We Are Cursed (A Percy Jackson AU) || BOOK 2

Chapter 40 || Jason

"Lord Hades," Piper said, bowing at the death god's feet. She'd always been one to know the right words to say and Jason acknowledged that, especially since they were in front of a person who could have them sent to Tartarus in an instant.

"Rise," Hades greeted as the trio stood to face him. "I see that you are here to retrieve Underworld dirt."

"Y-Yes, sir," Piper stuttered. "We need it for--"

"--the cure for the Death Curse, yes. Of course, you do."

"Listen, we'll do anything!" she begged.

"Anything?" The Death Lord played with the ring on his finger. "That's a brave statement, daughter of Aphrodite."

"But we mean it!"

"As much as you mean it, why would I help my nephew?"

Jason had been fearing that question. Sure, Piper could say that Hazel cared about him so much, but this was the lord of the underworld. Not some emotional softie. The only two women he ever actually loved were dead, and he didn't exactly love Hazel's mother that much. After all, Hazel endured a curse of jewels. Maria di Angelo... she was dead, but there wasn't any evidence that Hades loved her.

It was worth a shot.

"Would Maria di Angelo do it? Yes she would!"

Hade's jaw tightened at the mention of his ex-lover. "Maria has nothing to do with this. If you're trying to pull my heartstrings, I have none."

They were running low on options. Shit.

"Persephone!" Piper exclaimed. "She likes Percy! Surely she'd help him! At least do it for your wife!"

"My wife would rather be up with her mother than be with me. There is nothing I'd do for her when it's summer. Winter... you'll have to stick around till then, and judging by your desperation, you don't have enough time to wait that long. After all, you still need to find Ladon."

Hades was right. They only had a week and a lot of that time was going to be spent traveling.