A/N: Hey, all! This is my first Percy Jackson fanfic, and I liked the thought of having a second character, besides the fact that I like Hades. Having a child of Hades was my best choice. My friend is likely to write a story (that I will probably post up) about his own character, Jolt, and what happens on his end. He's going to show up in this fanfiction on occasion, of course, but I should probably end this A/N before people get annoyed at the length. So, enjoy the first installment of The Chain Girl!

Chapter 1

A Thief at the Winter Solstice

I remember how it all began, the tale of Perseus Jackson. Perseus Jackson has told his version of the story, but I fear that it was not entirely accurate. As far as I remember, I had been permitted to join my father at the Winter Solstice, and that is where I shall begin.

The Winter Solstice is a very tense meeting of all Olympians. My father has no throne and is rarely seen on Mount Olympus. Sometimes, he shows up to harass his brother and he is not well-liked. That morning, I had gotten ready for a day taking his place. I normally took over the Underworld once a year (the Winter Solstice) to get some experience. However, I was told to put on a nice traveling cloak, as Father was taking me to the Winter Solstice. I was confused, as he had never really taken me before. My eyes must have betrayed my confusion, as he smirked and pat my head as he normally did when I amused him. I had done as he asked in moments.

As we surfaced in a park of some sort from Orpheus's tunnel, I was hit with marred air. There was too much pollution around not to cough heavily. "Chrysanthe," Father said to me, "please take deep, full breaths. It will help." I tried to take deep breaths, and I choked. Then I tried again. It was easier this time, and soon I was breathing evenly with the occasional hiccup of breath. I looked up to my father—who looked more like a goth than a god—and followed him as we walked to a pathway. Father was explaining several things of the living world to me—cars, skyscrapers, animals, business people—as we made our way to a spire. I blinked up at the building, which was almost as tall as our castle when you included the spire. "This is the Empire State Building. Above this, when you look around the mist, you can see Olympus. Humans don't see it, but we can." He was right, I could see the rock of the mountaintop and then parts of Olympus. I walked in, following him as he simply tossed a golden drachma to the guard and went to the elevator. I knew it would be a long ride and sat down, as we were going to the 600th floor. Well, so I was told. I looked up at my father, finally formulating a question.

"Father," I said to get his attention. He had leaned back against the elevator, helm tucked under his arm with his staff in hand. His other hand was in his pocket relaxedly. His eyes flickered to me with curiosity at what I had to say. That was as much of an acknowledgement that I would be getting. My eyes traveled to the ceiling. "Why do you choose to look as you do?"

I had amused him again. He was smirking. "I choose a youthful appearance. Today, men are more lax in dressing unless they are of the important human variety. To make himself fit in, Zeus himself has taken to wearing business suits, but I prefer this type of attire." He motioned to the black ripped shirt and vest. Tight black jeans and boots completed his ensemble. "You see, it is very easy to move in, and I rather like how I am. I could have appeared as Roman, Greek, or however I damn well wanted. I wanted to appear like this. You don't like a youthful father?"

"It isn't that, I just wanted to know," I said in my own defense. Indeed, this was the type of thing I oft pulled. An accidental insult to my father. He smiled at me.

"I know. I was waiting to see your reaction. I rather like that you look like me, though…" He leaned over to me in the small elevator, free hand now on the rail so he was simply towering over me, despite leaning. "If you looked like your mother, I would like you too much, but you look like a healthy mix. A bit too much like me for your mother, but that is also well and good." He set down his helm and staff, looking over me. He crouched down, grasping my chin and tilting my head back. I was confused at his actions, and he laughed gently. "Come now, we are about to go." He picked up his helm and staff, tucking the helm under one arm and carrying the staff loosely in the other. At least, it seemed like a loose grip.

As I walked with him through Olympus, I noticed how satyrs and muses and lower gods and goddesses retreated from us. Finders and protectors alike shied away from his powerful aura and appearance. His features were set coldly and he held himself strongly, like most of the gods, but he was far colder in regard to his demeanor. His eyes were ice, and they showed death. Deaths so horrible it was nasty to think of it.

A crowd of demigods was waiting outside of the large, open room where gods and goddesses met for the Winter Solstice. I noticed how Father's hand was suddenly tight around his staff. It may not have been noticed by others, but knowing him well, I knew he was uncomfortable with a large group of demigods led by a centaur watching him. He arrived at the plain throne that he had claimed for when he arrived. I rather liked it; it suppressed his ego. He sat and placed his helm next to his throne on a small cushion, while his staff was next to his throne. He looked at me and pat his knee for me to sit on his lap. Immediately, I obeyed his orders and sat on his lap, leaning back like he did. He was a bit tenser than he should have been, and I was a bit tense too.

I was regarded by a few of the gods and goddesses, and I stared right back at them. My eyes were black, I knew, like my father. My hair was dark brown, nearly black. My skin was almost white, perhaps the only difference in us other than our size and genders. He ran a hand absently through my hair as a mortal would pet a cat while thinking.

"Hades, why is this girl here?" one goddess questioned. Father's eyes flickered to her.

"She is my daughter. There is no reason to leave her behind while she is this old, Athena. You should realize that while she is mature at this moment, I have not broken my oath that my silly little brother has." I could see that a dark-haired man across the table was trying hard not to start an argument with Father while in the presence of demigods.

As the meeting commenced, Father explained how the Underworld needed to be expanded to fit the crowding of souls in the Fields of Punishment and the voluminous Fields of Asphodel. I noticed my aunt/grandmother looking at Hades accusingly. I knew the history between them well, and the argument that was about to rise.

"So my daughter isn't enough for you, eh?"

"Demeter, must we have this conversation again? Zeus is the one who gave her to me; speak to him over her absence. She also ate that pomegranate, and so she is bound to me but half of the year! You should be grateful you get to see her for so long as the other half!" Father replied scathingly, glaring at his sister. Hades was the oldest of the six children of Rhea and Kronos, but Aphrodite was older than him, borne of Ouranos's castration. He never much cared about that, though. He was stronger than her, both in mind and power, and her beauty never phased him. At least, this was what he told me.

I watched as she winked at Father, but he did not return the gesture. Even I knew that she was trying to play with him, and he would oft play back with her, only to best her in the end anyway. I had seen the games myself, and it was something I would not suggest for someone under the age of seventeen to watch. My attention returned to Demeter, who was again arguing his point. I noticed the demigods leaving and shrugged inside. I wouldn't make a verbal or physical showing that it was important, but something nagged at me that there was something off now that they were gone.

"I will not argue with you any longer on this point! She is my wife, and my business."

"She is my daughter and my business too!"

"The mother of my daughter will not be leaving me any time soon, and that is final," Father snarled with annoyance. I had never heard him claim me to be a full goddess, as mother never cared to claim me and he rarely went past what she would say. There was an awkward silence for a few moments while Hades let himself calm from his angry high.

"WHERE IS MY MASTER BOLT?" Zeus's voice suddenly boomed. I blinked, looking around and then at his throne and around it. Nope. Nowhere in sight. And I had honestly believed that it may have just rolled under Zeus's chair or something akin to that.

"My Helm is missing too," Hades said quietly, coldly, though I knew a fire of anger was burning from his eyes. Everyone was looking around, checking that they still had their items, when everyone noticed that Poseidon—the last of the Big Three—had his Trident still. I was a bit confused, but the implications were too obvious, were they not?

"YOU TOOK IT!" Zeus roared, standing from his throne to accuse Poseidon more powerfully.

"I did no such thing!" Poseidon replied, also standing. Now, to add to the embarrassing childishness of the situation, Hades chimed in.

"And yet you were the only one whose symbol went unstolen. I wonder who of us would have done it, then?"

"Excuse me," I said meekly, and no one listened to me. "Excuse me!" I said louder, and suddenly, all eyes turned to me. "Without the assistance of a mortal or a hero, you cannot take one another's items. It would have had to have been taken during the Solstice while all of us were together, and that means that someone snuck in or that one of the demigod guests did it."

Rather suddenly, I was ignored. The fight continued, the two brothers yelling at each other. The air was getting tense, and I felt my father's power protecting me from the full brunt of their power. The other gods and goddesses watched dispassionately. Well, except Ares. He reveled in the warlike tension.

"RETURN IT TO ME!"

"I DON'T HAVE IT!"

"FINE! You have until the Summer Solstice to return it, or we go to war!" Zeus roared. Poseidon scowled at his brother.

"Very well. I do not have it! Therefore, it is unlikely that you will be getting it from me!" I flinched as suddenly, gods and goddesses began to disappear. Hades grabbed his staff, glaring at Poseidon. I knew that I was the only reason that he didn't join the fight; he did not want to appear childish.

Rather suddenly, I felt a rush of cold and knew we were using shadow power. The sensation lasted for only three seconds before we were seated on Father's throne. Mother was in her throne, but I paid her no attention as I got up.

"ALECTO!" Father yelled, getting the attention of one of the furies. It landed on the back of his chair with a screech, its talons gripping the bone. Father didn't even look at her. He was seething at the thievery of his favorite item. "Chiron left for a school at the beginning of the term. I want you to invade the school and find out what is so interesting there. If you find a peculiar demigod, wait for it to make a move. Then destroy it and FIND MY HELM!" The fury screeched again as it flew out the large window that was always open.

In minutes, the other two were going to other schools in order for him to cover as much ground as possible. Mother was attempting to comfort him, but I knew it would never work. Finally, Father turned to me, looking at me with fire in his eyes. I felt fear, something that was very rare for me to feel but Father was always the one who incited it.

"Go to Camp Half-Blood. I will be certain that Dionysus does not expose you. Find my helm and you will be given a reward for it," Father said in a sweet tone, lips twitching in an attempt at a smile. He must have known I was afraid, but he did nothing to alleviate his raging aura and power. I bowed, not daring to speak, let alone protest. I went to my room to get some clothing and find a way to be discovered by a satyr and get into Camp Half-Blood. I didn't want to leave my home, but with Father's helm missing, there was little else I could have done or trusted someone else to do.