𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑵 𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑳 [ᕼᑭ ᙭ ᑭᒍO]

XXXII || "He is so..so fluffy."

✿⁠ ♡ ◍⁠ •⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠ ◍ ✧⁠ * 。♡

"Fluffy?"

"Yeah. We had a dog in our school named fluffy."

✿⁠ ♡ ◍⁠ •⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠ ◍ ✧⁠ * 。♡

The demigods and the satyr stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS.

Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.

It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

Lilith had never been to Underworld or near dead spirits even though she had been in Tartarus and back and being the daughter of Night did nothing in this case. She only knew about shadow travel, mist travel and her wings. Her mother always said that she'll face many challanges and will discover many powers, she just have to wait for the right moment.

Percy turned towards them. "Okay. You remember the plan."

"The plan," Grover gulped. "Yeah. I love the plan."

Annabeth said, "What happens if the plan doesn’t work?"

"Don’t think negative." Lilith nudged her.

"Right," she said. "We’re entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn’t think negative."

Lilith gave Annabeth a harsh glare. The blonde put her hand on Percy's shoulder. "I’m sorry, Percy. You’re right, we’ll make it. It’ll be fine."

She gave Grover a nudge. "Oh, right!" he chimed in. "We got this far. We’ll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem."

Lilith slipped her hand into Percy's and gave it a light squeeze. "We are here, Ocean eyes. Don't worry."

The Son of Poseidon gave her a greatful smile, "let’s whup some Underworld
butt.”

They walked inside the DOA lobby. Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked.

Lilith could see them all just fine, but if she focused on any one of
them in particular, they started looking…transparent. She could see right through their bodies. She didn't had any encounter with the ghosts in Tartarus aside from the ghost in Hogwarts which weren't particularly fond of her, so this all was new for her.

The security guard’s desk was a raised podium, so they had to look up to him. He was tall and elegant, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag.

"Your name is Chiron?" Percy said and Lilith bite back the wince at her friend's stupidity.

He leaned across the desk, his smile was sweet and cold, just like the Python who made Lilith's life hell.

"What a precious young lad." He had a strange accent—British, maybe, but also as if he had learned English as a second language. "Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?"