┌────── •✧• ──────┐

chapter thirteen ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
013. We've Been Fooled, What a Surprise

└────── •✧• ──────┘

THE FIELDS OF ASPHODEL WERE SAD. Millions upon millions of people were just standing, motionless and silent.

Cassie couldn't believe that that was all she'd do once she died. Depressing.

She peered around as her, Annabeth, Percy, and Grover tried to blend in with the spirits.

Sometimes, the dead would come up to them and try to speak. None of their words were clear and the spirit would frown before moving on.

Cassie had accidentally shoved her hand through a person's stomach, but it passed right through.

"Cool." She whispered, karate chopping other spirits.

"Don't do that!" Annabeth quietly shouted. "Stop traumatizing dead souls."

"You're no fun. They can't even feel it." Cassie replied, but she stopped whacking when she hit Percy.

"Ow."

"Whoops. Sorry about that Perce. You can always use a knock on the head."

"So could you." Percy retorted, slapping Cassie's head.

"Ouch."

Annabeth stepped in between them before more insults and hits could be thrown.

They separated after Cassie let out a small laugh. Grover pointed in front towards a covered pavilion and that's where they headed.

It had a banner with: JUDGEMENTS FOR ELYSIUM AND ETERNAL DAMNATION Welcome, Newly Deceased.

Cassie gazed behind the pavilion and out came two lines of people. They were much smaller than the rest.

One led to the Fields of Punishment. They were close enough to see the horrors and ways of torture, dead people were experiencing.

Cassie shuddered thinking about the people in the earlier lines going there.

The line to punishment was full of guards along the path to keep spirits in line. (literally)

The other line was directed towards the only happy place in the dark Underworld. Elysium.

It was like a little city surrounded by a fence with many different buildings from different times.

In the middle of Elysium was a lake with three small islands. The Isles of the Blest.

People who had chosen rebirth three times and could have gone to Elysium all three times, lived there.

Percy wanted to go there when he died. Annabeth knew what he was thinking, it was fairly obvious.

"That's what it's all about. That's the place for heroes." She informed.

"If you guys end up there, I'll never see you again." Cassie pipped in. "I'll probably end up in the Fields of Punishment for being too Cassie. Gods get jealous easily."

Percy and Annabeth shared a look of exhaust. Cassie and her sad humor.

Cassie paced forward in front and Percy turned to Annabeth, "And this is who you like?"

Teasing laced the boy's words as Annabeth tried to quiet him.

"No, I don't like Carter. She's loud and careless and I think the twirling thing she does with her sword when she's proud is dumb. So yeah, I don't like her."

"Sure you don't. You hate each other which is like me saying I hate blue food."

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain. I'll love Carter the day I fall off a cliff. And that's not happening. Ever."

"I never said anything about love, but whatever helps you sleep at night, Wise Girl. I'll remember this for the future. Good 'I told you so' moment." Percy quipped back just as they got close to an obsidian palace.

Cassie glance back. "Ready took kick your uncle's butt, Kelp Head?" She cracked her knuckles.

༻ ─── •✧💢✧• ─── ༺

A familiar screech rang from the palace. The three Furies were hovering near the wall, waiting.

Cassie assumed that they were waiting for Percy and Grover looked regretful.

"I suppose it's too late to turn back." Grover mumbled, fiddling with his hands nervously.

"We'll be okay." Percy encouraged, but he lacked confidence.

"Maybe we should search some of the other places first. Like, Elysium, for instance." Grover tried.

"Come on, goat boy." Annabeth tugged on his arm.

"We've made it this far. Besides, I'll protect you." Cassie reassured as her red blade appeared.

Grover let out a yelp as he flew away from Annabeth. The wings on his shoes had appeared.

"Grover. Stop messing around." The blonde scolded, as if he were a child.

"But I didn't—"

Grover flew back up until the air. The wings were flapping around wildly as he was dragged away.

"Maia!" Nothing happened. "Maia, already! Nine-one-one! Help!"

Percy missed an easy grab at Grover's hand as the satyr sped downhill.

Cassie would've laughed if she wasn't sprinting after Grover. Annabeth and Percy close behind.

"Untie the shoes!" Annabeth advised.

Cassie didn't glance back. "And how is he supposed to do that?!" She yelled.

It would have been a smart move if the satyr could sit up and reach the shoes but he could do neither.

He hurtled through unsuspecting spirits towards Hades' palace until the shoes took a sharp turn right.

Grover was going further down as the ground sloped. Cassie was on his tail and Annabeth and Percy picked up their pace.

Many times, Cassie debated swinging her sword, but she didn't want to harm Grover.

The walls narrowed and they found themselves in a tunnel. A very un-vegetated tunnel.

"Grover! Hold on to something!" Percy shouted.

"What?" Grover said as he attempted to grab the gravel, but it didn't slow him.

Cassie almost stopped as the air got darker and she could see bloodshed and murder in her mind. She saw the giant chasm in front of them and ran even faster.

"Gro!"

Apparently, Percy had come to a halt and Annabeth had to get him to move.

"Come on, Percy!"

She shoved him forward.

"But that's—"

"We know, it's the place in your dream and Grover's about to fall in so get over here." Cassie screamed as she tried to catch the satyr's shirt.

Grover would've gone in if it wasn't for his hooves. The shoes never sat right so when the satyr hit a big rock, the left shoe flapped off into the chasm.

Now he was slowing and Grover held the big rock to stop himself. Cassie got a hold of him as Percy and Annabeth joined her.

They tugged Grover away from the hole as the right shoe came off. It glided around, trying to kick their heads in frustration. It followed the left shoe into the chasm.

They collapsed into a heap of limbs, exhausted. Cassie caught her breath as she closed her eyes.

She didn't want to see Tartarus any time soon. Preferably never (but the Fates are never that nice).

Percy felt heavier. His legs, the backpack. It all seemed like it weighed even more now.

Grover was messed up pretty bad. His hands were cut and his pupils were slits. They did that when he was scared.

"I don't know how . . . I didn't . . ." Grover let out, also trying to catch his breath.

"Wait, Listen." Percy shushed.

A deep voice whispered from the darkness.

"Percy, this place—" Annabeth warned.

"Shh." Percy interrupted, getting up.

The voice got louder. It was mumbling evil voice from the chasm.

"Wh—what's that noise?" Grover stuttered.

Cassie sighed as her and Annabeth shared a look.

"Tartarus. That's the entrance to the hell hole where monsters rot."

Percy got even closer, shining Riptide's glow down the hole. The chanting stopped but picked up a few seconds after. 

It was in a language older than English, older than Ancient Greek.

"Magic." Percy murmured.

"We have to get out of here." Annabeth said.

They walked towards the exit of the tunnel slowly. They were still worn out from the running.

Cassie had a tight grip on Percy and Grover's shirts to keep them all balanced.

Her and Annabeth's hands almost touched because the blonde was on Grover's other side trying to support him. But Cassie couldn't worry about that now.

The voice got louder and scarier as the group began to run. Air pushed them back like they were being inhaled.

If they weren't all linked for support and farther from the pit, the chasm would've got them.

They pushed forward and eventually got out of the tunnel where the walls widened again.

The wind stopped and a cry came from the pit. It was unhappy that they had gotten out.

"What was that? One of Hades' pets?" Grover questioned as they all fell onto the ground in exhaustion again.

Annabeth and Percy shared a look and Percy didn't say anything. He must really understand Annabeth.

At least that's what Cassie thought. She also learned to never doubt her ideas again. She was right about what she had thought in the taxi to L.A.

Percy put away his sword, but Cassie kept hers out, shutting off the electricity.

"Let's keep going. Can you walk?"

The question was directed at Grover who shrugged.

"Yeah, sure. I never liked those shoes anyway."

He was trying to act confident but he was as afraid as the rest of them, if not more.

Had Cassie not been busy in her thoughts about the pit, she would've remembered who had given them the shoes.

She would've realized that not everyone was as innocent as they seemed. But she didn't as the voice from the hole haunted her mind.

The daughter of Ares was hesitant to turn her back to the pit, as if something would reach out and grab her.

But she did and she jogged along, sword in hand, beside the rest of them.

༻ ─── •✧💢✧• ─── ༺

They approached the palace. It was tall and different shades of black.

The front gate was wide open and had carvings of death scenes. The gate was old but the scenes were modern.

It's like someone had predicted all those deaths years before and they had come true.

Cassie's mind blanked when she saw Persephone's garden. There was a pomegranate tree in the middle, surrounded by flowers.

Annabeth interrupted her want to rush forward and eat, by pulling her away. As Percy and Grover came up next to them.

Staying in the Underworld for the rest of their lives wasn't ideal.

They walked up the black steps through black columns and a black portico. Yeah, there was a lot of black.

A bronze floor broke up the dark color and shined as the torches' lights flickered.

There was no roof, but it made sense. Down here, there was no weather to need a roof.

Skeletons guarded every door, all dressed in different military uniforms. Surprisingly, they didn't make any move to stop the group.

Their eyes just followed the four as the went to the middle doors. Cassie nodded her head, impressed by the skeletons' weapons.

Some had spears, others muskets, and even M-16s. The two guarding the door they were about to enter, came from the US marines and had grenade launchers.

"Sick." She muttered with a shit-eating grin.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but held a small smile that Cassie didn't see.

"You know. I bet Hades doesn't have trouble with door-to-door salesmen." Grover mumbled.

Cassie glanced at him. "I wanna be one when I die. Fight with grenade launchers and blow intruders to bits."

"We're intruders, mind you." Annabeth cut in.

Percy was struggling with the uncomfortably heavy backpack. He wanted to check, but right now wasn't a good time.

"Well, guys. I suppose we should . . . knock?" Percy suggested.

The doors blew open with a hot breeze and the guards stepped aside before anyone could knock.

"That's a no." Cassie whispered.

"I guess that means entrez-vous." Annabeth said.

Cassie grabbed Annabeth's hand, subconsciously as the four took a step into the throne room. Her normal confident, secretive personality fell into a nervous fidgety one.

The blonde's gazed shifted to their joined hands, but she didn't have the heart to move away. Especially not where they were right now.

It was just how Percy described except for the God that now sat in the throne.

He looked like two kids Cassie had seen at the Lotus Casino. His skin was very pale and he had jet black, shoulder-length hair.

He was decked out in black robes and ten feet tall. A golden crown was slanted on his head.

Unlike Cassie's dad, Hades wasn't muscular but power radiated from every blink of his eyes.

He drew them in, in a terrifyingly evil way. Cassie glanced down to her and Annabeth's joined hands and shook off the weird feelings.

She noticed the blonde, rubbing her thumb over Cassie's hand in comfort. The daughter of Athena's normal thoughtful look was replaced by one of uncertainty.

Cassie squeezed Annabeth's hand as Hades spoke.

"You're brave to come here, Son of Poseidon. After what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or perhaps you are simply very foolish."

Cassie didn't feel scared anymore. Hades was now her favorite god.

"Lord and Uncle, I come with two requests." Percy demanded.

Hades leaned forward as if intrigued, but his expression was one Cassie knew very well. It read, 'really.'

His clothes shifted as horrible faces appeared. It was as if the robe was made of souls.

She tried to control her ADHD and pay attention, but her mind wandered ever so often. Back to the ghouls in Hades' clothes.

"Only two requests? Arrogant child. As if you have not already taken enough. Speak, then. It amuses me not to strike you dead yet." Hades replied.

Cassie wondered what Percy had 'taken' from the Lord of the Dead. It probably wasn't a good accusation.

Percy's attention drifted to the vacant throne next to Hades. It was shaped like a black rose. He wished Persephone was here.

There were stories of the Queen of the Underworld, soothing Hades' moods. Of course, with his luck it was summer and Persephone was free with her mother Demeter.

She was the cause behind the seasons, not some stupid theory like the tilt of the planet.

Cassie elbowed Percy as Annabeth's closest hand was occupied right now.

"Lord Hades. Look, sir, there can't be a war among the gods. It would be . . . bad." Percy spoke.

"Really bad." Grover agreed. Cassie held back a snicker.

"Return Zeus' master bolt to me. Please, sir. Let me carry it to Olympus."

Hades eyes lit up in rage. "You dare keep this pretense, after what you have done?"

Percy glanced back confused, but the other three had no idea. The son of Poseidon looked to Cassie for help. He needed her confidence right now.

She sighed. "Um . . . Lord Hades. I don't mean to be rude, which should mean a lot to you because I'm rude to many people who I dislike. But you haven't told us what exactly Percy has done."

The palace shook. Wait no . . . the WHOLE cavern shook. The doors flew open as hundreds of skeletons walked in to block the exits.

Cassie shrunk back almost falling if Annabeth hadn't been holding her hand.

"Do you think I want war, godling." Hades roared.

His anger was directed towards Percy, not Cassie. Percy held back a sarcastic retort, Cassie could tell.

It was a common action for both.

"You are the Lord of the Dead. A war would expand your kingdom, right?" Percy thought his words over carefully.

"A typical thing for my brothers to say! Do you think I need more subjects. Did you not see the sprawl of the Asphodel Fields?"

"Well . . ."

"Have you any idea how much my kingdom has swollen in this past century alone, how many subdivisions I've had to open?" Hades asked.

Percy couldn't get out a word, nobody could as the Lord of the Dead continued his line of complaints.

It didn't help when Percy mentioned Charon's want for a pay raise. That started more complaining.

"But you took Zeus' master bolt." Percy reasoned.

"Lies!" Hades shouted as he stood up. Rumbling came from around them. "Your father may fool Zeus, boy, but I am not stupid. I see his plan."

"His plan?"

"You were the thief on the winter solstice. Your father thought to keep you his little secret. He directed you into the throne room on Olympus. You took the master bolt and my helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at Yancy Academy, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open. You will be exposed as Poseidon's thief, and I will have my helm back!" Hades voiced his thoughts.

Cassie was getting bored and Annabeth was thinking. Every possibility ran across her mind.

"But . . . Lord Hades, your helm of darkness is missing, too?" Annabeth inquired.

"Do not play innocent with me, girl. You, the satyr, and the daughter of Ares have been helping this hero—coming here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt—to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?" Hades stated.

"No! Poseidon didn't—I didn't." Percy stammered.

"I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can ill afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me to deliver your threat, I did not try to stop you."

"You didn't try to stop us? But—"

"Return my helm now, or I will stop death. That is my counterproposal. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Percy Jackson—your skeleton will lead my army out of Hades."

Cassie whined. 'Seriously, now he gets to live my dream.'

The skeletons held their weapons, ready to attack. Cassie could make them disappear a few at a time, but that would take a while.

Percy didn't like being falsely accused. He was familiar with the experience. That was why he was ready to yell at Hades.

"You're as bad as Zeus. You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me?"

"Of course." Hades replied.

"And the other monsters?"

"I had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you—I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?"

"How generous." Cassie mumbled.

"Easily!" Percy shouted.

"Return my property!" Hades commanded.

"But I don't have your helm. I came for the master bolt." Percy explained.

"Which you already possess! You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could threatened me!"

"What!" Cassie quietly exclaimed.

"But I didn't." Percy defended.

"Open your pack, then." Hades suggested.

Percy got a bad feeling. The added weight on his back. There was now way it was . . .

He took out the cylinder, buzzing with electricity.

"Percy. How—" Annabeth was astonished and so was Cassie.

"What the fu—"

"I—I don't know. I don't understand." Percy stuttered.

"You heroes are always the same. Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not aske for Zeus' master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now . . . my helm. Where is it?" Hades questioned.

Then, Cassie realized . . .

The master bolt. It had all been a trick. A trick on Zeus. On Poseidon. On Hades. Even on them. On her.

The weapon was hidden in the backpack . . . the backpack they had got from her father.

She gasped, hitting Percy's shoulder. "My dad!"

Percy figured it out too. "Lord Hades. wait. This is all a mistake."

"A mistake?" Hades yelled in a tone of offense.

The skeleton army was about to kill them now and the Furies landed on the back of Hades' throne. Just great.

"There is no mistake. I know why you have come—I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her." Hades said.

He made a gold fire ball in his hand and threw it in front of them. There was Sally Jackson, stuck motionless in a shower of gold.

Percy didn't say anything. He just outstretched his hand, but he pulled it away like he had been burnt.

"Yes," Hades clicked his tongue in satisfaction. "I took her. I knew, Percy Jackson, that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my helm, and perhaps I will let her go. She is not dead, you know. Not yet. But if you displease me, that will change."

Percy's hand hovered over his pocket as he thought of a way to get his mom free. The pearls could let them escape.

"Ah, the pearls," Hades read his mind. "Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson."

Percy listened against his will. His hand moved without his control.

"Only four. What a shame. You do realize each only protects a single person. Try to take your mother, then, little godling. And which of your friends will you leave behind to spend eternity with me? Go on. Choose. Or give me the backpack and accept my terms." Hades informed.

Percy looked back at the three. Annabeth and Grover held a grim look. Cassie seemed like she had decided something. As if she was okay with her fate.

"We were tricked. Set up." Percy said to them.

"We know. I know." Cassie replied. Any sliver of hope for a reason to like her dad vanished.

"But why? And the voice in the pit—" Annabeth asked.

"I don't know yet. But I intend to ask." Percy stated.

"Decide, boy!" Hades shouted, interrupting their realization.

"Percy." Grover stepped forward and put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "You can't give him the bolt."

"I know that."

"Leave me here. Use the third pearl on your mom." The satyr offered.

"No!"

"I'm a satyr. We don't have souls like humans do. He can torture me until I die, but he won't get me forever. I'll just be reincarnated as a flower or something. It's the best way." Grover reasoned.

"No. You three go on. Carter, you have to help Grover protect Percy. Grover, you have to get your searcher's license and start your quest for Pan. Get his mom out of here. I'll cover you. I plan to go down fighting." Annabeth countered as she drew her knife.

"No way," Cassie denied. "You've wanted a quest for as long as we've known each other. Gro, find Pan one day. Chase, become an architect or whatever. Besides, I won't have to see your stupid annoying face anymore. Until you die that is."

The daughter of Ares gave Annabeth a smile. For the first time, a genuine smile. One Annabeth wouldn't mind seeing more often. It was reassuring.

"Kelp Head, leave me. Save your mom. Going down fighting sounds fun. I can become part of the skeleton army."

Her sword crackled red as she flipped it, preparing to die fighting.

"Uh-uh. I'm staying behind." Grover protested.

"Think again, goat boy.' Annabeth retorted.

"No, both of you think again. I'm staying." Cassie argued.

"Stop it, all three of you!" Percy cried out.

He felt his heart rip in three. They had gone through so much together.

Grover and his fantastic flying with Medusa. Annabeth and her obedience class with Cerberus. Cassie and her repeated urge to slice something like the Fury on the bus.

They'd made it through the WATERLAND ride, the St. Louis Arch, the Lotus Casino.

Percy had been so worried about what friend would betray him, but these three were here arguing over who could stay behind for him.

They had only saved him, countless times and here they were, ready to sacrifice themselves for him mom.

"I know what to do. Take these."

Percy shoved a pearl into each of the three's hands.

"But, Percy . . ." Annabeth started.

"You better not be staying behind." Cassie threatened, pointing her sword towards him.

More family similarities. Threatening people with weapons, but Cassie did it for good reasoning.

Percy shook his head at her. He managed a small smile.

He desperately wanted to sacrifice himself, but he knew how his mom would reacted. She would be disappointed. Only Percy could finish this quest, not his mom.

The prophecy had said: You will fail to save what matters most in the end. This was supposed to happen.

"I'm sorry. I'll be back. I'll find a way." Percy promised.

Hades' smug face fell. "Godling . . .?"

"I'll find your helm, Uncle. I'll return it. Remember about Charon's pay raise." Percy said.

"Do not defy me—"

"And it wouldn't hurt to play with Cerberus once in a while. He likes red rubber balls."

"Percy Jackson, you will not—"

"Now, guys!" Percy yelled.

Cassie smirked, saluting Hades. "See ya, Lord of the Dead."

They threw the pearls down and nothing happened. Cassie's smirk fell.

'Well, shit.'

"Destroy them!" Hades ordered.

His army surged. The skeletons with swords ran forward and the once with guns held the trigger. The Furies flew forward using their whips.

Right when the skeletons open fired, the pearls exploded. Green light shone from the ground as the four were encased in a white sphere.

They floated off the ground and raced away as the skeletons attacks bounced off the bubbles.

Hades screamed after them, on the verge of bursting from anger.

"Look up. We're going to crash!" Grover shouted.

They were headed right for the stalactites that crowded the roof. The bubbles would probably pop and they would die a skewered death.

"How do you control these things?" Annabeth asked.

"Your guess is as good as ours, Brainiac." Cassie replied.

"I don't think you do!" Percy said.

They screamed as the bubbles slammed into the ceiling. Cassie figured that if this was how she died, she should relax.

The brunette put her hands behind her head and closed her eyes.

"Nice knowing you guys."

But, they didn't die. They went right through the solid roof to the ocean where the bubbles rose above the sea. Then pop and splash!

They fell into the sea, knocking a surfer over. He let out the typical 'dude'.

Percy grabbed the three and dragged them to a life buoy. Cassie's eyes closed again in exhaustion.

A great white was circling them, but with a 'beat it' from Percy, it fled the scene.

The surfer also swam away talking about mushrooms?

L.A. burned in the distance, no doubt, Hades' fault. An army of the dead was most likely after them right now.

But that wasn't their priority. Zeus needed his bolt back, for it was the summer solstice. June 21st. And Percy wanted to talk to Ares.

The son of Poseidon didn't take being tricked lightly.

__________________________________________

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ author's note

Only three chapters left in Act One. This one was a long one. Enjoy!!!!!

—Just Another Overthinker