▬▬▬▬ CHAPTER FOURTEEN ▬▬▬▬

My ASL class is supposed to start today 🙃 but no word from him 🙃 nor has he opened the class in the school site 🙃 so I'll update today and distract myself from my awful anxiety with your lovely comments about this chapter 🙃 My oral communications professor opened up her online classroom yesterday and her class officially starts tomorrow 🙃 I'm not that nervous because at least she opened up her class and contacted the students 🙃

⚠️WARNING⚠️ Long chapter ahead! 10,000+ words!

I WISH NICO WAS HERE, Esmerelda thought, trying not to shake from head to toe as she faced the Goddess of Spring's cold brown eyes. 

Nico had left for New Orleans a few days ago to go talk to some ghosts or something, leaving her alone in the Underworld with the goddess who seemed to hate her with every fiber of her being—and Esmerelda, for the life of her, just couldn't figure out why.

Usually she just stayed away from Persephone's presence, but this time she was personally called over to her garden. At first, she thought she was going to be given yet another stupidly suicidal mini-quest, but she was dead wrong.

"I-I don't understand, my lady," she tried to keep her voice steady. "I don't believe I've done anything wrong..."

"You don't believe so?" Persephone echoed her words softly, her voice cutting. "It does not matter what you believe because I know what you have done. And you will pay for it dearly."

What the heck is she talking about?! She discreetly wiped her sweaty palms in the fabric of her skirt, feeling her anxiety reach a new peak as she tried to think of what to say next.

"My husband shall know of your crime soon enough," Persephone said, her expression a tad bit victorious.

Esmerelda swallowed nervously. "Does this have to do with why you put the Underworld under lockdown?"

The goddess' face tightened, and that was when Esmerelda knew she had hit the mark. But maybe she had hit it a little too close. "You are dismissed, half-blood. I have already called forth a team to fix what you have done."

"But—"

She was cut off by three sets of terrified screaming and whirled around. To her surprise, it was Nico, Percy, and Thalia. They had appeared just a few feet away from the veranda out of nowhere and were shrieking in terror before they awkwardly slowed to a stop. They looked confused and talked to each other for awhile before finally noticing them.

"I am Persephone," Persephone introduced herself. "Welcome demigods."

Nico squashed the pomegranate under his boot. "Welcome? Huh. After last time you've got the nerve to welcome me?"

Percy shifted uneasily, which was ironic since he was probably one of the least respectful demigod to ever walked the planet. "Um, Nico..."

"It's all right," Persephone said coldly. "We had a little family spat."

"Family spat?" Nico cried, looking seconds away from jumping her. "You turned me into a dandelion! It took Essie two days to get me back to normal!"

Persephone ignored her stepson and turned to Esmerelda. "You are dismissed. I will call you forth for your punishment later."

Esmerelda was about to bow, but Nico interrupted. "Punishment?" He repeated through gritted teeth. "What are you going to punish her for? She's done nothing wrong!"

"You'll find out soon, but for now, she is dismissed." Persephone said in a warning tone.

"No," Nico said stubbornly, and both Percy and Thalia were giving him panicked looks. "Essie's staying here."

Esmerelda watched Persephone nervously. The face she wore made it seem like she was going to turn him into a daisy again, but this time she was going to stomp all over him. 

Thankfully, that didn't happen.

"Fine," Persephone forced out, before addressing the rest of them. "As I was saying, demigods, I welcome you to my garden."

Thalia lowered her bow. "You sent the golden deer?"

"And the hellhound," the goddess admitted. "And the shadow that collected Nico. It was necessary to bring you together."

"Why?" Percy asked.

"Lord Hades has a problem," she replied. "And if you know what's good for you, you will help him."

They sat on the dark veranda overlooking the garden. Persephone's handmaidens brought food and drinks which they were all wise enough to ignore. The handmaidens would have been pretty except for the fact that they were dead. They wore yellow dresses with daisy and hemlock wreaths on their heads. Their eyes were hollow and they spoke in jittering bat-like voices of shades.

Persephone sat on a silver throne and studied the four kids.

"If this was spring I would be able to greet you properly in the world above. Alas in winter, this is the best I can do." She said, sounding bitter. "Hades is my husband and master, young ones. I would do anything for him but in this case, I need your help. And quickly. It concerns Lord Hades' sword."

Nico frowned. "My father doesn't have a sword. He uses his staff in battle and his helm of terror."

"He didn't have a sword," Persephone corrected.

Thalia sat up. "He's forging a new symbol of power without Zeus' permission?"

The goddess of springtime pointed. Above the table, an image flickered to life. Skeletal weapon smiths worked over a forge of black flames using hammers fashioned like metal skulls to beat a length of iron into a blade.

"War with the Titans is almost upon us," Persephone said. "My Lord Hades must be ready."

"But Zeus and Poseidon would never allow Hades to forge a new weapon," Thalia protested. "It would unbalance their power sharing agreement."

Persephone shook her head. "You mean it would make Hades their equal. Believe me daughter of Zeus, the Lord of the Dead has no designs against his brothers. He knew they would never understand. Which is why he forged the blade in secret."

The image over the table shimmered. A zombie weapon smith raised the blade still glowing hot. Something strange was set on the base. Not a gem, more like...

"Is that a key?" Percy asked.

Nico made a gagging sound. "The keys of Hades?"

"Wait!" Thalia said. "What are the keys of Hades?"

Nico looked even paler than his stepmother. "Hades has a set of golden keys that can lock or unlock death. At least... that's the legend."

"It's true," Persephone said.

"How do you lock and unlock death?" Percy asked.

"The keys have the power to imprison a soul in the Underworld," Persephone explained. "Or to release it."

Nico swallowed. "If one of those keys has been set in the sword..."

"The wielder can raise the dead," Persephone finished grimly. "Or slay any living thing and send it's soul to the Underworld with a mere touch of the blade."

Esmerelda now understood what was going on. "It's been stolen," she stated, looking Persephone straight in the eye. "Hasn't it? That's why you put the Underworld in lockdown. And... and you think I'm the one who stole it?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Percy put his hands up in a time-out position. "Is that why you want to punish Essie? 'Cause you think she stole it? Essie, wouldn't do that, she can barely hold a sword right let alone use it!"

"Thanks, Percy," she said dryly.

"No," the goddess answered. "I think she helped the thief enter this realm. The blade was stolen when it was almost finished. I do not know how but I suspect a demigod, some servant of Kronos. Considering Esmerelda's mother... well, it is only obvious she would help the thief. If the blade falls into the Titan Lord's hands..."

Thalia shot to her feet. "You allowed the blade to be stolen! How stupid was that? Kronos probably has it by now!"

Thalia's arrows sprouted into long-stemmed roses. Her bow melted into a honeysuckle vine, dotted with white and gold flowers.

"Take care, Huntress," Persephone warned. "Your father may be Zeus and you may be the lieutenant of Artemis but you do not speak to me with disrespect in my own palace."

Thalia ground her teeth. "Give. Me. Back. My. Bow."

Persephone waved her hand. The bow and arrows changed back to normal.

"Now sit and listen. The sword could not have left the Underworld yet. Lord Hades used his remaining keys to shut down the realm. Nothing gets in or out until he finds the sword and he is using all his power to locate the thief."

Thalia sat down reluctantly. "Then what do you need us for?"

"The search for the blade cannot be common knowledge," Persephone answered carefully. "We have locked the realm but we have not announced why nor can Hades' servants be used for the search. They cannot know the blade exists until it is finished. Certainly, they can't know it is missing."

"If they thought Hades was in trouble, they might desert him," Nico guessed. "And join the Titans."

Persephone didn't answer. But if a goddess could look nervous, she did.

"The thief must be a demigod. No immortal can steal another immortal's weapon directly. Even Kronos must abide by that ancient law. He has a champion down here somewhere. And to catch a demigod, we shall use three."

"Make that four," Nico said sternly. "Essie didn't help anyone steal anything. You're just pinning the blame on her because you hate her."

Persephone gave him a fierce glare. "You have no proof that she is innocent."

"And you have no proof that she's guilty," he shot back. "Essie's coming with us, or we don't help at all."

Stepmother and stepson had a stare down. The other three demigods watched them uncomfortably, feeling a sort of killing tension in the air. They seriously looked like they wanted to strangle one another which wasn't too far away from what family spats were usually like.

After a whole minute of death glaring, Persephone finally leaned back against her throne. "Fine," she said begrudgingly. "The criminal can go with you."

Esmerelda sighed in relief and sent Nico a thankful look. She didn't want to be stuck waiting in the palace all day for whatever twisted punishment Persephone would concoct. She would honestly rather go on some dangerous quest.

"Time is wasting," Persephone told them. "The thief may have accomplices in the Underworld and he would be looking for a way out."

Percy frowned. "I thought you said the realm was locked."

"No prison is air tight, not even the Underworld. Souls are always finding new ways out faster than Hades can close them. You must retrieve the sword before it leaves our realm. Or all is lost."

"Even if we wanted to," Thalia began. "How would we find this thief?"

A potted plant appeared on the table, a sickly yellow carnation with a few green leaves. The flower listed sideways as if it were trying to find the sun.

"This would guide you," the goddess answered.

"A magic carnation?" Percy asked.

"The flower always faces the thief. As your prey gets closer to escaping, the petals will fall off."

Right on cue, a yellow petal turned gray and fluttered onto the dirt.

"If all the petals fall off, the flower dies." She explained. "This means the thief has reached an exit and you have failed."

Neither of them seemed too enthusiastic about the whole track-a-thief-with-a-flower thing. Nico, however, was a different story. There was a determined look on his stony face, a sort of determination that Esmerelda could understand. Once upon a time, she had wanted to make her godly parent proud too.

"One condition," Percy told Persephone. "Hades would have to swear on the River Styx that he will never use this sword against the gods."

The goddess shrugged. "I am not Lord Hades. But I'm confident he would do this as payment for your help."

Another petal fell off the carnation.

He turned to Thalia. "I'll hold the flower while you beat up the thief?"

She sighed. "Fine. Let's go catch this jerk."

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

The Underworld didn't get into the Christmas spirit.

They made their way down the palace road into the Fields of Asphodel. Esmerelda tried to distract herself from Persephone's accusation by scanning the field for any familiar faces—not that she knew any though.

The Fields was depressing as always with it's yellowing grass and stunted black poplar trees rolling on forever. Shades drifted aimlessly across the hills, coming from nowhere and going nowhere, chattering to each other and trying to remember who they were in life.

High above them, the cavern ceiling glistened darkly.

Beside her, Percy continued carrying the carnation. Nico led the way, since his blade could clear a path through any crowd of undead. Thalia mostly grumbled that she should've known better than to go on a quest with a couple of boys and stuck to Esmerelda's other side instead.

"Persephone seems to seriously hate you," Percy began the conversation, glancing over at the green eyed girl.

"I know," she sighed. "But I really don't know why... I don't think I did anything to anger her really. She hated me the second we met. She seems to be really angry with me now though... I hope we catch this thief soon, I want to be able to prove my innocence."

"She's so uptight," Percy complained.

Nico waded through a mob of ghosts, driving them back with Stygian iron. "She always acts that way when me and Essie are around. She hates us."

"Then why did she include you in the quest?" He asked.

"Probably my dad's idea." Nico answered, sounding nonchalant but Esmerelda could hear a little hope in his voice.

Speaking of Hades, she wondered where he was when Persephone practically forced them on the quest. Usually anything that went around in his realm was his business and he liked to show it by doing everything on his own. It seemed strange that he would have Persephone explain the whole situation instead. If this sword was so important to him, why had he let her explain things? Usually, Hades liked to threaten the demigods in person.

Nico forged ahead. No matter how crowded the fields were (and if you've ever seen Times Square on New Year's Eve you have a pretty good idea) the spirits always parted before him.

"He's handy with zombie crowds," Thalia admitted. "Think I'll take him along next time I go to the mall."

She gripped her bow tight like she was afraid it would turn into honeysuckle vine again. She hadn't aged at all since Esmerelda had last seen her, which wasn't a shock since she was literally semi-immortal now.

As Thalia was pulled into a conversation with Percy, Esmerelda turned to Nico.

"Thank you for that," she said again. "About that thing with Persephone."

"She's a bitch," he said lowly. "She's always doing whatever she can to get you into danger. Or in this case, trouble."

"You don't think... you don't think Lord Hades believes her, do you?" She asked him nervously. As scary as Persephone was, Hades was the one she would have to worry about. While the man looked imposing, he was usually pretty chill with her. Hades had never been furious with her about anything, but she had heard rumors about what would happen to those who enacted his wrath...

"She was probably just bluffing about that," he assured her. "My father rarely gets angry with you." Or at all, to be honest. This only brought him back to what Minos had told him the year before. Who Esmerelda used to be... but no, that couldn't be it. It would just be too weird...

Another petal fell off the carnation as they marched on. Nobody was happy when the flower pointed them towards the Fields of Punishment. Percy looked like he had swallowed a sour lemon. He was probably hoping they'd veer into Elysium and so they could hang out with the beautiful people and party. But no, the flower seemed to like the harshest, evilest part of the Underworld.

When Esmerelda realized that, she was the most horrified out of the four. "No," she said quietly. "Not there...!"

Nico gave her a weird look. "Don't you go there all the time?"

She swallowed thickly. "I—well, yes, but... I-it's nothing, forget it..."

It wasn't that she was scared of the Fields of Punishment. No, she had grown fully desensitized towards the place. The problem was that her father was in the Fields of Punishment, and he may be in close proximity with whoever the thief was. She knew Regulus couldn't be harmed, he was already dead after all, but a daughter could worry.

And worry she did, speeding through the passage and almost leaving Nico, Thalia, and Percy behind as they jumped over lava streams and picked their way past scenes of horrible torture.

A dying noise left her throat when she saw a familiar building. The carnation kept pointing at it's direction.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no—! She thought, her heart beating erratically. Please don't be there.

To her absolute relief, as they drew closer to the apartment building, the carnation tilted itself to the left, just around the building.

But Percy couldn't help but spy the words on the plaque on the door.

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black?" He read aloud. "What's an apartment building even doing here?"

Nico nearly stumbled. He whirled around to face Esmerelda, something clicking in his head. "Black?"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Black's a super common name, it's just a coincidence."

"No, it isn't..." Nico said slowly. "This is where you've always been disappearing to, isn't it?"

"...Yes," Esmerelda finally admitted. "My family is in this building, being tortured save for my dad. He's the only reason why I come. Aside from work, of course..."

"I thought you broke him free?" Percy asked.

Nico's eyes widened some more. "You knew about this?! And hold on, you freed your dad?!"

"Not like that!" She exclaimed. "I just... destroyed the shackles that was torturing him. He stays in his cell though. I... I come over to visit him sometimes..."

"Does my father know about this?"

"I would be surprised if he didn't," but for some odd reason, he was letting it go on anyways. "I'm sorry for not telling you, Nico... I was afraid you'd be upset, especially because..."

Because Bianca died, and you can't talk to her since she's in Elysium, she mentally finished.

"I... I'm not upset..." He said, but she had a feeling he really was. "I just... wished you had told me about this sooner. I know what's like to want to talk to a dead loved one..."

She stared at him guiltily.

"What's it like...?" He asked her curiously, with a tinge of melancholy in his voice. "Talking to your dad?"

"It was weird of course," she answered. "I wasn't used to having a dad all of a sudden. But he's the best, even if he is dead. He cares a lot about me."

"I wish I could do that with my mother..." She heard him mutter. "Whoever she is..."

"What the heck did your dad even do to end up here?" Thalia asked, shocked as she stared at the building. She could even hear the screams of torture from where she stood.

"Uh, well, he kinda killed, tortured, and manipulated a lot of people. Oh and he also joined a crazy cult full of genocidal maniacs. He tried to make up for it in the end, but that wasn't enough to forgive him for his past crimes," she explained.

Thalia stared at her.

"He's really nice though," she added helpfully.

"Hate to cut this short," Percy said. "But the carnation wants us to go to the hill on our left."

About ten or so meters away from the apartment building was a large hill. A loud grinding noise could be heard from the other side, like somebody was dragging a washing machine. Then the hill shook with a BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! followed by a man yelling curses.

"Oh gods," Esmerelda groaned. "That's Sisyphus."

"Who?" Percy asked.

"The number one expert on cheating death." Nico answered before leading them to the top of the hill.

Sisyphus was looking hideous as always. He looked like one of those troll dolls with orange skin, a pot-belly, scrawny legs and arms, and a big loincloth diaper thing around his waist. His ruddy hair stuck up like a torch. He was hopping around, cursing and kicking a boulder that was twice as big as he was.

"I won't," he screamed, "No, no, no!" Then he launched into a string of cuss words in several different languages.

He started to walk away from the boulder, but after ten feet he lurched backward like some invisible force has pulled him. He staggered back to the boulder and started banging his head against it.

"All right," he screamed. "All right, curse you." He rubbed his head and muttered some more cuss words. "But this is the last time, do you hear me?"

Nico looked at the older teens. "Come on, while he's between attempts."

They scrambled down the hill.

"Hello, Sisyphus," Esmerelda greeted him cordially.

He screamed at her face and hid behind his rock, he even tried to throw handfuls of dirt at her.

"WITCH!" He shrieked. "Go away! Get, I say! And you three aren't fooling me with those disguises! I know you're the Furies!"

"Why is he afraid of you?" Thalia asked her in amusement.

Esmerelda sighed. "He tried to escape last year. Hades sent me after him and I dragged him back before he could leave the Underworld. I think he's upset because I cut his legs off to keep him from running away."

Thalia stared at her in awe. "You cut his legs off?"

She nodded. "Yeah. They regrow of course since he's a resident of the Fields of Punishment. It wouldn't be fun if we run out of limbs to cut off, you get what I mean?"

"Awesome," Thalia breathed out.

"We're not the Furies," Percy tried to tell him. "We just want a talk."

"Go away!" He shrieked, throwing dirt at him too. "Flowers won't make it better! It's too late to apologize!"

"Look," Thalia began, annoyed. "We just want—"

"—Blah blah blah!" He yelled. "I'm not listening!" Then he darted away.

"Get him!" Esmerelda shouted.

They played tag with him around the boulder until finally Thalia, who was the quickest, caught the old man by his hair.

"Stop it!" He wailed. "I have rocks to move! Rocks to move!"

"I'll move your rock," Thalia offered. "Just shut up and talk to my friends."

Sisyphus stopped fighting. "You? You'll move my rock?"

"It's better than looking at you." Thalia scowled at him before glancing over at the other kids. "Be quick about it."

Then she shrugged Sisyphus towards them. She put her shoulder against the rock and started pushing it very slowly uphill.

Sisyphus scowled at them distrustfully before reaching out to pinch Percy's nose, for some weird reason.

"Ow!" He said.

"So you're really not a Fury," he said in amazement. "What's the flower for? Did you finally come to apologize to me?!" He glared over at Esmerelda.

"I'm sorry for cutting your legs off, okay?" She said, exasperated. "I was just doing my job!"

"We're looking for someone," Percy said quickly before Sisyphus could hiss more curses at her. "The flower is helping us find him."

"Persephone!" He spat in the dust. "That's one of her tracking devices, isn't it?"

He leaned forward as if to share a secret and whispered, "I fooled her once, you know. I fooled them all."

Percy looked at Nico. "Translation?"

"Sisyphus cheated death," Nico explained. "First, he chained up Thanatos, the Reaper of Souls, so no one could die. Then when Thanatos got free, he was about to kill him. Sisyphus told his wife to do incorrect funeral rites so he wouldn't rest in peace. Sisy here—may I call you Sisy?"

"No!"

"Sisy tricked Persephone into letting him go back to the world to haunt his wife and he didn't come back."

The old man cackled. "I stayed alive another 30 years before they finally tracked me down."

Thalia was half-way up the hill now. She gritted her teeth, pushing the boulder with her back. Her expression said, Hurry up!

"And as punishment, he landed down here," Esmerelda finished the story, giving Sisyphus an unimpressed look. "And was forced to roll a boulder up a hill forever. Was it worth it?"

"A temporary setback," Sisyphus cried out. "I'll bust out of here soon and when I do, they'll all be sorry!"

"How would you get out of the Underworld?" Nico asked. "It's under lockdown, you know."

Sisyphus grinned wickedly. "That's what the other one asked."

They all straightened up. They were finally getting somewhere.

"Someone else asked for your advice?" Percy questioned.

"An angry young man," Sisyphus recalled. "Not very polite. He held a sword to my throat, didn't offer to roll my boulder at all."

Esmerelda blinked. Why did that description sound so familiar to her?

"What did you tell him?" It was Nico's turn to interrogate. "Who was he?"

Sisyphus massaged his shoulders. He glanced up at Thalia, who was almost up to the top hill. Her face was bright red and drenched in sweat.

"Oh, it's hard to say," Sisyphus drawled. "Never seen him before. He carried a long package all wrapped up in black cloth. Skis maybe, or shovel. Maybe if you wait here, I can go look for him."

"What did you tell him?" Percy demanded impatiently.

"Can't remember."

Nico drew his sword. "Try harder."

The old man winced. "What kind of person carries a sword like that?"

"The son of Hades," Nico answered. "Now, answer me!"

The color drained from Sisyphus' face. "I told him to talk to Melinoe. She always has away out."

Nico lowered his sword, looking troubled. "Are you crazy?" He almost cried out. "That's suicide."

The old man shrugged. "I've cheated death before. I could do it again. "

"What does this demigod look like?"

"Um... He had a nose," Sisyphus said, "A mouth and one eye and—"

"—Did you just say he had one eye?" Esmerelda interrupted, fighting back the urge to scream in frustration. An angry, impolite young man who had the tendency to threaten people with his sword. And he had one eye. Of course. Of fucking course, it just had to be Ethan.

"Did he have an eye patch?" She asked him urgently.

"Oh, maybe," Sisyphus said. "He had hair on his head and..."

He gasped and looked over their shoulders. "There he is!"

Like the group of idiots they were, they fell for it. As soon as they turned, Sisyphus took off down the hill. "I'm free! I'm free! I'm—ow!"

Ten feet from the hill, he hit the end of his invisible leash and fell on his back. Nico and Percy grabbed his arms and hauled him up the hill with a fuming Esmerelda following behind them.

"Curse you!" He let loose with bad words in Ancient Greek, Latin, English, French and several other languages. "I'll never help you! Go to Hades!"

"Already there," Nico muttered.

"Incoming!" Thalia shouted.

Esmerelda looked up and felt her previous anger turn into fear. The boulder Thalia had been struggling with was bouncing straight towards them. Nico and Esmerelda jumped one way while Percy jumped the other. Sisyphus, however, wasn't so lucky. They heard him yell out a "Nooo!" as the thing plowed into him. Somehow, he braced himself and stopped it before it could run him over.

"Take it again!" He wailed desperately. "Please, I can't hold it!"

"Not again," Thalia gasped. "You are on your own."

He treated them to a lot more colorful language. It was clear he wasn't going to help them any further so they left him into his punishment.

"Melinoe's cave is this way." Nico said and began leading them.

"It's Ethan," Esmerelda grumbled as she followed after him. "First he frees Kronos, then he nearly loses me my job." She couldn't wait to kick his ass.

"Oh I know," Nico said darkly. "But if we're dealing with Melinoe, we've got bigger problems. Come on!"

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

They walked for what seemed like eternity. Three more petals withered from the carnation which meant it was now officially half-dead. The flower pointed toward the range of jagged gray hills that looked like teeth. So they charged in that direction, over a plain of volcanic rock.

"Nice day for a stroll," Thalia muttered. "The Hunters are probably feasting in some forest glade right about now."

Sirius was probably binging on Netflix and eating a steak with Buckbeak. If the Stolls were feeling bored, they might have broken into the house so at least Sirius would have some human company too...

"So who is this Melinoe?" Percy asked, pulling her away from her thoughts of home.

"Long story," Nico said. "Long, very scary story."

Suddenly, Thalia dropped to a crouch. "Weapons!"

Esmerelda drew Glimmer while Percy took out Riptide. He looked pretty ridiculous with a potted carnation in the other hand so he wisely chose to set it down. Nico drew his sword and they stood back-to-back. Thalia notched an arrow.

"What is it?" Percy whispered.

She seemed to be listening. Then her eyes widened.

A ring of a dozen daimones materialized around them. They were part humanoid female, part bat. Their faces were pug-nosed and furry, with fangs and bulging eyes. Matted gray fur and piecemeal armor covered their bodies. They had shriveled arms with claws for hands, leathery wings that sprouted from their backs, and stubby bowed legs. They would've looked funny except for the murderous glow in their eyes.

"Keres," Nico muttered.

"What?" Percy asked.

"Battlefield spirits. They feed on violent death."

"Oh, wonderful," Thalia said.

"Get back!" Nico ordered the daimones. "The son of Hades commands you."

The Keres hissed. Their mouths foamed. They glanced apprehensively at our weapons, but didn't obey his orders.

"Soon Hades will be defeated," one of them snarled. "Our new master shall give us free reign."

Nico blinked, "New master?"

The lead daimon lunged. Nico was so surprised it nearly slashed him to bits, but Thalia shot an arrow point-blank into his ugly bat face and the creature disintegrated. The rest of them charged.

Thalia dropped her bow and drew her knives.

Esmerelda slashed horizontally, slicing about three daimones in half. Four more were killed by Percy, Nico had beheaded a bunch of them, and Thalia had thrown about ten knives at incoming Keres, but more just kept coming.

"Iapetus shall crush you!" One of them shouted.

"Who?" Percy asked, but then he vaporized it before he could get an answer.

Nico was also cutting an arc through the Keres. His black sword absorbed their essence like a vacuum cleaner and the more he destroy, the colder the air become around him. Thalia flipped a daimon on his back, stabbed it and impaled another one with her second knife without even turning around. Esmerelda had shot down a bunch more with her magic until something caught her eye.

"Percy, on your left!"

But he hadn't noticed it in time.

"Die in pain, mortal!" A daimon lunged at him. Before he could raise his sword for defense, it's claws ripped his shoulder. It's talons sliced open the shirt of his school uniform and tore into his skin.

Nico kicked the monster away and stabbed it as Percy collapsed, curling into a ball on the ground.

The Keres had finally died out. The three kids rushed to Percy's side.

"Hold still, Percy," Thalia said. "You'll be fine."

Nico touched the wound and he yelled in pain.

"He needs nectar," Esmerelda said breathlessly, handing Nico a bottle of the godly drink.

"Nectar," he told him. "I'm pouring nectar on it." He uncorked the bottle of the godly drink and tricked it across Percy shoulder.

She had no idea how much time had passed, but they spent a lot of it dressing the wound with some bandages that she conjured and trying to keep Percy awake. By the time he woke up, he was propped up against a rock with his shoulder bandaged. Thalia was trying to slip little squares of ambrosia into his mouth.

"You're awake," Esmerelda noted with relief. "Your shoulder—how does it feel? Is it still hurting?"

Drowsily, he shook his head. "No, it's fine... sorta. The Keres?"

"Gone for now," Thalia answered this time. "You had me worried for a second, Percy. But I think you'll make it."

Nico crouched next to the girls. He was holding the potted carnation. Only five petals still clung to the flower.

"The Keres will be back," he warned. He looked at his shoulder with concern. "That wound. The Keres are spirits of disease and pestilence as well as violence. We could slow down the infection but eventually you'll need serious healing. I mean, a god's power, otherwise..."

He didn't finish the thought.

"I'll be fine," Percy insisted and made the mistake of trying to sit up.

"Slow," Thalia said. "You need rest before you could move."

"There's no time," he looked at the carnation. "One of the daimones mentioned Iapetus. Am I remembering right? That's a Titan."

"Kronos' brother and Atlas' father," Esmerelda answered grimly, repressing the urge to shudder. He was closely related to the two Titans she feared the most. Kronos, because he had tried to posses her and Atlas because he had forced her to carry the weight of the skies for thirty hours straight.

And while she knew she shouldn't judge someone based on their family, she knew this Iapetus guy was bad news because—

"He was known as the Titan of the West. His name means The Piercer because that's what he likes to do to his enemies. He was cast into Tartarus along with his brothers. He was supposed to be down there." Thalia explained.

—because of that.

"But if the sword of Hades can unlock death?" Percy asked.

"Then maybe it could also summon the damned out of Tartarus." Nico suggested. "We can't let them try."

"We still do not know who them is," Thalia pointed out.

"We already know one of them is Ethan," Esmerelda muttered. "He's probably trying to recruit some of Hades' minions to his side like the Keres."

Gods, did he know how much trouble he was giving her? If he took away any more of Hades' minions then she would be forced to work overtime!

"The daimones think that if Kronos wins the war, they'll get more chaos and evil out of the deal." Percy stated.

"They are probably right," Nico grimaced. "My father tries to keep the balance. He reins in the more violent spirits. If Kronos appoints one of brothers to be the Lord of the Underworld—"

"—Like this Iapetus dude—" Percy interrupted.

"—then the Underworld will get a lot worse," Nico finished. "The Keres would like that, and so would Melinoe."

Percy frowned at him. "You still haven't told us who Melinoe is."

Nico chewed his lip. "She's the goddess of ghosts, one of my father's servants. She oversees the restless dead that walk the earth. Every night, she rises from the Underworld to terrify mortals."

"She has her own path into the Upperworld?"

Nico nodded. "I doubt it would be blocked. Normally, no one would even think about trespassing in her cave. But if Ethan is brave enough to make a deal with her..."

"He is," Esmerelda said begrudgingly. "Once he's set his mind on something, he won't stop until he achieves it. Plus, he's the son of Nemesis. Striking up deals should be right up his alley."

"Then if she accepts, he could get back to the living world," Thalia supplied. "And bring the sword to Kronos."

"Who would use it to raise his brothers from Tartarus," Percy guessed. "And we'd be in big trouble."

He struggled to his feet. A wave of nausea must have hit him because his knees buckled and Thalia had to grab a hold of him.

"Percy," she frowned worriedly. "You're in no condition."

"I have to be."

They watched as another petal withered and fell off the carnation. Four left before doomsday.

"Give me the potted plant. We have to find the cave of Melinoe."

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

"If I remember the map correctly," Esmerelda began uneasily. "Then we're heading right for the River Lethe."

Thalia almost stopped walking as she whipped her head to her. "Hold on, there's a map for this place?!"

"Yeah, it's in the Underworld Employee's Handbook," she answered. "I don't have it with me right now, but I'm, like, 90% sure the carnation's taking us to the direction of the River Lethe."

First the Fields of Punishment and now the River Lethe? Had Ethan lost his fucking mind?

"Hades gives out handbooks to his employees?" Percy said dumbly.

Nico suddenly stopped walking and let out a curse that made Esmerelda gasp. "Looks like you're right, Essie..."

About fifty feet ahead of them, a dark river churned through a gorge of volcanic rock. Unlike with the River Styx, the River Lethe was narrow and fast with the water as black as ink. Even the foam churned black. The far bank was only thirty feet across but that was too far to jump and there was no bridge.

Esmerelda felt a little uneasy looking at it. For some odd reason, she kept seeing brief flashes of herself standing on the same spot, staring down into it's inky black water. There was a large hand on the small of her back... she craned her neck up to see the face of a grieving man. He was hauntingly handsome, but his face was marred by the deep pain etched onto his features, like someone had just ripped his heart out from his chest.

She had no idea how, but she automatically knew this man was Hades—just younger, grief-stricken, and more human.

He was murmuring something to her, but everything sounded as if she was underwater. She felt her lips move back to reply, and suddenly Hades was leaning forward and—

"—ssie! Essie!"

She sucked in a quick breath and was suddenly looking up at Nico's worried gaze.

"Wha... what...?" She murmured, looking around. Sometime ago, she had fallen on her bottom without even realizing it. Thalia and Percy were standing behind Nico, also looking worried.

"You just fell," Percy informed her. "Do you remember anything?"

"Huh?"

Nico bit his lip. "I think a drop of the water hit you or something. We should back away."

"What? Why?" Thalia asked.

"This is the river of forgetfulness. If one drop of that water gets on you, you'll start to forget who you are. A drop of it's water must have gotten onto Essie."

They all backed away.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Nico asked her again. "You're not forgetting anything, or...?"

Esmerelda shook her head. "No I'm fine. I just... remember staring at the River and..." She faltered, her face reddening slightly. There was no way she was going to tell anyone about that weird vision of Hades. "And suddenly I'm on the ground... I don't think too much of the water hit me."

He sighed in relief. "Okay... That's good..."

"I know this place," Thalia muttered. "Luke told me about it once. Souls come here if they choose to be reborn, so they totally forget their former lives."

Nico nodded. "Swim in that water and your mind will be wiped clean. You'll be like a new born baby."

"Can you shadow travel us to the other side? Or Mist travel?" Percy asked.

They both shook their heads.

"After walking around the Underworld all day? No way, we're too tired," Nico answered. "Plus I'm sure Essie's been Mist traveling around the place before Persephone summoned us over."

"I've run out of energy for that, sorry." She said sheepishly.

Thalia studied the opposite bank. "I could shoot an arrow across. Maybe anchor a line to one of those rocks."

"You want to trust your weight to a line that isn't tied off?" Nico asked.

Thalia frowned. "Yeah, you're right. Works in the movies, but no. Could you summon some dead people to help us?"

"I could but they would only appear on my side of the river. Running water acts as barrier against the dead. They can't cross it."

Percy winced. "What kind of stupid rule was that?"

"Hey, I didn't make it up." He studied his face. "You look terrible, Percy. You should sit down."

"I can't. You need me for this."

"Percy," Esmerelda frowned worryingly. "I don't think that would be a good idea. Not in your state at least."

"What Essie said," Nico agreed. "Sorry Percy, but no way. I'd feel safer with the arrow idea."

But Percy wasn't listening. He staggered to the edge of the river.

"Stand back," he said.

They inched away from him and watched on with pinched faces. But then something happened. After a few seconds passed, the dark water began to churn and bubble more violently as if it could sense his presence.

Then he raised his arms up despite the wound on his shoulder. The river rose in response. It surged out of its banks, flowing up and then down again in a great arc—a raging black rainbow of water twenty feet high. The riverbed in front of them turned into a drying mud—a tunnel under the river just wide enough for three people to walk side-by-side.

Thalia, Nico, and Esmerelda stared at him in amazement.

"Go," he grunted. "I can't hold this for long."

Hurriedly, they scrambled into the riverbed and made their way across the sticky mud. On the way there, not a single drop of water fell on them.

"Come on, Percy!" Thalia called out to him once they were all on the safe zone. "Walk!"

"I can't make it," he called back.

"Yes, you can," Thalia encouraged. "'We need you."

They watched with bated breaths as Percy slowly climbed down into the riverbed. He was doing great until he reached the half-point mark. He stumbled and the River Lethe began to fall down.

"NO!" Thalia screamed just as the water crashed into him.

Esmerelda had to yank Nico back before he could jump into the water to save him.

"Percy!" He shouted his name.

"You can't! We have to get back!" She reminded him.

But even she couldn't move. She stared at the dark water in horror, feeling a sense of dread well in her.

And then Percy reached the surface and climbed out of the River Lethe, perfectly dry. He collapsed right in front of them and passed out cold.

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

It took a while for Percy to recover, but by then the flower had two petals left like very sad bunny ears.

A dusty trail snaked up a few hundred feet to the mouth of a cave. The path was lined with human bones for that extra cozy feel.

"A creepy cave," Percy commented. "The goddess of ghosts. What's not to like?"

As if in response, a hissing sound echoed down the mountain. White mist billowed from the cave like someone had turn on a dry ice machine. In the fog, an image appeared, but Esmerelda couldn't see it clearly.

"Now you come back," the misty image growled. "Well, it's too late."

"Mother?" Thalia lowered her bow, her eyes tearing up.

"That's right, girl. Doomed to walk the earth, and it's your fault! Where were you when I died? Why did you run away when I needed you?"

"I—I—"

"Thalia," Percy said. "It's just a shade, it can't hurt you."

"I'm more than that," the spirit growled, "And Thalia knows it."

"But you abandoned me." Thalia said shakily.

"You wretched girl! Ungrateful runaway!"

"Stop," Nico stepped forward with the sword drawn but the spirit faced him. Whatever he saw, made him freeze up. It had made Percy freeze up too, but Thalia was still staring at it, as if she was still seeing her mother. Esmerelda had no clue what was going on. To her, it was just a blurry shade.

"No." He whispered in a broken voice.

"My son," the ghost said, "You were taken from me so young. I died of grief, wondering what had happened to you and your sister. "

"Mamma?"

"No, it's my mother," Thalia murmured as if she still saw the first image.

"You both need to snap out of it," Esmerelda said firmly and grabbed the two by the shoulders. Before she could shake them, the blurry ghost was standing before her now, it's image clearer.

"...Dad...?" She paled. "What—what are you—?"

"I can't stand it there anymore," he told her desperately. "Set me free, Esmerelda. I know you can do it. You'll free me, won't you, my dear little girl? You wouldn't want to watch your father rot in that cell would you?"

"N-no, but I can't—"

"—Of course you can!" He cried out, reaching out as if to touch her face. He wore the same expression he had when she first met him. He looked crazy, desperate, and pained. "You can set me free, Essie, you can do it. And I know you want to help me. Don't you want a proper family?"

Esmerelda felt herself shrink under his maddened stare. "Yes, b-but, dad, please—"

Suddenly a sword was run through him and the illusion broke. Esmerelda choked on her scream as the image of Regulus disappeared and was replaced by the true face of Melinoe.

The right side of her face was pale chalky white like she'd been drained of blood. Her left half was pitch black and hardened like mummy skin. She wore a golden dress and a golden shawl. Her eyes were empty black voids.

"What is that?" Thalia stumbled back. "Where—"

"—It was a trick," Nico growled. "She fooled us."

"You are too late, demigods," Melinoe said. Another petal fell off the carnation, leaving only one. "The deal has been struck."

"What deal?" Percy demanded.

Melinoe made a hissing sound as if it was her way of laughing. "So many ghosts, my young demigod. They long to be unleashed. When Kronos rules the world, I shall be free to walk among mortals both night and day, sewing terror as they deserve."

"Enough talking! Where's the sword of Hades?" Esmerelda demanded. "Where's Ethan?"

"Close," Melinoe promised. "I will not stop you. I would not need to. Soon, Percy Jackson, you will have many ghosts and you will remember me."

Thalia notched an arrow and aimed it at the goddess. "If you open a path to the world, do you really think Kronos will reward you? He'll cast you into Tartarus along with the rest of Hades' servants."

Melinoe bared her teeth. "Your mother was right, Thalia. You are an angry girl. Good at running away, not much else."

The arrow flew but as it touched Melinoe she dissolved into fog, leaving nothing but the hiss of her laughter. Thalia's arrow hit the rocks and shattered harmlessly.

"Stupid ghost," she muttered.

"Ethan?" Nico managed to ask, still shaken up from what he had seen. He kept darting his eyes towards Esmerelda, who was too spooked by what she had seen to notice. Percy couldn't help but glance over at her direction too before answering Nico's question.

"Probably in the cave. We have to stop him before—"

Just then the last petal fell off the carnation. The flower turned black and wilted.

"Too late," he finished.

A man's laughter echoed down the mountain.

"You're right about that," a voice boomed.

At the mouth of the cave stood two people, and Esmerelda felt something in her chest constrict when she saw Ethan's familiar face. He looked absolutely stunned to see her.

Her trailed her gaze down at his hands, where he held an unfinished sword. It was a double edged blade of black Stygian iron with skeletal designs etched in silver. It had no hilt but set in the base of the blade was a golden key, just like she'd seen in Persephone's image.

The giant man next to him had eyes of pure silver. His face was covered with a scraggly beard and his gray hair stuck out wildly. He looked thin and haggard in his rip prison clothes as though he'd spent the last few thousand years at a bottom of a pit. But even in this weakened state he looked plenty scary.

He held out his hand and a giant spear appeared, the weapon which gave him the name The Piercer. Esmerelda gulped upon seeing it.

The Titan smiled, the same cruel smile that Atlast had. "And now I will destroy you."

"Master," Ethan interrupted. His eye patch was crooked, his face smeared with soot and sweat, and he was dressed in combat fatigues with a backpack slung over his shoulder. Esmerelda couldn't help but notice how nicely his clothes clung to his body and how much fitter he was since they've last seen each other. His training under the Titan Army was certainly benefiting him in more ways than one.

She hadn't realized she had been staring at him like an idiot and quickly snapped out of it when he started speaking again. "We have the sword, we should—"

"—Yes, yes," the Titan said impatiently. "You've done well, Noaka."

"It's Nakamura, Master." He corrected, trying to keep his irritation hidden. He locked eyes with Esmerelda, who was giving him an unimpressed look because at least her employers bothered to remember her name.

"Whatever. I'm sure my brother Kronos will reward you. But now, we have killing to attend to."

"My lord," Ethan persisted. "You're not at full power. We should ascend and summon your brothers from the Upperworld. Our orders were to flee."

The Titan growled on him. "Flee? Did you say flee?"

The ground rumbled. Ethan fell on his butt and scrambled backward. The unfinished sword of Hades clattered to the rocks.

"Ma-ma-master, please." He stammered, and suddenly he couldn't look Esmerelda in the eye anymore.

"Iapetus does not flee," he stated, and she tried not to snort because who still talked in third person? "I have waited three eons to be summoned from the pit. I want revenge! And I will start by killing these weaklings." He leveled his spear and charged.

He went for Percy first and even if he wasn't in full strength, he was still ridiculously fast. He moved like a tornado, slashing so quickly that Percy barely had time to dodge the strike before the spear impale the rock where he'd been standing.

While Percy and Thalia battled with Iapetus, Nico and Esmerelda turned their focus on Ethan.

Don't you fucking dare, her eyes screamed. Don't you FUCKING dare.

Ethan dared. He drew out his sword and Esmerelda lunged at him. Somehow he managed to bring his blade up and block what could've been a deadly hit from her labyrs.

"Can we talk this out?" Ethan asked her pleadingly.

"No."

"I didn't know you'd be here!"

"I literally work here!"

"How was I supposed to know that you'd be working in the Underworld of all places?!"

She brought her knee up and struck him in the groin. He sucked in a breath and somehow managed to endure the pain before slamming his forehead into hers.

"Ah!" She cried out, stumbling back and clutching her pounding head.

Nico dove in and tried to jab him in the side, but Ethan managed to interlock their blades together and disarm him.

"Nice try, brat," Ethan said mockingly.

"Eat shit and die," Nico seethed as the ground erupted before them. Three armored skeletons came out and engaged in the fight. One of them carefully retrieved Nico's sword back.

Esmerelda shook herself off before returning to the fight. By then, Ethan had already destroyed the three skeletal warriors and Nico was racing for the sword of Hades against Ethan.

Before he could reach it, a large glittering blade blocked his way. When he saw her, he faltered.

"I really didn't know—"

"—Leave the blade, Ethan, please," she said, giving him a wide-eyed, almost tearful look. She openly showed him how exhausted and stressed she was, which only further softened him up. Behind him, she could see Nico creeping up. "You don't understand, if you take that sword, Persephone—she'll punish me."

He fully lowered his weapon, looking horrified. "Essie—"

—WHAM!

Ethan crumpled to the ground, Nico standing behind him with the skull of one of his warrior's clenched in his hands. He had used it to successfully whack Ethan in the back of the head.

"Ughh..." Ethan laid, nursing his bruising head.

"Nice!" She high-fived Nico before looking down at Ethan with an apologetic look. "Sorry."

"...S'fine..." he mumbled in defeat.

Suddenly, they heard a loud SPLASH and looked over to see that Percy had fallen into the River Lethe, but this time, he had taken Iapetus with them. By the time Ethan rose to his feet, Percy had already dragged himself and the Titan out of the water.

Ethan froze when he saw his Titan ally spread eagle on the ground.

"My-my lord," he called.

Iapetus sat up and stared at him. Then he looked at Percy and smiled.

"Hello," he said. "Who am I?"

"You're my friend," Percy blurted out. "You're... Bob."

That seemed to please him greatly. "I am your friend Bob!"

Clearly, Ethan could tell things were not going his way. He glanced at the sword of Hades lying in the dirt but before he could lunge for it, a silver arrow sprouted on the ground at his feet.

"Not today, kid," Thalia warned. "One more step and I'll pin your feet to the rocks."

"Ethan," Esmerelda called out to him quietly.

He swallowed thickly and looked at her.

"Don't do this again," she begged him. "Please. Not to me."

He looked crushed, and she wondered if he was feeling the same pain as she was. But maybe not, because he replied, "You know I have to."

And then he ran straight into the cave of Melinoe.

Thalia took aim at his back and Esmerelda felt herself panic, but Percy spoke up before she could: "No, let him go."

Thalia frowned but lowered her bow, and Esmerelda finally allowed herself to relax.

Nico picked up the sword of Hades reverently. "We did it. We actually did it."

"We did?" Iapetus asked. "Did I help?"

Percy managed a weak smile. "Yeah, Bob. You did great."

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

They got an express ride back to the palace of Hades. Nico sent word ahead, thanks to some ghost he'd summoned out of the ground. And within a few minutes, the three Furies themselves arrived to ferry them back. They weren't thrilled about logging Bob the Titan too, but neither of them had the heart to leave him behind especially after he noticed Percy shoulder wound and said "Owie" and healed it with a touch.

Hades and Persephone were waiting for them in the throne room. Esmerelda tried not to wither when she saw Persephone's harsh glare and focused more on Hades, who was stroking his black beard like he was contemplating the best way to torture them.

The royal pair stayed silent as Nico explained about their adventure. Before they gave back the sword, Percy insisted that Hades take an oath not to use it against the gods. His eyes flared like he wanted to incinerate him but finally he made a promise through clenched teeth.

Nico laid the sword at his father's feet and bowed, waiting for a reaction.

Hades looked at his wife. "You defied my direct orders."

Persephone didn't even react under his glower, only twitching when Esmerelda's name was mentioned.

"You did not help that boy, did you?" He spat out the word 'that boy' as if his name was a curse he wouldn't dare say.

Esmerelda shook her head. "No, my lord."

Hades nodded in approval. "No punishment will come to you." He stated, and she nearly fell over in relief.

He then turned to Nico, his gaze softening only just a little. Like rock soft rather than steel.

"You will speak of this to no one."

"Yes, my lord," Nico agreed.

The god glared at Percy next. "And if your friends do not hold their tongues, I will cut them out."

"You're welcome," Percy said disrespectfully, earning himself a nudge from Esmerelda.

Hades stared at the sword. His eyes were full of anger and something else—something like hunger. He snapped his fingers. The Furies fluttered down from the top of his throne.

"Return the blade to the forges," he told them. "Stay with the smiths until it is finished and then return it to me."

The Furies swirled into the air with the weapon and disappeared.

"You are wise, my lord," Persephone said.

"If I were wise," he growled. "I would lock you in your chambers, if you ever disobey me again."

He let the threat hung in the air. Then he snapped his fingers and vanished into darkness.

Persephone looked paler than usual. She took a moment to smooth her dress and turned toward the kids.

"You have done well, demigods." She waved her hand and three red roses appeared at their feet. "Crush these and they will return you to the world of the living. You have my lord's thanks."

"I could tell," Thalia muttered.

"Making the sword was your idea," Percy realized. "That's why Hades wasn't there when you gave us the mission. Hades didn't know the sword was missing; he didn't even know it existed."

"Nonsense," the goddess said.

Nico clenched his fists. "Percy's right. You wanted Hades to make a sword. He told you no, he knew it was too dangerous. The other gods would never trust him. It would undue the balance of power."

"Then it got stolen," Thalia said. "You shut down the Underworld. Not Hades. You couldn't tell him what had happened and you need us to get the sword back before Hades found out. You used us."

"And you pinned the blame on me so you could get rid of me," Esmerelda finished with a scowl.

Persephone moistened her lips. "The important thing is that Hades has now accepted the sword. He will have it finished and my husband will become as powerful as Zeus or Poseidon. Our realm will be protected against Kronos or any others who try to threaten us."

"And we're responsible," Percy said miserably.

"You've been very helpful," Persephone agreed. "Perhaps a reward for your silence."

"Get lost," he said. "Before I carry you down to the Lethe and throw you in. Bob will help me. Won't you, Bob?"

"Bob will help!" Bob said cheerfully.

Persephone's eyes widened and she vanished, leaving only a pile of daisies.

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

Nico, Thalia, Percy, and Esmerelda said their goodbyes on a balcony overlooking Asphodel. Bob the Titan sat inside building a toy house out of bones and laughing every time it collapsed.

"I don't mind watching him," Esmerelda said, all chipper now that she no longer had to fear a punishment coming to her. "Iap—I mean Bob is harmless thanks to the memory wipe and who knows, maybe Hades could offer him a job here!"

She couldn't help but be little more hopeful about that last part. She desperately needed better co-workers who weren't manipulative, crazy, or blood-thirsty.

"Are you sure you guys want to stay here?" Percy asked, looking between her and Nico. "Persephone will make your lives miserable."

"I still work here, remember?" She reminded him. "Technically, my shift isn't over yet.

"Oh yeah..."

"And I'm needed here too," Nico added. "I have to get close to my dad. He needs a better adviser."

Nobody could argue against that.

"Well, if you need anything..."

"I'll call," he promised.

He shook hands with Thalia and Percy whereas Esmerelda gave them warm hugs. She and Nico were about to leave until he turned back to regard Percy.

"Percy, you haven't forgotten our offer."

He froze. "I'm still thinking about it."

Nico nodded. "I see..."

As the pair of them left, Esmerelda whispered, "Do you think he'll say 'no'?"

"He better not," he scowled. "I don't care how nice eyes are. If he disregards all our hard work, we will throw him into the River Styx."

"Okay, okay," she smiled. "Just making sure."

— author's note —

So the reason why Melinoe's form kept switching is that she kinda works like Aphrodite and Nemesis, whose appearance depend on the person looking at her. Like with Nemesis who appears as someone the looker hates, Melinoe would look like a ghost from the looker's past or something like that (I THINK, lol).

Percy, however, has no 'ghost' so he was actually able to see Melinoe's form switch from Beryl, Maria, and Regulus before seeing her true form. He looked pretty shocked when he saw Maria... hmmm... wonder why.... 👀👀👀

Ethan vs Essie and Nico

Essie used Tearful Look!

Ethan's defense lowered!

Nico used Bone Rush!

It's super effective!

Essie when Ethan gets in the way of her fucking job:

YOUNG!HADES
played by FINN WITTROCK

^ that's the Hades Essie saw from her weird vision thing

Next chapter's gonna have a lot of shit going on lol. There's gonna be Ethan, the Yule Ball, Cormac, MOODY, and other shit too so get ready for that XD