"What in the Tartarus Dad?" Nico yelled.
"I needed to talk to you so I brought you here. That's hardly a crime now, isn't it?"
"Fine. What's it?" Nico sighed. He was standing in the Throne Room in the Underworld, in front of his father and Persephone. He had no idea what Hades wanted from him, but he was sure that it was nothing good.
"You need to stop associating with that accursed son of Apollo. IMMEDIATELY."
"No way," Nico cried. "What's wrong with you? I finally find a good friend and you want me to STOP ASSOCIATING WITH HIM?"
"Okay. If that's how you are going to be locked in your room here for the rest of the eternity."
The same moment Nico opened his mouth to speak Persephone chimed in.
"Hades, darling, maybe you should let me talk to Nico." Hades tried to speak. "Hades, love, just because I've never done it do not think I wouldn't do it ever. You would simply make the most exquisite black rose ever"
Hades spluttered indignantly. Nico's jaw dropped as his father vanished from the Throne Room with hunched shoulders. Yes, coming from the Flower Goddess it was downright scary and Nico knew all too well what it felt like to be a flower.
"Nico, sit down dear." Nico had no idea what was going on, but he was sure that nothing good will come out of his step mother's affection. However he sat next to Persephone, utterly perplexed.
Persephone was quite for a couple of very long seconds. Then when she lifted her large hazel eyes to meet Nico's they were melancholy and very tender. She always looked at Nico with so much loathing that he was speechless as she regarded him. Then she started speaking softly.
"Nico, I want you to forgive me for being so rude to you all this time. I resented your mother very much and I directed it at you too. Your father loved her very much and that hurt me a lot. I resented her and even felt good when she died. I never thought what it would do to you and Bianca. But you are such a brave child, and you never deserved the treatment you got from any of us. I see that now. I am sorry about that and I want to make amends now. I may never be your mother. But I want to try to be one to you."
Persephone watched Nico with pleading eyes while he tried to absorb what she said. Never before he noticed her eyes, which were multi-coloured. He swallowed before he answered Persephone.
"Okay. We can at least try to be friends I guess."
Persephone smiled sweetly and patted Nico's hand.
"Thank you Nico. Now let's get to the reason your father summoned you here."
"Rather kidnapped." Nico muttered under his breath and Persephone let out a laugh like a peal of golden wind chimes.
"He still believes that kidnapping is more impressive after all this time. Well, Nico, I believe that you are aware of the punishment Apollo has been given, aren't you?"
Nico nodded.
"Well, you see, Apollo does deserve to learn a lesson for his meddlesome behavior. Yet, Zeus did not merely stop at punishing Apollo. He is punishing anybody who is beloved to Apollo in order to keep him grounded further. And a certain Will Solace is Apollo's favorite son and Zeus is aware of this."
Persephone paused letting it all sink and Nico was filling with dread every second she waited.
"In the past, it has always been a child of hades who spread the chaos and started war. But this time its Zeus' wife and son who caused most of the trouble while the child of Hades saved Olympus. Making matters worse that particular son of Hades is the most beloved brother to Zeus' another son AND Poseidon's son. This is very new to the gods. All the Big Three have never had children who are closely bonded as you, Percy and Jason are. It's not even simply you three. We are still trying to wrap our head around Percy and Annabeth. Athena and Poseidon find it very embarrassing to rival each other the way they used to when Poseidon's son willingly went through Tartarus for Athena's daughter, and we all know the same thing would have happened if the roles were reversed. Then there's Piper and Annabeth. Leo and Calypso. The other gods too have trouble bickering the way they used to when their children could be more mature and be the family they are supposed to be. And that is not sitting well with Zeus either." Persephone shook her head sadly.
"So he is going to take it all out on Apollo and his children." Nico asked. Persephone nodded, filling Nico's heart with dread.
"The other gods cannot let their children know about this. Especially not Percy and Jason. They are too loyal to their friends and they will want justice. Annabeth, Piper, Leo, Frank, Hazel all of them will stand with Percy and Jason. Athena herself assured me of this possibility and they will definitely stand with their children. But YOU, Nico, are the only one who can stop this disaster. You have to take care of Will and make sure he isn't too damaged by the end of this ordeal. You and your friends have to be there for the rest of Apollo's kids. Apollo loves his Greek children more. It's unfair. Yes. But Apollo is peculiar even for a god. Now this will make matters worse to your friends at Camp Half Blood. And you are the only one who can prevent too much damage from happening. You are the most treasured thing in Will's life now. So you will be the most important pawn in Zeus' game. So be vigilant of happenings around you. Alert your friends. We gods cannot acknowledge these things without starting a war in Olympus." Persephone sighed but immediately smirked at Nico. "So we need you insignificant mortals again to solve things for us."
Nico couldn't help but smile. Suddenly he felt a surge of affection towards Persephone. She is indeed trying to help him. He stood up and beamed at her.
"Thank you for telling me all this."
"You are very welcome Nico. Just like your father I too want you to be the exception and be happy."
Nico tentatively stepped forward and hugged Persephone, who tensed immediately. Huh! I thought I had it bad. The Flower Goddess doesn't like hugging either. Nico started pulling away but Persephone returned the hug after a beat and Nico could feel her lips pressing on top of his head.