Indigo Eyes

Chapter 10

"Forgive him, Lord Hades," Cressida spoke. "He is new to this world. He was at Camp Half-blood for barely a week. He doesn't know your history as he should. I do, My Lord. I am Cressida Lynn, daughter of Dionysus."

The Lord of the Dead ran her up and down as if evaluating her words.

"I am aware of who you are, Miss Lynn," he announced, and she swallowed nervously because it felt as if he was about to make a verdict. "Dionysus is one of the more.... agreeable Olympians, I suppose. I will hear you speak."

Cressida didn't hesitate to bow, taking a step towards the throne. "Thank you, Lord Hades," she said as she stood tall, no evidence of her earlier exhaustion in her posture or her voice. She really was the daughter of the god of theatre. "My Lord, I don't know who took the master bolt or your helm, but I know it wasn't Percy Jackson. My father is the god of theatre, I know when someone is being ingenuine. And Percy is not being ingenuine when he says he has no knowledge of their locations. And, I believe that through my father, you would know that it would take a lot, and I mean a lot, for me to defend someone the way I have."

Hades nodded, a gesture that he understood and for her to keep going.

"Lord Hades, I swear to you on the River Styx, that we are not colluding with Poseidon to get you to support him."

Annabeth and Grover's eyes widened in shock. Making that oath was dangerous in more than one way, but Cressida had been careful about her wording, since Poseidon had colluded with them to get them here, saving them in the Mississippi River, giving them the pearls in Santa Monica through the Nereid.

Hades stood after a time when Cressida did not drop dead.

"I believe your words to be true enough, Cressida Lynn," he proclaimed. "Perhaps it was wrong of me to set my Furies on the Son of Poseidon at his Yancy Academy-"

"That was you?!" Percy exclaimed, Annabeth elbowing him to stay silent.

"Seeing as he didn't steal my helm, however, you have lied to me about one thing," he finished, and Cressida was anxious, very anxious.

"I'm afraid I don't follow, Lord Hades," she replied, and the room resumed its shaking.

"You claim to come here for the master bolt, you came to accuse me of theft when you already possess it! You bring it here to mock me? To threaten me?!" he thundered.

"But we didn't!" Percy insisted.

"Open your pack then!" Hades dared and they all turned to Percy, the backpack on his shoulder suddenly seeming a million pounds heavier. He slung it off his shoulder and unzipped it.

It was about double the length of a ruler, a long metal cylinder that was spiked on both ends and humming with energy.

Zeus' master bolt.

And there was only one person who could've put that there.

"Percy, how -" Annabeth began.

"I-I don't know. I don't understand," he said. Cressida did.

"You heroes are always the same," Hades said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool."

"Lord Hades-"

"This is all a mistake," Percy interjected, cutting off Cressida.

"A mistake?!" Hades roared and the skeletons armed their weapons. From high above, there was a fluttering of leathery wings, and the three Furies swooped down to perch on the back of their master's throne. "There is no mistake," Hades said. "I know why you have come – I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her."