viii - House of Hades

106 6 6

by l3clove

by l3clove

THEY'D FOUND THE SOURCE OF the dark lightning.

"The Necromanteion," Nico said, "The House of Hades."

Piper hugged her arms, "I feel vulnerable floating up here like this. Couldn't we set down in the river?"

"I wouldn't," Bianca said, "That's the River Acheron."

Jason squinted in the sunlight. "I thought the Acheron was in the Underworld."

"It is," Hazel said, "But its headwaters are in the mortal world. That river below us? Eventually, it flows underground, straight into the realm of Pluto – uh, Hades. Landing a demigod ship on those waters –"

"Yeah, let's stay up here," Leo decided, "I don't want any zombie water on my hull." he smiled at Bianca, she smiled back trying to hide her fear.

After that they made their way to the opening of the doors, Bianca handed them all magical barley crackers she made from the grain Triptolemus had given her a while ago in Venice. Then they drank their poison, it started with Nico, then Jason, then Hazel, then Leo, then Bianca and finally Frank.

Hazel navigated them around the tunnels using her curse.

The tunnel shook, rubble rained down from the ceiling.

"That was close," Hazel muttered, "these passageways won't take much more."

"The Doors of Death just opened again," Bianca said,

"It's happening like every fifteen minutes," Leo noted,

"Every twelve," Nico corrected, "we'd better hurry. Percy and Annabeth are close. They're in danger, I can sense it."

"The tunnel from here is unstable," Hazel warned, "The floor might ... well, just follow me. Stepexactly where I step." She made her way forward, Bianca walked right behind her,

Then she heard a voice, no voices, it was Nico and Percy:

"They let my sister die! They're here to kill me!'"

"Nico, we're not here to kill you. What happened to Bianca was –"

"Don't speak her name! You're not worthy to even talk about her!"

This was clearly some sort of memory from when everyone though Bianca died. She stopped walking, Leo bumped into her from behind,

"Bianca?" Leo asked, "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm fine... Just a voice."

Nico nodded, "I did warn you guys. It'll only get worse. We should –"

Hazel held up her hand for silence, "Wait here, everybody." she left then came back, "Scary room ahead," she warned, "don't panic."

"Those two things don't go together," Leo murmured.

They continued walking, Bianca soon found out she wasn't the only one hearing things Frank was too. And then a rock fell straight onto her head, knocking her out.

AN// PLS IM TOO LAZY TO WRITE THIS WHOLE PART SO I KNOCKED HER OUTTTT, jason things