Ta-da! Sequel to The Shadows of a Heart. I plan to make the books into five different stories for convenience sake. All rights to the books belong to Rick Riordan. Please review with suggestions, questions, or anything else to help me improve the story. :)

"You are hereby sentenced to the Fields of Punishment."

"How dare you?!" The soul of the man on trial shouted. They always resisted. "A brat like you has no right to judge me! Where is the Lord of the Underworld?!"

"He does not find he is necessary to judge a soul such as you. Besides. He has declared me the King of Souls, and I am more than enough to deem you unworthy of even the Fields of Asphodel. Have you a final statement?" The spirit growled and gritted his teeth. Suddenly he launched forward, the anger in his soul resisting. The Soul King waved his hand, unconcerned, and suddenly the soul was wrapped in chains coming from the ground, walls and ceiling. This was his realm, and no soul could possibly harm him.

"I'll take that as a no," He said calmly. He raised his black staff and slammed it against the ground next to him, the pounding sound reverberating throughout the room. The spirit and the chains began to glow before they disappeared, sending the soul to his punishment.

"Sire, you have a guest," A skeleton said to him.

"Send them in." The skeleton crumbled, disappearing, and after a moment the large double doors to the room opened slowly on their own, but a figure pushed them open further impatiently.

"Hello, Soul King!" A cheery woman's voice called, emphasizing his title in a mocking way. Seriously, ever since he was given the title, his friends would not shut up about it and how it didn't seem like him. He was only a teenager, after all, and they knew him better than anyone else. If anyone else was addressing him with such a teasing tone, they would be blasted to oblivion already, but a smile creeped across his face as he stood from his throne.

"Zyanya. What are you doing here?"

"Picking you up, sweetheart. It's time. I've already informed your father, so no need to worry about being absent to your duties. Let's go to your room, pack, and then hit the road!"

"And where have you been for the past few months? I've had Audrey and Emily come visit, but you literally came maybe twice, three times at most." She slumped dramatically.

"Excuse me if I was helping out with the Argo II. We have half the time expected to create the thing, and Leo wants to make sure that it's to our liking. Besides, you've handled yourself just fine. Don't need me to hold your hand through everything, do you? And anyways, I'm here now, so come on! I'd love to see what you've done with the place." He smiled and followed her out.

"So how've you been?"

"Normal, if normal means working my arse off following Leo's instructions and making the Argo II while also dealing with a goddess constantly bickering in my head. She's quieted down a bit more than the last time you saw us, so you get to deal with my wondrous human personality more often."

"Oh, how lucky I am," He said sarcastically. She shoved him, and clearly she hadn't lost the goddess's strength even if the goddess was settling down within her.

"You know you love me."

"Who wouldn't?" He crossed his arms and kept up a scowl as best he could, but on the inside he really meant it. "Oh, this is my room. Come on." He opened the door and walked in, setting his staff against the wall before snapping. Lights snapped on, the one on the ceiling light purple, while the one on the nightstand was light green. The room looked like it came out of a mansion, but it was the room for the Prince of the Underworld, so it was understandable. There was a queen sized bed with disheveled black sheets (of course he didn't bother making his bed most mornings; he was still a lazy teenaged human, and old habits die hard), a flat screen across from it with a dresser beneath, and a bay window on the opposite side of the room showing a view of the Fields of Asphodel. Against the wall were two pianos, one an electric keyboard, and the other a literal grand piano. Music played throughout the room, seemingly from everywhere with no discernible music source.

"Love the piano," Zy said, sitting down at the grand piano and cracking her knuckles. The music playing throughout the room silenced as she began to play the keys, but when she played, the notes weren't that of a piano, but of a…guitar? If she wanted to mimic different instruments, that was what the electric keyboard was for. But then multiple instruments played at once, and that was certainly not possible with the electric keyboard. She began to play "Obstacles" by Syd Matters, her hands moving across the keys impossibly fast, but she seemed relaxed and barely concentrating as all parts of the song played smoothly.

"Let's say sunshine for everyone…" She began and he sat down next to her as she played. She swayed to the beat as she sung, and nudged for him to join her. He rolled his eyes, but by the next stanza he opened his mouth to sing too.

"Someday, we will foresee obstacles…" As they reached a part where no lyrics were sung, she scooted farther down the piano bench and motioned for him to start playing. He looked at her incredulously - he barely knew how to play, not to mention how to play a piano with multiple instruments coming out. She rolled her eyes as though obviously he knew how to play like an expert, and suddenly his hands were tugged against his will and onto the keys before playing the notes perfectly. She smiled and continued the song, moving to the next part.

"We played hide and seek in waterfalls…" His hands moved without his consent, but he began to fall into a zen, allowing his instincts to take over, his hands to play on their own, and the song to flow through his mind. Before he knew it, the song was over and his hands suddenly felt heavier, freed from that force that allowed them to flow across the keys so effortlessly. Then he realized Zy was leaning against him, a bit close for comfort, and then her hand slid to his, barely brushing it, but enough to make him warm in embarrassment. He couldn't tell if she liked him or just found him her best friend, and even after he'd kissed her all those months ago, she acted as though it had never happened.

"W-What was that?" He asked.

"Compensation for not visiting as often as I promised. And a "welcome-back-congratulations-on-being-promoted-to-Soul-King-now-let's-go-on-another-life-threatening-trip" present." He laughed and she smiled deep in thought. Suddenly she jumped up and grabbed his hand for him to do the same. "Just wait until you see what Audrey and Emily have planned. Come on. Grab what you think is essential, put it in a bag and let's move!" He laughed again, but complied.

It had been six months since he'd come to the Underworld to live and work for his father, and now it was time for him to continue as Zyanya's agent, working to help fulfill the prophecy and save the world. Great. Wonderful. He really did wonder why she hadn't come and visited him more often, even though she'd promised she would. To be honest, he was hoping he'd get more time with her, though he was okay with whatever she wanted. Still, he wasn't even sure about their current relationship status at the moment. If the goddess had anything to say about it, he was never gonna date her host. But hey, she hadn't said no either. She just said it would be a while. He collapsed face first onto his bed, exhausted at just the thought. He felt the bed shift as she sat down next to him and laid back into his pillows. Clearly she was just as tired about something.

"Do we have to leave right now?" He asked, his voice muffled by the sheets.

"My, and here I thought you were the high and mighty Soul King."

"I'm off duty." She laughed.

"No problem. We're not expected to be back until tomorrow, anyway, but Audrey said I should try and get you back as soon as possible. She and Em are eager to see how life's been for you."

"Souls to judge, powers to learn, etc. Done."

"Tell that to them, not me."

"Well I'm going to sleep." He snapped his fingers and the lights shut off. He felt shuffling and then was pulled up to lay properly on the bed. He was looking forward to seeing his friends again, seeing how they've grown and showing them what he's learned. He knew how to be serious for his job in judging souls, but it was nice to act like a normal teenager again. Still, there was a nagging feeling of dread trying to eat away at him. The prophecy of the pit, or the Tartarus, still had yet to be solved or fulfilled, and all he knew was that it meant trouble for him. He pushed it to the back of his mind for now. Now, he had to focus on being the protector that Zyanya chose him for and assisting her in fulfilling the Great Prophecy and the demigods involved. He was going to see his friends tomorrow, and nothing else really mattered. Things would be fine.

First Person: Lucy

Things were so not fine. These six months had gone by so slowly yet so fast. I wanted to visit him, I really did, but I'd only be reminded of what I had to do. I knew it had to happen, I knew it had to be done, but I still felt terrible about it. Gods, it was gonna tear me up inside. I swallowed the feelings as long as he wasn't there, and with Zyanya's help, but now that I was here and with him, I'm not sure I'd be able to hold out. There was no excuse for it, and even if he made it through the trials, would that even ensure happiness to him? Would he hate me when he learns the truth? I didn't want that, I never would, but I went with this anyway. I knew the alternative. All or nothing. But then again, would failing and having him die save him from an eternity of pain that was in store for him? Which would truly be better? Release, or survival?

"You must stop such thoughts," Zyanya mentally told me, and I took a deep breath, brushing a stray hair out of his face. I really shouldn't be watching him sleep like a stalker, but this may be the last time he rests peacefully for a long time, maybe forever.

"I know. I'm trying."

"Maybe not hard enough. I chose you as a host because I believed you were above this."

"I am! I…It's just that you're weakening is flooding me with emotion I haven't had to face in a while. I'll handle it."

"I shall hold you to that. We cannot have you getting all emotional during these delicate times."

"Of course. Understood."

"Zyanya," A voice said behind us. We turned to look at Hades who had silently appeared in the room. I wasn't surprised to see him. "As per our agreement?"

"She shall be returned to you once he's gone. Tomorrow. However, it seems she wishes to remain by his side. Here." I removed his mother's ring from him and tossed it to Hades. He examined it for a moment, speaking to the soul inside. "It is up to you whether you want her here or with him." Hades stared at the ring for a moment longer before tossing it back to me.

"If there is any human within you, Zyanya, I hope that you shall do everything in your power to help him. Ultimately, the decision and trials must be conquered by him, but…"

"Yes, I know, Hades. I want him to survive this just as much as you. The human within me can promise that she's…terrified for him. But she can also say this. I promise on the River Styx, that I will do everything in my power to help him through this."

"Thank you."

"Thank you. I can't speak for him, but…this option is better than the alternative."

"I have a query for you, the human within you. Let me speak to her alone, if that's okay." I nodded and then felt Zyanya retreating.

"She's asleep. What…what's up?"

"Do you care for him? Not just as the one you require, and not just as a friend?"

"I…yeah. I'm afraid for him, terrified, but not only by what he may have to go through, but also that he'll hate me for it."

"As long as you watch out for him, make sure that he survives this no matter what, then know that I believe you have his best intentions at heart."

"Thank you, Hades."

"Do not break his heart if you can avoid doing so."

"Believe me, I'd trade places with him if I could, but I can't. I want nothing more than for his happiness and survival."

"That's all I need to know. And keep that goddess within you under control. She cares not for the suffering he must go through to prepare him for the trials, and the suffering the trials themselves will present. She wants him to succeed, but this is all a game to her, whether she wins or loses, and I hope the human in you can influence her. Farewell. I'm putting much trust in you, and I hope it isn't for naught." The god darkened to become a shadow which then dissolved and disappeared. I laid back down next to Veon, staring at his calm face while he slept. No matter how many promises I make, no matter how much I wish I could have my way, it was all up to him in the end. And now, realization struck me.

I realized this here, this night, was quite literally the beginning of the end.