The Ancient Prophecy

37 : Tartarus - Phedora

     The fall was not graceful nor slow . They were plunging fastly through a hole that seemed to have no end . They were surrounded by that redish dirt they kept walking on and seeing beneath their feet on their journey to Hades' -or Thanatos' ?- Palace .
     Phedora looked around and saw that everyone had terrified looks on their faces , even Petros -who is most of the time expressionless . The fall was so fast that she could not hear if any of them was screaming .
     She streched her arms and legs , somehow knowing that it will make the fall easier .
What will happen when we reach the bottom ? , Phedora thought , panic suddenly rising in her stomach . She closed her eyes , trying to calm down .
I have to do something . At this falling speed it could the death of us with we land on the ground . 
     The air was different . Denser and almost unbreathable . It stang her lungs a little everytime she took a breath .
     They were not even in Tartarus yet but it was already starting to be unbearable .
     Phedora opened her eyes . She concentrated on her surroundings -which weren't much .
     Then she observed the hole seemed to finally end . She looked around and saw that the other three seemed to realise too .
I have to do something . I have to do something . I have to do something .. , Phedora kept repeating in her mind .
     She kept clenching her fists , maybe trying to channel some random power she did not knew she had . Anything that could save them all to plunging to their death .
    Nothing happened so she closed her eyes shut , bracing for the imminent impact .
     Then they stopped . Phedora opened her eyes quickly . No , they were floating . They were floating right at the end of the hole that led to Tartarus .
     She still had her fists clenched , almost white .
"Did you do this ?" the one who asked the question was Charis . Phedora could finally hear properly now that they were not falling with enourmous speed .
Did I do this ?  "Probably ." Phedora answered .
"Oh , is this one of your demigod of Zeus powers ?" Sot suggested .
"Maybe ."
"So you can make things float ?" the son of Hermes asked .
"Or  you can manipulate the winds to your will ," Petros said "Given that we were falling with a great speed , creating a pretty big wind as we did so ."
"That makes more sense actually ." Phedora raised both her eyebrows "If I could make things float I would have discovered it long ago ."
"Can you get us down then ?" Charis asked .
"Let me try.." Phedora closed her eyes , concentrating . She imagined they were slowly approaching the ground .
     Before she could open her eyes , she felt her feet touching the ground .
"You did it , Phed !" she heard Charis say as she opened her eyes .
"Thank the gods of Olympus ! We're finally on actual ground ." Sot loudly sighed with relief . Then he cluched at his throat with a pained expression "This stupid Tartarus air.." he muttered .
     Phedora stepped in front of everyone , finally looking at the landscape before her eyes .
     Blood-red dunes of sand swirling for endless miles , spiky-looking plants spread along them . Sharp mountains sprang from spot to spot and sharp stalactites were hanging from the far ceilling that was not even visible from some toxic-looking black clouds . The overall place looked designed to get you impailed . Great , Phedora thought with sarcasm .
     She turned her head back to look at the other three demigods "Do you guys need a moment to catch a breath before we go ?"
"I rather not catch another breath of this air ..." Sot said grumpily .
     Charis and Petros nodded in agreement with Sot .
"If we hurry then we will get out of here faster ." Charis said .
     Phedora adjusted the strap of her backpack and her weapons-belt .
"Let's go then ." Phedora gestured for the others to follow behind her . They started advancing along the crimson sand and into Tartarus .