𝓦𝓐𝓘𝓣 𝓕𝓞𝓡 𝓘𝓣--𝓟𝓙𝓞

Logan and Percy gets yeeted off an Arch

(Long Chapter)

When we returned Gladiola to her family and got our reward, we hopped on a train towards Los Angeles and began relaxing. Grover was asleep, Percy and Annbeth were silent, and Logan and I were playing rock, paper, scissors. We were tied right now, 2-2. We tried to get Annabeth to play, but she refused.

Then, Annabeth suddenly spoke. "Who wants your help?"

Percy turned towards her. "Huh?"

"You don't just drool in your sleep," Annabeth told him. "Why are you here?"

Percy looked at us and immediately told us everything. I could feel Annabeth's eyes on me but said nothing.

"He offered my mother in trade," Percy continued. "Who else would do that?"

I thought it was now finally time to pay attention, which is what I half-did. "That doesn't sound like Hades," I spoke. "Yeah, he kidnapped Persephone, but even then he gave her back to Demeter with no strings attached. He wouldn't just kidnap anyone randomly if it wasn't to get anything back in return."

"I thought Demeter had to give Persephone back to Hades during the last six months of the year because she ate six pomegranate seeds," Logan asked.

"She did," I answered. "But Persephone ate them on her own accord, not because of Hades." I then turned to face Percy. "What I'm saying is, Hades wants something from you, Percy. If he didn't he wouldn't have taken her."

"But what does he want?" Percy asked. "He already has the lightning bolt, what else does he want?"

I shrugged. "Don't know, but I guess we're gonna find out when we get there."

Percy gave me a look but said nothing.

"But when the furies attacked us, they said where is 'it' not 'he'," Annabeth told us. "I assume he's talking about the bolt, but why would he be looking for something he already has?"

"Maybe he's on the 'Percy took the bolt' train just like everyone else," Logan assumed.

I hummed. "Maybe," I said.

"I don't know what the truth is," Annabeth admitted. "But if Hades has your mom, Percy, you have to wager something big to get her back."

"Like what? You can't outsmart a god."

"No," I said. "But if your suspicions are right and Hades does have the bolt, he would want something extra powerful in its place."

"No matter what it is," Annabeth spoke again. "You can't barter with Hades. He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy. I don't care if the kindly ones weren't as vicious this time-"

I wasn't about to talk about this anymore so I just went back to playing with Logan, who wasn't listening at all, I could tell.

"This time?" Percy asked. "You've encountered them before?"

Annabeth changed the subject. "Let's just say I have no love for the god of the dead."

I felt Percy's eyes on me. "But you're friends with his daughter."

"Yeah," Annabeth admitted. "But she's not like Hades. She actually has a heart. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom."

Percy looked at me again. "What would you do if he took your mom?" he asked Logan and me.

I looked at my brother and was surprised to see him looking back at me with a mischievous grin. I swear we must be also related to Hermes from how much alike he and the Stolls look when they make a face like that.