The Daughter of War

Chapter Nine

I pace around my room, furious. It's been five bloody days! I've shopped, against my best wishes, probably due to a note from Aphrodite to go shopping for the wedding, and it all vanished back to my cabin, but BESIDES THE POINT. They promised to be in and out, but they haven't been. I wasn't allowed inside the Lotus Casino and Hotel for whatever reason. 

Miley, they are awake now. They are leaving as we speak, and head to the lobby. Try to not be angry at them. I sighed at Poseidon's voice in my head and does as he said. I stand in the lobby, irritated, then sigh in relief as a Maserati comes peeling into the hotel parking lot. I get in the back and stare out the window. Grover chuckles nervously as he drives, "So how was the trip?" 

I punch his seat, "How was the trip?! I told you what that casino was! I told you! I was lucky enough to ask Poseidon to wake you guys up and he responded! You've been gone for five days and the summer solstice is tomorrow!" Percy sighs, "We know and thank you and I'm sorry we didn't listen." Annabeth nods and hugs me, "We won't doubt you again." I nod, "You better fucking not. You're lucky I don't ground you. Where is the Underworld entrance?"

Percy pulls out the map, "It's in Hollywood." I pinch the bridge of my nose, "More than likely at the Hollywood sign. Grover, burn rubber. I wanna be there in three and a half hours." Grover chuckles, "You heard Camp Mom. Hold on, everyone!" Grover presses on the gas and we speed off to Hollywood.

-At the Hollywood sign-

I fell asleep, only waking up to Annabeth shaking me awake to get out of the car. We run up to the Hollywood sign and Percy catches me as I slip. "Don't slip. Watch your step." I snort, "Kinda too late now, isn't it?" I yank Percy back, "Whoa! Wait!" Everyone stops and we look at the Ancient Greek on the H of the sign. "Woe to all depraved souls," Percy reads off and we look over to see a mount of dirt fall away to show the entrance to the Underworld. 

A loud crash startles us as the entrance covers back up. "Well, guess there ain't no turning back now," Grover says. Percy nods, "Yep, it looks like we're stuck in here." We all look around and keep walking forward. "Hey, Perce. Who's that creepy guy with the hoodie?" Grover asks. 

I roll my eyes, "Charon, morons." Charon looks at all of us, "Who are you?" Percy looks sternly at him, "We need to see Hades." Charon rolls his eyes, "The living are not permitted here. Die and come back." I smirk at his words as Grover smarts off, "Okay, we won't die and come back, but you know what? I think I know what he wants." Percy looks confused and I just stand off to the side, knowing what it takes for Charon to take us, but they'll never learn if I keep helping them. "You gotta pay the ferryman," Grover said, "Watch this. Yo! My friend! What up? Okay, guess not. You like dead people right? I got a few dead people you might recognize. Check this out. Jackson, Grant. And look whose joining the party: Benjamin Franklin. Yeah, you like that don't you? Look, you give us a boat ride, you take the money, and you get an interior decorator, 'cause it's too depressing in here. Alright? There you go!" 

Grover sets the money in Charon's hand, only to watch him light it on fire. I cackle at Grover's reaction and Percy lights up with an idea, "Wait! The drachma!" Percy places one in Charon's hand and I smile, proud of Percy and his thinking. We all get on the boat and I smack the back of Grover's head for mouthing off. "Stop it now," I say sternly and he shuts up, getting on quickly. 

I zone out for the bus ride, thinking about how my mother has died. Did she end up in the Fields of Punishment or Asphodel Meadows? I zone back in to see that Charon has stopped at Hades' castle. "This is far as I go. Aetos, a minute." Everyone steps off and away to give us a moment. 

I turn around to see Charon softly smiling, "Your mother is in the Asphodel Meadows. She isn't in the Fields of Punishment." I sigh in relief, "Thank you for letting me know Charon. If you see her can you please tell her that I forgive her? I never got to tell her." Charon nods and paddles off. 

We all walk into the castle, looking around until we were surrounded by Hellhounds. "What are we going to do?" Percy yells and Grover yelps, "Annie! Stab that thing!" I stand there as a beautiful woman in all black walks our way, speaking Greek and shooing the Hellhounds away.

"Maybe you should feed them," Grover says, calming down. Persephone smiles and checks out Grover, "They sensed the presence of another animal." Grover sighs, "Great. They smell goat." Persephone smirks and walks closer to Grover, "A satyr. I haven't had a satyr... visit before." I smirk at Grover's face, "Lifetime of an opportunity Bermuda. Lucky bastard." Persephone giggles and looks at me, "Miley Aetos. The talk of the gods. Your relationship with Luke Castellan has everyone excited. I haven't had so many visits from Aphrodite in quite a while, but you two are always her favorite topic." 

"Persephone! What could possibly be taking so long?! Don't ignore me!" I heard Hades yell and Persephone rolled her eyes, "Or what!? What will you do?" Persephone yelled back and whispered, "I'm already in hell. Miley, make the barrier around you. The rest of the gods will be furious if you out of anyone gets hurt." I press my necklace and the barrier goes around me, turning invisible, "Why me?" Persephone sighs, "Not sure. But Queen Hera will cause much damage. You're the favorite." Annabeth whispers, "Lucky Princess Leia." 

Persephone leads us to Hades and she motions us to stop, "We have visitors." Hades turns around in her chair and smiles, "Nephew. Ah. Miley, my grandniece, congratulations on the engagement. I've never seen a pair more meant for each other," Hades gets up and walks towards us, "Welcome. You have your father's looks, Percy. Always, the uh, lucky side of the family." 

Grover laughs and I pale, "Wait. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You're Hades?" I glare at Grover, "Can you stop being a wise ass for one minute and be respectful? He can kill you if he felt like it!" Hades smirked at me and then looked at Grover with discontent, "Yes." 

Grover ignored me, "Oh, sorry. I just didn't...I didn't expect you to look like this, man. Kinda stylish. I like it." I looked down, ready to die and Hades rolled his eyes, "Would you prefer that I look like this?" 

I heard Hades change form as Grover panicked, "No! No! No! Look, stick to the Mick Jagger thing. It works for you!" Hades turns back and clears his throat, "You know, Miley has your best interests at heart. Listening to her would be wise. She usually has the right ideas." Annabeth and Grover nod as Percy nods rapidly, "I've come to understand that she's the person who usually keeps us alive and we suffer if we ignore her." 

I smile smugly at all of them as Persephone giggles at my reaction. "You're very brave for coming here. Come closer," Hades says and the three amigos do what he's asked. I watch as all of them walk over and I stand my ground. I just came to be sure they didn't die, I wish to respect the Gods. 

"I'm not the lightning thief. I've never had the bolt," Percy said and I took a breath. This is bad. "Why did you come here then?" Hades asked. Percy shifts on his feet, "I was hoping that.. when you saw that I wasn't the thief you'd let my mother go." 

Hades looks thoughtful, "Yes. Yes, but do you think I'm an idiot?! I'm Hades! Now, give me the bolt or say goodbye to your mother." Hades walks over and breaks something, and it shapes into Sally Jackson. Percy throws down the shield and runs over to his mother, I smile at the interaction. 

I see Hades walk over to the shield and I grow confused, only to see the lightning bolt in the shield that he threw down.