Chapter Eleven: Visiting the Parents

After returning back from the quest, Andi had barely slept. Will had come to visit her after Milady woke him up, something that he had grown accustomed too over the years he'd known her, and was now watching her try and find her boots.

"You going to be okay?" he asked as he leant against the door frame, a smile on his face as he watched the female rush around.

"I hope s- there they are" grabbing the shoes that had been kicked under the wardrobe, before sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling them on. "Guess I'm just a bit nervous. This isn't something I've ever had to explain before. Not sure how to"

"You need me to come with?"

"I need to do this myself" standing up she adjusted her outfit, making sure any injury was covered and she didn't look like she'd been awake for forty-eight hours. "How'd I look?"

"Like you need to sleep"

"Once I've done this I will. I promise"

"Take care Ghost Girl" Will gave her a hug before she took a few steps back and disappeared into the shadows.

…

That morning Sally Jackson woke up to the sound of her youngest child swearing at the coffee table. "Andrea Laura Jackson I will wash your mouth out with soap if I hear that language coming out of your mouth ever again." When she came into the living room, she saw Andi laying sprawled out on the floor between the table and couch.

"Sorry. That coffee table is evil though and had it coming" Andi said as she got off the floor and sat on the couch, bringing her knees up to her chest and trying to make herself as small as possible.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" sensing something was wrong with her daughter, Sally sat down next to her, reaching out and holding her hand within her own.

"Do you remember after the fight against Kronos that there was another prophecy?"

"I can't forget that. Is that what's bothering you?"

"Sort of, Percy's been taken by Hera or Juno, I'm still confused on that bit."

"Taken?! Where?!"

"Maybe San Francisco. She swapped him with another demigod, so we think that he is at this Roman demigod camp. There is a plan to find it and deal with the prophecy, but it could take up to a year to complete."

"A year?! Why can't he come back on his own? Or you shadow travel to him?"

"I've tried that, but it hasn't work. Jason, the Roman demigod, has amnesia so we assume that Percy does as well."

When Sally stayed silent Andi wanted to disappear into the shadows. "I'm sorry that it's Percy who was taken, he's your real son, not like me. I'll find a way to bring him home, I promise you." Before she could say anything else, her mother had pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Never say that again Andrea. You are my daughter, regardless, of blood. You are my baby girl and that will never change." Finally letting her emotions out, tears finally started to fall, soaking her mother's shirt as she repeatedly mumbled 'I'm sorry' over and over again.

For the first time in a long time Sally realised just how much Andi had been effected by what had happened in her life, Gabe had been the worst possible influence to his family, she learnt that her father was the Lord of the Underworld, fought monsters and learnt that her biological mother chose money over raising her. Too top it all off, Andi knew that she needed to keep her emotions in check unless she wanted to accidentally use her abilities, something that kept her isolated from both demigods and mortals alike. Now her older brother, who she adored and was her best friend, had gone missing, so it made sense she was finally letting her emotions out and letting Sally see the raw pain the young girl was going through.

…

Staring at the orb in her hands as she sat on the edge of her bed, Andi knew that she needed to return it to her father and step-mother, though she was hesitant to leave her mother and step-father after the news she had delivered.

"You need to leave don't you?" Sally said, as she moved to sit next to her daughter who nodded slowly. "It will be fine, I know you and I know that you are so stubborn that there is no way you won't succeed."

A weak laugh came from Andi as she continued to fiddle with the orb, reaching over to the bedside table and picked a small music box Sally wound it up and let the music play. Feeling the calming melody play Swan Lake, the blonde picked the music box and smiled warmly at the memory it brought to her.

Six Years Prior

Growing up the Jackson family didn't have much, while birthdays were a big deal for Percy and Andi, that was because Sally always made it feel special, regardless of how much money they had. For her Ninth birthday, Sally had made a cake in the shape of a black cat – Andi's favourite animal – and given her a small sewing set, given her interest in designing and making her clothes look nicer, since she wore a lot of hand me downs or thrift store buys. The best present she received was from her brother, Percy had managed to get her a small music box from a thrift store that played music that kept her calm.

It wasn't until a month later that Andi realised that her brother had saved up his allowance for a couple of months and taken odd jobs for their neighbours – it was left out that he stole the extra $2 he needed from Gabe's wallet and had been punished for it.

Present Day

Neither Sally or Andi moved from their position for several minutes, before the daughter of Hades stood up and wiped the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks.

"I doubt visiting my father looking like I've been crying is going to be beneficial" Andi mumbled as she placed the music box back onto her bedside table.

"Take it with you Andrea" Sally said, picking up the small box and putting it back in her daughter's hand. "Keep it in your cabin at Camp while you search for Percy and deal that prophecy. You always played it too help you sleep or calm you down, hopefully it still works."

"It does, thank you mama. I love you, I'll visit as often as I can and give you regular updates." Giving her mother a hug goodbye, Andi disappeared into the shadows. Once Sally knew that her daughter was completely gone, she let her emotions that she couldn't show Andi, flow freely.

…..

The Underworld was one of the few places that Andi liked to spend her time, which given her parentage wasn't all that odd. She often went and visited Nico while he stayed there, once he recognised her as his half-sister. Appearing in the underworld the blonde stared up at Hades' Palace, taking a deep breath she walked inside the palace. Given her semi-consistent presence in the underworld, none of the guards tried to stop her and mostly let her get on with her business.

Standing in front of the throne room doors, Andi placed a hand on the handle of the ornate black doors while the security zombies watched her.

"Lord Hades is aware you are here." One of the legionnaire soldier's spoke up when he realised that the young girl was hesitating about entering the throne room. "You can go in"

"Thank you" Andi responded as she opened the door, seeing her father sitting on his throne, while her step-mother's was empty. "I see Persephone is back with her mother"

"It happens every year, are you surprised to see that the legends are true?" Hades commented as he looked down at his daughter, she had never been afraid of him or what he could do. At first he didn't know if she was stupid, reckless or brave, after meeting her several times over the course of her demigod life, the lord of the underworld realised that it was just that she didn't care that he was a god.

"I know the legends are true, I think the minotaur trying to kill me when I was eleven got the message across loud and clear, along with everything that has happened these past five years." Andi shrugged, her fingers tightening on the orb held behind her back. "Anyway, I have what you wanted me to retrieve for you"

"That was faster than I expected"

"Glad you had faith in me father"

"That orb went missing the same time as my brother's lightning bolt and my helm of darkness were stolen." Hades explained to his daughter as she handed the object over to him. "This however wasn't with them when they were returned."

"Probably because it has a built in defence mechanism that hurts people if they touch it, right?"

"Persephone told you that when you were a child?"

"You knew about that?"

"I know about a lot of things regarding you Andrea. However, given that you were so young the version you heard was not completely correct. The orb does hurt people, but not physically, it drives anyone who touches it to the brink of insanity."

"And your wife gave it to a six-year-old?! What if I hadn't been able to hold onto the orb?!"

"You would be in an asylum"

"Lovely. So I need to get back to Camp, try not to test whether or not someone is going to be driven insane with the orb please." Andi said, before she could do anything else her father came down off of his throne and walked in front of his daughter.

"This is for you, those who can hold it without being driven insane wield it for the duration of their lives. You're the first person in over four centuries that remained sane after holding onto it, it's yours for your life." Placing the orb in the palm of her daughter's hand and wrapping her fingers around it. "You will make its power your own and it will protect you."

Looking down at the object in her hand and back to her father, a small smile formed on her face as she put the orb in her pocket. "Have you seen Nico recently? He hasn't been the camp in a while and he normally visits me there."

"Your brother is on a quest for me" Hades responded, though something about the way he said it made Andi doubt the validity of his answer. "He is looking into this awaking issue of Gaea and the Doors of Death being opened. He will be back as soon as it is complete."

"Alright" her voice was weaker now she knew about the situation her brother was in, "He's not in anything too dangerous is he? I know it's selfish to think this way, but I just lost Percy and I can't lose another brother."

"Nico will be fine, trust in his abilities."

"I do trust him; I just worry about him."

"It will be fine" Hades told Andi, before she done something none of his children had done before, she hugged him. Her arms tightened around his waist as he placed a cold hand on her back.

"Sorry." Andi apologised as she pulled away looking sheepish, a faint pink blush on her cheeks. "Um. I need to go back to camp now. Um, bye."

"Goodbye Andrea. I wish you the best of luck in finding your brother." The god bid farewell to his daughter before she disappeared into the shadows.

…..

When she appeared back at Cabin Thirteen, Andi sat on her bed and petted Milady when the cat crawled onto her lap.

"Did Nico mention anything about where he was going to you Milady?" she asked the skeleton cat.

"He doesn't tell me anything important, he only talks to me about you" the cat purred, causing a downcast look to befall the demigods face. "I'm sorry"

"Don't be. My brother is secretive. I should have seen this coming." Before she could get to wrapped up in her thoughts, there was a knock at the door of her cabin.

"Andi? You back Ghost Girl?" Will's voice called, walking over and opening the door she looked up at the son of Apollo. "Yes you are, you okay? You've been crying, your eyes are red"

"Emotional day Will, did you want anything specific or did you just miss me?" She teased as she gave her best friend a quick hug.

"I was worried about you, and Chiron wanted me to check if you were back. A council has been summoned and as the current head counsellor of Cabin Thirteen -"

"- I need to be present. Alright I'm coming" turning back into the cabin "Come on Milady, you can come with us. Let's get this over with."

…..

Authors Note: New Chapter is up, and it's sooner than the last update. No Landi love in this chapter I'm afraid, there will be some in the next chapter.

Also the about the size of a marble and for the music box, think the one from Anastasia.