Ch. 16

Dean walked out of the Hilton Hotel with Jo beside him. He checked his pocket and cursed when he realized he didn't have any of his fraudulent credit cards with him. He had about $40 to get both him and Jo back home. His mind was racing as he tried to figure out an idea. When nothing came to him, he pulled out his cell phone to call Sam.

Just as he was about to hit send, Jo elbowed him in the ribs. He looked at her confused but she pointed ahead of them where the valet stood with the keys to his Impala in hand and the passenger side door open.

Dean looked suspicious. He was wary this could be another one of Zachariah or the other angel's attempts to lure him into a trap. He cautiously made his way to the valet but the guy just handed him the keys. Dean reached into his pocket to tip the guy but the valet shook his head.

"It's been taken care of sir. Mr. Jackson sends his regards"

Dean raised an eyebrow before he tensed when the valet's eyes turned black. Dean reached for a gun when the valet put up his hands.

"Not necessary, I work for Percy and Percy alone. He said wait here with your car until you showed up. I am no threat to you."

Dean relaxed slowly but kept an eye on the demon as he made his way into the driver's seat. The valet waited for him to get inside before turning and walking back towards the hotel. Dean looked over at Jo who had a wad of cash, a piece of pie and a note in her hand.

"They were on the passenger seat." Jo answered before he could ask.

Dean grabbed the note and the pie before opening the folded piece of paper.

The note was short and to the point.

Dean,

Stop walking to your death, it doesn't suit a survivor of Hell. Watch Sam closely, I'm guessing there will be some aftereffects of his little demon blood drinking phase. I've got some business to attend to so you're on your own for a while. Curious about the money? I'm an archangel, I just snap my fingers and shit appears, pretty awesome right? You better enjoy the pie, both last night's and the plate sitting beside you.

-Percy

Dean smirked until he saw Jo looking at him curiously. He crumpled up the note and shrugged.

"Just said the pie and cash were a gift from Percy." Dean said quickly.

"Who the hell is this Percy guy?" Jo asked realizing she hadn't even asked last night when she and Dean were, uh, preoccupied with other matters and activities.

"Honestly I don't even know how to answer that question," Dean replied seriously. "I met him when I was in Hell. He kind of protected me while I was in there. I thought he was just a demon who took pity on me but apparently he's actually an archangel who's also part demon with a demon wife and really I have no idea how to explain it any more than that."

Jo looked a little taken aback. After a minute she seemed to come out of her shock, "So is he trustworthy or is he someone to worry about?"

Dean paused for a minute as he thought about her question. Percy had done some terrible things, killed innocent people when he first got out of Hell and pretty much ripped the pantheon of Greek gods to pieces. He also thought about how many times Percy had come to the rescue to save his and Sam's asses even after Sam had tried to kill his wife.

"I trust him. I'm not saying he is good but I would trust me with my life, more than any of the other angels I've met."

Jo looked unsure by his answer but decided not to question him as they pulled onto the highway to bring her home. If Dean trusted this Percy guy then she would as well.

Line Break

A golden light descended from the heavens in the middle of an empty and dark dirt road. No streetlights could be seen in either direction, only the moonlight from above provided any relief from the darkness of the late night.

A blonde haired woman opened up a container, checking the contents to make sure she had everything that was needed. She glanced at the picture of herself, the graveyard dirt, a black cat bone, and a yarrow plant. She closed the container and walked to the center of the road where the road met at another at a crossroads.

She dug a small hole in the middle of the crossroad before taking a deep breath hoping that it worked. She dropped the container inside and buried it before standing up and looking around.

To her dismay, nothing happened. She looked around as all the hope was drained from her heart.

"Well this is rich." A female voice said from behind her.

The blonde spun around and gasped.

"Hazel?"

Hazel smirked, "Yes Annabeth, were you expecting someone else?"

The minor goddess looked shocked, "What are you doing here?"

Hazel rolled her eyes, "You summoned me, why don't you tell me?"

Annabeth's eyes widened, "Y...You're a demon now?"

Hazel's smirk grew as her eyes turned red, "Why yes, courtesy of my dear friend Percy. I prefer to be more hands off so he made me a crossroads demon, in charge of making the deals. You know, more interactive without getting my hands dirty. I pride myself on being a people person."

Annabeth's expression turned pained, "I'm sorry Hazel. I am so sorry Percy did this to you."

Hazel looked at her one time friend incredulously, "Sorry for what? I asked for this. Percy was like a brother to me until you and the rest of the traitors betrayed him. Don't pity me bitch, I'm going to live forever now which is more than I can say for you if you don't get to the point of calling me."

Annabeth was taken aback by her response.

"Hecate said this was the only way I could get my daughter back. I... I need her back. This was my fault. I need to fix this." She said desperately.

Hazel's expression was devoid of emotion as she thought about the request. After enough time for Annabeth to start to worry had passed, Hazel smirked.

"Your request is entirely possible," Hazel said before pausing to allow Annabeth to look relieved, "but a deal with you is not something I would make on my own. I will need to speak to my boss before we can talk about terms." She said enjoying every second of Annabeth's distress.

Annabeth opened her mouth to respond but stopped when Hazel closed her eyes.

A minute later, a new voice spoke from behind Annabeth.

"And what can Hell do for my favorite minor goddess?"

Annabeth whirled around and paled when she saw the milky white eyes of Zoë Nightshade before they shifted back into their normal volcanic rock black.

"Zoë," Annabeth said nervously. "You're Hazel's boss?"

Zoë rolled her eyes, "Well Percy is the King of Hell, being his wife makes me the Queen now doesn't it? Since you're so dear to my husband's heart, he sent me to deal with you personally. Now, tell me what it is that you are willing to sacrifice so much for?"

Annabeth felt a big of envy worm its way into her heart. Percy used to be hers. She should be a queen, not some minor goddess in a mostly dead pantheon. She shook it off and focused on the reason she was there.

"I want my daughter back. Percy and you have taken everything from me but that is too far, she was just a child." Annabeth growled.

Zoë smiled a bit, "We did, didn't we? Killed your husband and daughter; oh, you should see what Percy and I have been doing with Athena and some of your siblings." She said excitedly.

Annabeth's eyes widened before she pulled out a dagger. Before she could take a step she was backhanded hard by Hazel knocking her to the ground.

"I guess your daughter doesn't matter." Hazel sneered. "Burning for eternity in Hell she remains."

Annabeth's eyes widened, "No! Wait, I'm sorry. Please, I want her back."

Hazel paused with a wide smirk. She looked at Zoë who rolled her eyes at Annabeth, "I'm guessing you know that your wish is not free, right?"

Annabeth steeled her nerves and nodded, "Yes Hecate informed me of the terms... I get my daughter back and in ten years you claim my soul?"

Zoë laughed loudly, "Is that what Hecate told you? She may be the goddess of the crossroads but she only knows so much. The terms depend on the situation my dear and I have no plans on giving you the usual deal that normal strangers get."

Annabeth's face turned deathly white.

"What are your terms?"

Zoë smirked, "For you, since we're such good friends, I'll give you a year."

Annabeth's eyes widened, "A year? That's it? I'm a goddess! My soul should be worth more than a mortal's!"

Zoë chuckled, "You would think so but think about it this way; if I chose to, I could kill you right now and drag you down to Hell to join your daughter in eternal damnation. Since we go back, you being the reason I died and all, I'm sentimental. I'm willing to give you a year, a year to spend with your daughter to find someone else to raise her when you're gone; a year to savor the memories of her childhood. The choice is yours but I'm not a patient demon, think quickly Annabeth."

Annabeth's face became panicked. She tried to think of what to do or a way to improve the terms. Zoë tapped her wrist as if a watch were there impatiently.

"Going once." Zoë mocked.

Annabeth cursed silently. She was a daughter of Athena, she should be able to think of something.

"Going twice."

Annabeth paled. Her mind was drawing blanks. She looked up at Zoë who opened her mouth to speak.

"Deal!" Annabeth cried desperately.

Zoë smirked, "Good decision."

Annabeth glared at her, "Do I need to sign something?"

Hazel laughed, "Sorry Annabeth but deals like this are sealed with a kiss. If you want to see your daughter again then you might want to pucker up."

Annabeth's expression turned to disgust, "I'm not kissing a demon."

Hazel shrugged, "Okay then. I guess we'll be going." She said turning around before Annabeth grabbed her arm. Hazel smirked as she turned around.

Annabeth looked unsure of what to do next before she closed her eyes. Hazel glanced at Zoë whose expression was full of amusement. She nodded her head.

Hazel grabbed the back of Annabeth's head and pulled her lips to her own as she kissed her hard, forcing her tongue into Annabeth's mouth as she held her head in place so Annabeth couldn't pull away. Hazel's tongue roamed Annabeth's mouth as she tried to struggle. After a good fifteen seconds had passed she let go of the minor goddess' head as she stumbled back looking at Hazel in shock and disgust.

"What was that?" She screeched.

Hazel's smile turned mischievous, "Just getting my money's worth. The deal is sealed. See you in a year Annabeth."

Before she could say anything Hazel vanished from the crossroads making the daughter of Athena panic.

"Relax slut," Zoë laughed. "You will get your daughter."

Annabeth's grey eyes snapped to Zoë, "Where is she?" She growled.

Zoë smirked, "Do you think Percy that much a monster that he would kill a little girl?"

Annabeth looked confused, "I watched her die."

Zoë rolled her eyes, "Percy is an archangel. The most powerful being in existence with the exception of God. He killed her and then brought her back to life." She explained as she handed Annabeth a piece of paper.

Annabeth took it and examined it before turning back to Zoë, "What is this?"

Zoë grinned, "That, my dear old friend, is the address of the orphanage where your daughter is. Where she has been since Percy killed her. Go find her, a deal is a deal, she is there. All you have to do is go to her."

Annabeth's face was priceless. She was at a rare loss for words before her eyes narrowed.

"Then the deal isn't real."

Zoë shook her head, "No the deal is real. You get your daughter back and now your soul is mine. You think you're so smart but Percy planned this from the start. Now you have sold your soul for a daughter who wasn't even dead. He played you from the start you bitch. You're not half as smart as he is, he just doesn't need people to stroke his ego all the time. Enjoy your time Annabeth, the days will go quickly."

Annabeth looked horrified but Zoë vanished from sight before she could say anything,

Tears sprung into Annabeth's eyes as she realized she had just sold her soul for basically nothing and now she was powerless to fix it. She dropped to the ground as she broke down, sobbing in the middle of the crossroads with her time slowly ticking away by the second.

Line Break

Percy Jackson sat in a small a bar in Austin, Texas. A Johnny Walker Black sat in front of him, his seventh of the night before he gulped it down quickly and tapped his glass on the bar.

The bartender made her way over.

"Are you sure? I think you might have had enough sweetie."

Percy rolled his eyes as he pretended to reach into his pocket and a few hundred dollar bills appeared in hand. He laid them on the bar.

"I'll make you a deal; you just keep pouring until I tell you to stop and there will be more of these for you sweetheart."

The bartender's eyes widened. She grabbed the bills and looked at them carefully before she grinned.

"Whatever you say hunny." She said as she picked up Percy's glass and took it away. She came back a moment later and laid a fresh filled glass in front of him.

Percy picked up the glass and took a drink revealing a folded piece of paper underneath it. He set his glass down and opened the note and found a phone number.

"You wish bitch." He muttered as he crumpled up the paper and dropped it beside him.

The guy next to him snatched the paper before it could hit the ground.

"Are you sure? She was very pretty." The man said raising an eyebrow.

Percy turned before he tensed. He relaxed and composed himself before speaking.

"I thought you might show up." He muttered. "Lucifer, right?"

Lucifer nodded, "Perseus, the man I've heard so much about."

Percy took another drink of his glass, "So what can I do for Heaven's most wanted?"

Lucifer chuckled, "I'm not sure that title belongs to me anymore. I hear you've made quite a name for yourself already. But I think you know what I want."

Percy's lips quirked slightly, "Sam Winchester? I'm afraid I'm fresh out of those at the moment. Why do you need him, you seem right at home inside whatever Joe Blow you got to say yes to you already."

Lucifer smiled as the bartender set a beer down in front of him, "Oh him? No, he's just a temporary home. Sam is my destiny and you know it. That is why you're hiding him and Dean. You know Michael and I need them. Very smart, I have to say you have carved yourself quite a large place on the chess board."

"One must watch over themselves if they want to stay ahead in the world." Percy said with a slight smug smile on his lips. "Right now I know neither you nor Michael dare make a move against me. You both know you'd end up like Raphael."

Lucifer frowned, "Yes, I was less than pleased to learn about the fate of my dear brother."

Percy shrugged, "His fate was his to decide. He chose to seek me out and try to fight me. He learned the foolishness of that decision. I believe you are much smarter than that though. You will try to persuade me to give you Sam before you try and stab me in the back."

"And who says I would betray you? I happen to pride myself on honesty." Lucifer said feigning innocence.

Percy laughed humorlessly, "Don't take me for a fool Lucifer. You and Michael will never accept me as a brother. Don't worry, I'm fine with it but don't expect me to buy any of the bullshit you send my way. You hate mankind and I used to be a member of it. Just know you would be a fool to think me still a man. I am very much an archangel and I am not to be toyed with. God made me what he did for reasons I don't know yet but you would be wise to understand one thing; I am not going anywhere. I have no intention of helping you or Michael or either side. Since I don't really belong to either side, I play for team Percy and team Percy helps whoever benefits Percy the most." He said as he dropped several hundred dollars on the bar.

"But hey, maybe this will all work out for everyone in the end. Have a drink on me, after all, what are brothers for?"

Lucifer turned but the sound of wings flapping signaled Percy's exit from the bar leaving the fallen archangel alone and wondering exactly how this new powerful player would affect his plans.