Hera's Daughter | Luke Castellan¹

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝔼𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒰𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

After gaining entrance to the Underworld and making it past Cerberus, they made it into the judgement pavilion.

They left the judgment pavilion and moved deeper into Asphodel. It got darker. The colours faded from their 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. Percy got the feeling that they were waiting for them.

"I suppose it's too late to turn back." Grover said wistfully.

"We'll be okay." Percy tried to sound confident.

"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 trainers 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-" Grover tried to speak.

He yelped again. His shoes were flapping like crazy now. They levitated off the ground and started pulling him away from the group.

"Maia!" He yelled, but the magic word seemed to have no effect. "Maia, already! 911! Help!"

Percy got over being stunned and made a grab for Grover's hand, but was too late. Grover was already picking up speed, skidding downhill like  bobsled.

They ran after him.

Annabeth shouted. "Untie the shoes!"

It was a smart idea, but Percy guessed that it's not so easy when your shoes are pulling you along feet-first at full speed.

Grover tried to sit up, but he couldn't get close to the laces.

They kept running after him, trying to keep in him in sight as he zipped between the legs of spirits who chattered at him in annoyance.

Percy was sure that Grover was going to barrel straight through the gates of Hades's palace, but his shoes veered sharply to the right and dragged him in the opposite direction.

The slope got steeper. Grover picked up speed. Annabeth and Percy sprinted to keep up, Selene just in front of them. The cavern walls narrowed on each side, and Percy realized they'd entered some kind of side tunnel. No black grass or trees now, just rock underfoot, and the dim light of the stalactites above.

"Grover!" Percy yelled, his voice echoing. "Hold onto something!"

"What?" Grover yelled back.

He was grabbing at gravel, but there was nothing big enough to slow him down.

The tunnel got darker and colder. The hairs on Percy's arms bristled. It smelt evil down there. It made Percy think of things that he shouldn't even think about - blood spilled on an ancient stone alter, the foul breath of a murderer.