Home Is Where The Heart(h) Is

Chapter 24: End Approaching II

"I watched you enter here." Styx said, her tone laced with sympathy. "Quite touching, what you did for the demigod."

"Which one?"

"Poseidon's spawn. The dead one."

"Ah, Perseus."

"Why, though?" She turned around and looked straight at Hades. "Sentencing yourself here for eternity, all to keep one demigod soul from oblivion? I never knew you were so...sacrificing."

"It's worth it." He replied quietly.

Styx eyed the ethereal shackles that bound Hades to the ground. "Sure. Worth it."

"He is Olympus' only hope. He always has been."

"Oh please." Styx snorted. "Perseus was never special. Just because he denied godhood, bathed in me and did so much for the gods doesn't make him your only hope."

"How many of his kind have you met? Heroes that have accomplished as much as he did?"

"None," Styx admitted, "yet I cannot count how many spirits there are in the universe that have nobler intentions than Perseus. Millions of souls that deserved Elysium, or the Isles, but never went there, because they weren't flashy enough. They never did huge things like save Olympus, but often times it is the smaller deeds that are the biggest in heart. Instead they were sentenced to Asphodel, where they blend in with creatures fouler than them."

"You're criticising my system of judgement?"

"Partly, but that is not my point. You all worship this demigod for the things he has done, selected him as the savior of Olympus, and cast away the rest. In doing so all your minds are plagued by this ideal. Now that he is dead-"

"He'll be alive soon enough." Hades interjected.

Styx's lip curled. "Perhaps, but for now the morale is at its lowest. Your finest warrior dead, so everyone is afraid of the Giants, when they have no reason to be. How...pitiful."

"Just what are you saying?"

She didn't answer, staring into the abyss below. After moments, she answered.

"I'm curious to see how this ends." her voice was soft. "I am on no one's side, so I cannot help you, but since I answer only to the Fates, I believe what comes next lies on your part."

Hades' head perked up. "What are you..."

"Go, tell the Olympians to prepare for war. Perseus and your son should be opening the Doors right about..."

There was a thunderous rumble, followed by a piercing cry, as though a thousand spirits had found redemption.

"Now."

The chains disappeared. Styx locked eyes with the god of the underworld before he shadow-travelled away.

The final boss was apparently not very final. The two of them stabbed him before he could greet them, and he collapsed with a wail before dissolving into dust. They didn't even get his name. It was easy.

Too easy, a part of Nico thought, but he shook it away.

Before them stood the Doors: two obsidian pillars connected by a crescent arch with greek symbols carved on the top. Between them was a black light substance that flowed with chaos. Some of the stuff rippled at random parts, while others dropped downwards and moved upwards. It was disorienting.

There was no lock. Nico found it strange. Hades had said it would be locked, and he had the key, the latter of which he still did not know.

Glancing at Percy, Nico could tell he was thinking the same.