Nico was walking down the streets of New York City past the battleground from a few months ago. He felt pained by the losses of those couple of days, and the years before it. But, being a child of Hades and all, he had learned to deal with death. It also helped to know that all those who died had gone to Elysium.

Nico recalled trying to convince his father to come to the battle, and the stressful moments worrying about his friends, even though he could visit them if they died, but it's not like he could be BFFs with ghosts, all though he had done it before.

He walked along the street and something shiny in the gutter caught his eye. He walked over and picked it up. On closer observation he saw it was a MythOMagic card. It was Hephaestus. He had 6000 attack points. Not that he kept track. That game was for kids. He found himself pocketing it anyways; it was a special edition silver card.

Nico walked on.

He gazed up at the Empire State Building. "Ah, admiring the architecture, sonny." crackled a voice from the side of him.

"Uh, you could say that." said Nico, his eyes fixed towards the sky, were he knew Olympus stood miles above. Nico looked over towards the voice and was surprised to see a man in a black suit carrying a brief case, yet he responded in a bored tone, "Oh, hi Alecto." The man then transformed into a leathery-skinned monster.

"Are you going to the big meeting today?"

"I still haven't decided." Said Nico, his eyes again fixed on the sky.

"Considering you're here staring at the sky, you're going. Your dad wants you there." She flashed a smile, which would not ever happen to anyone but Nico because she was rather nasty to all people.

"I know, and I want to go, but I don't know what's keeping me away."

Alecto showed here claws and forced Nico into the building.

"Six hundredth floor please."

"No such thing."

"There's a furie outside."

The man at the desk looked up alarmed and chucked the keys at Nico. He walked into the elevator and put in the key.

Nico zoomed of to Olympus.

He walked down the path leading towards the meeting. Annabeth was still working on redesigning Olympus, so all the mess had been cleaned up, but there were no buildings. As he walked down the path he saw people and mythical creatures everywhere.

Nico got to the meeting just in time. This meeting was a new thing. Half-bloods (plus Rachel) got to come and help the gods with their decisions. Annabeth, Percy, Rachel, Clarisse, and a few other older campers were there. Everyone was talking and walking around. Nico decided to talk to his dad.

When he walked over Hades and Ares were in the middle of a conversation.

"Oh, hello Nico, I was just telling Ares here about a soul that has been stranded in DOA recording studios for over 10 years. The torture that awaits him is much, much, worse. I've had over 10 years to think of a punishment and I still can't. Later today I'm telling Charon to bring him down."

"Who could be so evil?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle."