❁

"Getting into the Underworld is easy, but a trip to Erebus is usually one-way. Poseidon's pearls are the only way out of the Hades Palace," Annabeth noted as she scanned her eyes over a map she'd made.

"And how do you propose we get our hands on some of those?" (Y/N) asked.

"Poseidon, unfortunately, courted many women over his existence, far from the realm of his immortal wife, Amphitrite, and in doing so, needed a way to hide his adulterous relationships. He did this through leaving the pearls in locations where he would meet with his lovers, giving him a sound escape route if things got a little too frisky,"

"You know way too much about Percy's dad," (Y/N) muttered.

Percy was red with anger and looked very uncomfortable at the retelling of his father's transgressions.

"So we have to find these pearls to make it out of Hades Palace?" Grover asked.

"Yes, and the first one is situated in the replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee," Annabeth said as she closed the map and rolled it up. Her stormy eyes staring daggers at (Y/N).

"Which is in twelve hours," Percy said, checking his watch.

Grover was sitting across from (Y/N) on the bus, wrapping the grotesque wound on her arm up. It bled through several layers of gauze before the bleeding finally stopped.

(Y/N) sighed softly, feeling way to dizzy (probably from the blood loss) and lost her balance. Her head hit Percy's shoulder and the boy in question jumped in surprise.

"Sorry," (Y/N) mumbled, shooting up in her seat, too tired to blush.

"At the next stop, they'll have a change over with drivers so we have to find a place to stay overnight," Annabeth said sourly, eyeing the interaction with a scornful expression. The daughter of Athena put the map back in her bag and turned towards the window.

Grover swallowed nervously at the resentful atmosphere and tried to get comfy in his bus seat.

(Y/N) muffled a tiny groan, her arms aching. She tucked them into her sides, hoping that applying pressure to the wound would make the pain go away. She started to nod off again and her head fell slack onto Percy's shoulder.

The son of Poseidon blubbered in shock, his green eyes staring down at the frown forming on (Y/N)'s face, despite being asleep. She must've been in a lot of pain.

Percy blushed awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed. Not a moment later, (Y/N) started drooling on his arm, snuggling into his side like he was her pillow. Percy swallowed thickly, his heart pulsing in his chest.

She looked really pretty in the moonlight. There was something about her white hair, the silver lining of the moon it seemed, and the gold suns in her iris' that made him shiver. Percy enjoyed her silence, his thumb coming to brush the hair out of her eyes absentmindedly.

They had no trouble what so-ever-on the trip apart from another run-in with the Kindly Ones. They seemed to reincarnate exceptional fast, which was a rather annoying feat.

They had some more driver changeovers but apart from that, it was smooth sailing so to speak.

(Y/N) blinked haphazardly as someone started shaking her shoulders. The music in her ears was loud and bouncing across her eardrums, she pulled out her earphones and turned to Percy.

"What?" (Y/N) whispered as the shade of night caressed the sky.

Percy pointed out at the massive mist-filled hill that cut through the starry night. It looked magical almost, the mist swarmed to the highest points, shading the brilliant beams of the stars, only for the moonlight to pierce through, and light up the summit.

"Pretty right?" He said softly and she didn't respond, too enchanted to speak. He watched her expression, how her eyes widened in awe. The moon howled to her, igniting moon beams across her eyes. She placed her open palm agaisnt the window and stared.

"Yeah..." her voice came out as a whisper and she turned her head back a little, the light hurting her eyes. (Y/N)'s breath caught in her throat as their noses brushed, and she jerked her hear back awkwardly.

Percy looked almost angelic under the light of the moon. His sea-green eyes were so pretty that she knew she could sell them as precious gems on eBay and get a pretty hefty reward.

That was pretty weird to say. Or think. But (Y/N) wasn't really good with analogies.

Percy blinked and his cheeks flushed a little at their proximity. But unlike his battle with the Kindly Ones, he didn't want to move away from her. She smelt good, and she was pretty and nice and for the love of Gods charming. Percy found himself honing in on flowery scent shimmering around her collarbones.

They were so close that Percy could hear her breath hitch and feel her little heart jumbling and pounding in her chest. He would have laughed and teased her if his heart hadn't been doing the same.

"Percy..." (Y/N) said softly.

"Y-Yeah?" Percy's voice was trembling and he hated it.

"What are we doing?"

Percy swallowed the lump in his throat and it plummeted into his stomach like a tonne of rocks.

"I don't know," he whispered back. His ears were tingling and his cheeks felt hot.

Percy saw how nervous she was and glimpsed the uncertainty, or maybe genuine panic in her expression. (Y/N) was trying desperately to hide how excited she was at being this close to Percy, and failed miserably as he closed the gap between them and softly pressed his lips against her own.

It was awkward and clumsy, Percy's front teeth grazed the cut on her lip and she tensed a little. (Y/N) watched his eyes flutter closed, his hand gripping her wrist tightly, not letting her get away. Every fibre in Percy's body locked up, his stomach curling in fiery nervousness.

(Y/N)'s lips were cold, but not the kind of cold where you bite into ice cream and almost die. Like a cool wind on a summer day, or lemonade after doing a marathon.

They broke away bashful and breathless, staring at each other. Booth goofy-looking smiles on their faces.

☯

"This is it. Parthenon," Annabeth said excitedly with a new determination in her eyes.

(Y/N) wanted to question it but she was also very aware that it could ruin Annabeth's mood. So for the sake of her ears and her life, she shut up.

Percy was standing at her side, glancing at her every now with this stupid look on his face. (Y/N) wasn't really sure if the kiss was a figment of her imagination or if it actually happened, but with the way Percy was staring at her, she assumed they'd actually kissed.

Her face heated up at the thought and she turned away from him.

Annabeth rushed up the marble steps and they follow after with less haste. People were flowing in and out of the historical building taking photos with their friends in front of a massive statue.

(Y/N) finally understood why Annabeth was so excited, because standing 8 metres high was a huge version of her mother.

"Athena, goddess of wisdom, war and battle strategy," Grover hummed as they stood in front of its white and gold glory.

"So that's mumsy?" (Y/N) asked.

Annabeth gave her a harsh glare.

Percy was staring at the statue for a little longer then a normal person should. Then again (Y/N) would never assume that Percy Jackson was normal.

"What is it?" (Y/N) asked, and Percy pointed towards the helmet that sat on Athena's head.

"That," Percy said and they all followed his gaze. In the centre of Athena's armoured helmet sat a glowing green pearl.

"Poseidon's pearl!" Grover gasped.

"How are we supposed to get that? She's huge!" (Y/N) exclaimed.

Annabeth gave her yet again another scornful look.

"It's not like we could get past security anyway with all these mortals around," Grover said.

Annabeth pondered, looking up at the statue with dark grey eyes.

"This is a public place," Annabeth murmured.

"Good observation Chase," (Y/N) said, unimpressed.

"We can hide in the bathrooms until closing time and take the pearl..." Annabeth said.

The gang all turned their gazes towards the public toilet sign. (Y/N) had to give the demigod credit, she was quite smart. Being a daughter of the goddess of wisdom and all.

They hung around outside for a while, bought souvenirs and had lunch on a park bench. Grover ate four burritos. (Y/N) wondered where all that food went, maybe Tartaros.

Annabeth's mood was still incredibly sour. (Y/N) thought it was super awkward being around her when all she would do was huff and spit out mean comments.

When the clock hit six they rushed back to the Parthenon and hid in the public toilets.

(Y/N) heard someone come in and check a couple of stalls, she had to scale the stall wall so they wouldn't see her legs, and completely ruin their plan.

Once they left she dropped to her feet and heaved a sigh. The door swung closed and she opened the stall and rushed out the front. Annabeth, Grover and Percy behind her.

(Y/N) froze, realising that there were guards on night watch. Great, Annabeth's plan had been totally ruined. The guards must've heard the commotion because they turned in her direction.

(Y/N) dived behind a pillar, her elbows cracked agaisnt the cold marble floor. She winced slightly as her jaw slid across the floor. Percy, Annabeth and Grover burst from the disabled toilet and rushed over to her as she crouched down and rubbed her chin.

Thankfully they didn't see her fall over.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth snapped.

"We forgot a small detail," (Y/N) whispered as she peered her head around the pillar. They followed her gaze to see the five guards doing their nightly rounds.

"Dammit," Annabeth cursed as she chewed her lip. But before she could even think of an escape plan or another idea. One of the night guards called out.

"Come out little kids~"

The watchman sounded possessed. (Y/N) blinked, peeking over the carved marble pillar to see the caretakers line up in a weird scouts formation. Their eyes were glowing gold and they spoke in sync, smoke billowing from their mouths.

"Okay..." (Y/N) muttered. "Not human after all,"

"You shall pay with your life!"

The mist surrounding them seemed to clear and then the guards started to transform. (Y/N) flinched, watching their skin stretch like rubber, sprouting scaly tails, clawed fins, and dragon-like heads.

Percy's hand tightened around Riptide as their shadow grew and loomed over them.

More and more limbs started to split from their morphed flesh like cracked eggshells and their necks looped around, scales crawling up monstrous flesh. Then a head popped out from the hybrids stubbed neck, and another, and another until the monster had grown into the shape of a large lizard.

"Hydra!" Grover exclaimed as its mouth clenched and it spewed molten hot fire from its mouth.

The heroes rolled the other way barely missing the attack as it singed their arms and clothes. Percy gritted his teeth as the monster swung around and slammed its tail into the pillar, shattering it into tiny pieces.

"Gods of Olympus that things scary," (Y/N) mumbled, her teeth chattering with adrenaline.

Annabeth patted the smoke that was igniting on her arm. "Whatever you do, don't try to chop off any of its heads. Two will grow back in its place,"

The monster screamed, almost like it was taunting them to try it.

"Dandy," (Y/N) replied.

"Maybe we won't have to kill it? We could distract it while someone scales the statue," Grover said.

"And maybe we can make friends with it and have a campfire singalong," Annabeth snapped sarcastically, making Grover squirm and rub his fuzzy chin.

(Y/N) shrugged. "Not the worst idea, maybe it likes Johnny Cash,"

Percy coughed down a laugh, receiving a deadly glare from his blonde friend.

The Hydra roared, clearly not a fan of the worlds best country and western singer. Percy lunged sideways and tackled Annabeth out of the of a giant stream of fire. It the mirror behind her head and turned it to ash.

"How do we kill it then?!" (Y/N) yelled, scrambling to her feet and ducking under its large tail when it swiped for her.

"Hercules called on his friend Lolaus for help. As soon as Hercules cut off one head, Lolaus would seal the wound with a torch so that nothing could grow to replace it," Annabeth yelled back, fire flickering in her stormy eyes.

(Y/N) slashed her sword over its scaled exterior, but it bounced back uselessly, hardly denting its armour plates.

Unsatisfied (Y/N) jumped its next tail swipe like a skipping rope and plunged her sword straight through its skin. The Hydra screamed in pain, stretching out wide and forcing her to release her grip on her sword unless she wanted to flung into the ceiling.

The deadly creature turned around again, hitting her right in the chest with the thick spirals of its tail. (Y/N) hit the base platform of Athena's statue, the defeaning crack of a rib breaking echoing across the room.

"Strike," (Y/N) groaned, sprawling across the floor, curling up in pain, feeling the broken rib scrape agaisnt the skin of her abdomen.

"(Y/N)!" Percy called out, trapped between the Hydra and the wall, desperate to run to her aid.

"We need to burn the neck to a stub before it can grow back!" Annabeth yelled as she threw her dagger into the air, catching the monster's attention. All it's beady, dotted eyes trailed after the flying object as it clattered to the floor.

Percy reached into his pocket and pulled his sword out again. (Y/N)'s eyes whirled in confusion, clutching her mushy ribcage, lips sealed into a trembling line.

"Great! Where are we going to find fire?" Grover yelled as he ducked under its tail and rolled sideways, playing a frantic tune on his reed pipes that only seemed to confuse the Hydra and make it even angrier.

Annabeth pivoted sideways and ducked, lodging the dagger she'd picked up into its behind to distract it as Percy rushed over to (Y/N).

The Hydra spun around and roared right in Annabeth's face, scorching her skin, and almost burning her eyebrows off.

"Can you stand?" Percy muttered, his eyes dotting around frantically.

"I can try," (Y/N) muttered back, leaning on Percy as she struggled to her feet. The sharp pain igniting through her torso made it incredibly difficult to breathe, but if she stayed on the floor, she would most definitely die.

Percy gave her one last disheartening look and started to climb the statue of Athena. He hiked is leg up over Athena's thigh. It looked so weird and gross, but she was in no condition to judge as she waddled to cover like an oversized penguin.

Annabeth darted forward and wrapped herself around the Hydras back, piercing its scaled skin with her bronzed dagger. (Y/N) had to admit, the girl was crazy brave.

Hydra wriggled its tail, snapping it out like rolled carpet. Annabeth couldn't hold on and got bucked off. She hit the ground and rolled rather gracefully.

Percy's hands must have gotten clammy because he slipped up a little as he scurried over Athena's shoulders, holding onto the tiny Nike Athena was holding in her left hand. The son of Poseidon reached up for the pearl, only for his feet to slip.

Percy's heartbeat into overdrive at the near fall. (Y/N) rushed between the Hydra's massive legs as one of the heads snapped at her. Pain seared across her lungs with every step, but if she stopped moving she knew she'd be Hydra chow, she could practically feel the heat radiating off its scaley maw.

(Y/N)'s sleeve caught on fire as she slid between his legs and brought her sword across its underbelly, gutting it like a fish. It did basically nothing, only making it more mad as drops of goopy purple blood soaked into her hair.

The monster screamed spitefully and stamped its feet, trying to squash (Y/N) like a bug.

"HOLY CRAP!" (Y/N) yelled as she gathered all her strength and bolted for the statue for cover.

The Hydra's started spewing fire everywhere in a fit of rage. Grover's eyes widened as he saw (Y/N)'s jacket sleeve burst into flames. The white-haired girl darted for cover, using all her remaining strength to dance off the flames.

Grover watched awkwardly as (Y/N) danced around, yelling and shouting as she shrugged the article of clothing off.

"Got it!" Percy yelled as he yanked the green orb from the crowns centre and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Nice!" Grove yelled, prancing around and dodging fire.

"...Now how do I get down?" Percy said and the smile fell from his lips.

(Y/N) dived behind an information box and covered her head in her burnt hands, screaming in fear. Annabeth was crawling from pillar to pillar trying to get closer to Percy.

Percy cursed under his breath and dropped down and landed on his feet awkwardly.

"The drain Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth yelled.

(Y/N) noted in the back of her mind that it rhymed but at that moment she was too busy squirming in pain to care. Her hands started to blister and the broken rib was prodding at her skin, making fireballs form in her lungs.

Percy gazed across the museum and saw the drinking station. His eyes clicked in realisation. The Hydra snapped its teeth and stalked over to Percy. He shot up from crouching behind the statue and splayed his fingers out. His eyes flickered closed for a second, and then, a gurgling sound erupted from the water pipes beneath the bubble-taps and they exploded.

Water darted like a massive bullet and bawled the Hydra over in a massive wave. Its heads screeched and screamed as they lost balance. Percy bounced to his feet and so did Annabeth and they started scrambling towards the exit.

"C'mon (Y/N)!" Annabeth shouted at her.

(Y/N) gathered the strength to stand and bolted towards them. Grover was still fiddling around over near the circuit boards. Percy was yelling and Annabeth was screaming for them both to hurry up before the Hydra got back to his feet.

(Y/N) stumbled on her feet as the Hydra rolled over and staggered, feet and claws scraping at the floor. It roared mightily and snapped its head towards (Y/N).

"(Y/N)!"

It was too late to turn back or even think.

Hydra's pointy teeth snagged her shirt and her eyes widened in fear. The colour drained from Percy's face as the Hydra picked her up like a rag-doll and threw across the room. (Y/N) was tossed through the exit door, the wood splintering on impact.

"Hurry up Grover!" Annabeth screamed.

Grover's fingers snagged the circuit board and the fuse sparked with power. Then the entire frame ruptured into flames, igniting the light fixtures in angry electricity.

"Now!" Annabeth yelled and Grover threw the pipe in Percy's direction, he brought Riptide down on the sparked wires and flickering buttons. The thing exploded on contact and the three heroes were blown backwards from the force. Although they hadn't chopped off the Hydra heads, the explosion of lights from above had made their scales wither, turning their heads to dark ash.

They all sighed in relief, watching the Hydra disintegrate. Percy bolted for the museum exit and ran down the marble steps, his heart thundering in his chest, trying to spot (Y/N) in the darkness.