18 Chapter 18 The Underworld (1/2)
'Old Betsy' reached the shore line and dropped off her passengers. Luckily Dave did not see anything out of the ordinary and didn't ask any questions. We went back to the pier and returned the scuba equipment, then went back to the car.
Grover basically ran to the drivers seat, most likely to keep Lucian from driving. In the car they all looked at the map and looked at their final location. ”Hollywood? The underworld is in Hollywood?” Percy asked. ”It kinda makes sense.” Said Grover as he started driving toward Hollywood.
We drove for about 30 minuets, finally reaching the entrance for the underwold. We followed the map that told us to run along side the Hollywood sign. Percy came to a sudden stop at greek letters that was tagged on one of the big letters. ”Woe to all depraved souls.” Percy translated the text, and once gmhe did a hole started to open up in the dirt hill that was in front of us. The hole slowly crumbled apart, making it big enough for us to enter.
We step through and find ourselves in a dark and eerie room. There was hardly any light, and only a few candles. On the walls there was human skulls, and in front of us a small pier and a man in a gondala. The man was wearing a long robe that reached the floor, and a hood that covered most of his face. The most you can see of his face was his lower half, which was deadly pale. We started to hear rumbling behind us and see the entrance we came from was no longer there, since it sealed itself back up.
”Guess there is no going back now.” Said Grover sounding somewhat nervous. We walk up to the man in the gondola, and look down at the river. The river was crimson red, a river of blood. Seeing this made me shudder, as it reminded me of the nightmare that I had. I felt someone grasp my hand, making me turn around. It was Annabeth, she had a worried face which means that she saw my hand shaking. I smile and gesture that I'm fine, and free my hand from her grasp.
”Who are you?” The gondala man asked with his raspy voice, devoid of any emotion. ”We need to see Hades.” Percy said. ”The living are not permitted here, Die and come back.” Haha for some reason I found that funny. ”Okay, we're not going to DIE AND COME BACK. Oh, I got it.” Grover pulled out some money from his pocket. ”We gotta pay the ferry man.” Grover handed the man 3 Bills. The Gondala man grabbed the paper money and burned it, then threw it on the ground like it was worthless. ”That was $170!” Grover wanted to cry. Percy realized something and pulled out the gold drachmas. He handed it to the Gondala man , who received it and gestured for them to hop on.
”Thanks for telling me before you burned my money!” Grover complained as he sat down. The Gondala man pushed us through the river and through a dark tunnel, and once we passed the tunnel I was stunned at what was before us. We came out through a sign resembling the Hollywood sign, but it spelled out HELL and was dark and burnt up. I looked down to where the water was supposed to be, but there wasn't any. We were floating in the sky allowing us to have a full view of the underworld. It was hot, depressing, and loud, since all you could hear was the wails and screams of the tortured souls. Lucian noticed floating items that would pass by them, things like watches, toys, and car keys.
”What is all this stuff?” I asked the Gondala man. ”These are dreams that were never fulfilled, wishes that were never granted. It is the scrap of human misery.” It is sad looking at all of these things, there was even a family photo floating amongst the failed wishes. The Gondala slowly made it's way to a giant castle in the middle of all the fiery chaos, and soon we were at its door steps. ”This is as far as I go.” The Gondala man said, not even taking a glance at us as we got off.
We stood there at the giant doors of Hades castle. The doors that stood up to at least 20 feat, opened on their own with a loud wooden boom. We step inside and see a big water fountain, but instead of water it was spewing fire. ”Woah, talk about hot. I should have just stayed in my wet suit and not changed back.” I said as I fanned myself. ”Well, we did have to give the wet suits back...wait did you hear that?” Annabeth said as she looked toward the source of the noise. We could here growling in the hallways on our right and left, it sounded like the growling of a tiger.
Just as soon as the sounds came, two beasts came out and circled around us. The four of us huddled together as Percy clicked his pen, releasing his sword and shield. I seriously need a weapon, I cant just go around punching things. Pretty soon a woman came up shouting. ”Back! Begge, Matsiatu!” She dispelled the beast as they retreated to her side, and sat like obediant dogs.
”What were those things?” Percy asked, still on guard. ”Hellhounds.” She says. ”Are you Persephone?” I ask the woman who was dressed in an all black sexy dress. She had black hair and light brown skin that fit her curvaceous body perfectly. She was a very sexy woman, and any man would give anything to spend a night with her. Luckily Lucian was immune to her passive charm.
”Indeed I am. Who are you? I have never seen such a beautiful man.” She says while she licked her lips, making me shudder. This woman is dangerous. ”Persephone! What can possibly be taking so long?! Dont ignore me!” We heard a man call from further on the castle. ”OR WHAT?! WHAT WILL YOU DO? I'm already in hell.” Persephone yells back at the voice. She gestures us to follow her as she leads us to her husband Hades. We were brought to a big room with a throne chair facing toward the giant fireplace. A man was sitting on the chair and gave a sidelong glance toward us.