MORNING HAD APPROACHED THEM as the cab sat outside of "Crusty's Wetbed Palace".  Percy and Lily had gone inside, leaving Grover, Victor, and Annabeth to wait.  "Are you sure this is a good idea? Percy's a child of the big three, not to mention Lily could be in danger."

Annabeth looked at him, crossing her arms.  "Are you really going to question my leadership skills? Athena always has a plan, so we won't fail."

"How do you know we won't?" Victor asked.  "Because my mother is always right.  We're not going to fail, Vic."  The boy wanted to say something more but he decided to close his mouth.  He didn't really want to argue with her right now, especially at a time like this.  "Okay, just because-" he started off, noticing that she was gone.  "Uh... Grover? Where's Annabeth?"

"What do you mean where's Annabeth?" the satyr questioned, his voice filled with confusion.  "I mean, she's gone.  She isn't here and I don't know where she went.  I'm going inside."  Despite Grover's protests, the boy entered the store.  "Ah, I see you brought another friend with you.  How... nice." Victor could've sworn he felt chills down his spine when he saw the old man. His skin reminded him of a raisin and his thin hair was like shreds of woven fabric. "Lily, I can't find Annabeth." Victor whispered to the short haired girl. "What?"

"You three must be tired. Anywho... these beds take all that away. With these beds, you just... fit. Try it. I think you'll feel much better." The way he spoke reminded Victor of a snake, speaking slowly and persuasively. "You first." Percy stated, pushing Procrustes on the bed. Annabeth suddenly appeared, taking off her Yankees cap. "You guys okay?" she asked, looking at the three. "Yeah, we're good."

"You... you turned invisible." Victor muttered, staring at her.  "I did.  After all, my mother's plans never fail."

"You won't save her.  You won't be the first to try bringing someone back from the Underworld.  You won't be the first to fail." Procrustes stated.  "Hey! You're lucky we're letting you keep your head, dummy.  Don't push it."

"Are you sure we should let him? He talks too much." Victor said, glaring at the man.  Lily placed a hand on Percy's shoulder, looking at the trio.  "We should get going.  Thanks for the help, super old guy."  Grover eventually entered the store, now there were five of them.  Standing in an office, there was a door that said "Do Not Enter".

"Are we sure this is the right way?" Percy asked as Grover slowly opened the door.  Inside was pitch black as windy dust blew through the air.  "Does the creepy looking hallway answer your question?" Victor deadpanned.  "It's either the realm of the dead, or someone left a carton of milk in there in the 1990s." Grover said.  Annabeth handed him a red toy ball, causing him to squeeze it.  "Better?"

"Much."

"If we get into trouble.... these are our tickets out." Percy stated, showing them six small pearls.  "No one's turning back till we all come back." Annabeth said.  Victor nodded his head, looking at the girl.  "Yeah.  We're in this together.  No one is getting left behind."

"No one comes back." Procrustes said in a sassy tone.  "Dude! Don't make me come back out there." Annabeth stated.  "And my offer about chopping your head off still stands." Victor added, earning a look from the girl.  "What? I'm not kidding."

"We have no idea what's down there.  I just think it's safer if I'm not holding them all."  Percy stated, looking at the four.  Annabeth, Grover, and Lily took a pearl, causing Victor to stare at the last three in Percy's hand as he took one.  "We'll never know until we try.  You guys ready?" Lily stated, earning a few nods from the group.  "Then I guess we're off to the Underworld."  One by one, they walked through the doorway, into pure darkness and dust.

How bad could it be?

LIGHTNING ROARED AS HARSH WIND SURROUNDED them.  "Grover, hurry up." Annabeth stated as Grover closed the door.  Victor and Lily hid behind one of the rocks, noticing how dark and gloomy the Underworld was.  "Not in Kansas." Percy muttered to himself, causing Lily to smile.  "Did you just quote the Wizard of Oz?" she questioned, causing the boy to blush.  "Maybe I did."

"Hey, focus.  We left Kansas four days ago." Annabeth said sternly, causing Victor to look at her.  He really needed to introduce her to film when they got back to camp. "Annabeth, he was just... never mind."

"Guys, is that who I think it is?" Grover asked, causing the four to look.  There was a boat drifting in the distance and boy did it look creepy.  Annabeth explained that it was Charon, the boatman.  "He's taking new arrivals across the River Styx.  Which means that over there is the main gate.  Let's go.  Maybe we can get there first."

"Yeah."  Grover stood up and started to walk when Annabeth stopped him.  "Why don't you let me hold onto that for now?" she asked as he handed her the rubber ball.  "Come on."

Crossing the River Styx had been unsuccessful as they were now running away from Cerberus.  "Why do they have to be so cute but deadly?" Lily asked as the team split up.  Grover had gotten taken away by one of the dogs, clouds of smoke surrounding the four.  Lily, Percy, and Victor continued to run as he pressed his watch, Alkmini now in his hands.  Lily was in some silver armor embroidered with roses and a matching axe while Percy was holding his Riptide.  They were about to use their weapons as the dogs charged at them, only for them to calm down.  Lily and Victor gave each other a puzzled look, wondering why the dogs were so calm now.  

Annabeth was petting them gently, causing them to sleep.  "Good boys, you guys are so cute.  Yes, you are." she stated as she slowly climbed down.  Grover was able to escape their mouth, now covered in spit.  The kids were able to escape as the dogs tried to eat them again "Annabeth? Where's Annabeth? She... don't tell me she's..."

"Guys?" the girl called out, gripping onto the ledge.  Victor gave her his hand as he and the others helped her up.  "You're alive." he stated as he pulled her away from the cliff.  Annabeth couldn't help but feel intense butterflies in her stomach again, reminding herself to talk to Lily about it when they got back to camp.  She threw the red rubber ball into the fog, calming the dogs.  "Wow, look at that." Percy stated, causing them to turn around.  "That's... what is that?" Lily questioned.  "Hade's palace.  That's where he'll be keeping the master bolt.  And your mom." she answered, looking at Percy.

"Oh, no." Grover said in a worried tone.  "What?" Percy asked.  "My pearl, I lost the pearl.  I think it's... it's in the dog.  What are we gonna do?"

"I don't know.  But if we don't move, it is not gonna matter.  Come on." Annabeth stated.

THE FIVE CHILDREN WALKED IN DARKNESS, trying to get to the palace.  "We can't ignore this." Grover spoke as they moved.   "Stop."

"It's just math.  The five of us, plus your mom, is six people, and only five pearls.  Someone is staying behind and it should really be me." Grover stated.  "No.  We're not leaving you.  If you're staying, then I'm staying too." Lily said, putting a hand on his shoulder.  "It's not your fault.  And even if it were, you're not getting left behind.  Period." Percy told him.  Victor gave Grover a hard look as he spoke.  "No one gets left behind, Grover.  And I'll make sure of it."  Victor placed a pearl in the satyr's hand, walking away.  "And... what about you?"

"I'll stay here.  At least Percy will be able to save his mom and... and we'll be heroes.  I'll be fine."  Victor turned around, a figure startling him.  They looked... dead.  They all looked that way, actually.  "We're in the fields of Asphodel.  I read a book about this place once."  She touched one of the souls, showing roots instead of feet.  "Souls here are bound by regret.  Haunted by choices they made in life... or never made." Cerberus growled in the distance, causing the kids to run away. 

They stopped in their tracks as they panted, tired of running.  Victor's eyes widened, realizing the daughter of Athena wasn't with them.  "Annabeth.... we can't just leave her! We have to go back! Guys, please. She - she was willing to give herself up to save me but I wasn't going to let that happen. I'm... I'm not going to let that happen." With those words, Victor turned around.  "Annabeth?" he called out, the others following suit.  "Guys! We have a problem here." The boy noticed roots at her legs, tying her into place.

He tried to untie them, pulling at them.  "I already tried that.  It's too strong."

"Why isn't this working?" he asked.  Grover stood up, staring at Annabeth.  "It's some kind of regret, right? But what would you have to regret?" the satyr questioned.  "It's okay.  Go.  I'll distract the dog and buy you guys some time."  Victor tried to remove the roots from her foot, using all of his strength.  "Victor, you have to let go.  Here, take this." she stated, giving him her pearl.  "No, no, I can't leave you."

"You have to, fire boy.  It's... it's the only way.   I'll be okay."

"No, Athena has to have a plan.  She has to, right? That's what you said back at Crusty's."

"I don't know.  But I have faith in her." she stated.  "How... how can you say that? You're going to die here, Annabeth.  What will Chiron think? Luke think?"

"Victor, please.  I'll be fine."

So much for the Underworld being easy.

Maya Speaks 💫:

The second part of episode seven will be in another chapter! There is so much going on in this episode that I had to split it into two so you guys will be getting two more chapters ☺️

Also what do you guys think Victor's fatal flaw is? Because Percy's is loyalty, Lily's is perfection (it will be explained in my next book), and Annabeth's is pride

This chapter was so sad to write ☹️