Moonlight (HP and PJO Crossover)

Untitled Part 13

We stood in front of the golden letters etched into black marble: DOA Recording Studios. Even though it was almost midnight, the lobby was filled with many people.

"Okay. You remember the plan," Percy turned to us.

"The plan," Grover repeated nervously, "Yeah. I love the plan."

"What happens if the plan doesn't work?" I said, trying to sound as positive as possible with such a negative statement.

"Don't think negative," Percy chided.

Guess I didn't sound positive after all.

"Right. We're entering the Land of the Dead, and we shouldn't be negative," Annabeth said firmly- well, tried to- because her voice wavered quite a bit. Percy took the pearls out of his pocket and looked glumly at them.

I sighed. "I'm sorry, Percy. We'll make it, and the plan will work."

I nudged Annabeth and Grover. "Oh, right!" Grover chimed, "We've made it this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem." Annabeth offered a wary smile.

Percy looked at us gratefully. "Let's kick some Underworld butt." We walked inside the lobby of DOA. The security guard's desk was raised way taller than we were, so we had to look up at him. He was tall and elegant and had a suit with a black rose pinned under a nametag.

Percy squinted at the nametag. "Your name is Chiron?"

The man leaned across the desk and gave us a cold smile. "What a precious young lad." He had a weird accent, like a British and American accent smushed together. "Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?"

Kinda.

"N-no," Percy stuttered.

"Sir," he added.

"Sir."

"Can you read this, mate? It says C-H-A-R-O-N. Say it with me: CARE-ON."

"Charon," Percy repeated.

"Amazing. Now: Mr. Charon."

"Mr. Charon."

"Well done. I hate being confused with that old horse-man. And now, how may I help you little dead ones?"

"Well, mate," I said, mocking his weird accent, "We want to go to the Underworld."

"Ah, I see," he said, scrutinizing me, "You're one of them, aren't you?"

"One of who?"

He smirked. "Never mind that. Well, whenever people ask me to take them to the Underworld, there's usually more screaming. How did you die, then?"

Percy nudged Grover. "Oh...um...drowned in a bathtub."

"All four of you?" he asked. We nodded.

"Big bathtub," Charon said, looking as though he didn't believe us (I wouldn't, either). "I don't suppose you have coins for passage. Normally, with adults, you see, I could charge your American Express, or add the ferry price to your last cable bill. But with children...alas, you never die prepared. Suppose you'll have to take a seat for a few centuries."

"Oh, but we have coins." Percy set the drachmas from Crusty on the desk.

"Well, now..." Charon licked his lips greedily, "Real drachmas. Real golden drachmas. I haven't seen these in..." he trailed off. His fingers hovered over the coins.