To Save Olympus

Chapter 12-Hades

"Guys, wake up!" said Mira. Her voice sounded afraid.

Clara sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What is it?" she asked.

"The water isn't moving." said Mira. She pointed at the waves, which were still, like ice.

Joseph woke up and waved his hand through the wave. His hand went through but it didn't move. "What the-" he muttered.

Mira pet the hippocampus. "I...want to tell you what happened. I woke up, and people started slowing down, including him. I started to slow down too, but then this guy closed his eyes and the three of us didn't freeze."

"He sacrificed himself, Mira. He died so the curse wouldn't affect us." Clara explained.

"Curse?"

"I think Kronos froze time. He's the Titan of Time, so he could do it." Clara finished.

Mira just stared at their mount, stroking his fur that refused to move. "Well, we still have to go Tartarus, and he took us there." she said, then Mira leaped down and started walking on the water. Clara and Joseph followed her.

"So, where is the entrance?" Joseph asked when they reached the shore.

"A recording studio, or that's what it was before." Clara answered.

"Did you memorize that from the History of Percy Jackson?" Mira teased.

"Yeah."

"Nice. See, you are important." Joseph cheered.

They kept walking past an old mattress shop until they found the studio. Clara went to the back walk and tapped some Greek phrases. A hole opened up, but instead of leading to the shop, it led far down.

"Here we go..." Mira muttered.

"Is this a bad time to say I'm claustrophobic?" Joseph asked.

"Yes!" Clara shouted, turning around. "Seriously?"

"No, I'm not. Just asking."

"Ugh!" Clara mumbled.

"I didn't actually say I was!" he called.

Mira yanked them both into the elevator the hole had shown. The doors closed, and there was only one button: a down arrow. She reached over and pushed it.

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Ten minutes later, the doors opened up, and a long river leading to the Underworld lay before them: the Styx.

Charon was waiting in his little boat, obviously bored. He looked up. "You three are alive."

"Er, yeah-uh." said Joseph.

Charon sighed. "Fine. The only reason I'll take you is because no one has died lately. Seriously, where is everyone?"

Mira pretended not to know and shrugged. The others followed suit.

Charon just stared at them, but then he said, "Hop in. Three drachmas, please."

Clara paid him, then the team sat down in the boat. Charon started to row. "I assume you need to see Hades?" he asked.

"We...we actually want to investigate Tartarus." said Joseph. That got him a kick from the girls.

Charon whirled around. "No! The last time demigods were in there, a fight broke out and a Titan was killed. Are you crazy?"

"Ha ha, very funny Joseph! He has a bad sense of humor." said Clara.

"Yeah, we are here to see Hades." said Mira, catching the lie.

Charon nodded, then turned around to start rowing again.

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The boat came to a stop near the palace instead of the entrance. "I'll leave you three here so you can survive. Good luck." said Charon, then he started rowing away.

The demigods looked around, taking in the palace. It's walls were painted with death scenes and moans were sounding from each one.

Joseph bravely trudged forward, then came back again. "Scary!" he muttered.

Clara linked arms, one for each friend, then they walked forward together. The hallways were just as gloomy as the outside, except torches with Greek fire lined these walls. At the end of the hall, a figure was sitting in a throne.

He stood up. "Living people have entered my kingdom? It's been awhile." said Hades.

The demigods bowed.

"At least you three are respectful."

"Er, sir, everything above has been frozen in time. How come you are not?" Clara asked.

Hades looked up at the ceiling as if he were checking to see if she was right. "Curses, even great ones, don't affect my realm! Only I do!" he shouted.

Mira stepped forward now. "Well, we came looking for Kronos. We suspect it was him." she explained.

"Ah, you came for him. When something bad happens, people always suspect me!" Hades huffed.

Now Joseph stood up. "May we go fight him?"

"He left already when I was away for once. I thought Zeus would handle it though."

"What?!" the half-bloods shouted.

Hades raised his hands. "Hermes was here delivering a message during the curse, so he can move. He can take you around looking for him." said Hades.

Hermes came into the room, right on cue. "Kronos wants to take over your camp, but he's being careful because he got whipped by Percy. I'll take you back to camp." he offered.

Persephone appeared as well. "Here." she said, giving them extra ambrosia and nectar. "I took it from Olympus, so you won't be stuck here for eternity." she assured them.

Mira took it and bowed. "Thank you." she said. The trio grabbed Hermes' toga, and the god started to fly off. "Hang on.." he said.