Lies [Sequel to Secrets]

Part Twenty-Six:

Part Twenty-Six:

"Hello, demigods." Was the first thing Charon said to greet the quest group. "Welcome to the Underworld. Don't worry about payment." He added, as Sammy started to dig around in his pocket for spare drachmas. "I heard about your little quest and will give you a free one-way pass."

"Um... alright." Michael said uneasily. This definitely seemed a bit off. How did Charon know about their quest?

"Yes, Michael Grace. I know how you seek to defeat Tartarus. I'm merely offering to help you." Charon replied, staring deep into Michael's eyes, as if he were reading his soul.

"Can you see the future?" Alex asked eagerly. "Do you know if we'll succeed?"

Charon's mouth twitched upwards in a small smirk. "I foresee that not all of you will make it back the way you came. Now, step in. Please mind the gap."

One by one, the demigods climbed in. As Michael got in, he noticed how they were the only ones on the boat, and a chill went down his spine. Charon started punting them across.

"This is the River Styx." He explained. "You may notice the discarded waste that floats downstream with the flow of the river. Humans have thrown away dreams and failed goals."

Charon reached the middle of the river.
"Many heroes have tried to bathe in the styx before. So far, only three remain successful: the hero Achilles, Luke Castellan and Percy Jackson."

"Percy Jackson?" Alex asked. "He's my -" she looked around at the others. Sammy smiled encouragingly. "-our friend's dad. I never knew he had the curse of Achilles."

"Last I heard, it washed off when he went to the roman camp. He could try to reclaim it, but after he left Camp Half-Blood because of the prophecy, no one else, including him, has tried to claim one."

"Whoa." Charlie breathed. Michael could tell what he was thinking about - or more, who. For some reason, Michael could sometimes tell what his friends were thinking and how they were feeling - what their emotions were. His best guess was that since he was a grandchild of Aphrodite, he could sense emotions and thoughts because of his powers.

Charlie was thinking about Zoe. Michael knew that he liked her, and after her death he had been sure that Charlie would be feeling lonely and unhappy. But ever since the train ride, Charlie had seemed more upbeat for someone whose crush had just died, and Michael wasn't sure why.

"Almost there." Charon announced, and Michael was pulled out of his thoughts as they docked at the opposite bank of the river.

Once everyone had clambered out, they thanked Charon and headed towards where a few dead souls were wandering; a large gate guarded by a black three-headed dog.

"Cerberus." Sammy breathed. As if hearing his own name, the dog snapped his head towards where Alex, Sammy, Michael and Charlie were and growled. Charlie pulled the other three behind a large stalagmite in the ground.

Several zombie guards were checking everyone who entered, but when Cerberus growled, a couple of them looked up. One guard seemed to sense the group and started walking towards where they were hiding.

Michael's breath hitched. They were so dead.

Suddenly, the guard turned and walked away. He said something to Cerberus and the dog stopped growling.

"How do we get past?" Alex hissed.

"We need to distract the guards long enough for us to run through." Charlie said.

"Good idea." Alex replied.

"But how?" Sammy whispered.

"I know." Michael declared. "I'll distract them, and you three go save Zoe."

"No, let me do it." Charlie said.

"No, only I can do it. I'll charmspeak the guards." Michael insisted. "You three go see if you can get Hades' help. I'll meet up with you outside the palace."

"But you would have a better chance at persuading Hades." Charlie argued.

"You have Sammy. His mother was a daughter of Pluto - the roman form of Hades. Sammy has a much better chance than me."

"Alright." Charlie sighed. Then he squared his shoulders. "Lets do it. For Zoe."

"Agreed." Michael whispered. And then it happened. Charlie's mind seemed to open up and Michael took the chance to gaze in. He saw memories of Charlie and Alex, of the twins coming to Camp Half-Blood. There was when Charlie was saved by Zoe, and how on the ship he ran to put her in the life raft before getting Michael, Sammy and Alex.

But, in the midst of Charlie's memories was a video - more like a dream or a vision. Michael watched it play, entranced. He saw a woman approach Charlie. And he heard Charlie's question: "Zoe's still alive?"

And then all too suddenly, the dream disappeared. Charlie gave Michael a horrified look. "You - you-"

"You never told us Zoe isn't dead." Michael said quietly.

Alex gasped.

"How long have you known?" Michael demanded.

"Since the train ride." Charlie spoke quickly, his voice high-pitched and rushed.

"And you never told us?" Alex asked, hurt.

"I - I couldn't. Mum said not to." Charlie looked down in shame.

"You spoke to Mum?" Tears were brimming in Alex's eyes. "She's my mother too, you know."

"Guys, stop it." Sammy said. "We have time to argue later so can we please just get on with the quest?"

Michael opened his mouth to speak, but before anyone could say anything else, a voice behind them spoke. An angry voice. "I don't think so."

Michael slowly turned to come face-to-face with a zombie guard.