HAZEL WAS ABOUT JUST AS STUNNED AS LEO. She rested her arms on her knees and sat on a stool in the lounge. How could she have let that happened? Hazel always felt like she was incredibly useless, but this... this was a new personal low. She could have done something to save the both of them. She could have unearthed some sort of sharp and broken piece of gem and cut the spider silk off. Or she could have jumped at the chance and grab Percy's leg to keep him from falling and save the both of them. Instead she just stood there helplessly, calling on for friends that would never come to their rescue and watched them plummet to their deaths.

Okay, so Nico had said they weren't dead. Hazel knew at least not yet, but they were as good as dead in the depths of tartarus.

She didn't really mean to sound so negative, but a constant nagging in her mind made her feel this way.

Her shoulders slumped and she sighed. She looked up and saw that the rest of her friends looked pretty glum themselves. They were all sitting down around the table, eating their lunch silently. Grief hung in the air. Jason sat at the head of the table, with Piper beside him whispering into his ear. His expression looked pained.

"It'll be alright," Piper tried to soothe him with some charmspeak. "They might not be dead. We just have to be level-headed and complete the quest. That's why they're down there. They're playing their part in sealing the doors of death."

Hazel swayed as she heard Piper speak. "Be alright," she murmured. "Quest."

At the corner of her eye she found Leo looking at her funny. "You alright, Haze?"

Hazel frowned. "Don't call me that."

"Meh. Nobody ever likes the nicknames i give them," He shrugged. Then his face turned concerned and she knew he could tell what she was thinking about. "But seriously, hope you're okay. It isn't your fault. Percy chose to let go. But if i had been more obsrvant... It's my fault."

Hazel looked at him in disbelief. "Not ever! You jumped at the chance to save the statue."

Suddenly it dawned onto her that everyone was most probably blaming themselves for not helping the both of them. Hazel looked down and remembered what Percy had yelled to Nico. The other side? Could Percy and Annabeth even reach the doors of death from Tartarus' side? She also remembered Percy letting go of the ledge, telling Annabeth he'd never let go of her. Hazel knew Percy liked Annabeth, but now she realised that they were in fact truly in love. They absolutely couldn't live without each other.

She cleared her throat, and pushed aside her lunch. "So... any ideas on what we're supposed to do now?"

"I say," Jason said. "We get these spheres back to Camp Half- blood first."

"The spheres?" Frank asked, clearly baffled. "Shouldn't we be heading off for Epirus first? Percy and Annabeth are expecting us there. Our timing has to be perfect."

"And it will be," Jason insisted. He had sort of taken charge ever since Percy went missing. "They'll be facing a lot of problems in tartarus. Gaia will throw all sorts of obstacles at them."

Hazel turned towards Nico. "So, Nico," She tried to play it casual. "I know it might be a difficult subject for you to talk about... but would you mind telling us about, you know, Tartarus? We need to know what we put Percy and Annabeth through."

Nico took a deep breath. Shakily, he stood up and said, "The depths of Tartarus is nothing like anything you've ever been through. The monsters and enemies we've killed during the Titan war... well they're still down there. It'll take them years to return to the real world again. I almost went insane because I was too alone. I was constantly being attacked by monsters. I had to keep venturing deeper into Tartarus to get away from the monsters. The deeper you go into Tartarus, the less monsters you face. But also the more deadly and dangerous they get. Everything is so... dark and frightening in there. It keeps you hollow and afraid, because there's no telling when you might die. But Annabeth and Percy... they have each other. They'll survive. I hope."

Nico plopped back into his seat miserably.

Everyone was silent for a while. Piper began to talk. "Camp Jupiter and Octavian are going to attack on Camp Half-blood if we don't stop them soon. Once they attack, there's no way greeks and romans are ever going to get along with each other ever again. Our quest will fail and Gaia will win. We have to get the spheres there. They could help!" She urged.

Everyone kept quiet. Usually Annabeth was the one making the wise choices.

"All in favour?" Hazel asked meekly.

Everyone raised up their hands. "Settled then," Jason announced. "Camp Half- Blood is our main priority now."

Everyone left the lounge soon after. Jason and Piper had asked Leo if he wanted to hang out, probably to cheer each other up, but he declined the offer. Hazel wondered what he was feeling to refuse to hang out with his best friends.

She leaned against the railing and stared into the sea.

Wow. Awshum! I haven't seen that much of it but still awshum! And may I officially present you with the pride of making the first house of Hades forum. Or at least I think. Eh I'll check later but still awshum! Post soon

Well no first one but still cool and awshum!

Oooooh!! An HoH already? That didn't take long at all. Well anyway I loved it!

tht was quick eh? i just finished the book and this just made me more sad but happi
it was ashummm! post

HAZEL

SHE GUIDED HER BROTHER TO THE INFIRMARY. Nico was still in pretty bad condition, so she decided that he needed to have a break and further recover. She dabbed a cool, damp cloth on his forehead and trickled drops of nectar into his mouth. Hazel studied her brother. He looked much scrawnier and tired. She gazed at him sympathetically. Being in a death trance wasn't healthy. Even for a child of the god of death. It definitely made Nico weaker.

"Nico..." She sighed. "What's this House of Hades we're talking about? I don't like the sound of it."

Nico looked down and tapped his fingers on the bed. He seemed to be thinking of ways to explain it to her. "It's this temple, right? Well it was built for Hades and Persephone, and since their both sort of in charge of the Underworld, the mortal side of the doors of death... it chose to be located there. It's difficult to take care of the doors of death cause well, the gods moved to America, where western civilisation is the strongest. Greece and America are pretty far apart. Plus, the temple is dangerous. It's rumored to be full of bitter spirits and ghosts that for some reason didn't go down to the underworld. We could go insane there."

"We?" Hazel asked, hopefully. "So you're coming with us and seeing through this whole expedition?"

Nico shook his head. "Sorry, Hazel. I'm not really a part of this prophecy. If I joined you guys past Epirus, it could disrupt the way of the fates. It's my duty to guide you to the House of Hades, and I wish I could help more, but I can't," Nico smiled a little at Hazel. "But the prophecy is about you too, Hazel. And I know you can do it."

Nico didn't always say such motivational and encouraging things to her, and it made her feel good about herself.

"Thanks, Nico," She teared up a little. "For being there for me, for being my brother. I would've never made it this far without you."

For a moment, Nico's "Permanent scowl" that Percy had always mentioned he had seemed to change into stun. Before he could say anything, Frank knocked on the door and emerged.

"Hey, Frank." Nico weakly waved his hand.

Frank smiled. Then when he saw Hazel, his smile melted a little.

"Hazel?" Frank whispered. "Can I talk to you for a while outside?"
*********
Hazel closed the door behind them. They stood outside in silence for a while. Frank was wearing his purple shirt from Camp Jupiter and track pants. His hair was wet, so he probably just had a shower.

"What do you want to talk about, Frank?" Hazel asked gently.

Frank shifted uncomfortably. "Leo said we'll be taking a stop somewhere for supplies. About... say an hour or two from now? We've run out of food an water. Coach hedge is getting hungry. He's even considering to eat his baseball bat." He laughed. Hazel laughed, too. It was good to hear Frank laugh. He'd been a little moody nowadays, and Hazel couldn't bear to see him that way.

"So, Hazel," Frank took a deep breath. "I was also thinking... we should talk about our relationship."

Hazel didn't answer. She'd been expecting this for quite some time. The truth was, it had been an emotional roller coaster the past few days. She was confused with her feelings. She knew she liked Frank, and they'd been sort of dating for a few days now. But Leo? Hazel wasn't too sure. Sammy Valdez had always been her childhood sweetheart, but years had passed. Leo wasn't the same as Sammy, at least not a hundred percent, despite the fact they looked the same. And Hazel didn't really know if she still had feelings for Sammy. But she did love Frank, and that was all that mattered.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Hazel asked.

Frank shrugged. "I know this isn't the best time, but I just want you to know... I'm okay with whoever you choose. As long as you're, you know. Happy." His voice quavered a little at that last part.

Hazel teared up a little. "Frank, I know things have been a little complicated. But I don't think you should worry so much about this. We're a team, just like Jason and Piper are, or how Percy and Annabeth are." She tip-toed to and kissed him on the cheek.

Frank seemed to relax a little. "Thanks Hazel." He walked off, humming to himself.

Hazel looked down. She started to feel guilty. Hazel knew she had said that to make Frank feel better, and it wasn't like she was lying to him about what she said; she had meant it. But could it be that she still loved Sammy? Hazel always believed in first love. But it obviously hadn't worked out, since she died. Could Frank be her second chance?

Hazel stared at the wall. For a moment, she felt a little jealous of the chemistry Percy and Annabeth had. Sure, they'd started off on bad terms, but then rivalry had turned to friendship, and then to love. It was sweet how much they had endured to be together, and she hoped that she would have that same connection with Frank someday.

Unfortunately, that made her feel worried for the both of them again. Hazel remembered what Fleecy at ROFL specialised in. Maybe she could iris message the both of them in Tartarus. It was hopeless to even think it might work, but she decided it was worth a shot.

this is so cool post soon ! :)

Nice story keep it up!!!

this is the besthouse of hades I have read!!!!! you are an amazing writer!!!! I am going to have to look and see if you have other forums now! :) plz post again soon!

I know you last posted 2 months ago, but please. This is by far the best fanfic of HoH that I have read!!!

I seriously need you to post or I might just die.