"You are not taking my little sister to the underworld. Nah-ah not gonna happen. When you brought me there your dad tried to imprison me. Remember?" Percy yelled pacing the room
"I won't let her get harmed Percy I'm not a child anymore I can tell when my father's being deceitful," Nico commented looking, board.
"That's beside the point Di Angelo I don't trust your father! Frankly I don't trust any of the gods but especially not Hades!" My brother screamed his facing turning red with anger.
"Hades has changed since the last two wars. He keeps his word...in his own twisted way...but he keeps it none the less. I'd do it for you, Jackson. If you asked me to go into the sea to meet your father I wouldn't question it...not anymore there was a time when I would've cause I hated you. I blamed you for Bianca's death or at least I thought I did I really blamed myself because I couldn't understand this world it'd changed so much and Bianca wasn't there to help me...and...and I liked you. The feeling all got confused and conflicted made me act stupid but I'm not that kid anymore...why can't you trust me?" Nico pleaded.
"Because she's my little sister. People die when we leave camp Nick. Why do you think I never let her be picked for quests!" Percy yelled them paused looking somewhat guilty...
"So you mean...that I've been cooped up here for years not allowed go on a quest because you wouldn't let it happen!" I stated through gritted teeth.
Percy froze where he stood. Guilt smothered his face as he hung his head low avoiding eye contact with me at all costs. "I was afraid to lose you...I still am. You and Annabeth, you're the two people I couldn't bear to lose." He muttered
"Percy I don't need your constant protection. I'm not a baby anymore. For god's sake, I'm almost seventeen. That's like twenty for people like us. It's rare for demigods to live this long. I've trained every day since I was eight. I can defend myself. You know why? Because you and Annabeth thought me to fight. I'd two of the greatest heroes of our generation teach me. I'm not weak. I can look after myself you have to stop babying me." I explained taking his hands in mine. "You'll always be my big brother nothing can change that but you can't protect me forever."
"I can try..." He mumbled under his breath making my blood boil
"So you don't think I could defend myself or Nico if it came down to it?"
"That's not what I'm saying, Soph!"
"It seems like it is. Typical Mr I save the world twice wants to keep all the glory to himself? Is that what this is, you enjoy the spotlight sooooo much that you're withholding it from the rest of us?" I screamed my body shaking.
"I can go and come back later!" Nico made a gesture towards the door.
"No sit!" I and Percy yelled in unison. Nico sat down straight away with a terrified look on his face. Were we really that scary when we fought?
"I'm not selfish Soph I don't want glory hell I wish the gods would stop relying on me. I just don't want you to get hurt by one of their twisted games." He sighed stepping closer to me on my for me to step away
"Don't you see that keeping me here...that it's hurting me" The betrayal I felt was evident in my voice. How could my own brother not believe in me?
Percy froze in thought for a moment burying his head in his hands releasing an exasperated sigh.
"What if you're not ready?"
"Then let me prove myself. You went to find the lightning bolt with little to no training and here you are now." I walk toward him and hugged my brother. Despite our differences and our disagreements, I love Percy and I know he loves me. "Let me show you...I can do this"
"Fine. Di Angelo. Swear upon the river Styx that you will protect Soph against your father if it comes to it."
Nico looked me straight in the eye then looked my brother with his signature smirk plastered on his face.
"I would die before I let your sister get hurt. I wouldn't put you through what I felt when Bianca died" Oh...that was harsh I knew Percy still felt terrible about the whole Bianca situation. The whole thing was like pouring salt on an open wound. Overall a terrible idea. The atmosphere in the room became tense.
"How many time do I have to say I'm sorry! I tried to stop her!" Percy pleaded
"I know man. But anyway yes I promise. Soph we should head my father isn't a patient man" Nico stated taking my hand.
"How are we gonna get there?" I questioned looking at him confused before glancing back at Percy. Nico was dragging me towards the shadows in the far corner of the infirmary.
As the darkness consumed us I heard Percy yell after us.
"You two behave now I don't want no nieces or nephews!" My blood would've been boiling if the sudden jolt I felt hadn't made me wanna vomit so much.
"Hey little mermaid, you feeling okay?" Nico asked as we stood at the gates outside Hades' palace. The stench of death made my skin crawl.
"Umm yeah...what was that?"
"Shadow travel it's the fastest way to get most places. Takes a while to get used too. Come on my dad should be waiting in the throne room" He stated his face resting in a neutral form making it extremely difficult to read how he felt about our current situation.
"Okay so. Lead the way bone head" I smiled as Nico took my hand and led me toward the large gothic building. Despite everything being dark and dull I couldn't help but admire the infrastructure of the place. All the gothic detailing was beautiful. I was honestly in heaven I wanted to live here...was this how the Hades cabin looked like on the inside? I need to compare them when we get back.
After ten minutes of corridors and beautifully painted rows of pottery with black roses filling them, we appeared in the throne room. A rather bored looking Hades sat in a slouched position on the throne with Persephone to his right playing with a few Peonies turning them into a flower crown.
"Ah, it's about time!" Hades voice boomed through the hall. Nico led us to just in front of the thrones we got down on one knee in a sign of respect to both gods. I have to say I was slightly intimidated by both of them as they just oozed power.
"Father. Persephone"
"Lord Hades. Lady Persephone" We greeted. Persephone now looked somewhat distracted as she tried to listen in on what was about to be said while continuing to make her flower crown.
"Please, children take a seat" Hades waved his hand and instantly chairs made of bone...human bones formed behind us. We took our seats and looked toward the Lord of the dead with clear confusion.
"First things first I'm glad to finally meet you, Sophia. In person I mean. Secondly. Hera has been kidnapped and my brother blames me and Poseidon for this. We need you two to go find her before its too late. Hera may seem unimportant on the surface but she is the only Olympian who can keep balance among us all. She is the most rational next to Athena. Unfortunately, it appears that Apollo's connection with the oracle of Delphi seems to have been compromised. Since Hera's disappearance, he's been unable to contact Rachel Elizabeth Dare which can only mean one thing..."
"She too has been taken." Apollo states dramatically coming out from nowhere.
"What does it have to do with us?" I questioned rather confused.
"You and di Angelo are going to go on a quest child it's rather simple" Persephone states rolling her eyes.
"What is the prophecy?" Nico questioned taking my hand and giving it a tight squeeze. Prophecies are never good. And they always lead to more trouble than they're worth.
"That's what's weird there is none. I can not see. I did receive a vision of you two standing on a cliff looking down at the sea yet I could hear three heartbeats..."Apollo stated. Hades looked over his eyebrows furrowed as if he was pondering an impossible idea.
"You don't think..."Persephone gasped dropping the crown. "She wouldn't?"
"I can already sense it. Its life force is small but it's there." Hades confirmed all three gods eyes saddening a little.
"Sense what?" I questioned as Nico froze unmovingly and not speaking. Until our eyes connected.
"It's nothing we'll head back to camp and talk to Chiron...thanks again father's this was super unproductive as always. Apollo Persephone." Nico muttered standing up taking my hand and exiting the throne room before he stopped and turned to look back at his dad who wore a saddened expression. "Did Hera do this?" He asked only to receive a nodded from all three gods before he stormed out.
"Yous are staying the night with all the gods searching for Hera and the hunters not dealing with monsters it'd be unwise for you to shadow travel. Especially seems as you appear to be tired son. To shadow travel multiple people back to camp would result in yous getting hurt. I forbid you to travel for now. Your bedroom is prepared and untouched."Hades stated the command clear in his voice.
"Fine but I'll get myself and Sophia dinner. Now we've some business to attend to." Nico replied through gritted teeth. He was clearly mad as to why I don't know.
We walked out of the palace and out into the underworld. Was took a stroll down to the banks of the river Styx. It was surprisingly peaceful.
"Oh yeah...I tried to establish a connection and find your mother...I tried seems like she choose rebirth a few years ago. Sorry I didn't bring you down sooner." Nico whispered looking out at the souls that were being ferried across the river.
"Oh..well that's okay maybe I'm better off not knowing." I smiled at him despite my heart being broken into hundredth pieces I always imagined meeting my real mum at some point after Nico told me he was a son of Hades. I guess it's for the best. Some questions shouldn't be answered.
"This is gonna be the last bit of peace we see for a while isn't it?" I sighed its rather ungodly that the gods would wait before getting the demigods to begin searching for Hera. Surely they'd rather us out there looking.
"You're probably right. I never found this place to be the most relaxing I guess it's the company that helps." He smiled then be gain playing with the hem of his aviator jacket. He'd changed so much since Will Solace had cheated on him. Somehow softer yet more guarded. I was one of the few lucky people who got to see the really Nico.
We just stood there staring out into the depths if the river Styx just enjoying the silence and each others company, that was until a hellhound came running at us and knocked me into the river. I seriously just need to stay away from water.
