you gave me this curse, this burden ----- I didn't ask for the wolf, nor the god
book one in the wolf series
apollo x oc ( x ethan nakamura )
the lightning thief ----- the last olympian
...
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THE FIELDS OF ASPHODEL WERE MISERABLE. that was quite literally the nicest way to put it. the grass was black and trampled by eons of dead feet. warm moist wind blew across the fields. black poplar trees grew in small clumps occasionally. the cavern ceiling was high above, stalactites pointing downwards that glowed a faint gray and unnaturally pointy.
they tried to blend into the crowd, keeping an eye out for the security ghouls.
they crept along, following the line of new arrivals that snaked from the main gates toward a blacktented pavilion with a banner that read: JUDGMENTS FOR ELYSIUM AND ETERNAL DAMNATION! Welcome, Newly Deceased! Out the back of the tent came two much smaller lines. To the left, spirits flanked by security ghouls were marched down a rocky path toward the Fields of Punishment, which glowed and smoked in the distance, a vast, cracked wasteland with rivers of lava and minefields and miles of barbed wire separating the different torture areas. bowie squinted to see clearer and could see people chased by hellhounds, burning at the stake, running naked through cactus patches.
The line coming from the right side of the judgment pavilion was much better. This one led down toward a small valley surrounded by wall ----- a gated community, which seemed to be the only happypart of the Underworld. Beyond the security gate were neighborhoods of beautiful houses from every time period in history, Roman villas and medieval castles and Victorian mansions. Silver and gold flowers bloomed on the lawns. The grass rippled in rainbow colors. I could hear laughter and smell barbecue cooking.
Elysium.
In the middle of that valley was a glittering blue lake, with three small islands like a vacation resort in the Bahamas. The Isles of the Blest, for people who had chosen to be reborn three times, and three times achieved Elysium.
"That's what it's all about," Annabeth said. "That's the place for heroes."
they left the judgment pavilion and moved deeper into the Asphodel Fields. It got darker. The colors faded from our clothes. The crowds of chattering spirits began to thin. After a few miles of walking, they began to hear a familiar screech in the distance. Looming on the horizon was a palace of glittering black obsidian. Above the parapets swirled three dark batlike creatures: the Furies.
"I suppose it's too late to turn back," Grover said wistfully. " We'll be okay." "Maybe we should search some of the other places first," Grover suggested. "Like, Elysium, for instance . . ." "Come on, goat boy." Annabeth grabbed his arm. Grover yelped. His sneakers sprouted wings and his legs shot forward, pulling him away from Annabeth. He landed flat on his back in the grass. "Grover," Annabeth chided. "Stop messing around." "But I didn't—" He yelped again. His shoes were flapping like crazy now. They levitated off the ground and started dragging him away.
