The first thing that crossed Aaron's thoughts when the Elevator doors opened to the Underworld was the sudden blast of heat that swept over his entire body. 'And I thought that I was about to melt into the pavement outside. My body's defiantly gonna feel the effects of being in this place.' Aaron thought to himself as he struggled to deal with the immense heat.
Annabeth who was fairing much better looked over and seen the poor and pale look on Aaron's face. "Are you okay?" Annabeth asked with concern as she watched the sweat drip down Aaron's face.
"Yeah, I'm fine kiddo... Just not used to this heat. I'm more used to climates that are a lot more colder and humid than this." Aaron chuckled in reply as he didn't want to upset or make the kid worry. After a few slow deep breaths he wiped his forehead and gave her a thumbs up to show he was fine.
"Well I'm getting paid either way, so I'm good to wait if you need to catch your breath." Charon stated with a bored tone to his voice.
"No... We need to keep moving forward. I can't afford to waste any time on this quest. The quicker I am, the quicker both Asgard and Midgard will be safe." Aaron grunted as he gingerly followed Charon. Soon they found themselves outside of what appeared to a creepy looking castle that could've been pulled straight out of a Bram Stoker novel.
"So, it looks like Lord Hades is a fan of Gothic architecture... A bit cliche, but who am I to judge." Aaron mumbled under his struggling breath. Annabeth heard his comments and hid her concern over Aaron's condition.
As they entered the cooler air within the castle they found a tall and imposing figure of a man waiting for them in the entrance hall. Wearing a simple black toga robe, the man himself was tall as Tyr but with shoulder length black hair that was swept back to reveal his whole face. His skin was near white as he looked at the arrivals with a scowl. "I was wondering who this new presence was in my realm. It's not often a Child from the North decides to visit me in my home. Many don't have the courage." Hades evenly stated as he attempted to measure up Aaron.
"I'm sorry to impose upon you and your realm Lord Hades, but I was brought here due to my quest and I seek your aid." Aaron lightly bowed to Hades in respect as he spoke to the Lord of the Underworld.
"Ah, Annabeth. It's good to see you again." Hades smirked as he looked down at the daughter of Athena. "Tell me... What lie did you convince Charon with this time?" Hades asked with a smirk and raised eyebrow.
"We didn't lie this time Lord Hades. Aaron here payed him to cover our Journey here." Annabeth slyly replied in hopes of getting Hades' attention away from her and back towards Aaron.
"Really..." Hades responded as he dryly looked back at Aaron. "Well then. How might I be help you then Norse child?"
"Lord Hades, would you be willing to assist me in tracking down an un-dead within the living world?" Aaron asked with a small amount of hope in his voice.
"That would be an easy task for me, yes." Hades replied with a smirk. "But, what would be in it for me?"
Aaron nearly winced out loudly at Hades' question. The truth was that there was nothing he could offer the Lord of the Underworld that he currently didn't own or would be able to retrieve himself. "I'm afraid there isn't much if any that I can offer you Lord Hades... However, I am willing to perform any task for you in exchange of your help." Aaron stated back with a worried tone to his voice.
"So you are willing to propose a quid quo pro to me in exchange for my assistance then?" Hades asked with a smirk before taking a more serious expression. He was silent for a few moments as both Aaron and Annabeth held their breaths. "I'll accept these terms."
Aaron sighed lightly in relief as Hades continued.
"What is it you wish for me to do for you Lord Hades." Aaron asked Hades. "Is there a Foe you wish for me to take care of? Or do you wish for me the retrieve something on your behalf?"
"While tempting those offer are to use your services for, it is neither of those." Hades replied with as he facial expression continued with his serious gaze. "As you may be aware, my daughter has recently join my Niece's Group of Huntresses. And with Artemis' recent capture she has joining the Quest to rescue her Patron Goddess."
This news caused both Arron and Annabeth's eyes to widen. "Lady Artemis has been captured?!" Annabeth frantically shouted out.
"I'm afraid so." Hades responded to Annabeth as he turned his attention back to Aaron. "Northern Child, it appears as though your original quest and the Rescue of Artemis have merged into the one quest."
"I know of whom you seek as I have felt his presence since he arrived in our world. He is currently being held by our shared enemy... All that I ask is that you watch out for my daughter Bianca and to protect her."
"On the Honour of my word Lord Hades, I will." Aaron replied with a serious tone in his voice and on his face.
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Hades smiled back as he pulled a bronze globe from the ground. "You quarry appears to be near Washington DC. The members of the Quest are just about to arrive there as we speak."
"Would it be possible for you to leave me near Mimir's location. If I can arrive there before the other members I might be able to get a bit of information off Mimir." Aaron asked.
"Yes, I will be able to do that." Hades then turned to face Annabeth. "And I shall leave you back in Camp Half-Blood as well. Otherwise I'd never hear the end of your Mother's complaints." Annabeth lightly blushed as Hades smirked at his nieces' daughter.
"She complain all the time as well?" Aaron jokingly asked with his own smirk. Annabeth's blush became redder and Hades burst out in laughter.
"Oh you poor child, you really have no idea." Hades responded as he opened two black vortex portals in front of both Aaron and Annabeth. "Good luck Norse child." Hades stated to Aaron who nodded back before entering the portal in front of him.
(Washington DC)
Arriving back in cold wintry weather Aaron breathed out in relief as he allowed his body to cool down. The steam of his sweat covered his body before he was able to fully cool down. "Thank you Lord Hades. I don't know how much longer I would've been able to do in that heat."
Aaron looked around and noticed that he was within the grounds of the Smithsonian. Sniffing the air he noticed that several of the ones he meet in Maine were nearby as Hades had informed him, along with another familiar scent. "Mimir's near." Turning around to face towards Mimir's scent, Aaron looked directly at the The National Museum of Natural History.
Moving inside with little to no noise, he found another familiar scent. He sniffed the air once more to confirm his thoughts. 'That brat is here! Why the fuck isn't he with the rest of the group?' Aaron thought to himself as he moved behind Percy who was watching something below.
"Hey, DayCare Boyo." Aaron softly spoke out behind Percy causing the young Demi-god to jump slightly in freight.
Suddenly he felt a punch being delivered to his nose. Rolling back in pain Aaron knew that his nose was broken. "Motherfucker!" Aaron muffled out in response. "What the fuck was that for ya Sea Brat!"
A shocked Percy then shifted his gaze between Aaron and his fist before he began to lightly blush. "Sorry, you just scared me." Percy meekly responded.
"Well, I'll tell you one thing kid. You've got one hell of a right hook, that much I'll give you." Aaron grumbled as he forced his nose back into place.
Percy winced as he hear a light crack as Aaron wriggled his face slightly after readjusting his nose. "So what's the story?" Aaron asked.
"What?" Percy asked in confusion.
"What's happening? What are you doing here? And why aren't you with the rest of your friends?" Aaron asked once more in quick succession.
Percy then began to explain the events of what happened in Camp Half-Blood after Aaron had left with Annabeth. From his dream of Luke's plan and Zoe's over Artemis, to the Oracle giving Zoe the Quest personally after the Capture the Flag. Along with the prophesy of the Quest itself.
"Well, saying I'm not a big fan of that prophesy would be a bit of an understatement. The last 4 lines all appear to be revolving around me." Aaron responded with a scowl on his face.
"What I don't understand is the last line. What Curse are you plagued by and what is the Bridge?" Percy asked.
"I know what both are, but right now isn't the right time to explain these things. And I'd rather only have to explain things once." Aaron answered with a scowl.
"Besides, I can sense that Mimir's nearby and he'll be able to explain somethings a bit better than what I can." Aaron responded as the two moved closer towards Mimir's location.
As they moved further into the Museum Aaron noticed an older stench of death in the air. Peeking his head up he noticed that there were a few woodland Draugr along with other creatures that Aaron did not recognize surrounding several figures.
"Kid, what are those Skeleton things?" Aaron softly asked.
"They're called Spartoi. And once they have tracked your scent they won't stop until you or whoever summoned them is dead." Percy responded before a deep intimidating voice spoke out gaining there attention.
"So, Thorn is dead then." The deep voice asked out.
"Yes, General." Another voice responded back.
"That's Luke." Percy softly stated out to Aaron.
"Tell me head. This Demi-Child that Asgard has sent, who is he?" Aaron looked up and seen that the owner of the deep voice was a man wearing an expensive back business suit. His skin appeared to be grey as if it was made of stone. Aaron noticed that he was holding onto Mimir.
"I have no idea who you're talking about." The Red colour'd head of Mimir responded as he attempted to sound uninterested.
"LIES!" The man bellowed out. As he began to argue with Mimir, Aaron turned to face Percy.
"I'm gonna jump in there and introduce myself to this little shindig that's going over there.." Aaron stated before pointing at a nearby exit. "You go an warn the others. They should be in that nearby building."
"What about you?" Percy asked.
"I'll be joining you there once I've gotten Mimir back... Now go and don't waste any more time." Aaron softly order Percy who at first was reluctant but quickly followed the order that was given to him.
'Time to make an entrance.' Aaron prepared himself as he tightly gripped his axe before jumping in between the Draugr. "Hello there."
With all attention on him Aaron smirked as he slammed his axe into the Museum's marble floor. The Ice quickly expanded outwards and entrapped all of those around them as thick ice covered up as far as there knees.
"Well that was easy." Aaron smirked as he walked over and took Mimir's head. 'Almost too easy.' He thought to himself.
"Oh, Hello brother. It's good to see you again." Mimir joyishly replied as Aaron attached his head onto his belt.
"So this is the boy then?" The General asked. "Aren't you going to introduce yourself boy?"
"Naw, I don't feel like it. But I will leave you with a gift from the Allfather himself." Aaron replied as he jumped onto the floor above overlooking the General and others.
Pulling out a dark black crystal he threw it onto the Ice below. The colour of the ice changed as it became the same black colour as the crystal. Summoning back his axe the ice faded and was replaced by a thick black smog. "Handtaka þá með andanum (Capture them with your breath)."
The smog appeared to have tapped those below much like the ice had done so before as Aaron ran away to meet up with Percy and the others. "Wait brother, you need to go back!" Mimir called out.
"What's wrong?" Aaron asked Mimir as he pulled his head up to meet his own.
"The General he has a Bifrost Key!" Mimir's answer was meet you the sound of crashing in the direction he had just ran from. After a few silent moments Aaron became nervous before the small army of Draugr and Spartoi burst through into the hallway he and Mimir were in.
"By the Allfather!" Mirmir exclaimed out in shock.
"Nope." Aaron responded by slamming his axing into the ground. "Veggur byggð af ís! (Wall built of Ice!)" A large and thick wall of Ice blocked their path as it sealed off the small army from reaching them.
As Aaron heard them scrapping at the Ice he brought Mimir's head up to his own. "Mimir I need you to quickly tell me what's happening and who the fuck managed to take you?"
"It's was Loki! Brother, he stole me from under Odin's watch. He's also helped in the capture of Greek Goddess of the Hunt as well. But he's injured himself in doing so." Mimir informed Aaron as they ran through the Museum towards Percy and the others.
"What did he do?" Aaron asked.
"He took Atlas' place beneath the sky and transformed into a bloodied and beaten up form of your mother." Mimir's answer caused Aaron's blood to boil in anger. "Artemis took her place and once he was freed he transformed back. She currently trapped under the sky. I seen it happen."
"Well at least we now know where Artemis is then." Aaron responded with gritting teeth and he reached Percy and the other Quest members.
As Zoe watched Aaron and a red severed head run around a corner her anger got the best of her. It was bad enough that Percy had snuck out of Camp. The last thing she needed was the Norse Demi god as well. "What are you doing here!" Zoe shouted out to Aaron.
Aaron tough didn't respond as he grabbed Zoe's arm. "No time to explain, just fucking run for it!" Aaron responded as his other hand grabbed a hold of Bianca.
"Unhand us male!" Zoe tried to fight off Aaron's grip by digging her fingernails into his hand. She nipped his skin so much so that it was drawing blood, but his grip didn't give.
"I'll explain everything once we're out of here! Did you bring any transportation?" Aaron asked as he turned his head to face them.
It was then that Zoe noticed the anger and slight fear on Aaron's face as he questioned her. "We arrived in a truck outside." Zoe explained.
"Wait, where are you going we just got here." Thalia shouted before a deafening roar echo'd out.
The group slowly turned around to find a 10 foot tall Lion slowly walking towards them. The Lion's claws were a shiny silvery colour, while it's fangs appeared to gleam like cold stainless steel. It's fur was thick and appeared to be metallic gold in colour.
"What in the Nine realms is that!?" Aaron asked out loud.
Zoe's eye's widened in horror as she replied. "It's the Nemean Lion."