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FIC: Daughter of Wisdom, chapter 17
Title: Daughter of Wisdom
Author: shiiki
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Luke Castellan, Grover Underwood, Chiron, various others, Gen
Fandom: Percy Jackson
Summary: What Annabeth Chase wants most is to undertake a quest, and when that chance comes, she’s taking it-even if that means teaming up with the son of her mother’s biggest rival. She thinks she’s prepared for everything that could happen, but right from the start, nothing goes to plan. And everything she thinks she knows about the quest, her life, and her family, may just be turned on its head. An alternate PoV retelling of The Lightning Thief.
In this chapter
Chapter Title: My Experience With Dobermanns Pays Off
Rating: PG
Characters: Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Grover Underwood, Cerberus, Charon
Word Count: 2,055
Chapter Summary: Annabeth calls on an experience from her childhood to get them into the Underworld.
A/N: RR owns all the canon dialogue (well all of it, but the recognisable dialogue is of course straight from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.)
Back to Fic Content Page
We planned as we walked.
Percy didn't want to try the flying shoes.
'It didn't work when Grover was trying to keep us airborne at the water park,' he said. 'One shoe might not be able to take our weight individually. I'd just as soon not fall into the rivers you're talking about. I mean, I'm good with water, but that Styx stuff just sounds nasty.'
I was okay with that. From what the DOA brochure had said, the ferryman took bribes. We'd cleared out Procrustes's cash register and added all the drachmas we could find to the bag Ares had given us.
Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound guard dog, was another matter. Percy's bright idea was to distract him with a big stick-he'd cut off a bedpost at the Waterbed Palace-and run through when the dog was off chasing it.
I didn't like it. But it was still marginally better than just pretending we had a lightning bolt and hoping that Hades would let us through unmolested. And there was some evidence that some hero (Psyche, I thought) had done something of the sort before with a rice cake.
The plan went smoothly enough to begin with. After a small hiccup with the ferryman's name (of course Percy would mix up Charon and Chiron … though given that he actually knew Chiron, I couldn't see how even a Seaweed Brain like him could be that dense), Percy managed to sweet-talk us onto Charon the ferryman's barge with a stack of drachmas and the promise of a pay raise from Hades (how he intended to follow up on that, I had no idea). We descended in an elevator not unlike the one in the Empire State Building, except we were packed to maximum capacity. It hit the water, but without a splash. That was probably a good thing, because the mist rising form it was enough to send a wave of despair rushing through me.
'The River Styx,' I identified it. 'It's so …' Dismal. Hopeless. Tormenting.
'Polluted,' Charon sniffed. 'For thousands of years, you humans have been throwing in everything as you come across-hopes, dreams, wishes that never came true. Irresponsible waste management, if you ask me.'
I didn't see how anyone could help it. Many of the other souls on board were indeed dropping items into the river: rings, certificates, medals … I saw a pair of ballet shoes go floating away, released by a stick-thin girl with hollow eyes. The river seemed to leech all the good out of me, sucking out the memories of my greatest triumphs into its greedy depths. What good will they do you now?
Without thinking, I slipped my hand into Percy's. It was as cold and clammy as mine. I felt better, though, like I was holding on to something solid, that the River couldn't claim. Percy squeezed my hand reassuringly.
A loud howl echoed off the cavernous walls. Charon chuckled.
'Old Three-Face is hungry. Bad luck for you, godlings.' He parked the barge smoothly on the shores of the Underworld and bowed to his passengers. They shuffled off in silence.
'I'd wish you luck, mate,' Charon said, 'but there isn't any down here. Mind you, don't forget to mention my pay raise.'
He pushed off with his pole and the barge navigated back down the Styx, through the bobbing remains of lost hopes and dreams.
We followed the dead up to the gates to Erebus, which was laid out like a tollway with three queue lines under a black arch. Two were piling up, with people getting stopped at a security check and holding up the line, but in the centre one, marked 'EZ DEATH', the dead were passing one after the other through the metal detector with no issues.
'What do you figure?' Percy asked.
I watched the souls in the EZ DEATH line for a minute. They all looked resigned, like they weren't thrilled about what lay ahead, but had accepted it nonetheless. There was a hint of relief in their faces, too, though, like they'd avoided something nastier.
'The fast line must go straight to Asphodel. No contest. They don't want to risk judgement from the court, because it might go against them.'
'There's a court for dead people?'
'Yeah. Three judges.' It was supposed to be Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanthus in the old stories, but the DOA brochure had updated information. 'They switch around who sits on the bench. King Minos, Thomas Jefferson, Shakespeare-people like that.' I explained the division of the Underworld, feeling a little tremor of despair as I spoke of the three Fields. If I died now, I'd probably end up in Asphodel. I hadn't managed anything heroic yet in my life.
Maybe I'd even get assigned to Punishment, for letting Thalia get turned into a pine for me.
As I was considering my own death, I realised that the black arch over the three death lines was not, in fact, inanimate. It was actually a gigantic Rottweiler.
Usually, I like dogs. My dad used to own a Dobermann. Cerberus was a different breed altogether, though. His three heads loomed over each of the lines. Once he shimmered into view, he blocked the security check booths and the metal detector machines. The souls went marching right on through him-below his belly, around his legs. He wasn't just the guard to Erebus-he was the entrance to Erebus.
I swallowed hard and glanced at Grover and Percy. They hadn't noticed yet. Grover was pointing at a pair of security ghouls who had handcuffed one of the dead.
Then Percy's mouth fell open. 'He's a Rottweiler,' he said, and took a step back. 'I'm starting to see him better. Why is that?'
The more solid Cerberus seemed to get, the more insubstantial I felt, as though my physical body was dissolving into the mist that hung over the Styx. 'I think … I'm afraid it's because we're getting closer to being dead.'
I wondered if we would be dead in a minute. The plan was starting to seem more and more ludicrous.
'It can smell the living,' Percy said, staring at Cerberus in horror.
'But that's okay. Because we have a plan,' Grover said. It would have been more reassuring if his voice wasn't shaking.
'Right,' I said. 'A plan.'
We joined the EZ DEATH queue. Cerberus gave a deafening bark when we got close. Grover blanched.
'Can you understand it?' Percy said.
'Oh yeah.' Grover didn't look at all like it was good news. I decided I didn't want to know.
Percy took a deep breath and extracted the makeshift stick he'd prepared. 'Hey, Big Fella! I bet they don't play with you much.'
Cerberus snarled like he was ready to take our heads off.
'Good boy.' Percy waved the stick hopefully. All three heads swivelled to stare at him. 'Fetch!' His voice cracked on the word.
His aim was abysmal. I heard the splash as the stick joined the debris of lost dreams in the Styx. All six of Cerberus's eyes drooped in disappointment.
I had a sudden memory of our old Dobermann, Daisy. She couldn't have looked more different from Cerberus, but his eyes now were a dead ringer for the baleful look she used to get when she was ignored. She adored ball games, I recalled.
Maybe Cerberus did, too.
'He's saying we've got ten seconds to pray to the god of our choice. After that … well … he's hungry.' Grover sounded close to tears.
It was a crazy idea, but no more so than Percy's plan-which was completely botched now anyway.
'Wait!' I cried, and dug into my Waterland pack. If I remembered correctly, one of the things I'd swiped had been … 'Got it!'
The red rubber ball was still there. I imagined Daisy standing before me, tail wagging a million miles an hour, her big slobbery tongue lolling out in excitement.
'See the ball?' I called to Cerberus. 'You want the ball, Cerberus? Sit!'
His head-well, heads, all three of them-cocked to one side, considering me. He really could have been Daisy now, trying to puzzle out my command.
'Sit!'
Slowly, Cerberus settled back on his haunches. I couldn't see his tail, but I imagined it thumping on the ground behind him, probably crushing a whole bunch of spirits in the process.
'Good boy!'
I tossed the ball and his central head snapped it up immediately. Left Head and Right Head growled and butted Middle Head, demanding their turn.
'Drop it!' I told him. Cerberus whined but released the ball. It fell to my feet, covered with monster dog drool. I picked it up anyway. 'Good boy.'
Cerberus barked and got to his feet. Between them, I could see his tail going back and forth like a pendulum. All three heads looked at me, eager for more.
Well, I'd got his full attention and he didn't seem to want to kill me yet. I gave Percy and Grover a little push.
'Go now. EZ DEATH line-it's faster.'
'But-' Percy started to protest.
'Now!'
They started forward. Cerberus noticed and growled. I had to keep his attention.
'Stay!' I shouted, and held up the dripping ball. 'If you want the ball, stay!'
Cerberus's heads locked on me again. His eyes were hungry, but in a more play with me rather than I want dinner sort of way.
Percy looked back and whispered, 'What about you?'
'I know what I'm doing, Percy,' I told him. 'At least, I'm pretty sure …'
I waited until Percy and Grover had made it past. Then I said, 'Good dog!'
The shadow of Cerberus's tail wagged faster than ever. I could have sworn the heads were grinning, though it was hard to tell, with their massive jaws. I flung the ball into the air. Left Head got it this time. Middle Head made an immediate bid for it. Right Head howled softly. I took my chance.
Don't run, I told myself as I passed between Cerberus's legs. Be in control.
It worked. Percy and Grover were waiting for me before the metal detector, eyes wide in amazement.
'How did you do that?' Percy asked.
'Obedience school,' I said, feeling a huge wave of homesickness. Not that I would ever miss living with my dad, but Daisy … she'd been a good dog. 'When I was little,' I explained, 'at my dad's house, we had a Dobermann …'
'Never mind that,' Grover interrupted. 'Come on!'
A low, longing whine stopped us. Cerberus had turned around. I don't know how it was possible for a Rottweiler the size of an elephant to make puppy eyes-three sets of them-but he managed it. He dropped the ball, which was no longer round. Left Head's massive teeth had ripped it to shreds. All three heads looked at me expectantly.
'Good boy,' I said automatically. His heads cocked to the right in unison. One paw lifted up slightly. 'I'll … I'll bring you another ball soon. Would you like that?'
Cerberus gave a little whimper.
'Good dog,' I told him. 'I'll come visit you soon. I-I promise.' I had no idea how I'd ever keep my word (maybe if I died in Hades's palace, he'd let me come through the line again) but I felt I had to give him something. I'd heard before that dogs couldn't be left alone for too long periods without going mad. Sure, Cerberus had crowds of souls passing every day, but when was the last time someone had played with him?
I couldn't stop now, though. We smashed through the metal detectors, setting off a ton of alarms, but the DOA brochure had proved accurate. The Underworld was facing a staff shortage. There weren't enough of them to catch us and man their security booths. It was easy enough to dash through and find a large tree to hide in. We must have faded enough to blend in among the dead because no one came sniffing us out.
We plunged into the Fields of Asphodel. Cerberus's lonely howls followed me all the way, leaving me with an uneasy conscience. Somehow, it didn't feel like the first time I'd walked away from something without a backward glance.
Chapter 18
Author: shiiki
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Luke Castellan, Grover Underwood, Chiron, various others, Gen
Fandom: Percy Jackson
Summary: What Annabeth Chase wants most is to undertake a quest, and when that chance comes, she’s taking it-even if that means teaming up with the son of her mother’s biggest rival. She thinks she’s prepared for everything that could happen, but right from the start, nothing goes to plan. And everything she thinks she knows about the quest, her life, and her family, may just be turned on its head. An alternate PoV retelling of The Lightning Thief.
In this chapter
Chapter Title: My Experience With Dobermanns Pays Off
Rating: PG
Characters: Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Grover Underwood, Cerberus, Charon
Word Count: 2,055
Chapter Summary: Annabeth calls on an experience from her childhood to get them into the Underworld.
A/N: RR owns all the canon dialogue (well all of it, but the recognisable dialogue is of course straight from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.)
Back to Fic Content Page
We planned as we walked.
Percy didn't want to try the flying shoes.
'It didn't work when Grover was trying to keep us airborne at the water park,' he said. 'One shoe might not be able to take our weight individually. I'd just as soon not fall into the rivers you're talking about. I mean, I'm good with water, but that Styx stuff just sounds nasty.'
I was okay with that. From what the DOA brochure had said, the ferryman took bribes. We'd cleared out Procrustes's cash register and added all the drachmas we could find to the bag Ares had given us.
Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound guard dog, was another matter. Percy's bright idea was to distract him with a big stick-he'd cut off a bedpost at the Waterbed Palace-and run through when the dog was off chasing it.
I didn't like it. But it was still marginally better than just pretending we had a lightning bolt and hoping that Hades would let us through unmolested. And there was some evidence that some hero (Psyche, I thought) had done something of the sort before with a rice cake.
The plan went smoothly enough to begin with. After a small hiccup with the ferryman's name (of course Percy would mix up Charon and Chiron … though given that he actually knew Chiron, I couldn't see how even a Seaweed Brain like him could be that dense), Percy managed to sweet-talk us onto Charon the ferryman's barge with a stack of drachmas and the promise of a pay raise from Hades (how he intended to follow up on that, I had no idea). We descended in an elevator not unlike the one in the Empire State Building, except we were packed to maximum capacity. It hit the water, but without a splash. That was probably a good thing, because the mist rising form it was enough to send a wave of despair rushing through me.
'The River Styx,' I identified it. 'It's so …' Dismal. Hopeless. Tormenting.
'Polluted,' Charon sniffed. 'For thousands of years, you humans have been throwing in everything as you come across-hopes, dreams, wishes that never came true. Irresponsible waste management, if you ask me.'
I didn't see how anyone could help it. Many of the other souls on board were indeed dropping items into the river: rings, certificates, medals … I saw a pair of ballet shoes go floating away, released by a stick-thin girl with hollow eyes. The river seemed to leech all the good out of me, sucking out the memories of my greatest triumphs into its greedy depths. What good will they do you now?
Without thinking, I slipped my hand into Percy's. It was as cold and clammy as mine. I felt better, though, like I was holding on to something solid, that the River couldn't claim. Percy squeezed my hand reassuringly.
A loud howl echoed off the cavernous walls. Charon chuckled.
'Old Three-Face is hungry. Bad luck for you, godlings.' He parked the barge smoothly on the shores of the Underworld and bowed to his passengers. They shuffled off in silence.
'I'd wish you luck, mate,' Charon said, 'but there isn't any down here. Mind you, don't forget to mention my pay raise.'
He pushed off with his pole and the barge navigated back down the Styx, through the bobbing remains of lost hopes and dreams.
We followed the dead up to the gates to Erebus, which was laid out like a tollway with three queue lines under a black arch. Two were piling up, with people getting stopped at a security check and holding up the line, but in the centre one, marked 'EZ DEATH', the dead were passing one after the other through the metal detector with no issues.
'What do you figure?' Percy asked.
I watched the souls in the EZ DEATH line for a minute. They all looked resigned, like they weren't thrilled about what lay ahead, but had accepted it nonetheless. There was a hint of relief in their faces, too, though, like they'd avoided something nastier.
'The fast line must go straight to Asphodel. No contest. They don't want to risk judgement from the court, because it might go against them.'
'There's a court for dead people?'
'Yeah. Three judges.' It was supposed to be Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanthus in the old stories, but the DOA brochure had updated information. 'They switch around who sits on the bench. King Minos, Thomas Jefferson, Shakespeare-people like that.' I explained the division of the Underworld, feeling a little tremor of despair as I spoke of the three Fields. If I died now, I'd probably end up in Asphodel. I hadn't managed anything heroic yet in my life.
Maybe I'd even get assigned to Punishment, for letting Thalia get turned into a pine for me.
As I was considering my own death, I realised that the black arch over the three death lines was not, in fact, inanimate. It was actually a gigantic Rottweiler.
Usually, I like dogs. My dad used to own a Dobermann. Cerberus was a different breed altogether, though. His three heads loomed over each of the lines. Once he shimmered into view, he blocked the security check booths and the metal detector machines. The souls went marching right on through him-below his belly, around his legs. He wasn't just the guard to Erebus-he was the entrance to Erebus.
I swallowed hard and glanced at Grover and Percy. They hadn't noticed yet. Grover was pointing at a pair of security ghouls who had handcuffed one of the dead.
Then Percy's mouth fell open. 'He's a Rottweiler,' he said, and took a step back. 'I'm starting to see him better. Why is that?'
The more solid Cerberus seemed to get, the more insubstantial I felt, as though my physical body was dissolving into the mist that hung over the Styx. 'I think … I'm afraid it's because we're getting closer to being dead.'
I wondered if we would be dead in a minute. The plan was starting to seem more and more ludicrous.
'It can smell the living,' Percy said, staring at Cerberus in horror.
'But that's okay. Because we have a plan,' Grover said. It would have been more reassuring if his voice wasn't shaking.
'Right,' I said. 'A plan.'
We joined the EZ DEATH queue. Cerberus gave a deafening bark when we got close. Grover blanched.
'Can you understand it?' Percy said.
'Oh yeah.' Grover didn't look at all like it was good news. I decided I didn't want to know.
Percy took a deep breath and extracted the makeshift stick he'd prepared. 'Hey, Big Fella! I bet they don't play with you much.'
Cerberus snarled like he was ready to take our heads off.
'Good boy.' Percy waved the stick hopefully. All three heads swivelled to stare at him. 'Fetch!' His voice cracked on the word.
His aim was abysmal. I heard the splash as the stick joined the debris of lost dreams in the Styx. All six of Cerberus's eyes drooped in disappointment.
I had a sudden memory of our old Dobermann, Daisy. She couldn't have looked more different from Cerberus, but his eyes now were a dead ringer for the baleful look she used to get when she was ignored. She adored ball games, I recalled.
Maybe Cerberus did, too.
'He's saying we've got ten seconds to pray to the god of our choice. After that … well … he's hungry.' Grover sounded close to tears.
It was a crazy idea, but no more so than Percy's plan-which was completely botched now anyway.
'Wait!' I cried, and dug into my Waterland pack. If I remembered correctly, one of the things I'd swiped had been … 'Got it!'
The red rubber ball was still there. I imagined Daisy standing before me, tail wagging a million miles an hour, her big slobbery tongue lolling out in excitement.
'See the ball?' I called to Cerberus. 'You want the ball, Cerberus? Sit!'
His head-well, heads, all three of them-cocked to one side, considering me. He really could have been Daisy now, trying to puzzle out my command.
'Sit!'
Slowly, Cerberus settled back on his haunches. I couldn't see his tail, but I imagined it thumping on the ground behind him, probably crushing a whole bunch of spirits in the process.
'Good boy!'
I tossed the ball and his central head snapped it up immediately. Left Head and Right Head growled and butted Middle Head, demanding their turn.
'Drop it!' I told him. Cerberus whined but released the ball. It fell to my feet, covered with monster dog drool. I picked it up anyway. 'Good boy.'
Cerberus barked and got to his feet. Between them, I could see his tail going back and forth like a pendulum. All three heads looked at me, eager for more.
Well, I'd got his full attention and he didn't seem to want to kill me yet. I gave Percy and Grover a little push.
'Go now. EZ DEATH line-it's faster.'
'But-' Percy started to protest.
'Now!'
They started forward. Cerberus noticed and growled. I had to keep his attention.
'Stay!' I shouted, and held up the dripping ball. 'If you want the ball, stay!'
Cerberus's heads locked on me again. His eyes were hungry, but in a more play with me rather than I want dinner sort of way.
Percy looked back and whispered, 'What about you?'
'I know what I'm doing, Percy,' I told him. 'At least, I'm pretty sure …'
I waited until Percy and Grover had made it past. Then I said, 'Good dog!'
The shadow of Cerberus's tail wagged faster than ever. I could have sworn the heads were grinning, though it was hard to tell, with their massive jaws. I flung the ball into the air. Left Head got it this time. Middle Head made an immediate bid for it. Right Head howled softly. I took my chance.
Don't run, I told myself as I passed between Cerberus's legs. Be in control.
It worked. Percy and Grover were waiting for me before the metal detector, eyes wide in amazement.
'How did you do that?' Percy asked.
'Obedience school,' I said, feeling a huge wave of homesickness. Not that I would ever miss living with my dad, but Daisy … she'd been a good dog. 'When I was little,' I explained, 'at my dad's house, we had a Dobermann …'
'Never mind that,' Grover interrupted. 'Come on!'
A low, longing whine stopped us. Cerberus had turned around. I don't know how it was possible for a Rottweiler the size of an elephant to make puppy eyes-three sets of them-but he managed it. He dropped the ball, which was no longer round. Left Head's massive teeth had ripped it to shreds. All three heads looked at me expectantly.
'Good boy,' I said automatically. His heads cocked to the right in unison. One paw lifted up slightly. 'I'll … I'll bring you another ball soon. Would you like that?'
Cerberus gave a little whimper.
'Good dog,' I told him. 'I'll come visit you soon. I-I promise.' I had no idea how I'd ever keep my word (maybe if I died in Hades's palace, he'd let me come through the line again) but I felt I had to give him something. I'd heard before that dogs couldn't be left alone for too long periods without going mad. Sure, Cerberus had crowds of souls passing every day, but when was the last time someone had played with him?
I couldn't stop now, though. We smashed through the metal detectors, setting off a ton of alarms, but the DOA brochure had proved accurate. The Underworld was facing a staff shortage. There weren't enough of them to catch us and man their security booths. It was easy enough to dash through and find a large tree to hide in. We must have faded enough to blend in among the dead because no one came sniffing us out.
We plunged into the Fields of Asphodel. Cerberus's lonely howls followed me all the way, leaving me with an uneasy conscience. Somehow, it didn't feel like the first time I'd walked away from something without a backward glance.
Chapter 18