Chapter Text
One could not even begin to understand just how truly crowded The Fields of Asphodel really are. Think of the Superbowl, and then times that by five.
The Fields may be as lackluster as one might think but they were incredibly filled the souls of the dead. It was even more packed than Manhattan during the Thanksgiving parade or Times Square on New Years, minus the usual excitement.
The Fields didn’t seem to have any upkeeping either, long black grass had been trampled over from the many millennia of souls. Burst of warm swamp wind moved throughout the fields, it blew the leaves of the black poplars trees scattered around.
Honestly, I didn’t care if it may have differed from what I’ve seen before. I only prayed that I wouldn’t see a face I recognized. I can’t afford to be distracted. The ghouls flying above us are also concerning. Its in our best interest to try and keep ourselves hidden from them by blending into the crowd.
Maneuvering through the dead wasn't very difficult since they didn’t seem agitated as we passed, but to be fair, they don’t seem to feel much of anything.
We traveled forward along with the moving spirits from the front gates closer to a black pavilion. The banners hanging across it read: ‘Welcome to the Newly Deceased!’
The crowd thinned as it passed the tent, dividing into two smaller lines. The left line was guarded by those security ghouls. They dragged those spirits down a jagged, rocky path to the Fields of Punishment. If you imagine what Hell might look like, you’d have about the right idea. It’s a vast, smokey place with lava pits and fire lakes.
There were minefields and barbed wire separating different sections of the torture areas. I could see people being inflicted with the worst kinds of pain. In the very distance, I could see movement of a person pushing a boulder. I blinked at the sight. I suppose the punishment of Sisyphus will remain ever continuous. But even that didn’t see to compare to what else was happening. Being burned alive and torn apart by hellhounds wasn’t even the worst of it.
I held back a grimace.
The other line was far better. The garden path led to what can be described as a marvelous gated community. High walls protected beautifully designed houses of various styles. Grecian, Roman, Medieval, Victorian, and so many more. Glistening lush ground had grown golden and sliver flowers complimented a realistic sky. Laughter and merriment rang from within it. This is where everyone hopes to end up.
The Fields of Elysium.
Of course, in the heart of it were three islands appearing as a pure paradise. The Isle of the Blest. What a haven that must be.
“It’s the best place to be,” Annabeth spoke out. “That’s the place for heroes.”
I took in as much of Elysium as I could. It was tempting. It was so very tempting to go there. To see if all I was forced to leave behind had made it. My hand clenched into fists. No, there’s no doubt. My wife. My son. My Family. Their hearts were as good as any’s, blessings from the heavens far too wonderful for me to deserve. They would. I know they would. I almost took a step forward.
“Percy?” My body was still, my head turned so I could glance at Grover. I cleared my throat.
“Yeah Groves?” He glanced at the beauty of Fields then back to me.
“You okay?” There was a pause. I stared at him with a blank expression, and he stared back with worry etched onto his. Annabeth could only look between us, lost to what Grover had felt. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Not really.” I took a final glimpse of Elysium and let out a sigh. “But that doesn’t matter right now. We need to keep going.” I chose to ignore the way they looked at each other.
We movement passed the pavilion, going deeper in the Fields of Asphodel. The further we went, the darker the land become. Grassy fields lessen and started shifting into rocky ground. The number of spirits decreased as they had to stay within, their murmurs quieted as well.
After a few more miles forward, familiar screeches came from far ahead. Up on the distance, three bat shaped figures circled high in the air. The Fury Sisters. Why were they circling there? I looked down the ground below. Ah, that’s why. They flew above an enormous glittering palace of black obsidian. I let out a quiet huff.
They must be waiting for us.
“Guess it’s to late to turn back, huh?” Grover stuttered.
“Yup.” I said, letting the ‘p’ sound pop.
“You know what? Maybe checking out Elysium might not be so bad…” My eye twitched. Annabeth’s hand shot out, grabbing onto Grover before he could move.
“Nice try, goat boy.” Grover groaned. He moved to take a tentative step towards the palace but then let out a distressed bleat.
The wings on his shoes sprang out, fluttering wildly. The action ripped him out of Annabeth’s grip and made him land flat of his back a few feet away.
I blinked. What? Annabeth brows furrowed. “Grover, what are you doing?” Grover tried to prop himself up.
“I didn’t! I don’t kn-” He let out another yelp as the shoe’s wings flapped even harder. They lifted his feet off the ground and dragged him away fast. Oh shit. “Maia!” He yelled. The word did nothing. “Maia! Stop already! Help!”
I burst into a dead sprint. Annabeth trailed not far behind me. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! How the fuck could I be so stupid? How could I forget about Luke’s shoes? I tried to run faster, reaching out a hand to grab his. The shoes moved him further before I could. My heart thumped widely with panic and adrenaline.
“Take them off!” I yelled. “Take the shoes off!”
“Untie them!” Annabeth added. “Untie them now!” And he tried. Poor Grover tried but he just couldn’t reach it. It’s a hard task to do as you’re being dragged quicky along the ground. They kept dragging him forward directly towards the palace until it veered off sharply to the right. It was headed towards an entirely different area.
They pulled him towards a downwards slope, which only made him go faster. Annabeth and I tried to keep up, but it was getting difficult. There’s a limit to how fast our bodies can go. The walls of the Underworld were caving in the further we went, forming it into a tunnel. I gritted my teeth.
There was nothing we could do to slow him down. My eyes could catch glimpses of roots, branched, and rocks we had to pass to get to him. Wait!
“Grab something!” I shouted. “Grover! Try to grab something!”
“I’m trying! I’m trying!” He grasped at gravely ground, struggling to slow himself down. The tunnel became darker the further we went, it was colder too. A cold that almost made my heart stop. It felt like things would only get unfathomably worse if we kept going. It felt like something evil.
Then I saw it. I almost tripped from a missed step. The end of the tunnel widened dramatically so, into a wide cavern of darkness large enough to fit a neighborhood. It was the pit, the damned pit from my dreams.
And Grover was heading right for it.
“NO!” I screamed. I forced my legs to move faster, willing myself to reach him. If I didn’t, then Grover would be dragged in. To that abominable thing.
Ragged breaths left me as I sprinted, panicked fully engulfed my mind. I was almost impossible to think rationally. I wasn’t going to make it. There is literally nothing I can do. I wasn’t going to make it in time to get to him. He is going to die. No. No, please! He’s just a boy! I have to save him! I have to protect my boy! I have to save Tele-
Before Grover could make it over the edge, his body slammed hard into a large rock. The shoes that fit loosely on his hooves flew right off and raced down into the void. Grover grabbed onto a smaller rock to keep himself from skidding closer. I let out a gasp of relief.
Annabeth and I drifted into a stop when we reached him. He was so close to the edge, about ten feet or so. I collapsed in from of him, pulling him into my arms as I tried to catch my breath. I desperately tried to blink back the tears in my eyes.
“Grover! Dear gods, Grover! Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I gently pulled myself from him to check for any injuries. Pain twisted in my heart as I looked him over. He was pretty banged up. His hands were bleeding from him clawing at the ground. His back had little bloodied streaks from being dragged. His eyes shifted into the sideways slits that goat’s had, they were glistening too. He was thoroughly terrified.
“I didn’t-” He panted out. “I didn’t do-” I pulled him back into my arms.
“I know. I know it wasn’t you.” I stared into the pit where the shoes disappeared. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” But I know who did.
A sound whispered out of the darkness.
“Do you guys hear that?” They both quieted down, trying to listen to the whispers.
“It…it sounds like it’s come from in there.” Annabeth pointed to it. The whispers were getting louder. The hairs on my arms started to stand up. Oh shit. We need to go. “Percy, this place-”
“Move.” I started to stand. I dragged them up with me.
“What?” Grover said.”
“Move. Move it now!” The whispers growing even louder behind us, like it was trying to get closer. It was extremely difficult to hurry back uphill, especially when we’re dead tired. However, I wasn’t going to risk staying near that pit. It wasn’t an option. Not with what’s down there.
I could hear Annabeth huffing and Grover groaning in pain. The strange whispers sounded agitated the further we ran away, it wanted it to get closer.
We broke through the entrance of the tunnel when a bone chilling gust of wind flowed down the tunnel behind us, it missed us by mere seconds. We collapsed in the black grass, struggling to catch our breaths. The dark whispers had grown into fully enraged screeches when it did get its victims.
“W-what,” Grover huffed. “What was that?”
Annabeth shuttered, staring blankly to the ground she sat on. “Tartarus…” She whispered. “The entrance to Tartarus.” Grover shivered from fear and pain.
“Was that one of Hades’ servants?”
Annabeth and I caught each other’s eyes. I could tell that she fully understood the situation now, about the gravity of what just happened, about what was in that dark abyss. She looked like she wanted to be sick. I gazed back towards the ground, closing my eyes to calm myself. What happened replaying in my head.
I couldn’t reach Grover, and he had almost died. My fingers clawed into the dead vegetation below me. He almost died. My teeth clenched tightly against each other. None of the calming techniques I’ve learned were working. Fuck. He almost died because of the shoes, because of Luke.
A flicker of guilt struck in my chest.
No. No, this is also my fault. Everything was going to smoothly and I knew. I knew Luke is a traitorous thief, but shoes…
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind they were meant to kill me, but them? I was so blinded by the fact that I’d return the damn bolt that it hadn’t occurred to me he’d truly be willing to risk their lives. The ones that truly love him.
Hermes, I know he is your son. I know he is blood. Forgive me for what I’ll do…but I’ll make sure he regrets that.
I sat up straight, tilting my neck just enough to give it a much-needed pop. I took another deep breath and shifted myself closer to Grover. “Are you okay to keep going?” Grover sniffed. He looked a lot like a sad baby goat.
“Do I have a choice?” My eye’s soften.
“No.” He sniffed again then moved to stand. Annabeth and I helped him steady himself.
“Those shoes were lame anyway.” He joked weakly. He headed towards the dark palace. Annabeth followed steadily behind. I gave one finally glare to the tunnel entrance that led right to the pit. To the Crooked One. To Kronos.
If I had been wearing them when we got here, it would have taken me right to that bastard. A clever plan to get me to him if I ever had what it wanted. Unless…I was supposed to have what it wanted. My mind drifts through the most suspicious individuals I’ve interacted with so far and of everything I have been given.
Looks like I wasn’t far off from my assumptions before. Luke isn’t the only one that seems to be under his influence. Great.
Seeing the Furies so soon did not fill me with the greatest feeling, but it was an inevitability, no matter how much I wanted to avoid it. In front of us stood two grand bronze gates attached to ever-growing impenetrable walls. The gates themselves were decorated with scenes of mass, violent deaths throughout history.
It was strange to see because it looks like it’d been there since its creation. Atrocities from before my time to more recent wars. Although, prophetic deaths decorating the palace gates of the Underworld does make sense.
We reached the courtyard the further we went. The area was filled with the kind of flora fitting of this realm. Poisonous mushrooms and bushes, bioluminescent plants; There were large clumps of different gems carefully placed on the ground too. They looked to be the replacements for flowers, I think.
There were also statues placed around. Petrified people and mythical creatures alike. I grimaced at the creations of Medusa and sighed. Well…what’s done is done. It cannot be undone. I am just thankful that my words were able to have some kind of effect to her.
In the center of the courtyard was also an orchard of looming pomegranate trees. Their branches were baring neon orange blossoms that provided a faint glowing light. Annabeth gasped in awe.
“The garden of Persephone.” I hummed.
“Let’s keep going.” I responded. There is nothing good that can come from being near them. No need to partake in the legends of those forbidden fruits.
We travel up the steps into the palace. It had dark marble columns and porticos, and bronze flooring that reflect the torchlight in a way that mimicked a calm, flowy fire. There is no ceiling in this palace but in a land with no rain, it’d probably not a huge concern anyways.
What is concerning is the fact that every pathway in this place was guarded by skeletal soldiers. Some of them wore similar armor I’ve worn before, some sported the British redcoats, or wore modern American camouflage. They’re armed too, weapons ranging from the classic sort to very modern.
They didn’t come after us or even stop us. Yet, I could feel them watching us as we passed, despite the emptiness of their eye sockets. I swallowed. This behavior does make sense. Why would a predator make a move when their prey is offering themselves on a silver platter?
We moved passed the guards towards a large set of doors at the end of the hall where two skeletal U.S. Marines were waiting. Each one held grenade launchers across their chests. A little overkill if you ask me. My hands moved towards my pockets, brushing little over Riptide and the pearls.
Grover let out a nervous chuckle. “I bet Hades doesn’t have to worry about uninvited guests.”
Annabeth’s eyes narrowed at him. “What would you call us then?”
“Expected.” I answered. I clutched the strap of my bag as we waited for something to happen. I raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Do we just…do we knock?”
Heated wind rushed past us in the hall, pushing the doors wide open. The guards stood aside. Annabeth tensed.
“Well. That’s one way of saying eiselthate.” I hummed again.
The room beyond the doors was exactly how I dreamt it. The one change being the person sitting on the throne.
Lord Hades himself.
The god was of great height, at least ten feet tall or so. He was dressed in the finest looking black robes with a braided golden crown atop his head. His skin was deathly pale, but it was not unflattering of his image. Of course, that is fair as there is no real Sun down here. His black hair reached his shoulders, and his eyes are equally black. There was a quiet strength radiating off him, as well as suffocating power.
Having now met all three…I can see why he and his brothers have earned themselves the title of the ‘Big Three.’
I shivered slightly. He gave off an overwhelming presence. It was similar to what Ares could do. Yet where Ares caused one to rage, Hades inspired debilitating fear. It was a feeling very similar to impending doom. I need to calm myself. I cannot afford to mishandle this situation.
He spoke in a dark, chilling voice. “You are brave to come here, son of Poseidon.” My eye twitch at that aggravating title. “Or yet, perhaps it is foolish arrogance that brought you here after what you did to me.” The chill reaching me, into my chest and limbs. One of my brows raised in confusion. What I did to him? Dear gods, what am I being blamed for now? I took a deep breath.
I have never met Lord Hades before, not in this life or the last. Yet somehow I’ve wronged him. Hmm. Maybe this has something to do with the Crooked one? Or the item…I internally sighed. Ah, right. The items It wanted. Perfect.
“Greetings to the great Hades Agesilaos, King of the Underworld.” I said with a graceful bow. Grover and Annabeth did the same, though I could tell she was reluctant. When tension arises in a high stakes situation, maintaining diplomacy should always be attempted especially when meeting kings. Therefore, it never hurts to rely on etiquette. “I do ask for your forgiveness, your Lordship. I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
My eyes drifted upward to gage his reaction. Hades seemed to be surprised? It’s hard to tell but I could see a slight inclination in his brow. There was not much for me to go on. The legends of this stoic nature is not lost on me, but to think I’ve managed to catch him off guard even a little bit.
“Proper manners from a new-age Sea spawn. How…unexpected.” He expressionlessness returned. “Yet, that arrogance remains.” I dropped my eyes back down. “Rise from your bow.” I stood before him. “To not know what I mean, you must think I am the fool.” There was a glare in his eyes. “I tire of whatever games you speak of, boy. Now, return it to me.”
I glances back at the others, they looked just as lost. I turned back. “I mean no disrespect your Grace, but I truly don’t know what you mean by that.” As if it was possible, the god’s black eyes darkened more.
“Do not test my patience, child. Give me back what you stole.” I felt Annabeth’s tight grip on my arm. I hope she didn’t get the wrong idea.
“Give back?” To give back means whatever I ‘stole’ is his to begin with. “You… don’t mean the master bolt, do you?” The god’s face changed instantly. Agitation and disgust rolled off him in waves.
“The bolt? Zeus’ master thunder bolt? Why in all my lands would I want that imbecile’s weapon? I do not care for his bolt! I want my helm, you fool! Return my stolen helm.” My eyes widened in realization. I remember the titan’s words. ‘…and when both items find themselves in my grasp…’ Luke had managed to steal two godly items during the winter solstice. Impressive, if not alone for the sheer audacity of it.
“My apologies once more, for I don’t have it.” The ground from the god’s ire.
“What have I said about testing me, boy?” I held myself steady.
“I can’t return what I never stole.” The glared icily.
“So, you wish for death then.” I heard Grover inhale sharply as Annabeth’s grip on me tightened even more.
“I can explain, your Grace.” Hades sat back on his throne.
“Then do so. Quickly.”
“I am here for a quest.” I began. His eyebrow raised in scrutiny. “The master bolt has also been taken, your Grace. I didn’t take it either, but many assume I have it regardless. I’ve been given a quest to return it before the summer solstice. If not, then there would be a new age divine war.” His eyes narrowed, uncaring of those last words.
“Then why have you come here?” I mentally prepared myself for his reaction.
“I was told that there was a possible, that it was with…you?”
A tremor shook throughout the palace, it almost knocked us down. Hades had gripped the arm rest of his throne in a crush hold as his rage crescendo. Debris fell down from the rocky ceiling of the Underworld. His dead warriors and soldiers barged into the room, covering the entire perimeter. The anger on his face no doubt meant the death of someone very, very soon.
“Me? Me?!” He seethed. “Ha! Is that what those damned bastards say about me?! Even after I have chosen to stay down here is in this mess?! After I chose to be away from them?!” Hades let out a growl in anger, calming himself to a degree. He stared down at me. “And what of you then, boy? They have sent you to persuade me?” Alright then, go time.
“I cannot persuade you to give it back when you didn’t take it either, your Grace.” Hades could only stare, silence filling the heavy air. The wrathful tremors stilled, and the chill eased. His features settled back to its original stoic persona.
“You do not agree with them?”
“No. Why would I? It makes no sense for you to take it. You are as great as they are, if not a little greater. You are the god of riches, and your kingdom will only grow as the ages go by. I can’t imagine a reason you’d want other god’s symbol of power when yours is no laughing matter.”
Hades looked…appeased? Or at least not angry anymore. Gods, I hope so.
“Percy…” Annabeth whispered accusingly, shaking my arm. She sounded deeply offended by what I was saying. I jerked my arm for her to stop.
“No, your Grace. I didn’t come here for any of that. In all honesty, I came here for my mom.” As hard as I tried, I couldn’t keep my voice from wavering when I spoke of her. “She was taken by the Minotaur you sent. I am sorry to say, your Majesty, but that was unjust. My mother had nothing to do with this, as wonderful as she is she is merely a mortal. She’s innocent in all of this. I’ve been taught that you are fair with your judgment and actions. I’ve come here to beg for her back. Please give her back to me.”
Hades did not reply. He only continued to stare at us, well, me. He did a concerning amount of staring, actually. Goosebumps littered my arm and neck. Something’s not right. Hades tilted his head ever so slightly at my reasoning and plea, that I may not have caught it if not for my efforts to remain on guard.
“Your words hold much wisdom in them,” He started. My heart would have fluttered in hope, if not for his next sentence. “that I was given a slight doubt to your parentage.” A cold sweat raked over me, making me freeze. What? “You.” He paused. “I have come cross many of my brother’s demigods, and in every one of them I had been able to find a common trait they share with him.” What? What is he talking about?
“Trait?” I questioned. The god’s eyes had darkened to an obsidian befitting his aesthetic.
“Arrogance.” He spat. “An unwavering, untamable arrogance.” I don’t understand. Didn’t he say before that- “Perhaps you are too, boy. In a different way. What I speak of is of a distinct kind. A personalized version so unique that it allows me to recognize all his children that come to be judged, no matter what they may look like.” I gulped.
There was a look in his eyes that reminded me a bit of Lord Dionysus. However, where I may have intrigued the mad god, I must have been more of a bug under a microscope to Hades.
“And out of many of his demigods, none have ever looked the most like him than you.” My jaw clenched. That was an observation that I had been trying to ignore. “Yet, I cannot find that distinct trait in you.” He narrowed his eyes, he seemed to be deep in thought about a riddle. “No. Yours…it is a lot more like…” The eyes that had been fixated on me had drifted over my youngest companion, to Annabeth. I felt her freeze beside me from his attention. I couldn’t help but move protectively in front of her. My heart thumped hazardously at a horrific realization. Oh no…
The god of the dead’s eyes flicked back to me. A suspicion reflected in them. “Something is not right with you.”
Oh no.
“Wait-” His eyes glowed a sickening green, right where his pupils would be. I gasped, clutching my chest. A staggering frost spread throughout my body. The feeling traveled directly to my core. It felt like my very soul was being touched, like it was being examined. Prodded by uncaring hands searching for an answer it felt every right too. I would have fallen to my knees had Grover and Annabeth not caught me. The feeling left suddenly, leaving me a shivering mess.
“You.”
The three of us had retched our heads back to Hades. The green had vanished from his eyes, but the intense darkness had now become pure void. “This should not be possible.” The chill in the air returned. “You should have crossed my path ages ago.” Grover and Annabeth made noises of confusion. “And here you, standing before me now.” Oh, fuck.
“Lord Hades, I can-” The god scoffed.
“I wish to hear nothing from you! Do you understand the trouble you have caused me? The annoyances that came knocking on my door wanting answers I did not have?”
“What’s going on?” Asked Grover, he was at a loss as to what was happening. As was Annabeth as I could feel her stare drilling into my head. Hades ignored them, he’s intension gaze pinning me where I was.
“You should not even be standing before me! You should be lost! I do not know how you are here but the very fact that you are…” The ground started to rumble again, his tight grip on his arm rest returned. This time, they cracked on the pressure of the god. “I did not permit this kind of return.” Dread burned within me.
“No, your Grace! You don’t understand, I-”
“I understand enough, silver-tongued deceiver.” More guards entered the room, filling it with the deadliest of weapons and trigger-happy soldiers. “To think I was almost tricked. No, I was right to take your mother hostage.” Greek fire grew at the feet of Hades, tall enough to reach an adult human’s full height. The fire flickered an image of a terrified woman. The flames showed me a golden image of mom. I froze at the sight of my mom, then tensed in anger of it. That familiar heat trickled into my bloodstream at his admission. “You will give me back my helm, or the consequences will be dire.”
“Mom!” I yelled. A firmness entered my voice in reply, mixed with heavy desperation and fury as I addressed the god. “I don’t have it! I never took it!”
“LIES!”
I wanted to scream in frustration. He recognized me. He recognized me and that lost me whatever ground I may have gained with him. I need to consider all my options. Between the god and his soldiers, there was no way we’ll survive if we take him on. Not in the god’s own domain. My hand reached into my left pocket, closing around the pearls given to me and carefully taking them out. That bastard’s servant said these are our ticket out of here.
“I’m not lying! I swear that I had nothing to do with this or with your missing helm!” My mind sifted through all the deductions I’ve made. I know that Luke is most likely to be the thief, I know that Ares has something to do with this, and I know Kronos is to blame for everything but it’s not like I can just prove it! “I know you’re firm with your judgment but you’re also fair! There has to be some kind of agreement we can make. Please, just free my mom!”
“Deal? Ha, always trying to escape your punishment. Your reputation proceeds you.” He mocked. For a second, he almost sounded like his brothers. It disgusted me greatly as I have now been under the mercy of all three. As discreetly as I could, I hid the pearls behind my back. I held them out, shaking my hand gently so that Grover and Annabeth could take one for themselves. “It seems that you still do not understand me. Perhaps I need to threaten more.” The thumping in the chest quickened. No, he couldn’t possibly mean-
“No wait!” I pleaded. I had to physically stop myself from clenching my fist. I couldn’t risk breaking the pearl early. “I have an idea on who did take it. If you give me a chance-”
“And risk you pulling a clever trick on me? No.”
“Percy, what is happening? What is he talking about?” Annabeth asked beside me. I looked to her, my eyes locking to convey the severity.
“When I give the command, crush the pearls under your feet.” I whispered.
“But-”
“Do what I say.” My attention focused on the god.
“I’m not trying to trick you! You said you’ve heard of me, yes? Then you must know I wouldn’t have chosen this.” The god stared at me for a while. He closed his eyes for a few moments and took in a breath he didn’t need.
“I do not care. You will either give me my helm polytropo, or you will force my hand. I will stop death.” Horror swirled in me. The ramifications of no one dying is catastrophic. “I will stop the flow of souls arriving into my kingdom altogether.”
“Your Grace, please reconsider! I truly don’t understand this. No one knows the importance of maintaining the balance of life and death more than you!” My mind drifted through the unfair things I had to face because of him. Him and his brothers. “To do things against your mythos, it doesn’t make sense!”
“Quiet.” The god started.
“What could have made you be this way?” This wasn’t the only thing he had acted unfair in. “You’ve even made an unfair judgment against that daughter of Zeus!” The god stiffened in anger.
“I do not want to have this talk of child death from the likes of you.” Why is he acting this way? What could have caused a rift between them to make Hades interfere with that girl when he’s always been known to keep to himself?
“Then you can see that I know what I’m talking about! That girl did nothing to you! There was no way she could’ve! What you sent after her, it was overkill! The only way I could even think you’d might act against someone so cruelly is for-!” I paused. My expression went blank.
The piece had begun to connect together. No, there is no reason for Hades to go after a young girl. Hurting children would be beneath someone of his nature. Perhaps… perhaps it is my own fault for not considering it. Maybe it wasn’t about the girl herself that caused the problem. Maybe it’s about what she represents, or who she represents. My head lower in understanding.
As misguided and misplaced as it is, I could only think of one reason a man would do that to another man’s child. The word escaped my lips before I noticed.
“…Retribution.”
“ENOUGH!” The god slammed his arms against his armrest, breaking them fully. I glanced back up at him. Hades had slouched inwards, heaving heavily in his frenzy.
“He did it to you first, didn’t he?” Annabeth breath caught in her throat, disbelief written all over her. Grover had shrunk into himself.
Hades tilted his head up slightly. His eyes shown bright with absolute fury…but I could also see a great sorrow. His voice faltered in its steadiness. “You retch…now I understand why he loathed you so.” He slowly fixed his stature, to his previous position. His eyes now contained a gaze that promised death. He snapped his fingers.
His skeleton soldiers moved into action. All of them readied their weapons against us. I pulled out Riptide as Annabeth and Grover jolted into action. Although, even with holding their own weapons, they didn’t look very confident with this turn of events.
“Lord Hades.” I pleaded.
“You will be silent.” He stated, his voice had been devoid of any previous emotion. It made this feel even worse. “I will hear no more from you. I tire of you and your silver tongue. You will listen to me. You will tell me where you left my helm, and I just may leave your family in their allotted afterlives…but vex me again, and I will make you all suffer.” Fear of his power to do so stuck me fiercely.
“Wait.” His body twitched.
“Tell me.” My hands tightened a little over the pearl. My choice piecing my heart. I tried once more.
“Don’t do this, please.”
“TELL ME!” He raged. I gritted my teeth in agony. My choice was one I didn’t want to make, but I know I have to. If I want to end this, to get the answers I need, to have more time to think it through. I need to make this choice.
I turned back to my companions. They looked so petrified. I nodded them. Lord Hades commanded I choose, so I did. “Now!” We each threw down our pearls and crush them beneath our feet. A few moments passed as we waited. Hades trembled in anger.
“You dare try to escape me?! Fire, now!” He commanded his undead. Some skeletons raised their firearms while others came at us with swords. Even the Furies above rush down at us, their talons ready.
Before anything could hit us. The pieces of the pearls below us shimmered bright. They glower a shear sea green and gave off the scent of the ocean wind. I shivered as we were encased in an iridescent white bubble. Only when it was fully formed around us did the bubbles start to lift off the ground.
We let out shrieks of surprise when the bubbles advanced upward faster. The bullets and arrows that were aimed against us did nothing to the bubbles. Hades’ wrath grew at our escape. His palace trembled with such force that I knew Los Angles would end up suffering.
“No! We’re going to crash!” Cried Grover out, pointing to the ceiling. Our bubbles were heading straight to it, straight to all its jagged rocks and pointing cave spikes.
“Gods, how do you control these things!” Annabeth shouted.
“We don’t!” I answered. “Just hold on!”
We slammed straight through the ceiling, floating higher and higher through the ground. The power of these bubbles were taking us somewhere unknown. Another shiver shook throughout me as I remembered Nereid’s words.
‘What belongs to the sea will always return to the sea.’ Oh, no.
Eventually, the bubble burst from the underground through the ocean floor. I closed my eyes as we floated further upward into the sea, the nausea was hitting me. I don’t think my heart could take it if I saw how deep we are. Our bubbles soared higher and higher until we blasted through the ocean surface.
Unfortunately, right then our bubbles popped and dropped us into the water. I freaked out the minute we were submerged. The serenity the sea was both calming and unnerving. I didn’t want to be anywhere in this damn water. I felt that tug in my stomach from before. I grabbed onto Annabeth and Grover quickly. I used the water around and pushed us closer to shore as fast as I could.
The minute we reached the beach sand, I let go of their arms and crawled myself away from the waves. I couldn’t even take a moment to catch my breath at the scene of L.A in the distance. From the horizon, L.A. looked like it was on fire if the trails of grey smoke line in the sky were anything to go off of.
Hades had truly raised hell over this, and I have no doubt his soldiers aren’t far from being released.
I gazed up at the sky, the color of it was lighter than usual nighttime. That meant the Sun wasn’t far from rising. That also meant it was now June seventeenth, 4 days closer to the Summer Solstices.
My sight fell back down to the sand, my fingers clawing into it as the insanity of everything sunk in. At everything I lost and can still lose if things don’t end well. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's. Not. Fair.
Anger and hatred slowly infect my very being. I paused at the feeling of it, of the familiar bloodlust that could only be influenced. It grew steadily as a low rumble came closer. Ah, I see. A growl rang out from me when it all clicked.
‘You shall go west and face the god who has turned.’
So, this is where the prophecy is going to begin.
Finally.