House of Hades

A representation of House of Hades, which I'm sure there are already twenty of. Percabeth, Jasper, Lena (LeoxReyna, because I'm not leaving Leo all lonely like Riordan seems bound and determined to do), and Frazel. Go on. Read it. You know you want to.

Please note this is my first multi-chapter. For that matter, it's my first PJO anything.

And... Let House of Hades begin.

Percy

There was nothing quite like freefalling – that is to say, there is nothing quite so utterly terrifying. For the first few seconds, all Percy was looking at was Annabeth, Annabeth, Annabeth, and then he noticed that the whistling in his ears and Annabeth was completely petrified, and it was the St. Louis Arch all over again, which was an memory best experienced once. "We're gonna be okay!" Percy yelled, with no real evidence to back up his claim (a bad mistake when you're dating a daughter of the wisdom goddess), and he wished he had Piper's charmspeak, Jason's flying powers, Frank's shape shifting, or even Leo's tool belt. Gods, even Hazel could send a prayer to dear ol' dad for a soft landing.

(Percy could send a prayer too, but something told him Hades wouldn't be listening.)

But apparently Annabeth had decided that evading certain death was more important than lecturing Percy on factual accuracy, because she was looking down and yelling, "THERE!"

And, lo and behold, a lake in the middle of Tartarus. Percy didn't argue schematics, but he was pretty sure that didn't happen. Annabeth gripped him tightly and he hugged her to his chest, veering for the water. He could feel its pull on him, and he tried to draw it towards him.

Nothing.

No pulling in his gut, no water spiraling to meet him. Nothing.

Had he lost his powers?

Percy grimaced, and Annabeth screamed. "PERCY!"

Percy looked down. The oasis of water was now a bubbling pit of lava, and Percy veered again.

The ground was coming up too fast – and gods, Annabeth. No, not Annabeth – better him than Annabeth.

Percy angled himself so he was below her, ignoring her small fists pounding out a rhythm onto his chest (Leave it to him to find a suicidal girlfriend) yelling at him to stop being so selfless all the time, you _ (Insert swear words of choice, she covered all of them pretty thoroughly). If it came to that, he would hopefully absorb the majority of the blow. Percy vaguely remembered he hadn't had much ambrosia or nectar on him at the time, only a handful of cubes and a canteen – stupid, stupid, stupid –

And then they weren't falling anymore.

It was as if they were being lifted by an invisible hand, and a deep laugh reverberated in Percy's mind, calling forth every doubt and insecurity he had ever experienced – you're stupid; freak; no one likes you; as well as the more recent – your godly parent doesn't want you; Annabeth doesn't even like you; a son of Poseidon afraid to drown? Images of his friends and family dying in assorted ways flashed by, all with Percy standing next to them, unable to do a thing.

It seemed Annabeth heard it too, from the way her face went ghost pale and she edged closer to Percy – she had been jostled away from him when they hit the invisible force. Percy instinctually put his arm around his girlfriend, and she relaxed immediately.

Not that he was paying attention or anything.

Perseus Jackson. It wasn't a voice Percy could easily forget, even though he thought he'd never hear it again.

It was like knives scraping across metal – ancient, cold and powerful.

Kronos.

Dun dun dun. Like it? Hate it? Mad because it's short? Mad because there's a cliffhanger (Gods, if someone mentions MOA I will scream.)? Just mad?

If you like it, please review... Okay, that never works. How about this: reviewers get cookies.

Cyber cookies. But it's the thought that counts, right?

I shall try to write soon... But if I forget, send me a PM and I'll work on it! ^-^

- Identity Crisis