three times and earned Elysium three times. "That's what it's all about." Annabeth said to Percy. "That's the place for Hero's."

We continued to walk for ages, walking deeper and deeper into Asphodel, the world around us getting darker and darker. I looked up when I heard a familiar screech, and saw three creatures swirling above. The Furies. "I suppose it's too late to go back." Grover commented.

"We'll be fine." I said with a wave of my hand. "We made it through the worst of it so far."

"Maybe we should search some of the other places first. Like...Elysium for instance."

"Come on goat boy." Annabeth said, grabbing his arm. However, that second, his trainers sprouted wings, and he shot forward, out of Annabeth's grip and onto the grass. "Grover, stop messing around."

"But I didn't!" Grover's legs were pulled off the ground and they started to drag him away from us. "Maia! Maia, already! Nine-one-one! Help!" Percy made a grab for Grover but he was picking up speed. Annabeth, Percy and I booked it after him. Annabeth was shouting for him to untie the shoes, but Grover was too quick for him to do so. He neared Hades' palace, but he took a sharp right and pulled him along. The slope we were going down was getting steeper, and we had to pick up even more speed. The walls narrowed, and my heart started to pound, the air growing colder.

"Grover!" I shouted down at him. "Hold onto something!" Grover's fingers grabbed gravel. Percy then froze, and I followed his gaze to what he was looking at, a massive dark cavern, I'm assuming, the same one Percy had dreamt of.

"Come on Percy!" Annabeth said, tugging the boys arm.

"But that's…" Percy trailed off.

"I know! The place you described in your dream! But Grover's gonna fall if we don't catch him!" Would you believe it was Grover's hooves that saved his life? The sneakers were loose on him, so when he hit a rock, his left shoe dislodged itself and sped into the hole. The right shoe still tried to pull Harry along, but due to losing it's partner, it was slower than before. Grover grabbed onto the rock he hit three meters away from the edge. We reached him just as the other shoe yanked itself off Grover's other hoof. It kicked us in the head before flying down to join it's partner. We pulled Grover away from the edge up the slope towards a more safe spot and collapsed onto the obsidian gravel. Grover was scratched up quite a bit.

"I don't know how…" Grover panted. "I didn't…"

"Wait." Percy hissed. "Listen." My eyes widened when I heard it, a deep whisper in the dark, ominous and foreboding.

"Percy, this place…" Annabeth started.

"Shh!" The sound got louder and louder, and I realised it was coming from the pit, causing me to turn to it. My eyebrow studs were almost blistering as the pit's morality showed it was so red it was almost black.

"What in Hades is that?!" I hissed angrily.

"Tartarus." Annabeth breathed. "The entrance to Tartarus." Percy un-capped his sword. The chant seemed to pause for a moment before starting again.

"If that's Tartarus we have to get out of here, now." I ordered. We scrambled up the rest of the slope, but the voice was getting louder, so pushing even harder, we started to run the rest of the way. A chilling wind pulled at our backs, which would have definitely sucked us into the pit, but we were far away enough so that we were safe. We scurried up the top of the tunnel, away from a wail of annoyance.

"What was that?" Grover panted. "One of Hades' pets?" I shook my head, not even wanting to voice the thought. That was not at all controlled by Hades, most certainly not his pet either. Percy capped his pen as we caught our breath.

"Let's keep going." Percy suggested, looking at Grover. "Can you walk."

"Yeah, sure, I never liked those shoes anyway." Grover's voice was shaking as he spoke. We all gathered ourselves and trudged through the Feilds of Asphodel towards Hades' palace. As we neared it, we saw it clearly. The Furies wove through the parapets, and the massive gates had deep groves which I noticed were scenes of death. Inside the gates were Perseophone's garden, a unique collection of plants and fungus were growing, in so close proximity that wouldn't happen in the above world. The flowers were replaced by small piles of precious gems, rubies, diamonds, emeralds, amethysts. What creeped me out the most were Medusa's victims, a grotesque collection of humans, satyrs, centaurs and everything in between. In the centre of the garden was a large orchard of pomegranate trees, the cursed fruit that trapped her here in the Underworld for half the year.

"The Garden of Persephone." Annabeth warned Percy. "Keep walking." I reached up and plugged my nose to ward off the enticing fragrance of the fruit. I reached over and snatched Grover by the collar, yanking him away from a tree before his fingers grazed the tantalising fruit. We made our way up the black stairs of the Palace into the entrance hall, which had a polished bronze floor that reflected our image, warped by the firelight. Each door was guarded by a skeleton donned in military wear. Greek Armour, British Red Coats, Camouflage with various flags stitched into their breast. They wield various weapons, scary in retrospect but they stood still as the four of us followed the hall down to the large set of doors. Two US Marines guarded the door.

"You know, I bet Hades doesn't have trouble with door-to-door salesmen." Grover grumbled.

"Shut up!" I hissed at him.

"Well guys. I suppose we should...knock?" Percy questioned. An almost boiling wind brew from behind us, and the doors swung open, prompting the guards to step aside.

"I guess that means entrez." Annabeth guessed. Down the end of the room, Hades lounged in his throne, a large thing made of fused bones. He wore black silken robes and wore a crown of braided gold. He was pale, almost albino, with shoulder-length black hair. He radiated power, even from across the room.

"You are brave to come here, Son of Poseidon." Hades said. "After what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or, perhaps, you are simply very foolish." Percy took a breath and spoke up.

"Lord and Uncle, I come with two requests. Hades lifted an eyebrow and I swallowed.

"Only two requests? Arrogant child. As if you have not already taken enough. Speak, then. It amuses me not to strike you dead yet. Percy didn't respond right away, so I elbowed him in the side to get him to speak.

"Lord Hades. Look, sir, there can't be a war among the Gods. It would be...bad." Such eloquence.

"Really bad." Grover bleated.

"Return Zeus' master Bolt to me, please, sir, let me carry it to Olympus." Hades' eyes practically glowed.

"You dare keep up this pretence, after what you've done?" Percy glanced back at us, and I shrugged, not knowing what Hades was talking about.

"Um...Uncle, you keep saying 'after what I've done'...what exactly have I done?" The chamber rumbled, causing debris to fell from the ceiling and skeleton warriors burst through the door to line the walls and block the exits.

"Do you think I want a war, Godling?" Hades boomed.

"You are the lord of the Dead…" Percy said carefully. "A war would expand your kingdom, right?"

"A typical thing for my brothers to say! Do you think I need more subjects? Did you not see the sprawl of Asphodel?"

"Well…"

"Have you any idea how much my KIngdom has swollen in this past century alone? How many subdivisions I've had to open? More security ghouls, traffic problems at the Judgement Pavilion, double-overtime for the staff...I used to be a rick God, Percy Jackson, I control all the precious metals under the Earth, but my expenses!"

"Charon wants a pay raise." Percy blurted. I closed my eyes in annoyance.

"Don't get me started on Charon!" Hades yelled. "He's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits! Problems everywhere, I've got to handle them personally. The commute time alone from the Palace to the Gates is enough to drive me insane! And the dead just keep arriving. No, Godling, I need no help getting subjects. I did not ask for this war."

"But you took Zeus' Master Bolt?" Percy reminded softly.

"Lies!" The chamber rumbled again as Hades stood, towering high over us. "Your father may fool Zeus, boy, but I am no stupid. I see his plan."

"His plan?"

"You were the thief on the Winter Solstice. Your father thought to keep you his little secret. He directed you into the throne room on Olympus. You took the Master Bolt and my Helmet." My eyes widened, that wasn't good. "Had I not sent my Fury to Yancy Academy, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open, you will be exposed as Poseidon's thief, and I will have my helmet back!"

"But…" Annabeth trailed, her mind running a million miles an hour. "Lord Hades, your Helmet of Darkness is missing too?"

"Don't play innocent with me, girl. You, the satyr and the unclaimed have been helping this hero, coming here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt, to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?"

"What?" Percy sputtered. "Poseidon didn't-I didn't-"

"I have said nothing of the Helmet's disappearance because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help." Hades interrupted with a snarl. "I can ill afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me to deliver your threat, I did not try to stop you."

"You didn't try to stop us? But-"

"Return my helmet now, or I will stop death." I gulped. "That is my counter-proposal. I will open the Earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Percy Jackson, your skeleton will lead my Army out of Hades." The skeletons around us stepped forward threateningly.

"You're as bad as Zeus." Percy said. "You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me?"

"Of course." Hades replied.

"And the other monsters?"

"I had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you, I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Feilds of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?"

"Easily?"

"Return my property!"

"But I don't have your helmet. I came for the Master Bolt."

"Which you already possess!" Hades shouted. My eyes widened and my gaze snapped down towards him, he had it?! "You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could threaten me!?"

"But I didn't!" Percy protested.

"Open your pack, then." Percy paused for a moment. I watched in horror as he swung the bag over his shoulder in front of him. He unzipped it and my breath was stolen from me when I saw what was inside, a sixty-centimetre long metal cylinder, spiked on each end. I could feel it's energy humming from where I was.

"Percy…" I said lowly. "How the hell did you-"

"I-I don't know." Percy stuttered. "I don't understand."

"You hero's are always the same." Hades said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus' Master Bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it would make an excellent bargaining tool. And now...my helmet." Percy was silent, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head.

"Lord Hades, wait." Percy said. "This is all a mistake?"

"A mistake?" I heard flaps and glanced up to see the Furies circling above. "There is no mistake. I know why you have come, I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her." Hades lifted his hand, a ball of golden flames formed in his palm. It exploded into gold sparkles and a figure appeared on the steps in front of us. A woman with brown hair, appearing as if she was being squeezed to death. Percy reached out to her but drew his hand quickly. "Yes. I took her. I knew, Percy Jackson, that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my helmet, and perhaps I will let her go. She's not dead, you know, not yet, but if you displease me, that will change." There was a pause. "Ah, the pearls." My heart stopped. "Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson." The black-haired boy pulled them out of his pocket. "Only three, what a shame. You do realise each only protects a single person. Try to take your mother then, little godling. And which of your friends will you leave behind to spend eternity with me? Go on, choose. Or, give me the backpack and accept my terms." Percy turned back towards us.

"We were tricked." He stated. "Set up."

"Yes, but why?" Annabeth questioned, ever the one questioning things. "And the voice in the pit?"

"I don't know yet, but I intend to ask."

"Decide, boy!" Hades demanded.

"Percy." Grover started, putting his hand on Percy's shoulder. "You can't give him the Bolt."

"I know that."

"Leve me here. Use the fourth Pearl on your mum."

"No!"

"I'm a satyr, we don't have souls like human's do. He can torture me until I die, but he won't get me forever. I'll just be reincarnated as a flower or something. It's the best way."

"No." Annabeth protested, drawing her knife. "You three go on. Mako, you need to keep an eye on Ethan, I know how much you'd hate being away from him. Grover, you have to protect Percy, you have to get your Searchers Licence and start your quest for Pan. Get his mum out of here, I'll cover you. I plan to go down fighting."

"I don't think so." I snapped, pulling Annabeth and Grover back. "Ethan's old enough to look after himself, plus, Camp can protect him. Besides, I'm the oldest, the oldest has to protect their stupid younger siblings from their stupid decisions. I'm staying."

"Stop it, all of you!" Percy shouted. We turned to him. "I know what to do, take these." Percy handed each of us a pearl.

"But...Percy…" Annabeth trailed off. Percy turned to his mother, contemplating for a moment.

"I'm sorry." He said. My eyes widened when i realised what was happening, "I'll be back, I'll find away." The smug look on Hades' face melted off.

"Godling…" He breathed.

"I'll find your Helmet, Uncle, I'll return it. Rember about Charon's pay rise."

"Do not defy me-"

"And it wouldn't hurt to play with Cerberus once in a while. He likes rubber red balls."

"Percy Jackson, you will not-"

"Now, guys!" I dropped the pearl on the floor and then smashed it with my heel. For a moment, nothing happened.

"Destroy them!" Hades roared. The skeleton's opened fire and the Furies dive-bombed us. A second before the bullets hit us, green exploded around me, encasing me in a sphere and the smell of the sea invaded my nose. I looked around, a milky white substance protecting me in a bubble, and I started to float off the ground. All the weapons bounced off me as the four of us rose, gaining speed rapidly.

"Look up!" Grover shouted. "We're going to crash!" My head snapped up.

"Ah crap!" I exclaimed. "If we die Percy, I'm gonna kill you!"

"How do you control these things?!" Annabeth demanded.

"I don't think you do!" Percy replied. I closed my eyes as we slammed into the ceiling. However, I didn't feel anything. Cracking my eyes open, I only saw darkness. My heart thudded in my chest, not being able to see anything for almost a minute before we returned to the surface. I could see three other spheres next to me, my friends, as we rose through the ocean, and then there as a massive ker-sploosh! I let out a massive gasp as we broke the surface, and we were soaked within seconds. We knocked a surfer off his board, which I didn't care for. I grabbed Annabeth as Percy got Grover and we paddled over to a lifebuoy. Percy told a shark to get lost, and the surfer paddled away. I coughed the saltwater out of my lungs, my eyes falling to the Los Angeles coastline. There was fire, and massive plumes of smoke rose into the night sky. Hades shaking his chambers definitely caused Earthquakes. My resolve hardened. We had to get to Olympus, no matter what day it was, we had to end whatever war was about to commence before it even started.