Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

So hey, I'm not dead. Just been super busy with life and all, but I'm back now and definitely here to stay. I've been working on an actual novel for publication, so I can't say how much time I can invest, but just know updates will happen. Anyway, enjoy.

This was perhaps the stupidest, riskiest, most dangerous thing he was ever about to do in his life.

But knowing Acacia, and if she planned on sticking around, he would probably be doing even more stupid, risky, and dangerous things in the future.

Nico was currently slinking close to the walls of Persephone's garden in the Underworld, making sure to stay in the shadows as much as possible. He was hiding mostly because of what he was about to do, but also he didn't want anyone to know he was actually in the Underworld at all.

He had left camp just before dinner. He hadn't been in the mood or condition to eat and it meant that people would be less likely to see him depart. He strangely didn't see Acacia for the rest of the day, since she seemed to be everywhere and provided a strange sense of comradeship that he didn't know was missing. It would have been a calamity if she came along, knowing she would wreak some havoc one way or another. Amusing havoc (like painting all the black roses red or having tea with Demeter), but havoc nonetheless. He would have to bring her here sometime…

But now was not the time for fantasy, nope. If he didn't get in and out fast, he would never be able to make that fantasy a reality because someone would kill him if they found him in the gardens.

Persephone wasn't there, thank the gods and summertime, but it took a lot of effort to avoid his father.

He eyed the tree he had slunk over to that was closest to the wall. Many multicolored gems glittered on its branches, some just out of his reach. Some were large, larger than his fist; others were smaller than the tip of his pinkie finger. There were multiple hues of blue and orange and pink, some blending into different colors he had never seen before.

It was all very beautiful and whatever, but it wasn't what caught his attention.

What caught his attention was the one sole glittering green gem nestled mockingly in the highest branches of the tree.

Nico groaned out loud; he couldn't help it. Of course it would be at the very top…

He looked cautiously around twice before slowly emerging from the shadows. Without so much as a branch snapping, Nico made his way to the base of the tree and grabbed the lowest branch in his reach. It was a rather tall tree, and he had to jump a little, making it even more important that no one was around. There was no way he would ever live something like this down.

After a short and very undignified tree climb, Nico finally made it to the branch. That gem was right in front of him. He reached out his hand to grasp it and could feel its smooth, cold surface in his palm. He barely had time to pocket it and begin to make his way down when –

"EXCUSE ME!"

The sudden screech startled him, causing him try and turn his head to see who it was, and his foot missed the next step. With a surprised yelp and flail of the arms, Nico fell to the ground with a solid thud.

For a good few seconds he was too dazed to even remember where he was. He groaned for good measure, even though it wasn't as painful as it was rattling, and moved to sit up, but stopped when a familiar wave of nausea hit.

Well great, he thought while rising to his feet and doing his best to fight it off. A sudden flash of soft pink caught his eye, and before he knew it that pink was standing right in front of him and clutching his arm with inhuman strength. It took a bit for his eyes to focus before Nico wished he had never come here in the first place.

Persephone was glaring at him as if he had just killed her favorite person in the world, and judging by her grip he might as well have done that instead.

"What are you doing here?" She was seething at this point.

It took a lot more strength that Nico thought he possessed to pull away, "I was just leaving."

That could have been it and he could have been on his way…had she not seen the flash of green in his palm.

"What's that?"

In all honesty, Nico had forgotten about the gem in his hand. He had been too focused on trying to escape. He closed his hand and hid it behind his back, "Nothing."

He'd already given himself away. Persephone's eyes narrowed and she extended out her hand, "Give it to me."

Nico was seriously considering just giving it to her and getting out while he still had a chance. He would just have to tell Acacia 'too bad, life sucks, if you want something green that badly, then use some grass it's everywhere'. However, all that would have to wait because his stomach demanded attention when the urge to heave became stronger.

He gagged and felt his body lurch with it. Persephone's brow quirked up, "What is the matter with you?"

Before she could get a response from the small, scrawny boy before her, Nico took off in the opposite direction. He could hear her calling after him and her footsteps not too far behind, but she was the least of his problems…

Nico made it down two hallways and part of a third with Persephone not too far behind when he realized he wasn't going to make it (wherever he was going, he hadn't thought of that). He saw a vase further up the hallway and made a sudden desperate decision.

Persephone had finally caught up to Nico when she watched him suddenly grab a vase (a very expensive vase) and retch up…something into it. Normally, she would have been disgusted. But this time she was extremely disgusted because whatever he was coughing up was black.

Nico eventually finished and straightened back up. He wiped off his mouth and looked down at the vase still in his hands before awkwardly putting it right back where he got it. When he finally turned back to Persephone, he found her staring at him with what almost looked like alarm.

It was quiet for a few moments before she swiftly turned her back to him, "I'm getting Lord Hades."

"No!" He exclaimed, while taking a step forward.

Persephone looked over her shoulder, "And why should I not? Not only are you trying to steal from me, but you are an absolute mess!"

Nico paused. He definitely couldn't tell her everything, Acacia already knew too much and he didn't need another crazy woman meddling in his life. Well, this is perfect, he thought. And then Nico thought harder and realized something…

He looked Persephone right in the eye, "Wait, what are you doing here?!"

She froze for a split second before turning her head back around and wrapping what Nico now realized was a bathrobe tighter around her, "I am at no liberty to explain my and your father's sex life."

Nico stood there stupidly for gods knew how long before it all clicked. If he didn't feel sick before, he most certainly did now, "Aren't you supposed to be with Demeter, giving seniors heat strokes or something."

Persephone didn't respond to that, and instead said, "I'm still getting your father."

"No, you're not," a plan suddenly formed in his head, "because if you do, I'll tell Demeter you were here."

He slightly regretted saying that as Persephone slowly turned around and glared at him with all the malice in the world, "And how are you going to manage that, hmm?"

How would he manage that? "I have…an acquaintance in the Demeter Cabin. I'm sure if I let it slip to her, word would eventually make its way up the grapevine…"

This was only partially true. He knew Acacia, who was loved by the Demeter kids for her apparent Home Ec. skills, and telling her would basically be the same thing. He also didn't mean to make the garden quip with the grapevine and all…but it all seemed to work because Persephone paled the slightest bit.

"You wouldn't dare."

A staring contest followed, until she finally turned around and walked away.

"I never saw you," she called over her shoulder, "and you never saw me."

With that, she turned a corner and disappeared from sight. Nico let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He looked down at the single gem in his hand and briefly wondered if making an unspoken deal with the devil was worth all this…

It was.

Nico had a new problem though, how to get two green ones. Acacia said that she needed two, but after scoping the gardens twice, he could only find that one. Maybe…

He held the gem in both hands and focused hard, channeling his powers into it. Hopefully, if they actually worked right today, he could do this correctly.

The emerald glowed black and hummed in his hands, and when he separated them, instead of just holding a single gem it was now two pieces from the original one.

"This is technically two," he mumbled to himself while shoving them in his pocket. He put one foot into the shadows and focused on Camp Half-Blood, "it'll have to do."

And with that, the shadows closed in and he was gone.

"If you take shortcuts, you get cut short." – Gary Busey

Okay, so sorry for being gone again. Can't help with what life deals you, and life has dealt me a very busy, yet inspirational card. Hope you liked this, and expect more soon.

Later,

NightEnchanted