Nico

Nico held Pearl's hand as they followed after the mermaids. Truth to be told, he had wished to see more of the underwater kingdom. He had begun to see why Percy wanted to be here so often. Not to mention being with Poseidon. That seemed like quite the better father-son relationship than lord of the Dead and "son" of lord of the Dead.

The mermaids slowed at the mouth of a dark cave. Nico had seen enough of those to know where it led.

"My lady, we cannot escort you further than this." The lead mermaid guard said. "The children of the ocean cannot cross to the realm of the dead."

Pearl raised her eyebrow. "Children of the ocean? Like me?"

The mermaid looked somewhat flustered. "I apologize, my lady. I didn't mean—"

"I know, I was just kidding." Pearl said. "No offense taken."

The lead mermaid nodded her head, and shot off back to Posdeidon's castle. Nico turned to Pearl.

"Ready?" he asked. Pearl still had a smile on her face from having her fun with the mermaid.

"Hm?" she said, turning to Nico.

"Ready for the underworld?" Nico asked. Pearl turned, as if just realizing where they were.

"Um, I don't—not really… I just…" Pearl began saying, as though feeling some of the terror that the Underworld contained.

"Pearl. I swear, nothing will harm you down there." Nico said, looking into her eyes. "I swear on the river Styx."

Even underwater, Nico could feel the sort of shockwave of making the promise. He knew the risks, better than most. Only Percy could sort of relate. If Pearl died, so would he.

Of course, if Pearl died, he'd want to follow right after. The Mist would be torn down shortly after.

Pearl looked down into the darkness again, and something seemed to bolster her confidence.

"Alright, I'm ready." She said, confidently. Nico nodded. He began kicking and rotating his arms like Pearl had shown him, swimming deeper into the cave.

Suddenly, Nico felt the change from the outer world into the Underworld. He attempted to swim to the other side of the river, but the current had already gotten a hold on them. They were going too fast.

Though water wasn't his father's domain, Nico had spent enough time to know Cocytus water when he felt it. Those dark thoughts began to whisper through his mind, and he knew that Pearl was beginning to feel them too.

"No." He heard Pearl whisper, beginning to stop moving. "It wasn't me. She—It wasn't like—please—"

Nico grabbed her hand and pulled her back up. "Keep moving, Pearl. The Cocytus will voice your darkest thoughts, tempting you to end yourself in the river."

Pearl looked at Nico, shivering with the cold. "Wh-Why are-aren'y you a-affected?"

Nico looked ahead, seeing the black banks of the Underworld getting closer. "I've already heard all of mine."

The Cocytus had no effect on the son of Hades. He had already spent his share of time in sorrow. There was nothing the Cocytus had to offer that Nico had not already heard.

With a final kick, Nico got hold of the bank, and pulled Pearl out of the dark river with him. He nearly grinned outright. He had saved a child of Poseidon from drowning. That was something only Annabeth had been able to brag about, until now. That is, he would have grinned, if Pearl hadn't been so cold. That took his first-priority attention. He took off his aviator's jacket.

"Pearl, put this on." He said, beginning to feel the Underworld's cold for the first time in a long time. The instant he put the jacket around Pearl, he saw it dry out. He had known Percy could do this, without even thinking about it. The jacket would warm her up in no time.

"Thank you, Nico." She said, her teeth chattering just a little bit as she pulled the jacket tighter around her. She looked back into the water, seeing the images of past ghosts and spirits, wailing and crying in torment. "Who are—"

"They are only the spirits of murderers." Nico said. "Try not to think about them. Their punishment is to remain forevermore in the Cocytus."

Pearl nodded, though she couldn't seem to tear her gaze away from the river. Nico noticed this and stepped in front of her view.

"Pearl, their thoughts are not your own. They only hope to destroy you. Come on, we've got to go."

Pearl still seemed to be in a trance, so Nico played his wild card.

"C'mon, Pearl, we're going to go see Percy now."

Pearl looked up. "Percy? You know where he is?"

Nico nodded. "Yeah, weren't you listening to your father? They're with Hades."

Pearl seemed like she was coming out of a coma. Her thoughts were obviously muddled from the river's influence. "How do you know that's where they are?"

Nico sighed. "Because I know my father." He said, as he helped Pearl begin the walk towards the onyx and gold castle in the distance. Fires leapt up in the Fields of Punishment, and sunshine glittered on the three Isles of the Blest and Elysium. Nico kept his gaze on the palace. Pearl looked around her.

"This is where you spend your free-time?" she asked, noting with disgust a large, golden bubble in the ground. Nico peeked inside and saw the Minotaur. Pearl shrieked, and Nico unsheathed his sword, popping the bubble into a mess of golden goo.

"Yup. Home sweet home." Nico said. They began walking for a while in silence. They passed Sisyphus, struggling up the hill with his boulder, and Nico had to stop Pearl from going to help. As they were nearing the area around the gates to Ashpodel, Pearl broke the silence again.

"Red." She said suddenly. "Not a bright, cherry-red, like a lighter shade of maroon."

Nico gave her a questioning look. "What?"

Pearl turned to look at him. "I think you'd look good if you wore a splash of red, instead of all-black. Just a little. You definitely have a theme going, and it would be a crime to cover it all up. But maybe… I don't know, a scarf or something."

Nico nodded. He'd worn black since Bianca had passed away. Even then, he had worn black for a little while. He just… liked black, and it fit him pretty well.

He was going to continue this train of thought for a little longer, but then something arrested his attention.

The sound of flapping wings.

Nico drew his sword and instinctively stepped in front of the newer half-blood. The flapping noise got closer and closer. Pearl drew her weapon.

There was a pause…

…and three figures fell from the dark-red sky of the Underworld.

Nico raised his sword, and began to extend his will into the ground below, searching for the nearest skeleton or zombie to summon. However, that's when one figure stretched out its hands.

"Son of Hades, stop!" the figure hissed.

Too late.

Nico's sword cleaved through the first one, and began to head for the second, when the figures stepped into the light.

Or rather, became the light.

The tops of their heads suddenly set on fire, and in the light Nico clearly saw who it was.

"Kellí." Nico said. "I was wondering when you were gonna get here."

Kellí tilted her head in confusion. "You—were expecting us?"

Nico didn't answer, but enjoyed Pearl's expression. She knew how Nico knew. Besides; what fun is it to be the creepy son of Hades if you couldn't confuse somebody every now and then? Instead, he only kept walking the way he knew his father's castle was. Kellí looked at her companion, who only shrugged and began to follow as well.

The strange four of them walked through the Underworld, Kellí and her empousa companion accompanying Nico and Pearl like strange bodyguards. Indeed, Hecate must have done something else to mark them as untouchable, because not a single monster dared to face their party of four. In fact, Nico saw some monsters turn away, at the sight of them, as though the half-bloods didn't exist. Since the journey was quite peaceful, Pearl's ADHD mind was beginning to get fidgety.

"Nico, are these those emp—" Pearl began.

"Yup." Nico said, his hand resting cautiously on his sword's hilt. There was no aspect about this whole Kellí-being-a-temporary-ally-thing that he wasn't scrutinizing carefully, but for now he kept his peace.

"Should we be—" Pearl began again.

"Probably." Nico said again, his eyes looking all around them.

"Half-bloods, there is no way under Zeus' gaze that we would attempt anything." Kellí said, evidently overhearing them. "Hecate left us with some… very convincing warnings."

Nico looked at Pearl and winked. Though she couldn't know of the exact warnings Hecate had given, Nico's wink told her the rest. Kellí and her friend stepped out of line, and they both died. A lot.

A growling was heard, and Nico looked into the looming darkness. A large head appeared. Then another. Then another. The middle one looked very, very happy as it chewed… was that a bronze ball?

"Cerberus, what have you got there?" Nico asked as he stepped forward. Cerberus dropped a very slimy ball at Nico's feet, made entirely of Celestial Bronze.

"The Three-Headed Hound of Death…" Kellí began, "…likes tennis balls?"

Nico leaned down and picked it back up, slimy as it was.

"It means Annabeth was here. And Leo." He said, smiling. He remembered the first time he found Cerberus with a red mess that he had finally figured out had been a ball from who knows when. Annabeth had said something to him about Cerberus and his fascination for balls, and he put two and two together. From that point on, he had brought Cerberus several balls to entertain the intimidating hound.

Pearl walked over and made some sort of squealing noise. "It's a rottweiler!"

Nico looked at her with probably more surprise than Kellí was.

"It's… Cerberus." He said, as though trying to make sure she was seeing what she was seeing.

Pearl didn't respond much, instead walking right up to the triple heads of Cerberus.

"Ooh, did you know he likes to be scratched behind the ears?" Pearl asked, as Cerberus bent way, way down to her level. His giant leg began thumping, shaking the ground and causing several of the passing spirits to fall to the ground.

Nico was nearly as surprised as Kellí. Cerberus was such a puppy at heart. Nico shook his head. He wasn't even going to be surprised anymore.

"C'mon. We've gotta go, Pearl." Nico said, beginning to lead her off towards his father's castle. "Hades is expecting us."

Pearl seemed to want to stay with Cerberus more, but Nico's grasp was supreme.

"Cerberus, I'll be back!" Pearl said, as Nico pulled her along. "Then we can play some more!"

Cerberus whined and put his front paws on two of his six ears. Something she had said had revived some old memory in the dog's head that he did not like.

But a voice came thundering out of the black palace in the distance.

"WELL, BRING HER HERE, BOY! SHE'S GOT OTHER PLACES TO BE!"

Pearl cleared nearly three feet, while Nico only sighed.

"See? Hades is waiting." He said, and Pearl didn't hesitate to follow any longer.

Inside Hades' palace, the two half-bloods stood in front of the black throne that Hades presided over.

"I don't see why Hecate has chosen you, mortal," Hades was saying, "to lead her quest. However, for now I'll hold my peace. Now, Hecate has told me what you need on your journey."

She had? Hecate hadn't even told Nico or Pearl what they were actually here for. Nico found it somewhat odd that the Titan of Magic was concerning herself so closely with their quest and their progress.

Hades sighed, before continuing. "I'm not sure I appreciate this intrusion on my power, but Hecate has managed to pull strings with Zeus. I am…" he said, clenching his jaw, "…to give you 'a lift', and this coin."

Hades waved his hand, and a coin appeared in Pearl's hand. Examining it, Nico saw that it looked like a drachma, but made completely out of obsidian and laced with gold. Hades gruffly huffed, and sat down on his thrown again.

"Now get your friends and go." He said, curtly. Pearl paid no mind to it.

"It's beautiful, your majesty." Pearl said, curtseying. "I'll cherish it."

With that, Pearl was led away by a pair of skeletons to go meet the rest of her friends. Nico began to follow, but he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Kellí looking into his eyes.

"There is something lord Hades wishes to discuss with you yet, half-blood." She whispered. Nico turned back to his father, and was not mildly shocked to see his expression. It seemed… almost shocked for Hades' usual facial expressions. Disgruntled perhaps? About what?

"That girl there," Hades said, gruffly, "who is she?"

"Her name is Pearl Tetra, daughter of Poseidon." Nico said. Hades looked at Nico for a minute, then sighed and sat back.

"I'm going to regret saying this later, and you will hear me deny it, but she is a good choice." He said, fiddling with his Helm of Darkness which rested on the armrest of his chair.

Nico stood still for a moment, trying to work through what Hades could have meant by that. It finally hit him.

"Wait, I don't think it's hardly time for something like—" Nico began, but Hades interrupted.

"—attachment, Nico? As though you haven't isolated yourself for long enough? I've already warned you about the endings of most of my children. They don't end well. This could be your chance to escape that fate." Hades said. Nico grew red.

"Yeah, but… I don't even know her that—"

The words died in her throat. Actually, he knew a little more about her than he had thought at first glance. She spoke almost-fluent Italian, like him. She was an optimistic person, contrasting his usual somewhat pessimistic character. She seemed to have a strange fascination for Cerberus, and some of the other inhabitants of the Underworld, not very much like him, but she had said she would come back to play with Cerberus.

Hades saw Nico's expression. "That's right. Your dad knows a thing or two as well, boy."

Nico broke out of his trance, and looked at Hades for a moment. Hades quickly continued.

"Well, don't just stand there, you've got a quest to complete, boy!" Hades roared.

Nico gave a quick bow and ran off, to join Pearl. Most likely, they were in the cafeteria with… the lunch-lady of the undead, he guessed. He hadn't spent much time in there, honestly. Especially when Persephone would be visiting Hades. Then, more often than not, he'd get pulled aside and warned over and over not to eat Underworld food.

However, he quickly found that they were not in the cafeteria. He tried a few different rooms in the palace, but they weren't in any of them. As he was passing a large window, however, he heard one of the loudest barks he had ever heard. He stood, unplugging his ears, and looked out the window.

Sure enough, Cerberus was wagging his tail, and looking down at something. Pearl and the others must be down there.

Cerberus bounded off after something, only taking one or two steps before managing to catch whatever it was. A glint of light told Nico that Pearl and Annabeth were playing "fetch" with Cerberus. He cracked a smile.

Melting into the shadows, he appeared right next to them, stepping out of from behind a spire nearby. He stayed silent for a moment, just watching the other half-bloods having fun.

Annabeth held out the ball, nearly dripping with slime and saliva. Percy waved his hands, and all the saliva flew off, landing a ways away into the darkness. Cerberus wagged his tail again, and Annabeth threw the ball straight up. The three heads lashed out for the ball, only for the right head to catch it. It dropped it back at Annabeth's feet. This was the most fun Cerberus had had in centuries.

Pearl eventually noticed Nico standing in the shade, and waved him over. He began walking over to the rest of the half-bloods, when he felt something in his pocket. He would check what that was later, but for now, another issue arose that needed immediate attention.

Kellí landed nearby, behind Nico a short way.

"Now, lord Hades has—" Kellí began, but made a frightened sort of squawking sound as the rest of the half-bloods charged her.

Before they could intercept, however, Nico ran in front of them. He held up his hands. "Stop!"

Confused, the half-bloods stopped running, but none were trusting enough of the empousa behind Nico's back that they lowered their weapons.

"She's here to guard us." Nico said, saying his words with emphasis. "Hecate has told her to guard us with her life, or it will cost her her life."

Kellí sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, I have to babysit all of you brats. Now, listen up. I have been warned that lord Hades is about to—"

With that, the ground at their feet launched them upward as fast as a rocket. Nico saw the approaching ceiling of the Underworld above them, closing fast.

"Nico, do something!" Pearl shouted over the wind, and Nico began trying to send his will into the cavern's domed roof above, trying to somehow negate their demise.

But before he could really do anything, the ceiling split apart, as they continued rising quickly.

Before they knew it, the nine half-bloods were on the surface once again. The surroundings looked… quite different than when they had left.

They stood at the beginning to a bridge, leading out over the water towards a speck of land in the distance. Roaring waves were heard, but car-engines and rushing wind were more prevalent. A highway sign stood a little to their right. Pearl took a look at the sign, confirming what Nico had begun to think.

"Welcome to Galveston." She said.