protection

nineteen

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GROVER'S POV
The back of the store was incredibly sketchy. It was covered in cobwebs and old Greek memorabilia. I looked to Percy and glared at the lady who tapped the tip jar. I loathed the way the women would stop to wink at Percy or say something in Greek that both of us would understand. Percy didn't seem to mind the lady's flirting, considering the dork didn't even notice she was being extra loving towards him. "I don't know why you cuties want to go to the Underworld so bad after that encounter with Hades," she rambled, I reached for Percy's hand which he quickly enters laced his hand with my own.

His face was quite flushed and he couldn't make direct eye contact with the lady. I glared at the lady, pulling Percy into a hug. "How did you know about that encounter?" I hiss at her, shielding Percy's face from the women's glare. The women smirked.

"The whole town knows it's all over the news "TWO HALF BLOODS FIGHT HADES TO THE DEATH" I skimmed the article very compelling story if you ask me..." Percy gasped, looking to me for support. I didn't know where this woman bought her tabloids but it was all wrong. I looked to the lady and she was smiling, and that's when I officially decided to not like this women.

"The whole town knows?" Percy trembled.

"Well, the part of the town that knows what half-bloods are. Would be kinda messy if the humans figured out about the Gods wouldn't it?" she laughed like it was a funny joke. She turned on her heel and walked us to a door in the back and pointed to it. "Behind here is the Underworld, you have to walk in one by one with your eyes closed. May the Gods help you if you reach out for each other or open your eyes... well... let me just warn you not to and we'll cross the bridge if we get to it!" he voice has gone higher in pitch, making me worry about what was going to happen if we didn't follow the rules.

"Now all you gotta do is walk through the door eyes closed, single file and that door should lead you to the Underworld which might take a bit of maneuvering. I unfortunately don't know what the path is like once you get down there so best of wishes to you both!" the lady grinned, and turned away from Percy and me, only so she could walk to the front of the shop to yell at a consumer who was trying to take money from her tip jar.

"I really hope I can keep my eyes closed, I really don't want to know what that hallway looks like," Percy nervously blurt, I reached for his hand to give it a light reassuring squeeze.

"You got this, I believe in you," I whispered. He tried his best to put on a brave face and smile at me. "I know that I really wanted to go to the Underworld, I just didn't want to actually join the people there!" Percy jokes closing his eyes and reaching for the door. I nodded, trying my best to close my eyes fully and walk in after him.

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