Chapter 3

Hades POV

Getting a request for a soul to go directly to Tartarus, is not unusual. However, what peaked my curiosity was the fact that it was Artemis, and the fact that the request with filled with such hate it would have made Kronos himself proud. Intrigued I decided I would intervene to see what exactly had angered her so by seeing his memories of all his wrongdoings.

Once at the Judgement Hall I noticed a very grotesque fat man's soul waiting to be judged. Taking a seat I pulled up his memories to play before him and the judges. What I saw made my blood run cold, and caused my to be sick beside my chair along with the other judges. But the man only stood there with hungry eyes watching every scene like his favorite movie.

That's when I realized why Artemis hated the man so, he was the epitome of everything she hated about men. That was until I saw his death scene watching Artemis herself land the killing blow. Then I let my rage at what I had seen come through, drinking, gambling, stealing, beating, raping, murder, the man had done it all, it sickened me. I looked to the judges and they all nodded in consensus.

"Gabriel Sloan Ugliano, you are sentenced to eternity in Tartarus for your crimes." I stated, my voice booming through the halls. The man trembled and was dragged to the pit. Satisfied I decided I would check in Artemis and Percy. Stopping quickly I turned to the other judges,

"Sally Jackson gets a straight shot to Elysium." I stated.

Then turned and flashed to Artemis's camp. Seeing no one I went to her tent and what I saw shocked me beyond belief. There was all of the hunters laying on furs curled around the boy, Percy as if shielding him from the world, but what shocked me most was Artemis and Apollo cuddling in the hunter pile around the boy. Artemis was the first to wake.

Her eyes shooting open darting over to me, her arms subconsciously tightening around her brother. Seeing it was only me she slowly untangled herself from the pile giving Apollo a pillow to hug instead. I noticed his pale face and tear streaked face, realizing Apollo being here must have meant he had healed the boy. I gestured to outside and she nodded.

Stepping out in the early pre-dawn air I looked over to Artemis, she was in her 20 year old form, her long auburn hair slipping out of its braid sticking out at all angles and hanging limply around her pale tear streaked face. Her clothes rumpled and her eyes cloudy with uncovered sadness. Sighing I realized I should jump straight to the point.

"I personally judged him." She looked up sharply at me eyes wide, understanding this meant I had seen all the horrible things he'd done.

"Why?" she asked almost desperately.

"Because I felt it was important." I replied, looking at her I decided she deserved to know the verdict.

"He was found guilty of all his crimes and was sentenced to eternity in Tartarus." At that her eyes widened, then narrowed as she smiled a grim smile.

"Good, the bastard deserved it." she hissed. I nodded, my mouth set in a grim line.

"Also I assume you know who the boy's real father is by now." I ask, she nodded.

"I figured it out when he opened his eyes, he has his father's eyes." she murmured. I nodded.

"His name is Perseus Jackson, but he prefers to be called Percy. The man was named Gabriel Ugliano, and the boy's mother,"

at this I paused as she looked up fearfully, noticing my pause, she nodded jerkily. "Her name was Sally Jackson, she died at the hands of Gabriel yesterday in front of Percy." At that she gasped.

"He watched his mother get MURDERED?" she cried. I could only nod. She shut her eyes as a few tears escaped. I waited for her to compose herself, finally she wiped away her tears and heaved a large breath.

"Right." She said determination steeling her eyes over. Wary I raised an eyebrow at her. She looked at me and gave me a grim smile.

"Hades, I am going to make Percy the second ever male hunter." she stated. My eyes widened comically. Actually, maybe that's a good thing... Now that I think about it, this means can take Nico and Bianca out of hiding soon. With that thought my face broke into a real smile, gentle and kind.

Artemis POV

As I watch uncle Hades my resolve only grows. I was not however expecting him to smile. It looked to be a genuine smile, full of love, though not directed at me, clearly he just had an idea of his own...

"Hades?" I ask, quickly his eyes snap to mine and the smile fall's most of the way away, a gentle curve at the corner of his mouth the only indication it was there at all.

"Yes Artemis? Sorry, sorry, I was lost in my thoughts." he replied.

"Rather wistful looking thoughts from what I can tell." I say. He nods, then a look of confusion overcomes him.

"Are you going to give him your blessing at this age? Forever with a body of a 4 year old child, but the mind of an adult?" He asks. Smiling I shake my head 'no'.

"No I will wait a few years for his body to mature, I will probably stop him at 15 or 16." I reply. His jaw tightened.

"Do you think he is the child of the prophecy? Because if so wouldn't you wish to bless him at 15?" He asks. I turn my face to the gray sky, contemplating my response.

"I think, if I think he is and I think he can complete it in our favor, then yes I will let him turn 16, if not then I will stop him at 15." He nods sagely.

"Now my turn to ask." I say. He looks up at me questioningly.

"When you smiled, that was you realizing you could bring your kids out of hiding, wasn't it?" I ask gently.

His body becomes ramrod straight, muscles tense, shadows thickening, face set in a grim marble mask.

"And pray tell, HOW exactly did you know I had children in hiding?" He asks jaw tense, words clipped.

Now of course i'd seen my uncle usher his children into hiding all those years ago, I was in my chariot at the time, taking a break from the hunters. I had looked down and seen my uncle with a boy and girl holding their hands, he ushered them into the lotus hotel and casino, it was a very sad goodbye.

"I saw you put them in with the lotus eaters while in my chariot. That was very smart of you, uncle." I smile, hoping he realizes I mean them no harm. He relaxes a smidgen.

"Please uncle, I mean them no harm." He relaxed completely after a moment. Then he looked to be contemplating something. I waited for him to make his decision, after a minute he seemed to have finally come to a conclusion.

"Artemis. Since he will have to wait many years before you give him your blessing, he will be vulnerable when he goes hunting with you. How would you feel if perhaps I, gave him a blessing? To ensure his safety, it should also give him control of some of my abilities."

He asked hesitantly at first, and then rushed at the end like he didn't want to be cut off. To be honest, I was in shock, is my uncle really asking my PERMISSION to give the boy his blessing? Is this the real Hades? Hesitant, and unsure of himself? I wasn't sure that I wanted to know the answer to that.

Once more I turned to my surroundings. The log Apollo and I sat on was still there, the grass around it flattened from where my hunters sat. The gray sky was becoming even lighter, almost the shade of my own silvery eyes. The few stars that remained were very faint in the predawn light. The air was crisp and cool, the smell of the woods permeating the camp. I can hear a few of the wolves walking the perimeter their silver fur like fleeting apparitions in the underbrush.

Finally I came back to myself, and noticed I had left Hades' question hanging. He looked quite uncomfortable. Turning to him I put my thoughts in order, yes this was a good idea.

"I would be most honored to have one of my hunters receive your blessing uncle." I concede finally. Hades lets loose a long relieved sigh.

"Good, good." He mutters to himself. Admittedly it was quite amusing to see my uncle so afraid to see my reaction. Stuffing my smile down I ask.

"Would you like to be here when he wakes?" He looks up, clearly about to reply, when he stopped and seemed to mull it over, then.

"Yes, that would be... Very nice." He said with a small smile.

AN:

Whoop whoop! Another chapter! yusss I'm thinking on later pairings for Percy...

but i'm not sure yet on just who i'll pair him with, might rejoin canon, but probably not.