"We need a ride to the Underworld," was their opening to Charon.

The four stared at Piper, aghast. She said it so casually like she was saying, hey, we need a ride to school.

"Stat," Jason supplied.

"Like, right now," Frank said listlessly. "Now."

Charon looked up from his newspapers and stared at them with his milky white eyes. His British leather suit was ironed out so perfectly, not a crease to be seen.

Annabeth frowned at his choice of wardrobe. "You wear Italian silk suits."

He blinked and fixed his eyes on her. "Oh, you're one of those demigods who hitched a ride to see Lord Hades, um, how many years ago? Time is difficult in the land of dead."

"Seven. Now, are you going to give us a ride or not?" Annabeth glowered. Jason's hand itched for his sword. Annabeth was not okay, especially when she gave people that look. Somehow he guessed that this topic seven years ago was also related to Percy.

Jason crossed his arms. "State your price."

Charon grinned and folded his newspapers on his guard table. He turned his eyes to Jason, amused. "Just the type of demands I love to hear! Jason Grace, you are definitely the Priest of the gods. I want a favour for your boarding fee."

Hazel frowned. "A favour."

"Ah! Hazel Grace. I personally gave you your admission free because your Father is Hades–"

"Pluto," Hazel corrected.

"–and yet you've returned, eighty years later," Charon finished. "Now, hear my favour out! It isn't hard at all, no! Just pass a little message to Lord Hades, that would be it."

Annabeth rolled her eyes like she knew what was going on and didn't seem amused by the outcome.

"What is it?" Piper glared.

"I demand a pay raise." Charon gestured wildly to his suits. "Look! I've been reduced to purchase regular suits from British! This isn't even the worst; these boots simply don't match!"

Frank choked with laughter. Annabeth massaged her temples like she'd dealt with this drama before and the rest of them simply were dumbstruck. That was his price for giving them a ride into the Underworld? Really?

Jason thought it would be difficult, or in the very least, they would require a battle to enter. Now they've just got to play Mission Hermes and they got the ride. Easy.

"Are you insane?" Annabeth snarled. "The Underworld's in total chaos. War is stirring and you want a pay raise!"

"It's vital to me!" he cried. "It's this or no ride. Your call, kid!"

Piper grabbed Annabeth's shoulder. "Come on. We don't have time for the other entrance in New York – it's too far. Hazel's horse, Arion wouldn't dare travel in the underground. It's just a little message."

Annabeth cursed under her breath and agreed reluctantly. They slid into the boat which was half-full with dead spirits as Frank tossed him a denarii.

"First time I was here, I was twelve," Annabeth said. "Me, Grover and Percy were on a quest to retrieve the Master Bolt, but it was a trick from Ares. Percy's mom got kidnapped by Hades."

"Harsh." Jason arched an eyebrow. Percy had mentioned none of this. Then again, they had Gaia to worry about then; followed up by the new war that Percy is waging.

Jason had no idea how it felt to have a parent. Since young, he'd been sent to Camp Jupiter. His mom before that was a drunk, washed up celebrity and Thalia, his sister was protective of him because of their mother.

Hate to say it, but not everyone has parents like Percy, who were caring and looking over him. Frank's mom died. Jason's mom died from horrible DUI. Hazel's mom died. Worst yet, Piper's dad was indeed still alive, but he hardly has time and doesn't know about the demigod world.

Charon stumbled into the boat with an oar. "Get ready, demigods." He turned to the spirits in the lobby. "Whoever sneaks on will wait another decade! Settle down, you uncouth dead!"

The boat left the lobby area. The water was black and polluted, and a foul smell lingered in the air. But the garbage in the water was... strange. Diplomas, crushed dolls and flowers were all included in the huge list.

Charon rolled his eyes at him like he was tired of answering the question.

"Over the years, dead dreams were dumped here." Annabeth glared at their chauffeur. "That's why the Styx is so polluted."

Skeletal hands reached in from the river, clawing at their bags and clothes. Frank turned into a bulldog and growled at the skellies. Piper deflected one away using her dagger.

Hazel and Piper stifled a scream. Jason looked at his hands and he could only see a skeleton. When he moved his hands, the image shifted like a mirage.

"We're almost there," Hazel said gravely. "Let's get to Elysium."

* * *

"Please tell me you aren't planning to swim to Elysium." Piper pointed at the island from afar, where some demigods or people who had done good in their life roast barbeque and party forever reside. "Frank, could you turn into a dragon?"

Frank nodded and closed his eyes in concentration. And like every time before, gray scales replaced his skin and a gray dragon stood where Frank once was.

He nudged his head and told them to get on his back. Annabeth and Hazel climbed on his back as Jason controlled the wind to lift him and Piper up. They nodded at each other and headed towards the island.

The Styx water below rumbled uneasily as if repelling their presence. Just as they were about to arrive, Piper yelled from Jason's arms: "Look out!"

A black figure crept out of Frank's shadow (um, in an awkward saying it came from his belly) and jumped overboard into the Styx water. Just as it was about to hit the surface, it disappeared in a mist of darkness.

Hazel touched Frank's scales. Other than him looking rather bamboozled, he looked okay. Jason and Piper looked like they might gag and Annabeth had her eyebrows arched.

"Whatever that was, it's a vampire horse," Annabeth muttered. "Two tried to eat me and Percy in Tartarus. The goddess Nyx tried to kill us."

Hazel glanced at her vaguely. Ever since Reyna and Percy both appeared to wage war, Annabeth had only addressed Percy as... Percy. No Seaweed Brain. No nicknames. Just Percy.

"Or a hellhound. Mrs O' Leary can do that." Piper and Jason landed on the sandy ground.

Frank descended just as soon. Frank morphed back to human and the group looked around. The spirits... well, they didn't look like the dead. They all had steady human forms, unlike the spirits in the Fields of Asphodel.

"Annabeth?" said a voice.

Annabeth turned towards the sound of the voice. So did them. The owner of the voice had sandy hair and blue eyes, and a white scar on his face.

"Luke?" Annabeth gawked at the young man. To Hazel, he looked about eighteen or so. Demigods had a reputation of dying young and heroically. "Luke!"

"Luke? From the photo?" Jason ventured. "Like, the one before the Giant War?"

Annabeth nodded listlessly as her gaze was glued to the teen. Luke wrapped his arms around the daughter of Athena, crying tears of joy.

"Oh my Gods! You're really here!" Luke cried. "What happened? Are you dead? Who are they?"

"ANNABETH?" bellowed another voice. Hazel winced. How many of Annabeth's friends died?

Annabeth's head whipped towards the direction of the voices. Her expression was wild like she was afraid she'd went insane. "Silena? Beckendorf? Michael? What – what? They're here!"

A small horde of demigods tackled Annabeth to the floor.

"This happened during the Titan War, right?" Piper guessed.

Hazel shrugged. "If I didn't know any better, I think they died in the war."

Frank's eyebrows knitted. "I hate wars."

"You guys?" Will and Nico emerged from the forest in the center.

"What are you – what are you doing down here?" Nico asked.

"Did you die?" Will demanded.

"Did you?" Nico grounded his teeth.

"No!" Jason said. "We're here to get you guys! Now that you're here, let's go!"

The couple looked at each other, aghast.

"The Underworld's been locked," Nico said darkly. "No one can get out. You get in – you can't get out. Especially with the dead by your side."

"We have to try!" Piper argued. "We came down here for you, we aren't leaving without you!"

They blinked at them. As Annabeth answered questions from her deceased friends, Will's expression turned confused and worried. Nico chewed his lip.

"We thought you were here for someone else," Will admitted.

"When Reyna talked to me, she gave me a message in her words." Nico's expression turned grim. "Percy has been dead since the Giant war. He's being controlled by Gaia."

I just read The Burning Maze few days back and Jason died. WHY!

*The message given to Nico by Reyna can be traced back to their conversation. Take every first or first few words from Reyna's dialogue ;)