18 Chapter 18 The Underworld (2/2)

”Nephew...” Hades said as he gracefully stood up from his throne. Hades is what one would imagine a god to look like. He stood to around 10 feet tall, and was wearing black silk robes  with a braided golden crown on his head. His skin was albino white, almost sickly, and had shoulder length jet black hair. His body was not bulky like one would imagine Hercules to be, but his body radiated power through every pore, lack there of. He gave off an aura of pure submission, like making someone happy just to serve him.

”Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon. It is very brave of you to come here, after what you have done. Although I did tell you to come, I never thought you actually would. Now that your here. Do you have what I asked for?” Hades started off, looking down at us with his towering figure. ”Where is my mother?” Percy asked. Hades narrowed his eyes at Percy, and gave a condescending smirk. ”Oh yes, your mortal mother. She's still alive, barely. Once you give me the lightning bolt and my helm, I will think about releasing her.” Hades said as he extended his hand waiting. Persephone watched all this in the side lines, sneaking glances at me every once in a while.

”Look uncle...I dont have the lightning bolt. Wait...did you say your Helm? I don't have that either!” We could feel the palace rumble, as Hades lips started to twitch. ”LIAR! You stole Zeus' lightning bolt with the help of your father! Then you took advantage of the chaotic situation to take my Helm of stealth and misery! Return it to me!” Hades yelled out, but this only confused us more. Hades Helm has also been stolen. ”I don't have it! I have never even met my father!” Percy still tried to plead his case, but he knew he was being played from the beginning.

”You. You have Persephone's Pearl's, hand them to me.” Hades seemed to notice what was in our pockets, and glared at Persephone who returned it without fear. Persephone herself was already pissed at her husband for not allowing her to return to her mother this summer, and the mortals can only count themselves lucky that she did not freeze the world. One thing is for certain, the coming winter will be bitterly cold.

”Oh? It seems you only have 4 Pearl's. What will you do Percy? Give me the lightning bolt and my Helm, or leave one of your friends behind to save your mother?” Hades waves his hand and a fire ball manifests showing Ms. Jackson looking at her son. She couldn't speak, but you can see what she wanted to say just by her eyes. 'I love you' is what she was shouting out through her look. Percy did not know what to do as he looked at the pearl in his hand.

”I'll stay, Percy you need to leave with your mother.” Grover suddenly said making us turn to him. ”No! I'm not leaving you here.” Percy immediately denied. ”Its okay Percy, I'm a satyr. Which means he wont be able to have my soul even when I die. I'll probably just be reincarnated as a flower or something, it's for the best.” Annabeth also spoke up. ”I'll stay. Grover, you are Percy's protector. This way, I'll be able to at least put up a fight.” They all argued with each other as to who will stay. ”Stop it.” I didn't speak loudly but they all heard me. ”I'm staying.” Annabeth quickly spoke up. ”NO! I already said that I will stay, I will not let you stay here Lucian!” I smile bitterly and shake my head. ”I'm staying Annabeth. This was never my quest to begin with. Grover you must protect Percy, and Annabeth you must guide him. You need to get him to safety. Now there is nothing more to discuss.” I open Percy's hand and hand him my Pearl. ”Get your mother out of here, please.” Percy clenches his fist, grasping the pearl tightly. As Percy was gripping the pearl, he ended up dropping his shield. It clung on the floor and rolled like how a coin would. As soon as it came to a still, the noise of a light buzzing could be heard. Sticking out of the shields grip, was a blue lightning bolt.

The weapon we have been searching for, the weapon that has almost brought the world to war, was with us the entire time. We have been set up from the beginning. Hades looked at the bolt and smiled a sadistic smile. ”Liar.” he said. ”Give me the lightning bolt, it will be a good bargaining chip. While your at it, toss me my helm.” You could see Percy's face pale, as he tried to figure out what to do. ”Percy you cant give him the bolt!” I reminded Percy, who nodded. He seemed to have steeled himself in his sudden decision. ”I'm sorry mom.” I heard him mutter as he suddenly tossed me the pearl. ”Percy? What are you doing?!” I asked, confused at his decision. ”I'm sorry uncle, I will find your Helm and return it to you.” Percy said as he crushed his pearl. The three of us also quickly crush our pearls following Percy. ”To the Santa Monica Pier you guys!” Percy said getting us to think of the location.

”Kill them!” Hades shouted but we were already gone before he could do anything. Guess we have an angry Hades after us now. What we saw was nothing but colored smoke, then we found ourselves standing on the Pier. It was dark already, and there was no one around surprisingly. Percy was standing there with the lightning bolt in hand, having left the shield behind. ”It was Luke! He set us up!” Annabeth said, with hurt in her eyes. The person she used to admire and had a crush on when she was little had betrayed them. Lucian noticed the look on her eyes and wondered what brought it up.

”Why didn't we think of Olympus? We could have returned the bolt by now.” I said to Percy, who had a look of realization on his face. ”Oh...yeah I should have thought of that. For some reason this was the first place I could think of while in the dire situation we were in. It's okay, all we have to do is get this to Olympus.” Before we could say anything, we heard haughty and arragant laughter from behind us. There stood a tall man with muscles that seemed to want to pop out of his clothing. He was wearing a black leather biker jacket, black cargo pants and boots. He carried a metal baseball bat that he supported on his shoulder. He also had dark shades on, and I was able to see that behind those shades were no eyes. Just empty sockets with fire replaced for his eyes.

”You were supposed to die in the underworld, you brat.” The man said. ”Who the hell are you? Some poor excuse for a biker? It's not Halloween. ” I asked the wannabe biker. ”L-Lucian t-thats Ares. The God Of War.” Annabeth said, trying not to be scared at the way I just rudely talked to a God.  ”Who the hell are you? Do you not believe I would turn you into a cockroach here and now?” Aries threatened. For some reason I was not scared of this guy at all. ”What do you mean I was suppose to die in the underworld? Wait...could it be you?-” Ares cut off Percy. ”Yes, I am the Thief. I had stolen the Bolt from Zeus and blamed it on the son of Poseidon, then stole Hades Helm. They both believe it was Poseidon, causing a war. I had stashed the bolt in my shield, but Hermes brat stole it. But who would have known he would give you the shield? Hahaha it worked so perfectly with my plan.” Percy was going to say something, but I beat him to it.

”Hey fake god, can you stop talking? Your voice is giving me a migraine.” My three friends paled in fright after hearing what I said. Ares shades melted from the amount of heat the fire was radiating. ”What did you call me? Kiss your life good bye boy.”