Dawn followed, and Jason took up the rear. When Dawn saw what was going on, she rolled her eyes.

"Nika, you've been here for thirty seconds, really," she said. "Come on, try to go at least a full minute without finding trouble." Okay, so poking fun wasn't the best idea, but she was trying to keep herself from getting too afraid. For all intents and purposes, she and her brother were just regular mortals at the moment, and regular mortals never went in and out of the Underworld.

Jason didn't comment at all. He actually found Nika's backbone impressive. Not many girls would try to stare down the Ferryman, and even fewer actually had a chance of winning.

Nika smirked as Charon looked away first, looking at the newcomers.

"Mortals are not allowed to pass this way," Charon said, his voice flat. "Come back when you're dead."

"We have drachmas," Seth offered, holding one up. It somehow glinted in the non-existant light.

Charon looked at the coin for a moment before looking away. "The living are not allowed to pass this way," he said again.

"Oh, bullshit," Nika growled. "I've come this way before, Charon. I didn't even pay you that time."

"Hades had summoned you," Charon said, showing his own stubbornness.

"Yeah, well, I need to talk to him again. He still owes me and he knows it."

Charon shook his head. "Perhaps he owes you, but he does not owe any of them."

"How about this, then? We give you one drachma each, you take us to his hall, and I won't shove that oar so far up your ass it comes out your mouth and use you to paddle across the river." Nika's glare backed up that statement.

Charon was silent for just a moment. "Give me the drachmas."

"One of these days, that's not going to work," Dawn commented mildly to Nika once she'd handed over a drachma. "And then you're going to end up in deep shit."

"I dunno," Jason disagreed after a moment. "I thought it was kinda cool." Dawn gave him a dry look.

Nika merely shrugged as she stepped onto the boat. "I'm an Ares kid. I get into trouble all the time. Besides, I have a life expectancy of about thirty." She shrugged, not overly concerned about that.

Seth shook his head, handing over his drachma and getting on as well, staying next to Dawn. "I'd rather live longer than that, thanks."

"The average camper has a life expectancy of twenty-three," Dawn pointed out. "Which means if I survive this year, I actually have a chance of making it to thirty."

Jason nodded his agreement.

"I need to survive the next year and a half," he said. "All things considered, if we survive this crisis, I may have a really good shot at it."

"If you can survive this, you can survive anything," Nika said with a snort as the boat started moving. "You may want to sit down. This part gets a little... bumpy."

The boat started moving faster, going through what felt like invisible rapids. They slammed up against rocks and Charon pushed the boat away, navigating easily. But that didn't mean he made the ride smooth.

Seth sat down quickly, looking faintly green. He'd never liked boats to begin with, and this wasn't helping.

Dawn held on, trying not to laugh. She enjoyed rides like that, for the most part. She uncle always took her rafting with them at least once every summer, either before or after camp.

Jason, on the other hand, held on for dear life and kept his eyes closed. He was muttering something under his breath, and Dawn couldn't tell if he was swearing or reciting lyrics to keep himself distracted.

Nika smirked and stayed standing, looking off around them. Finally, when they did get some light, she pointed.

"Directly in front of us is Hades's hall. If you can see well enough, off to either side and below is Tartarus, and the Elysian Fields are on the other side of the Hall."

Seth didn't say anything, too focused on staying on the boat. When it calmed, however, just moving smoothly along, he peered down over the side and wished he hadn't.

Dawn knew better than to look. She didn't want to see Tartarus, and she knew it. She would rather have most of her wits about her. Jason also refused to look. He would take the time to look when he was dead. Before then, no need to see it.

Nika stepped off onto a little landing space before the boat had even stopped. "Welcome to Hades' Hall. There's still time to go back if you've changed your mind."

Seth shook his head as he got off. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Nika."

"We've come this far," Dawn pointed out. "I'm not about to turn back now."

"I may as well be around to protect my sister," Jason said, trying to lighten the mood. Dawn just whacked him with her bow again.

Nika nodded and turned, walking to the front of the hall. Massive double doors provided the only entrance, and she shoved them open.

"Uncle Hades!" she yelled, unsure where he was. "I need to talk to you!"

Seth shook his head, a little amazed at her daring. He thought she was going to get herself killed.

A man emerged from a side hall, his black hair slightly curly and bound back with a strip of leather. He wore a black chitoniskos hemmed with gold, and he raised one eyebrow at Nika.

"Well, I see you can still intimidate Charon into doing your bidding. Are they cannon fodder or guests?"

"Guests," Nika said firmly.

"Ah. I suppose you should come in, then." Without waiting for their reply, Hades turned and walked down the main hallway. Nika followed him.

Dawn didn't say anything, and she sent her brother a look that very clearly told him not to open his fool mouth. They were both about as far from their father's sphere of influence as it was possible to get, and it made Dawn nervous. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she wanted to be back out in the sunshine again.

Jason was a bit nervous, as well, but he was more intrigued than Dawn was. He was a bit more outgoing than his sister was, and he wanted explore a bit. As long as it didn't get him killed, at least.

Hades led them down a long hallway to a sitting room, with high-backed chairs. He himself sat in the most comfortable looking chair in the room, and waved them all to sit down as well.

Nika sat down, knowing that Hades wasn't about to strike them dead on the spot or anything. Not unless they pissed him off, anyway. Which was not advisable. She noticed that Seth sat down a little behind her, making her their spokesperson. Okay.

"We're looking for the Void," she said without preamble.

Hades nodded. "Reason?"

"Our parents are taking away our powers because they're worried that the Void will get to them too."

"I see. I don't suppose Ares just gave those to you?"

"You suppose correctly."

Hades's lips twitched in a hint of a smile. "Well, they're all idiots," he said with a little shrug. "Conversing with you is always refreshing, Nika. You don't dodge around things and there's no bullshit with you."

"I really don't see the need to hint at things," Nika replied with a shrug and a smile of her own. "Besides, pissing you off is generally not a good idea, and I don't want to die today."

Hades chuckled quietly at that. "I see." He was quiet for a few moments. "I am not sure where the Void is, but I can help you."

"I would be grateful for any help," Nika replied. "And I'll consider your debt paid in full."

Hades nodded. "Stay here." He stood and left the room.

Dawn followed Nika, and stayed quiet during the exchange. Nika was already the unofficial spokesperson, so there was no reason for Dawn to open her mouth.

Jason was a bit more distracted looking around. He wanted to see everything around them, and it was easier to ignore what they were there for if he kept his attention mostly on what he could see.

Nika turned to look at them. "Okay, I think I know what he's going to do," she said quietly and quickly. "He might be loaning us a Hellhound. Yes, I know, they sound like they should be Christian, but he had them long before they were called that. He adopted the name because he just called them hounds before."

"Okay, so what?" Seth raised his eyebrows.

"So these things are big and mean and they feed off fear. So if you don't have to, don't interact with it." Nika turned to look at Hades as he walked back in, smirking.

"Well, I have good news and bad news," he said. "Bad news is I don't know where it is. Good news is I'm going to lend you a tracker. I expect you to return her in the same condition you got her once you've gotten rid of this thing."

"Of course." Nika stood. "Thank you." She turned and ushered everyone else out in front of her, keeping herself between them and Hades.

"Oh great," Dawn muttered. She wasn't much of a dog-person on a good day, and she definitely didn't want to be within jaw's reach of a Hellhound. She couldn't even shoot the thing. It would just re-form. She nudged Jason. "I much prefer our aunt's hunting dogs," she murmured to him. Jason rolled his eyes.

"You would," he replied.

Nika hurried the other three out in front of her, glancing around only once. She knew the Hellhound would meet up with them at the entrance again, and then they'd go searching for the Void.

Seth got back on the boat, glancing back at Nika. "We don't have to pay him again?"

"No, Hades has granted us free passage to and from until we've completed our mission," Nika said, obviously distracted.

Dawn stumbled into the boat again when Nika pushed her, but she didn't argue. She didn't want to stay in the Underworld any longer than she needed to. Precedent or not, she wasn't comfortable where the sunlight couldn't reach, no matter what Orpheus did.

Jason got into the boat as well and sat down in the only other open spot, next to Nika. Being in the Underworld for so long was starting unnerve him, as well, though not quite as badly as his sister.

Nika glanced around at them. "Don't worry," she said quietly. "We'll be out of here soon, and we can sit down for a couple minutes if you need."

Seth blinked, startled at the sudden kindness from her. He didn't say anything, since he was as anxious as anyone to get out.

"We don't have that kind of time," Dawn said after a moment. "We'll have all the time in the world to rest and relax once this whole crisis is over with."

"We'll be okay," Jason added. He wasn't quite so surprised at her sudden kindness. Somehow, he could tell she wasn't quite as rough as she liked to seem.

Nika nodded and, as soon as the boat stopped, she jumped off and hustled everyone else off. She didn't even pause when she saw the Hellhound waiting for them near the gate.

Seth did pause, only just moving out of the way to stare at the huge monstrosity by the gate. The Hellhound's shoulders were up to his chest, with a chest closer to that of a German shepherd. Red eyes glared at them all, her lips pulling back from very sharp teeth, nails clacking against the ground as she waited.

"Hush," Nika said, giving the Hound a sharp look. The Hound quieted a little.

Dawn and Jason were silent for a moment, then, "I know the expression is something about the 'dogs of war,' but this is ridiculous."

Dawn just stared at him.

"What?" he asked.

"That joke was terrible and you should be ashamed of it," she replied.

Nika didn't reply to that, instead going over to inspect the Hound for a moment before she nodded, speaking to her in Greek. The Hound looked at her for a moment before taking off through the gates.

"Well, follow the Hound." Nika stayed at the back of the group, ushering them all forward.

Seth rolled his eyes at her but stepped through the gate, emerging where they had been before. He looked around to make sure no one was around.

Dawn prodded Jason with her bow, making him follow after Nika and the Hound. It didn't escape her notice when he took his own bow out of his quiver and held it ready. As much as he liked to joke around, he was serious when it came to battle.