Nico felt better just entering the Underworld. It was his home turf, after all. Now all they had to do was give his still-immature-after-two-thousand-years stepmother the apple and get the horse out of there.

"Ah, the apple!" was the first thing Persephone said when they entered the throne room, yanking it from Hazel's hand. "You may take the horse back to your camp. It is no longer needed."

No longer needed? They'd had to get the apple because Persephone refused to let the horse go! That's when it hit Nico. "You let the horse loose in Camp Jupiter. You made sure it got killed and then made us come here so you could get the apple. You planned this whole thing!"

The goddess of springtime smiled coldly. "Yes, young one. My lord needed it to complete his new weapon."

Nico paled. A sword was Hades' new weapon, and there was nothing about it being incomplete. But apparently, Persephone wanted an addition. He remembered that apples of immortality from the garden of the Hesperides were also the apples of joy that tempted Atalanta, and the apples of discord that caused the Trojan War.

"The golden apples don't just grant immortality, do they?"

"No." Persephone agreed. "If the sword is cooled in the juice of a golden apple, it will be able to make anyone immortal. Or do the opposite-destroy their soul permanently. And because if juice of the apple runs in the sword, the sword itself becomes indestructible."

Nico got the feeling that wasn't all the sword could do, but he decided to let it go. Gods could only bear so much questioning before they turned you turned you into dandelions or corn plants. "So, where's the horse?" he asked.

Persephone waved her hand, as if motioning someone to enter. The horse trotted in, looking very much alive and healthy. Persephone patted the horse's muzzle. It whinnied and turned towards Hazel. Hazel laughed happily as the horse nudged her.

"Take the steed to the Temple of Artemis at the Roman camp. That's all, demigods."

Reyna exhaled softly. "Thank you, Lady Persephone." she said, bowing low.

"I would like to speak with you for a second, Reyna Ramirez-Arellano. Kindly come aside." She said, already leading Reyna aside. Nico wondered what his stepmother would possibly have to say to Reyna. Reyna looked baffled as Persephone said something that sounded suspiciously like a threat. He and Hazel exchanged a glance, but said nothing as they headed out of the Underworld. For all they knew, she probably wasn't allowed to tell.

After shadow-traveling back to camp (and arguing because Nico put himself at risk again), the three stood at the Temple of Diana, weak and tired. Only the horse seemed to be in a good mood, nuzzling Hazel and whinnying happily. Just when Nico couldn't stand waiting anymore, Artemis (or Diana; this one wasn't a cute little twelve year old) stood before them.

"You have done well, demigods. You have returned Glimmer. For that, I will see to it that you are suitably rewarded someday."

"We are grateful, Lady Diana." Reyna said. The goddess snapped her fingers and the horse disappeared in a flash of ice and dust.

"Indeed, praetor. Your work for New Rome and its demigods is outstanding. You will make a fine recruit for my Hunters, maybe even a Lieutenant. Perhaps you'd like to join?"

Nico felt like someone had punched him in the gut. He had had it. "What is your problem?" he shouted, drawing his sword. He was seeing red, not thinking straight anymore.

"Nico! What-" Hazel and Reyna tried to hold him back, but he shook them away.

"First Bianca, now Reyna! You are NOT stealing another important person from me! You probably don't even care about your stupid Hunters, as long as you have a good stock of them! Just leave her alone!" He yelled, tears streaming down his face.

Diana looked stunned. Nico realized that she was not used to being spoken to that way. The temple had gone silent, and he felt his words sink in. Now he was going to be blasted to ashes, for sure. He clenched his jaw and braced himself, but Diana only looked at him with pity. "I'm not stealing anybody, Nico di Angelo. Your sister made her choice, and Reyna shall make hers. Well?" she turned to Reyna.

Reyna twisted her sword-and-torch ring. After a few moments, she said, "I don't know, my lady. I don't think I'm ready to join the Hunt yet. I still have to run the camp."

"Very well. The offer is still open. Goodbye, heroes." And then she was gone in a flash.