To help myself stand the wait,I've been fan-fictioning (yes its a verb!). I just wasn't sure how everybody would react with fanfiction and seeing I don't want ot get angry-mommed out of 팬팝 (you guys rock!) I just waited. Here's the final chapter, if 당신 guys want to I'll post some more.
Enjoy!
Piper
One Small Unhappy Family
I have to admit, going to the 언더월드 had been something I’d wanted to do for a while. Annabeth and all the other people that ever went and ever came back alive said it was gloomy, sad, and dangerous and not much; I wasn’t convinced. To them, the 언더월드 meant death. To me, it meant my mother. The only person who had a chance at understanding was Di Angelo. I wasn’t talking to Di Angelo.
When I’d seen the envelope on my bunk yesterday, I’d known who it was from right away, thanks to the black rose petal glued on it. Katie Gardner from Demeter told me what it meant.
“Got one like it to go to Olympus. You’ll probably have to shadow travel to the Underworld. Leave at 10:00 PM, like it says. Bring your sword, no guarantee Hades won’t pull anything on you.” She said.
I was really excited! I was distracted during archery and I nearly killed Jason when I didn’t hear his “Hold it, I dropped my sword here somewhere”. No I don’t think Leo will ever let it go. If it could’ve at least been Di Angelo…
At 10, I snuck out 의해 the back window of the cabin. Nobody but Jason, Leo and Katie knew where I was going. For some reason, I liked it better that way. I was in the forest, hidden in the shadows. At this point I was nervous. What if she didn’t like me? What if I fell in the Styx 또는 something? What if Hades’ hated me? I calmed down so shadow traveling would work this time. I had enough of Uruguay. I closed my eyes, breathed in, thought long and hard about Persephone’s garden and braced myself for the impact.
The familiar sensation came. When the world stopped moving under my feet, I opened my eyes and was in the most beautiful place I’d ever seen.
Gems the size of guinea pigs lined the planting beds, reflecting the faint glow of silver, Stygian iron and iron flowers. Trees arching over a rocky path were loaded with sweet smelling fruits and colourful blossoms. I was tempted to pluck one and savour, I was sure they’d taste great. Then I remembered the carving on 상단, 맨 위로 of the 선실, 캐빈 door
“Ένα δάγκωμα που αξίζει μια ζωή”
One bite worth a lifetime.
I passed on the fruit.
A handmaiden was sitting on a bench carved of black marble. She wore a yellow dress and a 데이지 wreath on her hair, which was as oily as a gas tank and the color of straw. She was also dead.
“Greetings mistress” she said bowing. Her voice was distant and undefined. “I am Marguerite. I need to take 당신 to the palace.”
“Umm… Sure.” I said.
“Follow me.” Marguerite said. I followed her down the path, to the forest, my hand on the 꽃 engraved hilt of my sword.
The place was tall, dark and gloomy. Skeletons of soldier’s of various time periods were lying on the steps. I wanted to stop and look at the scenery, soak in every possible detail. Marguerite was going so fast, zooming past everything. But I followed her. The reason I‘d come was behind those doors. Marguerite poked her head threw the door.
“Mistress, she’s here.”
“Let her in Marguerite.” A voice said.
“Yes Mistress, as 당신 wish.” Marguerite opened the door just enough for me to walk in and closed it behind me.
The 왕좌, 왕위 room looked just as it had in my dreams. Except 3 people were occupying it. On the biggest 왕좌, 왕위 in the back, made of knitted 본즈 was Hades, a man with oily black hair, the black madman eyes I’d come to associate with Di Angelo and wearing black robes. Occupying a smaller, silver 왕좌, 왕위 with Lili carvings at the 상단, 맨 위로 was Persephone.
Her hair was black and fell to her shoulders. Her eyes changed 색깔 like a kaleidoscope and she was as pale as a ghost. With her dress made out of ever changing flowers, she seemed too colourful and alive to be here. I realised I must be the same way. She was pretty, I bet in the world above she must be beautiful, and the weird thing was, she looked a lot like me. Her eyes, the shape of her nose and face, all those traits. She smiled when she saw me, like I’d just made her day.
The third person in the room I wasn’t thrilled to see. It was Di Angelo, kneeling at his father’s feet. He shot me a “drop-dead” look as I managed to get my legs moving and kneel at Persephone’s feet.
“Rise.” She said.
“Both of you.” Hades added. We both obeyed.
“The sword is working for you, Piper?” She asked.
“Yes milady.” I said. I looked up at Persephone from the floor. She shot me a “it’s okay” look.
“I mean, mom.”
“You still claim her as yours.” Hades asked.
“Like I told 당신 before, yes I do.” Persephone replied coldly.
“All the 더 많이 reasons for me to kill her.” Hades said. I felt my blood freeze and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Husband, we talked about this. I didn’t kill Nico, 당신 don’t kill Piper.” Persephone said it like teachers say something before adding, “I’m just going to record myself saying this”.
“You turned me into a dandelion instead.” Nico grumbled. Persephone shot him a cold look.
“And you’re lucky I ever transformed 당신 back. Dandelions have the advantage of not talking.” I smirked as Nico looked away.
“I suppose,” Hades said ignoring what had just happened, “but she has been disrespectful to my realm.” He said. I thought of all the ‘death 의해 doggy’ and other 언더월드 jokes lately. Oops.
“By that 당신 mean 더 많이 to your son.” She turned to face me, “You’re quite good with that sword.”
“Thanks.” I mumbled.
“I mean, she is not taking my realm, my power seriously. Perhaps a demonstration is in order.” He said, a black flame appeared in his palm as he stood.
“And surely Nico’s ‘flower power’ jokes deserve one too.” She said, as silver flames filled her cupped hands as she got to her feet. I took out my sword, ready to deflect 불, 화재 balls and Nico did the same.
“No weapons in the 왕좌, 왕위 room, either of you.” Persephone said. She snapped her fingers and my sword zoomed to her hands, Nico’s to Hades.
“Quick to the weapons, are we?” Hades said. I realised he’d just called me violent and hot-tempered all in one.
“What’s wrong with you? Why can’t 당신 just accept that she has a demigod kid just like you?” I asked. I regretted it instantly.
“Piper, come outside with me, I think you’ll appreciate the gardens.” She said. She got up and led me out the doors, where Marguerite was still waiting.
“I’m sorry, Marguerite, I forgot! 당신 are dismissed.”
“Thank 당신 Ma’am.” She said, before falling into a pile of 본즈 and a 데이지 crown.
“Most of the servants do that. Some are petrified, like them.” Persephone said showing me the guards.
“Are they all dead?” I asked as we started down the path. Persephone nodded.
“Not a living soul down here but Hades, sometimes Nico 또는 another hero and me.” She said. It was silent for a bit.
“You really don’t get along with that boy, do you?” She asked.
“Never have.” I said.
“Care to explain why?”
“I think its because he kept humming song’s from the 60’s, 70’s and assuring me it educed 꽃 power. And because he was telling Jason”
“The boy 당신 get along with well?”
“Um, yes” I said feeling myself blushing, “his version of the pomegranate-thing.”
“Piper –sweaty- 당신 don’t have to defend me like that. It’s not your fight what Nico says, and its my job to keep Hades from killing you.”
“Does that mean 당신 want me to stop beating on Di Angelo at camp?” A smile crept on her lips
“Oh, I didn’t say that.” I couldn’t help but smile back. Persephone’s smile faded and she looked around.
“It’s past curfew at camp. I don’t want 당신 to be in trouble, 당신 should leave soon.” Persephone said.
I didn’t want to go.
I wanted to stay in the Underworld, I wanted to tend to the garden, take care of the plants. And then there was Persephone…
“I don’t want to leave.” I managed. Even to myself I sounded babyish.
“Piper, you’re allowed to come down here just as much as Nico. The 언더월드 could grow to be your 초 home. 당신 are my daughter. Don’t 당신 forget that. And just to make sure 당신 don’t…” I noticed another handmaiden come up behind Persephone, carrying a charm lying in a ring case, like you’d put on a charm bracelet, except this one looked antique and didn’t have “made in China” written on it. It was an 주황색, 오렌지 lily.
“Thank 당신 Violette, 당신 are dismissed.” She said. Violette turned into a pile of bones.
“Take off your necklace.” Persephone said. I took the leather string off and handed it to her. She put the charm on right 다음 to the “cabin foundation” bead. She tied it back on my neck.
“I’ve always liked lilies best.” Persephone said. “It was going to be your name actually. Your father said it would make 당신 too obvious. So it became…”
“My middle name and nickname.” I said. Persephone nodded. She touched my cheek.
“You remind me so much of him.” She said. “He knew 당신 were going to be a girl. I thought you’d be a boy; I’d never had a baby girl. He won 10 drachmas because of that.” She said smiling.
“Do I owe 당신 10 drachmas?” I joked. Persephone laughed.
“That’s fine.” She said. I heard rumbling in the distance.
“You really should get back. Come back anytime; just wait a while, for Hades to calm down. I don’t think he likes 당신 very much.”
“So do I.” I hugged my mom of a hug I’d been waiting 15 years for. She 빙어, 빙 어 of Cinnamon and daisies, 장미 and tulips, nutmeg and dozens of other 꽃 and spices that I could probably name.
She stayed in the garden long enough to watch me shadow-travel back to camp. I kept my eyes open this time, to catch final glances of the Underworld. I clutched the charm on my neck the whole time. I was back in the forest.
“And she didn’t eat the pomegranate!” I heard a sport-commentator imitating voice say. I turned around. Di Angelo was sitting on a dead tree.
“Gods you’re annoying Di Angelo. And now, you’re following me.”
“You’re my step-sister; I legally have to annoy you.”
“Show me the rule book!”
“You’d just shred it with your sword.”
“Demonstration?” I suggested. I went for my scabbard, but it was empty. Persephone and Hades still had the swords.
“Beat 당신 to the Underworld.” Nico said.
So I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact, sensing Di Angelo doing the same.
