I listened to Hadestown the musical while writing this because I think I'm funny.

The end of May was approaching quickly. The last week of it was spent rushing around making final preparations for the fast-approaching arrival of the summer campers. Nico didn't get why it was such a big deal; there were already campers and in a week there were going to be a couple dozen more campers. He supposed the others were just excited to see some new and familiar faces. It would be nice to see Percy and Annabeth again, Nico thought. And hopefully Piper and Leo would come back too, although it was unlikely.

Despite everything, Nico wasn't excited. Since realizing his powers were depleting, they seemed to have disappeared completely. Nico still hadn't told anyone about it yet. Not even Will. It could have been a coincidence that as soon as Nico realized what was happening his powers left him altogether. But Nico didn't think it was likely. That meant whatever the source of the issue was knew Nico was aware of the problem. Which meant it was an intelligent being. The only explanation for that was that it was his dad fucking with him. Nico wasn't even angry. He wasn't really hurt either. He just felt put out. Exhausted.

Would telling Will help? Yes, probably. Will was busy enough as it was though. He and Nico had spent the last couple days in the infirmary making sure they had enough of everything for the multitude of campers arriving the next week. Will, as head counselor of Cabin 7, was also sprucing up Apollo's cabin for the new arrivals. Nico helped he, Kayla, and Austin put fresh sheets on all the bunks. The harpies had washed the sheets, but it was up to them to make the beds. The harpies had enough to do already, and Apollo had the most kids at Camp during the winter anyway, so the harpies figured they could just do the work themselves.

"Hey, Neeks!''

Nico snapped out of his thoughts just as a pillow smacked him in the face. "Ow,'' he muttered, although it hadn't hurt.

"Sorry,'' said Will, stifling a laugh.

Nico rolled his eyes and picked up the pillow. He tossed it on the bunk he had just finished putting sheets on.

"This is just a suggestion, Nico,'' Austin began, "but maybe don't—"

Nico glared at Austin, who promptly shut up.

Will crossed over to Nico and propped an elbow on his shoulder. "Someone's cranky today.''

"He's always cranky,'' Kayla said cheerfully.

"Am not,'' grumbled Nico. He shrugged Will off. Before he could pull away completely, Will had his arms wrapped around Nico's waist and kissed him on the cheek. Nico hissed and jerked away. He really didn't feel like it today.

Hurt briefly flashed across Will's face, quickly replaced by confusion. "Wow, you're really not in a good mood,'' he murmured, almost to himself. Then, louder, "Everything okay?"

"Yes,'' Nico snapped.

Will didn't look convinced. Of course not, he knows me better than that. Maybe I should tell him the truth. Nico forced the thought down. Losing his Underworld powers was not something Will would be sympathetic about. Well, he'd probably try because he was Will, but he wouldn't really care. Will despised it when Nico Shadowtraveled or summoned skeletons or did anything Underworld related. He claimed it was because it was dangerous for Nico, but sometimes Nico wondered if it didn't unnerve Will. Or disgust him in some way. Will was the son of Apollo. Apollo was the god of poetry, healing, music. Good things, beautiful things. Apollo was the god of light. And Nico was the son of Hades. God of the Underworld, of death and darkness.

Nico suddenly needed to get away. Away from Cabin 7 and the sweet smell of Hyacinths, away from Kayla and Austin, away from Will. He abruptly turned on his heel and started towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Will called after him.

Nico didn't respond. He didn't know what to say. There was nothing. He loved Will. He really did. But there were differences between them. Ones that Nico might not be able to overcome, no matter how much he might want to.

Nico half-expected Will to follow him and demand an explanation for his even-weirder-than-normal behavior. He didn't. Nico almost wished he did.

The campers were almost all outside. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny. Nico ignored them all and strode towards Cabin 13. He knew what he was going to have to do. Nico had had to handle a lot of things that spring. There was nothing he could do about most of them. Losing his powers, however . . . There was something he could do about that. And he was going to do it.

When he arrived at his cabin, Nico was breathing hard and his heart was pounding in his chest. It wasn't because the walk between Cabins 7 and 13 was far, or even particularly strenuous. It was neither of those things. Nico was scared. Scared and nervous. He had a bad feeling about what he was going to do, and it had nothing to do with his Underworld powers or lack thereof.

Nico took a deep breath. He looked around his cabin. Because it was not yet midday, the sun had not moved to the appropriate degree, so it would be difficult to find—

There.

Where one curtain was drawn back from the window, a shadow was cast down the wall below it. The shadow touched the floor and spread for maybe one foot squared. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Nico. He inched closer to it, until his toes were a centimeter from the shadow's edge. He sighed and ran a hand through his black hair, which now fell to his chin.

"Dad,'' Nico said, "if this is all you, then you know exactly what I'm about to do. If this isn't you, then it won't work. Either way, please . . . Please help me out.''

Nico stepped into the shadow and vanished.

Shadowtraveling always gave Nico an unpleasantly large dose of vertigo. It had been so long since he had attempted it, he'd nearly forgotten the feeling of his stomach plummeting as he became shadows. Nico rematerialized in a dim ally, staggering forward. He caught himself on a wall. He took a deep breath in through his nose, waiting for the dizziness to pass. Once it did, he straightened and looked around. Nico was in a narrow ally. Shadows cast from the tall stone buildings spread across the ground. Garbage cans were lined up on the sides of either buildings. Nico was grateful he hadn't ended up in one of those. He was pretty sure that was where Apollo had landed when Zeus cast him from Olympus.

Despite the numerous garbage cans, trash was still littered on the ground. The sight was not pleasant. Nico wrinkled his nose at the foul smell. He would have assumed he went straight to one of the nicer parts of the Fields of Punishment, if it weren't for the sun. Above him, the sun was high and blazing. He could feel the heat on his skin. Sweat began to prickle on his neck. His shirt was already beginning to stick to his back. Nico squinted up at it. He wasn't a huge fan of heat or the sun. The children of Apollo, however . . .

He shook himself. Stay focused.

Nico began walking towards the street. There appeared to be a traffic jam, stagnant cars with angry people leaning out the windows yelling obscenities at the drivers in front of them. With the din of cars honking and people yelling, the multitude of close buildings, and the visible pollution in the air, Nico knew exactly what city he was in. As he started down the sidewalk of Valencia Boulevard, Nico wondered why he couldn't have just Shadowtraveled straight to his father's palace instead of the mortal entrance to the Underworld in Los Angeles.

DOA Recording Studios was three doors down from the ally where Nico emerged. He'd been to the black marble building once or twice before, but as a general rule he avoided it. Shadowtravel was the easiest way to enter the Underworld. He supposed he was lucky he was able to Shadowtravel at all. He wondered if he would even be able to get back to Camp Half-Blood. Nico suspected he wouldn't have been able to Shadowtravel if he hadn't prayed to his father for help. That only solidified his thoughts that losing his powers was all Hades' doing.

Nico pushed the lobby door open. As always, it was full of people. The furniture was black leather, the carpet and walls steel gray. A bittersweet, vaguely familiar song played softly. Nobody looked at Nico when he walked in, despite the fact that he was the only living thing in the crowded room. But the dead had never bothered Nico. He strode confidently up to the raised security desk, cutting in front of the dead waiting in line. A tall man in a black suit with sunglasses stared down at him.

"Hello, Charon,'' said Nico.

The security guard leaned forward, examining Nico. "You're not dead.''

Nico smiled mirthlessly. "No. I am not dead.''

Charon grunted. "Get out, then.''

"Mm. I don't think so. I need passage to the Underworld.''

"If you're a godling looking to bribe me to get down there for your silly little quest—"

He's out of the loop, thought Nico. "I am a godling, but I'm not here on a quest. It's a family matter.''

"Did you lose someone, kid? Because we don't allow visitors . . . Ah, wait. You're Hades' runt, aren't you?"

Normally, no one under his father's realm would dare call Nico di Angelo "Hades' runt". Typically he was referred to as "the son of Lord Hades'' or more simply "Death's child.'' Once a palace god had called Nico "Hades junior" which neither the god or the demigod had appreciated. But, in Charon's defense, he had the literal worst job ever.

"I am,'' said Nico. "And my father has requested my presence.''

That last part was not necessarily true, but Nico assumed it was at least close to the truth.

Charon shrugged. If he had eyes behind his sunglasses, Nico suspected he would have rolled them. "Fine. I'll take you down with the next group.''

"Thank you.'' Nico went to stand by the elevator. He was attracting lots of odd looks now. It was nothing new. He was from the world of the dead when above and the world of the living when below. He would always be a bit of an outcast on both sides of his life. Nico had come to terms with it though. As long as a few good people didn't see him that way, he could tolerate the majority's opinion.

The music was louder by the elevator. Nico couldn't see where it was coming from; the speakers were hidden. But he could make out the words:

Maybe we got lost in translation

Maybe I asked for too much

But maybe this thing was a masterpiece

'Til you tore it all up

Running scared, I was there

I remember it all too well

A shiver ran down Nico's spine, despite the heat of the day.

Charon was suddenly in front of Nico, a cluster of dead souls around him. "You coming?'' He grunted.

Nico wordlessly boarded the elevator. Everyone else had green boarding passes, except Nico, who wasn't given one. It didn't seem to matter. As the son of Hades, Nico was granted free passage anywhere in the Underworld. The only place he hadn't wandered was the Fields of Punishment; he could hear the screams of the damned just fine from virtually anywhere else anyway.

As the elevator began its descent, Nico wondered how long it would take him to get to Hades' palace. Hopefully not too long. He didn't want to be gone from Camp all night. He was already starting to feel guilty for ditching out on Will and the others. He could have at least left a note. Nico hoped Will wouldn't jump to conclusions on where Nico had gone. Only a week before Will was nervous about Nico leaving Camp Half-Blood for good. Shit. Nico cursed himself. He really should have left a note.

The elevator jolted to a stop. Nico and the dead followed Charon out. Nico's breath caught in his throat at the familiar sights. It had been so long since he had been in the Underworld. It made him feel not exactly homesick, but definitely nostalgic. Nico had been there enough times to remember most things, but he had forgotten how dark it was. The sun did not reach the Underworld. He tried to pictured Will there. Will was the opposite of this place. Will was all things bright and beautiful, inspiring hope and radiating love and administrating healing. Being in a place like the Underworld would choke the life out of him. Nico tried not to think about how he was of the Underworld. How he was the opposite of Will. It wasn't something he hadn't thought of before, but the it felt much more significant in a place of such total darkness. They really were polar opposites. Nico wondered how he could love someone so different so much.

Charon lead them to the boats. Nico was not a fan of the pitch-black water of the River Styx. He scooted to the front of his boat, while several dead souls clambered on behind him. The boat rocked precariously and Nico gripped the sides so hard his knuckles whitened against the wood.

As the boat slid soundlessly through the still water, Nico thought of Percy Jackson. He knew that Percy had come here with Annabeth and Grover when he was twelve. The only way for a mortal who wasn't a child of Hades to enter the Underworld was through the DOA Recording Studios. So Percy, Annabeth, and Grover had to have come this way too. Nico wondered how Percy had felt about the dark, lifeless water. Maybe he had been too worried about meeting Hades to care. Then Nico thought of the time a couple years ago, right before the end of the Titan War, when Nico had taken Percy to bathe in the River. And betrayed him. Nico cringed at the memory. Yeah. Fun times.

After what felt like hours, the boat finally banked on the craggy shoreline. Nico was first out, almost falling on the black sand. Charon barked a laugh. Nico glared at him. The dead started towards their place of judgement, and Nico started towards his own reckoning.

He walked fast. Nico had taken the time to explore everything when he was eleven. He had no care of what went on in the Underworld now. Nico did pause to give Cerberus a scratch behind the ears and throw a red rubber ball (where had that even come from?) to him. He passed the vast cavern that contained the Fields of Asphodel. Nico vividly remembered the hours spent searching for Hazel after Hades had offered to bring her back when the Doors of Death were opened. The vacant expressions of the dead faces as they trudged across the already trampled black grass was a little too familiar. Nico suddenly wanted to leave. He wanted to be back at Camp. Under the sun. With Will.

In the distance, the Fields of Punishment smoked and glowed like a volcanic wasteland. Nico heard the faint screams of the tortured. He shuddered. What had those people done to deserve the punishments his father inflicted? Terrible things, he knew. Unspeakable things. They were now damned to suffer terrible and unspeakable things for all eternity. Did anyone really deserve that?

Nico mentally shook himself. Why did he care all of a sudden about the souls of the damned? Hades was a fair judge. Nico knew those in the Fields of Punishment were getting what they deserved for their sins. Still, the tortured cries bothered Nico like they never had before.

The relief when Elysium came into view was palpable. Nico watched the happy children chase each other through the rippling grass and golden flowers. The brights villas and resort-like homes made it look like something out of a fairytale. Nico couldn't see where it was coming from, but he heard joyful laughter. The three small islands in the sparkling blue lake shone like beacons. They were the Isles of the Blest. Nico knew the story: If one chose to be reborn three times, and in each life achieved Elysium, then they go to the Isles of the Blest, the highest honor in the Underworld. Bianca had been reborn for that purpose. That meant Nico could never visit her in Underworld again. He tried not to resent her, and it was easier when he saw how wonderful the Isles of the Blest were. He hoped her second and third lives were longer and happier than her first.

Nico walked several more miles before the palace came into view. It was almost a welcome sight after walking so long in the desolate dark land. The palace was made completely of obsidian stone, glittering with a cold light on the horizon. Above it the Furies circled like vultures.

"Home sweet home,'' Nico muttered, although there was no one there to hear him.

Hades' palace was fortressed in with black walls and a two-story bronze gate. Nico's first thought was that there was way too much black in the Underworld, which was really something coming from him. His second thought was that the gate was closed. He stopped in front of it. The gate was never closed. For some reason Nico had never understood, Hades insisted on keeping the entrance to his palace wide open. It kind of made the whole fortress thing pointless, Nico had always thought. But now that the gates were closed, Nico thought it was wrong. Why had Hades done that? Nico inwardly groaned. He was starting to doubt whether Hades had actually been trying to get his attention. If he'd really wanted Nico to come to the Underworld, why was he making it so damn difficult?

Nico ran a hand down the bronze surface of the gate. He glanced over the engraved scenes of death. He'd examined those plenty when he was younger. He wondered if Hazel would have been able to open the gate. But Hazel hadn't been to the Underworld since she went through the Doors of Death. Maybe her precious metal powers didn't work in the Underworld. Wait. Nico's powers worked in the Underworld. And he had been able to Shadowtravel to Los Angeles. He could just Shadotravel into Hades throne room.

Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprising, Nico's powers were completely gone now. It was hard enough to find a decent shadow without any sunlight, but the Underworld still had artificial light sources. Nico had to walk several yards around walls find shadow. When he stepped into it, nothing happened, crushing all hope. If his powers didn't work at all in the Underworld, there was no chance they would in the mortal world either. Nico cursed in Ancient Greek and headed back to the gate.

Nico had come too far to give up now. He would not be stopped by a stupid two-story tall bronze gate.

The gate was made of smooth bronze slabs. There was no chance Nico could get over it. So he began walking in the opposite direction of the way he'd gone to attempt Shadowtravel. The black walls appeared to be made out of one single piece of material, though that would have been impossible, maybe even for gods. If Nico remembered correctly, there should be another gate . . . There.

There was a smaller bronze gate, one that always remained closed. It was maybe twenty feet tall, made of narrow bronze rods. The rods were crisscrossed, spaced about a foot apart. Through them, Nico could see the garden. He smiled. Then he began to climb.

Nico carefully placed his hands on each slick rod. His footing was less precise, but if he were to slip he knew he could hold on. He looked down when he was about fifteen feet up. The view of the ground below made him slightly dizzy. He wondered if a fall from this height would be fatal. Nico climbed the last five feet and swung his legs over the top, thanking the gods that Hades hadn't decided the top of the gate should have bronze spikes or some shit decorating it. Climbing down was more stressful. Nico's hands had begun to sweat, sliding precariously on the bronze. Despite his efforts, he couldn't see where he was putting his feet. Painfully slow, he finally made it down until he had just a few feet left, and jumped. He landed gingerly on his feet and let out a breath. That was the hard part. Now he just had to get through the garden of Persephone.

Nico had always tried to avoid Persephone. She didn't like him much, jealous of Hades' affair with Maria di Angelo. Nico didn't like her either. He felt sorry for her, kidnapped by Hades to be his wife. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, and she was trapped in the Underworld for more than half of every year. Despite her constant complaints though, Nico suspected she did care for Hades. And Hades had never mistreated her — except for the whole kidnapping and damnation part. Also, Nico had only been kept alive when the giants captured him by eating pomegranate seeds from Persephone's garden. So he felt he owed her.

The garden was beautiful though. There was no sunlight for the plants, but mushrooms of every color, poisonous barbed shrubs, glowing bulbs of some strange flower, and many other bizarre but alluring plants grew. Garden statues — courtesy of Medusa — decorated the spaces in between plants. Nico weaved through the curling purple vines and blood-red coconut trees. The garden's centerpiece was the orchard of pomegranates. Nico tried not to look at the bright orange flowers on the trees. It reminded him too much of the bronze jar the giants had kept him in. Most people would get the urge to eat Persephone's pomegranates when the overwhelming smell hit them, but Nico was long over it. He knew better than to eat Underworld food.

"Nico di Angelo.''

Nico spin around. Persephone had crept up behind him. She had her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face. She wore a long sleeveless red dress. Her long dark hair spilled down her back and milky-white shoulders.

"Persephone,'' said Nico. He dipped his head in a slight bow. He fought to appear calm, but his heart was pounding against his breastbone.

"I haven't seen you around here in quite some time,'' said Persephone icily.

"I've been busy.'' Nico smiled. "Miss me?"

Persephone snorted. "Hardly.''

"It's almost June,'' said Nico, without thinking, "shouldn't you be back on Olympus?"

The look that crossed Persephone's face would have vaporized a mortal. "Yes,'' she snapped, "I should be!''

"Well, spring's past and it's almost summer up there. Where've you been?" Nico knew he was speaking out of turn, but curiosity won over.

Persephone sniffed. "Life goes on, I suppose.''

"Okay . . ." Nico hadn't been aware that the myth of Persephone and the seasons was just that — a myth. Or maybe Demeter was compensating for her daughter. "Did Hades not let you back this year?''

Persephone's gaze dropped. "N-no, not exactly. He's . . . Hades has tried his best to let me go back, but it appears I'm trapped. He's trapped. We can't leave the Underworld.''

"That sucks,'' said Nico. With Persephone it was best to be sympathetic and keep things simple. Nico dearly hoped Hades hadn't tried to summon Nico for a quest to break him and Hades out of their home that had become their prison. "The gates are closed. Are you two trapped in the palace?"

Persephone shook her head. She looked remarkably sad. "No. We're not trapped here. But we can't leave either.''

This made no sense. Nico wasn't going to tell Persephone that. "I got in by climbing the gate to your garden.''

"I wondered how you accomplished entry,'' the goddess muttered bitterly. "But we're not trying to get out . . . Agh, it's so complicated. Go talk to your father, boy. He's been waiting for you.'' Without waiting for Nico's response, Persephone whirled around and disappeared into her pomegranate orchard.

Nico took a deep breath. That had been odd, even for Persephone. Nico had more questions than ever, but now he knew one thing for sure: Hades had summoned Nico on purpose. He had taken his powers and fucked with his life.

Nico stormed up the palace stairs. Past the marble columns, past the bronze entry hall, past the side doorways guided by Hades' skeleton army. The guards all turned to look at Nico, no doubt surprised to see him again after so long. Nico was dimly surprised to see them too. He knew several by name. It was convenient that they all recognized Nico as their master's son, because none of them made a move to stop him as he strode through the palace.

Nico got to the end of the hall and, without slowing down, pushed open the double-doors to the throne room.

Hades looked up. He was seated on his throne, which was made of bones fused together. Ten feet tall, pale, dark-haired, thin, and elegant, he radiated the power of a god. When he saw Nico, Hades leaned forward, a slow smile spreading across his face. One that warned danger. "Ah, my son. You've come at last.''

Nico stopped front of him. He lifted his chin defiantly. "Hello, father.''