The Child Of Time

1+6=16

3rd person/Percy-

"Alright," Charon announced. "Here's your stop."

Percy helped Annabeth and Grover out of the boat as Charon started to depart.

"Don't forget about my raise." Charon reminded and left just as quickly as they had came.

When Percy, Annabeth, and Grover stepped on shore, they heard barking.

Percy felt Annabeth tense up, a look of fear masking her usually confident composure.

"What is it?" Percy asked, already surveying his sights.

Not a few feet away from him, there was a dog. Not just any dog, a massive, three-headed dog, and it looked hungry.

"Cerberus." Annabeth whispered.

"Immortal dog that guards the entrance to Hades's palace?" Percy guessed.

"You got that right."

"How are we supposed to get through?" Grover asked, looking for another entrance.

"I don't know," Percy shook his head. "Should I freeze time and sneak past him?"

"No," Annabeth said. "You have other powers besides controlling time."

The boy nodded, focusing on the flowing energy of Styx. Percy knelt down, touching the polluted water.

"What do you want me to do?" Percy asked.

"Make a ball." Grover suggested, "Cerberus likes them."

"You can understand him?"

"Yes now can you hurry so we don't become a happy meal."

No one else had a better idea so Percy cupped his hands, allowing the water to shape itself.

Once he had water in the shape of a ball, he turned towards his friends who were standing a few feet away from the hungry dog.

"What now?" Percy asked.

"Wave the ball in front the dog," Annabeth commanded. Percy did as he was told, waving the ball in front of Cerberus. The dog looked at it with hungry eyes, following Percy's every step.

"Do you want the ball, Cerberus?" Annabeth asked softly. "Let us through and we'll give you the ball, okay?"

The dog barked and sat down, staring at the demigod. Percy gently set the ball down, edging near the palace doors.

"Good Cerberus..." Grover said gently. He then looked at the two demigods, who nodded.

"Run!" Annabeth yelled, alerting every ghost within a mile radius.

Percy, Grover, and Annabeth burst through the doors, entering a cold hostile room with Hades in the center of it.

"I assume you have some here to return what you have stolen. Am I right, nephew?" Hades's voice was as cold as night, slicing into the thin air. His Albino white skin chilled the travelers to the core. His thin oily hair traveled to his shoulder.

Numbness crept into Percy's muscles but he didn't let show.

"Lord Hades," Percy bowed, clenching his teeth. "I do have your most prized possession but I, however, did not steal it."

Hades laughed, "If you didn't then, who did?"

"I don't really know, but Ares had it."

"Whatever you say, kid. Just give me my helm and go." Hades held out his oily, pale palm.

Percy looked between his two friends, they nodded; knowing that they had the pearls in case this was a trap.

Percy knew that they were both scared out of their wits, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

There was so little time left- just about thirty minutes until the deadline was up.

No, he wanted something.

The son of Poseidon and Kronos didn't come here just to return their items. In the end, everyone would get what they wanted and all Percy would do was to wait for Kronos to rise then kill him.

Was that what he really wanted? Killing Kronos wouldn't make his mother come back but maybe, just maybe...

Percy could feel a smirk coming onto his face.

"Hades," Percy addressed the god, power radiating in his voice. "I'll give you the helm if you do me a favor."

Annabeth and Grover looked at Percy, their eyes as big as the drachmas they gave to Charon.

"Are you insane?" Annabeth whispered, shaking her head. "You don't ask a god for favors."

"Well, I'm asking," Percy turned his back on Annabeth, looking Hades in the eye. "I'll give you the helm in exchange for favor."

"Seeing I'll get my helm back, I'll do it. As long as it's within my power, of course." Hades grumbled.

"I'm sure it is," Percy hesitated before making his decision.

"I want to see my mother."

Hades blinked before laughing into hysterics.

Percy looked at his companions. They shrugged, their eyes apologetic.

"Where's my mother?" Percy's voice was bitter and unpleasant; he truly sounded like his father.

"I don't have her." Hades snatched the helm from Percy's hands.

For the first time, Percy felt hope. Maybe she wasn't dead, after all.

"Do you know where she is?"

"She's in tartarus."