𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚔𝚒𝚍 - percy jackson x oc

007

VII - THE WORLD IS SAVED (PART ONE)

VALERIA LOOKED UP at Charon, who was dragging her towards an unknown location.

"Say, how many more drachmas would it take to let me go?"

He was silent, as if pondering the idea, but then he said, "Can't. Order from the boss himself."

Valeria did not respond, fear flooding her veins. If Hades wanted her...that could not be good for the sake of the quest.

She stumbled along next to the certified not-centaur. She wished she knew if her friends had made it or not. She hoped Percy could find his mom. Maybe the lightning bolt thing if he had time.

"Are kidnappers usually this displeased?" Valeria asked.

"Only when dealing with godling brats."

"That is fair."

They walked up a winding path to the biggest castle she had ever seen—well technically the only castle she had ever seen, unless you count the Excalibur in Las Vegas. It was like a glittering black Olympus; large columns and slanted roofs but made of obsidian.

Out front was the strangest garden Valeria had ever seen. There were various mushrooms and glowing plants all around. Clumps of jewels were in place of whatever flowers usually grew in gardens. Throughout the garden were some of Medusa's statues. At the center of it all was an orchard of pomegranate trees.

Persephone's Garden, Valeria realized.

Charon walked her through the entrance and into the bronze-floored halls.

"Mr. Charon, what do you think are the chances of my survival?" she asked him.

He gave her a toothy look that she could only assume was a smile. "Decent."

"Decent as in I-am-definitely-going-to-live decent or decent as in I-am-doomed decent?"

No response.

She entered the throne room and Charon disappeared with a pop! If she ever saw that materialistic doorman ever again, she would have a few things to say to him about leaving her alone with the Lord of the Underworld.

Valeria looked up and saw more hellhounds and dead soldiers—from the World Wars, the American and French Revolutions, even from the Ancient Greek and Roman times—than she could count.

Then she saw the man on the throne. The throne itself was a deep black that was possibly onyx. Surrounding him were skulls that she did not even dare to question.

The man had paper white skin and black hair that fell to his shoulders. He was at least ten feet tall and wore a crown of gold. His eyes were like staring into a pool of obsidian and did not leave Valeria as she walked into the room.

"Leave us," he spoke coldly. The hellhounds and skeletal soldiers stiffly walked out of the room.

He was silent as he looked her over. She was sure she did not look presentable—her curls were messy as were her clothes. She had her bow strapped across her back and a Waterland drawstring over it.

"Valeria," he addressed her for the first time.

"Um, hello...sir."

"Do you know why you are here?" he questioned intensely. She shook her head.

Hades inhaled deeply. "You are my child."

What?

Oh.

Wait...

"You are my—" she said. He nodded. "Where have you been?!"

"Excuse me?" he asked, raising a brow.