˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
BOOK ONE
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
❝ there's a court for dead people? ❞
THE WOODEN barge glided smoothly through the murky waters of the Underworld, finally reaching its destination—the desolate shores cloaked in shadows. A chill settled over the passengers as the eerie landscape unfolded before them. The air carried whispers of forgotten sorrows, and the distant wails of lost souls added an unsettling melody to the scene.
Aria squinted, trying to make out the details of the foreboding shoreline. The ground seemed to shift between gravel and ash, an unsettling mosaic under the perpetual twilight. Jagged rocks jutted from the ground like skeletal fingers, reaching for the heavens above, a better place than this hell-hole. A sparse forest of skeletal trees cast long, distorted shadows, their leafless branches clawing at the ever-present gloom.
As the barge came to a halt, the passengers disembarked onto the spectral shores. Ghostly figures, clad in tattered garments of various eras, shuffled along the edge of the waters, their faces obscured by shadows. Some stared into the distance with hollow eyes, lost in the torment of their eternal reflections.
Aria exchanged uneasy glances with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, absorbing the haunting atmosphere that enveloped them. The eerie calm was broken by a low growl echoing from the shadows of the skeletal trees. A ripple of tension spread among the passengers, and Charon, at the helm of the barge, sighed.
"Old Three Face is hungry again," he said.
"Old Three Face?" Percy asked.
Charon replied, nodding towards the shadows. "Cerberus. The big, three-headed dog guarding the gates of the Underworld. He's always hungry, and not for kibble."
"Oh! Alrighty then!" Aria exclaimed.
Charon cast a glance back at the group. "I would wish you luck, but there is none down there."
Aria chuckled. "Well, isn't that a lovely pep talk. You should consider motivational speaking, Charon."
The ferryman raised a bony eyebrow. "I'll add it to my after-life to do list."
Aria shot him a grin. "Maybe I'll join you for a career change down here. Co ferrying demigods and lost souls. What do you think?"
Charon's skeletal features managed to convey a smirk. "You'd be the first demigod to willing volunteer for the job. Might have to rethink my retirement plans."
The boat came to a stop and the passengers hopped off.
Charon nodded towards a well worn path. "Hades is waiting. Try not to charm him too much."
Aria slid him a sly wink. "No promises."
And with that, Charon was gone. Aria swore she saw him wave goodbye. But maybe the Underworld was playing tricks on her.
Before they started to walk off Percy stopped her. "Did you...wink at Charon?"
"What can I say," Aria said. "I'm a sucker for a bleached buzz cut."
Percy frowned, though Aria wasn't sure why. She didn't think her joke was offensive. But the group continued hiking up the path before she could ask what was wrong.
After five minutes, Grover spoke up.
"Are we almost there yet?"
For a 24 year old man he was certainly acting like a child.
YOU ARE READING
daylight | percy jackson
Fanfiction"you had a dream about me?" "it was a prophecy, dont get too cocky" "did i look really handsome and talented?" "no" created by gracieloveslana
