AN: Not as long as I had hoped, but I wanted to get something on the page for y'all. Let me know what you guys think. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan. I own nothing, but the plot.
Themes of self-harm, anxiety, and depression are depicted within this story. TRIGGER WARNING! Please do not read if these themes upset you. TRIGGER WARNING!
Criticism is appreciated, but please no hate. Please review and leave suggestions! Enjoy!
Nico's POV:
He gasped as he fell onto all fours, arriving in the Underworld. Will tumbled after him and somehow landed in a crouch. He changed courses immediately to be in front of Nico. As Nico was gasping, Will was on his knees in front of him, telling him to breathe.
"I'm- trying-" he wheezed. Will put his hand on his Nico's cheek.
"Steady. I'm right here." After a couple of moments, Nico's lungs didn't feel like they were on fire anymore. He took a composing breath and sat on his butt. "I thought you said you could-"
"I know what I said." Nico snapped. "I'm training and trying, but I don't seem to be getting any stronger. I used to be one of the most powerful demigods in the world. Now, transporting two people makes me hyperventilate. I should be getting stronger."
"Hey, you aren't turning into a shadowy puddle anymore whenever you jump. I consider that an improvement." Will mentioned. "And you have to remember that you went through one of the most difficult experiences of your life, what, six months ago? Seven months ago? Most people don't recover from that. You are already so much better. You just have to give yourself time to heal. You have to have patience."
"Well I'm done having patience." Nico declared, standing up. Will followed suit. "I'm going to become powerful again."
"You already are powerful." Will reminded. "You are the Ghost King. You have legions of the undead following you."
Nico shrugged off his words. "Whatever. My father should be able to help."
"With what? Our mission or restoring your power?"
"Both." Nico ended the conversation. He looked around to gather his bearings. They were in Persephone's garden. Apparently, he had undershot the palace. He started to lead Will in the direction of his father's residence. He ignored the eerie, yet beautiful flowers in the garden.
As he walked up the slight hill, the palace came into sight. His father had finished the wall that he had been building around the perimeter. It seemed to be in good shape. Nico walked down to the palace. He put his hand on the gates. With a groan, the gates swung open. "Home, sweet home."
"What's up with the extra security?" Will asked, noticing the wall and the skeleton guards that had occupied certain intervals around the edge of the palace.
Nico waved his question off. "Rogue spirits were destroying parts of the mansion while my father wasn't here. They were upset that we closed the Doors of Death so they couldn't escape anymore blah blah."
The two boys opened the double doors that led into the entrance hall. It was empty.
"I'm surprised; where is the zombie butler?" Will joked.
"Don't be ridiculous. It's a Monday. He doesn't work on Mondays." Will opened his mouth to reply, but shut it again. Nico smirked. "I'm only joking. He's not a zombie; he's a skeleton."
Nico continued walking deeper into the hallways, a thoroughly confused Will trailing after him. He headed straight towards the throne room. The door was cracked open. There were voices issuing out of it.
"I told you it would happen again!" A female voice was shrill. Persephone. "They let you back on the Council and now they've cut off communications again. I told you-"
"If you say I told you so one more time, Persephone, I will curse you into oblivion." Nico's fathers voice sounded annoyed.
"That's no way to speak to your wife. And last time you did that, it took three months for me to reform!"
"Three months of silence, yes." Hades shot back.
"I will leave." She threatened.
"You can't and you know you can't." Hades said. "Especially with Olympus freezing us out again. Who will you go to? Your mother has not contacted you since the Solstice. And she usually hides out down here when something is amiss."
"I'll find... I'll find a mortal then. I'll demand that a demigod help me."
"You personally have sworn off relationships with mortals. And you don't like demigods that much either." Hades reasoned. "Speaking of which, we have two listening at the door."
Before Nico could say anything, the throne room doors swung open.
"Nico," Persephone said in a false, cheery tone.
"Stepmother," Nico mimicked.
"My son, this is a surprise. I thought you would alert me when you decided when to move down here."
"He's moving down here?" Persephone sounded shocked. Apparently his father had not told his wife about their plan.
Hades ignored her. His eyes searched over Will. "Although, your dalliance was not invited to live down here with us."
"Sir, father, we come down here because we need your guidance." Nico stepped into the room. After a beat, Will followed.
"Yes, about the missing camper, correct?"
"How-how'd you know about that?" Will asked. "We don't have any communications out-"
Hades waved his question away. "I'm a god. I know everything."
"Then how did you not know we were coming?" Nico questioned.
"Okay, fine. Hermes put an ad in Olympus Times." Hades snapped his fingers and a newspaper appeared in his lap. He unfolded it and began reading. "'Cecil Markowitz... missing from Camp Half-Blood... any information, please contact concerned father, Hermes.'"
"The gods don't typically intervene when their children go missing." Nico interjected. "At least not anyone I know. Poseidon didn't put up flyers when Percy went missing. You weren't too concerned when I ventured on my many adventures."
Hades sat back in his throne. "There are a couple of reasons. One, the gods don't want to admit it, but we are struggling with communications as well. Our vision is clouded. We cannot see what's coming. Whenever you went missing, I always knew where you were. Hermes has no idea where his son is. Two, Olympus needs another thing to blame Apollo for, so Hermes provided-"
"Hades!" Persephone snapped
Hades stopped. "Oh right, I'm not supposed to tell you that."
"Tell me what?" Nico demanded.
"Nothing, nothing forget I said anything."
"No." Will stepped forward. Nico watched him in shock as he stood up to the god of the Underworld. "You were talking about my father. Is he okay? What happened to him? What does he have to do with Cecil's disappearance?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss. The Council wants it to remain confidential-"
"The Council?" Nico repeated. "Since when have you ever cared about what they think?"
"Since they threatened to remove him off the Council if he discussed it with anyone besides me." Persephone defended. "They wanted to bring Hades to Olympus, but he wanted to stay down here. They made him swear on the River Styx not to discuss said confidential matter."
"What about you?" Nico looked to his stepmother. "Did they hold you to such an oath?"
Persephone turned red as she spluttered. "I-no- I- I will not tell you! I will not compromise your father's oath."
"We just want to help. We want to find Cecil." Will protested.
"Look, there's nothing I can do, and nothing you guys can do either. Everything should become pretty clear in a couple of weeks. But, until then, I cannot help you." Hades apologized.
"Is there anything you can tell us?" Nico asked hopeful.
"There isn't much. After I made my oath, Zeus called all the gods to Olympus. He cut off the little communications we did have and forbid any god from leaving Olympus. He closed it off." Hades explained.
"But why?"
"Because of what's coming." Hades ominously revealed.
"Which you can't tell us." Nico summarized. "But it has to do with Apollo and Cecil."
"How does Cecil's disappearance have anything to do with my father?" Will repeated his earlier question.
"I've told you everything I could." Hades said. "I'm sorry. I have a duty to uphold, a throne and family to protect."
Nico groaned. If he had sworn on the Styx, there was nothing his father could tell him. He sighed. "I understand, but if there is anything else you can think of, please don't hesitate to contact me."
"Are you leaving?" Hades looked surprised.
Nico nodded. "Yeah, Will and I have to get back to camp."
"You're probably exhausted, why don't you two stay for a while?" Nico looked at his father, confused.
"Dad, you are being hospitable. Are you okay?"
Hades laughed. "Is it wrong that I want to spend time with my son and his lover?"
Nico winced. "No one uses lover anymore, father. And parents don't typically wanna spend time with their kid's significant other."
"Actually, I think it would be a good idea." Will murmured to Nico. Nico looked around at him. Will got defensive. "You collapsed as soon as you got here. I have a feeling that you are more exhausted than you are letting on."
"See? Even William agrees with me!"
"As your doctor," Nico rolled his eyes at Will's words. "I would recommend taking a break before jumping again."
"How long of a break, Will?"
"Overnight, at least." Will suggested.
"Perfect!" Hades clapped his hands together.
"You weren't too keen on him when you thought he was staying here." Nico pointed out. "Why are you okay with it now?"
"I've never properly met Mr. Solace. Maybe it's time I did." Hades replied.
Nico looked at his father in shock. What had happened to him? "You are hurting my head. Are you sure you're okay father?"
"Yes, yes. You can get some rest and then we can spend some quality time with each other later." Hades advised.
Nico shook himself. Why was his father acting like this? One part of him wanted to keep talking to his father and find out what was going on. The other part was feeling quite tired after that jump. His tiredness won over. "Okay. We will see you guys later, I guess."
Nico turned to leave the throne room, Will following silently. The door closed with a deafening thud.