The first thing I did was jump off the living room couch and stop Mrs. O'Leary from doing anything else.

Hestia had teleported us to the Jackson apartment... along with the hellhound herself.

"Mrs. O'Leary, stay! Stay!" I commanded, earning an immediate response. She sat still, unmoving. I kept my eyes locked on hers as Mom and Paul called out.

"Percy, Clair? Are you here? Are you alright?" Mom called as I kept Mrs. O'Leary calm. I kept a stern expression on my face, staring straight into her big black eyes.

"Yeah, we're here!" Percy shouted back in response.

"Woah, who put this wall of fur here?!" I heard Paul exclaim.

"Oh boy," I mumbled.

After that, it took a bit but we managed to get all of the people in the kitchen along with the hellhound's head into the entrance, where she just peered in.

"When did you manage to train her?" Nico asked, a bit surprised.

"I'd like to know that too," Percy looked at me as well.

"I didn't. She's more responsive than the average dog. She can understand commands faster. Not to mention you just need to keep a stern look on your face whenever you say something," I shrugged.

And then, as Mom poured us glasses of lemonade, Percy explained what happened in Connecticut.

"So it's true," Paul stared at us with a look that showed shocked awe. Percy and I had told him about who we were with Mom backing us up as well. I doubt he even believed us until now.

"Um... sorry about the living room," Percy said.

"No I think there would've been bigger damage if Clair hadn't been able to control Mrs. O'Leary so well," Mom gave me a grin as she tossed a huge ten pound ground beef tube at the hellhound. The meat just disappeared completely.

"This is amazing! I mean when I saw the hoofprints on the Prius, I thought maybe. But this!" Paul exclaimed, laughing with the biggest grin I've ever seen on his face.

"Wait... Blackjack decided to land on the Prius?!" I exclaimed with a facepalm.

"It's the pegasus, not me," Percy argued.

I rolled my eyes and glared at Percy. "I frickin told you-!"

"Claira," I felt a hand on my wrist and I turned to see Nico.

"I think we have bigger problems right now,"

I huffed and decided to just sip on my lemonade as Percy told Mom and Paul about Typhon, the gods, and the war ahead. And then he told them about Nico's plan.

Mom's reaction was to be expected. Her expression said everything. 'I don't want him to do this,'

"Percy, it's dangerous. Even for you," She said, which made me scoff. That was definitely true. But we really didn't have any choice left.

"Mom, I know. I could die. Nico explained everything. but if we don't try-"

"We'll all die," Nico said. "Ms. Jackson, we don't stand a chance against an invasion. And there will be an invasion,"

I sighed, shifting my gaze to the window sill. To the moonlace in the flower box. Whenever I was looking at it, it made my chest hurt. The scent reminded me of simpler times. When we didn't have a war at hand. But now I guess... I have to face reality.

When I tuned back into the conversation, Mom looked conflicted. And I could relate. To be honest, in the beginning I didn't want Percy to do this solely because of the risk. But considering the bigger risk of fighting the Lord of Time without any serious protection whatsoever was the situation where he could be killed sooner rather than later.

Then Paul decided to speak up. "Sally," He started, looking at her. "I can't really say that I know what you, Percy, and Clair have gone through all these years. But... what these kids are planning to do is something noble. And I wish I had that much courage,"

I stared at him, gripping my glass of lemonade. If he couldn't get her to do it... then no one could.

Mom laced her fingers around her own glass and opened her mouth. "Percy. I give you my blessing,"

Nothing really happened after those words left her mouth. But from the looks of Nico, everything was ready.

"It's time," He locked eyes with me then looked over at Percy.

And when we were about to start heading out, our mom said one last thing.

"Percy. If you survive this fight with Kronos... send me a sign," She took out her phone and handed him her cell.

"Mom, you know demigods and phones-"

"I know. But just in case. And if you can't call send up a sign. Maybe from Olympus... the Empire State Building," she suggested.

"Something blue," Both Percy and I said.

She nodded, understanding. "Yes. I'll keep an eye out for something blue,"

I stood and walked over to her, giving her a hug. "You know what to do, Claira,"

"No problem," I smiled up at her, trying not to cry. I tried to keep my mind thinking that this wasn't the last time I'd see her or Paul but... it was difficult. I made my way over to Paul and hugged him too.

Then the three of us walked over to Mrs. O'Leary.

"Sorry, girl. Shadow travel time again," He sighed.

She let out a whimper and closed her eyes.

Nico held out a hand to me and I took it without hesitation. But in the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Mom try to hold back a wide smile.

"So. Where to?" Percy looked at Nico. "LA?"

"No need. There's another entrance to the Underworld not too far from here,"

***

We were standing in Central Park, near the Pond, the stars shining bright.

Mrs. O looked pretty tired but she still made her way over to a cluster of rocks. She started sniffing around them and I knew why. Even if it was faint, I could feel the power of Hades radiating off of the boulders.

"That's the way?" I looked over at Nico and let go of his hand.

"Yup. This is the Door of Orpheus," he nodded.

"The dude with the harp," Percy said.

"Lyre," I glared at Percy.

"Yeah, him. He used his music to charm the earth open and made a new path into the Underworld," Nico explained.

"So this is the Door of Orpheus," Percy said. "How does it open?"

"We need music. How's your singing?" Nico looked at him.

"Er, no. Clair can though,"

And both boys turned their gaze to me, making me blush. "Sure... I guess,"

"What do you mean 'I guess'? Whenever the radio's on or we have some serious karaoke sessions you just... it's way better than mine anyway!" Percy said.

"What do I sing anyway? This is a door to the dead," I looked at Nico.

"Anything to be honest. It just needs music," he shrugged.

I sighed and looked up, the moon high in the sky.

"Alright. I got something,"

Then I opened my mouth and started singing. No lyrics... just notes.

And sure enough the rocks shuddered open.

"What was that?" Percy asked.

"Uh... I thought you'd recognize it," I looked at him.

"I do. That's why I'm asking. I can't remember where it came from," He mumbled.

I sighed. "They were the notes Ariel sang in the Little Mermaid,"

"Wait, seriously?" Nico looked at me.

"Hey, it was the first thing that came to mind!" I exclaimed, embarrassed.

"It sounded just like her!" Percy yelled.

"Yeah, not bad Claira," Nico looked at me, a ghost of a smile at his lips.

"Anyway, can we head down now?" I asked, wanting the topic of my singing to go away.

But Percy seemed to be in deep concentration which was usually not a good sign. Him? Thinking?

"Uh, Percy?" I looked over at him.

"I have a feeling..." He muttered.

"What do you mean?" Nico asked.

But Percy turned to the trees of the woods and called out. "Grover!"

But nothing happened.

"Your empathy link?" I looked at Percy who nodded.

He closed his eyes, most likely in deep concentration.

A few moments later and Percy's eyes flew open, him almost falling over.

"Woah, what happened?" Nico asked.

"I got through to him," Percy smiled.

A minute later, a rustle sounded from above and someone fell from a tree.

Turns out the dryads decided get Grover over here via tree tops.

"Dude where have you been the last two months?" Percy asked.

And that was when the color drained from Grover's face. "Two months?! What are you talking about?"

"Jun's been worried and we've been trying to contact you and-"

"Wait," He held up his hands for me to be quiet. "What month is this?"

"August,"

He closed his eyes and let out a breath. "But... it's June.... I just laid down for a nap but..." Then his eyes widened. "I remember now! He knocked me out Percy, we have to stop him!"

"Who? What happened?" Percy asked.

Grover described that in the middle of a day (two months ago), he sensed something wrong with nature and went to investigate. He found a man in a long black coat walking through the park. Casting no shadow on a sunny day. 

And that immediately struck an idea in my head.

"Was this guy looking like... basically a mirage? He was shimmering as he moved?" I asked.

"Yeah. And whenever he passed humans-"

"They'd pass out. Curl up and go to sleep," Nico nodded.

I turned to him. "Do you speak from experience or-"

"Not answering," He said, hastily, making me glare at him.

Percy turned to us. "You know this guy in black?"

"Cause I learn from our lessons," I gave Percy a look.

"Er... yeah. Anyway, Grover, what happened?"

Grover had followed this guy. He kept looking at the buildings around the park and even put a hand on a sleeping person's forehead as if he was taking measurements of who knew what. And when Grover asked him what this guy was doing the guy answered: "Just having a look around. You should always scout a battlefield before the battle."

After Grover's retort the guy laughed and said: "You're lucky I'm saving my energy for the main event, little satyr. I'll just grant you a short nap. Pleasant dreams." 

I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh.

"Grover... you met Morpheus, the god of dreams. You're lucky you ever woke up," Nico said.

"Two months..." Grover mumbled. "He put me to sleep for two months!"

"But this just proves that there's gonna be an invasion. We know that Morpheus is working for Kronos along with other minor gods. Percy, we have to get on with our plan," Nico said.

"Wait... what plan?" Grover asked.

And we went and told him leaving Grover to seem antsy.

"You're not serious... not the Underworld... again," Grover mumbled.

"We kind of have to hurry. These rocks won't stay open for much longer," I looked over at the entrance that seemed to slowly start shuddering.

"How'd it open?" Grover asked.

"Clair sang to it," Percy answered.

"Aw I wanted to hear-"

"Grover, you need to get to Jun," I cut in before he could speak any further.

"Oh shoot, Juniper! She's gonna kill me!" Grover exclaimed then started to run off, only to come back and give Percy and me a hug. 

"Be careful down there! Come back alive!" He said then went off into the woods.

I bent down and woke up Mrs. O'Leary. When she smelled the tunnel, she bounded over to the entrance.

"Ready?" Nico turned to Percy. "It'll be fine. Don't worry,"

I let out a long sigh then breathed in deeply, taking my last breath of overworld air.

"I'm gonna miss being up here," I looked at the boys.

Then we descended.

***

The stairs seemed to go on forever. And it was so dark I had to summon my fire.

As we were going down, I noticed Nico was lagging behind us.

"Hey, Nico, you doing ok?" I looked over at him. His expression was still easy to read for me. I was shocked when I saw a sliver of... was that doubt? 

"Fine. Just keep going," He said.

We emerged at the base of a cliff on a plain of black sand. To our right, the River Styx ran from the rocks and rushed off in some dangerous looking rapids. To the left... the black walls of Hades' kingdom.

I had to suppress a shudder. The last time I'd been there... I was bent over from the power the god himself radiated. For some reason my body just can't stand being in the presence of someone powerful. 

Minor gods and goddesses are fine, a few of the Olympians I'm ok with but... the Big Three or any of the Titans I would just immediately be almost useless in front of, unless I could fight the pain off or they weren't in full power.

When we were near the River Styx, Percy and I stopped looking back at Nico.

"So Nico... how do we do this?" Percy asked.

"We have to go inside the gates first," He answered.

I looked at him confused.

"But the river's right here," 

"I have to get something. It's the only way," He answered, only looking at Percy.

"Nico, is there something wro-"

But he was already walking, ignoring my words.

"Ok then," I let out a breath and trudged on, Percy right next to me.

When we reached the security checkpoints, Mrs. O'Leary and Cerberus got a bit too friendly before Percy whistled for her to come back.

We walked through some black fields of grass with scattered black trees.

After a while, I noticed the direction we were headed: toward Hades' palace.

"Nico, we're inside the gates already," I said, trying to catch his attention. But he ignored me again.

"Where are we-"

Percy was cut off by Mrs. O'Leary's growl. A shadow appeared above. It plummeted down and landed on top of a nearby tree.

And I recognized it... her. A hag face, blue knitted hat, dirty velvet dress. Leathery bat wings rested on her back, her feet with sharp talons and in her hands: a flaming whip.

"Mrs. Dodds..." Percy mumbled as I just stared at the Fury.

"Welcome back, honey," She gave a toothy grin to the both of us.

Her two sister went down and settled next to her on the branches.

"You two know Alecto?" Nico looked at us.

"You mean the one in the middle?" Percy asked. "She was our math teacher,"

Nico just nodded as if he wasn't surprised. Then looked up at the Furies and took a deep breath. "I've done what my father asked. Take us to the palace,"

"What?" I looked over at the son of Hades. 

"I'm afraid this is my new lead," He avoided eye contact with me. "My father promised me information about-"

"Say that again, Nico," I mumbled, my voice deathly low. I hated to get angry at him since he still was lost on his past but... this was just awful.

"Clair, I-"

"Look at me when you talk to me!" I snapped. "Nico how could you-"

"Clair get down!" I heard Percy yell. I looked behind me only to see him lunge straight for Nico, sword in hand, but the Furies were faster.

Two swooped down and got Percy, sword slipping out of his grasp, while the other got Nico.

I, on the other hand, summoned the winds and jumped up, my sword uncapped, only for Alecto to stop me.

"Wait now, honey. If you try to attack us, I could drop your brother and use my whip on him. You wouldn't want that now, would you?" she said. I could only glare at her. "Now drop the sword,"

I looked at Percy. He let out a breath and nodded. Before I could do anything else, my gaze found Nico's. And he surprisingly full on looked at me.

He mouthed two words: I'm sorry.

I closed my eyes and flung my sword to the ground. It stabbed the black dirt.

Mrs. O'Leary was barking like mad and trying to jump to reach Percy and me but we were too high up.

"Tell Mrs. O'Leary to behave. I don't want to hurt her. My father is waiting. He just wants to talk," Nico said, looking at me.

I warily looked at the Furies then descended down to the hellhound.

"I'm sorry girl. You'll have to stay down. I'm sorry," I whispered to her and gave her a small hug. She whimpered and licked my hand once then sat down in the fields.

Then I used the winds again and flew back up, between the two boys.

"Ok, Nico. You've got who you're looking for plus a bonus," I looked at him. "Let's go," I sighed as he stared at me, guilt clear in his eyes.

***

We landed in the palace garden.

And after a bit Hades, Persephone, and another goddess, Demeter showed up. Hades and Persephone sat on the thrones of the balcony while Demeter stood between them.

They seemed to be in the middle of an argument only for Hades to intervene.

"Percy Jackson," He stared at my brother with satisfaction. "At last," 

Our uncle only glanced at me but nodded. "Well. For a terrible job, Nico, I will say that I'm a bit.. gratified that you managed to get both children of Poseidon down here,"

Nico blinked at the compliment but then knelt. "Father, I have done as you asked,"

"Took you too long. Your sister still would've done a better job," Hades grumbled, completely contradicting his first words.

Nico flinched and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, even if he did trick us. My feelings couldn't help it.

"What do you want, Hades?" Percy demanded.

"To talk. Didn't Nico tell you?" Hades smiled, cruelly.

"So this whole quest was a lie. Nico brought me down here to get me killed and to take my sister away from me," Percy demanded.

"That's where you're wrong. I'm afraid Nico was quite sincere about wanting to help you two. The boy's is as honest as he is dense," 

I scoffed at that. 

"I simply convinced him to make a small side trip and bring you here first," Hades explained.

"Father, you promised Percy wouldn't be harmed. You said if I brought him here you would tell me about my mother," Nico said.

"Ya know, I could've actually helped with that," I glared over at Nico.

"Wait, what?" Nico looked at me.

"Enough side talk!" Hades intervened before I could say anything else.

Hades went on to tell Nico about his mother who was named Maria di Angelo. 

She was from Venice. But her father, being a diplomat in D.C., had her living there. That was where Hades had met her. And since WWII was coming up, he had decided to put Bianca and Nico into the Lotus Casino.

But when Nico asked about what happened to his mother Hades didn't answer, nor about any of his other children. But he did answer about who the lawyer was that took him and Bianca out.

It was just Alecto the Fury morphed into one.

But then Nico asked another question. "Why did you free us from the casino?"

"You know why. These two children of Poseidon cannot be allowed to be the child of the prophecy," Hades said.

"I take it you're not helping Olympus because they've never done anything for you?" I asked, my voice tight.

"Of course! At least there's some brains in one of my nieces," Hades gave me a wry smile. 

"Kronos will be weakened before he gets here. And my son here... well he's not much now," Hades looked at Nico with disgust. "It would've been better if Bianca had lived. But give him four years a training, he'll turn sixteen and he'll make the decision the saves the world. And I will be king of the gods," 

"You're crazy. Kronos will crush you right after Olympus," Percy said.

"Well you'll get a chance to find out. Because you'll be waiting out this war in my dungeons," Hades declared.

"No! Father, that wasn't our agreement. And you haven't told me everything!" Nico yelled.

"I told you all you need to know," Hades shrugged. "As for the agreement, I spoke with Jackson. I did not harm him. You got your information. If you wanted something better, you should've made me swear on the Styx. Now go to your room!"

And right before Hades waved his hand and sent Nico off, the boy lunged and grabbed my wrist, taking me with him.