CHAPTER XX:A Crash Course On Orpheus.

Penny, Mino, and me walked through Elysium out through the gates of the Underworld. Cerberus growled at us, and barked sending Penny to the floor to cover her ears. Mino helped her up, and to a set of stairs that were to the right of the gates.

Hades must've opened a new path for them to get through, he probably escorted them as well until they got into Elysium. We climbed the steps, as Mino practically carried a dazed Penny, through a new exit that led into the quest room Hermès told us about.

I quietly sat down and began sharpening my dagger, being extra careful because of the magic that enchanted the dagger.

Adam was there stringing his bow, he unstrung it every time not satisfied with his work, and continued trying to make it perfect.

My brother Seth combed his unruly hair, and when Penny finally came to she started polishing her shield.

Maps laid scattered on the table, in the middle of the room, and several markers showed different locations on the map. I looked at the scattered maps, and saw a yellow marker over the Sea of Monsters, which meant there was a quest underway. I saw a set of blue markers marking several locations. The Labyrinth, The Path of Orpheus, The abandoned Lair of The Sphinx, The Forest of Pan, and so on showing that these were possible locations for the next cache of artifacts. A couple of red markers also marked areas. The red markers were on the Underworld, Olympus, Artemis' Reserve, The Pillars of Heracles, and The Forges of Hephaestus which showed these areas were off-limits or not probable locations for the artifacts.

Penny walked around the table, "Mary.....can't you tell us where the artifacts are like last time?" She asked.

"Yeah sis, it would make this go a lot faster." Seth said setting his comb down.

"Unlike the mortal Oracle I can only see prophecies, and events in my dreams." I said.

"Have you tried meditating?" Penny said.

"I think you need snakes for that." Adam added.

Seth smiled waived his hand in front of him over the ground, "Abracadabra." he said jokingly, as ten skeletal snakes rose up from the ground.

I sighed and sat on the table, crossing my legs. I put my hands on my legs and breathed in deeply as the snakes slithered over my lap, and surrounded me. I took steady breaths. The snakes kept going, and I opened my eyes. The snakes were very much alive, and the scene around me changed.

The scene in front of me was hazy with mist and sunlight. Trees surrounded me on all sides, as a beautiful sound moved through the air, carried by the soft whisper of the wind. I walked towards the source, and saw a man with sunlight hair and a lute in his hands. He played it beautifully, and I could almost see the beautiful notes in the air. The ground opened up for him, and he descended into its depths.

I blinked and the scene changed, I was at the River Styx. The lute playing man was playing for Charon now, who was standing quietly in his boat. Charon looked about an eternity younger, and didn't have his long flowing cloak. Instead he wore old mercenary armor. It was a mix of Athenian blue and white dyed armor, pure bronze Spartan armor, and tanned leather that was blackened.

"Oh how the mortals' views about you have changed Charon." I said to myself, remembering that his appearance changed with the stories of the Grim Reaper.

When the lute player finished his song Charon smiled, a real smile, and ferried him down the River Styx on his boat. The lute players hair glowed brightly, bouncing off the Underworlds walls, and I recognized him then. The lute player was Orpheus, son of Apollo, and charmer that could go through the Underworld untouched.

I blinked making the scene change again, and I saw my father in his godly form (or what used to be his godly form), and my step mother's in hers as well. Persephone was in a white dress covered in wild flowers of every color, with a jeweled crown. Her form wasn't radiant, but she didn't look sickly like usual when she was away from Elysium.

As for my father, he wore black robes with skull decorations, that had black opal in the eyes, and the skulls were almost as white as his skin. His eyes were fiercer, which reminded me more of Ares, and he held his old staff that shimmered with the very little light that was in the Underworld.

Hades and Persephone sat in two obsidian thrones, lined with gold and jewels, in the old plain and bare version of the Underworld. The gates weren't there yet, and only this palace stood instead of the ones in place now. The only functional place was Tartarus in this version of the Underworld.

My mother was smiling a bright happy smile, and clapping excitedly. My dad however, looked unimpressed as ever.

"Wasn't that a nice song dear?!" Persephone said happily, her form seemed to glow with excitement.

"I guess." Hades said with no emotion in his voice, his face was still set in stone.

"C'mon let's give the mortal what he asks for. It'll take so little time, and he came all this way. Even Charon enjoyed his song." Persephone pleaded with Hades, her voice filled with her little kid tone.

Hades couldn't help but smile just a tiny bit, as he finally gave in bringing Eurydice (Orpheus' wife, and his reason for going to the Underworld) before him with a wave of his hand.

I blinked making the scene change again, hopefully for the last time. I heard Eurydice scream, as she got pulled back in the Underworld, and Orpheus screamed out her name in response realizing that he made the greatest mistake in his life by not trusting my father.

I blinked and came to in the quest room. The snakes slithered off the table into the ground, and I breathed heavily coming out of my meditative state.

"Do you know where it is?" Mino asked sitting in a corner sharpening a spear.

"The path of Orpheus.....in the old throne room." I said.

Seth shuddered "Not that dusty place." He said.

Adam pulled a lyre out of his bag, and smiled "Yes!" He exclaimed excitedly.

Penny rolled her eyes, and started packing weapons and supplies.

Olivia walked in finally after Penny packed the last bit of supplies "We have a problem. A big one." She said.

"What happened?" Mino asked.

"Several minor gods just declared war...we need to finish this quest fast!" Olivia said.

We rushed out the door, running out of the school, as I mentally prepared for a trip to the old Underworld.