CHAPTER TEN ━━ WE GET JUMPSCARED BY THE RIDE OF LOVE

HONESTLY SHE WAS STILL wrapping her head around the fact that their cousin of all people had asked them to get his shield back from an amusement park of some kind. This was a weird family for sure, even if none of them were technically related by the gods standards. Otherwise a lot of people at camp's relationships would be very weird. Eurydice grimaced at the fact.

She was slightly upset at the fact her mother had no idea if she would come home alive or not. It gave her a horrible feeling in her chest when she thought about her mother, at home alone in that apartment of theirs wondering when she'd come home. Somehow it made her even more determined to come back alive from all of this, even if so far things were not going their way. She wished that the three of them didn't have to leave Grover behind, but the satyr had insisted.

So who was she to disagree with him when he trusted them that much? Seeing her mother on the news was just another nail in the coffin for her. The reporters hounding her like she was the mother of a criminal. She frowned when she thought about the fact that the FBI is currently following them. The thought doesn't comfort her at all, seriously shouldn't the mist have fixed most of what they had done that the mortals were able to see?

None of that mattered right now as they walked to the entrance of the darkly lit amusement ark. Eurydice looked around curiously, it had taken them almost the half the day to make it here. So it had been dark by the time they got to the park itself. Oddly enough the place looked pretty abandoned, which worked in their favour. "Wow, you'd think this place is a ghost town or something..." She muttered as she followed behind the other two demigods.

Percy nodded in agreement. "I haven't seen a lot of horror movies, but this seems like exactly the kind of place they'd suggest to avoid.." He trailed off with a wince as they stepped closer the entrance. The sign on the entrance read 'Waterland,' kind of a tacky named if you asked her. But all the other cool amusement park names were already taken, so she guessed whoever made this park didn't really have a choice in the matter.

Annabeth stared up at the sign for a moment. "I've never seen any kind of movie, so I'll talk your word for it." She muttered. Eurydice stared at the other girl in disbelief. "Really? Well we'll have to fix that then." She told her with a smile. The grin on Annabeth's face made her feel even more satisfied with her offer. Percy stared at Annabeth in confusion. "Never? What do you mean 'never' like, never-never?" Eurydice gave him an annoyed look, that he really wasn't helping. Annabeth nodded. "Is there another kind?" She muttered.

Percy looked embarrassed. "Oh, well. Eurydice's right though.So, maybe if none of us are dead in the next few days we really ought to fix that. You're missing out." He smiled at the darker haired girl hesitantly. Instead Annabeth's attention was focused on the gate used to get inside of the amusement park. "In the meantime, we should probably get this over with, though." Percy finished as he walked closer to the turnstile. Something about this was oddly fishy S she stared at the mechanisms of the turnstile in confusion.

It didn't seem just that easy to get into an amusement park where apparently the god of war himself forgot his shield. It didn't make any sense. Clearly it was some kind of trap or Ares wasn't being truthful, which made sense knowing his character. Percy impulsively started to go through the gate before her or Annabeth could stop him. She could hear metal clanging as Annabeth yelled to get the boy to stop. "Wait! Percy, stop!" She was too late, as within seconds Percy was trapped inside of the turnpike.

Eurydice's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, that is not good." She looked up at the mechanisms she had seen before, they could hear that they were suddenly moving. Percy yelled out to the two girls in confusion. "Wait, what just happened?" He shouted in confusion. "Just hold still!" Annabeth yelled back, while Eurydice started to freak out. "This is why we don't impulsively go through things without making sure they're safe first Percy!" She complained as she heard the gears turn faster, that only heightened her anxiety.

She paced around anxiously. "Oh god, oh god." Annabeth sighed and grabbed her shoulder. "Eurydice, he's gonna be fine. Calm down. We need to stay calm. Just give me a second to figure this out! Okay?" She asked the other girl intensely. Eurydice could only nod shakily in response. "Okay, okay." She took a deep breath. "This is fine." She muttered to herself, trying not to find of the gears that could possibly kill Percy if they made the wrong move here.

Annabeth stared at the mechanisms deeply in thought. "In the mechanism there, that's Celestial bronze." Eurydice stared at her in confusion. "What is that?" Annabeth answered her quickly. "It's basically what all demigod weapons are made up of. It's special iron that can kill monsters." Eurydice hummed. "Ohh." Percy stared at them with an annoyed look on his face. "Well that is just fascinating, but what is happening right now?" He asked the two girls panickedly.

Annabeth sighed. "Celestial bronze is what your sword is made of, Percy. Same for Eurydice's. If you're human it'll pass right through you. If you're a monster or a demigod..." She trailed off. Eurydice's blood ran cold as she felt the feeling of impending death creeping up on her. "You'll die." Percy's face immediately paled at her last words. Percy shakily muttered. "Well, what's it doing there then?" Annabeth frowned. "That's a great question. Safe to say, this is not just some amusement park."

Eurydice scowled when she thought about what the god had told them before. "He lied to us." She clenched her fists slightly. Annabeth nodded. "No ordinary person could have made this. A god built this." She muttered in realization. Percy meanwhile, wasn't comforted by this information at all. "What kind of god builds amusement parks?" He muttered in confusion. Annabeth answered his query quickly. "Hephaestus." She faintly remembered his name from the stories her mom had told her.

Specifically the one her mother had told her about how Hephaestus had been thrown off a cliff by his mother Hera. That story had been one of the ones her mom had told her about how to know a bad parent from a good one. You can take a wild guess at if Hera was a bad parent or good one in that instance. If you answered a that she was a good mom, you would be totally, and utterly wrong. Yeah that was a clear description of what not to do if you think your kid is ugly enough to throw off a cliff.

Why would Hephaestus build an amusement park. Eurydice blinked in confusion. "Yeah, seriously. That seems like... such a little thing for a god of all people. Isn't he the god of blacksmiths too?" Annabeth shrugged slightly. "Maybe he finds them amusing?" She suggested. Peruy glared at her slightly. "That's really not funny, Annabeth." The girl only smiled slightly in response. "It's a little funny." Eurydice nodded in agreement. "Remind me to laugh at this later when Percy isn't in mortal peril, alright?" Annabeth gave her a thumbs up in response.

Percy sighed in annoyance at their antics. Annabeth stared at the gears and mechanisms on top of the gate in anticipation. "Oh... Oh, look at that." She muttered as she watched the gears and mechanisms turn together. "That's cool..." Annabeth looked mesmerized at the gears. Eurydice stared at her blankly. "Annabeth! Come on focus." She shook the other girl's shoulder slightly. Annabeth waved her off dismissively. "Just relax. I'm on it." She muttered as she exhaled sharply. "Okay." She breathed in.

Eurydice crossed her arms as she stared at the other girl slightly. She wasn't sure how she'd figure this out, but wasn't even sure how the hell that thing worked. But she trusted her. Annabeth stared at the mechanisms again deep in thought. "I get this. Just... push through it." She told Percy quickly. Eurydice looked alarmed. "Are you sure?" She asked the dark haired girl. Annabeth just nodded in response. "Yeah. Just trust me, okay?" Eurydice nodded slightly.

Percy looked confused. "Push?" He looked to Annabeth for confirmation. The girl nodded. "Yep." She said. Percy started to ramble right before Eurydice could speak. "Cause weren't you the one this morning who was all, the Fates say one of us is gonna die and we should take it really seriously?" Annabeth sighed. "Percy." She asked him with a deep sigh. "Yeah?" He muttered in response. "Please just push the damn thing." Eurydice told him with a shake of her head.

The gears began to clang again as he slowly went through the gate. A number counter on top of the door slowly dinged, showing a counter of one. "What was that?" He muttered in confusion. Annabeth sighed in relief. "The machine isn't designed to hurt us. It's meant to scare us. It's a test." Eurydice's shoulders slumped slightly in relief. She watched Annabeth push slowly through the gate to get to the other side. She heard the familiar ring again as the counter went up to two.

Eurydice nervously stood towards the gate. Percy gave her a sympathetic look. "You're gonna be fine Eury, just push through and you'll come through out the other side in one piece just like us." He smiled at her so earnestly that she couldn't help but smile. She swallowed down her nerves and pushed. She could hear the gears above her head moving as she slid the door. She breathed in shakily as she squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation.

When nothing came, she sighed in relief as she reached the other side where Percy and Annabeth were waiting for her. She could hear the familiar ding from before, bringing the counter to three in total. She opened her eyes carefully with a wince as she breathed in y. "See?" Percy smiled at her. "Not so bad, huh?" He asked her with a smile. Eurydice huffed. "You're acting like you're not the one who was freaking out earlier." He rolled his eyes at her slightly. "Yeah, yeah. I get it." He gave her a look of faux annoyance.

Annabeth cleared her throat. Hephaestus wanted to know any time one of us came poking around his playground. Percy looked at the counter thoughtfully. "I guess now he knows." Annabeth finished as the three demigods walked further inside of the park.

Eurydice laughed bitterly. "Well, isn't that wonderful?" Her sarcasm seeping through her voice as Percy patted her arm slightly. "I'm sure it'll be fine." Annabeth sighed slightly. "Well. that's the hope." She finished. 

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THERE WAS A EERINESS in the air as they walked through the abandoned amusement park. Annabeth was staring at it all in complete in utter awe. While Eurydice trailed behind, staying close to Percy trying not to think about how creepy this place was.

Annabeth grinned. "Oh, wow. Look at that." She muttered at the three demigods stared at a large ferris wheel. "Tell me the god of craftsmen didn't build this." She muttered to the other two demigods as they walked passed the ferris wheel. "Have you ever seen anything like this?" She asked them curiously. Eurydice shook her head instantly. "No, not really. It's looks kind of creepy to be honest." She muttered nervously.

Percy nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I have to agree with her. If it this place belongs to the god of craftsmen, what was the god of war doing here? Aren't they enemies?" He muttered in confusion as they kept walking. "Then why'd he split without his shield?" Percy asked. Eurydice shrugged, clueless when she tried to think about an answer to that. Annabeth hums thoughtfully. "If I'm guessing..." She trailed off slightly. "Ares has always had a thing with..." Percy cut her off in realization. "Aphrodite." Eurydice grimaced, and was then reminded of a story her mother had told her.

Aphrodite was forced to marry Hephaestus as Zeus thought it was improper for her to keep having so many lovers. Clearly that didn't work, as it ended in Aphrodite continually cheating on Hephaestus with Area, the god of war. Eurydice grimaced in realization. "She's Hephaestus's wife." She felt bad for Hephaestus in a way. His mother had thrown him off Olympus for being ugly, and then the poor guy's wife constantly cheated on him? Honestly she felt bad for the guy.

Percy grimaced as well. "Oh, you're kidding. He met her here? In her husband's park?" He muttered uncomfortably. Eurydice winced sympathetically. "Poor guy. His wife and her lover in his park... at this point that's hair mean." Percy nodded in agreement. "That's so wrong." He shook his head uncomfortably. "They got caught and he had to leave in a hurry." Annabeth realized that they had gotten set up to pick up after Ares mess.

Eurydice immediately groaned in announce. "Are you kidding me? That guy tricked up to go pick up after him for getting caught with his affair partner?" She had the urge to punch Ares out suddenly. Annabeth sighed deeply. "One thing Ares was telling the truth about... this family is a mess." Suddenly as continued to walk through the darkly lit amusement park, music started to play.

Eurydice stared at the direction the music was coming from in confusion. "What was that?" She stared at Annabeth and Percy in confusion. Percy sounded completely lost. "I have... no idea." He muttered as the music began to get louder. She could hear some kind of machinery turning on as the fairground music droned on in the background.

Suddenly in the darkness of the amusement park as the music played on, lights started to flicker on. The sign in front of them began to light up in glowing bright pink letters. They glowed brightly in the dimness of the amusement park. "Oh no." Eurydice suddenly paled as she looked at the name of the ride. The sign read, 'Thrill ride o' love.' in bright pink letters. "I immediately don't like this at all." Eurydice muttered under her breath as Annabeth and Percy stared at the ride in complete stunned silence.

Wow, could this her anymore awkward? As the ride's music began to get clearer Annabeth muttered slightly mortified. "Don't you even try to tell me not to be weird about this." She told Percy, who just looked deathly pale in response. "I didn't say anything." He muttered softly. "I can feel you thinking it." Annabeth shot back. Eurydice grimaced again. "Oh, I already hate it." She shook her head, completely stunned.

Annabeth sighed slightly. "This must be where Ares and Aphrodite got caught." She muttered. Eurydice swallowed slightly. "So, you're telling me we have to go in there and get the shield?" Annabeth winced slightly. "Well—" Percy interrupted her before she got the chance to speak. He sighed deeply. "Sure. Let's go check out the scary ghost ride. Why not?" He muttered out, resigning himself to his fate.

Eurydice shook her head unpleasantly, stepping backwards slightly. "You know what I'd rather not—" Percy and Annabeth gave her blank looks. She immediately paled in response. "Hey! Don't look at me like that!" She complained anxiously. "Dude." Annabeth sighed. Percy gave her a look. "You can't get out of this. This is a group effort, either all of us suffer or none of us go in there at all." He said stubbornly.

Eurydice shouted in annoyance. "Seriously?" She complained. Annabeth rolled her eyes at her. "Yes, or do you want me to drag you in?" By the look on her face Eurydice could tell she was being serious. She frowned but nodded. "Fine. We'll all suffer then." She complained but unhappily followed the two of them in. Percy patted her on the whopper. "Hey, but look on the bright side. It's not like anyone is gonna even know that we were here." She sighed slightly. "I guess you're right." She shrugged as they walked in.

A couple of seconds later the three of them were on a boat floating them out through the water inside of the ride. It was completely quiet as they floated out towards the water. She didn't like the silence as it left her alone with her thoughts. Her tendency to overthink was arguably the worst thing about her. She really wasn't in the mood for her brain to do that right now. All she wanted was to get this stupid shield and leave this ride as fast as possible.

She heard a faint thud all of a sudden, she turned to look up at the ceiling where tiny lights were scattered all around the place in confusion. All of a sudden in the dim darkness of the amusement park ride Haddway's "What Is Love" started to play. Eurydice would have been laughing if not for the fact this was the most mortifying moment of her life.

However could not stop the stunned laughter that built up in her throat when she heard the music started to play. She had remembered her mom having this song as loop during their various road trips every summer. Every single summer without doubt, this godamn song came back to haunt her. Seriously, what is her life?

She nearly choked on her spit in her fit of laughter. Annabeth, however was incredibly confused. "What is happening right now?" She muttered out in confusion as Eurydice's foot started to thump to the best out of pure habit. Percy looked even more confused than Annabeth did. "I feel like I've heard this before. I think, from an orthodontist's office maybe?" Eurydice couldn't help the snort that came out of her mouth.

Annabeth and Percy stared at her weirdly. "I'm sorry— I'm sorry. It's just- my mom always plays this song on loop. During road trips." Percy blinked in confusion. "What?" He sounded incredulous. She nodded, trying not to laugh again. "Yeah." She muttered out breathily, trying to contain the laughter simmering up in her stomach. "I'm sorry— I need a minute." Eurydice hid her mouth in her hands, trying to stop the laughter from growing.

She coughed slightly as she regained her composure. "I'm fine. I'm fine." She reassured the other two demigods who shrugged it off in response. The music began to play again and showed them an animation on the walls of the ride of sorts. She squinted at it in confusion. "What the hell is that?" It seemed to be some kind of story of sorts. It was bright and colourful as their boat floated past the story in chronological order.

She heard the song getting to its chorus as the story on the walls went on. She thumped her foot to the beat again, despite how annoying this song had become to her over the years. She would admit, it was pretty catchy. They watched the story change from an innocent looking little boy being birthed from a woman with a crown on her head. It was weirdly familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Wait, I know this." Percy suddenly said.

The story then changed into the woman throwing the child off something. Maybe a hill? Percy seemed to come to a realization. "It's Hephaestus's story." He muttered as the three demigods watched the oddly colourful story intently. "For such a depressing story, this is very colourful." Eurydice pointed out with a narrow of her eyebrows.

The story changed again bringing the woman from before back, and then a new woman. "Rejected by Hera. Rejected by Aphrodite." Percy muttered as the story went on. "My mom told me these stories all the time. I remember this." Percy muttered. She had been told these stories too, but she really hadn't paid attention much to this story at all. There were other stories that kept her better entertained.

Percy went quiet all of a sudden before he spoke again. "She said..." Annabeth and Eurydice gave him a confused look. "What?" Annabeth asked. Eurydice narrowed her eyebrow slightly at him in confusion. Percy sighed. "She said this is what the gods are like to each other. This is the kind of family they are." The story then changed to a bitter looking Hephaestus on the screen cursing out Aphrodite and Ares, who seemed to be holding hands.

Eurydice then realized that what Percy was talking about was what happened back at the Arch with Echidna. She frowned slightly. "She said that?" She muttered in confusion. Annabeth stared at him. "Why didn't you wanna say that just now?" She asked. Percy frowned. "She was trying to keep me away from you guys." She could see Annabeth's eyes widening slightly.

The absurdity of having such an upbeat song play in the background of such an important moment between them wasn't lost on her. If she remembers to later, she's going to have a good laugh about this with her mom when she gets home.

Percy sighed slightly. "Maybe you were right." He looked at Annabeth. "Maybe she should have been preparing me better. Even Eurydice was more prepared than I was." She shook her head at him in resistance. "Both of our moms were trying their best. It was different for the both of us." She attempted to comfort him. Annabeth nodded in agreement. "Maybe she was preparing you. So when you got to us, you'd be different than this."

If things had gone differently Percy would have been more jaded, and he wouldn't have been her Percy anymore. He wouldn't have been the person who thought the best in every situation, he was the complete opposite of her. And Eurydice really wasn't sure what she would do without him, he was one of her best friends now. Other than Annabeth and Grover, who she had gradually began to see as best friends. Percy had been there since the beginning. So it was different.

Suddenly the ride came to a stop. The colourful lights disappeared as the boat pushed them out towards the glowing green horizon in front of them. It was only two seconds later she realized that horizon was a drop. She screamed loudly, holding onto Percy and Annabeth for dear life as they descended down the river. It felt like when a rollercoaster was about to drop, but instead she could feel the water all around them soaking her all at once.

She could hear Percy's voice crack and Annabeth's scream as they were shoved further down the stream. It was fast and Eurydice could barely make out any of her surroundings. Finally the ride was over as it came to an abrupt stop. She gingerly let go of Percy and Annabeth's shoulders she was holding onto. "Sorry." She grimaced slightly as she let go of the two of them. "It's fine." Annabeth reassured her as they all sighed in relief at the ride being over. Too bad that they were mistaken.

Their boat floated out towards a long hallway, one large golden statue being in one of the rooms. Eurydice gasped as she pointed at what one of the statues was holding. "That's Ares shield!" She yelled out enthusiastically. Finally! They could get out of this place and forget it ever even happened. Percy nodded, grinning. "You're right. There it is." He relaxed slightly in relief.

Their relief however, was short lived as thunder suddenly began to rumble as the waves began to turn again. "Uh oh. What's happened?" Eurydice yelled out shakily, mortified that the ride wasn't over like they thought it was. The boat was floating out towards the thunder. She watched it as she breathed in shakily, a moment later she heard Percy screaming. "Jump!" He yelled, and immediately the three of them turned and jumped out of the boat.

As soon as she hit the water, she closed her eyes tightly to not feel the sting of the water in her eyes. She felt the water splash all over her clothes and swam up desperately for air. She could see Annabeth struggling from underneath the water slightly. Percy immediately reached out for her, Eurydice could barely make out the ripples from her blurry vision as she saw some kind of force pulling Annabeth out of the water.

The water pushed her out towards a solid surface, she could tell it was Percy doing it as she wasn't moving herself out of the water at all. Eurydice knew how to swim, but her sight was way too blurry to make out anything. She breathed in shakily as she breathed in the air, she wasn't ever so happy to breathe air in her life!

She stared at Annabeth in concern, who was coughing loudly as she attempted to pull herself up on the surface shakily. She stared at Percy in obvious shock. "Did you just pull me out of there with that waterpower stuff?" Percy blinked. "No." Eurydice gave him a confused look. "What?" Annabeth narrowed her eyes at the boy. "Did you just—" Percy grimaced. "I don't know. Maybe?" He shook his head in confusion. "I'm figuring this out as I go." He muttered as the three of them stood up to look properly at the golden statue holding Ares shield.

It was at least 4 feet taller than the three of them. It had a large and golden shiny surface, looking way too smooth and shiny. Percy sighed in annoyance at the realization this thing would be harder to get than they thought. "How are we supposed to get that thing down?" He asked the two other girls, completely out of ideas. Eurydice looked at the statue deep in thought. "I.. I have no idea." Annabeth stared at it thoughtfully. "These things are connected somehow." She stared at the golden statue and the chair intently.

The golden chair was situated right in front of the statue, as if it were begging someone to go and sit in it. But knowing the gods, this was clearly a trap. And if she remembered the stories correctly chairs were usually a trick in greek mythology. "It's a machine, but how do you start the machine?" She mused thoughtfully.

The three demigods stared at the golden chair in silence before Percy started speaking. "It was a gift with a hidden purpose. Hephaestus offered it to Hera, but as soon as she sat in it, she couldn't get up." Eurydice continued, remembering the next part of the story. "All the gods tried, but the machine was too smart. It was too strong. It was too much. Even for them." She remembers now when her mother told her about this story.

It hadn't stuck out to her within about a million other stories about the gods. Percy nodded at her. "Finally, they said if Hephaestus let Hera free, Aphrodite would be his wife." Without Hera all do the gods would be in chaos, so they needed to set her free. "The chair is the bargain." Percy said in realization. "One of us goes in, the other gets the shield." Eurydice could feel her face paling significantly. "Oh god." She muttered out, horrified at the prospect of having to leave one of their group behind.

Annabeth immediately shouted out. "I'll do it." She said instantly, quickly going towards the chair. "Annabeth!" Eurydice muttered in disagreement. "You are not doing it!" She shouted at the other girl as her and Percy held their arms out to stop her from getting any closer to that cursed chair. Percy nodded in agreement. "She's right! We can't just choose just like that!" He insisted shakily. Annabeth stared at the two of them, like they didn't understand what she was trying to do. "Whoever goes in, isn't coming out. That seems pretty clear."

Percy nodded. "I know, that's why I said wait." Eurydice could feel her anxiety creep up on her, she couldn't let either of them do that. She couldn't let either of them die. There had to be some other way. This can't be it! "None of this is worth it! Ares set us up. He knew this would happen!" She shouted angrily. "There has to be some other way!" She yelled. Percy winced. "Eurydice calm down—"

She glared at him slightly. "I'm not going to calm down! One of us has to get stuck in here. We can't do this!" She breathed in shakily. Eurydice clenched her fists hard. Annabeth glared at Percy now too. "This isn't the Arch, Seaweed Brain. You're not pushing me into the stairwell again." Percy shouted back at her stubbornly. "Yes, I am." He told her sisters. "I'm not gonna let you this time. It doesn't work that way!" Annabeth shot back.

Eurydice had enough of this. "Stop it!" She snapped. "Then I'll do it." She resigned herself to her fate, attempting to get to the chair. But Percy just held her down. "No, you're not!" Percy yelled at her, dragging her down. She attempted to resist, kicking and shoving at Percy to let her go. But he wouldn't let her. She had nearly managed to get Percy to let go of her before Annabeth started dragging her too.

Annabeth yelled at the other girl stubbornly. It's going to me! Not you, or Percy!" She insisted, glaring at her. Eurydice could feel her eyes watering slightly. She couldn't let either of them die. But they weren't letting her save them! Percy yelled at Annabeth again. "It's why you're here." He suddenly said, and the three of them stopped.

Annabeth stared at him. "Excuse me?" She muttered. Eurydice watched the two of them, trying to find a way to escape. But their holds on her wrists were too tight for her to find a way out. Percy sighed. "When I was choosing our team, I told Chiron I needed someone who wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice me if the quest required it." Eurydice remembers that conversation all too well. Percy, as the first official demigod of the quest had decided for the two of them.

She frowned slightly as Percy continued. "He agreed. That was you. And before you get mad at Eury, she was the one who insisted on you coming but not because you would sacrifice us at any point. She actually believed in you, and maybe I should have too." She could see Percy breathing in shakily. "You were right. I can't believe it, but the Fates were right." He said.

Eurydice could feel her heart pounding, was he trying to imply that the betrayal the prophecy meant was this? At first they thought the prophecy meant they were both going to be betrayed. But... now that she was thinking about it. It made horrifyingly more sense that it was one of them. And Percy thought it was him. She could feel her blood run cold as he continued speaking.

Her breathing was uneven and shaky as she thought about the prospect of even having to let Percy take the fall again. "There's no getting around this. We dodged it at the Arch, barely, but... maybe this isn't something you can dodge forever." She could see Annabeth's voice get shaky as she stared at him. "The Oracle chose you. The gods chose you!" She yelled at him.

Percy shook his head at her. "Stop! It isn't about that." He insisted. Suddenly Eurydice had gotten an idea. If she let them argue for long enough, get their guards down that she wasn't going to sacrifice herself. At the last moment she'd be able to get to that chair in time so that they couldn't stop her. She stopped attempting to get rid of Percy and Annabeth's hands clutching her wrists tightly.

She felt their holds loosen slightly. Good. Lucky for her, huh? She breathed in slightly as she braced herself. She needed to choose the perfect time. Annabeth stared at Percy in confusion. "What could it possibly be about if it isn't about that?" She was completely lost. Percy stared at her intensely. "You're better at this than me." If Eurydice doesn't time this right, Percy is going to get stuck in that chair.

So has to be done carefully. Annabeth stared at Percy in disbelief. "You just are." He insisted one last time. "And you know it. Believe me, I wish there was another way this quest succeeds. But I just don't see it." He breathed in slightly as he slowly walked up to the chair. Annabeth's hold on Eurydice's arm was loosened significantly now. Percy had let go of her a few seconds before.

Percy stared at the two girls with a sense of finality. "I need you two to promise me something." Annabeth nodded. "We aren't leaving the Underworld without your mom." She said shakily, like she was about to burst into tears. Percy smiled slightly. "Thank you. But I was gonna say, when this quest is done, can you maybe swing back here and try to get me outta this thing?" He tried to make them laugh.

Annabeth scoffed tearfully. "You think you had to ask?" She said. Eurydice breathed in shakily. "Percy. You don't have to do this." She begged him desperately. He shook his at her, gods why was he so stubborn? He smiled at Annabeth. "I'm just making sure." He muttered. Annabeth sniffled as the two girls watched Percy about to sit down. Annabeth's grip on her was harder now.

But at the very last moment, she pushed Percy out of the way. He screamed in disbelief. "Eurydice! No!" He yelled as the girl sat down on the golden throne. She breathed in shakily as she sat down. Percy gasped and immediately got up and tried to yank her out of the chair. But he was too late, the chair had already trapped her in. She could feel the chair get warm as the gears turned from behind it.

She stared at Annabeth and Percy's horrified faces as the blonde boy stood up, horrified that he couldn't get her out. "Eurydice!" Annabeth let out a strangled out cry, screaming her name loudly as she felt the machinery of the chair creaking. Percy tried again to pull her out of the chair desperately. "Come on! Come on!" He yelled frantically, but he couldn't get her out. "Please! Please." Percy begged with the chair to let her go, but it didn't break.

She saw tears running down Percy's face. "No, no, no, no no!" He shouted desperately. "Eurydice!" He stared at her in complete and utter despair. Despite herself she smiled at the two of them. "Hey, it's gonna be okay." She smiled at them comfortingly. Looking at them with a bittersweet smile on her face. "Tell my mom I love her, okay?" She asked them one final request, with a smile on her face.

Annabeth's eyes widened horrified. "Eurydice! Stand up. I mean it. Eurydice!" She yelled at her, the desperation in her voice hurt to watch. Her eyes were wide with unshed tear, as Percy glared at her his eyes bloodshot with tears. "Eurydice get up. Get up right now! This isn't funny." He yelled at her. "Eurydice please!" He begged her. She smiled at the two of them comfortingly. "It's okay. Get Percy's mom and stop the war." She told them insistent, they had to listen.

Percy screamed in frustration with tears in his eyes. "No! No, no, no! I am not doing this without you." He sobbed angrily. She shook her head at him with a smile. "You have to, Percy." She told him, still smiling. She could feel tears in her own eyes. But that didn't matter as long as Annabeth and Percy survived. "Eurydice, no." Annabeth cried out softly.

She smiled at them one last time. "Please, tell my mom I love her. Okay?" She repeated again, her last request to the two of them. "And tell her, I'm sorry." Her voice cracked slightly at the end. Eurydice could feel the seat getting warmer, as gold began to surround her body. But she wasn't scared. She could feel the darkness surround her, but for some reason she wasn't scared.

Maybe death wouldn't be so bad. The last thing she could hear was Percy and Annabeth's screams of desperation for her to stand up. And then everything went dark.

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HOWEVER, DEATH DIDN'T SEEM TO CLAIM HER. As suddenly a few seconds later Eurydice's eyes opened as she stared at her hands in confusion. She could feel the gold peeling itself away from her skin as she breathed in shakily. She was supposed to be dead. What just happened? In her haze of confusion she didn't register Percy and Annabeth running to hug her tightly.

The two of them helped her to her feet as she stared at the unknown man at the top of the balcony behind them in confusion. "Some of us don't like being that way either." The older man muttered. Eurydice blinked in confusion as she looked over at Percy and Annabeth. "Oh-kay. What did I miss?" She muttered in confusion while the two of them laughed.

The older man nodded at the other two demigods. "You're good kids Percy, Annabeth. I'll put in a good word with your mom for you, and your dad Percy." The man suddenly left and Eurydice has never been more confused in her life ever.

As soon as the man left, Percy immediately tacked her into a hug. "You are an idiot." His words were muffled into the back of her shoulder. Annabeth wiped the tears from her eyes and joined the hug too. Eurydice laughed softly, she could feel their grips on her tightly, like they were afraid of her disappearing on them. The two of them hugging her like his, she felt warmer than she ever had felt before.

Annabeth nodded in agreement when the three of them finally pulled away from the hug. Percy's grip on her arm was still tight, he was still afraid that she might turn into gold again. Annabeth glared at her slightly. "You are an idiot. And a genius." She muttered with a shake of her head. "You tricked us." She sounded offended that she had managed to trick her of all people.

Eurydice laughed softly. "Look, I'm sorry." She smiled slightly. Annabeth hit her arm softly in response. "Never, ever. Do that to us again. You hear me?" She glared at her intensely. Eurydice laughed nervously. "Yes, ma'am." The other girl rolled her eyes at her slightly. Percy shot her a glare then too. "She's right. Seriously, never again." He glared at her.

Eurydice just laughed at them. "I'm sorry!" She muttered. "But isn't it a tradition at this point? A little sacrificing yourself so the others can be safe?" She asked the two of them, who only just shot her even dirtier glares. She chuckled slightly. "Okay! I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She held her hands up in defense. The two of them tackled her into another hug at that.

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They finally got back to the diner just in time. Annabeth threw Ares shield onto the table. Grover was right there next to the god of war at the table right where they left him. Eurydice sighed in relief. She was relieved to see Grover, for a second there she'd thought she would never see him again.

The two other demigods glared at the god.  "Where's our ride?" Percy demanded. A few seconds later Hermes brought the four of them outside to where a large truck was waiting for them. Eurydice blinked in confusion. "Uh... what is that?" Percy stared at the truck in disbelief. "You're kidding." He stared at the god of war in shock. Eurydice stared at the man in shock. "You really don't expect us to get inside of that do you??" She yelled at the man in disbelief.

Ares only rolled his eyes at the girl. "Get in, don't. I really don't care." He muttered as he snapped his fingers and opened the truck's doors wide open. She glared at the god, seriously? This was what she got turned to gold for! Ares didn't seem bothered. "But in a few hours, this thing is gonna be at the Lotus Casino in Vegas. Hermes hangs out there. You play your cards right and his personal driver can get you to L.A. in minutes." The man told the four of them.

The god of war threw a backpack at Percy, who caught it in confusion. "Here. Clothes. Cash. Drachmas to summon Hermes." Ares muttered. "I'd wish you luck, but what good would it do you?" If he wasn't a god Eurydice would have already punched the lights out of this guy. Percy glared at the god. "We're not gonna fail." He insisted.

Ares scoffed, glaring back at Percy. "Don't worry. Your dad had plenty of kids he stopped caring about once he lost interest." He laughed. "You'll have lots of company." Eurydice's glare at the older man unnerved him slightly. "Calm down kid, I'm just telling your little boyfriend over here the truth." She scoffed, gasping as she glared at the god angrily. "He is not my—" Grover held her back from doing anything she'd regret.

Percy sighed, shaking his head at the god. "We're not gonna fail, and I'm getting pretty tired of you saying it." Grover nervously warned the blonde. "Percy." He tried to get him to not say anything he'd regret. But he was clearly struggling to keep Eurydice from picking a fight she couldn't win with the god of war. Percy however wasn't backing down. "You think you know who I am, but you don't. And if you aren't careful... you're gonna find out." He glared at the man one last time.

Grover ran up to Percy's side when she stopped fighting him. "Percy..." Eurydice sighed and patted Percy's shoulder. "He's not worth it." She grimaced as she stared at the god of war. Grover laughed awkwardly. "So, thank you for the emotional abuse and the cheeseburgers... and the ride. We're gonna take you up on that, too." He said as the four of them walked up to the truck.

She climbed up the truck, holding a hand out to Annabeth to help her up. She took it gratefully as the boys climbed up right after them. Grover turned to Ares awkwardly. "Hey, do you think we could get some paper towels or something, it's not that nice in here—" Ares didn't answer, instead closing the door on them so he didn't have to grace the satyr with a response.

Percy grimaced as they stepped inside of the truck. "Well... this smells." Eurydice winced. "Oh, this is.. so gross.." She held her hand to her nose in an attempt to block the smell. But it just made it worse. Annabeth sighed. "If it gets us where we need to go, that's all that matters." She shrugged. Percy didn't look happy though. "Assuming Ares was telling the truth." Eurydice scoffed. "I can't believe I got turned to gold for this ride." She complained under her breath.

Grover stared at her in confusion. "You what??" Percy winced slightly. "We'll tell you later." He patted their friend's arm slightly, but that didn't seem to comfort him. He looked even more freaked out now. "I mean, he wasn't. Not entirely, at any rate." Grover said trying to change the subject. "He was holding something back." The three demigods stared at him in confusion.

Annabeth glanced at Grover questioningly. "How do you know?" She asked him. Grover took a deep breath in. "Because I think I got it out of him." Eurydice's eyebrows furrowed. "Grover, just get to the point already." She complained. She had enough for one day, getting turned into gold was one thing. But at this point they had nothing else to loose. Grover was silent for a while until he spoke again. "I know who stole the master bolt."

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Woohoo!! After forever I finally finished this chapter. It took a little longer than expected, but here it is! We are so close to the end! I hope you're all as excited as I am. We are one step closer to Eurydice and her dad finally meeting. Next chapter we get the lotus casino! And who knows.. maybe we'll be a few cameos from our other favourite children of hades. (If you know, you know)

Anyways I'm so sorry for this chapter not getting out as quickly as they usually do. I've just been busy lately but I'll do my best to continue updating when possible! Thank you all for reading and for your continuous support <33