𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

꧁𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐜𝐡𝟒𝟒꧂

Percy

Black waters snaked across the desolate plain, filled with lost hopes and dreams. It was eerily quiet and the only things I could hear were breathing and the thudding of my own heart against my chest. This was what was really bothering me... the quiet. Why were there practically no monsters? Don't get me wrong, I like not having fights to the death every five seconds, but the silence was really putting me on edge.

"Uh, Styx? We're here."
Annabeth kicked me in the shin.
"Your highness," I added.

A misty figure solidified before us. A woman. She was tall and slim, wearing a long, tight dress with countless gold jewellery adorning her arms, ears and neck. Her face was warm and soft, like one of an Apollo child, yet her dark eyes ruined the image. Her eyes were shrouded in thick black makeup; black eyeliner made a cat-eye on each, and dark eyeshadow made her deep brown eyes contrast with her skin. Her hair was a soft light brown, that spilled past her shoulders in bundles of shiny chocolate. For a reason I couldn't place at first, I instantly didn't like her at all.

And then her appearance changed.

This time, I recognised her.

Her hair grew into long, black waves. Her nose shrunk small and pointed, her lips full and pink. Her eye colour melted to a bright azure and the plethoras of gold jewellery were replaced with cute bangles, and small heart silver studs. Her outfit changed to wide leg ripped jeans and black converses, with a spaghetti strap black top, all in a whisk of gold glitter.

I knew this person.

"Silena?" Annabeth gasped. And it was her. Exactly how anyone would've pictured her, if she'd grown on to live another two years.

"Annabeth? Percy?" she replied, with a growing smile. Annabeth ran forward, and so did I. We enveloped the Aphrodite girl in a hug, and I could somehow smell the expensive perfume she was wearing. She was a real, solid person. Silena was a real, solid person.
"What- what are you doing here?" I said, also grinning slowly. Oh my gods. Silena Beuraguard.
She was here. I briefly wondered what had happened to scary gold jewellery lady, but I quickly dismissed it. This could be a really, really bad thing. If Silena was alive, not just her own soul, then we'd have to make sure she got to the doors of death, therefore splitting our rations further, and having the risk of losing someone else.

"I don't know! One second I was in Elysium, and the next I'm here with you guys! How the hell did I get here? Speaking of here, where the Styx are we?"
"The Styx," I said sarcastically, while using my hands dramatically to present the river behind her.
Silena frowned. "What part of the underworld is this?"
"Tartarus. Welcome to my humble home," Kelli grunted, folding her arms. I flinched, forgetting yet again that she was there. I glanced at Annabeth, who was frowning. She was doing that thing where her eyebrows scrunch up, and her lips thin tightly.

"What is it?" I asked, but Silena spoke before she could answer.
"What! Tartarus? You're kidding. Why are you here?" she looked around, terrified. Her face paled considerably, and she folded her arms, shoulders tensing.
"We have to get to the doors of death," I said.
"Why?"
"Another war," I sighed. I felt a twinge of sympathy for Silena, as her face changed to look remarkably annoyed, and worried at the same time. She'd died for the last war, and now there was another one? I'd be pretty mad too, if that was me.
"What." she demanded.
"We can explain later. We need to speak to lady Styx now. If you have any idea why you're here, let's start brainstorming, but for the moment, we need to speak to the river goddess. She might have something that could help us win the war." Annabeth said, a little too fast.
"Oh-kay," Silena said slowly. "I want to get back to Charlie," she murmured sadly, turning away. I felt another flicker of sympathy.
"How is he?" I asked her.
"He's good," she smiled. "He-"