Percy's POV
After another humiliating drive with Nico on my lap, Theo finally parked at Central Park. We quickly got out of the Mercedes (I still don't believe that Theo actually owns that car) and walked over just north of the pond.
We saw Mrs. O'Leary there. She looked pretty tired as she limped over to a cluster of boulders. She started sniffing around, and I was afraid she might mark her territory.
Nico: It's okay. She just smells the way home.
Percy: Through the rocks?
Nico: The Underworld has two major entrances. You both know the one in L.A.
Theo: DOA Studios. Charon's ferry.
Nico: (nods) Most souls go that way, but there's a smaller path, harder to find. The Door of Orpheus.
Percy: The dude with the harp.
Nico: Dude with the lyre. But yeah, him. He used his music to charm the earth and open a new path into the Underworld. He sang his way right into Hades's palace and almost got away with his wife's soul.
I remembered the story. Orpheus wasn't supposed to look behind him when he was leading his wife back to the world, but of course, he did. It was one of those typical "and-so-they-died/the-end" stories that always made us feel warm and fuzzy.
Percy: So this is the Door of Orpheus. How does it open?
Nico: We need music.
Immediately, Theo took out his iPod and played Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson. However, nothing happened. This caused Theo to stop the song and pocket his iPod with a frown.
Theo: Shit taste of music.
Nico: It was worth a shot. How's your singing?
Theo: Hell no.
Nico: Percy?
Percy: Um, no. Can't you just, like, tell it to open? You're the son of Hades and all.
Nico: It's not so easy. We need music.
Theo: Does it need a specific genre or something? Because apparently, MJ doesn't work.
Percy: I have a better idea. GROVER!
We waited for a long time. Mrs. O'Leary curled up and took a nap. I could hear the crickets in the woods and an owl hooting. Traffic hummed along Central Park West. Horse hooves clopped down a nearby path, maybe a mounted police patrol. I was sure they'd love to find two kids hanging out in the park at one in the morning.
Nico: It's no good.
But I had a feeling. My empathy link was really tingling for the first time in months, which either meant a whole lot of people had suddenly switched on the Nature Channel, or Grover was close.
I shut my eyes and concentrated.
Percy: Grover.
I knew he was somewhere in the park. Why couldn't I sense his emotions? All I got was a faint hum in the base of my skull.
Percy: Grover.
???: Hmmmmmm
An image came into my head. I saw a giant elm tree deep in the woods, well off the main paths. Gnarled roots laced the ground, making a kind of bed. Lying in it with his arms crossed and his eyes closed was a satyr. At first, I couldn't be sure it was Grover. He was covered in twigs and leaves, like he'd been sleeping there a long time. The roots seemed to be shaping themselves around him, slowly pulling him into the earth.
Percy: Grover. Wake up.
Grover: Unnnh—zzzzz.
Percy: Dude, you're covered in dirt. Wake up!
Grover: Sleepy...
Percy: Food! PANCAKES!
His eyes shot open. A blur of thoughts filled my head like he was suddenly on fast-forward. The image shattered, and I almost fell over.
Theo: You okay?
I nodded.
Nico: What happened?
Percy: I got through. He's...yeah. He's on his way.
A minute later, the tree next to us shivered. Grover fell out of the branches, right on his head.
Percy: Grover!
Mrs. O'Leary looked up, probably wondering if we were going to play fetch with the satyr.
Grover: Blah-haa-haa!
Percy: You okay, man?
Grover: Oh, I'm fine.
He rubbed his head. His horns had grown so much they poked an inch above his curly hair.
Grover: I was at the other end of the park. The dryads had this great idea of passing me through the trees to get me here. They don't understand height very well.
He grinned and got to his feet—well, his hooves, actually. Since last summer, Grover had stopped trying to disguise himself as human. He never wore a cap or fake feet anymore. He didn't even wear jeans, since he had furry goat legs from the waist down. His T-shirt had a picture from that book Where the Wild Things Are. It was covered with dirt and tree sap. His goatee looked fuller, almost manly (or goatly?), and he was as tall as me now.
Percy: Good to see you, G-man. You remember Nico.
Grover nodded at Nico, and then he gave me and Theo a big hug. He smelled like fresh-mown lawns.
Grover: Perrrcy! Theeeo! I missed you! I miss camp. They don't serve very good enchiladas in the wilderness.
Theo: We were worried, Grover. Where were you the last two months?
Grover's smile faded.
Grover: The last two—The last two months? What are you talking about?
Percy: We haven't heard from you. Juniper's worried. We sent Iris-messages, but—
Grover: Hold on.
He looked up at the stars like he was trying to calculate his position.
Grover: What month is this?
Percy & Theo: August.
The color drained from Grover's face.
Grover: That's impossible. It's June. I just lay down to take a nap and... (grabs Percy's arms) I remember now! He knocked me out. Percy, we have to stop him!
Percy: Whoa. Slow down. Tell me what happened.
Grover: (takes a deep breath) I was...I was walking in the woods up by Harlem Meer. And I felt this tremble in the ground like something powerful was near.
Nico: You can sense stuff like that?
Grover: (nods) Since Pan's death, I can feel when something is wrong in nature. It's like my ears and eyes are sharper when I'm in the Wild. Anyway, I started following the scent. This man in a long black coat was walking through the park, and I noticed he didn't cast a shadow. Middle of a sunny day, and he cast no shadow. He kind of shimmered as he moved.
Nico: Like a mirage?
Grover: Yes. And whenever he passed humans—
Nico: The humans would pass out. Curl up and go to sleep.
Grover: That's right! Then after he was gone, they'd get up and go about their business like nothing happened.
Percy: (to Nico) You know this guy in black?
Nico: Afraid so. (turns to Grover) Grover, what happened?
Grover: I followed the guy. He kept looking up at the buildings around the park like he was making estimates or something. This lady jogger ran by, and she curled up on the sidewalk and started snoring. The guy in black put his hand on her forehead like he was checking her temperature. Then he kept walking. By this time, I knew he was a monster or something even worse. I followed him into this grove, to the base of a big elm tree. I was about to summon some dryads to help me capture him when he turned and...Percy, Theo, his face. I couldn't make out his face because it kept shifting. Just looking at him made me sleepy. I said, "What are you doing?" He said, "Just having a look around. You should always scout a battlefield before the battle." I said something really smart like, "This forest is under my protection. You won't start any battles here!" And he laughed. He said, "You're lucky I'm saving my energy for the main event, little satyr. I'll just grant you a short nap. Pleasant dreams." And that's the last thing I remember.
Nico: Grover, you met Morpheus, the God of Dreams. You're lucky you ever woke up.
Grover: Two months. He put me to sleep for two months!
I tried to wrap my mind around what this meant. Now it made sense why we hadn't been able to contact Grover all this time.
Theo: Why didn't the nymphs wake you up?
Grover: (shrugs) Most nymphs aren't good with time. Two months for a tree—that's nothing. They probably didn't think anything was wrong.
Percy: We've got to figure out what Morpheus was doing in the park. I don't like this 'main event' thing he mentioned.
Nico: He's working for Kronos. We know that already. A lot of the minor gods are. This just proves there's going to be an invasion. Percy, Theo, we have to get on with our plan.
Grover: Wait. What plan?
We told him, and Grover started tugging at his leg fur.
Grover: You're not serious. Not the Underworld again.
Theo: We're not asking you to come with us, man. I know you just woke up, but we'll need you to play some music to get this door open. Can you do that?
Grover: Why not just use your iPod?
Theo: I did, but it didn't work. Apparently, the Door of Orpheus doesn't like Michael Jackson.
Grover sighed as he took out his reed pipes.
Grover: I guess I could try. I know a few Nirvana tunes that can split rocks. But, Percy, Theo, are you both sure you want to do this?
Percy: Please, man. It would mean a lot. For old times' sake?
Grover: As I recall, in the old times we almost died a lot. But okay, here goes nothing.
He put his pipes to his lips and played a shrill, lively tune. The boulders trembled. A few more stanzas, and they cracked open, revealing a triangular crevice.
I peered inside. Steps led down into the darkness. The air smelled of mildew and death. It brought back bad memories of my trip through the Labyrinth last year, but this tunnel felt even more dangerous. It led straight to the land of Hades, and that was almost always a one-way trip.
Percy: (to Grover) Thanks...I think.
Grover: Perrrcy, Theeeo, is Kronos really going to invade?
Theo: I wish I could say he isn't, but...I'd be lying.
I thought Grover might chew up his reed pipes in anxiety, but he straightened up and brushed off his T-shirt. I couldn't help thinking how different he looked from fat old Leneus.
Grover: I've got to rally the nature spirits, then. Maybe we can help. I'll see if we can find this Morpheus.
Percy: Better tell Juniper you're okay, too.
Grover: (widens his eyes) Juniper! Oh, she's going to kill me!
He started to run off, then scrambled back and gave me and Theo another hug.
Grover: Be careful down there! Come back alive! Both of you!
Once he was gone, Nico, Theo, and I roused Mrs. O'Leary from her nap.
When she smelled the tunnel, she got excited and led the way down the steps. It was a pretty tight fit. I hoped she wouldn't get stuck. I couldn't imagine how much Drano we'd need to un-stick a hellhound wedged halfway down a tunnel to the Underworld.
Nico: You guys ready? It'll be fine, don't worry.
He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
I glanced up at the stars, wondering if I would ever see them again. Then we plunged into darkness.
Theo's POV
The stairs went on forever—narrow, steep, and slippery. It was completely dark except for the light of my sword. I tried to go slow, but Mrs. O'Leary had other ideas. She bounded ahead, barking happily. The sound echoed through the tunnel like cannon shots, and I figured we would not be catching anybody by surprise once we reached the bottom.
Nico lagged behind, which I thought was strange.
Theo: You okay, Nico?
Nico: Yeah...Just keep moving.
Why am I not liking the expression on his face?
I didn't have much choice. Percy and I followed Mrs. O'Leary into the depths. After another hour, we started to hear the roar of a river.
We emerged at the base of a cliff, on a plain of black volcanic sand. To our right, the River Styx gushed from the rocks and roared off in a cascade of rapids. To our left, far away in the gloom, fires burned on the ramparts of Erebos, the great black walls of Hades's kingdom.
I shuddered. I'd first been here when I was twelve, and only Annabeth, Percy, and Grover's company had given me the courage to keep going. Nico wasn't going to be quite as helpful with the "courage" thing. He looked pale and worried himself.
Only Mrs. O'Leary acted happy. She ran along the beach, picked up a random human leg bone, and romped back toward us. She dropped the bone at Percy's feet and waited for him to throw it.
Percy: Um, maybe later, girl. (turns to Nico) So, Nico...how do we do this?
Nico: We have to go inside the gates first.
Theo: (raises an eyebrow) Why? The river's right there.
Nico: I have to get something. It's the only way.
He marched off without waiting.
Percy and I looked at each other skeptically. Nico hadn't mentioned anything about going inside the gates. But now that we were here, neither of us knew what else to do. Reluctantly, we followed him down the beach toward the big black gates.
Lines of the dead stood outside waiting to get in. It must've been a heavy day for funerals, because even the EZ-DEATH line was backed up.
Mrs. O'Leary barked. Before I could stop her, she bounded toward the security checkpoint. Cerberus, the guard dog of Hades, appeared out of the gloom—a three-headed rottweiler so big he made Mrs. O'Leary look like a toy poodle. Cerberus was half transparent, so he's really hard to see until he's close enough to kill you, but he acted like he didn't care about us. He was too busy saying hello to Mrs. O'Leary.
Percy: Mrs. O'Leary, no! Don't sniff...Oh, man.
Nico smiled. Then he looked at me and Percy and his expression turned all serious again, like he'd remembered something unpleasant.
Nico: Come on. They won't give us any trouble in the line. You're with me.
I didn't like it, but we slipped through the security ghouls and into the Fields of Asphodel. I had to whistle for Mrs. O'Leary three times before she left Cerberus alone and ran after us.
We hiked over black fields of grass dotted with black poplar trees. Nico trudged ahead, bringing us closer and closer to the palace of Hades.
Percy: Hey, we're inside the gates already. Where are we—
Mrs. O'Leary growled. A shadow appeared overhead—something dark, cold, and stinking of death. It swooped down and landed on the top of a poplar tree.
She had a shriveled face, a horrible blue knit hat, and a crumpled velvet dress. Leathery bat wings sprang from her back. Her feet had sharp talons, and in her brass-clawed hands, she held a flaming whip and a paisley handbag.
Percy: Mrs. Dodds.
Mrs. Dodds: Welcome back, honey.
Her two sisters—the other Furies—swooped down and settled next to her in the branches of the poplar.
Nico: You know Alecto?
Percy: If you mean the hag in the middle, yeah. She was my math teacher.
Theo: I remember that one.
I pointed at the Fury on the right.
Theo: I stabbed her in the eyes with my hidden blades.
Nico nodded like this didn't surprise him. He looked up at the Furies and took a deep breath.
Nico: I've done what my father asked. Take us to the palace.
Theo: Wait, what?
Percy: Wait a second, Nico. What do you—
Nico: I'm afraid this is my new lead, Percy, Theo. My father promised me information about my family, but he wants to see you both before we try the river. I'm sorry.
Percy: You tricked us?!
He lunged at Nico, but two of the Furies grabbed him by his arms and lifted him in the air. The third Fury grabbed both me and Nico by the scruff of our shirts before flying after her sisters.
Mrs. O'Leary barked angrily and jumped, trying to reach me, but we were too high.
Nico: Tell Mrs. O'Leary to behave. I don't want her to get hurt, guys. My father is waiting. He just wants to talk.
Theo: How about I kick your little ass in front of your daddy, then proceed to kick his ass?!
Nico: Trust me, Theo, you do not want to do that.
I snarled as Percy calmed Mrs. O'Leary down. She whimpered and turned in circles, looking up at us.
Percy: (to Nico) Alright, traitor. You've got your prize. Take me to the stupid palace.
Timeskip
The Fury dropped us like a sack of turnips in the middle of the palace garden.
It was beautiful in a creepy way. Skeletal white trees grew from marble basins. Flower beds overflowed with golden plants and gemstones. A pair of thrones, one bone and one silver, sat on the balcony with a view of the Fields of Asphodel. It would've been a nice place to spend a Saturday morning except for the sulfurous smell and the cries of tortured souls in the distance. Skeletal warriors guarded the only exit. They wore tattered U.S. Army desert combat fatigues and carried M16s.
Alecto deposited Percy next to me. Then all three of them settled on the top of the skeletal throne. I resisted the urge to strangle Nico. They'd only stop me. I'd have to wait for my revenge. I stared at the empty thrones, waiting for something to happen. Then the air shimmered. Three figures appeared—Hades and Persephone on their thrones, and an older woman standing between them. They seemed to be in the middle of an argument.
Old Woman: —told you he was a bum!
Persephone: Mother!
Hades: We have visitors! Please!
Hades, one of my least favorite gods, smoothed his black robes, which were covered with the terrified faces of the damned. He had pale skin and the intense eyes of a madman.
Hades: Percy Jackson. Theo Miller. At last.
Queen Persephone studied me curiously. I'd seen her once before in the winter, but now in the summer, she looked like a totally different goddess. She had lustrous black hair and warm brown eyes. Her dress shimmered with colors. Flower patterns in the fabric changed and bloomed—roses, tulips, honeysuckle.
Played by: Keira Knightley
The woman standing between them was obviously Persephone's mother. She had the same hair and eyes but looked older and sterner. Her dress was golden, the color of a wheat field. Her hair was woven with dried grasses so it reminded me of a wicker basket. I figured if somebody lit a match next to her, she'd be in serious trouble.
Played by: Nicole Kidman
Old Woman: Hmmph. Demigods. Just what we need.
Nico knelt. I really wish I could punch the little shit where it hurts. Unfortunately, there were three gods in the room, and I couldn't risk pissing them off.
Nico: Father. I have done as you asked.
Hades: Took you long enough. Your sister would've done a better job.
Nico lowered his head. If I hadn't been so pissed at the little shithead, I might've felt sorry for him.
Percy: What do you want, Hades?
Hades: (smiles) To talk, of course. Didn't Nico tell you?
Theo: So the little shit you call your son lied about helping us. He brought us here so you could kill us.
Hades: Oh, no. I'm afraid Nico was quite sincere about wanting to help you. The boy is as honest as he is dense. I simply convinced him to take a small detour and bring you here first.
Nico: Father, you promised that neither Percy nor Theo would be harmed. You said if I brought them both, you would tell me about my past—about my mother.
Persephone: (sighs) Can we please not talk about that woman in my presence?
Hades: I'm sorry, my dove. I had to promise the boy something.
Old Woman: I warned you, daughter. This scoundrel Hades is no good. You could've married the god of doctors or the god of lawyers, but noooo. You had to eat the pomegranate.
Persephone: Mother—
Old Woman: And get stuck in the Underworld!
Persephone: Mother, please—
Old Woman: And here it is August, and do you come home like you're supposed to? Do you ever think about your poor lonely mother?
Hades: DEMETER! That is enough. You are a guest in my house.
Demeter: Oh, a house, is it? You call this dump a house? Make my daughter live in this dark, damp—
Hades: I told you, there's a war in the world above. You and Persephone are better off here with me.
Percy: Uh, excuse me, but if you're going to kill us, could you just get on with it?
Theo: Yeah, I'd rather not have the last thing I hear is a grumpy mother scolding her kid.
All three gods looked at me and Percy.
Demeter: Well, they certainly have an attitude.
Hades: Indeed. I'd love to kill them.
Nico: Father! You promised!
Persephone: Husband, we talked about this. You can't go around incinerating every hero. Besides, these two are brave. I like that.
Hades: (rolls his eyes) You liked that Orpheus fellow too. Look how well that turned out. Let me kill one of them, just a little bit.
Nico: Father, you promised! You said you only wanted to talk to them. You said if I brought them, you'd explain.
Hades: And so I shall. Your mother—what can I tell you? She was a wonderful woman. (turns to Persephone) Forgive me, my dear. (turns to Nico) I mean for a mortal, of course. Her name was Maria di Angelo. She was from Venice, but her father was a diplomat in Washington, D.C. That's where I met her. When you and your sister were young, it was a bad time to be children of Hades. World War II was brewing. A few of my, ah, other children were leading the losing side. I thought it best to put you two out of harm's way.
Nico: That's why you hid us in the Lotus Casino
Hades: (shrugs) You didn't age. You didn't realize time was passing. I waited for the right time to bring you out.
Nico: But what happened to our mother? Why don't I remember her?
Hades: Not important.
Nico: What?! Of course, it's important. And you had other children—why were we the only ones who were sent away? And who was the lawyer who got us out?
Hades: You would do well to listen more and talk less, boy. As for the lawyer...
Hades snapped his fingers. On top of his throne, the Fury Alecto began to change until she was a middle-aged man in a pinstriped suit with a briefcase. She—he—looked strange crouching at Hades's shoulder.
Nico: You!
Alecto: I do lawyers and teachers very well!
Nico: But why did you free us from the casino?
Hades: You know why. This idiot son of Poseidon cannot be allowed to be the child of the prophecy. As for the son of Artemis...Well, it's no secret that Orion, the son of Gaea, aims to kill him in order to hurt his mother, so I'd be doing her a favor. She doesn't need her heart broken twice.
Percy plucked a ruby off the nearest plant and threw it at Hades. It sank harmlessly into his robe.
Percy: You should be helping Olympus! All the other gods are fighting Typhon, and you're just sitting here—
Hades: Waiting things out. Yes, that's correct. When's the last time Olympus ever helped me, half-bloods? When's the last time a child of mine was ever welcomed as a hero? Bah! Why should I rush out and help them? I'll stay here with my forces intact.
Percy: And when Kronos comes after you?
Hades: Let him try. He'll be weakened. And my son here, Nico...Well, he's not much now, I'll grant you. It would've been better if Bianca had lived. But give him four more years of training. We can hold out that long, surely. Nico will turn sixteen, as the prophecy says, and then he will make the decision that will save the world. And I will be king of the gods.
Theo: You're out of your fucking mind. Kronos will crush you, right after he finishes pulverizing Olympus.
Hades: Well, you'll both get a chance to find out, half-bloods. Because you'll be waiting out this war in my dungeons.
Nico: No! Father, that wasn't our agreement. And you haven't told me everything!
Hades: I've told you all you need to know. As for our agreement, I spoke with Jackson and Miller. I did not harm them. You got your information. If you had wanted a better deal, you should've made me swear on the Styx. Now, go to your room!
He waved his hand, and Nico vanished.
Demeter: That boy needs to eat more. He's too skinny. He needs more cereal.
Persephone: (rolls her eyes) Mother, enough with the cereal. (turns to Hades) My lord Hades, are you sure we can't let these little heroes go? They're awfully brave.
Hades: No, my dear. I've spared his life. That's enough.
I was sure she was going to stand up for us. The brave, beautiful Persephone was going to get me and Percy out of this.
Persephone: (shrugs) Fine. What's for breakfast? I'm starving.
Demeter: Cereal.
Persephone: Mother!
The two women disappeared in a swirl of flowers and wheat.
Hades: Don't feel too bad, Percy Jackson, Theo Miller. My ghosts keep me well informed of Kronos's plans. I can assure you both that neither of you have a chance to stop him in time. By tonight, it will be too late for your precious Mount Olympus. The trap will be sprung.
Percy: What trap? If you know about it, do something! At least let me tell the other gods!
Hades: (smiles) You are spirited. I'll give you credit for that. Have fun in my dungeon. We'll check on you again in—oh, fifty or sixty years.
Theo: You're a fucking coward, you know that?
Hades glared at me, and I could've sworn he'd wanted to kill me where I stood.
Hades: You should be thanking me, Miller. You were simply blessed by Tyche in your last two encounters against Orion. You don't stand a sliver of a chance against him. I only wish to protect you from his bloodlust. Your mother would be forever in my debt, should she survive this war. After all, I am responsible for the safety of her only child.
Theo: What about my friends? My family? Everyone I care about? You expect me to just leave them to die?
Hades: You ask this as though you have a choice. Guards, take them away.