Children of Divinity (A Percy Jackson Fanfic/BoyXBoy)

Chapter 14 I'm Not Asking

"Climb aboard," the ferryman said as we walked through some kinda portal, the record studio suddenly transforming into a dark foggy ominous cave like thing.
"No payment for the ferryman?" Annabeth asked and the Ferryman simply blinked. "Climb aboard," He repeated in the same monotonous tone as before.
"Not like we have much choice," Percy said stepping on the boat, as did the others...I don't like this. I really really don't like this. Still I don't have a choice, not with the current situation. "Climb aboard," The ferryman said looking directly at me, his neutral deadpan eyes meeting mine.
I said nothing and got in the boat, sitting next to Andrew, who looked at me. He felt unsure about something, that uncertainty boarding on fear.
"What's up?" He whispered and I simply shook my head after glancing at me. He gulped and looked looked at the others and the ferryman who paid no attention to any of us. He simply kept pushing onwards, his emotional state nonexistent. I looked down from the boat, seeing the various fields and domains of the underworld.
"This place...its so dark," Grover said, feeling his along with the others fear and desire to turn back. Still, they felt determined to see this through to the end. To retrieve the bolt from the lord of the dead.
"Yeah, I don't think I've ever been in such an ominous place before in my life," Annabeth said with a visible shudder.
Andrew turned to me again, his fear intensifying now. Not from this place or this carrier of souls, this time it was from me. Still, this place...I don't know if I've ever in all my years felt so stoic before.
I felt both a plethora of emotions and a level power simultaneously flowing through me at levels I didn't know was even remotely possible. The tension is almost tangible too now, and only growing. Even despite all this, Andrew didn't say another word to me.
"We are here," the ferryman said after a while, as his boat arrived at a massive obsidian palace.
"Thank...you..." Grover said, clearly uncomfortable as we disembarked the boat. As expected the ferryman said nothing as he pushed off and left us.
"Jess what's..." I said nothing as I slipped my hand in his and he jolted, even wincing for a second. "You're scaring me. I've never seen you like this..." he whispered.
"I want you to promise me something..." I said as I looked him in the eye and he gulped but nodded.
"Y..yeah. What's up?"
"If I tell you to leave me and run I want your word you'll do it without hesitation or looking back."
"Jesse...I..."
"Please Andrew." I asked him and his look of fear and uncertainty turned to defiance and yet after another few seconds acceptance.
"Okay. I promise. But you promise you'll come back right?" He asked and I shook my head.
"I can't make that promise," I said looking him in the eye and he looked me over for a bit longer but then sighed and nodded his head.
"Okay," he whispered with a nod. "Okay."
"You're here," A man said as he sat on a throne of skulls.
"We are lord Hades."
"I don't have it," he said in a cold yet calm voice as he looked at Percy in the eye. "You do though son of Poseidon, I can feel its raw power from your bag there. And you will give it and my helm of darkness to me."
"We don't have the..."
"Do not lie to me," Hades retorted in an voice that made ice sound like lava. "Hand them over now. I won't ask again."
"Ares...Ares gave us the bag. He..." Annabeth but then Hades chuckled.
"I don't care who gave it to you," He said as he rose from his throne, a power befitting of one of the 3 major gods emanating from his being. The very ground beneath us began shaking violently, and yet the ground where we 5 stood remained stable and unmoved. At which point, Hades' gaze turned to mine. We locked eyes, and yet I said nothing despite him beginning to grin.
"Ah Issusius, one of the originals titan lords...I see you still keep your true powers suppressed. And yet, my kingdom housing millions upon millions of souls seems to have empowered you to the point that you're struggling to contain it. Interesting. You're like a stick of dynamite trying to put its fuse out even though it's already lit and burned halfway through. Still, do you think you can best me in my own domain?"
"I am not looking for a fight Hades. Let us go and I give you my word I will find and see your helm returned."
"No, I think not." He said as he walked down the stairs of his thrown's platform.
"Guys we gotta go..." Percy said and he grabbed the pearls and threw them on the ground...FUCK! That'll only get them 3 out.
"NO!" Hades growled as he lunged towards where they had been but where Andrew now stood alone.
He grunted as I was in front of Andrew just before Hades got to him. His fists gripped by my hands as I glared at him.
"RUN!" I shouted at Andrew as I released enough divine energy to open a portal to New York, however opening that portal left me with barely a quarter of my strength even after the power up. The sudden drop in power being an opportunity that Hades seized immediately, shoving me to the ground and then throwing me into the wall.
Even still...I felt glad even smiling as Andrew ran through that portal and it instantly closing behind him...he's safe now. And that's enough for me...so I can stop. I don't have to fight anymore.
Hades looked at me, and if looks could kill, and I was mortal I'd be here eternally. I groaned as I got to my feet and looked at him.
"I won't let you hurt him Hades."
"You sacrificed yourself to save him."
"I did but he's safe now and that's good enough for me....I no longer have a reason to fight you now Hades. Nor do I want to. So do what you will."