It's been months since sunshine started living with the Di Angelo family and now the three kids chase each other around a marble column in the lobby of an elegant hotel. Maria is sitting on a nearby sofa wearing a black dress and gloves as well as a veiled hat like a star. On the chair next to her say a large oily man in a black pinstriped suit. It was Hades. He was leaning close to her using his hands as he talked like he was agitated.

"Please my dear." He said. "You must come to the underworld. I don't care what Persephone thinks! I can keep you safe there."

"No my love." She spoke with a gentle Italian accent. "Raise our children and sweet sunshine in the land of the dead? I will not do this."

"Maria, listen to me. The war in Europe has turned the other gods against me. A prophecy has been made. My children are no longer safe. Poseidon and Zeus have forced me into an agreement. None of us are to have demigod children ever again."

"But you already have Nico and Bianca. Surely-"

"No! The prophecy warns of a child who turns sixteen. Zeus has decreed that the children I currently have must be turned over to camp half-blood for proper training, But I know what he means. At best they'll be watched, imprisoned, turned against their father. Even more likely, he will not take a chance. He won't allow my demigod children to reach sixteen. He'll find a way to destroy them and I won't risk that!"

"Ceramente" Maria said. "We will stay together. Zeus is un imbecile."

Hades glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Maria, please. I told you Zeus gave me a deadline of laser week to turn over the children. His wrath will be horrible, and I cannot hide you forever. As long as your with the children, your in danger too."

Maria smiled. "Your a good God my love. You will protect us. But I will not take Nico and Bianca to the underworld nor sunshine."

Hades wrung his hands. "Then there is another option. I know a place I'm the desert where time stands still. I could send the children there, just for a while, for their safety, and we could be together. I will build you a golden palace by the Styx."

Maria laughed gently. "Your a kind man my love. A generous man. The other gods should see you as I do and they would not fear you so. But Nico and Bianca need their mother and sunshine needs a mother. Besides they are only children. The gods wouldn't really hurt them."

"You don't know my family," Hades said darkly. "Please, Maria I can't lose you."

She touched his lips with her fingers. "You will not lose me. Wait for me while I get my purse. Watch the children." She kisses the Lord of the dead the rose from the sofa.

Hades watched her walk upstairs as if every step away caused him pain sunshine runs after her.

A moment later, he tensed. The children stoped playing as if they sensed something too.

"No!" Hades said. But but even his godly powers were to slow. He only had time to erect a wall of black energy around the children before the hotel exploded. Everything was dusty and smoking but when it cleared Hades is digging through the rubble looking for his love but he finds nothing. Sunshine is standing near by her expression blank.

"You. He looks at her. Where's her body do you know?

She doesn't answer.

Nico and Bianca watch uncomprehdingly. The fury Alecto appears behind them, hissing and flapping her leathery wings. The children don't seem to notice her.

"Zeus!" Hades shook his fist at the sky. "I'll crush you for this! I'll bring her back!"

"My Lord, you cannot" Alecto warned. "You of all immortals must respect the laws of death."

Hades glowed in rage. It seemed like he'd showed his true form and vaporize his own children, but at the last moment he seemed to regain control.

"Take them," he told Alecto, choking back a sob. "Wash their memories clean in the lethe and bring them to the lotus hotel. Zeus will not harm them there."

"As you wish my Lord," Alecto said. What about the other child.

"Leave her for now"

Alecto and the children dissolve I to the shadows.

"I warned you a new voice said"

Hades turned and sunshine looked. A girl in a multi colored dress stood by smoldering remains of the sofa. She had short black hair and sad eyes. She was no more then twelve.

"You dare come here?" Hades growled. "I should blast you to dust!"

"You cannot," the power of Delphi protects my."

"You've killed the woman I loved!" Hades roared. "Your prophecy brought us to this!"

He loomed over the girl, but she didn't flinch.

"Zeus ordained the explosion to destroy the children." She said. "Because you defied his will. I had nothing to do with it. And I did warn you to hide them sooner."

"I couldn't Maria wouldn't let me! Besides, they are innocent."

Nevertheless, they are your children, witch makes them dangerous.

"That's not right." Sunshine finally speaks. When they look at her she seems a little different her eyes are a mix of ocean blue and earthy green and her voice seems a little different a bit older and wiser but when she speaks again

"That's not right." Sunshine finally speaks. When they look at her she seems a little different her eyes are a mix of ocean blue and earthy green and her voice seems a little different a bit older and wiser but when she speaks again she's normal. "Just because they are his children, doesn't mean they are bad people, they are both kind and sweet just like their mother." She gets into the girls face. "You can't just judge someone based on who their parents are."

The girl meets her gaze steadily before she says something surprising in a voice that is not her at all. "A child of mystery and a darkened path, and a child of Hades shall beat the odds and find the light." The girl blinked before collapsing to the ground.

"What does that supposed to mean?" Hades says in confusion. "Who is this child of mystery and what does one of my children have to do with it?"

"Not even I understand the prophecies. What I do know is it's not extremely important like the other prophecy."

Hades growls in anger.

Anyway. Even if you put them away in the lotus hotel, you only delay the problem. Nico and Bianca will never be able to rejoin the world lest they turn sixteen."

"Because of your so-called great prophecy. And you have forced me into an oath to have no other children. You have left me with nothing!"

"I foresee the future," the girl said. "I cannot Change it."

Black fire lit the gods eyes. "Then Oracle, hear the words of Hades," he growled. "Perhaps I cannot bring Maria back. Nor can I bring you to an early death. But your soul is still mortal , and I can curse you."

"Don't be an imbecile!" Sunshine glares at the god. "Don't let you anger and grief get the best of you."

Hades ignores her. "I swear, as long as my children remain outcasts, as long as I labor under the curse of your great prophecy, the Oracle of Delphi will never have another mortal host. You will never rest in peace. No other will take your place. Your body will wither and die, and still the Oracle's spirit will be locked inside you. You will speak your bitter prophecies until you crumble to nothing. The Oracle will die with you!"

"You idiot!"

The girl screamed, and sunshine falls unconscious again.