A/N: Okay, dudes. I have quite a few fanfics I have written, but have not been perfected. This is my first one about Nico diAngelo. I hope you like it. Read & Review! Takes place in a world without the HoO series, sorry. This is after the Titan War. Like, six months later. Overused topic idea, but whatever. Ha-ha, I'm eating icecream! Jealous?

I trudged my way through the fields of Asphodel. There were so many spirits here, and so very little in the Isles of the Blest. It was thouroughly depressing.

I was making my way towards my father's palace. I would've shadow-traveled, but the effort would've made me bone-tired.

It was winter, so Persephone would be there.

Persephone... detests me. Never hate, oh, no. Never hate. Detests, dislikes; those all fit Persephone's opinion of Nico diAngelo. She doesn't like me because Hades is my dad; naturally, she wouldn't like me.

I was nearly at the gates, and I could see the Furies -sorry, 'Kindly Ones'; names have power- crouching in the black poplar trees.

I melted right through the gates, and into the large palace complex. It was black and bronze; almost an exact replica of Mount Olympus, except for the depressing atmosphere this version held.

Hades sat regally on his throne, with his wife at his side. Persephone looked bored. Like, oh-my-gods-kill-me-now-gag-me-with-a-spoon-bored. The kind of bored I often felt at the military school I once attended. But then Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, and Grover rescued me and... No, I would not think about my sister, Bianca. It was too painful, even now, a few years later.

Aw, man. I suck at blocking thoughts out of my head. I seriously suck.

I bowed respectfully at my father, then at Persephone (which was involuntary; but neccessary).

"Lord Hades, Lady Persephone," I addressed them. Persephone smirked as if my being respectful toward her had made her somewhat pleased in some sick way.

"Nico, pleasure to see you again, son." Hades held so much hostile intensity in his strong gaze, it would drive many insane, but it only succeeded in reminding me that I was kin of someone very powerful.

"We summoned you here, well, because we, ahem Persephone, was concerned on your well-being. She thought it may be proper for you to attend a regular mortal public school, with average mortals."

My jaw dropped. My mind couldn't even form a complete thought except one: this little idea, brewed up by Persephone, would never work for whatever purpose she has planned.

"W-What? No!" I protested.

My father nodded grimly, as if the idea made him uneasy as well. "Yes. A regular school in a small beach town in Southern California."

Persephone smiled. "Oh, it's lovely there! Wonderful hibiscus plants, you know. Plenty of sunshine. Oh, you'll love it there!" I stared at her. Was she trying to play dumb with me? Ignorant?! Or was she naturally this way?

"I think... I think it would be good for you if you reacted to normal situations in a mortal way. It might relieve you of some of your... rather stressful current predicament."

"I refuse to! No!"

"It is done, Nico. Tomorrow, you will wake up in an alley in Southern California. You will be provided with school supplies and some funds to support you for a small period of time. Then, you will earn your way into the world. Don't worry about monsters. And you are already enrolled in the junior high, thanks to Alecto. You get your schedule from the office, from there... try to fit in"

I was shocked. I rubbed my eyes, trying to rub away this terrible nightmare. Dang, if only I was dreaming.

"Goodbye, my son." And just like that, I slipped into a slumber.