CAT'S POV
"Glad you could all make it," Thanatos said. He was a cool dude, Cat thought. She liked his death aura and felt somehow attached to it. Next to her, Eliza stiffined and gripped her hand tighter. Athena stood up.
"First things first," the goddess said in a mighty voice. "I will call Ryan and Cat forward." Cat let go of her girlfriend's hand and walked up to the stairs below the gods' thrones. She knelt beside her brother.
"I have to apologize. One of my helpers made a mistake in claiming you. You are not my children although, I would love for you to be. You are strong, smart and independent demigods. Good luck." Athen sat back down. Cat almost fell backwards and had it not been for her brother, who usually would have let her fall, she would have. If Athena wasn't her mother then who was? Please don't be Aphrodite or Demeter. Oh gods. I felt dizzy.
"While we are still on that matter you shall be claimed now." Zeus announced. A couple of long, silent seconds passed and then a symbol formed above the twin's heads. Chiron studied the symbol.
"Children of Thanatos," he announced.
That's why I like that guy so much, Cat thought.
Yes, it is why you feel connected to me and any child of Hades. A voice that sounded like her father's said in the back of her mind. Wow. was he like a Silent Brother or something? She was feeling a bit alarmed and didn't feel so good. Maybe the ADHD meds were wearing off?
"Children, I am sorry about Athena's mistake and that there is no Cabin for you at Camp, so Hades is willing to let you stay in his cabin while yours is built," Thanatos said.
"And that is the end of that matter. I have something to say," Hades said abruptly.
"Go ahead brother," Zeus said.
NICO'S POV
"Eliza, Nico, please come up." My father said. Liza paled and grabbed my wrist as we walked up. We knelt in front of our father's throne.
"Eliza, Nico. You are twins," Hades said bluntly. My face paled along with my sister's.
What?!
"Father, I think you messed something up. I was born in the 30s. And you put me in the Lotus Casino. That's not possible," I said. Hades shook his head.
"I didn't. Eliza was also put into the Lotus Hotel but at a different time. Before that she stayed with me. You are twins." Oh. My. Gods. What in Tartarus, dad? That's the real reason she looks a little like Bianca. Why did he take my twin sister away from me and then give her to that awful, homophobic mother? Why did he lie about her being Bianca's reincarnated soul?
"How could you lie to me like this?!" I screeched. I could feel tears forming in the corners of my eyes as I tightened my grip on Eliza's hand.
"I didn't want to, but I needed to find the right time to do it, Nico."
"Stop making excuses Dad!" I yelled. Everyone looked uncomfortable at me addressing a god like this. I could care less. I was infuriated. Hades stumbled upon his words trying to make another excuse. I wouldn't hear it. I turned around and shadow traveled back to my cabin.
ELIZA'S POV
I watched as my brother stormed away and then disappeared into the shadows. This was unbelievable. My mother wasn't my actual mother? I had told a random person that I was bi and took to heart all the horrible things they said about me. How?!
I stared at the floor. My brother was no longer there to comfort me. I was alone on the steps of my father's throne. Alone. Alone. Alone. The room started spinning. A tear started to run down my cheek and I didn't bother to move the hair that had fallen in front of my face out of the way.
The thing is, I don't remember anything of my childhood or the Lotus Hotel, the way Nico does. He told me about it. That his mother - our mother - had been the best cook, that we had an older sister named Bianca. That her favorite color had been green. That she had died on a quest. I'd never get to meet her now.
The funny thing is, that every part of me from Nico's childhood had been erased. Like any memory with me in it, was erased.
"How could you keep this from us?" I whispered at the ground. I stood up and walked back to where my friends were standing. Cat held me close as I cried. I briefly acknowledged that people were starting to leave. Will picked me up and carried me to the elevator. I squirmed to get out of his arms and he put me down gently. I grasped at Cat's hand and tucked my head into the crook of her neck. She just kinda stood there. The elevator dinged and I finally let go of Cat's hand to get into the van.
The ride back to Camp Half-Blood was silent. When we arrived, Will rushed to the Hades cabin to check on my brother. I slowly walked to the lake, where I sat in the warm sand. I felt a movement in the air beside me as Nico sat down.
"How are you holding up?" Wasked each other, almost at the same time. We both grinned and he took my hand.
"Well, this is a big blow. I can't believe we're twins." I said. Nico nodded.
"The memories of you are starting to come back." he said. I looked into his bottomless black eyes, searching for an answer.
"What are they like?" I asked.
Nico grinned in response.