Answers to reviews:
SpringTrapLord: That's oddly specific. But even if that happened, Hades would curb-stomp you. He is a god and the oldest son of Kronos.
Guest: Thanks.
Guest: Dante and Vergil aren't immortal, they have healing factors which is how Dante shook off being shot in the head.
Spiral-Voltron-Zero0Q1: Thanks.
blueassassin996: Might be in just this story, but I'll see if more can be includes throughout the series.
06302004jward: Here you go.
Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry or Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I only own the OC Alexander Redgrave.
Imagine the largest concert crowd you've ever seen, a football field packed with a million fans.
Now imagine a field a million times that big, packed with people, and imagine the electricity has gone out, and there is no noise, no light, no beach ball bouncing around over the crowd. Something tragic has happened backstage. Whispering masses of people are just milling around in the shadows, waiting for a concert that will never start.
If you can picture that, you have a pretty good idea what the Fields of Asphodel looked like. The black grass had been trampled by eons of dead feet. A warm, moist wind blew like the breath of a swamp. Black trees—Grover mentioned that they were poplars—grew in clumps here and there.
The cavern ceiling was so high above them it might've been a bank of storm clouds, except for the stalactites, which glowed faint gray and looked wickedly pointed.
Allen ones dotted around the fields that impaled themselves in the black grass. It was a good thing the ghosts were dead, no need to worry about those things hitting them.
Annabeth, Grover, Alex and Percy tried to blend in with the crowd, keeping an eye out for security ghouls while they crept along, following the lines of new arrivals that snaked from the main gates towards a black-tented pavilion with a banner that read:
JUDGEMENTS FOR ELYSIUM AND ETERNAL DAMNATION
Welcome Newly Deceased!
Out the back of the tent came two smaller lines.
To the left, spirits flanked by security ghouls were marched down a rocky path towards the Fields of Punishment, which glowed and smoked in the distance, a vast, cracked wasteland with rivers of lava and minefields and miles of barbed wire separating the different torture areas. Even from far away, one could see people being chased by hell hounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus or listen to opera music. Alex could make out a small hill, with the tiny figure of Sisyphus struggling to move his boulder to the top.
The line coming from the right side of the pavilion was much better. This one lead down towards a small valley surrounded by walls - a gated community, which seemed to be the only happy thing about the Underworld.
Beyond the security gate were neighbourhoods of beautiful houses from every single period in history: Roman villas, medieval castles and Victorian mansions. Silver and gold flowers bloomed on the lawns. The grass rippled in rainbow colours. Alex could hear laughter and smell barbecue cooking. And in an instant he knew what this place was.
Elysium.
In the middle of that valley was a glittering blue lake, with three small islands like a vacation resort in the Bahamas. The Isles of the Blest, for people who had chosen to be reborn three times, and three times achieved Elysium.
"That's what it's all about," Annabeth said with a soft smile. "That's the place for heroes."
Alex whistled. "Not bad."
They left the judgement pavilion and moved deeper into the Asphodel Fields. It got darker. The colours faded from their clothes. The crowd of chattering spirits began to thin.
After a few miles of walking, the group began to hear a familiar screech in the distance. Looming on the horizon was a palace of glittering rock obsidian. Above the parapets swirled three dark bat-like creatures: the Furies.
Well, some monsters were eager for a rematch.
"I suppose it's too late to turn back," Grover said wistfully.
"We'll be okay," Percy said, trying to sound confident.
"Maybe we should search some other places first," Grover suggested quickly. "Like Elysium, for instance…"
"Come on, goat boy," Annabeth said, grabbing his arm.
Grover yelped. His sneakers sprouted wings and his legs shot forward, pulling him away from Annabeth. He landed flat on his back in the grass.
"Grover," Annabeth chided. "Stop messing around."
"But I didn't -"
He yelped again. His shoes were flapping like crazy now. They levitated off the ground and started dragging him away from them.
"Grover!" Alex shouted as he tried grabbing him.
"Maia!" Grover yelled, but the magic word seemed to have no effect. "Maia, already! Nine-one-one! Help!"
Percy got over being stunned and made a grab for Grover's hand, but it was too late. Grover was picking up speed, skidding downhill like a bob sled as the demigods quickly gave chase.
Annabeth shouted, "Untie the shoes!"
It was a smart idea, but not as easy when your shoes are pulling you feet first at full speed. Grover tried to sit up, but he couldn't get close to the laces.
They kept after him, trying to keep him in sight as he ripped between the legs of the spirits who chattered at him in annoyance.
Percy was sure Grover was going to barrel straight through the gates of Hades' palace, but his shoes veered sharply to the right and dragged him in the opposite direction.
The slope got steeper. Grover picked up speed. The demigods had to sprint to keep up. The cavern walls narrowed on either side, and then they had entered some kind of side tunnel. No black grass or trees now, just rock underfoot, and the dim light of the stalactites above.
"Grover!" Percy yelled, voice echoing. "Hold onto something!"
"What?" he yelled back.
He was grabbing at gravel, but there was nothing big enough to slow him down.
The tunnel got darker and colder. It smelled evil down here. It made your hair stand on ends as it felt like you were entering a den of deranged murderers.
Alex looked ahead and his eyes widened at what was there.
The tunnel widened into a huge dark cavern, and in the middle was a chasm the size of a city block. There was nothing but a dark, evil feeling coming off from it and Alex realized there was only one place in the Greek Underworld that could feel like that.
Tartarus.
And Grover was sliding straight towards the edge where he would fall into the prison if they didn't stop him.
"Come on!" Alex shouted quickly and sprinted, leaping into the air to grab onto Grover but felt himself being pulled along with the Satyr. Alex took out Wolfsbane and stabbed it into the ground to prevent them from going over the edge... even though they were slowly being dragged towards said edge.
Annabeth and Percy ran over and grabbed onto Alex, pulling him up as Grover tried to take the shoes off.
What saved him were his hooves.
The flying sneakers had always been a loose fit on him, and finally Grover hit a big rock and the left shoe came flying off. It sped into the darkness, down into the chasm. The right shoe kept tugging him along, but not as fast. It was now slow enough that Grover could grab hold of the big rock and use it like an anchor.
"Come on!" Alex grunted as he pulled himself and Grover away from the edge of the pit.
Finally, the other winged shoe tugged itself off, circled around them angrily and tried to kick them before Alex shot it with Eclipse, sending the remains falling down into the pit to join its twin.
"Wait," Andromeda said, straining her ears. "Listen."
They all heard something - a deep whisper in the darkness.
Another few seconds, and Annabeth said, "Percy, this place -"
"Shh." Percy stood.
"We need to go. Now." Alex said seriously as he stood, looking down into the pit.
The sound was getting louder, a muttering, evil voice from far, far below them. Coming from the pit.
Grover sat up. "Wh-what's that noise?"
Annabeth heard it too, now, her eyes widened. "Tartarus. The entrance to Tartarus." Percy uncapped Anaklusmos.
The bronze sword expanded, gleaming in the darkness, and the evil voice seemed to falter, just for a moment, before resuming its chant.
You could almost make out words now, ancient, ancient words, older even than Greek. As if...
"Magic," Percy said, his sea green eyes wide.
"We have to get out of here," Annabeth said, gulping at the old words.
"Kronos."
As soon as Alex said the name of his great-grandfather, the chanting stopped. The questers felt ice fill their veins, the air leaving them. Grover was pawing for air, his eyes set in a deranged panic while Annabeth was visibly shaking, her hand clamped on her necklace, praying in ancient Greek quickly and in sets of three. Percy's sword arm was shaking as he used his free hand to hold his wrist in place while he gulped with fear, even as the emotion crawled through his veins.
They all got up and made their way back up the tunnel. Percy looked like he was being weighed down.
The voice got louder and angrier behind them, which made them break into a run.
And not a moment too soon as a cold blast of wind pulled at their backs, like the pit was inhaling.
For a horrifying moment, Percy lost ground with his feet slipping in the gravel. If they remained where they were previously, they'd be sucked in.
They struggled forward until they reached the top of the tunnel, where the caverned widened out into the Fields of Asphodel.
The wind died and then a truly beyond terrifying wail of outrage echoed from deep in the tunnel. Kronos was furious that they got away.
"What was that?" Grover panted when they collapsed in the safety of a black poplar grove. "One of Hades' pets?"
"No, Grover." Alex panted. "It was much, much, worse."
Both Annabeth and Percy looked at each other, knowing what Alex was implying, remembering what he said in the taxi on the way to L.A.
Percy then uncapped his sword and put the pen back in his pocket.
"Let's keep going." He told everyone.
They all turned their backs on that tunnel and headed towards Hades' palace.
The Furies circled the parapets, high in the gloom. The outer walls of the fortress glittered black, and the two-story-tall bronze gates stood wide open.
Up close, the group could tell that the engravings on the gates were scenes of death. Some were from modern times - an atomic bomb exploding over a city, a trench filled with gas mask-wearing soldiers, a line of African famine victims waiting with empty bowls - but all of them looked as if they'd been etched into the bronze thousands of years ago. Like some deranged prophecies that had come true.
Inside the courtyard was the strangest garden they'd ever seen. Multicoloured mushrooms, poisonous shrubs, and weird luminous plants grew without sunlight. Precious jewels made up for the lack of flowers, piles of rubies as big as a fist, clumps of raw diamonds. Standing here and there like frozen party guests were Medusa's garden statues — petrified children, satyrs, and centaurs — all sporting some twisted expression between a smile and a scream.
In the centre of the garden was an orchard of pomegranate trees, their orange blooms neon bright in the dark. "The garden of Persephone," Annabeth said. "Keep walking."
Alex knew the story of Persephone. One bite of Underworld food, and they would never be able to leave. He had to pull Grover back to stop him from eating a particular juicy pomegranate.
They walked up the steps of the palace, between gleaming black marble columns, through a black marble portico, and into the house of Hades. The entry hall had a polished bronze floor, which seemed to boil in the reflected torchlight. There was no ceiling, just the cavern roof, far above. They never had to worry about rain down here it seems.
Every side doorway was guarded by a skeleton in military gear. Some wore Greek armour, some British redcoat uniforms, some in camouflage uniforms with tattered American flags on the shoulders. They carried spears or muskets or M-16s. None of them bothered the questers, but their hollow eye sockets followed them as they walked down the hall, toward the big set of doors at the opposite end.
Two U.S. Marine skeletons guarded the doors. They grinned down at them, rocket-propelled grenade launchers held across their chests.
"You know," Grover mumbled, "I bet Hades doesn't have trouble with door-to-door salesmen."
"Or have that many visitors," Alex added.
Percy's backpack weighed a ton now and he couldn't figure out why. He wanted to check what had somehow secretly jumped in there, but this wasn't the time.
Alex, noticing this, asked, "You all right, Percy?"
Not wanting him to worry, Percy nodded. "Yeah, fine."
Alex probably would've said more, but, seeing Percy's mood, dropped the matter.
"Well, guys," said Percy. "I suppose we should...knock?"
They didn't bother as a hot wind blew down the corridor, swinging the doors open and the guards stepped aside.
"I guess that means entrez-vous." Annabeth said.
The room inside looked exactly like what Alex and Percy dreamed, just with Hades occupying the throne this time.
Unlike Mr. D and Ares, he was the first god that Alex thought was truly godlike.
He was at least ten feet tall, dressed in black silk robes and wore a crown of braided gold. His skin was also albino white with jet black shoulder length hair. Despite not being bulked up like Ares, Hades radiated power as he lounged on his throne of fused human bones, looking lithe, graceful and dangerous all at once.
He had this aura that made it seem like he should be the one giving orders. He seemed like he knew more than any of them.
Hades also resembled pictures of Hitler, Napoleon and terrorist leaders that direct suicide bombers with those intense eyes of mesmerizing evil charisma.
"You are brave to come here, Son of Poseidon," he said in an oily voice. "After what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or perhaps you are simply very foolish."
Alex stepped forward before Percy could. "Lord Hades, Percy did not steal from you. He was framed."
Hades turned his attention to him. "So, you're the son of Artemis that I've been hearing so much about lately. Not only that... you are the grandson of Sparda, are you not?"
Alex blinked, not expecting that. "Yes. How did you know that?"
"I'd recognise the blood of the Legendary Dark Knight when I'd sense it. If it wasn't for Sparda, we all would've been enslaved by the Demon King, Mundus, two thousand years ago." Hades explained with a small smile. "Sparda was a good friend of mine. And it's because of that that I will allow you to explain yourselves."
"Lord and Uncle, I come with two requests." Percy said, stepping up and drawing Hades' attention to him as well as making Alex facepalm.
"Should've said to leave the talking to me." He muttered.
"Only two requests?" Hades said. "Arrogant child. As if you have not already taken enough. Speak, then. It amuses me not to strike you dead yet."
Percy glanced at the empty, smaller throne next to Hades'. It was shaped like a black flower, gilded with gold. He wished Queen Persephone was here. The boy recalled something in the myths about how she could calm her husband's moods. But it was summer. Of course, Persephone would be above in the world of light with her mother, the goddess of agriculture, Demeter. Her visits, not the tilt of the planet, create the seasons.
"Lord Hades. Look, sir, there can't be a war among the gods. It would be… bad." Percy said.
"Really bad." Grover added helpfully.
"Return Zeus' master bolt to me. Please, sir. Let me carry it to Olympus." Percy then said.
"Percy, now you're just insulting me." Alex groaned into his hand. "He didn't steal the bolt."
Why does everyone have to assume Hades is the bad guy after knowing all the facts?
"It appears the son of Artemis is the most intelligent amongst you." Hades stated as his eyes grew dangerously bright. "You dare keep up this pretense, after what you have done?"
Percy glanced over at his friends, who all looked confused, except for Alex.
"Um… Uncle. You keep saying 'after what you've done'. I haven't done anything." Percy said.
But that just made the throne room shake with a tremor so strong that it had to be felt in Los Angeles as debris fell from the cavern ceiling.
Doors then burst open all along the walls with hundreds of skeletal warriors marching in, from every time period and nation in Western civilization. They all lined the perimeter of the room, blocking the exits.
Hades bellowed, "Do you think I want war, godling?"
Percy wanted to say, Well, these guys don't look like peace activists. But he thought that might be a dangerous answer.
"You are the Lord of the Dead," Percy said carefully. "A war would expand your kingdom, right?"
"Oh, for the love of..." Alex threw his hands up. He doubted ruling the Kingdom of the Dead was very fun, even for Hades. He was tricked into ruling it after all when he and his brothers took straws to determine who ruled the heavens.
"A typical thing for my brothers to say! Do you think I need more subjects? Did you not see the sprawl of the Asphodel Fields?"
"Well..."
"Have you any idea how much my kingdom has swollen in this past century alone, how many subdivisions I've had to open?"
Percy opened his mouth to respond, but Hades was on a roll now.
"More security ghouls," he moaned. "Traffic problems at the judgment pavilion. Double overtime for the staff. I used to be a rich god, Percy Jackson. I control all the precious metals under the earth. But my expenses!"
"Charon wants a pay raise," Percy blurted, just remembering the fact.
"And Cerberus could use some someone to play with." Alex added
"Don't get me started on those two!" Hades yelled. "Charon's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits! And I don't have time to give Cerberus attention! Problems everywhere, and I've got to handle all of 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's master bolt."
"He didn't, Percy!" Alex snapped, now getting very annoyed. Was everyone on a one-track mind? Hades rules the dead kingdom, so he's automatically the bad guy?
"Alexander is correct!" More rumbling. Hades rose from his throne, towering to the height of a football goalpost. "Your father may fool Zeus, boy, but I am not so stupid. I see his plan."
"His plan?" Percy asked while Alex sighed, well are of his grudge against the Olympians.
"You were the thief on the winter solstice," he said. "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 helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at 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 helm back!"
"Lord Hades, please, Percy is just as innocent as you are! He didn't steal the master bolt and your Helm!" Annabeth said, realising Alex was right about that.
"Do not play innocent with me, girl. You and the satyr 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?"
"No!" Percy said. "Poseidon didn't—I didn't—"
"I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance," Hades snarled, "because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can ill afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for you 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 helm now, or I will stop death," Hades threatened. "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 skeletal soldiers took a step forward, readying their weapons
Alex knew things were beyond reasoning with Hades, especially when he's hell bent on his grudge. He looked at Percy, who looked angry.
"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 said.
"And the other monsters?"
Hades curled his lip. "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 Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?"
"Easily?"
"Return my property!"
"Percy doesn't have it!" Alex tried once more.
"Exactly, I came for the master bolt!" Percy nodded.
"Which you already possess!" Hades shouted. "You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could you threaten me!"
"But I didn't!"
"Open your pack, then."
Alex looked at Percy, then at the backpack, the one that Ares gave them.
Percy slung the backpack off his shoulder and unzipped it, revealing a two foot long metal cylinder, spiked on both ends and humming with energy.
"Percy." Annabeth gasped. "How -"
"Ares." Alex stated. "He gave us this. He helped the thief!"
"You heroes 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's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now ... my helm. Where is it?"
"Lord Hades! Percy didn't steal your Helm! This is all a mistake!" Alex shouted.
"A mistake?" Hades yelled.
All the skeletons aimed their weapons.
From high above, there was a fluttering of leather wings and the three Furies swooped down and perched on the back of their master's throne. One of them looked directly at Alex, clearly wanting revenge from what happened on the bus as she flicked her whip.
"There is no mistake." Hades said. "I know why you have come, Percy Jackson - I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her."
He loosed a ball of gold fire from his palm, which exploded on the steps in front of the four. Then Percy's mother, frozen in a shower of gold, was there, just as she was when the Minotaur started squeezing her to death.
Percy was left speechless and tried to reach out to her, but the light was as hot as a bonfire.
"Yes." Hades said with utter satisfaction. "I took her. I knew, Percy Jackson, that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my Helm, and perhaps I will let her go. She is not dead, you know. Not yet. But if you displeasure me, that will change."
Percy looked deep in thought, which Hades must've read through, because he then said "Ah, the pearls. Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson."
Percy's hand moved against his will and he brought out the pearls.
"Only four." Hades said. "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."
All four looked at each other with grim faces.
"I told you. Hades was innocent. We've been set up by Ares and the real thief." Alex said. He had a suspicion on who the thief was after seeing the Maia shoes malfunction the way they did, but he didn't want to reveal that just now. Now was not the time.
"Decide, boy!" Hades yelled.
"Percy." Grover put his hand on Percy's shoulder. "You can't give him the bolt,"
"I know that."
"Leave me here," he said. "Use the third pearl on your mom."
"No!"
"I'm a satyr," Grover said. "We don't have souls like humans 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 drew her bronze knife. "You two go on. Grover, you have to protect Percy. You have to get your searcher's license and start your quest for Pan. Get his mom out of here. I'll cover you. I plan to go down fighting."
"No, I'll stay." Alex shook his head. "I have a better chance at surviving down here."
"No, I'm not letting anyone sacrifice themselves for me again!" Annabeth shook her head, refusing to have Alex do what Thalia did. She already lost one she considered a big sister, she couldn't lose one she considered a big brother.
"No way," Grover said. "I'm staying behind."
"Think again, goat boy," Annabeth said.
"Stop it, the three of you!" Percy snapped at them, looking like his heart will be ripped into two.
He then thought about what they had been through together. Taking on Medusa, Annabeth with her brains and Alex with helping him with the Chimera. Hephaestus' Waterland ride, the Lotus Casino. Percy spent thousands of miles with these three and have done nothing but help and save him over and over again, and here they are, ready to sacrifice themselves for his mother.
"I know what to do." He then told them. "Take these." He handed them each a pearl.
"But, Percy…." Annabeth said.
Percy turned to face his mother. "I'm sorry. I'll be back. I'll find a way."
The smug look on Hades' face faded. "Godling…?"
"I'll find your Helm, Uncle." Percy told him. "I'll return it. Remember about Charon's pay raise."
"Do not defy me -"
"And to play with Cerberus once in a while. He enjoys red rubber balls." Alex added.
"Percy Jackson, you will not -"
"Now guys!" Percy shouted.
They all smashed the pearls at their feet. For one scary moment, nothing happened.
"Destroy them!" Hades shouted.
The army of skeletons all rushed forward, swords out, guns clicking to full automatic and the Furies lunged with their whips bursting into flame.
But just as the skeletons opened fire, the pearl fragments at their feet exploded with bursts of green light and gusts of fresh sea wind. They were now encased in milky white spheres that started to float off the ground.
The spears and bullets sparked off harmlessly off the bubbles as they floated up, heading for the surface.
Hades yelled with so much rage that the whole fortress shook, meaning it would not be a peaceful day for L.A.
"Look up!" Grover yelled. "We're going to crash!"
They were indeed racing toward the stalactites.
"How do you control these things?" Annabeth shouted.
"You don't!" Alex told her.
They all screamed as the bubbles slammed into the ceiling and…. Darkness.
There was still a racing sensation. They were actually going through solid rock.
Eventually, the pearls broke through the ocean floor and they soared upward through the water until - ker-blam!
They exploded on the surface in the middle of Santa Monica Bay, knocking a surfer off his board with an indignant "Dude!"
Alex swam over to Percy, who grabbed Grover and hauled him over to a life buoy. Percy then caught Annabeth and dragged her over as well. Then a curious great white shark circled them.
"Beat it." Percy told it, making it turn and race away.
This made the surfer scream about bad mushrooms and paddled away as fast as he could, which Alex found to be pretty funny.
Alex then realised that it was early morning on June 21st, the summer solstice.
He then looked over and saw that Los Angeles was on fire with plumes of smoke rising from neighbourhoods all over the city. Hades sure knows how to make an earthquake to ruin everyone's day. He just might even be sending an army of the dead after Percy.
"I'm so going to have a chat with Ares." Alex growled, everyone nodding in agreement.
And that's it for this chapter. Up next, Alex and Percy take on the God of War.