February, 1943
Almost two whole years had passed since Nico's enrolment at St. Dismas'. He had settled into school life rather well, accumulating a small group of friends and a mouth to rival Pietro's when it came to chatter. He became adept at forcing his way through literature class and always finding an enjoyable way to spend term breaks at his aunt's home in Venice.
Whenever the seemingly omniscient Madam Belloni was nowhere to be seen, he gladly joined in the trouble making antics of his friends. Even instigating what was hailed as the finest year five prank the school ever seen when the boys had upended a vat of greying spaghetti in the headmasters' office. The caning had most definitely been worth it.
Now and again, the dorm at large couldn't resist the temptation of a room of twenty beds. They would leap from bed to bed at such a speed Nico almost thought he was running on the clouds, flying. Of course, if Madam Belloni ever witnessed such antics there was due punishment. Under the matron's watchful eye, the boys would stand at attention in a line down the centre of the room with feet together and arms held straight over their heads. No one could hold the position for very long before they began to wish that they hadn't participated at all. Naturally that didn't stop them the next time an opportunity arose.
Despite his tendency to attract all manner of mischief and trouble, Nico's school life had been rather uneventful. Or, as uneventful as it could be during a war.
Air raid shelters were built between the playground and the hockey fields, and drills were carried out regularly. Whenever the dormitory awoke to the blaring of the siren, the boys leaped out of bed. They were all terrified, much as the older boys tried to hide it, and bolted downstairs and across the field to huddle in the shelters.
Throughout the uncertainty of the war, classes continued as usual. Nothing was going to interfere with their daily routine, especially not the Allies.
For two years, Nico had followed the same routine with very little variation. By the time Sundays rolled around, he was just about ready to tear his hair out from the sheer monotony of it all. But Sundays were, without a doubt, the highlight of his week. Sunday was his day to see Bianca.
After breakfast the boys were sent back upstairs to prepare for church. Nico honestly thought it was ridiculous to wear school uniforms for breakfast only to change again for church. They wore their best clothes, the only pieces of clothing that were regularly pressed and then hung in the dormitory wardrobes tagged with the owner's number.
In strict two by two lines, they walked down the hill to the church. The line was headed by the eldest students and gradually got younger as it progressed to the back. Nico enjoyed the walk because they were allowed to speak as loudly as they wished until they reached the church. Most of the students didn't mind who they walked by and sat with in Mass but Nico always made a point to seek out Pietro. Hardly a week went by when the two didn't accompany each other.
When Mass was over and the boys had been released back into the streets, they were allowed a few minutes to speak with the girls from the nearby Gemma Galgani's Institute for Young Ladies before heading back to school. That was when Nico and Bianca would find each other and eagerly recount the week's adventures. For the first weeks in their new homes, they only had each other to confide in and they were each other's only consistent companion for the weeks of break between terms.
If the weather was fine, they would even be permitted to set out in mixed groups from both schools for an afternoon walk. Black swastikas watched them sternly from the windows of many shops and homes. Bianca would always purse her lips when she saw one and grip Nico's hand just a little tighter. He thought nothing of it at the time.
It was on one such walk that Nico had first broken a bone.
Pietro had joined Nico and Bianca's group for a walk when they had spotted a stone wall guarding a small stream trickling through town. The nearest teacher had paused for a moment to examine the wares in a shop window when the boys took their chance. They leaped up onto the thin stone, laughing off Bianca's protests of danger. By the time their teacher thought to investigate the commotion it was too late. One of the stones was slick with water from the stream and Nico fell hard off the wall. He landed hard on an outstretched arm with a sickening crunch.
Bianca hadn't been allowed to accompany him to the hospital.
By the time they reached the hospital, Nico's wrist had swollen to almost twice its usual size and the shirt had to be cut from his arm. Nico had thoroughly enjoyed the destruction of his least comfortable clothes, and a hastily prepared splint and sling were assembled to make him slightly more comfortable. When the entire procedure had been finished, Nico's arm was encased in a thick plaster cast from wrist to elbow and his arm braced in a canvas sling.
That had been a week before the letter. The following Friday, Nico's name was read out for post for the first time.
The day had progressed much like any other: rise, wash, eat, learn, eat, learn, play. By the time dinner rolled around, the day was turning out to be perfectly boring. At supper Nico had clumsily fed himself with his left, non-dominant hand and waited to be dismissed. The whistle blew. The announcements were read. The post was delivered. His was the very last letter on the pile.
"Mr. di Angelo."
Nico almost didn't believe his ears. A letter for him? He tripped out of the bench and made his way up to the head table where Madam Belloni held the letter captive in her pudgy hands.
"Here you are," she said, passing the envelope into his left hand.
He returned to the table, hands shaking with excitement. Elegant, slanted handwriting curled its way across the front of the envelope. Nico di Angelo. Nico examined the way his name was written with fascination. The black ink etched into the paper stretched itself into gentle curves and sharp points. He didn't recognize the handwriting.
"Who's it from?" Pietro whispered, head down so as to avoid the teachers' gaze.
Nico hadn't even thought. His mind had been too preoccupied with the mere fact that a letter had arrived at all to spare a thought for who had written it. Nico slid the envelope over to his friend to tear open with his two able hands. A folded letter flopped out, landing lightly on the table. Nico flipped it over eagerly. His heart swelled in his chest when he found that, to his great surprise, he could read it with ease. The characters remained mercifully stationary while his eyes roved over the paper.
"What is it?" Pietro asked.
"It's… it's from my Papa."
Pietro snatched the letter from his hand eagerly to read it in full. His face fell. "But this isn't in–"
"Boys, did you not hear the whistle?"
Nico looked up. Professor Lecce stood above them imposingly, looking down at them from over his round spectacles. The severe lines of his face deepened with his frown. The room around them had already emptied of students. Nico wondered vaguely how they had possibly been able to ignore the commotion.
"Sorry, sir," he said. "We'll go now."
As he made to stand, the headmaster reached down and pulled the letter from Pietro's grasp, eyes darting across the page.
"Your father," he concluded. "He will be retrieving you from school."
"Yes, sir," said Nico, sitting back down when it became apparent that the headmaster was expecting him to stay.
"He believes that it has become too dangerous."
"Yes, sir."
"Hmm." Nico and Pietro exchanged glances. What was going on? "Come with me, Mr. di Angelo."
Lecce gripped Nico by upper arm and hauled him off the bench. Nico scrambled to find his feet and keep pace with his professor out of the room. He glanced over his shoulder to Pietro who sat, perplexed, alone at the table.
"What's going on?" Nico protested.
"Quiet," Lecce hissed.
Down the hall they went, Lecce practically dragging Nico down the hall as the boy scrambled to keep his footing. He threw Nico into his office.
The room was relatively small. A wide, many-paned window sat centred in the wall to Nico's left. A dark wood desk with a leather chair sat opposite the door. Two uncomfortable wooden chairs sat on the other side of the door. Lecce ignored Nico, rummaging through his desk drawers and withdrew a small prism of glass.
"Sir, please," said Nico. "What's going on?"
Still, the professor ignored him and continued to the window, prism in hand. He slid it into a patch of dwindling sunlight and a rainbow spread across the window ledge. Lecce fished through his pockets and withdrew a gold coin. He laid it gently on the ledge.
"O Iris," he chanted. "Accept my offering. Show me Lord Zeus at Olympus."
Good God... Nico thought. He's gone mad.
The air shimmered beside the window. A man appeared square in the mist, as if through a window. Nico gasped. He was imagining things, surely. The man in the image had a greying beard and hair. His neatly-trimmed beard was marbled grey and black, it put Nico in mind of a storm cloud. His eyes were a bright, electric blue that seemed to pierce through Nico's very being. He wore a pinstriped suit that was ironed with military precision.
"My lord," said Lecce. "It's time. He's coming for the boy."
"I see," said the man in the image. Nico slowly edged his way to the door, distancing himself inch by inch from the headmaster. "Collect the girl, an extraction team will deal with them within the hour."
Nico's stomach dropped. 'Deal with them'. They were going to kill him. They were going to kill Bianca. He bolted for the door, wrenching it open. Before he could make it over the threshold, Lecce had him firmly in his grasp. Nico cried out as Lecce grabbed his broken right arm. The professor wheeled him around and shoved him hard at a chair.
"Sit down."
The man in the image glared down his nose at Nico. "So it's you." Nico gulped. The man looked up from Nico to meet eyes with Lecce who still loomed over Nico from behind. "Keep him contained. I doubt he will pose much of an issue."
"Yes, sir," Lecce agreed. The man swiped a hand through the image and the mist dissipated, leaving a slight shimmer on the wall as it faded.
Nico's eyes darted around the room, searching for any hope of an escape. At the corner of the desk, a leather shoe reflected the light from the windows. Nico's heart jumped into his throat. No. He craned his neck, standing from his chair only slightly. The shoe led to a leg, a pleated pair of dress trousers, a suit jacket. A man, lying surely dead on the floor. Nico opened his mouth in a silent scream. Greying hair, a severely lined face, thin spectacles. Professor Lecce? But it couldn't be... two of them? He shook his head, blinking furiously.
He was slammed unceremoniously back into his chair. The other professor, Not-Lecce stood over him.
"Not dead," he said. "I do not kill."
"Who are you?" Nico demanded. "'Not dead'? What do you mean? Let me go!"
He seized the arms of Nico's chair, bending until his face was just inches from Nico's.
Suddenly, the door was pulled opened behind them and Lecce looked up. Bianca was shuffled in, she still wore her school uniform and her face was shadowed by the green cap the school provided for outings. Her eyes were wide with fear. A woman Nico recognized as the Matron at Bianca's school held her by the shoulders, hustling her inside.
"Nico?" Bianca breathed.
Nico attempted to stand from the chair, but Lecce shoved him back down. "You aren't going anywhere, boy," he growled. "Not until my lord is ready to move you."
"So..." Nico said breathlessly."You– you aren't going to kill us?"
Lecce scoffed. "Kill you? No, merely educate you. And if your father presents an aversion to this plan of action... well, I daresay that he knows more than anyone that your death is always an option. As unpleasant as it would be."
"What does that even mean?" Bianca cried. "We don't know what you're talking about! If this is some kind of ransom–"
Matron stepped in front of them to stand behind the desk. She was a rather tall woman with a soft face and a short bob of dark hair styled in the American fashion. Nico remembered her clearly from his Sunday visits with Bianca's school.
"It means," she said in heavily accented Italian, "that whatever happens next is entirely up to your father to decide."
"But…" Nico scrambled for something, anything, that he could say to appease their captors. "But we haven't even seen our Papa for two years!"
"Then I suppose you have nothing to worry about," said Professor Lecce, folding his arms. "If he does not interfere we will continue your education in safety and you needn't worry. Now come. It is time that you were transferred."
He gestured for Nico to rise, which he did with no small amount of trepidation. Bianca bit her lip, her eyes brimming with fear. Lecce seized Nico roughly by the back of his shirt and dragged him forward like a kitten by the scruff of his neck.
Matron followed behind with Bianca in tow, Nico could hear her pleading to be left alone but the sound was distant to his ears. His brain focussed on one thing: getting free. His vision seemed too narrow, only fully acknowledging the exits — the windows running the hallway, the stairs up to the dormitory, and the main door out of the building.
His heart thudded in his chest, adrenaline coursed through his veins. RUN, his brain screamed at him. But he couldn't. He wasn't strong enough to escape Professor Lecce and certainly not to incapacitate him long enough to free Bianca. And he couldn't, just couldn't, abandon Bianca.
"Oi!" A voice cried. Nico's head whipped up. It was Pietro, leaning over the balcony from the floor above. He had one of his own shoes in hand and held it threateningly over his head. "If you want to hurt Nico you'll have to go through me!"
And with that he lobbed the shoe down to Professor Lecce. It hit the headmaster square between the eyes. The shock of the impact was enough to loosen his grip on Nico's shirt. Nico lurched forward, darting out of reach of Lecce's grabbing hands. Behind him, he heard a grunt of pain as Matron was hit by another shoe. Bianca ran forward, grabbing Nico by his good arm and tugging him along. Together, they threw the doors open and sprinted down the steps.
Nico fled across the lawn, running full-out. Bianca was just ahead of him, her longer legs propelling her faster than his. Behind them the thudding footsteps of Mr. Lecce and Matron announced them close on Nico's heels. A hand seized the back of his collar. He cried out a strangled yelp as the shirt choked him. Bianca looked back over her shoulder, eyes wide with fear. She skidded to a stop, loose grass spraying up from the ground beneath her feet.
"Nico!"
Bianca screamed, pointing with transfixed horror at something behind her brother. Nico struggled against his captor, craning his neck to see. Matron held his shirt tightly in her fist and sneered down at him. Behind her, Lecce lay unconscious on the ground but Nico had no idea how that had happened. A shriek rang out from Bianca's direction and Nico whipped his head around to her. A huge bat-like creature, easily seven feet tall, loomed over her, its leathery wings spread wide. It reached out for her shoulder.
"Don't be frightened, honey." Its voice was raspy and grated unpleasantly on Nico's ears. "I'm here to help."
Bianca stumbled backwards, turning to run again. Nico fought violently against Matron's grasp. She was rooted to the spot behind him, her grip still vice-like. The creature seized Bianca under the arms and leaped into the air. Nico gasped as the creature's vast wings spread out in the sky above him.
"Release him."
Matron took a sharp intake of breath. Her fingers slowly loosened on Nico's collar. She turned slowly and Nico followed suit. Behind them stood a tall, oily man in an expensive looking suit. Nico's heart thudded a little faster.
"Papa," he breathed.
His father caught his eye carefully and beckoned him closer with two fingers. Nico bolted around Matron, stumbling on the uneven ground as he scrambled toward his father. At the last moment, Matron grabbed for his shirt. Nico ducked around her and fled toward his father, practically diving behind him. The creature thudded to the ground beside them, Bianca still in her arms. Bianca immediately wriggled out of the grip and grabbed Nico by the hand.
"Are you okay?" Nico asked.
Bianca's face was pale and her hands were shaking. She nodded.
"If I were you," Father said slowly, not taking his eyes off of Matron, "I would think better of trying to fight. If you run, I will not pursue you."
Matron scrambled back, turned, and fled. No one moved until she had reached the gates and bolted down the street. Father glanced at the creature.
"Follow her," he ordered. "Make her pay."
Nico looked to Bianca fearfully but she wasn't paying attention. She had her eyes fixed on Father, Nico couldn't quite decide if she was relieved to see him or terrified.
"Wh-what's happening?" she said in a trembling voice.
Father turned. He almost looked surprised, as if he had completely forgotten they were even there.
"Not here," he said gruffly. "You must be moved to safety until I am able to procure a deal with Zeus for your lives."
Nico and Bianca exchanged a glance. "Father," Bianca tried. "We don't understand. Who is Zeus? Why does he want to hurt us?"
Father pursed his lips and glanced upwards to the sky. "I will explain everything in due time. For now, I must move you to safety. Prepare yourselves."
He snapped his fingers and the world around them dissolved. Pure darkness entangled them, squeezing painfully around their entire bodies, wrenching the air from their very lungs. And then suddenly it was over. They fell to a hard, stone floor in a heap, tangled together gracelessly. Bianca recovered first, pushing herself off of her little brother and to her feet. She held out a hand to Nico, helping him clumsily regain his feet.
The room around them was huge. High ceilings soared overhead, supported by black marble pillars. The floors were bronze and the walls were made of more black marble. At one end of the room, a dais rose from the floor occupied by two thrones. One was made of what looked like human bones while the other was silver, crafted in the shape of a many-petalled flower.
At the opposite end of the room stood a pair of double doors that rose high above Nico. Their sheer size made him gulp. Beside him, Bianca gasped. Nico jumped and spun around to face whatever it was she had seen. Emerging from the shadow of the dais were three skeletons. They wore the familiar uniform of common soldiers and carried combat rifles. Their jaws clicked open and shut in a senseless imitation of speech as they advanced, weapons at the ready. Nico and Bianca scrambled back toward the doors.
They slammed smack into something solid. Nico fell to the ground, Bianca stumbled in her attempt to catch him. Their father stood above them, looking down his nose imposingly. His clothes had changed from his familiar suit to a set of oily black robes that trailed to the stone floor. He looked to the advancing skeletons.
"My children," he said simply. The skeletons fell back immediately, putting up their rifles. "You will not harm them."
Nico slowly got to his feet, inching close to his sister. He positioned himself slightly behind her. Bianca's hands shook.
"What is going on?" she demanded. "Where are we? How did we get here? What were those- those things?"
Their father eyed her and waved a hand. Behind them, a table and three chairs shimmered into existence. "Sit," he ordered. "I will explain."
Hesitantly, Bianca led Nico to the table and sat. Father took the seat across from them.
"What happened?" Nico asked immediately. "There were two of him! They killed Professor Lecce! Or... someone."
Father waved a hand in dismissal. "The daemons are the least of our concerns."
"Demons?" Nico yelped.
"And your headmaster is not dead," he continued, as if Nico hadn't spoken, "this particular breed of daemon is rarely murderous. As I am sure you both have realized, the stories your mother and I used to tell you about the ancient gods and heroes. Heracles, the minotaur… all the gods. They are all true."
Nico glanced at Bianca. She raised her eyebrows.
"I am not mad," Hades said, as if he had read their thoughts. "Here." He snapped his fingers and the fires burning in he braziers roared higher, turning an inky black. He waved a hand and the fire shrank back to regular size and colour.
Bianca's eyes were wide as dinner plates. "That was…"
"Killer." Nico grinned. "Can you do it again?"
Bianca shot him a look. "If the stories are true," she said hesitantly. "Then you're–"
"Hades, yes."
"And this is..."
"My palace in the underworld."
"This whole place is yours?" Nico asked, awed. Hades inclined his head in answer.
"You're nuts…" Bianca decided, pulling away from the table.
Nico looked to her in confusion. What was she saying? Their Papa would never lie to them, and besides, this was the coolest thing that had happened to them in years. They had been wishing they could see their Papa since Mama had died, why couldn't Bianca just be happy that they had finally gotten what they wanted?
"I am not mad," Hades repeated.
"But this doesn't make any sense!" Bianca insisted. "Those were just stories!"
"Bianca, you saw the fire," Nico countered eagerly. "This is–"
"Shut it, Nico," Bianca snapped. "This is crazy. Those stories aren't real. They're just bedtime stories!"
"They are true, I brought you here to keep you safe." Hades sighed. "Only a few years ago, Zeus decreed that he, Poseidon, and I would not sire any more demigod children. Both of you were already born at the time of the pact and he ordered that I turn you over to Olympus where you would be sent to a camp to be trained." His expression soured. "I refused and he murdered your mother. I was only able to protect you. Maria… I was too late."
He cleared his throat.
"Zeus declared her death a warning and allowed me another week to deliver you to him. I used the time to hide you both. I transported you to Italy and planted memories of a journey by ship that never happened. Your aunt was... persuaded by a servant of mine to send you away together where I could guard you. Wards were placed around the school grounds and I had my guards keep watch when you left school. I have yet to find the traitor. Someone revealed to Zeus where I was hiding you and he placed his own agents within the schools."
"Matron and Professor Lecce," said Bianca.
"Correct. Daemons sent by Zeus to kidnap you taking the shape of school administrators."
"I don't understand," said Nico. "Why didn't we go with Zeus to be trained? Why was that bad? Wouldn't he have left Mama alone?"
"Perhaps," Hades growled. "But he would never let you live."
Nico frowned. "But why?"
"The prophecy," Hades answered. "The Oracle of Delphi revealed a prophecy stating that a child of the elder gods at the age of sixteen will save or destroy Olympus. Zeus will not risk either of you reaching that age. He would have you both killed."
Bianca paled. "Three years," she murmured. "I only have three years left."
"Precisely," Hades said grimly. "Monsters can sense demigods by their scent. When a half-blood reaches your age, the scent is strong enough to be detected. At this time most demigods are taken to Camp Half-Blood in America to be trained to fight. If I were to leave you unprotected, Zeus and rogue monsters would discover and destroy you. If you were to attend camp, Zeus would not let you live. This is the only solution." Under the table, Bianca reached for Nico's hand. "You will remain in the underworld, I will train you to defend yourselves, and when the time is right you, Bianca, will save Olympus."
Bianca's hand went lax in Nico's. "But– but–" she spluttered. "I can't! I don't know how!"
Hades face softened slightly, he looked almost gentle. "You can and you will. I will teach you. There are three years yet–"
"What about me?" Nico asked eagerly. "What do I do?"
Hades' eyes flashed angrily. "Do not interrupt me, boy," he growled. Nico shrank back from the god's anger. He clenched Bianca's hand. "As for you, I will protect you in my realm with your sister and you will assist her with the prophecy."
Nico's face fell. His father had no great plan for him?
Suddenly, the double doors flew open. Another bat-like creature flapped its way into the room. This one was paler, it's leathery skin practically white. Bianca recoiled at the sight of its pointed wings and yellow fangs, but Nico stared in amazement. Hades appeared only mildly annoyed by the intrusion, as if such a creature was often found in his palace.
"Megaera," he said curtly. "You have news?"
"Hermes, my lord. He appeared at Charon's ferry requesting an audience. As per your orders, my lord, he was stopped at the gates and Charon relayed his message to me. Zeus demands that you bring your children to Olympus immediately. He has threatened to enter the Underworld and seize them himself if you do not obey."
Hades' entire form glowed. A golden sheen outlined him against the darkness of he room. His eyes burned with fire. "How dare he!"
Bianca sucked in a sharp breath and Nico gave a small yelp at the sudden light. Hades took a deep, steadying breath. Slowly, the glow dissipated.
"I will go," Hades said, in a voice of forced calm. "Bianca, Nico, you will accompany me to Olympus. I can better protect you from Zeus if you are close. Megaera, you as well. If things do not go according to plan, you are to take them to safety."
A myriad of questions lined up in Nico's mind but he sensed that it was in his best interest to keep his mouth firmly shut. His father was liable to be even more impatient with his chatter than his teachers.
"Yes, my lord," Megaera agreed.
"Bianca," said Hades. "Nico. Brace yourselves."
Nico hardly had time to flinch before Hades waved a hand and they were swept back into the crushing darkness.
Nico fell to his knees and gasped in a breath of air. Beside him, Bianca stumbled. Hades appeared standing tall and upright, carefully smoothing a crease in his robes. Behind him, Megaera hunched in a crouch ready to leap into action.
The floor beneath Nico's knees was white marble. It gleamed gold in the light of giant braziers hung from towering pillars. Bianca held out a hand to help him to his feet and Nico took it, unsteadily climbing upright. He felt sick to his stomach. Whatever kind of travel Hades was using to move them around did not agree with him at all.
Twelve huge thrones, occupied by equally huge people, sat around them in a semi-circle. Each of the seated occupants were at least three metres tall. Nico could barely look at them without feeling a sharp tingle down his spine, as if his body were starting to burn. The air crackled and smelled of ozone.
Nico looked to his father and felt his own jaw drop. Even as he watched, Hades was growing in height until he easily matched by he size of the thrones' occupants. Megaera the fury lurked behind Bianca and Nico with her bat-like wings spread as if she planned to physically shield them from the wrath of the gods. Nico was very conscious of the fact that he was still wearing his school uniform.
"Hades."
Nico recognized the speaker instantly it was the same man who had spoken to Professor Lecce in his office. He was seated at the head of the room, dressed in the same navy blue pinstriped suit. His throne lacked any intricate designs but was made of solid platinum. His proud face was grim, blue eyes smouldering with anger. Just looking at him, Nico felt a rush of dread. Zeus.
Looking around at the rest of the gods Nico mentally matched each of them to a name he remembered. Next to Zeus sat a beautiful woman with dark hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered with colour – Hera, Zeus's queen. The man to Zeus's left in a navy officer's uniform was obviously Poseidon. Next to him, a huge lump of a man with a leg in a steel brace, a misshapen head, and a wild brown beard, and fire flickering through his whiskers – Hephaestus. Then there were Ares and Athena with their military uniforms and Hermes with a newspaper and what looked like a stack of telegrams beside his throne. Nico guessed that the older looking woman with straw yellow hair was Demeter. Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grape vine between his fingers. In the middle of the chamber, Hestia sat on a three legged stool in a simple brown dress and tended the hearth fire.
Bianca's shoulders were tensed and her brow was wrinkled like one of Nico's uniform shirts. She was coiled tighter than Nico had ever seen her. He reached for her hand and she let him hold it without protest.
"The Council has discussed your actions, Uncle," said Hermes. "We have voted to act. All those in favour of disintegrating them?"
Nico didn't recognize the language being spoken. It wasn't Italian and he didn't know how he understood the words.
A few eager hands went up.
"A moment," Athena requested with a staying hand. "Lord Hades at least has the right to a full and fair deliberation. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods are dangerous. The security risk is too great."
"Before you issue your threats," Hades said coldly, "allow me to speak on their behalf."
This seemed to amuse Zeus. He glanced around to the assembled gods with a wry smirk. "Go on."
"I have lost much to this war," Hades said in a voice of forced calm. "And I, frankly, refuse to lose anything else." His voice grew low and dangerous like the growl of a panther. "So you will leave my children, Zeus, or so help me I will raise every monster in Tartarus–"
A lightning bolt crackled to life in Zeus's hand. "You dare threaten–" Zeus rumbled.
"YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME!"
Nico and Bianca shrank back at the volume, cringing away from their father. Hades halted abruptly. His eyes flicked briefly toward his frightened children. He took a deep breath, reining in his temper.
"Uncle," Athena said reasonably. "We do not make this decision lightly. It is not aimed as an attack on you personally." Zeus huffed but she ignored him. "But think of the prophecy. If one of these demigods were to turn against Olympus…"
"Do you think I would allow for such a thing to happen, Athena?" Hades snapped. "The only danger of either of my children turning traitorous was caused by Zeus when he murdered their mother."
"Father." said Dionysus. He was absently twisting his grape vine into a coil and added a sigh to each word like each syllable was a dull waste of breath. "Can this not wait until they come of age?"
"No," Zeus snarled. "I want them dealt with now, before they gain any foolish notions of escaping us."
"I have vouched for them," Hades said, his teeth gritted and black eyes pulsing with anger. "Is my word not enough?"
"Hardly enough, Hades," said Zeus. "After the destruction your other children have caused in these past years you are fortunate that I have not blasted these two already."
"You have tried that already and failed," Hades spat. "You know as well as I that we cannot dictate the actions of our children."
Zeus gave him a look of contempt."You have proven that you cannot control your children."
"We shall put it to a vote," Athena announced. "All those in favour of allowing the demigods their lives until they present a verifiable and agreed upon threat to the safety and security of Olympus?"
One by one, the seated gods slowly raised their hands. First Hermes, who winked at Nico good-naturedly. Then Apollo and Artemis – Nico wondered if being siblings endeared himself and Bianca to them. Hephaestus raised his hand next and Aphrodite followed suit with a mischievous smile in Nico's direction.
Demeter frowned at Nico and Bianca like she wasn't sure what to make of them. She gave Hades a stern look. "I do not know what you are planning here and I do not trust you. Persephone was deeply upset when she found out that you had betrayed her not only once, but twice with that mortal." Hades inclined his head and offered no argument. "But I suppose it would be crass to cut down your little sprouts before they truly have time to grow."
She raised her hand as well.
Nico silently tallied the votes. Zeus, Hera, Dionysus, Ares, and Athena all sat with their hands in their laps or resting on the arms of their thrones. Poseidon looked thoughtful, casting his gaze between his brothers.
"Well Poseidon?" said Hades. "Will you stand with me."
Poseidon pursed his lips. "It would seem you already have six of twelve votes, brother. I could bring this vote to a tie and reopen discussion."
"As I am still refused a vote on this council," Hades grumbled.
"You know why–" Zeus started.
"Father," Athena interrupted, "perhaps now is not the time."
Zeus gave her a glare black as storm clouds, but sat back in his throne and said nothing more.
Poseidon sat up a little straighter. "I have never been one to condone the slaughter of innocents. These two have given us no reason to doubt their characters thus far." He raised his hand and gave Zeus a hard look. "Really, brother, they are only children. I suppose you out of all of us remember what happened the last time you took such a prophecy into your own hands." There was a twinkle of mirth in his green eyes. "How is your head? Perhaps we could have a repeat performance of Hephaestus' medicinal talents."
Zeus scowled and thunder rumbled through the hall. "Very well," he grumbled. He slammed his bolt into the floor. "The demigods live."
Athena nodded her acceptance. "Even if we have guaranteed their lives, there is still the matter of the prophecy. If these demigods are to turn sixteen, we risk the end of Olympus."
"The girl may take the oath," said Artemis. "If she is to avoid aging, we remove one risk at the very least."
Bianca gave Nico a worried look. Nico, in turn, looked to their father. Hades looked torn.
"What oath?" Bianca ventured.
"To join my band of hunters," Artemis explained. "You must pledge yourself to me and my hunt."
"And swear off men," piped Apollo. "It'll turn your whole life topsy-turvy."
Bianca still looked confused and Nico frowned. Artemis' hunt? What would that even mean?
"Father?" she asked tentatively.
Hades sighed bitterly. "It would appear that that is your only choice."
Bianca bit her lip. "What about Nico?" she asked, squeezing her brother's hand.
"The camp," Hephaestus offered.
"No," Hades snarled, "I will not have my son's mind poisoned by that damned camp. I will not allow it."
"A demigod with this destructive power will not reside in the Underworld," Zeus countered.
"Father," Athena said placatingly. "The boy must be trained. He must be prepared to defend Olympus should the prophecy come to pass." Zeus didn't respond and Athena turned her attention to Hades instead. "Uncle, if you wish for the boy to be spared, you understand, of course, that he must be monitored. I am sure that Camp Half-Blood will provide a more than adequate training program. If the boy was to attend under Chiron's personal tutelage would that be agreeable?"
Hades cast a murderous gaze to Zeus. "I suppose I have no other option," he said bitterly.
"Then we are agreed?" said Poseidon. "The girl will join Artemis' hunt and the boy will attend Camp Half-Blood to receive training."
Around the room, the gods murmured their assent.
"Bianca di Angelo," said Artemis, calling their attention. "Daughter of Hades. Will you join the Hunt?"
Nico stared at his sister, unable to believe what was happening. She was leaving him? Bianca hesitated and Nico squeezed her hand. He wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure her, or begging her to stay with him.
"I will," Bianca agreed. "What do I have to do?"
Artemis beckoned her closer and gestured for her to kneel. "Say these words. 'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.'"
"I... I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."
"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'"
Bianca repeated the lines.
"I accept your pledge," Artemis said.
Bianca didn't look any different but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. "I feel... stronger."
Artemis smiled. "Remember your pledge. It is now your life."
Bianca climbed to her feet and stood beside Artemis' throne.
"This boy is still dangerous," Dionysus warned.
"And when his sixteenth birthday comes to pass?" said Hera, speaking for the first time. "What is to be done if it is not yet the time for the prophecy? Was that not our problem with the last brat– ahem, half-blood we expected to take responsibility?"
"Immortality."
Everyone in the room turned to look at who had spoken. It was Hestia. She set her poker down and looked around at the council with large brown eyes. She made Nico think of all the best parts of home: laughing with Bianca, playing piano with Mama and sitting so close to each other on the bench he felt like she was a piece of him, and a warm and comfortable bed with his favourite fur blanket.
"I know that it is not my place to offer council in this chamber, brother," she said, looking to Zeus, "but if Nico was to prove himself worthy, before he reaches the age of sixteen, would it not be prudent to offer him a kind of immortality? Frozen in time so he only becomes a true liability if the prophecy does present itself. A demigod trained solely for the protection of Olympus, who will have proved himself to be strong enough for such a gift to be bestowed Allow the boy to train and be taught the ways of heroes. He will learn."
Zeus gave her a thoughtful look. "If," he said slowly, "and only if, the boy proves himself by the time he reaches the age of sixteen he will be offered the gift of immortality. If he does not…"
"I would remind you, brother, that the council has already assured my son's life," said Hades. "There is a place in the desert, where time is frozen. If he does not prove himself by that time, he will be sent there until the prophecy does come to fruition."
"Very well," Zeus grumbled. "Do any of the council object?" No one spoke up. "All in favour?"
Dionysus abstained, as did Ares and Athena. There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with the plan, but nobody protested.
"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "It is decided. The girl will join the Hunters of Artemis. The boy will be prepared to fulfil the prophecy until he reaches sixteen years of age. If he proves himself, he will be granted immortality, if he does not, he will reside with the Lotus Eaters until the prophecy has come to pass." He cast one more glare at Hades. "The council is dismissed."
And with that, Zeus stood from his throne and stormed from the room. The other gods filtered out behind him, some with their heads bent in conversation, Hephaestus fiddling with a handful of gears and wires.
Bianca made her way back to Nico and put an arm around his shoulders. "He did it, Nico," she said. "We're safe now."
He looked up at her in confusion. "But you have to leave."
"I'll come back," she assured him. "We won't be apart for long."
Nico wasn't convinced. If Bianca was leaving him, who would protect him? No, he told himself, you won't be alone. You have Papa. He glanced to his father. Hades was deep in conversation with Artemis and Hestia, his hands gesturing widely in earnest.
Nico cocked his head. What was so important if he and Bianca were safe? As if he had sensed eyes on him, Hades looked up and caught Nico's eye. Nico quickly looked away. That, it seemed, was the end of Hades' conversation as he immediately left Artemis where she was standing.
Bianca wrapped her arms around Nico and held him tightly. "I'll miss you," she murmured in his ear. "Be safe."
Nico squeezed her once and pulled back from the embrace. "You said it wouldn't be long," he accused.
She gave him an apologetic smile. "We'll see." She glanced up to Artemis and back to her brother. "I think I have to go now," she said. "But I will miss you."
"I'll miss you to," said Nico, breaking away from her fully.
"Come on kid."
Nico glanced up. It was Hermes, in normal human size, his mailbag slung across his chest.
"I'll give you a lift to the camp."
"Um… thanks."
Hermes took a firm but gentle old of Nico's arm. Nico's last view of the throne room was his father watching him through narrowed eyes, before he was pulled into nothingness.