Fated To Fall: PJO

A mistake

Hades relaxed back in his throne as the demigods and satyr stared in shock, "Did you honestly believe I wouldn't sense that amount of power entering my domain?"

Percy looked at Theo, "I didn't-- I swear--"

"I believe you," Theo cut him off.

"Young heroes are always the same. So arrogant." Hades strode across the room to stand face to face with Percy. Seeing this, Theo unconsciously pulled Percy back a couple of inches behind him. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for
Zeus’s master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now…my helm. Where is it?”

"Lord Hades," Theo said as calmly as he could, "this is a huge mistake."

"A mistake?"

Percy stiffened as skeletons all around them straightened, grabbing weapons and readying them.

"There is no mistake," Hades continued, "I am aware of the reason you have come. The real reason. You've come to bargain. For her."

He swished his hand and summoned a gold ball, the mist inside showing the face of the one and only, Sally Jackson.

"And you," he pointed at Theo, "have come at the request of my sister. She had the grace to alert me of your quest."

Theo gave an unsure smile and an awkward wave. Hades smirked and waved his hand. A force pushed Theo to the opposite end of the room, separated from the rest.

"I'll get to you in a minute."

Percy's face darkened, "He's leaving with us. Both of them are."

Hades looked very much as if he didn't want to be arguing with a twelve year old, "How exactly do you plan on that?"

He cut Percy off before he could retort, "It's not important right now, what is important is I knew you'd come to bargain with me and I am being very generous. Return my helm and I'll give you your mother back."

Percy paused, Hades caught the hesitation, "The pearls. I'd recognize my brother's tricks anywhere." He tilted his head to the side and clicked his tongue, "Only three, how unfortunate."

Grover's eyes widened as he turned to glare at Theo, who had the sense to look abashed.

"Three?" Percy questioned, "But-- Damn it." He turned to look at Theo, "You were never going to come back with us. Were you?"

"Listen, I tried to keep hold of it but Tartarus quite literally yanked it out of my pocket."

"I thought your pockets had buttons?"

"My old ones did, I'm wearing the ones from the casino."

Percy clicked his tongue before Hades stepped between them, "Excuse me. Did you say Tartarus pulled it out of your pocket?"

Theo brightened at having an answer, "Yeah, G-man was wearing a pair of cursed shoes that tried to drag him into the giant black hole, it took all three of us to keep him out but in doing so, my pearl came out of my pocket when the pit tried breathing us in."

"The pit...tried breathing you in?" Hades's voice sounded strained.

Theo rolled his eyes, "That is what I said. With the ability to smell power replace your ability to hear?"

"Quiet!" Hades began to pace, before realizing what he was doing, "Enough. Give me my helm and I will release to you your mother."

"I don't have it, Uncle"