chapter 17:

                                 hades palace

                                  

                                  𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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Asteria walked in between both boys protesting her in a way. Asteria was terrified of this place, but she knew it was for the better. She was doing it was him.

Percy's arm brushed Asterias's as they heard a loud thud before a door rumbled opened. Asteria wanted to run back, but she couldn't not now atleast. The way her hands trembled with each step she took really showed of terrified she was.

They began walking forward, Asteria kept looking down making sure her shaky legs wouldn't trip. She felt pathetic for feeling this way. As they entered Asteria quickly took note that the place was huge, she felt like she had just shrunk.

Asteria grabbed Percy's hand as a reflex, the platform they had been standing on was slowly going up. The rocks in between the cracks made it shake almost resembling how she felt.

It was unclear on what was ahead as they stopped moving with a loud thud. "Is this our stop?" Grover asked, he was the first to speak. It fell silent after that no one answering his questions, footsteps echoed loudly, with each footstep, Asteria's heart beat faster.

"Hey, Welcome! anyways it's great to meet you" Hades greeted revealing themselves "I know who you are, and you know who i am" Everything clicked once those words slipped out his mouth

"Can i get you anything?" He asked the teens, it seemed tempting to answer "My mother." Percy stated, Asteria looked at him she didn't expect him to start straight away "Boom. Straight to business" It was clear he was also shocked with the boys words. Hades kept talking but Percy's stare didn't move he was unfazed. "Where is she?"

"Let's get to it, your mom's just over here" Hades announced walking away, Asteria furrowed her eyebrows why would Hades act that way towards them. "You've come all this way, don't be shy."

Asteria took a step forward as they all followed, making their way around a corner. Asteria's breath hitched as she saw something covered in cloth the outline gave away that it was a person. "Perc-" Asteria warned as Hades revealed who it was "Mom?" He questioned seeing her covered in gold, Percy's gaze seemed hurt "What did you do to her?" His voice was clear wanting to get all the answers he possibly could

"Saves her life?" Hades scoffed before explaining "So you could come see me, and here you are. You give me what you got and im giving you what I got" Asteria looked at Grover they both had the same reaction "I can't give it to you." His voice trembled. Hades gaze turnes towards Asteria as he tilted his head, she looked away instantly.

"The bolt doesn't belong to you. Your plan almost worked" Percy refused to hand it over "You and Ares managed to steal the bolt, tricking me into bringing it right down and giving it to you." Hades looked towards Asteria again "Stop looking at her." Percy interlocked their fingers trying to calm down

"But all i can so is ask you to do the right thing, too. Please let my mom go" He changed the topic as he pleaded "Huh?" Hades was playing dumb and it was obvious "What?" Percy copied Hades town masking him "Who tricked Area into doing what?" Hades stuttered as Asteria scoffed hearing someone like him stutter

"You're in cahoots with Ares, to secure the bolt" Grover spoke "I can't tell if he's being for real" The girl whispered "Im not on cahoots with Ares, The bolt is my brothers drama i don't want any part of it" This shocked the teens, after everything they did he declined

"You don't want it?" Percy asked making sure he heard right "No." He gestured as if it was obvious "Then what do you want?"

"My helm!" He exclaimed "This is new" Asteria had no clue what Hades was talking about "You're what?" Everyone was equally confused "My Helm of Darkness it went missing just days before someone used it to turn invisible and steal the bolt, i'd like it back please and then you het your mom back" He pointed at them

"Quit pocking fingers Hades, we had no fucking clue what a Helm even was before you mentioned it" Asteria was fed up at that point, Hades didn't expect for Asteria to speak to him in that tone "You really don't want the bolt?"

"Why would I want that?" Asteria sighed in annoyance"To start a war between your brothers" Grover brought up "Why would i want that?" He repeated "Stop repeating thing!" She snapped a's tension filled the room "I don't know if you noticed but it's all candy canes and rainbows down here"

Asteria looked around taking in the dark place, Hades kept talking. Asteria found it strange as Percy kept quiet. She looked over at him, he was lost in his thoughts. She felt his hand slightly tremble "Kronos" He spoke

Asteria's face was filled with confusion but relief at the same time "Excuse me?" Hades also didn't understand "He'a got the longest grudge of them all. Zeus took Kronos's throne. Who else has a bigger reason to weaken Zeus and take his throne back?" Percy looked at all of them as if it was obvious

"Kronos is in a million pieces at the bott-"

"Tartarus, where something just tried to pull is into it the moment the bolt appeared in our bag. Tartarus where ive beeb hearing a voice from my dreams telling me it needs my help to take down Olympus" Asteria knew about this, she has overheard Percy telling Annabeth about his dreams the night of the train

Hades sighed at the boys sudden rant "Ask me for sanctuary." Asteria was tried of hearing the same things she just wanted the truth "If Kronos is somehow planning to emerge from his exile, and you were his first call, you're not safe"

"None of us are" Asteria realized as Hades agreed with her "Ask me and ill protect you." He prompted "You and your mother, and the goat and the girl"

"I'll throw him in on the house, i see you care about her so her protection had already been granted" Hades admitted "This works out nicely for you as it turns out, all it'll cost you is the bolt"

"Can you make up your mind" Asteria was stubborn as Hades kept changing his mind "I thought you didn't want the bolt?"

"I don't want the bolt."

"Then what do you want?!" Asteria snapped at him again "Well now i need the bolt, if war with Kronos is coming i'd like to be prepared" He admitted, Asteria didn't buy his act but she just pretended "Not messing around here"

"This only ends one way. The only question is how difficult you make it." Hades spoke directly to Percy "No" Hades was tired of playing games "Give me the bag." Hades reached forward as Percy held up his ethereal "Nice pearl"

"I accept your offer" Hades was relieved hearing this, Percy didn't let him speak "Your first offer" We're gonna go get your helm. And when i get back, you're gonna let my mom go"

Grover got closer to Asteria "Your ethereal get it." He explained as she nodded "Hang on" Hades tried to interrupt "Now!" Percy shouted as They all threw their ethereal to the ground as it opened up for them as they went through

"Fuck!" Asteria gained consciousness as she hit the ground, Annabeth walked towards them as she help them up. They were there was a reason. They turned their heads before facing Ares. It was the beginning

.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣
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❥༄ ─

𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢 ⸻ speaks
im so not excused for this to come to an end