#or maybe nico does blame percy

[venux777]

bianca should have lived. or even better she should have been introduced earlier so her death could be more meaningful

[child-of-helios]

Calypso x Leo SUCKS, here is why

Look, I get why that sounds harsh, and it is, but hear me out.

First and most importantly, Calypso is a pedophile. We see her fall in love with 14 year old Percy, then 15/16 year old Leo. Already weird, right? And look, if we got some explanation as to why it would ever be okay for a titaness who is thousands of years old to fall in love with CHILDREN, maybe I could see past it.

BUT in the odyssey myth, Odysseus was MUCH older than a teenager. He was already noted to be an old wise king (who was old enough to feign madness from old age) at the START of the Trojan war. Now that war lasted 10 years and add to that the multiple years he spent traveling to Ithaca, and you got an old-ass man. So either Calypso was already a mature adult, or a child thirsting after some old dude. Sure, it happens, but weird. Let's not forget that Odysseus was married and very much still in love with his WIFE Penelope, but Calypso basically kept him hostage on her island and would not let him leave at all.

Now let's get to Percy, he got blamed for not making sure that the gods kept their promise??? Good sir that is a 16 year old who just got out of a WAR and had his memory stolen, of course he didn't check with the gods. ITS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY! He shouldn't be held accountable. Also let me remind you that Calypso wanted him when he was 14. Not a good look.

And finally, we get to Leo. Poor poor Leo. A boy who was oh-so starved for love that he took anything he could get, and that's my explanation as to why Calypso x Leo ever happened. Honestly, I adored Leo. I had a crush on him (still kinda do shhh), I won't lie. However, I also adored Annabeth but since her and Percy are amazing together, I could get behind Percabeth. But Caleo? Hell no. Sure, they have a fun dynamic, but it's more of a sibling dynamic in my opinion. I would've rather had Leo x Khione or something. Maybe Leo x Echo cause that would've been adorable. But Caleo??? No. He should've never gone back for her. Leave her to rot.

Secondly, Calypso is simply a jerk. And I'm the type of person who adores asshole characters when done right. Octavian is great because he's an irredeemable asshole AND he gets karma. But Calypso? She's a bitch and gets such a kindhearted boyfriend in return. Like I said, she tried to pressure a (married) man into sleeping with her and is simply a dick to Leo (HER BOYFRIEND) and I could understand if they were siblings, cause siblings are dicks to eachother with love underneath, but she just sucks. She immediately hated him, which she has reason to do after what happened to her, but even after that she was just horrible to Leo. I seriously don't see why he loves, likes, or even tolerates her.

In conclusion, I hate what Rick did to Leo. I adore his stories like no other (which is why I'm so passionate about this), but he really fumbled the bag here. Calypso is just not a good fit for Leo.

Personally I really do prefer Leo x Jason, Leo x Nico or even Leo x Echo. And yes it does sound weird for me to say that considering that I call Calypso a pedo, but I could see Echo not being able to age normally because of being stuck with Narcissus. Echo x Leo is in my opinion much better than Calypso x Leo.

Um sorry- that was really mean but I needed to say that.

On a lighter note I saw this really long worm which was cool! :D

[voltronisanobsession]

You know what, I’m going to warn you from now, you’re going to get a lot of Percy x reader requests form me (not that I can blame myself) so without further ado… Can I request a Percy x Melinoe!reader?

Everyone knows how Nico is the ghost king, but can you imagine Percy meeting and falling head over heels for a daughter of Melinoe? She may as well be a living ghost queen because of her control over ghosts.

I imagine she shows her love for him in strange ways since regular lovers give each other flowers and chocolate, what the reader does? She shows up in his nightmares and battles off any monsters giving him trouble. She also did something weird for Valentine’s Day, but I’ll leave that up to your imagination 😉

Maybe she even has magic, to smaller extent to the Hecate cabin? (Blame Hades II and my love for magic for that idea), I don’t know, I can just see her having a lot of tricks up her sleeves.

(I’m sorry for making this so long.)

Percy with a Child of Melinoe

I’m always ready for these Percy jackson requests, keep them coming😻😻😻 you literally be dropping the most COOLEST REQUEST LIKE DDAAMMMNNN I LOVE UR BRAIN

Also I’m so SORRY it’s super long, always write too much but I can’t help it😭😭 for some reason I need to have some loose story when writing anything😭😭😭

Ok so I headcanon any child related to any underworld gods/goddesses usually have like dark eyebags, so Percy meeting Reader for the first time kinda freaks him out. A lot.

Reader just emerges from the darkness of the forest with shadowy figures following close behind, bro really believes that his soul was chosen to be reaped because the way they would look at him with dead eyes LMAO💀💀

But you were just walking around. In the dark. Lowkey talking to yourself until you saw Percy

I think Percy would find reader very odd at first, considering all the other people he’s met

Their dark eyebags and dull appearing skin makes them look like a walking corpse, and the way that they would just be lurking in the shadows, kinda talking to themselves would make him raise an eyebrow

But he didn’t know that you were just talking to the ghosts surrounding you, all of them yapping about ‘unfinished business’ they have

Reader would often be seen around camp looking a bit jittery, almost like they’re hiding from something but you’re just trying to avoid the ghosts that won’t leave you alone

“Shh shh, fine I’ll help you Jonathan. But later, people are looking at me again. Now leave me alone, oh gods Percy is walking over, leave leave!”

Since no one can seem these ghosts reader can see, Percy genuinely thinks you’re just off your rockers

Until you reveal how you’re mother is Melinoe, goddess of ghosts (he would be confused at first since he probably had no idea who that was💀💔)

OMG WAIT

Imagine Melinoe!Reader can like allow people to see ghosts if they’re touching them in some way!!! So to show the poor boy that you’re not crazy, your cold ass hands touch his arm and BOOM! Percy cannot believe all these ghosts just SURROUNDING reader

After that the rest is history

They both would grow so much closer since Reader finally chooses to fully trust in Percy as he accepted them and all their weird and scary abilities!!

Percy starts tagging along with reader when they go to take ghosts to the underworld, though Hades isn’t happy to see him most of the time

“It’s fine uncle, Percy’s just helping me.”

“How can he help you if he can’t even see the ghosts grabbing him?”

“Wait they’re grabbing me?!”

“He’s messing with you Percy.”

Reader and Nico would also be pretty close too

Since they’re able to summon ghosts, Nico sometimes asks if he can see Bianca, and they all sort of just have random get togethers in the middle of the night

Family reunions we love ‘em😍😍

Nico and Reader also shadow travel together whenever he needs someone to talk to

Melinoe!Reader would be a BIG gift giver, but they aren’t the most conventional gifts 💀

While some would gift flowers or plushies, reader would probably give him like wilted flowers and trinkets they claim would ward off unwanted spirits, and maybe even an authentic dreamcatcher too!!!!

Reader might even give him bones of small dead animals, which he accepts with a grimace on his face

“Wow ok! Um where did you find these exactly haha!”

“Oh you know, I was walking around the forest and began finding these small bones! Then I went further and found larger ones and then even larger ones! I would’ve taken one but it was too heavy, so you get the small ones.”

He would keep them in a glass jar that’s next to his bed though because it’s the thought that counts <3

He would also bring you SHELLS he finds whenever he’s by the the beach, sometimes even going to deeper waters to find the prettiest ones for your own collection🐚

Percy definitely carries a bag so you and him could put bones and shells in it to take home if you’re out of camp

I also would think that sleeping around reader would give anyone in their vicinity nightmares so they usually appear in Percy’s dreams to fight off any nightmarish monsters

At first he thinks he’s going crazy that he keeps seeing you in his nightmares until you explain that you can travel through dreams, hence why you’re basically in his brain now

Totally normal😁

AND FOR THAT VALENTINES DAY THOUGHT

I think Reader would think a good idea date for both of them would try summoning some kind of powerful ghost during the night for fun😭

Like at first Percy thought it was a cute picnic date and was like aww they’re so cute🥰 until he sees the ritual circle and is like what😀

He’s like super worried that your soul is gonna get possessed or something so he just keeps holding your hands to keep you grounded to the living world while you continue chanting and smiling

This dude can’t catch a break with you

During battles is when everyone around experiences what readers true power and magic is

While they may appear weird on the outside, them summoning ghost after ghost and making them solid life forms sends shivers and chills throughout every living persons body

It’s a really unsettling feeling tbh

So while Nico can summon the undead, you’re able to summon ghosts which makes you guys the perfect duo when fighting together

And they’re able to make their opponent hear the whispering voices of the ghosts around them which usually drives the fear factor up by a LOT

They could also sap any energy in their opponents body but they need to be touching the person which involves fighting in close range

I think Reader could also possibly drag out the soul of a living persons body, but it’s a theory since they haven’t fully tried going through with it

Also random thought but Melinoe!Reader loves going underwater with Percy because it’s the one place ghosts can’t follow them

So it’s just like, they can finally breath and not have a million voices demanding things from them

Percy is just super happy to help them in way he can

Plus it means he gets to spend more one on one time with you without having to worry about any ghosts watching their every move

Reader and Percy have matching rings that ward off any evil and vengeful ghosts

OH ANOTHER THOUGHT TO FINISH THIS OFF

Readers hands are super cold and I like to think Percy’s hands are super warm, so whenever they hold hands it’s like a clash that they both like

And when they hold hands, Percy is able to the world through Readers eyes

Which means that Percy kinda bullies the ghosts into leaving Reader alone for a while and getting some kind of privacy💀😻😻

Percy is super in love with this reader despite the unsettling vibes they can sometimes radiate

Reader is just happily digging up more bones to add to Percy’s growing collection :D

[lockandkeycake]

Ignore this post, my HoTD moots, this is going to be a long post you don't care about.

it's PJO/HoO rant time.

What can I say, Tumblr brings me back to the simpler times of 2016.

Y'all baby Frank too much. Like. Way too much.

Leo was a dick at times, no doubt. But I think y'all forget Frank was absolutely being antagonistic because he was paranoid over Leo looking like Hazel's ex. You can argue it's because Leo fired on New Rome, but Frank himself counters that claim and Leo is initially grateful Frank didn't blame him.

Frank was also the first one to bring up Sammy, not Hazel, just before that. Later, all before Leo says anything against Frank, Piper thinks Frank's behavior is because it seems like Leo and Hazel had a history. This is a longer bit of a book scene, but I feel like it gets ignored.

This is still before Leo says anything against Frank. I will be saying that a number of more times. Leo just complimented his ability and Frank responds with a pretty catty comment about Leo's physical abilities. You can see the difference in how he reacts even more clearly in a scene before, when Hazel is commenting on Frank turning into a dragon

Frank doesn't counter the idea to become a dragon, he just has an issue with leaving Hazel with Leo. Leo again, so far, isn't upset with Frank. He wants to prove he's trustworthy.

When Piper does her fun little exorcism on the lads, this happens. I have to say yet again. Leo has not insulted Frank at this point. Not a huge issue, Frank was a bit shaken up, but it was still kind of a dick move to just. Let him hit the dirt. I'll excuse it because it is very funny.

Later when they find out about Nico, this scene below happens. Leo has still not said anything against Frank at this point - Jason even agrees repeatedly with Leo, but Frank only glares at Leo.

After this, when Hazel is upset and leaves, Leo starts to likely say he should go apologize, but Frank cuts him off saying, "you've done enough."

We're a few hundred pages through the book now at this point. Frank has insulted Leo, he doesn't trust him, doesn't want Hazel around him, singles him out, and literally let him fall to the ground. Leo has not said anything against him yet.

Even Percy notes that Frank's mood is tied to his relationship with Hazel, and Leo seemingly threatening that.

(and for those who are curious - baleful means threateningly, or to wish harm)

This is when, after a good chunk into the novel, we reach Leo's first dig at Frank.

Then ~the iguana incident~ comes not long after, but if you're going to call this Leo bullying him, you'd have to include... Everyone. Since they literally all laughed at Frank turning into a lizard to get out of the finger trap. Hazel, Percy, Annabeth, everyone. Not a fun moment for Frank, I sympathize with him there, but I wouldn't personally call this pointed bullying. You may disagree but I do not think at the very least that Riordan intended it to be seen as bullying. This is followed by Leo sending Frank's dirty laundry out on Buford for awhile (though he does claim that it would be cleaned and returned to him, eventually we do learn the laundry is lost. This was not a planned thing by Leo, and I don't understand why this is characterized by some people as him purposely throwing away Frank's clothes.)

All this eventually leads to this exchange.

Gee, I don't know, Frank. Maybe because you keep glaring at him anytime you're around him to the point even Percy was like oh boy I got to get him off the ship before he folds Leo like a pretzel.

Later, Frank actually helps save Leo in eagle form, but ends up injured in the process - and drops Leo. I really don't think Frank meant to drop him, but Leo thinks Frank dropped him on purpose. That's kind of a big thing, even though it's a minor line.

Then, Frank is back to being untrusting of Leo. He's glowering, glaring, and again - doesn't want to leave Leo with Hazel.

When Hazel is alone with Leo, she finally takes the time to defend Frank.

So, clearly, Frank scares Leo.

Leo scares Frank.

It's a fun horrible little wicked web! It's almost like the author intended them to buttheads! Shocking!

I've run out of pictures to add!

I could and probably will continue this nonsense, but the general point of this rant is Frank is not just some totally sweet big guy who has never done anything wrong in his entire life, and characterizing him as such just makes him boring. He's self conscious, insecure, and lashes out at- boy, doesn't that sound familiar. Anyway.

He was kind of a dick to Leo, and Leo was kind of a dick to him in turn.

I'm pretty sure I had a better ending for this originally, that summed everything up, but now I'm distracted and just bitter they didn't kiss.

I didn't even have time to reach their interactions underwater.

[ellemeditdance]

Ok ok ok ok ok

A Solangelo Wicked AU

I told myself I wouldn't start writing it until after the holidays because I am busy, but it won't stop turning around in my head so have a headcannon list:

- Will is Glinda and Nico is Elphaba, obviously

- They will get a happy ending together somehow

- Fiyero is Annabeth. There's not any secondary romance with her and Nico or Will, but maybe for a second Nico thinks she and Will are together

- But she does have a romance with Percy, who is Dorothy (not a child)

- The initial reasoning for Percy being Dorothy was just, he drops a house on Nico's sister, and we all know Nico blames Percy for Bianca's death

- But then I also realized, if Annabeth is the scarecrow, maybe the baby animal they rescued was a satyr, not a lion. Now we have the golden trio on a quest

- Boq is not real. He does not exist.

- Chiron is obviously Dr. Dillamond

- The discrimination is against animals and also magical creatures, like satyrs and centaurs

- Instead of the wizard of Oz, it's the great wizard Kronos, who turns out to be just some guy named Luke behind a curtain

- I feel like Percy ends up fighting him somehow

- It's just an enemies to lovers college au but with magic and political intrigue

- Oh! And the school is called Schist!

[poppitron360]

Digging this out of my folders of fanfics and posting it:

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

“Hi, Annabeth,” Piper whispered, softly opening the door, “how are you feeling?”

She walked inside. Frank, Leo, and their other friends all followed, trying to not make too much noise. Annabeth was sitting up in bed, Percy knelt down beside her, cradling a tiny newborn baby.

Percy and Annabeth looked at each other, then at the assembly of onlookers.

“Everyone,” Percy announced, “Meet Olympia Grace Jackson-Chase.”

They all gasped collectively, although Leo thought it looked more like a shrivelled up prune than a baby. Annabeth got out of bed, and Percy handed her the bundle of blankets. Leo watched as she very carefully handed Piper the child.

“Oly, meet your auntie Piper.”

Piper gasped, “Aww, she’s so tiny! Hi!”

She handed her back to Annabeth, who passed it to Frank.

“And your uncle Frank.”

Frank stared in awe at the bundle of blankets cradled gently in his big arms, before Annabeth took her back into her own.

She stopped in front of Leo, and hesitated. Her grip tightened on her bundle like she was shielding it from him. Like he might suddenly burst into flames and hurt her baby.

“And your uncle Leo,” she smiled, but didn’t hand the baby to him.

“And your uncle Nico,” she said, stepping towards Nico and offering him the infant.

Leo was stunned. He couldn’t blame her for being hesitant, but it made him feel utterly shitty. It’s like she couldn’t trust him. After all this time, after all Leo had done, she, just like everyone else, still only saw him as a dangerous freak.

Annabeth continued going down the line of guests, but Leo wasn’t paying attention. He caught Percy’s eye, still watching from the bedside.

“Yeah, I saw what happened,” his look seemed to say, “that’s not okay, dude.”

Leo told himself that he was overthinking this, Annabeth is a new mother, it’s natural for her to be paranoid, she didn’t mean any harm by it. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, and tried to push the thoughts away.

Leo didn’t stick around to rejoice in the miracle of birth. He sat on a bench outside the hospital, staring at the traffic.

“You ok?”

He looked up. It was Percy. He gave Leo a sympathetic look, and sat down next to him.

“We all saw Annabeth give you the cold shoulder earlier. I’m gonna have a word with her later. She shouldn’t have treated you like that, man.”

Leo shrugged, “I don’t blame her for being protective.”

“But still, she should know you enough to trust you with our child,” He said, “You’re not some rampaging lunatic, you know how to keep your cool, and plus, there were at least eight other responsible adults in the room who could’ve put a stop to it very quickly if things got out of hand. That kid was perfectly safe with you, and Annabeth knew it. She had no reason to exclude you.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it, man. I’m used to it.”

Percy frowned, he shuffled up a little closer, and nudged him slightly with his shoulder.

“Talk to me, sport.”

Okay, he was clearly loving the whole new “Dad” thing a bit too much. Leo thought he was being a little overzealous. But the look in Percy’s eyes was of genuine kindness, and Leo could tell, under the jokey persona, that he wanted to help Leo.

Leo sighed. He didn’t respond right away, just continued to stare out at the passing cars.

“All my life,” he said, slowly, “I’ve been seen as childish, and irresponsible, and dangerous. I thought maybe… just maybe… I could prove them wrong. I could be a responsible adult, who does adult things. I mean, what if I want kids someday, y’know? When the time comes, can I step up to responsibility?”

“Hell yeah, man,” Percy said, “Or are you forgetting all the times you’ve saved the world? Or saved our lives? Or that time you built a big ass fucking flying boat and flew it halfway across the world? Or tamed an untameable flying metal dragon? Or flew a helicopter? Yeah, I heard those stories. You can 100% be responsible when you need to, man.”

Leo smiled.

“Hey, look at me,” Percy continued, “You have fucking fire powers! What child wouldn’t want you as their cool Uncle Leo? That kid’s gonna love you, I know it.”

He patted Leo on the back.

“You’re gonna be a great dad,” Leo told him, “I can tell.”

Percy grinned, “That baby girl is gonna be loved so fucking much, she won’t know what hit her! Now, come on, let’s go back inside.”

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Anyway, not quite angst but I liked this one.

[thatfantasyreader]

My submission for @Aki-Bara for the @pjo-equinox-solstice-exchange

Life is short word count 1032. Summary after the war the campers are lost in depression and anger but maybe it’ll get better.

Life is short. That is an understatement when your a demigod. Every twist and turn in your life will probably be your last.

Every demigod knows this, but Percy may know better than anyone else. 

His life up to this point should have ended. He knows he shouldn’t be alive. Not when so many aren’t.

Every day he walks through camp wondering if it will be his last.

He tries to appreciate what he has, he does to an extent. But he also thinks he doesn’t deserve it.

The world after the war is a dark one devoid of color or joy. This is Percy’s fault.

Life is short. Annabeth knows this. She’s watched her siblings die in front of her.

She shouldn’t be alive, she knows this too. She prepared her whole life for this war but wasn’t able to save everyone.

Most days she walks around camp being envious of the new campers who didn’t have to make the sacrifices to have the camp.

But as she watches Percy as he walks around camp. She knows it’s not his fault.

Sometimes she would like to blame him for Luke but she can’t. He didn’t do it.

Yet she can’t say it to his face. Looking at him causes too much pain for her to.

Life is short Nico knows this. Bianca died at twelve. 

She shouldn’t have, he knows this too. But, for the moment he allows himself to be content with what he has.

He knows the sacrifices everyone has made just to built his small cabin.

He walks in there sometimes and wonders if he was worth the death.

He walks and remembers Bianca. When he does he also remembers that she was dead for him.

Sometimes that revelation is to much to bear. Other times it makes him realize that he must live for her and every person who died for him.

Life is short. The whole camp knows this. While many celebrate their win, many mourn the losses.

People walk around camp alone. Wallowing in their own grief.

Others walk together. Holding on as a lifeline to this mortal plain.

 Hoping that if they hold tight enough their lives would continue. Hoping they could stay for a little while longer.

In all this grief only the truly strongest are able to continue living. In something as simple as walking they prove that they have the right to live.

Life is short. Newer campers do not know this. New campers run around laughing happy they have found this utopia.

Percy looks on in envy. The innocence these kids have. He also looks on in sadness knowing that one day soon it will be taken from them.

Annabeth looks at these kids and sees herself. A child so proud of her parentage and her own skills.

The older campers all look at these kids and see different things. A shadow of their past, a lost friend, or innocence not yet ruined but the cold truths.

Life is short. Annabeth realizes this now. She sees the happiness that can still be had in these short lives.

She watches Percy. Hoping the pain she feels will go away. It never will she knows this.

It doesn’t stop her from watching maybe one day the pain will be gone enough to walk with him.

 At the moment it’s not. She wishes she could run to him and tell him everything will be ok. But it won’t be, she knows this now.

Life is short. Percy wishes it wasn’t. He knows he has much to be happy for. His family is alive so are his friends, well not all of them.

So many died because of him. Many gave their lives because they believed in him. But that’s just it, he didn’t change the world.

Sure the new campers shall never know about the pain of the war. But, that will not be the last tragedy.

Demigods die young. This is the horrible truth he has been trying to out run.

He walks. Noticing Annabeth watching him. He wishes he could run up to her and kiss her. But he can’t, he’s the monster who killed all her friends.

Life is short. And yet Nico embraces life. But not everyone does. He knows that for a fact. Instead of enjoying the temporary peace he watches his friends stall.

Percy and Annabeth just watch. No action. No happiness. They both blame themselves for what happened.

Nico knows that this may go on forever if no one intervenes. He knows this because it may have been his truth. But Percy helped him. He should repay this.

Life is short but maybe we can enjoy it. It starts small. Percy and Nico talking, Annabeth and Nico reading together.

It gets bigger. Now when campers look outside Percy isn’t walking alone. He and Annabeth walk in complete silence.

It may seem awkward to others, but for them it’s perfect. They walk in sync, taking comfort in the presence of each other. 

Older campers start to reconnect. No longer sitting alone, they start to talk.

It starts small. Older campers talking to newer ones. They share their experiences and many tears.

They share stories of their fallen. The legacies of those taken way too soon. 

Still Percy and Annabeth walk closer together they stay silent listening to the world around them.

Slowly color seemed to return. Laughter rang out from everyone not just the newer campers.

People walk up to Percy calling him a hero. He doesn’t feel like a hero. But maybe he’s not a monster. Maybe it isn’t his fault. Maybe just Maybe he could be happy too.

Life is short. Too short. But maybe that’s why we should enjoy it.

Percy and Annabeth walk no longer in silence. They talk and laugh and hug. Talking about the upcoming school year. Maybe it’ll be ok. 

Nico walks watching as people laugh. Sometimes he does too. Maybe just maybe he could be happy again.

All this happiness seems far away but they’ll achieve it. They all have each other. 

Although life is short it can be happy, and we mustn’t waste it thinking about the past.

[nicoxwillfanclub]

I just found Nico song...

for example

Hope Yeah, I'm on my way, I'm coming Don't, don't lose faith in me I know you've been waitin' I know you've been prayin' for my soul Hope, hope

This could be when he's travelling with the statute or it could be when he convinces Hades to help the gods during the Titans war.

Thirty years you been draggin' your feet Tellin' me I'm the reason we're stagnant Thirty years you've been claiming you're honest And promising progress, well, where's it at? I don't want you to feel like a failure (failure) I know this hurts But I gave you your chance to deliver (deliver) Now it's my turn Don't get me wrong, Nate(Nico), you've had a great run But it's time to give the people somethin' different

And this could be one of the gods or other demi gods talking to him and telling him he's not good enough. But yet he's still going strong against everyone's doubts.

What's my definition of success? (Of success) Listening to what your heart says (your heart says) Standing up for what you know is (is) Right, while everybody else is (is) Tucking their tail between their legs (okay) What's my definition of success? (Of success) Creating something no one else can (else can) Being brave enough to dream big (big) Grindin' when you're told to just quit (quit) Giving more when you got nothin' left (left)

This could be Bianca talking to him and telling him how to continue to keep on living or maybe Jason. Because despite everyone else not believing him, they did.

It's a person who'll take a chance on Something they were told could never happen It's a person that can see the bright side through the dark times when there ain't one It's when someone who ain't never had nothin' Ain't afraid to walk away from more profit 'Cause they'd rather do somethin' that they really love and take the pay cut It's a person who would never waver Or change who they are Just to try and gain some credibility So they could feel accepted by a stranger It's a person that can take the failures in their life and turn them into motivation It's believing in yourself when no one else does, it's amazing

This would still be one of them telling him that he should believing himself and go on.

What a little bit of faith can do if you don't even believe in you Why would you think or expect anybody else that's around you to? I done did things that I regret I done said things I can't take back Was a lost soul at a crossroad who had no hope but I changed that I spent years of my life holdin' on to things I never should've kept, full of hatred Years of my life carryin' a lot of baggage that I should've walked away from Years of my life wishin' I was someone different, lookin' for some validation Years of my life tryna fill the void, pretending I was in They get it

And this is how his sister dies so he's lost and he blames Percy and he's being tortured by Minos. He hates himself and everyone else because of his life and who he loves.

Growing pain's a necessary evil Difficult to go through, yes, but beneficial Some would say having a mental breakdown is a negative thing Which on one hand, I agree with On the other hand, it was the push I needed To get help and start the healing process, see If I'd have never hit rock bottom Would I be the person that I am today? I don't believe so I'm a prime example of what happens when you choose to not accept defeat and face your demons Took me thirty years to realize that if you want to get the opportunity To be the greatest version of yourself

How he was lost and hurt and Will picked him up and gave him love fully shapes himself. How he was done with being bossed around by Minos and took control of all ghosts.

Thirty years of running, thirty years of searching Thirty years of hurting, thirty years of pain Thirty years of fearful, thirty years of anger Thirty years of empty, thirty years of shame Thirty years of broken, thirty years of anguish Thirty years of hopeless, thirty years of (hey) Thirty years of never, thirty years of maybe Thirty years of later, thirty years of fake Thirty years of hollow, thirty years of sorrow Thirty years of darkness, thirty years of (Nate)(Nico) Thirty years of baggage, thirty years of sadness Thirty years of stagnant, thirty years of chains Thirty years of anxious, thirty years of suffering Thirty years of torment, thirty years of (wait) Thirty years of bitter, thirty years of lonely Thirty years of pushing everyone away

And this one doesn't even need to be explained literally read it and it's like oh yeah it's Nico's whole life.

(You'll never evolve) I know I can change (We are not enough) we are not the same (You don't have the heart) you don't have the strength (You don't have the will) you don't have the faith (You'll never be loved, you'll never be safe Might as well give up) not running away (You don't have the guts) you're the one afraid I'm the one in charge I'm taking the (no) I'm taking the Reigns

And this is how everyone is tellling him your not enough we are in charge of you and you will never ever be enough ever. Until he finally breaks free and made a change

Tell me if you think I should fix anything or if you even agree with me. But I really recommend to listen to it because this is Nico's life

[the-ghost-king]

Okay so, a few years ago now me and @thebigqueer got into a back and forth and were somehow talking about a solangelo beauty and the beast au and I drafted it up but I never actually truly wrote it (not shocking if you know me, the wip folder is very full and very incomplete). Anyhow, I seen @solangeloweek was running a fairytale retelling day for the 28th so I figured I could upload this as a sort of bullet point/list/draft format the way so many people used to in fandom 10 or so years ago and we'll call it an intentional throwback.

Anyway, if this is your sort of thing then enjoy :)

Il bello e la bestia

Chapter 1:

Opens to Will being put to bed during the ball at the palace… Probably 5 or so

“We’ll see you in the morning my love”

When Will wakes up in the morning his nurse comes to get him, upon touching her she dies; Will begins screaming and crying, he doesn’t know what’s wrong

The doctor looks her over and concludes it's a new plague

Will holds onto his mother

Scene break

Hades meets Hestia in the early light of morning

“It is done?”

“Yes of course, I’ve never let you down have I?”

“No of course not, don’t tell Maria she would be most distraught.”

Scene break

‘News of the Queens death arrives within two days’ and fear begins to spread

The servants are all sent home but a few to try to keep them safe

All of the royal children but one are dead, there’s no news of the king but there’s rumors he’s on his deathbed

Plague gets into city, Hades does his best to secure his family's safety

Chapter 2:

Beginning of chapter is similar to The Secret Garden’s opening when Mary is the last survivor

Similar situation yet nobody rescues him

Apollo had realized Will was the source since he had immunity to whatever was going on

His last words to Will were “It’s not your fault do not blame yourself I should have done better, I love you my son and nobody would hold anything which has occurred against you”

Which confuses Will at first until he realizes

His father takes a rasping breath and Will is crying

He’s not all alone in the palace, but I need to figure out a curse of some sort for the surviving children (Austin and Kayla are babies so they live possibly without effects; Cecil, Lou Ellen, and Clarisse are children of the staff at the palace they need some sort of curse on them.. Perhaps Silena and Beckendorf reside at the palace still too? I think we can do better than making the houses other occupants cleaning supplies and pianos... also maybe Hazel is at the palace for some nice found family moments with her and Nico later on?)

Scene break

We’re in a moderate sized home and Hades is packing things into suitcases

Maria is gasping for air on her deathbed, the sun is rising (symbolism for her being a star)

Bianca too is coughing and choking and gasping on the bed they’ve added to the room

Nico is asleep on Hades shoulder

Hades wants to stop and take a moment and kiss Maria goodbye

She tells him no and to leave because he can’t get sick too

“For Nico,” she says, “Go, I love you both.”

And Hades leaves to her whispering soft words to Bianca

Hestia leaves somewhere else, she's going to find a way to erase the kingdom’s memory of the royals in an attempt to provide Will a more normal future since she thinks the punishment was too harsh.. Everyone was supposed to get sick but they weren’t all supposed to die

Chapter 3:

Possibly focus on Will and Nico growing up in a quick monologue type way?

Opening scene from Movie, Belle song kind of sequence

Octivian as Gaston ( so Nico has a chance at the end to still say ‘some deaths shouldn't be prevented)

Nico is known for being odd but so many people try to earn his hand in marriage for his looks

Hades was changed by Maria, he thinks marriage should be for love

He likes Percy but is shrugged off in favor of Annabeth

Reyna lives with him? They were friends as kids and Hades took her in after some time for currently undecided plot reasons

As they got older she basically became Nico’s personal Bodyguard after a childhood incident Nico liked making sure she had stable income and a good safe place to work (I kind of want it dark so maybe Minos got caught up in crime or something?)

Octivian trying to flirt or sabotage Nico somehow?

Nico doing some cool smart thing for plot

Chapter ends with Nico either realizing his fathers been gone to long or a hurried message saying he needs help

Chapter 4:

Nico takes Reyna and they go get Jason and take him with them

The woods scene ™ (Can't have wolves without Jason am I right? Lol)

Reyna, Jason and Nico accidentally get seperated

Reyna and Jason end up basically together somewhere

But Nico gets separated

They don’t know how far Nico got, so when they don’t find his body Reyna goes ahead to the city where Hades is supposed to be to try to see if Nico will be there and such

Jason stays behind to search the woods for remains or evidence

Chapter ends with Nico showing up in the castle, “Hello?”

Chapter 5:

Nico gets trapped in the castle

He trespassed and Clarisse and Cecil locked him up and someone in the palace of some importance tells them to let Nico go

He has to be kept in that situation because they don’t want people to know about Will/the palace and they don’t know what Nico’s seen

Hades had gotten trapped in the castle for some reason, maybe they figured out that he placed the curse or something, maybe just trespassing- Nico agrees to trade his life in jail for his father’s and events resume as typical

Scene ends with Nico being given a bedroom and taken out of a cell to be placed on “house arrest” and he tries to settle in to his new life

Chapter 6:

Scene opens with Jason walking back into town to try and convince people to form a search party for Nico

Technically this would be the “Gaston scene” but instead this is Jason trying to convince everyone why they should care about Nico… Kind of like the whole jar situation

Eventually a small party agrees to go help look (Jason, Reyna, Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Leo, Frank, and Octavian - so the 7 minus Hazel, plus Reyna and Octavian)

Scene break

Nico is trying to settle into his new palace life, and he’s befriending the people who live there

Will is some sort of secret, sort of like Elsa (another Disney movie throw in, why not) but slightly sus things have been noticed by Nico during conversations

Nico doesn’t care he’s going to try and run away and go back home (He’s got a plan in his head and materials hidden somewhere)

Nico does manage to get out of the palace, and he makes his way even out of the gates to start heading home on his horse

The Wolves ™

Nico is seriously injured during the event

Chapter 7:

Scene opens to the events at the village, as they lay out a map trying to determine where Nico might have ended up (They don’t even know the royal family or palace exist)

Either Reyna stumbles in claiming she couldn’t find Hades, or they might stumble in together with one of them very ill/weak

Scene break

Friends from the palace try to convince Will to help save Nico’s life

Will is scared about possibly making it worse and killing Nico because of his plague powers and how he hasn’t used his healing powers in years

“But you always cure Kayla’s colds!” “Yes but those are small!”

There’s a little bit of a spat, but Will agrees reluctantly

He goes into the room alone and tells them to seal the doors in case he messes up they only lose one life

The palace friends sit and wait

Chapter 8:

The scene opens to the search party beginning to look for Nico (they’re all headed in the wrong direction)

It will take them a month or more to even get close to Nico’s location

Queue making the pacing work in such a way you feel like it's a mundane day in the life sort of deal but just fast enough you're reminded Nico's life was hanging in the balance at the end of last chapter

Also some silly nonsense infighting because Octavian is there and boo Octavian

Scene Break with a slight timeskip

Will had healed Nico successfully, and instead of leaving to trust his care to his siblings and friends he takes Nico’s care onto himself

Three days in the infirmary style fic lets go! (except it’s like a week)

Flirting, pining, jokes, r u gay without actually asking that type questions

Will realizes Nico’s intelligence (or whatever the correct word for the term is) at some point and shows him the library with all the books

Nico gasps in wonder and awe

Scene break

Palace friends are all discussing the relationship and how close the two have grown

Throughout this Will has some weird behaviors but Nico ignores them as oddities and nothing else (psssst, Nico, it's trauma!)

It takes about a month for Nico to fully heal, but it's not specified or anything anywhere

Chapter 9:

Octavian is in a search group with Jason, Reyna, and Hades

Eventually they realize this is a ploy either for him to impress or hurt Nico (idk his and Nico’s relationship dynamic yet)

So Octavian attacks them and leaves them for the wolves

Scene ends with Hestia appearing (although it's not obviously her)

Scene break

Will and Nico falling in love in the palace

Nico has finally earned lots of Will’s trust and Will shows him the smaller magical library they have

He shows him the book that Will show the reader whatever they want to see… It's from Hestia when she worked at the palace (and now it's like Lou Ellen's room or something)

Nico does the little like apartment scene from the movie, but instead it's a small house in the middle of a large nature field along a river and he goes inside his childhood home with drawings and stuff all over the walls but like no people

They find the mask and Nico realizes they left because of a plague, Will feels guilty and hesitates as to whether or not he should tell Nico it was his fault.

He decided not to at the time, the scene ends with Will’s guilt as they return to the palace

Chapter 10:

Reyna, and Jason awake in Hestia's traveling home thingy idk

They realize Hades is in kahoots with a witch

They hesitate but decide not to disclose the information to the people of the city because they're good of heart

The scene ends with Reyna and Jason trying to return to the town to tell of Octavian crimes

But they have no evidence (not having any injuries was suspicious and they agreed not to talk about the witch)

Eventually they disclose the truth about the witch and Hades, and they are found and all 4 locked up to be executed for trying to falsely accuse him of a crime and socializing with a witch

Scene break with the death penalty way if heavy on the readers mind

In the magic room when looking over the books, Will shows Nico the magic looking mirror

They think it doesn't work, Will argues it just needs to be wanted up it hasn't been so many years since it's been used

He convinces Nico to come to dinner with him

Will plans to tell Nico about the plague issue, and encourages him to bring the mirror

Chapter 11:

Percy and Annabeth’s search group returns to town to hear of Reyna and Jason's issue

They begin to formulate a plan to try and rescue them to avoid the death penalty but they have to be fast and work before the soldiers know they're back

Scene break

During the dinner Nico checks the mirror again, and he’s made aware of his father and friends situation just before Will was going to tell him about plague incident

Will decides he can't keep Nico here his whole life and that he deserves more and happiness, he tells Nico to go after his family and that his sentence is served

He wraps Nico in his cloak and hands him the mirror and his own personal horse to go to his town

Scene break

Soldier walks in to Jason, Hades and Reyna’s cell “Time to go”

Chapter 12:

Scene opens to blood, Octavian kills Selena and Beckendorf for information and traps Clarisse somehow

He was interrogating them on their return from a different nearby village for food

He knows of the relationship between Nico and Will and he wants to use it against

Octavian has returned to the village, and knowing that Nico is in love with the “beast” he rallys a crowd painting Will to be vicious with witchcraft

Clarisse manages to escape somehow and goes to warn the palace about the incoming threat; they prep for battle

Scene break

Nico is sneaking around the town as he sees the preparations for the witch hunt being prepared

He knows they're going to try and kill his family first so he decides to go get Percy to ask him to help save them

Percy let's him in on the plan and there's like a who Notre Dame musical kind of thing where they save their lives

Once the villagers realize that witch and the rest of them aren't going to die tonight the leave anyhow to go and kill Will

Nico had left already before them by just a few seconds to rush to the palace and warn Will

Chapter 13:

scene opens to Percy, Annabeth, Piper, and Leo helping to calm and heal Reyna Jason and Hades and try to wake Hestia

Percy looks into the distant forest where everyone has left to “now we pray” or something similar.

Scene break

Villagers arrive to storm the palace, with no mention of if Nico had got there in time or not

Octavian abandons X and X turns on Octavian to help the palace instead (I can't think of who would make a good le fou out of the characters so…. Character X for now... Unamed Roman IVXII or something lol)

Things are burning

Kayla and Clarisse are in charge of strategy

Austin is trying to be as loud and annoying as possible (music; villagers hold ears in pain etc)

Palace friends are using various tactics, Lou Ellen discovers her magic, Hazel too

Octavian is looking for Will and his siblings

Some home alone type shots of situations and planning that results in cool fight scenes courtesy of Cecil (Connor and Travis also? Hmm)

Scene break

Nico rushing up a staircase on the far side of the house which is without traps

He rushes to find Will

Chapter 14:

Opens to Hestia, Reyna, Jason, and Hades riding down the dirt forest road

Hestia is in the lead rushing

Percy and Annabeth and friends are behind on horseback too

Scene break

Nico opens Will’s room in a rush, trying to warn Will Octavian was missing from the fight

Octavian is standing in the open room in a position to kill Will in one blow

Nico freezes and meets Will's eyes

Scene break

A whole tower of the palace has gone up in flame, palace friends are struggling to hold ground in the fight

Chapter 15:

Octavian talking to Nico and Will disclosing his evil plan

Nico is watching Will’s eyes and had seen a shift in his face when he walled in

Now Will’s eyes are directing him towards an area with a weapon

Nico in one movement picks it up and fights Octavian giving Will freedom

Scene break

Percy and friends rush into battle below

Hestia doesn't stay to fight and rushes up the stairs

No killing or maiming villagers (capture the flag reference yadda yadda)

Scene break

Nico decides to spare Octavian life

Ocitivian uses this to shoot Will in the back

Ocitivian dies of Will’s plague

Hestia bursts through the door and saves Will’s life as Nico is crying over him

Chapter 16:

Will wakes up and he’s worried Nico will hate him because of the plague

Nico is sitting curled up in a chair next to Will’s bedside asleep, he wakes up when Will moves “shhh”

“No, no I need to explain, I’m so sorry” “Will, Will, I- Will, listen. I already thought about it and was briefed on the situation I don’t care.”

Will cries, they’re laughing and happy, snow is falling outside the window

Scene break

There’s a feast and all of the people in Nico’s friends are there and all Will’s friends and they eat

And there’s no talk of funeral preparations because it’s agreed they can be put on hold another day so the living can be celebrated a day longer

Scene break

After the funerals, Nico and Will walking down a hallway late (like 4am idk) after everyone else has retired the day of the services, they’re talking about how lovely they were

Nico begins to talk about how he’s sad he’ll have to leave soon

Will proposes, “Nico just stay, stay and marry me.” “Wait what?” “Please?” “Okay” “Wait really?” “Yes of course” “Oh I surely thought you’d tell me no and I’d have to impress you to earn your hand!” “Will~” “hmm?” “You already did” Nico kisses his cheek, queue fireworks or whatever

Chapter 17 (Epilogue):

Nico and Will ballroom dancing after their wedding, they’re surrounded by friends and basked in white light of the mid afternoon

They’re happy and joking with one another

Scene pans over to Hades and Hestia

Hestia: “Will you ever tell him?”

Hades, looking at her in a sad and fond manner: “I don’t know, but let them have at least this”

Hestia, knowingly: “You mean let yourself have this, because you know how upset Nico will be when he finds out the real reason for everything?”

Hades: “Shut up”

(Persephone asks him to dance? Palace staff???)

Talk about the festivities and try to make it an all is well type ending while still leaving the Hades situation open ended and on the darker side

Happy couple solangelo kisses for real and then actual fireworks yay

Fin!

[halothenthehorns]

Chapter 10: MY MATH TEACHER GIVES ME A LIFT

Oh my gods does Jason get some long-overdue character development in this opening. I've only been dropping pebbles for him this whole time, and then I just drop a boulder down here. Still connected to Nico and Thalia, but hey, progress! I honestly considered making this its own chapter it got so out of hand with all I'd planned, but frankly it's not to terribly long it can't be here either. Hope you all enjoy, and many thanks as ever for the constant love and support you give this fic!

PJOPJOPJOPJO

Will counted to sixty slowly in his head to give Nico time to get wherever he was going and take a breath before getting up to go after him.

He stopped and watched Percy for a moment, hand still in Annabeth's as he gestured awkwardly to the rooms and muttered something about showing her how the fridge worked. Will considered going over and telling Percy to get his butt in on this, but he was to worried that would make things worse. Whatever Nico was so worried about, there was a nine out of ten chance it involved him.

When a tap came on his shoulder, he wasn't that surprised, but he was a bit jealous and worried as Jason stopped him. "Can I come?"

Will sighed. What was he asking permission for? He didn't decide who Nico could be friends with...he realized he'd kind of been helping as he glanced over at Alex who was watching them intently and clearly in hearing range.

"What do you think he's blaming himself for this time?" Jason asked instead when Will didn't answer.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Will sighed. He'd felt intrigued by Nico the second he saw him in here. The child of the Big Three who clearly felt out of place among his peers. It had been fun getting to know him, and yeah, he'd developed a pretty heavy-duty crush along the way.

He was pretty sure he got now where Jason's interest in Nico was, but it still didn't tamper down his mild jealousy. They could have so much in common Will would never understand about the responsibilities of their father's names.

This could be good for Nico though, he tried to muse his green thoughts away. Will always wanted to make sure Nico was okay, and he truly hoped he'd made Nico believe that by now, but it would be all the better if he felt he had more of a support system than just him and Alex who was all over the place making best buds with Percy and Thalia, and being so weirdly intense around Magnus.

"Actually Jason, maybe it would do him good if you asked?" Will nodded.

He looked surprised, a little shy for a moment maybe, but then nodded and took off. Will sat down and leaned over his couch to tell Alex, "am I being overbearing?" Trusting he'd call him out on any bullshit.

"Nah," Alex shook his head, also watching the door. "Nico would slap you if you were. Don't underestimate the fireball. He's got problems, but having a backbone ain't one."

...

"I have a deal for you," Jason grinned as he leaned by Nico on the rooftop railing. Nico didn't seem as young as Jason had once mentally deemed him. He'd relaxed some, since that first time they'd been up here. He seemed more like he was walking around glancing over his shoulder all the time instead of being up here actively waiting for someone to push him off.

His mouth twitched, but he continued looking out over the dark landscape. "What's that?"

"You tell me what you think Percy's going to kill you for this time and I'll stop him."

Nico's little snort of mirth should have been more offensive. "You have no idea what you'd even be defending."

"My problem while I hold my up my end of the deal," Jason shrugged.

Nico still didn't answer. He was fiddling with his ring absently and glancing at the door.

"Okay, let's start with something simpler," Jason sighed. "Did you actually do something wrong, or are you just worried people think you did something wrong, again."

Nico finally did look around at him with an annoyed frown. "It's not my fault the only person in there with a normal reaction is usually Magnus."

"Normal?" Jason cocked a brow. "What the heck is normal in our life? There are now four children of the big three in this place that weren't supposed to exist at all. I'm supposed to be dead. You and Percy just had a really poor lunch with a mortal who watches her son die every day. What is normal, Nico?" He sure was an evasive one, Will wasn't the only guy to notice how well Nico perfected even staying on one train of thought, let alone place. "Are you going to take my deal or not?"

"I thought you'd be talking to Thalia right now," Nico rolled his eyes as he looked back away, as if that were an actual answer. Now he wasn't even trying to be subtle. Will must have the patience of a saint.

Jason had the stubbornness of one. "I intend to, but if she comes up here I'll just ask her if she knows what's fixing to happen and hear her side, then Percy's. Don't you want yours out too?"

Will had said something similar to him too, and Nico still felt like the odd one out more than ever everybody else kept throwing advice at him like it was obvious when he seemed the only one to think it wouldn't matter. What was so different about him he couldn't even think like them?

His old jealousy at his sister flared up hard at how naturally she'd fit in with the hunters. She'd basically woken up with the worst lot in life having to take care of him and then instantly found her place only months later.

Then he glanced again at Jason, who like Will, had gone out of his way to want to learn how to play Mythomagic with him. He shook his head at himself, that he was really mad at himself he just hadn't fit in with the guy he wanted to. He'd probably be doing fine otherwise, with the assumption Percy didn't decapitate him coming up.

"I may have led Percy to the Underworld under not entirely honest pretenses," he finally sighed.

Jason studied him with interest. "To find out about your mom, right? Why would you think he wouldn't help?"

"My source wasn't reliable enough I thought Percy would trust it. He would have been right. It went, bad."

"Did you fulfill your end of the deal before it went bad?" Jason asked after only a few moments of consideration.

"No, though that part was true, I really was trying to, help," Nico sighed.

"Then it seems like they're the one who caused the problem, not you," Jason shrugged as if it was as simple as that.

Nico chuckled darkly because it was a nice delusion. "Not so much how Percy saw it."

"Ah," Jason said in a little more understanding. This wasn't a baseless fear this time. By the tense set of his shoulders, Nico obviously remembered exactly what was coming where Percy didn't. "So, is this a done deal?" Jason hoped Nico didn't think he'd missed the obvious in that Nico's source and the cause of this wasn't revealed.

Nico slowly turned back to look at him. He looked drained. "We never even agreed on our last deal."

"I'm not sitting around being worried about you being cryptic and wanting to come to camp with me?" Jason shrugged. Nico, who should have felt like an enemy more than anybody, had still been so honest with him he probably trusted him most. Nico probably just wanted a summer camp away from his summer camp or something, after all that had gone on there with his sister. "So yeah, deal," he reached out his hand to shake.

No matter how much Nico studied him for it, he couldn't find the hint of a lie in him. He shook. "Deal. You're now in two very open-ended deals with a child of Hades." He couldn't help but say it out loud to make sure he hadn't been just getting really high and hallucinating on sea-bottom algae.

"Yeah, more than Zeus probably ever bothered with your dad, I feel so special and awesome," Jason chuckled.

Then Jason realized the missing link as Nico winced.

Oh. Well. That wasn't going to be fun.

....

Thalia was at the bottom of the stairs, saving Jason the trouble of awkwardly asking her aside and wondering if she'd continue to avoid him.

She had her head bowed though, one ankle cocked against the wall, twining the links of her bracelet so hard it must be twisting her skin and hurting. The silver circlet on her head glowed in the faint light like a warning.

Nico gave Jason a questioning look and was relieved when the blonde nodded him away. Nico had more than enough of his own sibling drama he was still processing, but he would have stood there and been whatever Jason needed him to be in this, whether witness or on his side. He probably knew how Jason felt better than anyone.

"Were you going to tell me?" Jason asked stiffly.

"Yes!" Thalia instantly assured, looking up at him and clearly hurt he'd think otherwise. "I, I just wanted to figure out how, what happened. Come to you with more answers than questions."

"And our mother!" Jason snapped then, challenging her to tell anything. He felt blindsided as he kept replaying that image of her ghostly form over in his head.

She flinched, and he felt instantly like the worst person. That drunken woman who had made Thalia feel so small.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, backing down at once, taking a step back right into the wall. He was taller than her, he hated the sudden dominance he'd felt demanding answers of her, the worst of a male hero.

Thalia studied him with eyes to old for her face, same as him. She hadn't been the least bit intimidated by him. He'd just hurt her. "I wasn't lying to Percy, she did get drunk and crashed a car, I found it in an old newspaper Annabeth helped me find. I'd run away long before that happened." She bit her lip for a moment before telling him what little more she could. "You were two, we were going out for a picnic. I went back to the car for something, I was only gone a second, but when I came back she was babbling about you being taken to justify, something. I, didn't realize, until, all this," she gestured at the mess of their life in that room.

That he'd probably been taken away to the other camp, somehow. Sacrificed for Zeus having two children when he shouldn't have even had one? Justified in Jupiter abducting his child without warning to raise him however he'd wanted?

"I searched everywhere, but I, I honestly believed you were dead until we wound up in here." Thalia finished, pleading to be understood. Jason never would have suspected she could sound so vulnerable with anyone.

You're like a ghost to me, she'd once told him. He studied her with such a sharp sense, one she recognized, and it wasn't because of the coloring. Jason had spent time sizing up others, sussing out the truth. "You were waiting until Percy's life was back on course," he finally surmised, "to tell me."

She winced with guilt, again, her heart plunging. "It's not like that Jason, he's..." she fumbled off with no good justification other than what he'd given himself.

Percy was familiar, someone she had no problems being comfortable around. Percy was her friend for years, he was reliable with whatever insanity came next. Percy was a real person to her, and he was the one who needed to be taken care of. 

He'd never get all that with her too if he held onto this grudge. "Well," he sighed, but offered her a tentative smile. "At least it wasn't because I'm, Roman." The word sounded strange on his tongue, it was the first time he'd acknowledged it out loud. It felt good. "Right?"

"No, it was not because of that, not in the slightest," she nodded, matching his cautious confidence. "I didn't even know that, I was only seven and barely figuring out what was going on myself." She paused with a frown, trying to dredge up memories she'd long since tried to bury. "He was different the second time he came around, Zeus- Jupiter, whatever. More straight-laced, more formal, hard to believe, I know," she smiled at his confusion of all they'd heard of him in Percy's time. "He paid me no mind like I wasn't even there."

"So we're not even half-siblings through our dad, kind of," Jason actually chuckled. "Just our mom?"

"Sure, let's go with that, if it makes you feel better." She shrugged. He'd always be her little brother no matter what side of the family he wanted to call it.

He studied her for several tense minutes before he smiled like normal again, causing his scar to flutter. "I guess it doesn't really matter, in the long run. Jupiter, Zeus, either way, he was an absent, crappy dad." His face settled into that familiar mask of confusion as he started rubbing his tattoo in irritation.

She gently touched his face, smiling as her finger thumbed the scar on his lip before she dropped her hand away with a fond shake of her head. "I can tell you one thing, if you'd like. How you got that scar."

His eyes lit with interest instantly, so she said without further ado, "you bit a stapler."

"I what?" The involuntary laugh that burst out of him sounded a tad insulted.

"I swear," Thalia crossed her fingers over her heart. "I was there!"

"All this time, all these badass scenarios I had in my head," his grin was still confused, like he was half convinced she was teasing him. "I escaped with my life by a brush of death to the face, I jumped in the way to save a friend, I got into an epic battle with a killer monster. You're telling me it's because I was to blonde to function as a toddler?"

"Sorry Jase," she crossed her arms superiorly. "I got all the smart genes."

"Ha, as if," he mimicked her pose, annoyingly taller than her by a few inches. What a traitorous little brother. "You're a tesla coil with an attitude, you steal all your strategies from Percy."

She gasped and hand pressed to her heart. "How could you betray me like that? Stabbed in the back by my own baby brother?"

Then they both started laughing, and they didn't stop for a long time.

...

"So, Nico seems different," Annabeth said as she twined a bit of spaghetti expertly against a spoon. She'd watched every exchange between them with the kind of interest she had taking in a National Geographic episode.

"Feel bad for him," Percy nodded, looking anxiously at the door, still wanting to help but more than happy to admit he'd probably make things worse. "Clearly something bad happens in the Underworld; but yeah, he's been laughing a lot with Will," Percy shrugged as he shoveled his own pasta in, not caring how it hung from his lips and chewing fast to keep talking, mostly without food in his mouth. "Don't know why they didn't hang out at camp more, they get along fine."

"Right," Annabeth said with a look at him as if fearing he were about to be clubbed over the head. She was just a little sad, and a little relieved Percy really was that oblivious to say anything more to him. Especially because Nico seemed happy talking to Will all day, so it clearly wasn't a major concern.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw no one. Then he glanced at her again, then Nico's empty seat, and froze with a meatball lodged in his throat and started coughing violently.

Crap. He hadn't once thought about Nico's crush on him since she'd been here. Should he have been like, more considerate of how he acted around her because of that?!

It didn't seem to be bothering Nico any, as he'd kept smiling along with Will this whole time, mostly, until this recent appearance.

Annabeth was smacking between his shoulders and he finally swallowed and turned back to her. He decided saying nothing was the best policy here, like Thalia had said, let Nico blab that to whoever he wanted. Percy certainly wasn't going to tell Annabeth.

The idea felt like the right sign from the universe as Nico came in chit-chatting with Magnus. He couldn't tell what about, but they were both holding food for their usual seatmates who Percy had heard snippets of some strange back and forth over color theory or something. Percy really hadn't been following. Orange was cool, why did it need a meaning?

Jason came in with his hands in his pockets but a more comfortable smile they'd seen on him all day.

Thalia at least looked less likely to pitch someone off a roof too, which was always a great relief to Percy's personal safety.

She gestured like she was asking if he was going to move his seat. He hesitated, but then shook his head and gestured to Nico.

Doing a pretty good fake smile, Thalia nodded but did a melancholy plop into her beanbag. Percy offered her his garlic bread, such a gift even she couldn't deny as she began nibbling on the knot.

Alex was more than content to wait until everyone had their fill and the general mood in the room was calm, ish.

He picked up the book with one last worried look at Nico, who had only eaten under duress of Will's striping bits of ham and cheese and feeding them to him in smaller than bite-sized pieces as he devoured his own sandwich. Alex truly hoped whatever had Nico so newly glum, it was at least the last time. He'd been through enough.

The chorus of groans around the room for the new chapter title probably amused Annabeth more than it should have. It was just, funny. That they all knew without another word this was a fury, Mrs. Dodds leaping unpleasantly back into Percy's life and probably snatching him off the Underworld ground and threatening to drop him on sharp rocks before he decapitated her again.

Instead of anybody at Camp, who would have gasped in horror and fear at the idea of a Kindly One being anywhere near their thoughts. These guys really were great friends with Percy.

We emerged in Central Park just north of the Pond.

"There would be a freaking entrance in my backyard," Percy already looked plenty grumpy. "Grover's shoes couldn't have dragged him in there first, noooo, we had to deal with every stinking roadblock and pothole life could throw at us! Does my life look like it needs the worst sewer entrance possible there too!"

Annabeth was rubbing his shoulder in commiseration and considering suggesting a better way to vent right now might be stress eating, while Nico was watching with disappointed disdain. He wished Percy had kept that to himself like he had back then, did he have to be so blatant how much he hated where Nico called the closest thing he had to home?

Mrs. O'Leary looked pretty tired as she limped over to a cluster of boulders. She started sniffing around, and I was afraid she might mark her territory, but Nico said, "It's okay. She just smells the way home."

"I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if she could be doing both," Alex offered. "Maybe when she doesn't feel like traveling she's marked plenty of entrances."

"I really hope the dryads at Camp don't revolt against her," Thalia winced in agreement.

I frowned. "Through the rocks?"

"The Underworld has two major entrances," Nico said. "You know the one in L.A."

"Charon's ferry."

Nico nodded. "Most souls go that way, but there's a smaller path, harder to find. The Door of Orpheus."

"The door of, many holes?" Magnus asked in concern.

"Or-fee-us," Will clearly enunciated. "Not orifice."

"And that means?" Magnus demanded, wanting some kind of forewarning. Regular people had many holes too, so, maybe it was just a nice, normal door?

"The darkness of the night," Nico said with a sorry smile.

"Kay," Magnus sighed. "The tunnel will be dark and creepy, what else would I expect?"

"I am not," Will pouted, causing Nico and Alex to laugh while Magnus smirked at least he'd gotten a laugh before they had to descend and he'd just pretend being an idiot was going to be the worst of this.

"The dude with the harp."

"Dude with the lyre," Nico corrected.

"Thank you Nico!" Annabeth groaned.

"It's one of my dad's signature items," Will agreed in exasperation. "Percy, you are not that bad at this, I believe in you to learn the difference."

"Thanks, but no thanks," Percy chuckled.

"But yeah, him. He used his music to charm the earth and open a new path into the Underworld. He sang his way right into Hades's palace and almost got away with his wife's soul."

"That was, sweet," Magnus said in surprise. Nice to know some of these Greek stories used these fangled powers for more than blowing up cities anyways.

"Wait for the end of it," Thalia muttered.

I remembered the story. Orpheus wasn't supposed to look behind him when he was leading his wife back to the world, but of course he did. It was one of those typical "and-so-they-died/the-end" stories that always made us feel warm and fuzzy.

"Oh, well then," Magnus sighed.

"Still one of the nicer ones I've heard," Jason offered, better than being betrayed or tripping along the way or just being trapped in an endless tunnel forever wondering for all time if it was going to work. This time it was just, human fear of the unknown.

"So this is the Door of Orpheus." I tried to be impressed, but it still looked like a pile of rocks to me.

"How does it open?"

"We need music," Nico said. "How's your singing?"

Annabeth didn't even pretend to hide her horrific face. "Please, no, tell me you didn't!"

"Gods I hope I'm never that desperate, even one of my insane plans would never work if it came to that." Percy nodded fiercely.

"I'm suddenly so, so grateful this isn't an audiobook though," Thalia nodded as she rubbed at her ears at the mere idea. While it would be nice occasionally to crank up the volume over these blabbermouths, nothing was worth that.

Will coughed and didn't say anything, which was probably the nicest thing he'd ever done in his life while the others tried their best not to laugh at the idea of everybody making a run for it if Percy ever tried to belt along at the Camp sing-alongs.

"Um, no. Can't you just, like, tell it to open? You're the son of Hades and all."

"And you're the son of an earthshaker," Alex looked at him, "just stamp your foot and use your stern, Sally voice."

"With my luck it would just create an earthquake in the city and the rocks would ignore me," Percy shook his head quickly.

"It's not so easy. We need music."

I was pretty sure if I tried to sing, all I would cause was an avalanche.

"An avalanche is what you need to happen though," Magnus said in confusion.

"An avalanche in the Rocky's too though, it just seems like to much collateral damage," Percy huffed. "Apollo's busy, I don't need him taking the time to come over and glue my mouth shut now of all times."

"I'd say you're overestimating your power, but man, after the volcano, I believe you," Alex cackled.

"I have a better idea." I turned and called, "GROVER!"

"Why didn't we ever think of that," Thalia smacked the side of her head. Even hearing the explanation in more detail wasn't going to make it feel that much better. "Just shout at him to get his butt over here. Alex was onto something with you using your Sally voice."

"Ha, ha, ha," Percy said with a smile.

We waited for a long time. Mrs. O'Leary curled up and took a nap. I could hear the crickets in the woods and an owl hooting. Traffic hummed along Central Park West. Horse hooves clopped down a nearby path, maybe a mounted police patrol. I was sure they'd love to find two kids hanging out in the park at one in the morning.

"That would just go, so not well, I can't begin to imagine all the bad of it," Magnus said in disgust. Trying to take Percy and Nico into custody, even the Mist might not get them out of what they'd do to resist. Having to call Sally down to the station, dear gods she'd just said goodbye to Percy and this was the phone call she'd get? Percy and Nico having to run, possibly shadow travel to LA, when Nico's already pretty worn out? There weren't enough warning labels for it all!

"I've been going through enough deja vu," Percy groaned, "please don't make me the star of another manhunt!"

Nico kept his mouth shut about what did happen, but he was personally pretty confident they'd have gotten out of it. He'd been avoiding people the better half of two years now.

"It's no good," Nico said at last.

But I had a feeling.

"Oh, so now we know it's going to work," Jason said in excitement. He really hoped Grover was okay.

"If it does, than we finally have our proof that Oracle has been secretly feeding Percy her mist at night," Alex snorted.

"The best demigods have a sense of these things," Annabeth shrugged. "I think it's why Percy made friends with Grover, Tyson, and Rachel immediately. Even if he had no logical reason to do so, just a part of his gut feeling on what would help him survive. I theorize it's something we inherit from our parents."

Percy grinned at her and then patted his gut in thanks. Annabeth smacked his hand and called him a seaweed brain.

My empathy link was really tingling for the first time in months, which either meant a whole lot of people had suddenly switched on the Nature Channel, or Grover was close.

"Does that Nature Channel thing happen a lot?" Thalia asked with interest.

"Often enough I finally figured it out the second time Paul tuned in," Percy agreed as he rubbed at the base of his skull. He was half convinced his whole apartment complex was secretly in on it, and he needed to drink some serious coffee to cool his brain down when it did.

I shut my eyes and concentrated. Grover.

I knew he was somewhere in the park. Why couldn't I sense his emotions?

"You never have in the past," Jason frowned. "Grover's only been able to find yours."

"It's been coming in and out a bit since I've been really trying," Percy insisted. "Not much, but it's why I'm so positive he's alive, and not just because I should be dead. It's like, if I really try and think of him, I think I know what he's dreaming about. It's usually food, but sometimes I get little glimpses of his nightmares. It's easiest when I'm falling asleep, and man was it late enough my brain thought I should be."

All I got was a faint hum in the base of my skull.

Grover, I thought more insistently.

Hmm-hmmmm, something said.

Jason looked ready to rip Percy's head off and examine it under a microscope in excitement at this development. Percy tried to subtly shift his beanbag behind Annabeth.

An image came into my head. I saw a giant elm tree deep in the woods, well off the main paths. Gnarled roots laced the ground, making a kind of bed. Lying in it with his arms crossed and his eyes closed was a satyr. At first I couldn't be sure it was Grover. He was covered in twigs and leaves, like he'd been sleeping there a long time. The roots seemed to be shaping themselves around him, slowly pulling him into the earth.

"What was Grover attacked by, and why is it the most ironic thing ever?" Jason frowned.

"Was Grover actually cheating on Juniper?" Alex gasped at him being found in another tree's roots.

"Oh am I getting to the bottom of this," Percy reminded with a frown for whatever the answer.

Grover, I said. Wake up.

Unnnh—zzzzz.

Dude, you're covered in dirt. Wake up!

"What did you think that would do?" Annabeth asked him in surprise. "I've seen Grover roll in dirt when he gets itchy and just shake it off."

"It was a pretty important detail to me, he was taking the right kind of dirt nap at least," Percy shrugged.

Sleepy, his mind murmured.

FOOD, I suggested. PANCAKES!

His eyes shot open. A blur of thoughts filled my head like he was suddenly on fast-forward. The image shattered, and I almost fell over.

Percy frowned at the amount of times that must have happened to Grover. Being dragged to the Big House by him, waking up in Polyphemus's lair, countless others he did and didn't know about. The amount of times Grover woke up still fearing for his life probably rivaled Percy's.

"What happened?" Nico asked.

The number of times Nico had watched Percy stagger like that, clutching his head in pain and confusion had become an all to common sight. It was far more times than Nico had ever seen him grit his teeth through bleeding pain in his shoulder and scowl like a warrior at his old Vice Principal. He really wished first impressions weren't so strongly fixed in him, or at the very least, he didn't still want to gently guide him to the ground and offer him his ice-cold hands.

"I got through. He's . . . yeah. He's on his way."

A minute later, the tree next to us shivered. Grover fell out of the branches, right on his head.

"Thank Athena for those horns," Annabeth smiled in sympathy. She wasn't nearly so lucky to have such shielding when it happened to her.

"Athena made the satyrs?" Percy asked blankly. He'd swear he heard once they'd been fathered by Hermes. But then wait, what was their connection to Dionysus again?

"We literally have Greek classes at camp, how are you like this?" Annabeth sighed.

"They've never tried to kill me, it's not been that important," Percy shrugged.

Annabeth opened her mouth with a very 'you-seaweed-brain' expression that probably meant she was going to launch into the exact history and detail of how the satyrs came into being with every cliff note known to man before Alex cut her off very loudly. Jason looked at him in betrayal while Percy mouthed, 'thank you!'

"Grover!" I yelled.

"Woof!" Mrs. O'Leary looked up, probably wondering if we were going to play fetch with the satyr.

"You, you mean-" Magnus tried to correct in concern.

"She always brings them back," Percy shrugged. Magnus kept his mouth shut so he could ignorantly believe he was just having his leg pulled on that one.

"Blah-haa-haa!" Grover bleated.

"You okay, man?"

"Oh, I'm fine." He rubbed his head. His horns had grown so much they poked an inch above his curly hair. "I was at the other end of the park. The dryads had this great idea of passing me through the trees to get me here. They don't understand height very well."

Jason's eyes glazed over with such interest, Nico was pretty sure he could have waved a donut around and he wouldn't have blinked. Nico smiled to himself at his endless well of curiosity, it really was great to see in someone who wouldn't go around with an 'I told you so attitude.'

He grinned and got to his feet—well, his hooves, actually. Since last summer, Grover had stopped trying to disguise himself as human. He never wore a cap or fake feet anymore. He didn't even wear jeans, since he had furry goat legs from the waist down. His T-shirt had a picture from that book Where the Wild Things Are. It was covered with dirt and tree sap. His goatee looked fuller, almost manly (or goatly?), and he was as tall as me now.

"Poor guy's finally showing his age," Thalia smiled fondly at how far removed that was from the shrimpy little thing that had promised to take them to safety. She still remembered exchanging unimpressed looks with Luke...but then Annabeth had run forward and shown him her knife and squealed with excitement that there was a whole camp of kids that both Thalia and Luke could come to.

The temptation to risk it on their own like they had been vanished. She probably did have Grover to thank for Annabeth surviving all these years and their pride not getting them all killed trying to do it alone.

"Good to see you, G-man," I said. "You remember Nico."

Grover nodded at Nico, then he gave me a big hug. He smelled like fresh-mown lawns.

Nico had never been more grateful to feel so dismissed. All Grover had probably seen was the child of Hades was back, but hey, at least he didn't get mauled by those hugs either.

"That's the thanks you get for finally finding Grover?" Alex looked so wounded on his part. "I hope Juniper at least gives you a fruit basket!"

"I'll take a gift card," Nico shrugged.

"It was a group effort," Percy frowned.

"Where is your apartment Percy?" Alex challenged. "How many times have you passed this place before Nico got you plopped there."

Percy didn't answer, and Alex nodded his point was made.

"Perrrrcy!" he bleated. "I missed you! I miss camp. They don't serve very good enchiladas in the wilderness."

"Make sure to bring that one up next time he goes on about us nature destroyers," Will chuckled.

"I did, it shut him down for like, three days, before he went on a farming rant," Percy looked so proud.

"I was worried," I said. "Where've you been the last two months?"

"The last two—" Grover's smile faded. "The last two months? What are you talking about?"

Percy sighed in understanding of that horrible feeling. He'd been experiencing it in small patches over his many quests, and now too, he realized as he glanced around. "Annabeth, how long have we been down here?"

She frowned to herself. "It was the 20th when Artemis came for me, you'd been missing over a week."

"That happened on the fourteenth, and I was dumped in here about two days later," Thalia easily kept track. "We don't seem to be skipping time down here at least."

Those missing two days made Percy and Jason exchange concerned looks though. They'd already lost their memories in that span, what else could have been done to them without having a clue before Posideon seemed to have stepped in?

They let Alex keep reading without another word, because, what else were they supposed to do?

"We haven't heard from you," I said. "Juniper's worried.

"Worried," Annabeth echoed. That small, simple little word that really did nothing to encapsulate the kind of feeling you lived with when you didn't know where someone you loved was.

We sent Iris-messages, but—"

"Hold on." He looked up at the stars like he was trying to calculate his position. "What month is this?"

"August."

The color drained from his face. "That's impossible. It's June. I just laid down to take a nap and . . ."

Jason shivered as he wondered what he'd been doing right before he vanished from the planet. He wished with all his might he could remember something, even just a hint of a voice, a feeling, but it was still as blank as ever. As awful as he felt for Grover, he almost envied the idea of having that much time sucked away from you if you still got to keep all your memories.

He grabbed my arms. "I remember now! He knocked me out. Percy, we have to stop him!"

"Whoa," I said. "Slow down. Tell me what happened."

He took a deep breath. "I was . . . I was walking in the woods up by Harlem Meer. And I felt this tremble in the ground, like something powerful was near."

"You can sense stuff like that?" Nico asked.

Grover nodded. "Since Pan's death, I can feel when something is wrong in nature. It's like my ears and eyes are sharper when I'm in the Wild. Anyway,

"You need to share your brain cell with Grover right now," Alex groaned. "You shouldn't just anyways past such an awesome detail!"

"I know Pan said to spread his message, but did Grover become like, his successor? That sounds even more," Magnus stopped with a contemplative look, "more." He concluded it just summed that up to well. "I thought Grover summoning panic was, like a one-time thing, now that Pan was released and his, his essence was supposed to be in them all or something."

"I thought I saw a little more of that mist energy go into him than us," Percy reminded with pride in every word. "Makes sense to me if Grover's like, an actual lord of the wild who can do that awesome kind of stuff but isn't a lazy rump like those old goats on their thrones."

I started following the scent. This man in a long black coat was walking through the park, and I noticed he didn't cast a shadow. Middle of a sunny day, and he cast no shadow.

"Do monsters, cast shadows?" Magnus had never thought to question that.

"Oh trust me, they do," Annabeth sighed. She couldn't believe the kind of life her cousin must have led to only ask such a thing instead of growing up fearing every movement of the darkness.

He kind of shimmered as he moved."

"Like a mirage?" Nico asked.

"Yes," Grover said. "And whenever he passed humans—"

"The humans would pass out," Nico said. "Curl up and go to sleep."

"Nico, why do you know that?" Percy looked around now when he'd been riveted on Grover before.

"I'd been keeping tabs on the gods that had defected," Nico shrugged. "I was just confirming a theory."

"That's right! Then after he was gone, they'd get up and go about their business like nothing happened."

I stared at Nico. "You know this guy in black?"

"Afraid so," Nico said.

"Know him personally, no," Nico chuckled awkwardly at so many people staring at him. "I know of him."

Annabeth smacked Percy's shoulder. "This kid doesn't have Greek classes and he still keeps up better than you."

"Yeah, yeah," Percy rubbed his shoulder as he grinned at her. "He's a genius. You'd get bored if you didn't have to explain everything to me all day."

"Not the point," she rolled her eyes.

"Grover, what happened?"

"I followed the guy. He kept looking up at the buildings around the park like he was making estimates or something. This lady jogger ran by, and she curled up on the sidewalk and started snoring. The guy in black put his hand on her forehead like he was checking her temperature. Then he kept walking. By this time, I knew he was a monster or something even worse. I followed him into this grove, to the base of a big elm tree. I was about to summon some dryads to help me capture him when he turned and . . ."

Grover swallowed.

"Grover's lucky he didn't get captured," Thalia said darkly.

"He can take care of himself," Percy said confidently. A little to much so, considering he'd found him passed out under a tree after two months.

"Percy, his face. I couldn't make out his face because it kept shifting. Just looking at him made me sleepy. I said, 'What are you doing?' He said, 'Just having a look around. You should always scout a battlefield before the battle.' I said something really smart like, 'This forest is under my protection. You won't start any battles here!'

Alex chuckled as he read that. Not because he underestimated Grover could back up that statement, but because he hoped this monster did.

And he laughed. He said, 'You're lucky I'm saving my energy for the main event, little satyr. I'll just grant you a short nap. Pleasant dreams.' And that's the last thing I remember."

Annabeth ground her teeth up in frustration that she'd have had no way to counter this even if Grover had been able to pass along this information back then. They would have been just as blindsided by what was coming because how on earth could she imagine such a scale as what they'd lived through?

Knowledge was supposed to equal strength, but this answer wouldn't do her any good, and that rocked her so much she took Percy's hand for the stability he always was.

Nico exhaled. "Grover, you met Morpheus, the God of Dreams. You're lucky you ever woke up."

"I tried to find him," Nico said sporadically, "Morpheus," he clarified. "I didn't even know Grover was missing until I got to camp." Nobody was sure why he needed to tell them that. "I wanted to study his ways, and, you know, find out how he did that and if I could replicate it." He sounded just a touch of crazy by the end as he smiled awkwardly.

Annabeth thought she got it though. Studying the tactics of the enemy could draw you in and blur the lines of what you were and weren't capable of.

"Two months," Grover moaned. "He put me to sleep for two months!"

Annabeth shivered and held Percy's hand tighter than any support beam she'd ever build. The thought still sickened her where she couldn't push it away, how long he would have been missing if whatever all this was hadn't been interrupted?

I tried to wrap my mind around what this meant. Now it made sense why we hadn't been able to contact Grover all this time.

"Why didn't the nymphs try to wake you?" I asked.

Grover shrugged. "Most nymphs aren't good with time. Two months for a tree—that's nothing. They probably didn't think anything was wrong."

"We've got to figure out what Morpheus was doing in the park," I said. "I don't like this 'main event' thing he mentioned."

"He's working for Kronos," Nico said. "We know that already. A lot of the minor gods are. This just proves there's going to be an invasion. Percy, we have to get on with our plan."

"Wait," Grover said. "What plan?"

We told him, and Grover started tugging at his leg fur.

Alex started muttering about mutiny, always having the answer dangled above his head and the constant glossing over and now even Percy was doing it.

Percy swallowed nervously who Alex planned on mutinying against, and wouldn't be surprised to find himself bound in a chair and being forcibly read to in the future too. As long as Alex put their chairs facing each other, he'd try to get through it.

"You're not serious," he said. "Not the Underworld again."

"I'm not asking you to come, man," I promised.

"I would," Annabeth and Thalia groaned.

"You should have three people, it's like a mini-quest," Jason nodded.

"Grover needs to get home and tell camp about this, we've got it," Percy shrugged without a trace of concern.

Nico smiled and tried to calm his painfully thudding heart like a monster was lurking about. Percy really didn't seem agitated at all at what was about to happen. He really hoped this time he was just being over dramatic and nothing bad was about to happen in this room.

"I know you just woke up. But we need some music to open the door. Can you do it?"

Grover took out his reed pipes. "I guess I could try. I know a few Nirvana tunes that can split rocks.

Magnus couldn't help but laugh in delight at the sudden idea of Grover going around and trying every song he ever heard on his pipes to see what would happen to nature when he did. It sounded like the best gift any kid could be given...even if they didn't all sound to great.

"I haven't heard that one," Thalia said in delight. "Remind me to ask him to play that when I see him. I'm surprised you recognize it Perce."

"I always liked their band name and know like, three songs," Percy nodded. "I have it on good authority that getting high and listening to Nirvana is roughly what I should imagine actual Nirvana to be like."

"And who's authority is that?" Annabeth asked with interest.

"I hung out with some kids on the basketball court," Percy shrugged. He'd been tempted to try a little himself, but...well, he was to afraid to let his guard down and be to lax if a monster came calling.

But, Percy, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Please, man," I said. "It would mean a lot. For old times' sake?"

He whimpered. "As I recall, in the old times we almost died a lot. But okay, here goes nothing."

Percy had meant the old times at Nancy. When he'd nearly been suspended that first day Grover came in hobbling so badly like he had two broken legs and the first thing some kid nearest him had done was trip him. Percy had shoved him out of his seat, and then raised the tray in his hand to crack it over this animal that even Rachel wouldn't start a protest for.

Grover had grabbed his wrist. He was standing on one leg and using Percy for support as he tried to quickly get his shoe on what looked like a misshapen foot, like every bone in his foot had been put in wrong. He didn't seem to care, only a terrified light in his eye as he looked all around the cafeteria and whispered at him it was okay, just step back.

He had. It hadn't felt good, but not moments later the principal came in and he and Grover had shuffled along like nothing had happened, and he hadn't even gotten in trouble that time for some reason. Percy had started to believe they'd be inseparable for life not long later.

His first best friend wasn't just some scared little kid anymore who would take that kind of abuse for the next several months, always telling Percy to stand down and it didn't matter as they swapped sandwich ingredients the other wouldn't eat and movie critics.

Hestia swam back to mind, which felt silly. As accepted as he'd always been around Grover, the goddess hadn't sent him to that tree when he needed to go home.

He put his pipes to his lips and played a shrill, lively tune. The boulders trembled. A few more stanzas, and they cracked open, revealing a triangular crevice.

"I think I need to look into this Nirvana stuff," Jason chuckled.

"Don't get me started with your taste in music," Thalia frowned at him. If her little brother listened to something like opera, she might have to brainwash him all over again.

I peered inside. Steps led down into the darkness. The air smelled of mildew and death. It brought back bad memories of my trip through the Labyrinth last year, but this tunnel felt even more dangerous. It led straight to the land of Hades, and that was almost always a one-way trip.

"Says the guy who's done it twice," Will rolled his eyes. He'd have thought Percy of all people would be slightly more comfortable going in there by now, especially with such a tour guide.

"Jumping off twenty-plus stories is also supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience, yet here I sit," Percy shook his head.

I turned to Grover. "Thanks . . . I think."

"Perrrrcy, is Kronos really going to invade?"

"I wish I could tell you better, but yeah. He will."

I thought Grover might chew up his reed pipes in anxiety, but he straightened up and brushed off his T-shirt. I couldn't help thinking how different he looked from fat old Leneus.

"They're not even the same species," Alex scoffed. "Leneus is closer to the rodentia rotund order."

Percy thought for a moment he was just being smart about his weight, but then Magnus couldn't help saying, "and Percy thought his rodent problem was bad."

Causing the laughter to double as they put together the rest.

"I've got to rally the nature spirits, then. Maybe we can help. I'll see if we can find this Morpheus.'"

"Better tell Juniper you're okay, too."

His eyes widened. "Juniper! Oh, she's going to kill me!"

"I understand the sentiment," Annabeth nodded while Percy studied her carefully. He should probably be more hopeful she stayed in the relieved part of him being alive longer.

He started to run off, then scrambled back and gave me another hug. "Be careful down there! Come back alive!"

Percy smiled and wished he could still hug him back, pull him under his arm and proclaim them inseparable.

But, they'd grown up. Grown apart. Grover had always had his own mission in life, and Percy was happy for him getting to live it. He'd love to have Grover come with him, but he didn't need it.

Once he was gone, Nico and I roused Mrs. O'Leary from her nap.

For a dog with hearing better than Grover's she'd sure tried to pretend she couldn't hear her name. There had been a lot of rump shaking and promises of treats for her to yawn with the force of a jet engine starting and her eyes to finally open and land on them without much enthusiasm for once. Guess she'd really needed that nap.

"We need to take her on more shadow travel walks Nico," Percy sighed. "Get her used to exerting that energy."

"Uh, sounds like a plan," Nico said, trying his hardest not to glance around like an idiot and ask every one of them individually if he'd really heard what Percy just said.

When she smelled the tunnel, she got excited and led the way down the steps. It was a pretty tight fit. I hoped she wouldn't get stuck. I couldn't imagine how much Drano we'd need to un-stick a hellhound wedged halfway down a tunnel to the Underworld.

"Yeah, it's, probably not a good idea to call maintenance for that," Will nodded, imagining Chiron showing up to their cabin with tools and a sigh to see her tail wagging hard enough in their door to cause structural damage.

"Ready?" Nico asked me. "It'll be fine. Don't worry."

He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

Will sighed as he glanced at Nico and Jason. Nobody had warned him what exactly Nico was so worried about, so he really hoped Jason had convinced Nico it wasn't going to be to bad.

I glanced up at the stars, wondering if I would ever see them again.

"Maybe not all of those specific stars," Thalia said oh so helpfully. "The constellations change all the time Perce."

"Child of a ball of gas, you would be the authority here," Percy smirked, leaving Annabeth once again wondering how these two hadn't killed each other locked up down here.

Then we plunged into darkness.

The stairs went on forever—narrow, steep, and slippery. It was completely dark except for the light of my sword.

Will couldn't stop a shiver he wished Nico didn't feel, but he wasn't moving away. The dungeon they were in already wasn't his favorite vacation spot, he was starting to feel more drained every day from being so far from the sun and never getting to feel the warmth of anything other than Nico. This place, so dark you couldn't see your own hand, with death on every breath. Gods he was glad Percy and Nico were doing this together to keep each other sane.

I tried to go slow, but Mrs. O'Leary had other ideas. She bounded ahead, barking happily. The sound echoed through the tunnel like cannon shots, and I figured we would not be catching anybody by surprise once we reached the bottom.

"Why would you want to?" Alex asked oh so innocently. "You're not down there to cause anybody trouble, for once. You're there to do some mysterious thing nobody seems to approve of to help you defeat Kronos, I can't see how Hades won't roll out the red carpet."

"What do you mean, for once?" Percy frowned at the completely wrong part of that sarcasm. "The last two times I was only down there for other people's trouble, not my own."

"Percy, stop talking," Annabeth said, pinching the bridge of her nose while Alex couldn't have held in his laughter in a life or death matter.

Nico lagged behind, which I thought was strange.

"The excitement must wear off after so many times down there?" Magnus couldn't help but phrase it as a question, hoping Nico would just casually agree he was bored, not...anything else.

"You okay?" I asked him.

"Fine." What was that expression on his face . . . doubt? "Just keep moving," he said.

'You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend,' Percy frowned at the nagging voice of his first prophecy. Must just be all the bad memories and deja vu, with Luke and May Castellan's eyes, and now back here.

I didn't have much choice.

He did have a choice though, Annabeth pursed up her lips. It wasn't a good choice, but one Percy was making by taking the next step. Percy could have jumped into the ocean to help his dad win this war or any number of things to get out of the responsibility he was walking towards. He was following through on the promise he'd made to Nico, all those years ago in the forest. That this was going to end on his terms.

She glanced at Nico in surprise that he would know that now. She wondered if Nico had felt like all that greatness had been ripped away, or if he was relieved and grateful to her boyfriend for this burden.

Judging by the way he was still watching Percy's every move anxiously, she'd guess he himself hadn't decided.

I followed Mrs. O'Leary into the depths. After another hour, I started to hear the roar of a river.

We emerged at the base of a cliff, on a plain of black volcanic sand. To our right, the River Styx gushed from the rocks and roared off in a cascade of rapids. To our left, far away in the gloom, fires burned on the ramparts of Erebos, the great black walls of Hades's kingdom.

I shuddered. I'd first been here when I was twelve, and only Annabeth and Grover's company had given me the courage to keep going.

Percy's hand in Annabeth had yet been more needed as he shivered and squeezed. He'd already owed Artemis the best offerings ever for what she'd done for them on top of Mt. Othrys, now he wasn't sure what he'd have to do to repay her for this gift, but gods he'd find a way. How many lion coats would it take before that crossed over into animal cruelty?

Nico wasn't going to be quite as helpful with the "courage" thing. He looked pale and worried himself.

"Nico," Percy tried to ask in concern, but Alex ignored him and read as if an interruption was suddenly the highest of concerns in this room.

Percy sighed but let it go, even if he was tired of still, forever, always feeling like he was missing something. Hadn't his life had enough of that?

Annabeth was studying Nico just as intensely too, and Percy decided it probably was for the best. His greatest fear had already been worrying he'd kill these guys any moment, now he had Annabeth down here to protect from that too. Best not to pressure himself over a detail that had already happened.

Only Mrs. O'Leary acted happy. She ran along the beach, picked up a random human leg bone, and romped back toward me. She dropped the bone at my feet and waited for me to throw it.

"Um, maybe later, girl."

"You owe her and Cerberus so much playtime Percy," Alex groaned.

Percy half listened as Alex proclaimed he was going to confiscate the guardian of the underworld and Mrs. O'Leary and set them up on a playdate in the best dog park ever while trying to catch Nico's eyes. Nico was not obliging, and it was causing a pit the size of the underworld to form in his gut the longer he kept telling himself not to think about it.

I stared at the dark waters, trying to get up my nerve. "So, Nico . . . how do we do this?"

"We have to go inside the gates first," he said.

"But the river's right here."

"I have to get something," he said. "It's the only way."

He marched off without waiting.

"Are you hiding a secret recipe in your room?" Jason tried to ask like this was as casual as anything else they could get up to.

"Nico, I swear if you're stopping to pick up your deck of cards, I'm going to strangle you," Thalia didn't seem quite so indulgent as she looked at him in confusion. As far as she knew the myth didn't need the tear of Hades or anything else for Percy to go into the Styx, and he was already acting shifty. Something odd was going on.

Nico's throat convulsed with fright. He grabbed Will's hand and averted his eyes quickly away, trying not to look like the guilty party he was and use Will's available arm as a shield to cover up her target. Jason's deal had not applied to Thalia, and he wouldn't want it to anyways. They had enough going on between them, he'd never risk whatever friendship he might be having like that.

I frowned. Nico hadn't mentioned anything about going inside the gates.

Nico hadn't really mentioned anything at all about what was going on to Percy, Annabeth couldn't help but grumble to herself. Percy was so trusting, he barely knew the basics and was just following him blindly when he should have stopped him and demanded every step of this plan.

But now that we were here, I didn't know what else to do. Reluctantly, I followed him down the beach toward the big black gates.

Lines of the dead stood outside waiting to get in. It must've been a heavy day for funerals, because even the EZ-DEATH line was backed up.

"Woof!" Mrs. O'Leary said. Before I could stop her she bounded toward the security checkpoint.

Cerberus, the guard dog of Hades, appeared out of the gloom—a three-headed rottweiler so big he made Mrs. O'Leary look like a toy poodle. Cerberus was half transparent, so he's really hard to see until he's close enough to kill you, but he acted like he didn't care about us. He was too busy saying hello to Mrs. O'Leary.

Okay, so maybe meeting Mrs. O'Leary was the lesser of another option Magnus had never considered, as he sunk as far down in his seat as he could with dread at the excitement in Alex's voice.

Right, he was sure that would help so much when he met her. Just remind himself she could be even bigger!

"Mrs. O'Leary, no!" I shouted at her. "Don't sniff . . . Oh, man."

"For all you know that's been her life goal, to say hello to him as all dogs do," Alex grinned in delight.

"Yeah, who am I to stop an acomplishable dream." Percy sighed.

Nico smiled. Then he looked at me and his expression turned all serious again, like he'd remembered something unpleasant.

"Did I have Underworld in my hair?" Percy asked, mock ruffling it out.

Nico was now looking so intensely at the door Percy looked over and checked there wasn't a monster hanging around waiting to pounce. He was starting to wish there was. The kind of tension Nico was causing wasn't even summoning stirring shadows or icy coldness in the room like the last time he'd been really upset. This quiet acceptance of just, something bad coming, was giving Percy a nervous tick.

"Come on. They won't give us any trouble in the line. You're with me."

"Percy gets VIP with fish, Nico gets that with ghosts," Jason looked a little pouty. "What do we get Thalia?"

"Jack all," Thalia snorted.

"VIP treatment with demigods?" Annabeth answered pleasantly, batting her eyes in over-the-top adoration of her. "Even Percy can't get enough of having you around."

"Hardy har, you're hilarious," she snorted.

"VIP treatment with monsters, they come for you first," Magnus answered much more clearly, which wasn't as funny but at least made Jason smirk for a moment he'd get first crack perhaps.

I didn't like it, but we slipped through the security ghouls and into the Fields of Asphodel. I had to whistle for Mrs. O'Leary three times before she left Cerberus alone and ran after us.

"Percy's the only one with a dog too besides Cerberus," Alex was clearly over there more invested in his monster dog park idea than whatever he was supposed to be reading. "Hey, who's been looking after that dragon? I didn't hear about Reid, maybe they'd like to go! And Peleus!"

"Um," Will rubbed awkwardly at the back of his head as he realized he was expected to answer. "The, dragon, Reid, is um, currently ill-disposed and down for maintenance?" He really didn't want to say any more than that. Beckendorf had been doing the majority of the work on it in whatever spare time he had that wasn't helping Percy, or the camp. Which wasn't a lot. Nobody had been fool enough to keep trying in recent times with him gone.

Annabeth was distracted from adding what little more she could, in that she'd been scouring Deadelus's laptop for answers on rogue automatons also in-between said madness and the project had pretty much come to a halt with her Olympian designs taking precedence; as she watched Magnus. Just smiling at Alex like a complete dope, like seeing him be in his own little world over there was the best thing he'd ever do with his time.

Ah. Her poor cousin. She wondered how long they'd known each other.

We hiked over black fields of grass dotted with black poplar trees. If I really died in a few days like the prophecy said, I might end up here forever, but I tried not to think about that.

"Oh, yeah, thanks man, just leave us to think about it," Jason frowned.

"It's not my fault you guys won't get out of my head," Percy shrugged.

Nico trudged ahead, bringing us closer and closer to the palace of Hades.

"Hey," I said, "we're inside the gates already. Where are we—"

Mrs. O'Leary growled.

For the first time in this room, Alex gave something resembling a nervous laugh. "Well Percy, what else was inside the gates aside from the palace? I know you're not as dense as this pressure," he waved his hand around the room in a really poor showing because it was perfectly normal.

Magnus was now looking restlessly between Nico and Percy. Yeah, Alex knew full well something was about to happen and hadn't asked the more obvious question on purpose. What would Percy's dog growl at down there? She'd either think it a friend of the Underworld like her or...or? An enemy Nico had walked them right into?

Like his old math teacher.

A shadow appeared overhead—something dark, cold, and stinking of death. It swooped down and landed in the top of a poplar tree.

Unfortunately, I recognized her. She had a shriveled face, a horrible blue knit hat, and a crumpled velvet dress. Leathery bat wings sprang from her back. Her feet had sharp talons, and in her brass-clawed hands she held a flaming whip and a paisley handbag.

"Can you believe Sisyphus thought I looked like that?" Percy jabbed his own chest. "Come on, I don't plan on having wrinkles like that until I'm my mom's age, and don't get me started on how bad I'd be with a whip as a weapon."

Annabeth was once again looking at him with the unsettling feeling of a gag gone over her head, and nobody else could even crack a smile. They were to busy looking from Nico to Percy in true confusion what this was.

"Mrs. Dodds," I said.

"Who is she married to exactly?" Alex asked as he looked up from the book and Percy's title for her. "One of the other fury's? Secret affair with Ares too?"

"Gods we've got to find a way to sedate him one of these days or I'm going to have a panic attack," Jason groaned as he rubbed his forehead in pain.

Alex looked at him in delight for the mock threat. "Come on Jason, you know you want to get in on this! I'm sure there's some god out there only you're privy to who would love to be the Mr. Dodds Fury."

"Make it stop," Jason grinned back, pitching his voice to a whiny toddler poorly.

"I will when somebody gives me a good answer on who this knitting, whip lashing, math teacher is married to," he insisted, now hugging the book close to his chest.

"Secret drunken night with Chiron nobody's ever tried to fix," Nico happily jumped into the fun kind of trama as the Campers looked at him in horror. "The grounds originally started as a monster retiring home and that's where they met."

Alex laughed in delight, the evil kind where lightning should have been flashing behind his head. Nico had rarely felt so proud of himself as getting Alex to laugh like that.

She bared her fangs. "Welcome back, honey."

Her two sisters—the other Furies—swooped down and settled next to her in the branches of the poplar.

"You know Alecto?" Nico asked me.

"If you mean the hag in the middle, yeah," I said. "She was my math teacher."

Nico nodded, like this didn't surprise him.

That his father had kept an eye on Percy. Not in the slightest. That his dad had sent his most trusted minion. Obviously. That Alecto had disguised herself as a math teacher, the worst of those infernal school subjects. Please.

He looked up at the Furies and took a deep breath. "I've done what my father asked. Take us to the palace."

"You're father-" Percy yelped.

"Oh gods, Nico, what did you do?" Thalia groaned, covering her eyes and really not wishing to see the rest.

Annabeth jumped out of her beanbag, her shriek nearly to loud for their ears to hear. "Nico!"

Jason opened, then closed his mouth as Nico gave off the embodiment of a hotdog on Mrs. O'Leary's radar. "I never said I'd protect you from her," he protested.

"Hey, chill princess," Alex leaned forward threateningly in his seat.

Annabeth had already taken a stalking step forward and was gesturing at Percy like a lost lamb. He was reaching for her hand she'd dropped with a very mingled look of anger and terror as he looked everywhere but at the son Hades-

A sharp, piercing noise ripped through the ocean, burning their eardrums and quite possibly stopping everybody on this half of the continent in their tracks.

Will was still sprawled out in place, looking grumpier than Annabeth had ever seen him as he lowered his fingers from his mouth to say, "jeez Annabeth-"

But her face had gone stark pale, and Percy had his arms wrapped around her as his worst fear was confirmed by the sudden storm of bubbles in the room that seemed to make the walls themselves throw out tendrils of power and shadows in his presence.

Seven yelps of fear accompanied Oceanus's sudden dominance of the room as he glowered down at Annabeth, like a spotlight of darkness overshadowing everything.

"Don't. You. Dare." Percy growled, his arms a vice like shield as he glowered up at him. If the Titan had thought he'd been a problem child before, he'd be in for a world of trouble if he dared to snap her out of here. Alex's hand twitched in place to grab his garrote and hold the Titan down if necessary.

Thalia was right beside him, her hands crackling with electricity like a killer night-light in the dark room, she was one finger away from bringing out Agies.

Jason watched Oceanus rub his temples, studying every crinkly line they made into his dense, turquoise skin, like the world's oldest sea turtle. He looked near tears with exhaustion. He was in disturbing lionfish toga pajamas that had an uncomfortably un-done belt hanging on by a thread.

"What, in Gaea's name, is it going to take to shut you kids up?" He sounded truly drained. Magnus almost would have felt bad for him if they weren't being held prisoner.

Nico expected Percy and Annabeth to throw him under the bus any word. His eyes were out of focus, his lips pursed tight as he looked dead ahead, a bead of sweat coming down his brow as he could only imagine where he'd end up. It would almost be a relief to get away, even to worlds unknown.

Annabeth slowly lowered Percy's arms as if staring down, well, the ocean itself, as she knelt into a bow. Her voice was firm, but clearly apologetic as Percy remained standing over her, sword in hand to make sure Oceanus thought twice about moving his hands. "My apologies, I know we can get out of hand. I assure you I've gotten designs started in my head, and there will not," she threw a scowl at the darkness where Nico last was, "be another interruption."

He sized her up, then looked around at all of them, his filmy eyes sunken so far into his head they vaguely wondered if they were going to vanish altogether soon. It didn't stop him now from seeing each of their mouths was very firmly shut with fear.

He made a harumph noise, like every grumpy old person Percy had ever met when they were told they couldn't stack coupons at an early bird breakfast. He scowled, "one more chance, half-mortals, or my deal with Posideon is off! You can all rot in whatever Hera has planned for you, and be damned what that puny god wants to say to me about it."

Swirling out of there with several loud mutters about, "lucky for Tethy's soft side-" there was painful silence for five seconds.

Then Nico released a massive breath and started coughing as Will popped back into existence through the bend of night, the dim lighting returning the room back to normal. He instantly started rubbing Nico's back with a look of concern, murmuring to him for deep breaths.

"That was so cool," Magnus couldn't stop blinking, it looked painful.

"Thanks," Nico rasped, his chest hurting with every breath. Gods he wished he could figure out how to breathe while doing that!

"What, did you just, when did you, how did you-" Jason was looking from Will, shaking himself but looking unharmed, to Nico who hadn't released his vice-like grip on him.

"I'll get some water," Alex promised, getting up, going slightly cross-eyed because they were surrounded by water.

"No, it's horrible for people who are choking to drink-" Will started.

"Don't change the subject!" Annabeth snarled through gritted teeth, her low voice the deep silence of a predator about to pounce. "You could have gotten him killed! What deal did you make with Hades!"

Nico's eyes were still a little off with pain as he tried to focus on her through his burning lungs. Her words stung worse, but it wasn't unexpected of everyone at camp always assuming every deal came with death when it came to him and his dad. He looked instead at Percy. "Never," gasp, "hurt you," gasp, "on purpose."

He looked spent, but still half considering leaping over the back of that couch and fleeing for his life while his eyelids drooped with exhaustion.

It instantly broke Percy out of his anger. He didn't want to be feared. He'd never wanted anyone to see him as a bully, throwing his weight around against someone smaller than him. Even if Nico hadn't brought up his own crush, Percy instantly couldn't hold on to his own temper no matter the sting of betrayal from someone he'd really hope could one day be his friend.

"Annabeth," Percy firmly took her hand again. "I know, okay, I'm sorry I keep getting kidnapped by gods and vanishing." His temple pulsed with a new pain he didn't understand why, he had a bad feeling about whatever Hades was going to do to him made this situation down here feel a little to familiar. He stood up and took her other hand, begging for her full attention while she kept glowering at the other dark-haired punk. "Hey," she finally looked at him, anger now wavering with desperation as her storms chased his. "I promise, I'll never leave you again."

She made a strangled noise, suppressing a mingled yell of to much as she threw her arms around him. She was shaking as badly as Nico as Percy supported most of her weight to his beanbag where she sagged down mostly into hers but still half on him very awkwardly with her weight sort of hanging in the worst possible non-space between the two cushions.

"You're my lifeline," he whispered into her ear as her hands tightened on his back, only one spot felt painful for some reason as her nails dug in like hooks, his whole body was tingling with her arms around him. "I'm always going to get out of whatever madness this is for you, I swear." He'd swear it on the styx if he didn't fear the rumbling thunder to vow his words in place. He would the second they got out of this.

She nodded and tried to catch her breath while Nico finally managed the same, rubbing his sternum with his knuckles and eyes still on the floor.

"Quick thinking Nico," Percy applauded over her shoulder, rubbing her back.

"Thanks," he nodded, his eyes still trying to fall closed without his permission, but snapping back to meet Percy's. "Please don't ask me to do that again in the next wee-" he yawned so hard it might draw Oceanus back. "Don't even think about it Will," he managed, rubbing stubbornly at his eyes so much he was seeing spots as Will opened his mouth. "I want to get this over with, we're barely into this one and we're not stopping for the day on my account."

"You should at least eat something," he insisted.

Nico wasn't going to argue that point and slumped against the armrest as Will squeezed his hand and went off.

By the time he came back with a tray of fruit parfaits for everyone, and the largest heaping helping for Nico, Annabeth had calmed down and was stirring her's moodily and tentavily eating it with everyone else.

"How's your shoulder?" She asked Will, her tone as apologetic to him as it had been the Titan's.

"Forgot all about it," Will chuckled, rotating it obviously. "Godly food is great like that."

Nico was looking in confusion between the two but decided he didn't want to know as he savored every bite. He somehow managed to finish his first to his surprise, and he wasn't fighting against every blink anymore.

Alex gently picked the book back up like an unfinished mold as she glanced moodily around at the walls as if daring Oceanus to interrupt her again. She fully believed the eight of them were incapable of finishing this book without another outburst, they were human!

Annabeth was clearly thinking the same thing as she set her empty cup down. She watched it whizz into the trashcan with a still dark face, but spoke to the room at large in a modulated voice she'd perfected years ago, being the head of her cabin at twelve. "I know that last one was rough, but guys, the next time someone in here needs a yell, start with screaming into a pillow. We can't afford to anger him like that again until Percy and Jason get their life back."

"Sorry," Will said, probably not as much guilt as he should have felt at all of them nearly getting snapped away by a Titan for distracting Annabeth's death glare. "That was my bad guys."

"There was no way he wasn't going to show up with that one, not how pissed off somebody was," Percy said with a look at Annabeth.

There were nods of agreement and some mutters, but nobody really felt like that was going to fix this. It was certainly not Annabeth's most well-constructed plan, showing just how tired she must be.

Alex didn't keep reading though. Magnus was signing something to her. Who was using she/her pronouns. Magnus had just asked her something while signing at his chin, which he'd explained very early on was the female denotation...it caught her so off guard she didn't even register what he was actually trying to say.

"Alex?"

She heard her name and finally snapped away from looking at his sweet, concerned face with no clue what was going on. "It's she/ her pronouns," she said like someone had punched her in the ribs before she started reading, only vaguely hoping Annabeth had been done talking.

I tensed. "Wait a second, Nico. What do you—"

"I'm afraid this is my new lead, Percy. My father promised me information about my family, but he wants to see you before we try the river. I'm sorry."

Annabeth's hands were still tense like she wanted to wring Nico's neck right along with him. Percy jiggled his fingers against hers until she slowly relaxed and let his hand back in. While he understood every thought racing through her head, he almost couldn't blame him now that he'd taken a moment. Wouldn't he do the same to learn anything about his past?

Not make a deal with Hades!

His dad had apparently made a deal with a Titan on his behalf to get him in here though, out of whatever scheme another god had planned for him. Nothing really felt like a good answer right now in all the meddling they lived through.

"You tricked me?" I was so mad I couldn't think. I lunged at him, but the Furies were fast. Two of them swooped down and plucked me up by the arms. My sword fell out of my hand, and before I knew it, I was dangling sixty feet in the air.

Will winced at Percy actually making a move like that. Percy had never hurt another person though, Will really didn't want to believe he'd do more than shove Nico to the ground like he had Leneaus.

There was an edge to his thoughts though, one that stemmed from to many of his siblings dying and being able to do nothing to stop it.  If he had to step between Nico and Percy, or the entirety of Mount Olympus to make sure Nico felt safe, he would. Nico deserved to have someone in his corner who would never hurt him, which now he couldn't even claim in Percy. He didn't know how, hiding him under his bed probably wouldn't work, but he would. If Nico could make a wall of shadows to hide someone, maybe he could do the same with sunlight?

For now, he tapped Nico's arm so that he could mouth, 'gods' at him. He felt over his head at just the idea of what Nico must have been going through. The only friend he'd had at the time being dangled by his father to know about his own past.

Nico gave him a grateful smile. He had no clue how he'd gotten so lucky, but he was probably indebted to Posideon apparently for all this.

"Oh, don't struggle, honey," my old math teacher cackled in my ear. "I'd hate to drop you."

"Would she though?" Thalia bravely offered the first comment as if nothing had happened. She looked pretty peeved at Nico too, but at least she had a fearless attitude in the face of death about it. That titan couldn't make them shut up, just quiet down.

"You know Thalia, I don't think she would," Alex was right there with her nodding.

Percy shook his head affectionately as he looked between them. "Glad you two are having fun."

"I'm on vacation," Thalia agreed, a really miserable one she couldn't book the first flight out of, but an enforced period of leisure all the same. She'd dealt with worse monsters than Oceanus.

"I'm always having fun," Alex chuckled.

Mrs. O'Leary barked angrily and jumped, trying to reach me, but we were too high.

"I was half convinced she was going to rip one of their wings off," Magnus admitted, the mental image making him piss a bit. It certainly scared him more than a pissy Titan Percy and Annabeth could stare down.

"I'll tie a cape on her later and play the theme for super-dog, just for you," Percy grinned.

"Tell Mrs. O'Leary to behave," Nico warned. He was hovering near me in the clutches of the third Fury. "I don't want her to get hurt, Percy. My father is waiting. He just wants to talk."

"If my dog gets hurt because of this shit you pulled-" Percy stopped himself by sheer stubbornness against himself, to close his mouth and turn his scowl away. He really couldn't guess what Nico cared about anymore besides himself. He was positive Mrs. O'Leary was one of them though with the way he smiled upon seeing her no matter how many times they'd approached her that day.

I wanted to tell Mrs. O'Leary to attack Nico, but it wouldn't have done any good, and Nico was right about one thing: my dog could get hurt if she tried to pick a fight with the Furies.

Jason was still looking sadly between Nico and Percy. He couldn't believe how fast Percy had turned on him, in what was clearly a complicated situation.

He was also extremely relieved Percy hadn't the chance to react to badly in here. He hadn't wanted to actually hold him back from attacking him, even if he would have.

He would have used Thalia as a human shield to deal with Annabeth in a pinch.

I gritted my teeth. "Mrs. O'Leary, down! It's okay, girl."

She whimpered and turned in circles, looking up at me. "All right, traitor," I growled at Nico. "You've got your prize. Take me to the stupid palace."

What would she have done to get Percy back? The dark thought kept circling Annabeth's mind at the blind vow she'd made to Artemis. What if the goddess asked for Chiron's head? What if she'd asked her to drag Thalia into the den of a monster but made her swear not to tell, for whatever reasons a god's will was.

She kept forcing herself not to shoot murderous looks at Nico. She probably owed him an apology too she didn't feel right now. It was only partially his fault he'd triggered every abandonment issue she had in this stupid, ill-timed stunt.

But it hadn't lasted, she kept reminding herself as she held her lifeline's hand tight, their fingers entwined in a pattern only they felt. He'd come back.

Alecto dropped me like a sack of turnips in the middle of the palace garden.

"Because if she'd dropped you gently, we'd know something unfortunate was fixing to happen," Alex rolled her eyes.

"Pretty sure something unfortunate did happen anyways," Magnus muttered. No way did Percy get in and out of this without more problems with the way it was already starting.

It was beautiful in a creepy way. Skeletal white trees grew from marble basins. Flower beds overflowed with golden plants and gemstones. A pair of thrones, one bone and one silver, sat on the balcony with a view of the Fields of Asphodel. It would've been a nice place to spend a Saturday morning except for the sulfurous smell and the cries of tortured souls in the distance.

"It's called decorative feng shui Percy," Alex helpfully informed him.

"It's called creepy," Percy told him flatly.

Skeletal warriors guarded the only exit. They wore tattered U.S. Army desert combat fatigues and carried M16s.

The third Fury deposited Nico next to me. Then all three of them settled on the top of the skeletal throne. I resisted the urge to strangle Nico. They'd only stop me. I'd have to wait for my revenge.

Nico rubbed the side of his neck and winced. He kind of regretted not waiting, like, at least an hour before he'd come to rescue Percy.

For all he knew though, maybe those thoughts would have escalated to something more creative, so, it might have all worked out for the best.

Assuming Percy's inner demon didn't make a comeback in here.

He wasn't real convinced of that yet.

I stared at the empty thrones, waiting for something to happen. Then the air shimmered. Three figures appeared—Hades and Persephone on their thrones, and an older woman standing between them. They seemed to be in the middle of an argument.

"—told you he was a bum!" the older woman said.

"Mother!" Persephone replied.

"We have visitors!" Hades barked. "Please!"

"Because this is really the scene I'd hoped to walk in on," Nico groaned like he was just as unhappy about all this as Percy was, which seemed unlikely judging by the fact he was supposedly about to get his answers, the little squit!

Hades, one of my least favorite gods,

"Why?" Magnus asked blankly like he hadn't been here for Percy's entire ordeal of a life up until now. "You've had far worse problems with, like, the rest of them!" Between Zeus, Aphrodite, and Ares actively causing problems and Heaphastus sending him off to his unwitting doom, not to mention Hermes now waving a red flag over Luke's life; Hades seemed like a minor inconvenience considering all he'd done to Percy was give back his mom.

Well, that taking her would rank higher than the rest, Magnus decided he'd answered his own question, which was a good thing, because Percy clearly wasn't going to oblige as he just looked at him with a raised brow.

smoothed his black robes, which were covered with the terrified faces of the damned.

Alex cleared her throat as she looked around at Annabeth with a casual smile. Annabeth wasn't fooled, those heterochromatic eyes flashed to easily between mayhem and mischief to believe she'd settle on merry after what just happened. "One of Percy's first thoughts upon meeting him was to wonder what horrible thing someone would have to do to get woven into Hades's underwear?"

Percy didn't even bother to call Alex a traitor this time, mostly because he wasn't sure he wanted to sit around and hear theories on an answer as Annabeth gave Percy an affectionate, exasperated look. She'd long since accepted his train of thought had no tracks.

He had pale skin and the intense eyes of a madman.

"Which I am so glad Nico didn't inherit," Jason shrugged. "Apparently his kids get a bad enough rep."

Will kept to himself he hoped that wasn't Jason's subtle way of thinking Nico was much more of a looker assumedly taking after his mother, because he was now.

"Percy Jackson," he said with satisfaction. "At last."

Queen Persephone studied me curiously. I'd seen her once before in the winter, but now in the summer she looked like a totally different goddess. She had lustrous black hair and warm brown eyes. Her dress shimmered with colors. Flower patterns in the fabric changed and bloomed—roses, tulips, honeysuckle.

The woman standing between them was obviously Persephone's mother. She had the same hair and eyes, but looked older and sterner. Her dress was golden, the color of a wheat field. Her hair was woven with dried grasses so it reminded me of a wicker basket. I figured if somebody lit a match next to her, she'd be in serious trouble.

"Because that's the first thing you should think when seeing a god," Thalia still somehow managed to sound surprised and exasperated at him all this time later.

"The gods perception of me hasn't changed, why should mine to them," Percy grumbled.

"Hmmph," the older woman said. "Demigods. Just what we need."

Next to me, Nico knelt. I wished I had my sword so I could cut his stupid head off. Unfortunately, Riptide was still out in the fields somewhere.

Will was like, ninty percent sure Percy didn't mean it, not the same guy who hesitated to kill Ethan, repeatedly, and still couldn't unsee Luke in Kronos's new face; but he gave him a look of distaste anyways for the uncalled for violence. So far Nico hadn't gotten anybody hurt in the slightest and had given Percy a valid enough reason he should at least be pissed instead of murderous.

"Father," Nico said. "I have done as you asked."

"Took you long enough," Hades grumbled. "Your sister would've done a better job."

Alex choked like she'd just read that while someone punched her in the throat.

"You know what, I take it back," Will said venomously. "Someone in there does deserve a beheading, but at least it's the god who can grow his useless mouth hole back."

Nico still flinched under Will's arm. He wished he'd forgotten this was coming in the mess of everything else, but honestly that still hurt as bad as the second time, and fifth time, and every time he'd said it to him. His father obviously approved of Bianca abandoning him and growing stronger with the Huntresses. Maybe he had some grand idea about taking her away from Artemis and breaking her vow so that she could grow to be the greatest child of Olympus and fulfill the prophecy instead of Nico's useless butt.

Jason was rubbing his own heart like he felt that one personally, and Thalia winced as she guessed he would. Zeus, or Jupiter, whatever, had shown some pretty obvious favoritism from his perspective, or lack thereof.

Nico lowered his head. If I hadn't been so mad at the little creep, I might've felt sorry for him.

Magnus could barely give Percy a, well at least you tried, grimace. This really was just a sucky situation, period.

I glared up at the god of the dead. "What do you want, Hades?"

"To talk, of course." The god twisted his mouth in a cruel smile. "Didn't Nico tell you?"

"So this whole quest was a lie. Nico brought me down here to get me killed."

"Oh, no," Hades said. "I'm afraid Nico was quite sincere about wanting to help you. The boy is as honest as he is dense.

"So, you're not very honest?" Alex looked around in mock confusion. "What a weird way to phrase that, I wouldn't even think Hades would consider that an insult."

"Ha, ha," Nico said with a smile tugging at his lips he couldn't help but feel.

I simply convinced him to take a small detour and bring you here first."

"Father," Nico said, "you promised that Percy would not be harmed. You said if I brought him, you would tell me about my past—about my mother."

Queen Persephone sighed dramatically. "Can we please not talk about that woman in my presence?"

"Then why did she come?" Thalia asked with blatant disgust. She still hadn't forgiven her for turning her bow into honeysuckle.

"So Hades couldn't escape hearing more of that riveting argument," Percy reminded distractedly, not that she'd needed the reminder. She obviously just wanted to complain about everything going on in the Underworld right now, a common theme.

"I'm sorry, my dove," Hades said. "I had to promise the boy something."

'Something,' Alex didn't like the sound of that. Like Hades might even lie about Nico's mother because he'd had to tell him something.

The older lady harrumphed. "I warned you, daughter. This scoundrel Hades is no good. You could've married the god of doctors or the god of lawyers, but noooo. You had to eat the pomegranate."

"So, like, this entire immortal family is kind of garbage, huh?" Magnus frowned.

"Good of you to finally catch on," Thalia rolled her eyes. There were some major exceptions, but nobody was really crying out in distress anymore at now everybody just casually mouthing off to gods.

"Mother—"

"And get stuck in the Underworld!"

"Mother, please—"

"And here it is August, and do you come home like you're supposed to? Do you ever think about your poor lonely mother?"

Annabeth was still in a pretty bad temper and wanted to hurl some corn at her. Did she ever think of any children except her special extra favorite? While Katie Gardner busted her back every day looking after all of Demeter's other children!

"DEMETER!" Hades shouted. "That is enough. You are a guest in my house."

"Oh, a house is it?" she said. "You call this dump a house? Make my daughter live in this dark, damp—"

Nico couldn't help but watch Will, just to see if he agreed with any part of that. Even he knew some of the most common dating around camp came from kids of Apollo and Demter's offspring, they usually had so much in common.

Will still looked more like he was trying to add up how much a never-ending marching band would cost him to run through Hades's domain to get a good read. Grumbling all kinds of unpleasantries about disturbances and noise complaints. Well, Will obviously could be an expert on that if he put his mind to it.

"I told you," Hades said, grinding his teeth, "there's a war in the world above. You and Persephone are better off here with me."

"Aww?" Magnus couldn't help the surprised, sweet noise. How did Hades go from a useless ass dirt sperm donor one moment to someone who clearly cared about his family the next? It was kind of sickening and hopeful all at once, to think he'd be capable of apologizing to Nico, to clearly not caring.

"Hades is getting more visitors to his life this day than he's ever had in, like, millennia. No wonder, he's a shit hoast apparently," Will said as if the world's biggest problem right now really was there weren't enough hors d'oeuvres around.

"Excuse me," I broke in. "But if you're going to kill me, could you just get on with it?"

Annabeth smacked him upside the head.

"I'm not sorry," Percy shrugged.

"Of course you're not," she sighed.

"You know I have a problem waiting around," he insisted.

"I know," she groaned.

All three gods looked at me.

"Well, this one has an attitude," Demeter observed.

"Indeed," Hades agreed. "I'd love to kill him."

"Father!" Nico said. "You promised!"

"Husband, we talked about this," Persephone chided. "You can't go around incinerating every hero. Besides, he's brave. I like that."

"I guess she's not mad about me threatening to throw her in the Lethe anymore?" Percy raised a brow in disbelief.

"Honestly Percy, I'm more surprised if she remembers you after you finished running her errand," Thalia scoffed.

Hades rolled his eyes. "You liked that Orpheus fellow too. Look how well that turned out. Let me kill him, just a little bit."

"As long as he promises to bring you back," Annabeth said dead pan.

Nico choked in surprise while Percy snorted with laughter. She managed a half-hearted smile while the boys full-blown grinned. It was nice she could turn around and laugh about this, even a little in mocking.

"Father, you promised!" Nico said. "You said you only wanted to talk to him. You said if I brought him, you'd explain."

Hades glowered, smoothing the folds of his robes. "And so I shall. Your mother—what can I tell you? She was a wonderful woman." He glanced uncomfortably at Persephone. "Forgive me, my dear. I mean for a mortal, of course.

Percy said a few foul mothed things about how his mother could kick Persephone's ass with a cookie sheet, but Nico was to distracted to hear it. At least now he could recall with vivid clarity a memory taken away. How Hades had adored Maria and offered her a palace in the Underworld. It had seemed like more than just a fling he'd gotten over all these years later. What better outcome was there? His stepmother never would have let them live anymore than Zeus if it wasn't for time passing on and all of them losing interest in the matter, some to more degrees than others.

Her name was Maria di Angelo. She was from Venice, but her father was a diplomat in Washington, D.C.

Alex spluttered in a painful sounding laugh. "Why is that the most perfect thing I've ever heard for Hades? Attracted to a woman with a stereotypical temper in the middle of snake central, it's so perfect I swear I'm going to die."

"Don't," Nico advised. "My dad won't let you off for his good taste in women."

That's where I met her. When you and your sister were young, it was a bad time to be children of Hades.

"Was it ever a good time?" Jason mock whispered.

"I seem to be fairing in the scraping by camp, as opposed to my other abundance of siblings," Nico said, dower sarcasm as far as the ear could hear.

World War II was brewing. A few of my, ah, other children were leading the losing side.

There was something really messed up in that Alex packed a wallop into reading. Hades knew he was losing a war his own children were in. Was he even referring to his half-blood children right there? It was kinder to assume not, but with the gods, it was hard to tell.

I thought it best to put you two out of harm's way."

"That's why you hid us in the Lotus Casino?"

Hades shrugged. "You didn't age. You didn't realize time was passing.

"He became master level at all video games I'm sure," Magnus offered.

"Eh," Nico waved his hand. "There was a Mythomagic tournament there while I was, I spent most of my time learning how to play that."

"Was that your dad's influence?" Annabeth asked in surprise.

"What?" Nico frowned, why would he care about that?

"So that when you'd come out, you'd be knowledgeable of our world, even if you didn't fully know it." She was even starting to smile again at this puzzle.

"Um, I don't think he has that kind of power, do they?" Percy shook his head.

"It's not clear," Annabeth seemed to be speaking to herself the longer she talked, like her eyes were glazing over before their eyes. "Odysseus rescued his own men from the original lotus-eaters without any interference. I can't imagine it would overpower a god, ergo they may even be able to influence what the current Hotel could make its occupants do to some degree."

"That's dangerous isn't it?" Magnus looked unsurprised, but still a little hurt. "Sally didn't tell Percy any of that stuff, because ignorance kept him safe. When Hades pulled them out, well, no wonder Grover found them so fast when they'd only been out for a few months along with how many monsters?"

"More preparation from my dad if so," Nico nodded as if this made perfect sense now.

Annabeth shook herself to here and now as Alex kept going, and Percy was back to smiling as if nothing had happened as he watched her go in and out of a nerd daze. Nico was almost smiling again too. He really might get out of this better than worse. It seemed to good an idea to let himself linger on for more than a second, to afraid he'd jinx it.

I waited for the right time to bring you out."

"But what happened to our mother? Why don't I remember her?"

"Not important," Hades snapped.

"To who?" Will's scowl was something else, he looked ready to hurl the sun.

"Himself, that's obviously the important part of this conversation," Jason said dully.

"What? Of course it's important. And you had other children—why were we the only ones who were sent away?

Nico still didn't really have an answer to that, and to his surprise, he found himself looking around hopefully as if they would. The idea lingered that it was because Hades had loved his mother, had done her wish, not that he'd done it for them.

"It's possible he started with the youngest set," Thalia offered half-heartedly. "If the rest of his kids were already over the age of sixteen by that point, you two would be his priority."

Nobody else hazarded a guess to Hades's plans. Most of them thought he was a psychotic maniac who couldn't rip a decent bone out of a dead body anyways.

And who was the lawyer who got us out?"

Hades grit his teeth. "You would do well to listen more and talk less, boy. As for the lawyer . . ."

Hades snapped his fingers. On top of his throne, the Fury Alecto began to change until she was a middle-aged man in a pinstriped suit with a briefcase. She—he—looked strange crouching at Hades's shoulder.

"Okay, that one actually sounds kind of obvious now that he said it out loud," Percy shrugged.

"What is the difference between a lawyer and a vampire?" Alex asked with a devilish smirk. "Law School."

Thalia grinned and said her favorite, "There is a new Barbie doll out for Christmas, she's called Divorce Barbie. She comes with all of Ken's stuff."

"How long have you been saving that for the Aprhotide cabin?" Percy laughed in delight.

"We are not going to sit around and tell lawyer jokes!" Jason spluttered. "Thalia, that's practically blasphemy!"

Thalia gave him a pitiful look he thought she cared. Honestly, it's like he hadn't gotten to know her at all.

"I'm on Jason's side," Annabeth said in exhaustion. "Guys, we might be able to get through another chapter, two at most before we all pass out. Let Alex finish."

"Alex was enjoying the show," Alex huffed, but obliged for the yawn Nico was still trying to muffle.

"You!" Nico said.

The Fury cackled. "I do lawyers and teachers very well!"

"This surprises literally no one," Magnus rolled his eyes. Not even him!

Nico was trembling. "But why did you free us from the casino?"

"You know why," Hades said. "This idiot son of Poseidon cannot be allowed to be the child of the prophecy."

"Even if I hadn't made up my mind before, now I definitely would be," Percy scowled while Annabeth patted his shoulder with a defeated look in place for knowing the same.

I plucked a ruby off the nearest plant and threw it at Hades. It sank harmlessly into his robe.

At least he didn't throw it at Nico, Will thought in relief. It would have been, well, a really crappy moment for Percy to force Hades to show his hand how much he cared about his kid. It would show how great of an insult that was to Hades by what he did next.

"You should be helping Olympus!" I said. "All the other gods are fighting Typhon, and you're just sitting here—"

"Waiting things out," Hades finished.

"Not something I'd brag about," Nico muttered. Not voicing that at the time though was probably the actual reason he still had his head.

"Yes, that's correct. When's the last time Olympus ever helped me, half-blood?

It didn't feel great that Jason could kind of see his point though. Hades was outcasted unless he was needed. If Hades had shown up to that fight, darkness slinging, he might have just gotten a nod of thanks and then ignored again until the next solstice. What reason did he have to join in?

 When's the last time a child of mine was ever welcomed as a hero? Bah! Why should I rush out and help them? I'll stay here with my forces intact."

It was sadly not the worst argument Annabeth had ever heard, that honor still belonged to Percy defending his claim of rock skipping champion, but it was pretty high up there.

"And when Kronos comes after you?"

"Let him try. He'll be weakened. And my son here, Nico—" Hades looked at him with distaste.

Nico had kept his head bowed and carefully on the highly polished floor so he could only see the reflection and pretend it was just warped. Thanks Percy.

"Well, he's not much now, I'll grant you. It would've been better if Bianca had lived.

"If he talks shit to you one more time, I'm going to go malevolent on his ass," Alex said deep in the back of her throat.

Everybody decided they really didn't want to know what that meant, except for Nico it seemed as he opened his mouth curiously.

"Anyways!" Percy squeaked, but enough Alex heard him and gave a sigh.

But give him four more years of training. We can hold out that long, surely. Nico will turn sixteen, as the prophecy says, and then he will make the decision that will save the world. And I will be king of the gods."

"He'll be the only god left," Percy frowned.

"So technically, he's not wrong," Thalia shrugged.

"Demter's down there you single-minded-" Annabeth stopped and put her face in her hands in further exhaustion and groaned. Apparently she got crabby when she got no sleep for going on nine days.

"And a lot of the minor gods are running around too," Jason nodded. "Honestly Annabeth, I think Grover just ran off with their time-share brain cell."

Percy and Thalia exchanged a look. Those two were getting a little to comfortable.

"You're crazy," I said. "Kronos will crush you, right after he finishes pulverizing Olympus."

Hades spread his hands. "Well, you'll get a chance to find out, half-blood. Because you'll be waiting out this war in my dungeons."

Annabeth couldn't stop herself from flashing Nico another murderous look. Not just the 'if looks could kill kind' but genuinely her gray eyes seemed as if they could turn him to marble in a Medusa-worthy stare.

Then she sighed and turned back away and Nico kept breathing. The worst part? He was pretty sure that was her 'I'm less mad at you, but don't you ever do that again' face.

"No!" Nico said. "Father, that wasn't our agreement. And you haven't told me everything!"

"Thanks for trying man," Percy still couldn't say that like he meant it, but at least he nodded at him while managing not to roll his eyes.

"I don't take lightly to people not honoring their deals," Nico said it simply enough, but Percy got a gut sense. He remembered what The King of Ghosts had done to Minos. Percy had gotten out of there, and a sporadic rescue mission on Grover's part might not be the only hope for his future. Then he winced at a new stab of pain and quickly looked away.

"I've told you all you need to know," Hades said. "As for our agreement, I spoke with Jackson. I did not harm him. You got your information. If you had wanted a better deal, you should've made me swear on the Styx.

Why did that feel like the obvious answer to most of these problems and yet nobody used it, Magnus rolled his eyes. He really didn't want to say that to Nico though.

Now, go to your room!" He waved his hand, and Nico vanished.

"Where, where's your room?" Magnus asked with dread, thinking Hades was the kind of disciplinarian to throw Nico into a volcano to see if he survived that as well as the idiot son of Posideon could.

"With a great view of Elyusium," Nico said sullenly. He would have preferred the volcano idea.

The worst part was, he must have created that room on the spot too, because he'd explored the place numerous times. He'd found this view, but it had just been one of a stretch of windows that showed each corner of his father's domain so he could stand and view them all from one tower without turning his head to much he'd guess.

Now the circular room was decked out with a bed of deepest black silk with a gold frame and more jewels adjourning the other decorations than existed in a billionaire's brain. Nico had landed on the bed, looked out the window and known. His dad wanted him to see what Bianca had missed out on. What he should want. He'd passed the other options without glancing as he went to the door that was locked. Shadow travling hadn't worked.

Good thing his dad remembered to send up servants to feed him within a decent time frame, and he'd been practicing his invisibility in the shadows, even from creatures of the Underworld.

"That boy needs to eat more," Demeter grumbled. "He's too skinny. He needs more cereal."

Ah, that explained that, Nico scowled at his own thoughts. It hadn't even been his father. Possibly Demeter sending him up that bowl of cereal. Whatever. It had all worked out. He didn't care.

Gods, yes he did! If anyone in the pantheon shouldn't treat him this way, it should be the one god who knew how he'd feel! He'd definitely have to ask someone in here to confirm he wasn't nuts later when Hades came to help, because Nico had no clue what he'd done to manage that.

Persephone rolled her eyes. "Mother, enough with the cereal. My lord Hades, are you sure we can't let this little hero go? He's awfully brave."

"No, my dear. I've spared his life. That's enough."

"Under other conditions, I almost might agree," Thalia said with a torn expression this seemed generous to the point of absurd.

"Thanks Thals," Percy rolled his eyes.

"You can't say it's not true Percy," Will nodded too. "This does sound like Hades in a good mood."

"Yes, fine, we're all besties now!" Percy crossed his arms and leaned back so hard in his seat he tipped it over. Annabeth watched his feat kick around to get himself back upright with a long overdue smile.

I was sure she was going to stand up for me. The brave, beautiful Persephone was going to get me out of this.

She shrugged indifferently. "Fine. What's for breakfast? I'm starving."

"Does she not feed herself?" Alex frowned.

"I'm with Alex, she clearly has more than enough free time on her hands," Percy grumbled as he straightened out his beanbag.

Annabeth looked between the pair and decided against pointing out the actual problem of what had just been said there. It would fall on deaf ears.

"Cereal," Demeter said.

"Mother!" The two women disappeared in a swirl of flowers and wheat.

"Well at least she has a chance to avoid getting scurvy with that diet," Magnus frowned.

"Not you too Magnus," Annabeth looked at her cousin in betrayal.

Magnus shrugged without a drop of defense for himself. "Sorry cuz, I've learned it's just best to ride the crazy Alex train. Much more enjoyable."

"Choochoo," Percy said hopefully next to Annabeth's ear.

"You are all seriously lacking in something alright," but she couldn't stop herself from saying it with a chuckle.

"Don't feel too bad, Percy Jackson," Hades said. "My ghosts keep me well informed of Kronos's plans. I can assure you that you had no chance to stop him in time. By tonight, it will be too late for your precious Mount Olympus. The trap will be sprung."

Annabeth's breath still caught with more riveting attention than any building plans ever had captured her as Percy's attention switched from her goofy boyfriend to the child of the prophecy. How he went back to glowering at the book, to Hades, and what she knew would come out of his mouth. A demand he help his brethren, an accusation of how worthless Hades was. The kind of things only Percy would say to a god after he found out this kind of information wasn't being shared with those he cared about.

She didn't know how Alex kept reading as if nothing had changed except a slight rise of anger in her own voice.

"What trap?" I demanded. "If you know about it, do something! At least let me tell the other gods!"

Hades smiled. "You are spirited. I'll give you credit for that. Have fun in my dungeon. We'll check on you again in—oh, fifty or sixty years."

"I will not be middle-aged before I've gotten my license!" Was Percy's big protest to that.

"I will be," Thalia sighed.

"You don't count Thalia," Percy was instantly sidetracked, "you chose that problem."

The two fell off bickering like absolutely nothing new had happened in the span of an hour until Annaebth threatened to dump iced coffee on them to break it up.

It was such an engineer's dream really, Magnus chuckled as he watched Percy shrug and walk off to get the book while Thalia rolled her eyes and Annabeth gave her the 'stop instigating him look so I can go to bed.' The three really were their own cogs in each other's wheels that the other could always keep spinning.

[yonemurishiroku]

One of my most guilty pleasure of Percico is that Nico and Percy finally end up together and nobody’s happy about that (except for them, ofc).

Like. When people have this image of Percy and Annabeth as the perfect couple ingrained in their heads in a way that it makes them despise whatever leads to their breakup. Who takes the blame? Nico, obviously. Nobody likes him to begin with. How could they when all he does is ruining good, beautiful things?

Jason’s alr harsh on Percy as it is. Hazel is a whole other matter. She just hates everyone who hurts Nico. She knows Percy is a good guy, but still, she doesn’t like the outcome. It feels like Nico’s just getting himself hurt again, so she’s constantly on edge. Hades shares the same sentiment, albeit much deeper because he already hates Percy on principle. Likewise from Poseidon’s part.

Aww, how tragic.

And yet still, Percy and Nico stay together.

Maybe there’s something wrong with them - there’re definitely many things wrong with them - but they can’t bring themselves to care.

[vixnarts]

I don't normally like talking about personal stuff online but... I've been feeling... Angry lately like really angry. Maybe it's just me spending way too much time with the PJO fandom. I keep throwing things and I want to just cry. But any time I'm angry it's like Riordanverse related... It's like I can't do the things I want on my Insta page. Anytime I try doing something I want l get people whining at me. I do often blame myself for being a people pleaser but... Fans started complaining about me doing Jasico or attack me for having my take on Nico di Angelo as aroace. Like what's wrong with being aroace? Nothing!

They just want me to do Solangelo this and that because everyone else is doing it. I don't want to do that, I wanna do the things I want, not what they want. I feel like I'm a slave and I have to do the things that the fans say or they'll unfollow, block, and bully me. I love Percy Jackson and all but.. in the Hunger Games fandom I feel more carefree and the fans actually like my artwork and they don't mistreat me. They let me do what I can headcanon and whatever AU, that's what the THG fan base does. But when it's PJO, it's like how the fans do in the PJO fandom, they whine and bully. Fuck they even harass people for drawing the original trio from the books on Twitter (Of course it has to be that platform where everyone is mental..) What the flying hell is wrong with you people!!?

Bullying someone or even a young CHILD for having an opinion and wanting to draw the book version? If people can't draw the book version, then why is everyone drawing both movie and book versions of Harry Potter? Explain that to me? Also the Percy Jackson fandom is by far the worst fandom I've ever seen. It's just as bad as the Harry Potter fandom (do not get me started with that atrocity of a fan base)

I don't hate good Percy Jackson and Harry Potter fans, I'm just so tired of being treated like I can't do the things I want. I can't headcanon Nico as aroace and I can't have an AU where Jason and Percy hate each other. I'm honestly just tired of the Percy Jackson fans bullshit, picking on other fans because they have a unpopular opinion or they can't draw their take on percabeth. I'm tired of toxicity and toxic people that crumple other people's enjoyment. I'm tired of being bullied, having people spread stuff about me behind my backs (I'm looking at you HTTYD fans on Instagram), cyber stalking, and having my work reposted to be shit on because its an OC of mine.

Hopefully the Hunger Games fandom is at least not as toxic as the Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, MLP, and HTTYD fandoms. Just to know, I'm not pointing fingers at good fans, they have nothing to do with this. I'm pointing at the toxicity and the bullying these toxic crybabies do to destroy people's enjoyment. It's okay to have headcanons on said character, it's normal. It doesn't go against canon, just let ppl have their fun..

[wrongcaitlyn]

hiiiii tawny I had free time for the first time in like WEEKS and so I caught up on your solangelo au week posts and now for my thoughts:

so american: YES. I LOVE. SO WORTH THE WAIT. NO THOUGHTS HEAD EMPTY THE VIBES WERE VIBING. I read this as soon as it came out so the thoughts have left my head but trust I loved it.

renegades au: omg I love it. v v excited to see where it goes. also may have convinced me that I need to read renegades?? but I love the dynamic that the anarchists have. also I love scientist percy for some reason like it’s def not the easiest power you could’ve went with but I like the idea of him being a more behind-the-scenes guy bc I think that’s what he’d choose for himself if given the chance. also your percabeth dynamics are on point in literally every fic from this week (even tho they’re just in the background lmao).

new rome au: I think this route for nico is like. actually way more plausible than what happened canonically. like he DOES have way more friends in new rome than in chb. dont get me wrong im glad he stayed in canon but this was SO INTERESTING. I love the idea of nico healing on his own and separate from will. I feel like it takes away some of the… unhealthy codependency of their relationship LOL. once again the percabeth dynamics🫶🏻 also I feel like some space from percy and then seeing him while he and annabeth are in college more often would be good for their friendship??? like idk I am a big fan of taking ur space when needed. also risk is SUCH a will song. boy was in love with a dude before they even had a conversation.

nerds au: as a nerd a nerds au is something that can be so special LMAO I love this dynamic perhaps bc it is also my life (esp in hs). all of the character dynamics in this fic were just. chef’s kiss. I loved. I think you translated nico’s unhealthy habits from canon into a hs au in a really interesting, believable way bc nico WOULD stay up late to do hw out of spite. maybe not canon nico but a nico who grew up in the (possible public) school system. also I love the quiz bowl addition (at my hs it was called scholar bowl so sorry if I type that instead LOL) bc I had so much fun in quiz bowl. I made some of my best friends thru it :) are u in quiz bowl?!? the rules were way too accurate to be written by someone unfamiliar with it lol.

long story short I love all ur fics and will forever be excited to see an update to any one of them <3

oh my GOD. you have literally made me die dead. kicking my feet and giggling at this AHHGSDF

i'm SO glad that you liked so american!!!! was highly anticipating ur response bc u convinced me to actually write it so!!!! i'm so happy <33

ABSOLUTELY READ RENEGADES. srsly it's such a good series like i will recommend it to EVERYONE. the anarchists dynamic is so😭😭 keep in mind that this is a heavy au of renegades, so the dynamic is slightly different (+ a very different ending in the series, i took a lot of creative liberties) but i'm so glad that you liked it!! and YESLKSDJF i just realized that i had background percabeth in all of my solangelo week fics. which like. THEYRE SO ICONIC THEY HAVE TO BE EVERYWHERE i think there are some couples that i absolutely LOVE but i prefer to actually write them as background couples?? like i obsess over their dynamics, but i like it from an outsider's perspective and not as the main plotline (at least when writing fics) so i very much enjoyed including them in all of these

honestly SAME with the new rome au. like. absolutely love that nico managed to make a home in chb, but like?? reyna jason AND hazel were all in new rome... i honestly wouldn't have blamed him if he took that opportunity instead!!! i think this would be a really cool au to expand on and like actually make a full multichap but i am trying desperately to not turn everything into 100k monstrosities. i tried limiting myself to 5k words and didn't even manage that so. but i definitely think he would've grown a lot + gotten some healthier coping mechanisms when living with all of his friends, then meeting percy a year later, and THEN going into a relationship with will - and ofc, will is happy with whatever ends with a solangelo endgame. he's their own number one shipper!!

I'M SO GLAD U LIKED THE NERDS AU nico's characterization was definitely something that i considered (and, tbh, that i consider in all au's, because trauma and coping mechanisms do not often translate the exact same over universes - characters are always going to behave slightly different in other situations, so it's always exciting to see how that works!!). one thing that DOES translate throughout every universe is that he has no semblance of a sleep schedule; this time it's just due to hw instead of tartarus nightmares! SAME WITH THE QUIZ BOWL and yes i am part of the club!!! genuinely made my friend group through that, and we actually did what was in the fic irl - as in, we made a discord server and like quizzed each other over that. my team lost be an insane amount. i am nowhere near as skilled as nico and will. i maybe have gotten, like, 4 questions right in my two years of being part of the club (though i will use the excuse that my anxiety makes it VERY hard to hit the buzzer. i hate being wrong more than not answeringslkdf) but!!!! i do think nico and will would SLAY at quiz bowl, they both definitely feel like people who have random encyclopedic knowledge on the most niche topics

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH ILY <333

[hoesidon]

Reasons as to why I think Will has a one-sided beef with Percy that doesn't include Nico's previous crush on him:

Will, like many characters in the series I'm sure of, didn't find Percy that interesting at first. Like sure he's 12 and killed a minotaur and is a son of poseidon but like??? What else does he got going on?

He's only been at camp for a few summers and he's already finding ways to sneak away on someone else's quest. Like c'mon man save a quest for someone else

Percy has such a shitty aim that he accidentally shot Will with a bow and arrow once

Percy never picks Apollo cabin for capture the flag and the few times they're on a team together they lose. Like look just ONCE Will would like to either beat Posedion or be on his team and Win. Just ONCE

Will is TIRED of bandaging Percy up. The guy NEVER takes his health advice

Percy isn't allowed to play music with the Apollo cabin because he's so bad at it and hurts their ears

Will knows Percy isn't to blame for Michael's death but it's still hard to look at him sometimes. Especially with the whole "every Apollo head counselor has died" curse. Lee fletcher died I think somewhere around the 3rd or 4th book, Michael Yew died maybe a year tops after he took over for Lee. And since it's described in the book as a curse I'm gonna go ahead and say that it's happened before Lee as well. ANYWAY, Will is terrified of the curse and he kinda got forced into being the head counselor so shortly after Michael's death he hadn't really had time to cope.

Will let Annabeth borrow his sun chariot to look for him and she crashed it. Not technically Percy's fault but he's still upset about it.

But the icing on the cake?? Percy dragged and dropped Apollo off at CHB like a stray and LEFT. Hauled ass away from camp and didn't looked back. That alone is reason enough.

[thesungod]

Do you have any Hera meta you would like to expand on , maybe in relation to what a relationship with Apollo would look like

anon… do u share my brand of insanity or are u just indulging me.

as far as Hera meta goes, my main point is that she’s not a villain in the true sense of the word: i think she’s tolerant of humans and the consideration she generally has for demigods is the consideration she’d have for ants. and honestly, she’s truly one of the few gods who’s entitled to feel that way, considering that she’s not responsible for siring them and would rather the others didn’t. obviously she has exceptions (demigods/humans she really likes and demigods/humans she really hates) and she’s wrong for taking revenge on Zeus’ mistresses but overall she’s just not that bad. ya feel me?

she’s also shown to feel genuine love for Jason which brings the count of people who have actually felt genuine love for Jason in canon up to three lmao (Piper-Leo-Hera). Nico exists in a grey area and you got to have some respect for that.

so anyways, she was actually pretty smart to swap Percy and Jason and she managed to keep it under the rug for longer than what would be expected. obviously it was wrong of her to use them as puppets for her strings but she’s not nearly alone in that. Apollo confirms in ToA that it is simply the way gods treat demigods. In my view, she sucks but she doesn’t Especially Sucks.

i also have endless sympathy for Hera having to tolerate her husband’s infidelity and (so clearly implied they might as well say it) abuse. she’s just. an unhappy woman, dare i say the unhappiest olympian god, and i think she has been so for so long that she has forgotten what anything else feels like. does she have friends? she certainly doesn’t have lovers, and while that may have initially been a commitment of love, it must have gotten pretty lonely over the years. she’s portrayed as icy and dignified and distant, the godliest of the gods, the one who most clearly represents the divide between mortals and immortals, and i ask myself how much of that is her real personality, and how much is the result of bitterness and isolation.

imagine: Hera regretting the fact that she’s made so many enemies once, when she felt untouchable and at her peak, because she’s just alone now, but what’s done is done so what can she do?

Hera never quite fitting in with other deities and really, who can blame them.

Hera having spent such a long time not even considering the idea of romantic love for herself and being so stunted that when she starts falling for Apollo, she doesn’t even notice. she simply cannot believe it. doesn’t even dare to think it.

she feels that feeling. the one where you a crush on someone after a really long time and you are all giddy and excited, not because you think it may be reciprocated, but because it’s new and thrilling to desire someone. she’s a high school girl wanting to be asked to prom.

now, let’s suppose it all happens because her and Apollo start sleeping together to spite Zeus as per my headcanon, and she inexplicably begins to want him for more than just revenge: she would would be so angry because she cares more, she’s far more into it, she’s utterly taken by him. at the end of the day, what they do is nothing particularly new for him (except for the “if he catches us i’m dead” part ig lmao) but it’s all brand new never heard before for her!! and her pride would be hurt!! but what are you gonna do about it!!

and now let’s suppose that at one point he starts caring back, and he treats her well and she hasn’t been treated well in centuries. so she gets carefree, and she gets reckless and she catches herself fixing her hair before the Olympian Council so that he sees her at her best!! imagine how humiliating that is for her!! she’s the Queen of Olympus she’s the Queen of the gods she’s the Ruler of the world and he’s literally just a guy!! she should hit him with her car!!

instead, she finds herself in his car, having been convinced to take a ride with the sun chariot for the first time ever while he’s babbling about… she doesn’t even know, talking horses trying to kill him? because that’s something that happened? apparently? and he has his stupid shades on and she feels like a high school girl actually getting asked to prom.

and for the unhappiest goddess of the Council, that’s a really magnificent feeling.

[love-nakamura]

Hi

For the character ask game, Percy Jackson numbers 4 and 18?

first of all HI FRIEND<33 thank you for asking you are so brave and amazing and I love you

[so the thing about Percy is 1. I love him and 2. I havent read the source material in.... Years.. but I shall answer most honestly]

4: If I could put Percy in any other media where would I put him?

a) technically he does have 2 movies hes in a TV show now my baby!!!!!!

b) actually I think this question is asking if I could put him in another world maybe..?

If so, with the pre-requisit he travels with Annabeth, I would honestly love to see him in a Brandon Sanderson universe, specifically the Reckoners series. I think it would be interesting to see him fight other People with 'powers' rather than gods/non humans.

All of the Percy Jackson series in my head always has people fighting for causes that are blamed on a higher power or another group/being (eg. the fights, although against another demigods, are people who side with demigods vs people who side with gods, titans, monsters, etc. to fulfill human desires/pride... yet at the same time these guys are being manipulated by others... ) and I would love to see him navigate slightly more human-blamed causes and issues!!

Also he would just be so cool and strong!!!!! hahah

18) A relationship Percy has in canon that I admire

all of them m...... Percy has great chemistry with Everyone, but two more specifically:

a) Grover. I think theres so much missed potential tbh in the series as time goes on. Grover is like a full ass adult but theyre also best friends. technically Grover lied by omission to percy for like the start and basis of their friendship but also they have an emotional and mental bond that connects them for life. they have saved each others lives a hundred times over. theyre brothers. also theyre stupid.

I think Grover must have felt a lot of like.. fakeness? Imposter syndrome? at first because dude hes basically a spy whos in charge of taking care of this kid, specifically a kid who reminds you a lot about a kid he Failed before.... and yet Percy forgives him and loves him and the fact that hes a half goat and an adult is like hey whatever since we're friends

It speaks a lot about Percy's character (and his loyalty) to me and also if you've read the other series you'll know Grover doesn't really go on quests anymore/show up a lot and yet their love for each other is still there and hey thats what friendship is yeah?

b) Nico. AHHH NICO *ahem* anyways. I Love Percy and Nicos relationship. one sided crush, percy is So Cool and like the Awesome Older Guy™ you know whose like..??? everything to you?? and also you're Gay and Percy freaking Hurt you and you feel like he was Wrong and Broke a Promise to you but you also realize as you grow older that guy is Literally Just A Guy™ and a Child at that.. and for Percy like.... this kid who looks up to you and hey this is actually like..? the First time in your life where someone explicitly states they think youre cool and a good role model and that Pressure!! and you feel that responsibility but also youre like 14????

and then later when you both get older you realize that the other person is so much more than you can ever see or understand and the portrait you had of them in your head barely scratches the surface and thats a Good thing because it means that people are so much greater than you knew and your past does not define you and moving on from something doesnt mean you dont love it anymore

I think Percy and Nico's relationship is admirable because theres so much forgiveness (both for each other and for themselves as they navigate what it means to have/make/maintain relationships with people that you've never experienced before) and thats beautiful to me.

this was Super Fun and I hope you have a wonderful day muah <3333