CHAPTER LIII:The Battle For The Mortal World Begins

I sat in Athena's war room watching operators as they chaotically ran all around the room. The one person I couldn't help but watch was Chris Fletcher, who was talking with Ares. Ares was staring at Chris' armor, which was a bronze Athenian style armor, followed by a Persian scimitar at his side that didn't match the armor.

I was going to eavesdrop on the conversation to see what deployments for the ongoing war were being made, but after Lisa shut me up with a clipboard yesterday I didn't want to see what the god of war would do. Besides, I could see the board of deployments just a little past Ares. Mars' Legion had been deployed in Elysium, and Pluto's Guard had been brought back to the school. That meant that Atlantis had fallen to Khaos' forces. Well the lack of reinforcements, and Neptune's Blessed had a sign that said 'BASE DISRUPTED' in black bold letters next to it told me that.

The Underworld was probably next on Khaos' list of places to conquer. Tartarus was already hers, so that was one-third of the Underworld less to protect. I hated this view, but from a tactical standpoint that meant forces weren't stretched as thin. The Underworld was my home, not a battleground or a war to be fought. My thoughts weren't fully on the Underworld though, Pluto's Guard not being deployed meant I could call my fathers legion without pulling them away from an important battle.

To my left the entrance to the war room opened, two large metal doors slid open for Lisa who stepped through with Mino. He looked better physically, but I could tell his mental state was still ruined. I couldn't begin to comprehend what he witnessed in Tartarus, especially since a few of the minor gods, or rather Titans who were later called minor gods, resided there.

Lisa walked over to me, Mino following at her hells, with a bright bright smile that made me think of Apollo. "Here's your Son of Jupiter, almost completely unharmed."

"Thank you Dr. Klein, we're gonna need him." I said still looking at Mino.

I was afraid I would never see Mino smile again, or hear him joke again for that matter. He seemed to be dead, like thirty years of fading in Asphodel dead. Mino rubbed his arms, and walked into the quest room. Lisa walked out and stretched before the door closed behind her. I thought I heard every joint in her body popping from just a single stretch, I guess the stress from being pent up in her office wasn't all that good for her health.

I stood up and walked into the quest room after Mino, who was already in deep discussion with Seth and Adam. Olivia and Penny on the other hand were armored up and preparing for the upcoming battle. Penny readied her sword and shield, while Olivia was sheathing her dagger and sword at her sides.

"Can't believe we're going to save that red haired brat." Olivia said bitterly.

"She's your sister Liv!" Penny yelled at her.

"Half sister Owl Eyes!" Olivia yelled back.

"Girls, girls you're both pretty! We have a chosen kid of Poseidon about to die!" Adam joined in yelling at them both.

Olivia and Penny both looked at Adam ready to murder him. Penny wanted to kill Adam because he yelled at her, and Olivia wanted to kill Adam because he was showing concern for Sara.

"C'mon guys, we need to go. Seth, I have enough power in my dagger for one trip with a few people. I got Penny and Olivia you get Adam and Theseus." I said unsheathing my dagger.

Seth nodded and grabbed Adam and Mino. They all started to phase through the floor and completely vanished into the Underworld. I sighed deeply and looked at Olivia and Penny. They both looked like they wanted to strangle each other until either of them suffocated.

"We going to San Francisco now?" Penny asked me, still glaring at Olivia.

"Yeah, hold on to me Olivia." I said grabbing Penny's arm and pulling her close.

I felt Olivia hold onto my waist and felt Penny get closer to me. Penny's hatred seem to shift from 'this bitch doesn't care about her sibling' to 'this bitch better let go of Mary before I make her let go'. Was Penny jealous? I thought about if it was worth a bad trip through the Underworld for three trips to get them both there separately.

After judging my power I realized that even if I completed my draining trip through the valley of death, I still wouldn't be able to go through it twice. I looked at Olivia and Penny and decided that they wouldn't try to kill each other in the Underworld during shadow travel, and if they did I'd send Seth back. I stabbed my dagger into the ground and all three of us descended through the layers of the earth, our surroundings became dark and I thought I could feel the pressure of the earth. When the burden of the earth was lifted off my shoulders, and I was without my dagger.

Souls aimlessly drifted through the fields, fading away bit by bit. Olivia let go but Penny kept ahold of my arm. I smiled kindly, and walked through the fields of blackened sand and pieces of glass. I was secretly thanking the gods Luna wasn't with us just yet, mainly because I'd have to carry her to safety in front of Penny. Penny looked ready to kill Olivia just for holding on to me, I didn't want to know the glare she would shoot Luna if I had to carry her. Hell Penny might actually kill her, hot blood and anger probably came from Athena's side of her family.

I kept following what's called The Unseen Path to San Francisco. Whenever you shadow travel a piece of your soul breaks off, you have to follow your instinct so your soul can reattach itself. The sand slowly formed into a trail for us to follow, but I ignored it. Following my own path looking for my missing dagger. When you shadow travel you're supposed to look for a golden imprint of yourself.

However, if you use a blood cursed weapon you have to find it. I looked around and found my dagger sticking up from the sand, next to a man in torn up Roman armor. It was Keaton Francis, Legatus Legionis of Pluto's Guard, he wore a black uniform under his old armor to show off his legion. Keaton's eyes were dulled over and he had medium length black hair with a beard to match his hair. Next to him was a helmet with an obsidian black and silver plume with a skull welded on the side of his helmet were three marks of valor underneath it. On Keaton's actual armor, he had a medal with crossed gladiuses. The Medal of Mars, which was required to be promoted to Legatus Legionis.

"Hello Mary." Keaton said looking up.

"Hi Keaton, is there anything you needed?" I asked looking at Keaton, who stood up and grabbed his helmet.

"I heard you're gonna possibly start war in the mortal realm. If you need, for the entire week, Pluto has blacked out my legion from deployments to help you." Keaton answered putting his helmet on.

"Thank you Keaton, I'll keep that in mind." I said politely. "Now you two grab on." I looked at Penny and Olivia.

Penny grabbed my arm tighter and Olivia wrapped her arms around my waist and held tightly. My guess was that Olivia damn near let go earlier and almost lost her head. I pulled my dagger from the sand and we all went through the floor of the Underworld and came to again in front of a nice house with Victorian style architecture in San Francisco.

Olivia and Penny both realeased me, and took in our surroundings of the Bay Area. I turned my attention back to the two story house is front of us, it was a nice light blue with a beautiful white trim. Nearby was the ocean, and I realized why Sara Pearl loved her mortal home so much. I went to walk up the steps when two figures got caught in my peripherals. I turned around entirely, and watched two figures run down an alley. I ran across the street to investigate, and turned down the alleyway.

"Hey! Stop!" I yelled running after them, I had barely recognized one of them and if I was correct I knew that it meant very bad things for Sara.