Reading Consul of the Underworld: The Game Begins

by BonesBoy15

And we're back with the third daughter of the Big Three. Join the Heroes and Gods of Olympus as they read about the latest FemHarry Engineer4Ever has cocked up, learn more about their mysterious host The Seer, and crack jokes in this thrilling installment! Rating may change.

4. Chapter 4

AN: Wow, sorry about this one guys. Real life hit me and I fell in love with RWBY all over...but enough excuses, let's get on with it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.

Consul of the Underworld: The Game Begins

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"I'll read, Leo." Piper took the offered book and hummed. "Wraith of the RNG God."

"Don't you mean 'wrath'?" Annabeth asked.

"Er, yeah, sorry." Piper flushed lightly.

Alkaid tilted her head, "A daughter of Ares. My, no wonder you had that troll on the ropes so quickly." She complimented.

Pyrrha just gave a wide grin, chuckling a bit, "Yeah, it was pretty much a pushover. Still, I think we should bail," the redhead grimaced, "The Mist has never been my friend."

"...By the gods, she knows my pain." Percy mumbled.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. "Percy, she's the enemy."

"Right, right, but...she knows my pain!"

"Question, how is she the 'enemy'?" Thalia asked.

"She's a Red Sox fan." "Her hair is Red."

Thalia shook her head. Every demigod aside from herself was weird and eccentric about something.

Alkaid offered a kind smile, "I'm actually very good with the Mist." She held up her hand, white wisps floating around her digits, "I'll handle it."

With a snap of her fingers, the room felt like it shifted somehow, but still looked the same.

"Shall we leave?" Alkaid asked, getting a smirking shrug from Pyrrha.

"I guess so."

As they walked out the other door, the two girls were casually strolling down the corridor. They were in no rush, after all the Mist would cover for them. Well, Pyrrha was still a bit nervous but Alkaid was so absolutely confident in her Mist manipulation that even she was feeling relieved enough to feel like there was absolutely nothing wrong with just nonchalantly walking away from the scene of the fight.

The two girls were thus still well within hearing range of the trophy room when a few moments later, the professors entered.

"The troll!" A voice that both girls recognized as the Astronomy Professor, Sinistra, shouted out. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Curious now, both half-bloods paused to eavesdrop.

In contrast to their colleague, the next two voices sounded incredibly calm.

"What happened to it." McGonagall's distinctive brogue sounded off of the old stone walls. "Filius, any ideas?"

"A defensive ward of some type?"

"We need that type of ward at the camps." Jason mused.

Leo grinned and made an air guitar. "Decapitation!"

"Ah, fun game. Terrible, but fun." Apollo grinned.

Flitwick replied, sounding incredibly uncertain.

"Impossible. There are no wards here in Hogwarts which could do something like this." McGonagall said sharply. "You know this."

"I do." Flitwick affirmed. "I wonder why I thought this was the work of a ward…Compulsion!"

"Indeed." McGonagall hissed. "Whatever or whoever did this is apparently very skilled in magic, but not so in terms of logic."

"Oh, burn!" Ares cackled.

"That includes your daughter, fool." Athena drawled.

Ares paused and then chuckled. "Burn on her, then!"

Alkaid was affronted by this and barely resisted the urge to retort. Only the thought of all the trouble getting caught would bring stayed her tongue. That and Pyrrha slamming a hand over her mouth to silence her.

"True." Flitwick said replied. "We should count ourselves lucky though. If not for that failing, I doubt we would have been able to shake off that compulsion. It was powerful and well crafted."

"Agreed. Now do you see any clues as to the real troll killer?"

"Nothing so…" Flitwick began only to cut himself off, "Ah. What's this?"

"Let me take a look." A moment later, McGonagall spoke up again. "Looks like a bloody footprint."

"The troll's?" Sinistra asked, having apparently returned from being sick.

"Too small." Flitwick replied clinically. "Judging by the size and the treadmarks of a shoe… Hmm… First year? Second at best?"

"Wow, way to be a master at using the Mist." Thalia noted. So she was biased against magic, sue her. Magic was bullshit.

"It's very hard." Hazel frowned at the Hunter.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Okay..."

The two girls really should have run off by now, or at least Alkaid thought so. But she didn't move, neither did Pyrrha. They were both too curious for their own good.

"First year." McGonagall gave her opinion.

"But how?" Sinistra breathed audibly shocked.

"No idea and now's not the time to find out." McGonagall said testily. "If there is a first year about, the child may have been injured fighting the troll…"

"Or a child playing truant might have stumbled on this sight before we got here and was traumatized. Either way, we need to find the child. Filius stay here and keep watch. Aurora you're with me."

The girls looked at one another at that and Pyrrha summed up what they should do.

"Cheese it!" She hissed and the girls bolted down the hallway.

"Wisest move." Percy nodded.

Athena looked affronted and then irritated when Annabeth nodded along with him.

Alkaid, slower than the daughter of war, saw the red bloody trail Pyrrha was making, "You have troll's blood on your foot!" Alkaid hissed at her.

Pyrrha craned her head to the side to see the trail she was making, "Oh come on! The Fates suck to the extreme!"

"Right?!" Percy asked. "It's like she understands me!"

"Better watch out, Annabeth." Thalia teased. "This war girl might be making too much sense to the seaweed brain."

"Ha. Ha." Annabeth grumbled as she glared at the screen.

Alkaid rolled her eyes, the Fates were fickle old grannies, that was without doubt.

"Deadly with clubs, too." Jason noted. He'll never look at an old lady the same way again.

"I thought you were good with the Mist?" Pyrrha grunted ahead.

"I am," Alkaid frowned at her back, "But you just had to ruin it with your boots."

"Hey! My boots rule." the redhead shot back.

Alkaid looked ahead and spied a classroom, "We can hide in there!"

"But my boot!"

Alkaid pulled out her wand, quite a feat considering they were still sprinting at full speed down the corridors, and pointed it at the footwear, "Aguamenti!" a splash of water hit the sole, washing away the blood and grime, "There."

"I don't know how to feel about that." Poseidon admitted.

"I don't care." Hades drawled.

They quickly ducked into the room, Alkaid waving the Mist before the door shut. Both girls pressed into the walls of an opposing corner from the door.

"What did you do?" Pyrrha whispered.

"Shh." Alkaid answered, looking at the faint light the window pane gave off.

"There! The trail continues down towards the south wing!" Sinistra cried out, following the 'trail' likely with McGonagall in tow.

After a few minutes of quiet, the girls let out sighs of relief, sliding down the wall and onto their posteriors.

"So," Pyrrha raised a brow, "Trail?"

Alkaid smirked, "To use the Mist, you must make the victim see what they want to see. I merely gave them the trail they wanted." she answered smartly.

Pyrrha looked impressed, that was a move a kid of Hecate could pull off. "Still, sorry for the boot print."

"No, it was my fault. I should have constructed a better tale for them to follow." Alkaid stated with some abashedness.

"Is that a word?" Athena asked.

"It is now." Apollo grinned. He liked it!

They both laughed at their equal part in messing up of the event.

Pyrrha chuckled a little, "That was the most fun I've had since I got here."

Alkaid hummed, tapping her chin, "It was enjoyable to me as well."

"Well," Pyrrha pushed up on to her knees, and then bringing herself back upright, "I think we should get back. I got a feeling I'm going to be tip toeing through my dorm."

Alkaid nodded as she stood up as well, "I believe I will be fine with my dorm." she held out her hand, "It's been a thrill, Pyrrha."

The redhead took the pale hand in her strong grip, shaking it, missing the wince Alkaid gave off, "Hey, you ever want to go Scooby Doo on this place again, let me know."

Alkaid cracked a smile at that.

When Alkaid returned to her dorm, she'd been expected an inquisition of sorts waiting for her. She had after all run off with barely a word to Blaise to cover for her. She was not worried of course, she was confident she could talk her way out of any wrongdoing.

"Oo, I'm interested." Hermes hummed. "I wonder if I ever stopped by and gave a few tips..."

Hades frowned. "How would you? My other most likely wouldn't allow yours to know of her existence lest you run off to tattle."

Hermes put a hand on his chest. "Ouch, Hades. That hurts me right here. I'm offended that you would accuse me, the thief god, of tattling."

"He's got a point." Poseidon nodded.

Or if worse come to worse, use the Mist to get herself out of trouble. Even with the recent mess with the troll, she still had faith in her skill in the Mist. Thus, imagine her surprise when she arrived to the Ravenclaw dormitories to find that she had not been missed. Apparently Blaise had skillfully misdirected everyone who had thought to check up on her, both the prefects and her friends. The daughter of Hades was mightily impressed, the boy was proving himself surprisingly capable.

"It's because he's suppose to be a no good snake..." Apollo grumbled.

It had been a week since the incident with the troll and in the interim, Alkaid's study group had been going well. Pyrrha quickly becoming one of the group since her discovery of Alkaid also being a demigod. Though the daughter of Hades had to watch her wording around the daughter of war, just in case.

But, Alkaid did note that she had started to make waves within Hogwarts. She was excelling in her classes, and that was catching people's attention. But it wasn't enough. If she wanted to make a mark and succeed in this world, she needed to do something else. Hm…There was the bullying problem that seemed to plague her House. With so many intelligent egos in one place, there would, inevitably, be clashes, and since they were all children, juvenile behavior was a sure thing.

"It's a miracle that Cabin Six doesn't have that problem," Annabeth said.

"That's because you all have the same opinion most of the time." Percy noted.

There was nothing more juvenile than petty bullying.

Perhaps a little house cleaning, pun intended, was needed. It might be a small step up from just doing well in her studies, and likely wouldn't gain her much attention outside Ravenclaw itself. But baby steps. She didn't want to draw too much attention, too fast after all. That and she desperately needed something to occupy herself with because, by the Pit, she was bored! Joyous, the whole Hogwarts experience was becoming so tedious that she was cursing now. How unrefined.

How should she go about it though? Looking around the Ravenclaw common room she was lounging in, the daughter of Hades silently sought inspiration on how to proceed. Over in the corner she spotted her yearmate, Su Li gophering for a group of older girls by bringing them some hot drinks as they studied.

"Hm...I wonder if she's a daughter of Demeter's as well in this one?" Hades mused.

Demeter frowned. Her daughters would never butter up to older classmen.

Briefly, Alkaid considered intervening, after all it seemed quite unfair to her that Su had to run errands for the seniors. She stopped herself though as she knew that juniors gophering for their seniors, especially those who would be sitting for important exams soon, was expected and even accepted in boarding schools like Hogwarts. Plus, it was not like the gophers got nothing out of the arrangement. After all by running errands for their seniors, the younger students got the chance to build connections that they otherwise might not have.

The Potter heiress was about to put the matter out of her mind and look for inspiration elsewhere when the tone of scene in the corner changed drastically all of a sudden. One of the older girls had stood up and was shouting at a cowering Su and whilst she was too far away to hear what was being said distinctly, the girl's gesturing to her cup gave her a pretty good idea.

"How dreadful." Hestia frowned. "That poor girl."

"Ah, it's all in good fun. Like hazing!" Ares grinned. "Man, those days were a blast! Then you all started to crack down on the 'bullies'." Ares scowled. "Made the kids tough and made boundaries more plain to see."

"Until one too many students fell victim to emotional trauma." Athena frowned. It was a common problem even to this day.

Apollo crossed his arms and frowned as well. "Dionysus might be more attuned to psych health, but it's still a subject of health and I was not pleased to see it come up so abruptly."

"Admittedly, it is a subject that I'd rather not deal with." Dionysus nodded.

Looks like this is what I was looking for after all. Alkaid thought to herself as she stood up and walked over to the group. Idly noting as she walked over, that despite the fact that this blatant act of bullying was happening in full view of the whole common room that besides a few curious looks no one else looked ready to intervene.

Now that was just a shame.

As she got close enough to hear what was being said more clearly, Alkaid quickly confirmed her initial suspicions on what the older girl was angry about. The harpy, and that was a charitable description, was whining about how "her coffee was ruined!"

"Amy, that's enough don't you think. The poor girl's terrified." One of the harpy's friends tried to interject.

"Well at least one of them stepped up," Athena said under her breath. Bullying among intellectuals was an insult to her. Civilized and intellectual beings should be able to converse and end any squabble with words alone.

"Oh shut up, Pond!" Amy the harpy retorted. At the same time, she turned to face her other study mates and leveled a glare at them, warning them not to say anything either.

Turning back to face Su and presumably to continue her tirade she instead found Alkaid standing before the Chinese girl, almost protectively, a sunny smile on her face, "Now now, this terrible display was wholly unnecessary. You should really stop. You're embarrassing yourself enough as it is."

Amy the harpy turned an ugly shade of red at that, "What was that, Potter?"

"Amy the Harpy? Sounds like an insult to Emma." Frank murmured.

"Oh yeah." Hazel nodded in agreement.

Alkaid's eyes gained an edge to them, "I said, perhaps if you stopped whining like a babe, you might not make a bigger fool of yourself." She gestured to Su, "Miss Li got you your drink, perhaps a thank you would be nice? Or does human decency elude you?"

"She ruined my drink!"

Alkaid tilted her head, "Oh? Was there too much sugar? Perhaps it was diluted with too much milk for the little princess? If so, why not stand up and get your own drink. Or is that task too complicated for you? House of the wise indeed." She scoffed.

"Damn."

"Nico di Angelo, you watch that language." Rhea warned.

Nico shrunk down from the scolding. "Sorry."

"Watch your mouth, first year." Amy threatened.

Alkaid raised a delicate brow, "Oh? And what can you do? Besides whine like a toddler of course."

Amy reached for her wand, "Oh that is it. I've had it with the smug act you prance around with."

"Amy!" Pond said, standing up and reaching across the table to physically restrain her, "Come on, just let it go."

Alkaid frowned minisculy, she had wanted to stretch her magic muscles a bit.

"I.e., she wanted to strut her stuff," Poseidon said with a smirk. "How un-Hades-like of her."

"Well unlike the peacock king and yourself, Whaler, I feel there's no need to show off for others." Hades defended himself. "Besides, I'm usually far too busy to do so."

"Peacock king?!" Zeus scowled at his brother while Poseidon brooded over his 'wailing' incident.

Hera arched a brow, mildly amused at the thought. "Well, he isn't entirely wrong."

"Hera!"

"Let me go Melody!" Amy screeched. "Sister, let me go!"

Alkaid looked confused. The two were sisters?

"No! I'm not letting you attack a first year just because she struck a cord. Imagine all the trouble we'd get into. Mum will be furious." That finally seemed to have the desired effect and Amy finally calmed down.

"Fine." Amy ground out between clenched teeth, before she turned to the two first years. "Get out of my sight, the both of you."

Su bolted. Alkaid, though, gave the two older girls a smile and calmly walked over to her spot. She was soon joined by her friends.

"What were you thinking, Alkaid?" Anthony chided as he sat down in a chair opposite the demigoddess.

"That Amy girl was bullying poor little Su, I just had to intervene." Alkaid confessed.

"There's been plenty of bullying around here before now. Why step in only now?" Padma asked as she finished settling down.

"Just couldn't take it anymore. I guess." Alkaid replied with a shrug.

"Lies!" Apollo declared.

Hades rolled his eyes. "Oh, do shut up, Apollo. Anyone with a brain cell could've seen that. Not to mention we were already told that she wished to use the event for her own gain."

Her friends eyed her skeptically though, so she had no choice but to elaborate, "That and I was bored."

"That is also a lie," Apollo said, albeit mostly to himself.

Padma and Anthony both sighed in exasperation at this. Terry on the other hand outright laughed. Lisa just shook her head at her friend's antics.

Just then a draft blew through the common room as the entryway opened for a group of students.

"Honestly, this November air is horrendous." Alkaid stated, bundling up with one of the blankets covering the couch she was sitting on.

"Don't whine Alkaid, it's not that bad." Terry told her, the rest of the group was not shivering like the California girl.

"I'll have you know, that well-mannered young ladies do not whine. And I am most certainly a well-mannered young lady."

"Then what do they do?" Lisa asked curiously.

Alkaid answered with her usual smile, "We complain."

"Oh, that's a good one. I'm gonna have to send that to the Muses, see if they can find somewhere to put it." Apollo mused aloud.

It was Saturday, a day where students could relax, do their homework and cocoon themselves in blankets due to the chill of November. To Alkaid on the other hand, that just meant Demeter was going into her traditional winter mood.

Honestly, it's common knowledge to all those under the Greek Pantheon that her father could hold a grudge, but let it not be said that the rest of the family did not share this trait.

"At least I own up to it." Hades mumbled.

"I don't hold grudges," Zeus said.

"No, but you blast anyone that gets your ire before you can hold a grudge." Hera pointed out blandly.

Zeus glowered at her. "...Weren't you the one that went behind my back and broke the peace between the camps?"

"It all worked out in the end didn't it?"

Zeus scowled. "Your punishment is still yet to be decided."

"Oh, that sounds kinky."

"Aphrodite!" Hestia and Rhea snapped while the King and Queen glared at the laughing goddess.

Back to the wondrous day that was Saturday, Alkaid was not snuggled under a blanket, reading a good book as she sorely wanted to. No, instead she was currently being dragged down a hallway by Pyrrha.

"Pyrrha, where are you taking me?" The daughter of Hades asked with a dull look in her eyes, her voice garbled under the blue muffler scarf she was wearing.

"Duh, to train." the daughter of war rolled her eyes, "After scouting out the school, I finally found a good place!" She grinned like a loon.

"Certainly one of Clarisse's sisters," Percy said with a chuckle. "I wonder how she is?"

"Probably making out with Chris," Annabeth said.

Ares glared at Hermes when the thief grinned at him like a loon.

Alkaid just offered an unimpressed blink at that.

"I know! It's great!"

"You do realize that I'm not interested, right? Physical training is not what I'd consider fun."

Pyrrha stopped and raised an eyebrow, "And you call yourself a demigod? I mean don't you have to keep in shape? Besides, what else is there to do? I know you already finished your homework yesterday in the study group in like, an hour."

"Don't you have homework to do?" Alkaid deflected.

"Meh, just homework." Pyrrha shrugged uncaringly as she smirked at her, "Come on, us demigods gotta keep in shape." She said, dragging Alkaid by her arm once more.

The daughter of Hades did note that Pyrrha was very strong for a girl her age.

"I'm not really in the mood to train." The Ravenclaw stated.

"You cold?"

"…Yes." Alkaid dryly answered.

"Well, getting the blood pumping'll warm you up. So, no excuses. Plus I wanna see what you got!"

"She's going to get knocked on her ass-butt." Apollo hastily corrected himself as Rhea gave him a look. His words made him pause. "For some reason, I wish to watch the Cell Saga again..."

Alkaid frowned behind her muffler. She pondered this for a moment and gained a gleam in her eyes, "Well, if you insist. I could stretch my muscles...but you will owe me one." she winked playfully.

The other girl let out a laugh at this. "You drive a hard bargain, my friend." She said trying to sound like some generic businessman from TV.

"I try." Alkaid smirked back teasingly. "But I am being serious about the favor."

"Fine." Pyrrha shrugged her shoulders, "Just don't ask me to do your homework."

Alkaid just shot her a dry look. "That would be counterproductive considering I'm better at my studies than you are. I will not waste my hard earned favor like that."

"That'd be like Annabeth asking Percy to do her math." Leo snorted.

Percy nodded in agreement to that. "Yep. I would not do good."

"Not do well." Annabeth corrected him.

"Does it really matter?"

"Yes."

Percy pouted.

Pyrrha held her heart playfully, "Ouch, right here."

"My aim is indeed frightening."

The two girls laughed at their byplay and continued onward.

They eventually reached an old, dusty classroom with the large mucked up windows wide open, the harsh winds kicking up clouds of dust.

Alkaid just raised an eyebrow at the dismal sight, "This is where you wish to exercise?" she said, lifting her muffler over her nose as she wrinkled at the state of the room.

Pyrrha gave an awkward laugh, "Yeah, well, I thought, you know, we could clean it up." She said, looking around, "Maybe get a few mats, sweep it up, and make it sparkle or something like that."

"We do know magic."

Pyrrha rolled her eyes, "I don't know cleaning magic." She paused and glanced at Alkaid, "You?"

Alkaid answered by merely taking out her wand, pulling down her scarf and getting started. "Scourgify!" she cast and in seconds, all the grime and dirt in the whole room was gone. Dust still hung in the air though, so she pointed her wand once more and said, "Ventus!", creating a forceful breeze that pushed all the dust right out the open windows. With a final flick of her wand, Alkaid slammed the windows shut and locked them.

"Daaamn." Pyrrha offered a low whistle at the now spotless looking classroom, "How'd you even know that kind of magic?"

"Reading."

"Cause knowledge is power!" Apollo cheered.

Athena smirked. "Of course."

"...And they call me egotistical." Apollo mumbled.

"Your head is fat from being filled with hot air."

"That stopped being funny millennia ago!" Apollo scowled at his twin.

"Says you." Artemis smirked.

"Yes, says me! And I'm the god of truth! I should know!"

"You should, but you don't."

"Twins, that's enough," Hestia said before Apollo could retort. She looked back at Piper and smiled. "Continue, dear."

Pyrrha just gave the other girl a playful glare, "Funny."

"I do enjoy my wit," Alkaid said with a teasing smile after pulling her muffler down further.

"A real riot, Kaidy."

Alkaid pursed her lips, "It's Alkaid."

Pyrrha's face started to grow a small grin, "Oh? Hit a nerve?"

Alkaid merely scoffed, "Not at all. I just do not like people butchering my name into some cutesy nickname."

"It's a necessary trait for Ares' kids, isn't it?" Percy asked.

Ares scowled. "Shut it, Prissy."

"Never mind, my question was answered."

"Uh, last I checked," the redhead's grin widened, "Butcherin' stuff is sorta what I was born to do, ya know?" she commented with mirth while taking off her cloak, and holding up her fists, "So, come on! Let's get started!"

Alkaid gave a tiny frown and waved her wand in a large circle over her head. Five red floating orbs fired out, scattering around the room, instantly warming it up.

Pyrrha looked surprised at this. Fireballs? She moved her hand to one nearby, her fingers feeling tingles of warmth as she made contact but she wasn't burnt. Whatever the orbs were made of, it wasn't fire.

"If we are doing this," Alkaid said, gracefully removing her muffler and cloak, "Then I am doing it in a controlled climate."

"Crybaby." Ares snorted.

"Quiet, Ares." Hades huffed. He wasn't going to let his daughter, despite not existing in this plane, be insulted.

The war child laughed and pumped her fist in excitement, "Nice! Hell, I'll even give you the first punch." She generously offered.

Alkaid's eyes glimmered at that, "Truly?"

"Yep!"

The daughter of Hades' face gained another one of her smiles. It dissipated in a second though as Alkaid's face turned emotionless, her eyes turning cold and calculating. She raised her fists, just like Pyrrha's. But the redhead noticed that Alkaid's form looked professional, perhaps even flawless.

"Absolutely flawless?" Leo asked. A chime sounded that repeated the phrase and all eyes went to Apollo.

Apollo shrugged. "What? It needed to be done."

"...That aside, I doubt it." Frank shrugged. "You'd need decades to get an absolutely flawless stance. Not just a few years."

"Even if you had the greatest trainers at your beck and call?" Nico asked.

"Even then, there's always someone stronger and with a better stance than you." Frank shrugged. "Fact of life."

"Nothing stronger than us," Ares said.

"Typhoon." Percy chimed.

The gods glowered.

"That thing doesn't count." Zeus grunted.

She didn't have time to contemplate this as Alkaid rushed in at decent speed, pushing a fist forward for Pyrrha's face. But the fist stopped, a feint! Pyrrha raised her arm to block the coming kick, only to feel a sharp tug on her limb, "Huh?!"

She looked to see her arm shackled down by a glowing green chain that was anchored to the ground by a magic circle.

And that one look earned the daughter of war a kick to the face.

Ares cackled. "Boot to the head!"

"That was your daughter." Athena drawled.

Ares snickered. "I know. That'll teach her to keep her eye on the prize, won't it?"

"Ow!"

Alkaid didn't even give her opponent a chance to comprehend her binding as she struck once more, her kick striking true on Pyrrha's knee, forcing it to buckle. The redhead fell to one knee and flinched her eyes closed as Alkaid launched a palm strike to her face, pausing an inch from her nose.

"I win." Alkaid smugly claimed her victory.

Pyrrha blinked open her reddish brown eyes and glowered, "The hell was that?!" she snapped, her pride bruised.

"Fighting." The child of war's opponent replied unfazed by her anger. "And me winning."

The simple answer riled up Pyrrha as she stood up, the chained binding holding her arm in place dissipating into particles of magic.

"Foul!" Pyrrha childishly said, "This was supposed to be hand to hand."

"I don't remember any rules being said." Hermes grinned.

Ares scowled. "Fuckin' loopholes..."

"Ares!" Rhea glared at the god. "Language, there are children present!"

"Oh, like they haven't heard it before?"

Rhea's eyes narrowed and Ares shrunk into his throne a bit.

"Fine, fine...geez..."

Alkaid twirled a lock of her hair, "You never stated that. All you said was that we were going to train. Not once did you mention that we could not use magic." She ever so innocently said.

Pyrrha's eye twitched at that, "Okay, then let's go again. No magic." she stressed sternly.

"No."

The simple dismissal took Pyrrha off balance, "Come again?"

"Oh, glad-!"

"Hermes!"

The god pouted. He had even changed his voice to sound like Ares, how did he get busted?

He snuck a glance at the war god and scowled.

Ares grinned as he lowered his mug away from his mouth. "See something you like, Shrimp?"

Alkaid sighed, "No. Because if we do. It would be pointless. You would win in a pure battle of brawn."

"You don't know that!" Pyrrha protested.

"Yeah! Let her dominate you, first." Percy nodded.

The young gods snickered while Annabeth palmed her face.

"Percy..."

"What?" Percy asked. "It's the only thing Ares' understands."

If anything, the gods laughed harder.

Even Ares.

Annabeth sighed. Percy was just so ...Percy that he didn't see the double meaning of his words.

"I do. There is a good reason why I fight the way I do." The heiress rebutted with a resigned sigh.

"Oh really?" The daughter of Ares sneered. "Because from the way I'm looking at it, you're only fighting this way because you're a coward."

"Say what you will." Alkaid deflected without care. "I know my strengths and physical combat is not one of them."

Pyrrha ignored Alkaid's explanation though and began to taunt the other girl. It worked for her dad when he wanted to get what he wanted, it'd work for her too, right?

"You'd think so, but some people like to stick their noses where it doesn't belong!" Ares glared pointedly at Poseidon and then at Zeus.

The two just glared back until Ares huffed in disappointment.

"Yeah, that's only because you're too much of a wuss to fight fair and square."

"As I said…" The daughter of Hades began to say, but was interrupted by her companion's cries of "Coward!", "Loser", "Chicken", etc.

Finally losing her cool, the usually refined girl turned sharply to face the daughter of war. "By the Pit! I'm none of those things! Stop calling me them! You want a fight? Fine."

Pyrrha smiled then. "No take backs." She said as she shifted back into a fighting stance. "And sorry for the name calling, that's how Ares and his kids get what we want."

"Sixty percent of the time, it works every time," Apollo said with a grin.

Annabeth frowned. "That doesn't make sense..."

Leo snickered. "Yes. Yes it does."

"How uncouth." Alkaid sniffed as she too adopted a fighting stance.

"Well whatever works, right?" Pyrrha unapologetically said. "But if you're upset about it than I'll let you have first strike. Again."

"Feeling charitable are we?" The Potter girl responded. "Well, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Yes, it could bite you."

"Oh that was one time!" Poseidon frowned at his older brother for the nonchalant comment.

I'll take you up on your offer."

"Whenever you're ready." The daughter of war said with a nod.

Alkaid dashed in and went for a kick again, aiming for Pyrrha's ribs. The warrior girl blocked it, but felt no...umph behind it. It was a perfectly executed move but where was the force?

She pushed Alkaid back, who hopped back a few paces to make some distance between them.

Pyrrha charged in, her speed greater than Alkaid's. She feinted a punch to the face, her opponent blocking. Alkaid however failed to block the elbow to the gut that the punch masked and as a result was forced to let out a pained gasp as the air was forced out of her lungs. Disoriented, Potter was unprepared by the follow up body check and was sent stumbling back by the move.

Pyrrha frowned as she pressed Alkaid, testing her and soon found that the Ravenclaw was right.

After sending the daughter of Hades to the ground in a sprawling mess, the redhead said, "Damn, you suck." she bluntly said.

"Ha! Eat it nerd!" Ares cackled.

"Ares. Do me a favor?" Rhea asked.

Ares arched a brow. "Yeah, gran?"

"Kindly shut up."

While Ares gaped, dumbfounded, Apollo snorted and Hermes snickered. Hephaestus chuckled while Artemis bit on her lip and Athena smirked. Even the elder gods were amused at Rhea's request.

It seemed that Ares had pressed his luck and now teetered on the edge of Rhea's patience.

Alkaid snapped her eyes to Pyrrha's, "I do not." she mustered out, despite the bruises that were no doubt forming from the pummeling.

"No, your form is good. Like legit good. But you hit as hard as a little kid."

"Don't you think I know that?" Alkaid responded scathingly. "Are we done with this spar?"

Pyrrha folded her arms behind her head, "Err…Yeah."

"Blessed Elysium!" Alkaid said as she pulled out her wand and began casting some basic healing spells on herself. "As I said earlier, I know my strengths." She continued as she used magic to freshen up her appearance, "And physical combat is not one of them."

"Well, you punch like a kindergartener." The daughter of war critiqued harshly. Alkaid just shrugged though, clearly unconcerned. That just pissed Pyrrha off.

"Well, if that's how you fight then it's obvious you need to go through some major training. With enough effort, I'm sure you can kick some butt the right way. So I call Boot Camp!"

"This ought to be good." Ares grinned. In his opinion, all kids should go through some sort of boot camp. It would certainly result in a much more militarized country to rule over. Like a new Sparta.

As the grin wormed itself onto the god's face, Athena suddenly had the thought that she needed to keep her eyes on Ares for a while. No doubt he came up with another stupid plan to make a new war take place.

"Excuse me!?" The stunned look on Alkaid's face screamed her dissent where her voice failed her. "The right way? A fight is a fight. How I win it is my own affair."

I have to come up with a reason to deflect her, otherwise she will not let this matter go. Alkaid thought to herself. Perhaps a little bit of the truth?

"Besides, I simply do not possess the drive to hit someone hard enough."

Pyrrha gave her an incredulous look, "Drive to hit someone? You take your fist and knock the hell out of them. There's no science involved here!"

"Be that as it may, it's not so simple for me. By the Pit I wish it was. I've tried everything to get over this issue. It's a mental stumbling block my kickboxing trainer keeps telling me. But whatever I try, it just doesn't work." Alkaid claimed in uncharacteristic frustration.

"I don't get it." Pyrrha said, still genuinely confused.

"Same." Ares nodded in agreement.

"Of course you don't. No one ever seems to." Alkaid said still venting even as she finished with her recovery from the spar. "In the name of Rhea, I am so tired of explaining this crap."

Rhea blanched. "Honestly, using my name before a cuss-"

"Since when is crap a cuss?" Apollo interjected.

Rhea glared at him for interrupting. "Since always."

"...I don't think so, but I really don't wanna die before my time." Apollo shrugged.

Hermes glowered at him. "Stop with the 'end of eternity' thing. Please?"

"Can't. It's my shtick."

"Well, I've never heard it before." Pyrrha said amused, she'd never heard her friend curse before now. "Wait, you can cuss? Wow, and here I thought you were all refined and lady-like." she pointed out.

Alkaid sniffed, "I happen to enjoy reading my thesaurus."

Pyrrha just gave a dull look, "…Nerd."

"That was a joke." Alkaid said to deny that she actually did do that.

"Riiight." Pyrrha drawled disbelievingly.

Alkaid pressed her shirt down and brushed her sleeve, covering her nervousness over the topic by nitpicking her appearance, "As I was saying, this mental hurdle is what's holding me back. One I most likely will never overcome, but I've reached peace with this."

Pyrrha tilted her head in thought, eyes closed. After a minute they opened with a predatory gleam and she grinned, "Well, I don't believe that. Like I said, with enough effort you can do pretty crazy stuff."

Alkaid gave her a look of disdain. Enough effort? That was fairy tale logic.

"Fairy tale, demigod...aren't those hand in hand?" Percy asked.

Annabeth glowered at him. "Percy..."

"What? Aren't they? To mortals, anyway?"

Annabeth had to concede to that point.

Not everything could be overcome with effort. She should know, just look at her father's relationship with his family up on Olympus. His sister Hestia had put in an enormous amount of effort to mend the gaps in their family with little success. "I don't think so. If you insist then I'm calling in my favor. I've spent years and years trying to fix this with professional help and have gotten nowhere, I'm not going to waste anymore time and effort on it."

"And hopefully no more of Hades' endless funds."

"It's not endless, despite what you may believe, Zeus!" Hades snapped with a frown.

Zeus arched a brow. "I thought as god of wealth-"

"Zeus, Hades, do not start a new argument now!" Rhea frowned at her sons.

"Yes, mother."

Please believe me, Alkaid thought with annoyance, I don't want to drag this out any longer.

"Oh come on." Pyrrha whined. "It can't be that bad."

"Trust me, it is." Alkaid bluntly said.

Pyrrha wasn't giving up though and continued to pester her, "Tell me about it?"

"Will you get off my case if I do?" the daughter of Hades asked hopefully.

"Maybe?"

"Fine." Alkaid conceded with a sigh, even as she began telling her nosy companion a little bit of the truth behind her aversion to physical combat. "Basically I didn't like hitting people with my fists at first because I wasn't very good at it. I know most people work through that. It's kinda something all beginners go through. But for me it was compounded by the fact I didn't want to. You see I always liked the idea of being a refined noble lady.

"Being treated like a princess probably didn't help."

"Shut up, duckie boy."

Poseidon brooded at his brother's comment.

So I've been working on turning myself into one since I was a little girl. And ladies don't go around bashing people's skulls in."

"But what about your magic?" Pyrrha pointed out her scary talent with the arcane arts.

"That's different. Magic has always been considered an acceptable art for a lady of standing. Even back in Ancient Greece this was true. Just look at Medea, Pasiphaë, and all the other famous sorceresses.

"All of those people I dislike," Annabeth said dryly.

"You and Alkaid are going to get along swimmingly," Percy said with a small smile.

He grunted when she elbowed him in the side.

They were all royalty. So it's perfectly fine for a lady to use magic."

"That's pretty shaky logic." Pyrrha again pointed out a weakness in Alkaid's reasoning.

"I know." Alkaid sighed once more. "I know that very well. But telling that to my subconcious? Well, it's never worked out."

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to still practice, right? I mean not Boot Camp style, but you've obviously got some training in martial arts so some practice to keep up with it makes sense."

"True."

Thank the Abyss, Alkaid thought, perking up a touch.

"By the way, how come you're so insightful all of a sudden?" Alkaid asked teasingly.

"Hey! You calling me an idiot?"

"You said it, not me." Alkaid said with a mischievous smile.

"Hey!"

"Smarts are overrated," Ares said with a snort. He interlaced his hands behind his head. "I'd rather be an idiot than a weakling."

"...You do know that it was the scientists who made the atomic bomb, right?" Athena asked.

"Yeah, but those scientists made it under the orders of their high school bullies." Ares smirked.

Alkaid sighed as she brushed her bangs out of her eyes. She and Pyrrha were standing before the door to the third story corridor, the one labeled: Off Limits unless you wish to die.

"That's pretty much a 'Come on in' sign," Jason said dryly.

Leo grinned. "I've said it before, I'll say it again. We're crazy!"

"You seem to be the only one proud of it." Piper noted.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of." Dionysus huffed.

"Yeah, what he said." Leo nodded.

Percy blanched. The day a demigod agreed with Mr. D was the day he knew it was time to leave Camp Half-Blood.

Looks like it was time to pack up and head to Camp Jupiter.

The mid-December chill filled the corridor, much to Alkaid's displeasure. She had been curious about what was behind Dumbledore's deadly corridor from the get go and had been investigating what it could be in her free time since it was announced back during the Start-of-Term Feast. She knew from early on, ever since she'd first passed by the corridor, that whatever was being hidden there was a powerful gem of some kind. The gem sense she'd inherited as a daughter of the Rich One had told her as much, though her version of the power was not refined enough to tell her precisely what gem it was. Despite that, it was still a major clue and she'd started researching powerful magical gems in her free time trying to figure out which was at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, there were simply too many options: Ancient Magical Foci from legendary Wizards of the past were pretty common, apparently.

"Everyone loves their gems," Hazel said bitterly.

Frank nudged her with a small smile. "I know I do."

Ares blanched and Aphrodite cooed at the sweet comment.

Hades' eye had a mild twitch, but remained passive.

Her little investigation was saved though when a conversation about wizarding security systems among her Study Group reminded her of the break in at Gringotts just before the start of school. Talking with a few of the wizarding information peddlers, via proxy of course, and a little gold had easily revealed that the contents of the vault that had been broken into had been emptied just before it was breached by Hogwarts' own groundskeeper, Hagrid. From there it was easy to assume that whatever was in the vault was what was now behind the third floor corridor. A little more gold to the intelligence brokers and she discovered the vault had, through several shell accounts, belonged to the Flamels.

"Everyone will cave when money is offered," Hermes said with a grin.

"Even you?"

Hermes pouted at Athena. "Not always...I have morals."

Apollo snorted. "Yeah right."

With that the mystery was solved, the Flamels were famous for their Philosopher's Stone after all. Unraveling that mystery had been a nice distraction while it had lasted and had occupied her free time for weeks.

Why such a powerful artifact was in the school, she had not the faintest idea but assumed Dumbledore wished to use the powerful object to tempt out enemies, potentially whatever remnants may have been left of Tom Riddle's forces.

Now, with both Snape and the rat cleared, Alkaid really had not much to worry about with who may be after the stone. With no threat to the stone she saw no real need to go after it. It was not like she had any interest in possessing the stone herself, as considering her heritage she could easily get all the gold she wanted and immortality too if she so wanted, so long as she played her cards right.

"You'd offer your daughter immortality?" Zeus asked.

Hades sent him a look. "Real immortality requires the right actions. Perhaps if she played her cards right, she would obtain the reward."

"What isn't real immortality?" Apollo asked.

Hades glanced to the Hunter. "Ask her."

"...You should probably keep reading," Jason said softly to his girlfriend as tension rose in the room.

But one mention to Pyrrha about the fact that a treasure was behind the door and her fellow demigoddess was biting at the bit to retrieve it for some action. Apparently she hadn't been on a quest yet at Camp Half-Blood and claimed this was a perfect warm-up or practice run for one.

So the daughter of war insisted to going 'Indiana Jones on the place'. Of course, since quests were group affairs and Alkaid was the only other demigoddess available, the child of Ares had insisted the other half-blood tag along too, much to Alkaid's irritation.

Standing in the corridor, Alkaid held her business card holder in her grasp as Pyrrha had her Swiss Army Knife in her hand, flipping out a knife part, "I've got this, learned some stuff from a Hermes kid." she bragged.

Hermes snorted. "Nothing is as good as the real thing."

Alkaid just took out her wand, "Alohomora." With that simple incantation and a flourish of the stick, the door unlocked in an instant.

"That doesn't count!" Hermes frowned. "Real lock picking takes skill and technique!"

"As well as practice."

"Exactly!" Hermes nodded to Athena's dry comment.

Pyrrha gave her a dry look, "Oh come on, have a little fun."

"It would have taken too long." Alkaid stated plainly, "You can test your Breaking and Entering later."

Pyrrha grumbled and snapped the blade closed, pushing the door open, "Well let's see what kind of security...they...have…?" she paused, looking stunned at what she was seeing.

Alkaid walked next to her and raised a delicate eyebrow.

A very large, black furred dog filled at least half the room. Oh, and it had three heads.

Alkaid could only wonder where they got a baby Cerberus. And yes, a baby.

Annabeth rubbed her chin. "Think Cerberus breeds?"

"...Annabeth. No."

"But Percy-"

"I'm putting my foot down." Percy crossed his arms as he looked at his girlfriend. "No. Pet. Cerberus."

Annabeth gained a massive pout.

The actual Cerberus, the one who made sure the dead didn't escape the underworld, was twice the size of a wooly mammoth and a purebred rottweiler, not some mutt like the one in front of her. She should know, it was her family pet.

Pyrrha was about to pull out her labrys, but before she could, Alkaid held out her hand, "Stop." the daughter of Hades hissed.

"What?" Pyrrha told her with a look, "We gotta kill it!" she whispered back, hoping the monster wouldn't hear her.

Alkaid rolled her eyes, "Honestly, violence isn't the only solution.

"It's the fun one, though." Ares frowned.

Think of this as an RPG, you have options in any quest. Use them." She educated her companion as she walked up to the puppy, much to Pyrrha's alarming shock.

"Hello," Alkaid cooed to the doggy as the young pup craned its heads to the left all at once. They leaned in and their nostrils flared and sniffed. It was so strong, Alkaid's hair flew upward.

Suddenly, the Cerberus opened its maws near her, Pyrrha crying out with worry, only for all three heads to lick the daughter of Hades from head to toe.

Annabeth let out a whimper and Percy rubbed his face. This was going to be one of their few arguments, he could feel it.

Alkaid giggled, despite been covering in slobber, and reached her hands out and petted the center head and scratched the chin of the right head, causing his tail to wag, "Good boys." she cooed to them, "Would you let us through?" she asked and got a chorus of barks.

Pyrrha was slack jawed as the monster not only complied, but also assumed a sit position in the far corner to show the girls a trap door.

Alkaid, using her wand to clean herself, Cerby was a messy licker as well so it was no surprise that his descendant was too, just turned to the daughter of war, "See? Words can take you very far."

"What are you, the dog whisperer?"

Alkaid just gave her usual smile, "Perhaps. Now let us continue forthwith."

"But the dog-?" Leo asked.

"Forthwith!" Hermes interrupted.

The two burst into snickers and Hephaestus shook his head. He should not allow Hermes and Leo to be alone together. They were far too alike sometimes.

"Wait a moment, My Lady!" A hoarse whisper suddenly called out from the walls, causing both demigoddesses to tense and the Cerberus pup to start growling threateningly.

"Who is it?" Alkaid asked tersely. She knew the speaker was a ghost, her powers told her that much.

"It is I, My Lady." The gaunt looking face of the Bloody Baron declared in his typical whisper, as he drifted through the wall and into the room.

"Busted!" Pyrrha hissed as she gritted her teeth whilst the Cerberus growled deeper.

Alkaid turned to both of her friends and hissed, "Calm down." Quickly, she turned back to the bloodied spirit and said, "What do you want, Baron?"

"Merely to be of assistance to you." The dead Noble said even as he gave her a respectful bow. "I have come to warn you that there is deadly Devil's Snare in the chamber below."

"Ah, good man. Demeter's little side project in that dimension would have killed her without pause." Hades hummed.

Demeter glared at him. "Plants are not petty!"

"We are." Hades met her gaze with his own unflinching one.

Alkaid gave the creepy spirit an unblinking look as he floated with the same noble poise that he always did, unfazed by the daughter of Hades. She gave a curt nod, "You have my thanks." she said tersely, "If you would be so kind to do me another favour?"

The undead noble merely nodded.

"Keep Filch away from here this night. I have business to conduct."

"Certainly. It will be my honor, My Lady. If you'll excuse me, I'll begin my task immediately." The Slytherin House ghost said before he gave the two demigoddesses one more respectful bow before gracefully floating back out the room.

Pyrrha just looked at her, "The hell was that?"

Alkaid gave a coy smile, "Ghosts like me."

"Creepy stalkers." Leo shuddered.

Nico rolled his eyes. "You just gotta know how to talk to them."

They moved to the trapdoor, the puppy Cerberus' heavy breathing filling the room. Alkaid opened it and peered down. As the child of the dark prince, she could see through any darkness, like night vision in a way. Thus, she could see hundreds of writhing trunks of the Devil's Snare at least a mile down.

"Devil's Snares are weak to light," Alkaid told Pyrrha, "So we need a bright light to get them to leave us be."

"So a Lumos spell?" the redhead suggested.

Alkaid smiled, "Exactly, but we need a powerful blast of it." she opened her business card holder and pulled out a card.

"Hey, that's one of your magic cards, right?" Pyrrha pointed out, "Don't you need your book for that?"

The magical expert shook her head, "No. While the book increases the power of my spells. I can use the cards without it. In fact, it's quicker using them this way. They just lack some of their punch. Hm, think of them as magical grenades."

Pyrrha whistled, "That's pretty handy."

Alkaid giggled, "Yes, I can pull off a few card tricks."

"Can she activate a trap card?" Percy grinned.

Annabeth shook her head. "Your fascination with anime worries me."

"Bah, don't be worried! Anime is awesome!" Apollo grinned. "Especially the Harem Anime. Those are the best."

Artemis glared at him. "So you do watch that filth?"

"...Uh...Well, I never said I didn't..."

"Typical."

Pyrrha rolled her eyes at the lame joke, "Yeah yeah, so let's do this thing already." she said, itching for some action.

Alkaid nodded and tossed the card down the trapdoor like it was a discus. After a moment, a supernova of white light exploded and the plants below screeched in agony.

Alkaid tried to suppress her smile as she took delight in the screams of the plants. Perhaps her father was rubbing too much off on her.

Demeter glared at the smirk that made its way on Hades' face.

The light hung in the room, continuing to provide lighting for the girls and suffering for the foliage.

"How the hell are we going to get down there? That's a huge drop!" Pyrrha frowned, her brow knitted together, trying to find an idea.

Alkaid shook her head, "Pyrrha, dear, fret not. I always have a plan." she said and held out her hand. Then, right under the trap door a large green magic circle, at least five feet in diameter, appeared with a star overlaying it the center. There were so many symbols on it that Pyrrha lost count. She could only recognize the small Greek letters at the corners; π (pi), δ (delta), ω (omega) and ν (nu). All the other rings and squares etched into it just flew over her head. The Gryffindor looked at Alkaid, wondering just how good with magic she really was.

Alkaid stepped onto the circle that acted like a platform, she held out her hand to Pyrrha, "Come. We can use this to hover down."

"I can show you the dungeon~!"

"Ares, no. Just...Just no." Apollo groaned into his hand. "Off key, poorly parodied, and so much more is wrong with that."

Ares scoffed. "You're just mad because I won that Karaoke competition."

"The bar broke out in a fight before the votes were in! That does NOT count!"

"Yeah, but who's the one with the trophy?"

"You stole it!"

Hermes hummed. "Well, technically, he didn't steal it if it wasn't anyone else's to begin with."

"Whose side are you on!?" Apollo demanded while Ares grinned.

Pyrrha took her head and hopped on to it, finding it to be perfectly stable. They hovered down and proceeded to the next room.

The rooms beyond the one with Devil's Snare contained obstacles too. The next held a flock of enchanted flying keys and a locked door. The two demigods had just rushed across the room and Pyrrha had hacked through the door, the celestial bronze cutting right through its meager magical defenses, whilst Alkaid used her magic to shield them from dive bombing flying keys.

The room after that was occupied by a giant chess set, with a pair of empty spaces on their side of the board, clearly waiting for her and Pyrrha to fill in for the missing pieces. The sight of which stirred Alkaid's blood in a way that the previous obstacles didn't. The others had been child's play, hardly a challenge. But chess? Especially wizarding chest, especially with oneself as pieces, and thus subject to injury? It was fun!

"Again, I like this brat." Ares grinned.

"I can end all wars if you keep that up." Hades drawled. "One request to Thanatos."

"...I'll be good."

"And we'll never hear that sentence from Ares ever again." Athena mused.

So much so that Alkaid was tempted to play another game even after winning her way across. In the end, Pyrrha had to drag her to the next room.

The next two rooms were disappointments though. They were empty. Clearly whatever protections were slated to be placed within them had yet to be set up. So the two half-bloods just walked through them without a second glance and entered the penultimate room in the corridor. Within was a singleancient, ornate mirror. It had clawed feet and a gold frame inscribed with the phrase "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."

"A mirror? I thought this place was hiding a treasure." Pyrrha voiced incredulously, a scowl on her face.

"Humph, she doesn't know what she's missing out on!" Aphrodite huffed.

Alkaid ignored her friend for a moment, instead circling the mirror and examining it. "It is. The treasure is hidden in the mirror somehow." the girl deduced in seconds.

"In the mirror? How did they do something like that?"

"I don't know." Alkaid said testily, upset that she couldn't figure it out. "I do know however that this is the Mirror of Erised.

"Desire backwards. Clever, considering the mirror is the object that is named." Athena hummed thoughtfully.

"Wow, way to show off, Athena."

"Poseidon, please?" Hestia asked her brother while the goddess of wisdom glared at him.

"Alright, alright."

It shows the greatest desire of the one looking into it upon its surface. Additionally, it's also able to seal away small objects."

"If you know what it is, then can you unseal the treasure?" the daughter of war asked hopefully.

"Unfortunately not." Alkaid sighed. "At least, not right now. Perhaps with some research…"

"Damn! So tonight's a bust?" Pyrrha asked as she slumped her shoulders in irritation.

"I'm afraid so. My apologies." Alkaid replied sincerely, her lips pursed.

"Not your fault. It's getting late anyway. Let's head back?"

"Let's."

"Can't you just smash it?"

Piper pinched her nose. "Leo, really?"

"Hey, if you don't get it, at least you know someone else won't get it." Leo shrugged.

Hermes rubbed his chin. "You know...he's got a point."

Weeks passed and Alkaid held true to her word, she did research on how to extract the Stone from the Mirror. She however did not do anywhere near as much as she could have though, as it was hardly a high priority for her. Due to this, progress on that front was dreadfully slow. Pyrrha was frustrated by this, but Alkaid honestly did not care. If the other demigod wanted to get the Stone so badly, she could do some of the research herself. Leaving it entirely in her hands had irritated the daughter of Hades so much, that part of her lack of attention towards the matter was out of spite.

Most of it though came from the fact that there were simply a whole host of other more important things to hold her attention. There was her schoolwork, which as a matter of personal pride as well as part of her efforts of image-making, that she needed to continue to excel in. Besides that there was also spending time with her friends and acquaintances in the castle, building up for herself a reliable network of contacts for her plans for the Wizarding World.

"The struggles of popularity," Aphrodite said with a sigh.

"You're telling me." Hermes agreed with a nod. "Running all those networks? Such a hassle."

"You could pull the producer route and hire assistants," Apollo said.

"They get all uppity and expensive." Hermes returned. "Peons are cheaper."

"This is true."

In line with this there was also her need to keep up to date with the current affairs of said community. It was thus whilst doing the latter that she came across the first big piece of evidence of her handiwork, in the form of a report in the Daily Prophet:

Light Shined on Black!

"Breaking news: The color black is actually the lack of light reflecting!"

Artemis groaned and smacked the microphone out of Apollo's hand. "Stop acting stupid."

"I can't! Acting is who I am!" Apollo declared dramatically.

New development in the Case of Sirius Black: New evidence from body of Peter Pettigrew leads to retrial!

By A. Fenetre

New evidence has emerged from the post-mortem examination of the body of Peter Pettigrew, which as readers will recall we reported to have been recovered in mid-September. In light of this new evidence, the DMLE last night at a hastily arranged press conference announced that a new trial for notorious mass murdering Death Eater, Sirius Black will be arranged. …

"Can he still be notorious if he was wrongfully accused?" Athena asked.

"That is a good point," Rhea said. She looked to her youngest son, who stroked his beard in thought.

"Notoriety is not judicial labeling." Zeus explained. He looked at Apollo and Hermes. "That comes more from your domains, I believe."

"Word of mouth always gets the blame!" Apollo frowned.

"I hear that." Hermes nodded.

Pleased that her actions was having a noticeable impact on Wizarding Britain, Alkaid quickly became glued to following the Black Case. She was however a little surprised that Pettigrew was dead. Apparently, someone in the Ministry was not above a little summary justice.

The Trial of Sirius Black: Evidence of grave injustice

Proceedings prove that Black was sent to Azkaban without trial!

By A. Fenetre

"This Fenetre guy is good," Hermes said with a grin. "Reminds me of Cronkite."

The world was stunned today when court proceedings proved that Sirius Black had been sent to Azkaban without trial ten years ago. This revelation, corroborated by Ministry documents and multiple witnesses, is a grave miscarriage of justice as expressed to this reporter by several highly placed Ministry sources. It was thus unsurprising to see it met by outrage both in the courtroom and without…

Things just kept getting more interesting, Alkaid reflected as the case continued.

The Trial of Sirius Black: Black Innocent!

Real Death Eater, Peter Pettigrew!

By A. Fenetre

The verdict for the trial of Sirius Black was announced in court today. The poor man was found not guilty of all counts brought against him. An unsurprising outcome considering the mountain of evidence that has emerged over the course of the trial. Here are some highlights:

…

"Wow, that boring, huh?" Percy asked.

"Seems so." Leo nodded as he popped some chips in his mouth.

Jason rolled his eyes. "It's just separating the highlights from the article."

"Because they're bor-ing." Percy and Leo dryly returned.

After being exonerated, Black was whisked away before reporters could speak to him. However, this reporter understands from her sources that Black will be spending the next week or two at St Mungo's for a mental evaluation, which preliminary results from tests done on him during the trial suggests will likely be extended to a year at least for treatment. Those same sources also suggest though that he will try to contact his goddaughter, the Girl-Who-Lived, Alkaid Medea Potter, in the interim in the hope of eventually taking her in when he is well again.

"I don't see that happening anytime soon." Hades grunted as his fist clenched.

In related news, the Ministry is doing everything it can to salvage its reputation in the wake of the embarrassing revelations that Black's trial unearthed. ...

Alkaid stopped reading there. She knew she that she should read how the Ministry was reacting to all the criticisms that had come up in the wake of the trial. Doing so would give her a much needed handle on how the Ministry worked. But she couldn't.

She was too upset. Black wanted to take her in!

Irritation flared within her. Black wanted to play catchup with her? Mend the gap he himself created? By the Pit, she would love to see him try! He abandoned her for revenge -irony, she knew, but it wasn't the point!

"Ah, just like her father and uncles. So eager to ignore any and all similarities between actions they've made," Demeter said with a smile.

"Too true, Demeter, too true." Rhea giggled.

The younger duo of the Big Three pouted while Hades glowered at his sister.

- and after doing that, he still wanted to take her in?

After a few breaths, Alkaid calmed herself. She was letting her anger talk here. Attaining a calmer mindset, she could see things from Black's perspective. The man probably did not know her current circumstances and was just trying to -finally- live up to his responsibilities as her godfather. If so, then the very least she could do was give the man the benefit of the doubt. She would decline of course, but she would do so as graciously as possible. No point burning a potential asset.

With that thought in mind, the daughter of Hades returned her attention to the paper and the Ministry of Magic's attempts to save its reputation.

"This just in, the M.o.M. has just released the latest cure-all waxing potion!"

"Your pitches get worse and worse with each year that passes, Hermes." Athena blandly reprimanded the god.

Hermes scoffed. "Oh, like you could do better? Please, you'd weave a pretty rug or tapestry, but you can't sell for shi-i-i-i-Stuff."

"Nice save." Apollo stage whispered while Hestia and Rhea glared at the god for his language.

The train ride back to Platform 9 3/4 was relaxing for Alkaid. Of course, she was huddled under a blanket with a good book. Her acquaintances rode with her; Blaise, Daphne, Tracy, and Pyrrha. The other members of her clique were in their own cabin cars doing their own thing.

Everyone chatted about what they would be doing at home and agreed to exchange letters with each other during the Christmas holiday.

Pyrrha had tried to get Alkaid to join her at Long Island. But Alkaid declined her for obvious reasons.

"I still think you're sorta nuts for living near that." The daughter of war had commented.

By that, she was referring to the Mountain of Despair, Mount Othrys, the former palace of the Titans, which resided in San Francisco.

It was understandable, with the mountain so nearby, it attracted many monsters. And with the Romans nearby too

"Is it really so surprising when she already knows Pluto?" Hades asked when he received a glare from both Zeus and Athena.

The two glared harder, if it were possible.

the Gods had tried doubly hard to make Greek demigods stay away from the west coast.

After waving her acquaintances off and greeting their parents' politely, Alkaid waited for but a moment before she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Melinoe, who was in her usual punkish attire.

"Sup." The goddess said lazily, "Dad's busy with work. You know the death rate goes up during this time of year."

"Most wonderful time of the year my ass." Hades grunted. He caught the look his mother gave him and arched a brow. "What? It isn't. I have to oversee triple shifts and barely get a day off for New Year's."

"Still, Hades, think of the children."

"Nico's already said and heard worse." Hades rolled his eyes. "I told him to stay away from Black Bart, but nobody listens to me."

"I thought he was kind of funny." Nico mumbled.

She rolled her eyes.

Alkaid nodded, "Yes, I do. He tries to get as much of it done so we can have Christmas dinner without worrying about him dashing away."

Melinoe nodded to that, "Mom's back, and maaan, she was in a mood! Gotta wonder what Granny did this time."

Demeter huffed. "How dare they! Like I would do anything!"

Hades covered his mouth before it pulled a Poseidon on him.

Alkaid stifled a groan, "I don't wish to even dare a guess."

Melinoe snapped her fingers, Alkaid's belongings vanished, "There, your stuff's in your room. So let's go." She said while walking to a shadowy area of the platform. Alkaid was right behind her as they vanished into the darkness.

Alkaid looked a touch winded as she entered the throne room of the underworld. Unlike its usual dark and commanding presence, the room was decorated with fresh holly leaves strung up from the walls with speckles of mistletoe here and there. The hearth crackled powerfully as fireballs hovered overhead.

Her Father must have been in the Fields of Punishment or something since he wasn't there, but someone else was.

She was a tall, beautiful, young woman with pale skin and flowing curled black hair with a laurel of holly leaves woven in. She was in a long white dress, and her eyes were multi-colored, though they looked washed out in a way.

Hades smiled lightly while Nico grimaced.

Demeter smiled for a moment before she glowered at her brother slash son-in-law.

The goddess of springtime, Persephone, was pacing along the throne room, Thomas Jefferson quickly walking behind her with a long parchment list and quill in his capable hands.

Apollo grimaced. "Really Thom? Really?"

"He's good at what he does," Hades said. "A fine assistant. Plus, it makes up for his disposition towards the Spaniards."

"...What disposition?!"

Hades said nothing more on the subject.

"We'll need at least five dozen of those little cakes from that sweet shop I like in Frisco," the goddess told the famed writer as he jotted it down. Persephone held her chin in her delicate fingers and hummed, "Oh! And the gift baskets as well." She sharply turned around, the spirit nearly bumping into her, "Let me see."

Jefferson flipped the long, long list around, the goddess' eyes absorbing all that she had commented on.

"Hm, yes, that should do it. Wait," her lips curled downwards, "What happened to the ghoul attendee idea? We don't need another Hypnos incident again with him falling asleep in the punch."

"Good times," Hades said with a small smirk.

Hazel snickered and leaned over to Frank. "Apparently he nearly drowned."

"But he's immortal?"

"It was spiked punch."

"You never said that, milady." The honest son of Apollo stated.

Persephone narrowed her eyes.

Alkaid cleared her throat, garnering the attention of the goddess and Thomas (who looked thankful) towards herself and Melinoe.

"Mom, stop ragging on the dead." Melinoe said, walking up to the two with her hands behind her head, "That's my job."

Alkaid curtsied in greeting, "Stepmother."

"Suck up~" Melinoe sung out to her sister in a low voice.

Persephone gained a soft smile, "Girls, hello!" she said in a cheerful mood. Though she frowned towards her daughter, "Melinoe, could you at least wear something festive?"

Melinoe gave a dull blink and snapped her fingers. Her black shirt had shifted into a red one with a Christmas tree on it. Which was on fire.

"...I want that shirt." Leo hummed thoughtfully.

"No, Leo." Piper shook her head.

"But...fire!" He lifted up his flame-covered hands. "Fire good!"

"No!"

Persephone's smile strained, "Better." She turned to Alkaid, "Welcome back as well, Alkaid. I hope your schooling fared well?"

Alkaid nodded, "It did indeed. Though I find the work slightly…slow paced, though I have been entertaining myself by other means."

"And by that," the ghost goddess said in a chipper tone, "She means offing every poor bastard that she's got an axe to grind with."

Alkaid shifted her starry eyes to the younger goddess, "Spying on me, dearest sister?"

"The dead speak to me," Melinoe shrugged uncaringly, "And Charon said he got chatty with a guy about how you poisoned him. Nice job on that. Hadn't had an epic poisoning since Jonestown."

"Melinoe!" Her mother scolded, "There was nothing 'epic' about that!"

Melinoe just gave a toothy smile, "But I like mass murder."

"She's my favorite relative." Ares decided. He frowned. "Why isn't she an Olympian?"

"The same reason we're regretting allowing you to have a throne," Athena said blandly.

A long suffering sigh escaping her lips, Persephone said, "Yes, I know…" refocusing on Thomas, "And you, take down the ghoul idea and watch your cheek. I can always get Hancock to do this."

Thomas just jotted down the note and nodded to the subtle threat. At the goddess' open palm, he handed her the parchment and was dismissed. It was no doubt his time at the judgement pavilion anyway.

Persephone looked at the list, "What I wouldn't give to have my old handmaidens back, but no, mother just had to turn them into the Sirens. They didn't even have the gall to come back, lazy birdbrains."

"But you can summon any other handmaiden, can you not?" Alkaid asked curious.

Persephone replied with a dull blink, "Yes, with very 'yes ma'am' personalities and skinny to the bone."

"Just ring up Hecate, not like you don't drone on for hours with each other." Melinoe rolled her eyes at how overdramatic her mom was prone to be.

"She got it from her parents," Poseidon said with a smirk.

Hades actually let out a chuckle while Zeus and Demeter glared at their brother.

"...Who do we pray to when Hades laughs?" Hermes asked under his breath.

The wife of Hades disagreed, "Dear, I'm organizing the party. It is far too poor form to have a guest help me."

Shrugging, the ghost goddess departed and said, "Well, good luck with that, mom. I've got things to do."

Persephone scrunched her nose, "I hope you aren't seeing that mortal with all the piercings again."

Melinoe turned her head and grinned lecherously, "Nah, the one with the tattoo on his-"

Alkaid held up her hands, "I don't wish to know." Her stepmother agreed instantly.

"Whatever." Melinoe said dismissively, leaving the throne room.

Shaking her head, Persephone turned to Alkaid, her hand on her hip, "Well, I still need to get antlers on the Furies. Care to join me dear? They're very stubborn about it for some reason."

"Mrs. Dodds with antlers? I'll never get that image out of my head." Percy grimaced.

Hades smirked. "It's a truly amusing sight, Percy Jackson."

Alkaid's face lit up with amusement, "I would love to."

Just because the daughter of Hades viewed the Furies as family, didn't change the fact that she loved to tease them in their, ehem, holiday attire.

And of course a red nose for Alecto. As their leader, she had to bite the bullet and be Rudolf, such was the burden of leadership.

Percy shuddered. "I need mind bleach."

"Brilliant." The spring goddess smiled a glowing smile.

Alkaid smoothed out her sleeveless green dress that was decorated with gold and silver flakes. She adjusted her Mary Janes and fixed her silver hairband and smiled into the mirror. A knock on her door drew her attention, "A moment!" she called back. Brushing some hair behind her shoulder, and putting on a pair of silver bracelets, Alkaid finally opened the door.

She did her best to suppress a giggle, but failed miserably.

"Milord is waiting." Alecto spat, irritation wafting off her as the red nose she was wearing flickered on and off, and every move jingled the bells on the antlers the Fury wore.

"...Correction, I need a camera!" Percy beamed.

"I got ya covered." Apollo snapped his fingers and disposables appeared in all of the demigods' laps. "For the memories. And they're not digital."

Leo scoffed. "Lamesauce."

"O-Of course, Rudo-I mean, Alecto." Alkaid said past her quivering lips.

Alecto just sent her a withering look, and gestured for her to follow. The daughter of Hades complied, doing her best to smother her giggles all the way.

The party had already started by the time they got there, gods being gods after all, so as the only mortal attending, she could afford to be fashionably late. The self-centred gods would not even notice. Those that did? Well, they liked her enough already to not make it an issue.

Alkaid entered the ballroom where gods, spirits, and the dead mingled as music was provided by a host of famous deceased musicians like Frank Sinatra, Leroy Carr, and even Louis Armstrong. She could even spot Mozart piano freestyling with Beethoven.

"...I really need to hit up an Underworld party sometime..." Apollo mused to himself. Most of those named weren't his kids and he loved their work!

Ah, the oldies but goodies.

Alkaid sighted her father close by and walked over to him and Persephone. He was dressed in his souls of the damned woven suit. He really liked that suit, even if it creeped everyone else (even in the family) out. It was his version of the demonstration of power that most gods showed off at these gatherings. Persephone was dressed in a fur-lined green robe with a holly wreath set with shining icicles on her head. She was dressed up as the Ghost of Christmas Present, though far more feminine, apparently. And pulling it off spectacularly. Following the light of Alecto's nose,

"Mrs. Dodds with your nose so bright, won't you lead the battle tonight?" Percy mumbled under his breath with a smirk plastered on his face.

Annabeth let out a soft giggle.

Alkaid was by her Father's side in no time.

"Alkaid," Hades smiled softly, turning to the goddess he and his wife were talking with, "I would like you to meet Sophrosyne."he gestured.

"Call me Sophy." The goddess said with a long-suffering sigh. "No one ever seems to be able to pronounce my full name properly."

Alkaid titled her head in thought, "Aren't you one of the spirits that Pandora released from her pithus?"

Sophy smiled happily, "Indeed I am! Goddess and embodiment of moderation, self-control, temperance, restraint, and discretion. A smart young lady you have here, Lord Hades."

"Indeed." Hades acknowledged with a pleased smirk. Persephone just huffed in the background and muttered about having done a fair share of the raising too. This earned the Spring goddess a apologetic look from both her divine counterparts and an agreeing one from her stepdaughter.

"Apologies, Lady Persephone." Sophy said genuinely. "I meant no offense."

Persephone just waved her off, before turning to Alkaid. "Dear, Sophy here was just asking about you."

"You know, things might not be so bad this time around," Nico said with a hopeful look in his eye.

Alkaid looked at the goddess with interest. She wasn't overly beautiful like most goddesses, but she was not ugly either, more of a moderate beauty. Her hair was in short ringlets with a rustic color and her eyes were a lovely lilac color.

"Eh, seven out of ten." Apollo shrugged. "I'd still hit it."

Artemis clapped her hand over her face. "You'd chase anything-!"

"Aside from you, Mom, or any of the respectable other's or mothers of those present." Apollo interjected. He smirked and crossed his arms. "See? I'm not a complete horn dog. I have standards and limits!"

"...I don't believe you."

"Ouch."

"She was?"

"Oh yes." Sophy said mildly, even as her eyes seemed to shine with excitement. "You're such a self-controlled individual that I've wanted to meet you for some time now. Few, especially someone as young as yourself, are as good at exercising my domain as you are."

"I thank you for the praise, Lady Sophy." Alkaid said with a curtsey, even as she spotted Hades smiling proudly at her. Her heart swelled at that. Of course, this was the precise moment that her stepmother chose to embarrass her.

"Oh Alkaid! There's a smudge on your cheek! Here let me." The Queen of the Underworld said as she leaned down to rub off an imaginary smudge of dirt off Alkaid's face with her handkerchief. Whispering for her stepdaughter's ears only, the goddess instructed her to, "Relax. Don't be so formal. This is a party. Enjoy it."

Mortally embarrassed and face burning a cherry red, Alkaid nodded even as she thanked her stepmother.

"...Or I could be wrong and my life could become Hell." Nico corrected himself from his earlier statement. He shuddered, Persephone acting motherly? That was not natural.

Desperate to get away, Alkaid bid her adieu and went to mingle among the crowd, Alecto sulking behind her.

Heading to the punch bowl, Alkaid poured herself a glass as Charon and Thanatos were nearby chatting together, somewhat.

"Gods, I miss Dionysus," Charon bemoaned as he adjusted his cuffs, "Least he always had some good ale on hand to drink." he complained as he picked up his scotch glass.

"I would be there if I could, I never pass up a good party, but someone is stingy!" Dionysus said with a pointed look to Zeus.

"I'm sorry, would you like your punishment back to how it was before the second Titanomachy?" Zeus countered.

"...Touché."

"Hm." Thanatos said, far more indulged in his new PDA.

Charon raised a brow behind his tortoise shell sunglasses, "Hey look over there, Aphrodite let a tit slip!"

"WHERE?" Ares looked up eagerly.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "One time, one time it happens!"

"Yeah, but I missed it!" Ares argued.

"Don't you see it anyway?" Apollo asked.

"...That's not the point!"

Hephaestus rolled his eyes and rubbed his brow. "This is why I wanted a divorce..."

"It's a necessary evil, Hephaestus." Zeus nodded to his son.

Hephaestus arched a brow. "My marriage? Or marriage in general?"

Zeus was about to answer before he felt his wife's gaze boring into the side of his head. He paused and thought his words over carefully. "Your...situation...keeps the peace more than you realize."

"Uh-huh," Hephaestus said with a shake of his head.

He said, crying wolf since the goddess wasn't even at the party.

"Hm, I see." Thanatos answered, eyes glued to the screen.

Charon scowled, "Tartarus' asshole, I could take a piss in the corner and the wall would give me a better conversation!"

"Then by all mean, make a fool of yourself." The god of death replied in his baritone voice.

"I'd pay to see that," Hades said with a smirk.

"So, you're interested in that sort of bedroom play? Does Persephone enjoy the golden show – presents you get her every Christmas?" Aphrodite quickly corrected herself as Demeter, Hades, Rhea and Hestia glared death at her. The goddess of beauty might have overstepped her grounds with that joke.

Ares still snickered. He thought it was funny.

Charon sipped his scotch, "...You're such a dick. To your own brother. Mum would cry you know."

Thanatos actually looked up, raising an eyebrow, "Mother? Really?"

"...Yeah, you're right. She'd just go sadist on us with a whip or something. Then again, I knew this one broad that was really into-"

"Ehem," Alkaid frowned at the topic, so vulgar.

"Indeed! In front of a child! I have half a nerve to speak to Nyx about this!" Rhea frowned.

"Mother...Please, don't." Zeus implored. He really didn't wish to deal with the House of Hades' matron.

Charon turned around lazily, "Well, ain't it the Little Lass herself," he raised his glass, "Cheers to another boring year of dead sods."

Alkaid just chinked her glass against his, "Indeed."

Sipping his drink, the ferrier said, "So, thanks for the raving lunatic at the DOA. Really livens up the place." he smiled crudely.

"Was that supposed to be a joke?" Thanatos muttered derisively even as he continued focusing on his PDA. Looking up though as he came across a particular entry, he turned to Alkaid.

"Yes. That said, good job in dealing with Riddle's Horcuxes so far." Thanatos droned.

"Is that not your job, Lord Thanatos." Alkaid replied scathingly.

"Burned by an eleven year old. Hey! We did get some comedy tonight." Charon cackled.

Hermes and Apollo agreed with him as they laughed.

Thanatos frowned at the girl, "It was a mortal task to preform."

"La-zy." Charon jeered on.

"...Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not." the death god glared at his brother.

Charon grinned, "Are too~!"

Alkaid smirked at the scene, sipping her punch, entertained by two of the most feared gods behaving like children. After about five minutes of listening to the gods trading insults and who mother likes best, she decided to depart to have an actual intelligent conversation.

Alecto dutifully followed behind Alkaid, muttering all the while about her idiot brothers ignoring her and how of course their mother liked her and her sister Furies best. They had whips! The daughter of Hades ignored her, it was the smart thing to do when the children of Nyx starting arguing about their mother's affections.

Annabeth smirked victoriously as she recalled the argument she had caused. According to Nico, the arguments haven't stopped yet.

Alkaid perked up immediately at seeing a beautiful woman with short blonde hair and emerald green eyes, who was wearing a silver dress with green runic and alchemical symbols floating seemingly at random across the surface of the gown. Alkaid spotted that the symbols often came together to form complex patterns, considering the gown's owner, probably the basis of some great act of alchemy.

She was talking to another woman with her back to Alkaid. The second woman was dressed in a red leather jacket, black jeans, and black boots. And oddly a whip strapped to her waist.

What was with all the whips tonight?

As Alkaid moved closer, The women in red left, heading into the crowd.

"Alkaid." The woman in silver said. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

"Lady Hecate," Alkaid formally greeted as she smiled brilliantly, "So kind of you to join us this evening."

"Yes, well, Hades and Persephone throw a wonderful party. It would be a waste not to come. Even Nemesis decided to come this year. Skipping the party on Olympus to do so."

"That was Lady Nemesis?" Alkaid asked genuinely surprised, she'd not expected anyone to skip out on a party on Olympus just to visit the underworld. Especially when doing so required taking an oath on the Styx to keep everything learned at said party (like who else attended or the existence of certain forbidden demigods) a secret as part of the process of accepting the invitation.

"Well that explains why Apollo hasn't gone." Hermes snorted. "Can't keep a secret from Zeus to save his life."

"Yes I can! I got tons of secrets that Zeus doesn't know about!" Apollo retorted.

Zeus arched a brow. "Oh, really?"

"...Um...I plead the fifth?"

"Boys, the story?" Rhea sighed and unintentionally saved her grandson from being chewed out.

Even if it was a sensible security precaution in place for centuries to keep any attendees from suffering any Olympian retribution for snubbing their party.

"It's not a great loss. At least here we'd be appreciated." Alecto chimed in to explain things to her charge.

Hecate, with pursed lips, nodded. "True, you do get drowned out up there by those on their glittered thrones."

Alecto snorted. "Their egos don't help things. See how they mistreat our Lord Hades. They basically lost touch with us. Not even bothering to talk to us unless they want something. Hermes just goes by email nowadays." she sighed, "He had such nice hair."

Hecate and Alkaid both eyed the Fury oddly. She crushed on Hermes? Who knew.

"...And another reason why I email now," Hermes said with a pale face.

Hades smirked lightly. "Come now, Hermes, isn't it time you settled down?"

"No!" Hermes seemed horrified at the notion.

Hera, however, tapped her chin in thought. "It could unite our two kingdoms once again..."

"Hera, you are done uniting things," Zeus said dryly.

Hermes gave his father a grateful look while Hera huffed.

"With that attitude it's no wonder why Apollo, Ares and Hermes are all still single."

Trying to steer the conversation onto a more productive track, Alkaid turned to Hecate. "Lady Hecate, I have a few questions about some new bits of magic I'm been experimenting with. Is that acceptable?"

"Of course."

With that Alkaid and Hecate began a lengthy discussions about magic. The merits of certain elements over others. The way certain spells could be structured to achieve specific aims. And other far more complex things.

Alecto surprisingly also contributed meaningfully, though her suggestions tended to be more about how to make a spell or magical effect hurt a target more and thus be an effective weapon than anything else.

The trio were just discussing the possibility of using a magical binding spell like a whip, -Seriously why was everything about whips tonight? - when a hush settled across the ballroom. Turning to the source of the silence, they saw that a new guest had arrived. A very important, very unexpected guest. Rhea, the Titaness of Motherhood, the Titan Queen of Mount Orthys, Alkaid's grandmother had arrived.

Zeus frowned. "Wait...this means that – Mother, you would tell me if Hades had broken the oath, right?"

Hades scowled at him. "This is another dimension!"

"The question remains!"

Rhea blinked and smiled at her sons. "Well, I'm not obligated to make a promise or another, but then again, seeing you all act so rambunctious is prone to make me weary and tired. You're all my baby boys and I love you equally. I hate to see you hurt, let alone hurt one another. Please don't fight."

"...Well, Mother played the baby boys card, Zeus your retort?" Poseidon asked with a chuckle as he fought down his embarrassment.

Zeus' nostril's flared lightly as he glared at his eldest brother, who eagerly glared back. "...I retract the question, Mother."

"I knew you would see it my way, Zeus." Rhea smiled happily.

Rhea was absolutely beautiful, truly living up to her moniker as the most beautiful titaness of all. Her dark curly hair swept her shoulders, eyes as green as meadows, and a smile that was brighter than the sun.

Artemis looked at Apollo. "What? No retort?"

Apollo shrugged. "Grandma's a babe. Who's dumb enough to argue that?"

"...Really Apollo? Really?" Artemis asked dryly.

"What? It's the truth."

Hades and Persephone rushed over to her even as they gestured to Alecto to bring Alkaid and Melinoe, who had been literally haunting the guests from the shadows, to join them.

With a hasty goodbye to the goddess of magic, who gave an understanding nod, Alkaid followed her old nanny to join her family.

"Greetings mother." Hades said, looking genuinely pleased as he spoke in the most polite tone Alkaid had ever heard him muster. "Welcome to our Christmas Party."

"Such a polite host, Hades," Demeter said with a smirk. "Where are those manners when you are a guest?"

"Considering that I'm only allowed here for one day out of the year, and that's if Zeus and I are not arguing, you should be grateful that I am this polite, sister." Hades drawled pointedly.

"He does have a point," Rhea said with a nod.

Zeus frowned. "But Mother..."

"Balances, I know, the point is still there, Zeus."

"It's a pleasure to be here, Hades." Rhea said kindly to her son. Her very presence bringing a pleasant and comforting aura to everyone in the area.

"Grandmother, you remember our daughters." Persephone picked up the introductions. "Melinoe," her heel nudged the young goddess. Melinoe gave her mother a look of mild irritation, it was like her mother didn't trust her to know when to behave. Though she restrained herself from kicking up a fuss, she knew better then to make a scene with Rhea around.

"Hi grandma." Melinoe said casually, a forced smile flashed the titaness' way.

Persephone gestured to the only mortal attending. "And Alkaid."

"It's nice seeing you again Grandmother." Alkaid replied with a broad and genuine smile. She was feeling happy not only at her grandmother's visit but also her stepmother's easy public acknowledgement of her as one of her children.

"A miracle in and of itself," Nico said sourly.

Hades cleared his throat. "Nico..."

"Sorry, Dad." Nico grumbled half-heartedly.

"Of course! How could I forget." Rhea smiled, "You girls look wonderful." she advanced towards them and hugged them. While Melinoe grunted at the strength, Alkaid struggled for air.

Even as a peaceful titan, Rhea still had the strength that came with her species of immortals.

"...Grandmother, I think I'm just going to settle for giving you a kiss on the cheek," Percy said nervously. He was in no mood to be squished by a hug from his grandmother.

"Ditto." Jason, Hazel and Nico chimed.

The Big Three frowned in disapproval while Rhea laughed at their reactions.

Thankfully it was a brief hug and Rhea stepped back, looking warmly at them.

Alkaid quickly caught her breathe and in a excited voice asked, "Grandmother, are the lions well? Did you bring them with you?"

Smiling the titaness answered, "They are doing well, my dear. Though I did not bring them with me this time."

"That's good to hear. A pity though that they aren't here." Alkaid replied even as she inwardly whined. Aw, I wanted to play with them.

"Pet that-!"

"Apollo!" Hestia glared at her nephew.

"I was going to say kitty! Geez...Who do you think I am? Ares?" Apollo pouted.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ares asked with a scowl and a glare.

"That you're a pig." Athena threw in with a smirk. She smirked wider when Ares snarled at her, but was kept in his throne when he received a warning glare from Zeus.

Rhea, apparently reading her thoughts, patted her on the head. "Don't be upset. You'll see them the next time we meet."

Alkaid smiled at the promise. She trusted her grandmother, she always kept her promises.

Having mollified her granddaughter, Rhea turned to Hades, a worried look on her face, "Son, is it not getting late?" Rhea commented as he escorted her through the party. "Perhaps it's best for young Alkaid to head to bed."

Hades paused for a moment, taking note of the time and conceded. "Yes, it is. Alecto. Take Alkaid to bed."

"Yes, Milord." The Fury answered sharply, before turning to her charge. "Come along, Princess. It is time for you to retire for the night."

Alkaid pouted. It was not that late. She turned to her stepmother and sister to try to get some support but found none.

"I think I'll come with you Alecto. To make sure lil' sis gets to bed." Melinoe said. The traitor. She was just using her to escape the party early.

"Have a good rest, Alkaid." Persephone said kindly to her stepdaughter, before turning sharply to her daughter and in a peeved tone, began chiding her. "Oh no you don't Melinoe. You're not skipping out on this party so easily. Honestly! Taking advantage of your sister like that."

"She must have learned it from her father," Demeter said with a sniff.

Hades rolled his eyes. "Yes, because the lord of the dead can't be a party person."

"There's a reason they call it a 'Dead Party', Hades," Dionysus said before he sipped from his diet coke.

"And there's also that other saying, what is it, partiers know how to raise hell?" Hades countered.

"Hm, touché."

"Dammit…"

Alkaid smirked, served her right.

"In the words of Nelson Muntz: Ha-ha!" Nico laughed obnoxiously as he pointed at the screen.

Hades arched a brow. "...Need I ask how or when you received access to the Simpsons?"

"...Uhh...I plead the fifth?"

Alkaid sighed in bliss as she relaxed in her white night gown. It was late into the night but the party was still roaring on after her Father sent her to bed.

But since she was alone, Alecto having left after delivering her to her room, Alkaid decided to stay up a touch longer.

At least she got her Christmas presents. The possible best one was the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

"Not a fan." Hermes huffed. "Link to the Past for the SNES all the way."

"Bah, the N sixty-four classic is a star!" Apollo protested.

"Guys, guys, let's face it...nothing compares to the original," Leo said before the two gods could start to fight.

"...This is true." The two gods agreed.

Hazel frowned and blinked. "What's the Legend of Zelda?"

Frank shrunk under the combined glares of Leo, Apollo and Hermes. He hadn't exactly had a lot of time to help Hazel learn about some modern pop culture and was focusing on movies first.

But still, she could play that later. She had to do something far more endeavouring to preform.

Sitting in her spinning chair, Alkaid booted up her desktop and smiled as the AOL started up. She selected the StarCraft icon on the screen and waited for it to load.

After popping open a Mountain Dew bottle to keep her caffeinated, the game finally loaded.

"Now," Alkaid smiled smugly, "Which of you peons wish to perish before the mighty Protoss?"

After getting into a game of 8 players (no allies on her side), she was well into over an hour of gameplay, nearly hitting a second one. And Alkaid was dominating.

"Ha! You think your little Zerg Rush will help you? Fools! Photon Cannons to the face!" Alkaid gave a mock sad face, "Oh? Are my Zealots too much for you? Too bad, so sad~!"

After wiping the sixth player off the map, leaving one weakened opponent left, the daughter of Hades giggled.

"I like this girl." Ares smirked.

"Bad boy," Hephaestus said with a smirk of his own. "Don't hump little girls."

"Shut up, Crip. I like her personality!"

"...And another thing to cross off of the Things I'd Never Thought I'd Hear Ares Say list." Hermes mused to himself.

"Yes, yes! Quiver at my keystrokes, shake in terror at my mouse clicks, go to your porcelain throne at my almighty skil-wait what?" she paused, staring at her screen...that had frozen.

"No...no, no, no!" Alkaid rapidly typed a few keys, clicking her mouse fruitlessly, and even whacking the monitor in a vain attempt to save her coming victory!

"The blue screen of death! The cruelest of punishments!" Leo gasped.

With no hope of return to this battlefield, Alkaid could thinking of only one thing.

"Son of a bitch!" She thundered and shot out of her seat, glaring at the ceiling of the underworld, pointing her finger at it, "Damn you RNG god,

"...The what?" Zeus asked with a confused and irritated frown.

"It is a fictional being, Zeus," Hephaestus said with an amused smirk at his father's wrath so easily enticed by a video game.

"Yes, brother, you should play some. That one game, what was it, Darkness?" Hades looked at Hephaestus, who nodded in agreement. "Was very entertaining for me."

"...I preferred that one assassin game where you plundered the seas," Poseidon said after a moment. He smiled lightly. "Now he was a fun character."

Athena rolled her eyes. "Figures."

"Don't act all high and mighty, GodSofWhizz," Hermes said with a smirk aimed at Athena. "I've seen your favored screen name pop up on many MMORPGs."

"Oh, is she a WoW fan? What's her race?" Apollo asked eagerly. "I bet she could help us with that raid -!"

"We don't need her help, we just need to level up more!" Ares snapped.

Dionysus banished his empty can and reformed a new one. "This is why I left the circle, allowing Ares to run command of the group was the dumbest decision you two ever made. And that's including allowing that little troll Doveboy85 to keep killing me in 2004!"

"You're all supposed to be gods...how do you have time for this?" Artemis asked with a frown while Aphrodite smirked secretly.

"Um, duh? We're gods. We can spit in the face of what humans call multitasking, sis." Apollo explained.

Zeus stroked his beard and looked at his brothers. "So...games focused on your domains, eh?"

"There's one on yours, as well, brother," Hades said. "InFamous, about a man with an electrifying personality."

"...I may have to take a look into this."

Leo grinned and turned to Piper. "And you said that video games made people more violent."

"...Leo, this doesn't prove me wrong."

damn you to the deepest, most horrendous parts of the Pit! First the troll, then the blasted stone, and now this?! You've gone too far!"

No one messed with Alkaid's games.

No one!

"If we ever cross paths, you will beg for my mercy and I will only answer with; No!" Alkaid fumed, slapping her empty Sprite bottle across the room as she took deep breathes to calm down and plopped into her chair, making it glide slowly backwards.

A moment later, her door opened, Hades peeking his head in with a raised brow, "Were you cussing?"

"The ears of a father," Hermes mumbled.

"What was that?" Zeus asked with a glare aimed at his son.

"See? That's exactly what I was talking about."

Alkaid forced a sunny smile to her lips in a second, a drop of sweat trickling down her neck, "What? Daddy! No, never! I wouldn't dare do something so uncouth. I'm above such pett-"

"Grounded." Hades simply said, looking at her computer. With a snap of his fingers, it was gone, along with her TV and videogames, "One week."

"But that's my entire holiday!" Alkaid whined in protest.

The lord of the dead just smiled, "I know."

"...They don't call him the Prince of Evil for nothing." Nico drawled.

"Darkness, Nico, darkness." Hades corrected firmly.

"A good punishment. She shouldn't spend so much time playing those silly games anyway," Hestia said with a nod. "They'll rot her brain."

The WoW enthusiasts frowned at the indirect insult.

And with that, he withdrew back to the party.

Alkaid crossed her arms, wearing a mighty pout.

No one messed with Alkaid's games, no one.

Except for her Father.

"Fear the father's wrath, Alkaid, fear it!" Hermes hissed. "That one blackout in March of '05..."

"Oh, man, do I remember that." Apollo pouted while Ares seethed.

"So damn close that time, too! So fucking close!"

0 Omake: Mother's Pride 0

Hades looked at his watch, watching the seconds until his babysitter arrived. He and Persephone were going out and he didn't have a proper sitter for young Alkaid. The Furies were out, Melinoe wasn't really...babysitter material, and he had trust issues with who to watch his mortal child.

So he called in a favor.

"Hello, son." A melodic voice greeted. Hades turned to see his mother Rhea.

"Hello mother, thank you for coming."

Rhea waved it off, "Nonsense. You know I adore children. Still," she frowned a bit, "Breaking the oath? I expected Zeus to be first."

Zeus let out a very undignified squawk and frowned at Rhea. "Mother!"

"Oh, what are you so upset about? Was I wrong?" Rhea asked with a raised brow.

Zeus crossed his arms and huffed.

Hades cleared his throat, "Yes, well, you know how little I care for such a thing, mother. They bullied me into it anyway." he said to shift the blame.

"Figures," Poseidon and Zeus said dryly.

"You did. I am perfectly capable of controlling myself most of the time," Hades said

"Yes, yes," Rhea said, she had heard this many times already. She smiled at him, "Well, where is the dear?"

"In her room, reading." Hades commented as they walked to Alkaid's room.

A knock on the door made Alkaid turn her head as she was colo-, er, reading.

"...Is that supposed to imply that she's coloring in a book not meant for coloring?" Annabeth asked sourly.

"I believe it is, yes," Athena said dryly.

"Or that Dad was trying to make her seem more lady-like," Hazel said with a shrug. "To impress Grandmother."

"I'd do it." Hades admitted without shame.

She saw her daddy open the door along with a pretty lady accompanying him.

"Hi daddy!" She waved eagerly, getting the lady to smile.

"Oh she's precious."

Hades smiled, "Yes, I know. Alkaid, come over and greet your Grandmother."

Alkaid stood up and padded over, looking up curiously at Rhea, "Don't you have lions?"

Hades pursed his lips as his mother giggled, "At least say hello first." he whispered to his child.

"Such a polite little thing, Hades." Poseidon teased his brother.

"Be silent, Wailer."

"Oh." Alkaid blinked, "Hello! Can I pet a lion?"

Rhea giggled once more, "Of course dear." she said, summoning a large lion that was nearly half her height.

Alkaid squealed, hugging the fluffy mane of the king of felines.

"Yes, well, I leave her in your capable paws." Hades smiled.

"Nice pun.

"Eh, six out of ten," Leo said with a shrug.

"Five, and not because I'm biased or anything." Percy quickly added. "It just doesn't feel like it fits."

"...Fair enough," Hades grudgingly said to forgo starting another argument.

And I'll try my best." Rhea commented as Hades gave her a parting hug and left. Now alone, the titaness turned to her granddaughter and smiled, "So, what shall we do, little one?"

"Can we watch Aladdin, Grandmother?" she asked politely, clammering up the lion's back. Or at least trying to.

Rhea held her up and smiled, "Of course dear. But just call me granny in private." she winked.

Alkaid giggled, "Okay granny!"

"...Can I call you-?"

"Apollo, you will show respect to Grandmother." Artemis cut her twin off with a stern frown.

"Artemis, I care not for respect, it is an endearing term of love," Rhea said with a smile. Aphrodite beamed at the mention and smirked at her rival, who glared back at her.

"Granny Rhea is awesome," Apollo said with a dumb grin on his face.

Rhea placed her toddler granddaughter on top on the lion and smiled as the young child began cuddling into the beast. As the girl settled down, she turned an expectant look to her grandmother.

Still smiling indulgently, Rhea waved a hand and conjured a big screen television on which the opening for the requested movie was already playing.

"Such a lovely scene to end on," Rhea said with a smile. "I hope there is more like it."

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