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Chapter 79 - Dinning

Soon we followed after Hades, into the palace. Grover was being supported by two rather big skeletons while I had already fully recovered. It took us a few minutes until we stood in front of two massive doors, clearly the entrance to the dining hall. And there, off to the side was a third, smaller door. It had no decoration and nearly fanished from sight as the other two were large and heavily decorated, drawing the observers attention towards them and away from the smallest.

We knocked on the door, the smallest one. It was soon opened from the inside as another skeleton left and held the door open for us.

What greeted us was not a kingly dining hall but a families dinner room. Comfortable chairs, fluffy carpets and soft glow coming from come lights that floated in the air above the table.

Hades sat on the head of the table while Thanatos sat to his right and Charon to his left. Next to Charon sat a woman. She didn't look as remarkable as the other three but I could feel my magic, atleast the Greek one and those related to death, sing in her presence. This woman was Lady Hecate, a Titaness that was mostly ignored even though the Greeks should rever her more since she was the source of the mist. The very thing that separated the mortal from the immortal world.

"Take a seat, the both of you. I believe Thanatos wouldn't mind." Hades said while gesturing towards the mentioned seats.

"Normally we are more, but since my wife has returned to her mother and the others have business to attend to, this is the most of us chthonic gods that you will meet today."

And with that the two of us took the offered seats. Then Grover tried to say something.

" Lord Hades, we are honor... "

But he was interrupted by Hecate.

" Hello Satyr, I believe your name was Grover, wasn't it? I am Hecate. You don't need any formalities here. Unlike the gods above, we are more tightly knit. Like an actual family. So don't bother. Atleast not while we have dinner, okay?"

Throughoutly cowed, Grover mumbled a silent" okay" to his food.

"What was that, Grover?" the goddess said, an amused smile on her face.

Grover straightened up fast, looked straight at her and said: "I said okay, ma'am."

Which resulted in slight chuckles around the table. Then, to calm him down I whispered to him.

"Dude, she was just messing with you. Relax a bit."

The food was good and the company was comfortable. We didn't talk about the quest or any godly duties while eating. Nor did we talk about rumors or godly gossip. It was mostly a silent affair. But then Grover spoke up while nervously looking between me and Charon.

"So, uh... How did you meet Percy, Charon? I met him after we became roommates." And then there was a big grin on Charon face.

"This guy just appeared on my doorstep. Like a dead mouse no cat wanted and just didn't leave for some time. But that's the most I know of him. Has he done anything interesting while you were at school? And you don't need to talk about the museum, we already know. Alecto was raging on about it for weeks."

A wide grin spread on Grovers face while I couldn't do anything but sit there, right next to the personification of Death itself. We'll, I could try to stop Grover but the interested gleam in the eyes of those present made me hesitant for a second. Then an equally wide grin spread on my face. Because I knew something that Grover didn't.

"So apparently after Chiron decided to keep Percy oblivious to our world, which as it turned out he wasn't, Percy decided to prank him and I think you mentioned that you haunted him as well?" he said while looking questioning at me. I gave him a silent nod in return.

" One time he did something with Chirons coffee mug, something Chiron told me about. It made his coffee taste like hey from time to time. By the way, Percy. He is still using it.

Another time he removed all the screws from our math teachers chair...."

And then began the list of minor pranks I had done over the entire school year. The gods listened intently and even came up with some ideas of their own. Then finally Grover asked me:" Did I forget anything?" and finally it was my turn to tell the of all the pranks that Grover simply didn't know about.

"One time I overheard our principal saying some transphobic stuff. So I enchanted his mugs and water bottles to always have hormone therapy tablets mixed into them."

"I just thought the principal was getting fat." Grover mentioned.

"Last I heard from the principal he was going to Thailand and buying dresses.

Another one I did was actually against Alceto."

Here Hades loud laughter interrupted me. "So it was you that sent that letter? Ha. But next time, please give me a heads up."

"I sincerely hope there won't be one but I will try to remember."

The meal continued in a relaxed fashion until all of us were satiated. Then, just as the undead began to take away the dishes, Hades looked at us and began to speak again.

"I assume you came here looking for Zeus' Lightningbolt? That girl, Annabeth Chase I think, already asked for it, like she expected me to have it. I already told her I didn't and sent her away."

"Actually we didn't come here to accuse you of anything. I knew from the beginning who the thief was and where the bolt and even your helmet are. I mostly came here to check up on my mother."

"Ah, Sally Jackson, correct? She's fine. We took good care of her. And of course I will return her to you once I have my helmet back. Anything else?"

"Actually, yes. Do you know why I was able to heal down here. I mean I should have healed as fast as I did, regardless if I am part monster or not."

My question raised a few eyebrows, mostly Grovers and Hecates. It appeared that the others knew why that was happening.

"All I can tell you right now is that the Underworld rarely let's those close to it go. That's it. I can't tell you anything else."

Here Grover asked: "So what now? I mean at this point it's pretty clear who wants to have those symbols of power and who would benefit the most if you and your siblings were to fight.... Also what are we supposed to do with Ares. He still has the helmet?"

Hades began to smile, one that quickly turned into a wide, almost unhinged grin. And he wasn't alone. Everyone, even me began to mirror it. The sole exception was Grover, who felt a shiver run down his spine.

" Now... You go up there and rip him a new one."

said Hades, followed by him clapping his hand as everything burst into a mist around us.

Barely a second later, when the mist began to dissipate, did we find ourselves on the Santa Monica beach. Annabeth was off in the distance, currently being confronted by a very angry Ares that couldn't believe she had managed to lose the "gift" he had given us.

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