Bella Jackson Daughter of Posideon

Plans for the Quest

It had been roughly a month since Sally Jackson died. Bella and Percy mourned her but Bella made sure that Percy didn't sink too far into broody teenage angst over it. Lady Hestia had promised Bella that everything would be fine so that was what she was running with, that Faith in her goddesses. One night everyone was eating dinner by the campfire just like normal when the flames roared high. A large skeletal like creature rose from the flames.
"Percy and Bella Jackson!" The creature shouted
"That's Lord Hades." A boy said from the Athena cabin
Bella stared wide eyed.
"Bring me the lightning bolt, little thieves, and I have information about your mother." Hades said smugly which had Percy racing forward before anyone could grab him
"What do you know about our mother ?!" Percy demanded
"Percy, enough!" Bella shouted before she came forward and yanked him back towards the Hermes cabin
"Ah the young blessed champion of my wife. The one I came to see." Hades said shinning slightly
"Greetings, Lord Hades. May your power never fade." Bella said formally with a bow
"Ah...someone with some manners. Intriguing. I have come to offer a quest and a deal but you'll have to prove your worth." Hades said before covering Bella in his flames
Bella was in an enormous pain.
"Now if you can last in my fire for five minutes, I shall give you a quest. If you complete it, I shall give you your mother. Not many can survive these flames without aid so choose wisely." Hades said
Bella didn't hesitate and nodded her consent. The goal was to last five minutes without screaming for the goddesses. Bella gritted her teeth as the fire seemed to get hotter. She could see her skin burning to the bone. Five minutes felt like an eternity before suddenly she was yanked from the flames and surrounded by warmth and comfort. Bella looked up and saw Lady Hectate holding her as Hestia stood in front of them.
"How dare you, Hades?!" Hestia shouted in pure rage as the flames reacted
Hades quickly stepped out of the flames and turned more human looking.
"The girl passed and had received her quest. I shall leave the information for her where she can find it." Hades said stoicly
"You know she is our champion. You know she is Persephone's champion. Why go this far? You could have come to any of us to give her this quest." Hestia demanded
"Curiosity, what else? She has the attention of the three goddesses that it was believed would never select champions. Besides my quest, my rules, Hestia dear." Hades said with a cold smile
"Hestia, she isn't healing properly." Hectate said as the burns were still there
Hestia turned as did Hades. Bella was barely breathing. She was fading and fast.
"Apollo, I have need of you." Hestia said before kneeling next to Bella
A bright flash of light and Apollo was there.
"Hey, Auntie Hestia. What can I do for you?" Apollo asked before catching sight of Bella
Apollo rushed forward and brought his hands above Bella. Apollo glanced around and noticed to boys being held back by Hermes and Ares kids. Bella began to struggle to get up the more the boys called for her.
"Hey let them come over here." Apollo called out as he pushed his healing light harder
The two boys rushed forward and knelt by Bella's head.
"See your boys, my dear. Now stay still." Hecate said softly to Bella
"Don't let... Percy... be stupid." Bella muttered out painfully
"We'll keep an eye on him." Hestia said
Bella passed out from the pain. Mr. D watched passively as Apollo worked. He had grown fond of Bella. She was the only one who he would ever say their name correctly that wasn't one of his kids. Apollo finished up before turning on Hades.
"Hellfire?! Serious?!" Apollo said incredulously
"Wanted to test the little brat's strength." Hades drolled
"Are you satisfied now because I may have fixed what I could but she still is going to need to rest for a day or two." Apollo said
"But the kid is going to survive, correct?" Mr. D asked making everyone look at him in disbelief
"Yes. She'll be better off tomorrow and fully healed the day after." Apollo replied
"Good. Lucas, Peter take Bella back to her room." Mr. D ordered and the boys rushed to do so
Mr. D noticed the longing look on Apollo's face as he glanced at his kids.
"I heard that Zeus is having problems right now. If you can keep your mouth shut, you have a spare hour. I have paperwork to do." Mr. D said before vanishing back to his office
Apollo went and sat with his kids for the first time. He enjoyed it immensely. Hestia and Hecate smiled as Apollo seemed so happy. Hades shook his head and disappeared to deal with his angry wife. Two days later, Bella was off bed rest and was immediately summoned to the big house. Chiron and Mr. D were arguing.
"She's not ready, sir." Chiron said
"She is but he isn't. He's the one being accused not her, but if nothing else those two won't be separated." Mr. D growled
"I was summoned. You look like you need a treat. Raspberry vodka tart?" Bella asked before placing the plate onto the table
Mr. D smiled grimly before taking a bite.
"I'll talk to her. You go get the boy." Mr. D said
Chiron nodded before leaving. Bella had a feeling she was going to have to sit.
"Is this about my quest?" Bella asked
Mr. D chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair.
"You know you are the first hero I can say that doesn't live up to the usual stereotype. You actually give a damn about the world around you. I noticed that the first day. I admire you, kid. Never change. Now what I am about to tell you is going to make me regret that last sentence. Big guy says that his weapon of power has been stolen much like the fire demon downstairs is. The problem lies in the fact that the Big Guy is blaming Peter as the thief." Mr. D said making Bella pale and sway in her chair
"But Percy couldn't have. He's never been to Olympus. He didn't even know what he was until we came to camp. It would make more sense to say I did it." Bella muttered as she leaned back in the chair in disbelief
"But no one wants to cross Auntie H. She is all about peace but at the end of the day she is prepared to defend her own." Mr. D said
"So it all boiled down to I had someone in my corner to speak sense but Percy didn't. This a flipping nightmare." Bella groaned before she stared at Mr. D wide eyed
"My quest just became doubled, didn't it? I have to save Percy, my mother, and both weapons of power." Bella said in a bare whisper, completely shocked
Mr. D closed his eyes and bowed his head before nodding.
"He's out to kill us, isn't he?" Bella asked making Mr. D nod
"If everything is not returned by the solistace then there will be war between the Big Three." Mr. D said grimly while looking out into the strawberry field at his kids picking berries
Bella looked as well. Everything would be destroyed if there was a war because of this nonsense.
"I'll do it. Someone has to stop this nonsense before it destroys everything. It might as well be me." Bella said tiredly
Mr. D stared at her for a moment. She suddenly looked older. He could see acceptance of her own mortality in her eyes that wasn't there before. He hated himself for that.
Chiron, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover came in talking about some Oracle that Percy went to see. Percy quoted to Bella what the Oracle said word for word making Bella pale slightly before standing.
"I thought this was my quest so why are these two here?" Bella questioned
"Bella!" Percy said embarrassed
"Well you'll need these two on your journey." Chiron said
"It'll be a joint quest. Peter can choose his two companions as you choose yours." Mr. D said with a knowing look
Luke and Clarisse came through the door already packed making Bella smile.
"I see the choice was already made." Chiron said with a slight chuckle
Annabeth glared at Bella as Percy and Grover spoke with Luke.
"You leave tomorrow after breakfast, dismissed." Chiron said
The group of six left. Percy began on why Hades would have the lightening bolt.
"He wouldn't benefit from it." Bella said
"Who else would want a war of the gods?! It would give him more power as people die." Percy said
"No, it would create more work. Most gods and goddesses are typically lazy. They don't want more work than they have to especially Lord Hades." Bella debated
"Since you're so smart who else could there be?!" Annabeth demanded
"Let's see we have anyone the Gods have pissed off which I'm sure is a tall list. We have the God of War because it is in his title. We have any of the demigod kids who feel slighted who can be used as minions. The list is long and full of pros and cons." Bella said back to her coldly
"We should still go to the Underworld anyway because it is the only plan we've got so far." Clarisse said
"Dad had a map for these gems that Persephone left everywhere for her suitors. That should help us out." Luke said before pulling it out of his bag
The first place to glow on the map was Auntie Em's Emporium.
"Then we better get to preparing our stuff. Its going to be a rough journey." Annabeth said before pulling Grover and Percy along
Luke just shook his head before asking Bella and Clarisse to spar with him. They agreed and prepped for what monsters could lay beyond the border of camp. Bella prayed to the three goddesses to watch over and guide her.