A Collection of Imagines

Joshua

Children of Gods pt.3 

The darkness welcomes me like the only home I have ever known. I feel the cold briskly whizzing past me, making me realize where I am. I turn to find the large steel down guarding the Underworld. I take a deep breath walking towards the metal door. My body is taking over, even though I know what lies behind it. 

Jason slings his arm around my shoulders, leaning close enough to my face where I can smell the spiked nectar on his breath. 

"You did so great today man. You really showed that uptight bit--" 

"Jason! Enough, you're drunk." 

"What? It's true. Melinoe needs to learn how to get that stick out of her ass, Percy."

"May I remind you that she is a god."

"Yes, I know that. When will you stop vouching for her the way you do?" 

Percy goes silent. I glance over to Jason as he stumbles away from me. I frown at the sudden change in atmosphere. I look to Percy again, waiting for a response. 

"She's one of us." 

"She's a vengeful, dangerous god. She's not one of us. I know that she said no to you before, but you can't keep trying to impress her by giving her--"

"Enough, Jason! Leave!" 

Jason decides to shut his drunk mouth and stand there dumbfounded for a minute. He shifts his gaze to me, raising his hand to give me a small wave before turning back to the party we left from. So, Percy and Melinoe. Didn't see that coming. I turn to him, but I find that he was already walking ahead towards the Three Brethren Houses.  

My hands extend towards the doors, landing lightly on the steel. The cold makes its way through my skin to my muscles and then to my bones. The whispers start to creep back into my ears again and I desperately try to stop my body from going any further, but just like always, I'm out of control. It always starts the same. I'm not afraid, but my body is rather curious to see what is behind the door. And every time, it's the same thing. Every time, I'm curious to see if it changes, but I believe my luck hasn't been attained yet. With all the force in my body, I push the doors open. The hinges creek as the large doors reveal to me the same thing. 

I catch up to Percy, panting as I run up to him. He already knows what I'm about to say. 

"Not today, Joshua." 

"What did he mean by that?" He stops slightly ahead of me, facing forward to avoid my gaze. "Why didn't you stand up against Melinoe when she fought me? Are you and her --"

"There is no 'me and her.'" 

He finally turns to face me and somehow I'm not convinced. I realize now how he treats her. They seem to talk like an old married couple, but it's obvious to know who wears the pants in that relationship. "Then, what the hell was Jason talking about?" Percy sighs and looks past me for a second. Suddenly, he turns and walks towards the houses again. "Hey! Is this going to be a regular thing with you? Not telling me things." 

"Fine, you want to know, kid?" 

He turns back to me again. He makes a big gesture with his arms as if he's threatening to hurt me with his words. But I realize that we were standing in front of the House of Hades. 

I step slowly into the room. My bare feet make little sound against the cold concrete floor. I walk into the room, already knowing that the door will automatically shut once I'm fully in it. The loud screech of the hinges pierce my ears once more. This time I don't react to it. I'm ready for it to start.