Chapter 39 I won't help you

"Don't worry," Annabeth told her. "Mortal police could never find us." But she didn't sound so sure.

As time passed on the train, with the group trying to occupy themselves, Andromeda looked at where Jakob had placed Mimir next to him. "So Mimir, what do they call Odin the Lord of the Hanged?"

Her question gained Annabeth and Grover's attention and they leaned forward to listen, also curious as well.

"That refers to a modest example of Odin's thirst for knowledge—the time he spent nine days a dead man." Mimir said, shocking the others as Andromeda, Annabeth and Grover's eyes widened.

"What?" They asked.

"Aye. Hung himself by the neck from Yggdrasil's branches, put his spear through his own side, and bled down into the Well of Destiny. He roamed the realms of the dead and plundered the World Tree of its secrets… until, I think quite rightly, it got fed up with him and sent him back to the land of the living." Mimir said before he saw the disturbed and horrified looks on the trio's faces. "Did I not mention he was barking mad?"

"W-Wow... Odin goes really far to get what he wants." Andromeda said, Annabeth and Grover nodding in agreement.

"But why?" Grover asked with a frown. "Why go to such lengths?"

"Trying to understand Odin's motives is a hard thing as he's a clever, manipulative bastard." Jakob said with a sigh. "It's always been about either destroying the Giants, taking control of Jötunheim, or doing everything he can to stave off Ragnarök."

"Aye, even if he can't prevent Ragnarök, he still hopes to learn enough details to influence the outcome. Remind me later to tell you later about the wolves…" Mimir said.

The rest of the day Andromeda spent alternately pacing the length of the train looking out the window. Jakob joined her in this also.

Andromeda spotted a family of centaurs travelling, one kid the size of a second grader. He was on a pony, and waved in response to Andromeda's wave. The other people didn't even notice them as they looked at their laptops or phones.

Another time, both of them saw a lion, to which Jakob briefly wondered if it was the legendary Nemean Lion. The lion with impenetrable skin and had to be choked out by Hercules.

Their reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. They couldn't get berths in the sleeper car, so they dozed in their seats. Andromeda's neck got stiff as she tried not to drool in her sleep, since Annabeth was right next to her.

Grover's snoring and bleating kept them up. Once, the goat shuffled around and his fake foot fell off. Jakob and Annabeth had to stick it back on before any passengers took notice.

"So," Annabeth asked Andromeda, once they'd gotten Grover's sneaker readjusted. "Who wants your help?"

"What do you mean?" Andromeda asked quickly.

"When you were asleep just now, you mumbled, 'I won't help you.' Who were you dreaming about?" Jakob asked this time, staring at Andromeda.

The Daughter of Poseidon was reluctant to say anything. It was the second time she had dreamed about the evil voice from the pit. But it bothered her so much she told them.

Annabeth was quiet for a long time. "That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."

"Well, I'm sure he laughs in his own free time." Mimir said in defence of the God of the Underworld. "Being ruler of the Realm of the Dead isn't a job of humours, you know."

"But he offered my mother in trade." Andromeda reminded, shaking her head. "Why would he do that?"

"I guess… if he meant, 'Help me rise from the Underworld.' If he wants war with the Olympians. But why ask you to bring the bolt if he already has it?" Annabeth asked with a frown, trying to understand Hades' motives.

"I still don't believe it's him." Jakob said with a shake of his head. "We have no proof that Hades has the Master Bolt, we're only suspecting him simply because he's made out to be the bad guy. There are other dark forces that would like to see the Olympians destroy each other."

"Jakob, he offered Andromeda's mother in trade... who else but Hades can go against death?" Annabeth pointed out.

"There is more than one deity of death." Jakob countered and reminded her at the same time. "We don't have all the pieces of the puzzle yet, so we cannot connect the dots."

Eventually Annabeth conceded to that point.

Grover probably sensed their emotions. He snorted in his sleep, muttered something about vegetables, and turned over in his sleep.

Annabeth readjusted his cap so it covered his horns. "Look, you can't barter with Hades. You know that, right? He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy. I don't care if the Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time-"

"This time?" Andromeda frowned. "You mean you've run into them before?"

Annabeth's hand crept to her necklace. She fingered a glazed white bead painted with the image of a pine tree, one of her clay end-of-the-summer tokens. "Let's just say I've got no love for the Lord of the Dead. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mum."

"What would you do if it was your dad?" Andromeda challenged.

"That's easy." She said. "I'd leave him to rot."

"Agreed." Jakob nodded. If it was his dad... Jakob wouldn't blink an eye or do anything to save his ass.

"Okay, Jakob I understand, but you?" Andromeda asked the Daughter of Athena. "You can't be serious."

"Not all kids had happy lives growing up, Andie." Jakob reminded, now connecting the dots to what Annabeth meant before, what possibly led her to going out onto the streets.

"My dad's resented me since the day I was born." Annabeth said quietly, causing the two to look at her. "He never wanted a baby. When he got me, he asked Athena to take me back and raise me on Olympus because he was too busy with his work. She wasn't happy about that. She told him heroes had to be raised by their mortal parents."

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