House of Hades Implications

"No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow." - Euripides

1986

"You're cheating on me again!" Hera shouted loudly. "I can't believe it. You said you wouldn't after last time!"

Zeus frowned. Girls. Why do they have to make a big deal out of everything? "It's just a kiss!" He protested. Do they really have to make it look so bad?

"On the lips!" Hera cried. "And that's not it! The blonde girl you had your arms around yesterday? I saw that. I saw that, you bastard."

Zeus's jaws dropped. "I can't believe you're bringing that up. I didn't even kiss her. All I did was wrap my arms around her. That's it."

"I'm your girlfriend. If you want to kiss or wrap your arms around somebody, that's got to be me." Hera said angrily.

Zeus rolled his eyes. "Goddamnedit, Hera. Can you stop being so jealous? Yes, you're my girlfriend. Yeah, I love you, not anyone else. The fact you're my girlfriend already proves that. Do I really need to limit the people I hang out with to only you?"

"You don't kiss or wrap your arms around people you just hang out with."

"You don't make the rules." Zeus grumbled.

Hera shook her head, her eyes glistened in tears. "You know what? I'm done with you. You never get it. You've cheated on me countless times and I'm not having it."

Zeus laughed. It shouldn't be funny but he found the humor in it. "Are you dumping me? I don't think so. I'm done with you, that's what. I'm dumping you, not the other way round. I'm tired of your jealousy and a single man can do so much better without an annoying girlfriend like you clinging onto him like those disgusting fungus on my cousin's foot."

Hera crumpled the sheet of paper in front of her into a ball and threw it towards Zeus. She certainly didn't find it funny. "I know you want to look good in front of Tristan McLean. You want to be in his popular group, don't you? That's why you don't want it to be me dumping you. No, I'm not letting that happen. Tomorrow, the world will know how I dumped you."

Zeus made his way towards Hera. "Gods, where did you get that theory from? I don't fucking care about Tristan McLean or his silly little group. I am not trying to impress anyone. I am merely stating the truth, I'm dumping you."

All the tears of Hera's eyes were gone. It was pure anger. "I don't know what happened to you, Zeus Grace. Before high school, I liked you because you're kind. You're sweet and loving. I loved you. I had a crush on you for ages and when we finally dated, it was great. The first few months were, anyway. Then, you started cheating on me. And you started doing all these strange things, just to pretend to be cool. You're not doing anyone a favor. You're not cool. You would never be popular. I'm not the only one who noticed you changed. Poseidon and Hades did too. You have no idea how many times we bitched behind your back. We want the old Zeus back."

For a second, Zeus was shock. He knew he always admired Tristan McLean and the popular group but was he really that obvious? He tried hiding it. He knew his friends would hate him if he was another one of those boys who would do anything to be popular, but that is who he actually is. If Tristan McLean came up to him one lunchtime and offered him a spot in their group, Zeus would join immediately. He used to be popular but that was back in Elementary School. He remembered and liked how it was like to be the top of the social circles. Everything changes between Elementary and High school though and he became just like everyone else. He isn't popular anymore and he would do anything to get back up there.

And were his best friends really bitching about him with Hera behind his back? That hurts. They have been best friends for so long, Zeus trusted them not to bitch behind his back. They shouldn't talk shit about their own best friend. Zeus would never do that to them.

But then, Zeus recomposed himself. No, he couldn't let Hera see him like that. His lips twisted into a strange smile. "You don't know everything, do you?' He found himself saying. He didn't exactly know where he was going with it but all he needed to do was to throw Hera off track and make her believe he isn't who he actually is. "YOu really don't. Sorry, I am so sorry, but I can't tell you anything. It's an oath I have to keep. Even though you're a total bitch, I'm keeping it from you for your own sake."

"What?" Hera asked in confusion but shook her head. "Never mind. I don't need you to tell me anything, Zeus Grace. All I have to say is we're done. I don't ever want to see you again."

2013

"Me?" Brittany's blue eyes widened. "I killed Drew Tanaka? I wasn't even on that raft!" She protested.

Officer Preston shrugged. "An anonymous tip came in yesterday. It claimed you were the killer. Of course, it may be a joke or false information but we would still have to take you in. If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be scared."

"I'm not scared." Brittany declared. "But this isn't fair! I'm innocent! I have better things to do than spending all day in a hellhole answering questions. I have a manicure appointment in half an hour. And isn't this whole thing like a year ago? Honestly, I'd solve other crimes if I were you. This is so old."

"Fiat justitia rust caelum." Officer Preston replied. "Let justice be done though the heaven fall. It's Latin and said a lot in court and police stations. We work together to bring justice and re-enforce the laws, Miss Hurst. I have to bring you in for questioning for justice to be served."

Brittany sighed. "Fine. Take me. Don't cuff my hands though. I've watched enough crime TV shows and god, those handcuffs are dirty! Imagine what they'll do to my hands. There isn't enough moisturizer in the world to help with it if it touched one of your handcuffs. Oh, and please don't quote latin shit to me. Nobody even speaks that language anymore. It's dead. Why do you even bother?"

Officer Preston glanced at the teenage girl with an amused expression on. "Kids these days. I can't cuff you unless you're proven guilty."

Bianca was back in New York City. This time, it was to pay respects to her father, Hades di Angelo.

It has been a year since her father died and she found herself in front of the grave they found Hades di Angelo on. It was the same graveyard he was buried in. She had already visited her father's grave but for some reason, she was drawn to tombstones of the Shooting victims.

Bianca only knew Zoe Nightshade out of all the victims. She sort of knew the rest but they weren't close. And after that, she attended boarding school in England so she was never really apart of New York like how her brother Nico is.

She always paid her respects to the victims, even the ones she didn't particularly know. It's only polite and for some reason, not a lot of people paid respect to these victims anymore. There used to be a lot of people, even parties held here, but after Hades di Angelo's body was discovered there a year ago, nobody even came remotely close to it. Not even to pay respect to the victims of the Shooting.

Bianca inspected the white tombstones closely. A year ago, her father's blood spilt on the tombstones but now, not a single spot of the red blood was seen. A year ago, her father's dead corpse lay there but now there was not a single sign that something ever happened there.

"Guess I'm not the only one out here." Bianca turned and saw her brother.

She smiled sadly. "Yeah."

"I just came from dad's grave. Did you put the fresh flowers there?"

Bianca nodded. "Thought he would like it."

"I still can't believe he's gone." Nico admitted quietly. "Sometimes, I would wake up and convince myself he's still alive. That I will see him during breakfast. I would tell myself he's away on a long business trip. I miss him."

Bianca wrapped her arms around her little brother protectively. "Me too. I can't imagine how you feel though. You are so much closer to him."

Nico relaxed slightly under Bianca's grip. "No, not really. He often compared me to you. You were the golden child. He wanted me to be more like you."

"He would be proud of you right now." Bianca told him. "Don't worry Nico. He's in a better place now. Heaven."

Nico gave an eerie laugh that sounded almost bitter. "I'm not religious, Bianca. I don't believe in your heaven or your bible. I do hope you're right though. I do hope he is in a better place but right now, to me he's dead."

"Death is nothing to be afraid of. Our father isn't afraid of it. You might be happy for him, for he no longer have to suffer our earthly struggles. To you, he isn't only dead. He lives in your heart, does he not?"

Nico confessed. "I think of him everyday. He is a part of me."

"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living." Bianca quoted Cicero.

For a whole minute, both siblings were silent. Tears flowed past Bianca's cheeks as she thought of her father. All the memories they cherished. The sound of her father's voice.

"You know dad would be happy." Nico said softly, breaking the silence. "He was always fascinated about the dead. He always told me that death is the last frontier. The final mystery. He had consulted so many mediums, ghost hunters, or whatever they're really called to contact the spiritual world. I think all he ever wanted was to know what is life after death. He has a strange obsession with it."

Bianca pursed her lips. "The Bible said-"

Nico almost smiled. "Our dad isn't Christian. Only mom and you are."

"I know that but I thought he might have…I don't know. Religions offer some kind of an answer to what death holds so I thought he might have been interested in it."

"So what brings you here? To the Shooter's victims?" Nico asked, suddenly.

Bianca shrugged. "Something about it drew my attention. Maybe it's because this is where father's body is found. Maybe it's because I want to spend time with Zoe Nightshade, possibly my closest friend when I was here in America. Maybe it's because it's so empty here. Even if it is suppose to be the season where everyone comes and pays their respect, nobody comes anymore. I feel like I should be where those other people should be. I should pay respect to these dead if nobody else would."

"It's not like they don't want to come. They're afraid. Last year, they found a dead body here. What else can they find here? They don't want to know. They know if it's something to do with our dad, it's deep in some kind of mystery they don't want to tangle themselves with. Our dad does have a reputation." Nico said.

1986

Hera McKinney wanted everything to go away. She loved Zeus. She still love him but she knew it was time to break up with him. She tried loving him, she tried finding reasons to stay but she couldn't anymore. Zeus just kept cheating on her and he changed. He wasn't the Zeus Grace Hera fell in love with.

Hera knew she is the type of person who would get jealous easily. It's not her fault. She found no reason not to be jealous. Everybody has to be jealous at some point. It's how Zeus is cheating on her constantly which made her extremely overprotective of him. She knew people talked behind her back. She knew she is the 'crazy girlfriend', 'girlfriend who gets jealous way too easily' or 'the bitch who holds grudges with every girl her boyfriend even glances briefly at' but if you were her, you would be too.

She couldn't cope with Zeus kissing other girls while dating her. It's not jealousy if he really is cheating on her, is it? It's Zeus' fault. Everything is but everybody tends to listen to his side of the story, instead of hers.

And the worse part of everything is, Hera still love Zeus. She wanted him back but at the same time, she didn't. She doesn't want to be hurt again.

She had to get away. She moved to Washington DC for a whole semester shortly after breaking up with Zeus. She always liked the capital city of America. There was so much power in that one city and Hera is addicted to power. She had dreams of becoming great government officials. She wanted the type of power Julius Caesar had over Rome. Everybody loves power and Hera is one of the people who are drawn to it. That's why she loved Washington DC so much. Washington DC had the power New York City didn't have.

But she missed New York. She lived there for most of her life and she had to go back. She loved DC. but it was more of a place for her to visit, not to live. Hera McKinney decided to return to New York but she realized she couldn't go back as Hera anymore.

Hera McKinney bore all the pain she dealt with her whole life and of course, Hera had dealt with Zeus. She had to start fresh.

Changing your appearance is easy as long as you're not hiding from anyone professional. Everybody can dye their hair and she did, from light brown to a fiery shade of red. She never liked her brown hair. It was always so dull and plain. Red is eye-catching and she always liked the color. Hera suppose if she's really going to be a totally different person, she would have to change her eye color, her face shape and basically almost everything. But she realized, she didn't really want to. Hera knew she is pretty. The only thing she didn't quite like about her appearance is her hair color and she got that under control. She could pass off as her own cousin or something. That would work.

She chose the name Kadira. It meant power, something Hera loved more than anything. With such a unique first name, Hera decided to pick a plain, common last name so it wouldn't arouse any suspicion.

Kadira White. Perfect. And she's going back to New York.

2013

Nico pushed open their front door and announced. "Mom? We're home!"

Silence. Nico shrugged and turned to his sister. "She always like to know when we're back."

"Maybe she left the house too." Bianca suggested.

Nico shook his head. "Yeah right. She never leaves the house now. When she went to visit Hades' grave yesterday was the only time she left the house in days."

Bianca bit her lips. "I'm worried about her, you know. I understand it takes time to get over something like dad's death but is it really normal for somebody to behave like her? She's been mourning for an entire year. She never wore anything but black. She drinks all the time and honestly, I think we should try to get help. It's not like I'm saying she shouldn't be grieving over father's death, which she should, but I don't know if this whole mourning lifestyle can be the rest of her life."

Nico sat himself down on the sofa. "I don't know. I never got over dad's death myself and it has been a year."

"I'm going to find her. I need to talk to her." Bianca said firmly and went up the stairs to find her mother's room. The Hades' residence is huge, almost like a mansion. There are four floors in total, including the basement which contains many rooms. Everything looks the same as well. The elegance of the 1940's are seen throughout the whole house and the favored color is black - of death. Even when Hades' was alive, the color scheme was the same. Bianca never liked it as it made the whole place feel gloomy and dark but she guessed it was something her father was going for. An antique gothic 1940's castle, sort of.

"Mom?" She called mildly. God knows what she is up to now? "Mom?" Her voice become more and more insistent. Where is she? She should have at least got a feeble response by now.

Bianca found her mother's door in front of her and knocked on it gently. "Mom?" She called out again. No response. Bianca pushed the door open slightly and put her hand across her mouth. "Oh god, NICO!" She screamed.

Nico shuffled up the staircase quickly. "What's wrong?" He muttered moodily as he found his sister. She looked shock and slightly scared. He ran towards her and eventually saw what she was looking at. "Fucking hell." He swore.

In the room, Maria di Angelo collapse into what seems like vomit. The stench of the vomit spread across the room and it was everywhere. In her hand was a cocktail glass with the liquid inside spilt on the black carpets. On her desk was a mixture of alcohol bottles.

"I'll go check her heartbeat. Call the police." Bianca commanded hastily. "I don't know what she got herself into-"

Nico fixed his dark melancholic eyes at his mother and shook his head. "No." He said, barely audible. "She's gone, Bianca. She's dead."

Bianca looked at her brother incredulously. "You don't know that!"

"Yeah, I do. I'm sorry, Bianca. She's gone."

Tears welled up against Bianca's olive eyes. "No." She found herself repeating. "She can't be."

"I'm so sorry." Nico choked up.

Bianca turned around and faced the wall behind her. She tilted her head until it leaned on the wall and cried silently. "Nico, I'm so sorry too."

2010

Jake Mason fiddled with the camera he gave Lee Fletcher earlier. He still couldn't believe his best friend died the day before. Everything happened so quickly it was almost like watching a movie. Almost like he was just one of the actors starring in the movie.

He could have died just as easily as Lee did. The first bullet the Shooter shot only missed him narrowly but it was enough to sent him fleeing. Lee was right behind him and they both ran out of the hallway. They thought they were safe but with a Shooter inside the school? Nowhere is safe.

He heard a few gunshots. The shots were so loud, they could be heard miles away. At that time, Jake didn't know those gunshots could have meant somebody died. He suppose it was all those movies he watched. He expected the bad guy - the Shooter - to miss and everybody to be fine. He expected the FBI or some kind of hero to show up and capture the Shooter. He expected a happy ending and he was all part of the thrill.

But it wasn't a movie. People died. The Shooter was never caught and when the police arrived, it was too late.

When Jake managed to get himself into another hallway, he realized Lee wasn't behind him anymore. Jake was scared. He retraced his footsteps only to find Lee collapsed on the floor. He was shot, in the head. It was bleeding. Lee was lying in his own puddle of blood. He gripped onto the camera Jake gave him earlier as if it held his life in it.

Jake knelt beside his dead friend. There wasn't any tears. He didn't cry but he felt hollow. Jake has never felt so empty in his life. For a moment, he wondered why he didn't die? He could have died instead of Lee.

He knew. It was the camera. The Shooter must have shot Lee because he held evidence of the Shooter. He was filming the hallways when the Shooter appeared. The Shooter must have known and decided to kill him.

Jake wrestled with Lee's lifeless hands and managed to take the camera out of the grip.

It's been a day and now Jake faced the camera in front of him. He was so angry at the camera for costing Lee's life. In the midst of his anger, he took a hammer from his toolbox and raised it up, ready to crush the camera.

It was all he could do. Destroy the object he created that diminished his friend's life. Jake hated himself for creating the camera and giving it to Lee. Maybe Lee wouldn't have died if he hadn't made the camera at all. Of course, he didn't know giving a present to his friend could end up costing his friend's life. He still hated himself though.

Jake placed the hammer down. He couldn't bring himself to destroy the camera. Instead, he took the film out of the camera. The very evidence and video of the Shooter. With the film out of the camera, Jake raised his hammer again and crushed the camera. It shattered into pieces. Exactly how Jake wanted it.

He exhaled the breath of anger he didn't realize he was holding in. The camera is gone. He gazed at the broken pieces of the camera for a few seconds and placed it in a little box. Inside the box, he also gently put the film inside of it. The film holding the Shooter's figure.

2013

Annabeth Chase stabbed her food viciously. "I can't believe we're giving up. I never give up."

"Annabeth." Hazel said mildly. "We've been trying to solve something America's best police tried to solve for a year. If they can't solve it, we can't. It's only logical to give up."

"Live up to your nickname, Wise Girl." Percy laughed. "If you're wise you would give up."

Annabeth's heart tore apart. Percy's laugh is beautiful. She missed him, so so much. He probably haven't forgave her since what happened on Valentine Day but they're back to friends. Not as close of course but friends.

"I don't know guys. Maybe Annabeth is right." Piper said. "We've spent a year and I'm not exactly prepared to give everything up just yet."

Leo tapped his foot impatiently. "Well I am. I want to move on with my life. Try to live a normal life and leave the whole Shooting incident behind. I'm sure the victims of the Shooting won't be thrilled if we kept on investigating their deaths. They're already dead. It's not like they can be resurrected if we can find the Shooter. This is Senior Year. My final year and I will be having fun."

Jason wrinkled his eyebrows. "Okay. Maybe we should only investigate if we find something and in the meantime, we live our lives normally. As if the Shooting is behind us, as Leo suggested."

"Are you sure?" Annabeth questioned cautiously. "Jason, you're a victim of the Shooting yourself. You got shot by the Shooter and lost memories that never came back."

Reyna muttered sourly under her breath. "I wish they did come back."

Jason nodded firmly. "What's done have been done. I don't want my whole life to be obsessing over the two years I lost. I have a whole life ahead of me."

"Where's Nico?" Percy wondered.

Reyna rolled her eyes. "Give the poor kid a break. His dad died a year ago so he probably needed time and space to himself. I heard his sister came back to the city too."

Piper frowned. "Have none of you heard?"

"Heard what?" Frank demanded.

Piper showed everyone her IPhone screen. It was a text from Cat telling her Nico's mom died.

"Shit." Percy's green eyes lit up with sorrow. "That poor kid! I have to go find him!"

Hazel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't. If he want to find you, he will. Give him space."

"How did Cat know all this before Percy, or any of us?" Annabeth asked. "They're not even close."

"Beats me." Piper shrugged. "I only know things Cat tells me about."

On Maria di Angelo's table, next to the alcohol bottles was a note.

To Bianca and Nico,

I am so sorry and I love you.

- Maria

That's it. 'I am so sorry and I love you'.

Bianca didn't stop Nico from taking the note and hiding it in his pocket. She didn't stop him from walking out of the door either. Nico was sick of everything. He was sick of his parents and how they're gone. He wanted them back more than anything. He wanted his mom back.

Nico knew his mother took his own life. Why? He didn't know but he is determined to find out. He was angry at his mother for killing herself. Nico knew it wasn't an ordinary glass of cocktail she was drinking. It contained strong poison in it. She wanted to die. Maybe knowledge is dangerous. She knew too much, like Hades, and it's killing her. All the knowledge is too dangerous for her to be alive and she knew it.

Nico should have seen this coming. All the drinking and her behavior in the past year. It's leading up to this. It's obvious. Maybe he should have gone to get help earlier like Bianca suggested before they found her dead. Was his mother really that selfish? Killing herself to leave her not even of aged teenagers to take care of themselves? What's going to happen now? The law clearly states they couldn't live alone. They'll need to be adopted or get a legal guardian.

He sighed. Nico knew they had no living relatives. They can't get their grandparents to come over to take care of them because they're dead. They're going to be adopted. They're going to have to split ways as hardly anyone would want to adopt two kids. Most of them only want one. And he might not even get adopted. Normally, kids get adopted when they're still young and cute. Nobody wants to welcome a moody teenager with plenty of mood swings into their lives, especially when they're so close to coming of age. He's going to be stuck in some crappy orphanage until he's 18.

Then, one of those obnoxious police came to Nico. "This is a huge house. You got to have security cameras installed around here." The police reasoned. "Do you know where they are? We could have a look at the security footage to determine-"

"We respect privacy." Nico answered coldly and stalked away. He hated the police. He always have and he was angry at Bianca for inviting them to his house. Bianca said it was only 'logical' to get the police over to investigate and clear out all the issues to do with death. But it isn't. They could manage on their own. They don't need police meddling into everything.

2010

The officer in front of Jake looked at him with sympathy. "This must be hard for you." He couldn't even remember which officer this is. He has seen so many officers in the past few days all asking pretty much the same questions.

Jake nodded. "I still can't believe it. I half-expect to see Lee when I go back to school next week."

"Don't worry about school." The officer told him. "If you don't feel well enough or you can't face going back to school so soon, you can be excused."

"Thank you." Jake gave a small smile. He found it easier to lie about his emotions and fake smiles ever since Lee died. Everybody pitied him and he had to pretend to be grateful as they cared for him. To be honest, Jake really didn't want anyone's pity. He wanted to lock himself in a room all day and be isolated from the human world. He needed space to himself more than anything and that's the one thing nobody is giving him.

The officer took out a pen and some paper. "I'm really sorry to be bothering you, Mr. Mason but you have to understand this is extremely important and crucial. I'm sure you want to see the Shooter in prison as much as anyone else does and I promise you, your testimony would be beneficial. For official purposes, we must also be recording this conversation. I trust that you don't mind?"

Jake shook his head and sighed, tiredly. "Go ahead, officer."

The officer turned on the recording tape and inquired. "Are you Lee Fletcher's best friend?"

"Yes."

"Were you with him on the day of the Shooting?"

"Yes. I gave him a camera before the Shooter came in." Jake answered.

"Did you see the Shooter?"

Jake hesitated and lied. "No. I didn't. Lee did though. He was filming the hallways to check if the camera worked or not when the Shooter came through the same hallway. I didn't see the Shooter but the Shooter did shoot a bullet which narrowly passed me to hit the Principal's portrait. When I saw the bullet coming towards me, I didn't stop to look for the Shooter. I just ran out of the hallway. Lee was with me then."

"Did the camera manage to capture the Shooter?" The officer seemed to be more interested now.

Jake bit his lips. "Yes but I don't know where the camera is." He fibbed. "When I realized Lee wasn't behind me anymore, I re-traced my steps to find him. It didn't take long for me to find Lee but he was already dead. He wasn't holding the camera anymore. I didn't see the camera ever again."

Lies. Jake trained himself to be good at telling those too. Of course he knew where the camera is. Where Lee Fletcher was buried, Jake dugged a small hole next to the grave a few days ago and placed the little box with the smashed pieces of the wretched camera and the film in it. Nobody knew and it will stay there forever. Right next to Lee Fletcher. Jake had a feeling his best friend would like it that way.

"Where do you think the camera is now? I know you don't know where it is but if you can guess where, where do you think it is?"

Jake shrugged. "The Shooter probably has it. Maybe they seen Lee holding the camera so they shot him and took it along with them."

2013

"Di angelo, I'm tired of your bullshit!" The front door flung open to find an angry Catriona Fontaine glaring back at them. "Your dad died and now your mom and you're still doing nothing about it. Nico, you know who the Shooter is and we all know he's behind all this shit so fucking get him in trouble or something."

Nico glared at her chillingly. "You really think I would do nothing if I knew the truth? Why am I still alive?" He spat bitterly. "I don't know anything. My mom knew and she's dead. She never told me who the fucking Shooter is. She told everyone I knew because she thought it would protect me. Give me my father's power. The Shooter knows I don't know anything."

Cat covered her mouth. "Oh my god."

"What's it to you if you know who the Shooter is anyway?" Nico narrowed his eyes accusingly. "You got nothing to do with the Shooter."

Cat shook her head. "No, I don't. But my friends do. Piper McLean, Drew Tanaka-"

"Drew isn't your friend." Nico gave a dry laugh. "You hated each other. You're right though. It is related, isn't it? Kaylee Bradberg. Kaylee is your friend, isn't she?"

Cat's blue eyes grew big. "How did you know? How long?"

"She's an amateur. Anyone who really investigates into it would know she killed Drew. Ms. Indigo knew too. Isn't she coming back to New York?" Nico gave her a sickening smile. "I hope you're screwed. I hope you and Kaylee are both fucked."

Cat scowled. "Kaylee was going to lose her mom. She needed the money and the Shooter could provide the money to keep her mom alive if she killed Drew. Kaylee doesn't know why the Shooter wanted Drew dead but you wouldn't ask as long as you have the money. You lost both parents and I'm sorry but you have to know the pain. Nobody can understand it more than you. But the thing is, she isn't rich and wealthy like you. She would do anything to get the money. You would too Nico, wouldn't you? To keep your mom alive?"

Nico raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, if that's your sob story for the jury to pity on, good luck with that."

"It's true!" Cat cried defensively."

Nico shrugged. "It can be. It can also be false. It doesn't really matter as long as the jury buys it."

"Well, I dealt with everything. You know Brittany Hurst? We're pinning everything on her."

Nico's expression was full of disbelief as he glanced at Cat. "Isn't she your friend?"

"She's a bitch." Cat replied simply as if it explains everything.

2010

"My parents aren't home." Silena said to her boyfriend. Gods, he is gorgeous. She wish she could spend her whole life with him. "You can stay over."

Beckendorf shook his head. "Sorry. I can only go for a date. You know how my parents freak out when I stay out too long."

Silena raised her eyebrows. "They don't like me, do they?"

Beckendorf said quickly. "No! Not that! They like you. It's just they think you're out of my league. They think you'll break my heart."

Silena laughed. "Well you can tell them it's not going to happen like that. I'm not going to break your heart, Charlie. I love you."

"They think we don't know what love is. We're only teenagers." Beckendorf explained.

Silena smiled knowingly. "But I'm a daughter of love. I know love more than anything."

Beckendorf laughed. "Where did this whole daughter of love thing come from anyway?"

Then the school bell rung three times. It's the signal for them to hide. Some kind of danger entered school. Silena rolled her eyes. It's been a while since the last drill and this is probably another school drill. When is there actually danger in school anyway?

"Come on. We have to get to a classroom and hide." Beckendorf urged, gesturing towards the next hallway. The hallways were full of children and teachers trying to get into any classroom they can get themselves into.

Silena sighed. "I suppose. I hate these drills."

"How do you know it's a drill? Maybe it's real." Beckendorf challenged, with a glint in his eyes.

"Yeah right. Would a crazy gunman really enter a school to shoot a bunch of kids because he felt like it? Would the aliens really start an attack on earth beginning at Goode High?" Silena frowned.

"Sil…" Beckendorf started. It was only them in the hallway. They were making their way across the hallway and to the closest classroom but their conversation distracted them. They weren't as quick as the other kids. "Look." He whispered.

Silena turned back and saw a hooded figure dressed in all black. In the person's hand was a gun. "Run!" She screamed as they held each other's hands dragging themselves as quickly as they can to anything that looked remotely safe.

The person didn't waste any time, even before Silena could scream 'run', the person raised the gun and was aiming at them. Beckendorf knew they couldn't outrun the person. He doesn't even know why the person wanted them dead but he knew he had to do something. The person pulled the trigger as the bullet came flying out of the gun.

It's flying towards them. It's getting closer and closer. It's aimed at Silena Beauregard. "Silena! Bullet! Move!" Beckendorf yelled.

Silena moved sideways. Their hands were no longer tangled into one another. "Charlie!" She cried. Tears were pouring out of her beautiful deep blue eyes.

"It's going to be okay." Beckendorf said, comforting his girlfriend. "We're going to make it alright."

The bullet flew past Silena and made a hole in somebody's locker exposing the textbooks inside. The hooded figure isn't satisfied. Beckendorf didn't know why the Shooter was so obsessed with making sure Silena's dead. Another bullet was fired. Beckendorf doesn't care what the Shooter's reasons are. He is going to protect her.

"Move!" He commanded again. "Another bullet's coming!"

A series of bullets came flying to the door leading to their safety. Beckendorf realized they couldn't go for the door to go to other hallways anymore. The Shooter knew they were going that way. They needed to surprise the Shooter.

Dodging a bullet, Beckendorf joined Silena in one side of the corridor and pulled her back. It was a dead-end and the Shooter is quick. In almost no time, the Shooter cornered them.

The Shooter never said anything. All it did was raise the gun and pointed it at Silena.

Silena was pushed to her limits. Tears came flowing out of her but Beckendorf thought she never looked so beautiful. Silena is stunning and Beckendorf loved her more than anything.

"Silena, I love you." Beckendorf said. It was the last thing he ever said. He jumped in front of her protectively and hid her using his body. The bullet hit him instead of her, but he's gone. Charles Beckendorf is nothing.

"Charlie!" Silena choked back in tears. She wept quietly under Charlie's dead body. She loved Charlie but she couldn't believe he would die rather then let her die. She didn't know why this person wanted her dead but she rather die then let Charlie die for her. This shooter doesn't even want Charlie dead.

Silena realized she doesn't want to live in a world without her Charlie. What is life without love? Love is the thing she lived for. Now, life is meaningless. It's nothing. Pushing Beckendorf's heavy body away from her, she stood up and faced the Shooter defiantly. She had the type of courage she never realized she had before.

"Kill me, you big bastard." She said. "I'd rather die than live in a world without Charlie."

The Shooter didn't say anything back. But it did do her a favor. The Shooter shot her.

2013

Nico walked past the bustling streets of New York City. It's almost as if his mom didn't die. Everything was the same. The same shops, the same skyline, the same traffic, it is the same city. Except his mom is gone.

He walked up to Percy's little apartment in the Upper East Side. He felt like seeing Percy Jackson. Percy is the closest thing he had to a friend, after all.

Nico took the spare key he had with him and opened the apartment door. Inside, Percy Jackson was on the blue couch kissing Annabeth Chase.

Wait what? Kissing? Percy and Annabeth?

Nico stood there with his eyes opened as he saw them. They were suppose to be broken up. They were suppose to hate each other. How? When? Nico felt so betrayed at that time. He felt so bitter. His mom just died and now Percy and Annabeth are, he couldn't even bring himself to process it in. When has life became such a bitch?

"Oh shit! Nico!" Percy said, pushing Annabeth off when he saw his friend.

Annabeth's cheeks reddened. "Oh god. Nico, please don't tell anyone."

"I-" Nico was speechless. He couldn't find the right words.

"Nico, I am so sorry about your mom." Percy quickly said, changing the subject. "If you want to come over anytime, feel free to do so. Just uh, call me beforehand. Avoid anything as awkward as this."

Nico shook his head. "Percy, you have no idea. You don't understand anything. Neither do you, Annabeth." And without a word, he slammed the apartment door shut and ran out.

2007

Annabeth Chase gone missing.

11yr old girl ran away from home.

Those were the headlines on that day. Just yesterday, Annabeth's dad reported her missing to the police authorities. Annabeth left a note saying stuff like she couldn't stand being at home anymore and ran away. Nobody knew where she is and Percy Jackson was determined to find her.

"I'm her friend!" Percy said.

Thalia shoved Percy away. "But I'm her best friend."

Percy glowered at her. "I'm her best friend too."

"Fine, we'll go together." Thalia decided.

"I'm Percy's friend." Grover said. "Where ever Percy goes, I go."

"Then I get to pick a friend too." Thalia beckoned Zoe Nightshade to join them. "Zoe, you're coming with us to find Annabeth."

Percy raised his eyebrow. "You guys aren't even friends. She hates you."

"But she hates you too. You're a guy. She likes me better than you." Thalia smirked.

Zoe rolled her eyes haughtily. "I'll come under one condition. If Bianca comes with us too."

"Bianca?" Thalia repeated curiously. "Why?"

Zoe gave them a look as if the answer was obvious. "You all get along with her very well and so do I. If we're going on an adventure together, it will only be sensible to bring a person like a mediator within us and that will be Bianca di Angelo."

Percy nodded. "Fair enough. We're leaving at 7 tonight. Meet me at Central Park. Don't tell anybody."

2013

"Reyna! Mitchell's alive!" Jason grinned at her.

Reyna blinked. "Alive? Jason, obviously he's alive. What do you mean?"

"Well, he woke up."

"Thank god!" Reyna exclaimed, relieved that Mitchell is okay.

"Do you want to pay him a visit now?"

For some reason, the question made Reyna freeze. Did she want to visit him? She knew she was suppose to say 'yes'. Jason would have expected it. She never explained what she was doing at Mitchell's house the night he got shot but they all knew she was there when it happened. But, Mitchell. What are you suppose to say to somebody you haven't seen for the whole summer and you're not exactly sure if you're just friends or more than friends anymore. They did held hands before summer. Reyna couldn't deny the fact she liked it but did she really like him? Reyna never actually considered dating Mitchell. He was nice and all but as a boyfriend? Mitchell would never be her first choice. She did like holding hands with him though. "I..I don't know." She replied weakly.

"Are you okay? Were you guys fighting before he got um..shot?" Jason bit his lips.

Nobody had asked her about that night until now. Reyna was rather taken back but she knew this had to come sometime. "Not really. No, we weren't. It's just-" Quickly, she stopped herself from continuing her sentence.

"It's just, what? Come on Rey, you can tell me anything." Jason prompted gently.

Can she really? Reyna knew how awkward it would be to talk about Mitchell to someone she may or may not have some kind of a relationship with previously. Before Piper McLean came, Reyna and Jason were something like her current relationship with Mitchell but a bit worse than that. They held hands before, a few awkward kisses, but nothing serious. Every time they did something like that, they would go on as nothing happened. Unlike Reyna's mixed feelings towards Mitchell, Reyna knew she liked Jason. In fact, she still wasn't sure if her crush on Jason is 100% gone today. Everything was so perfect, he is so perfect, until Piper came along.

"It's nothing." Reyna replied quickly. "Really."

"Reyna!"

Reyna shook her head stubbornly. "No, it's awkward."

"When have things ever been awkward between us?" Jason demanded. "We're best friends!"

Reyna narrowed her eyes. "Ever since Piper came, maybe? Oh right, sorry. You don't remember." Reyna wasn't sure if she meant it as an insult or was she simply stating the facts but either way, she instantly regretted saying it.

"What do you mean ever since Piper came?" Jason frowned.

Reyna sighed. "Jason, I don't know if you remember but everything was so easy between us before. I mean, we would really tell each other everything and it was perfect. To be honest, I do miss days like that were we are best friends without complications. When we went to Goode High, everything changed. You met Piper and it's like I don't exist anymore. We were still friends but I feel like we had been drifting apart. You spent more time with Piper and I was losing you. I don't know anymore, Jason. I really don't."

Jason's eyes didn't show any emotion. "Reyna, was I really like that?"

"No, I'm sorry. I don't mean it like that."

"No really." Jason shook his head. "Was I?"

"You won't have known anyway." Reyna explained. "I had a crush on you, okay? I did. Like from kindergarten all the way up to high school. I was hurt. I mean, I thought we were something but when Piper came along, I wasn't anymore. When you were in coma and I heard you got amnesia and I couldn't deny that I wasn't somewhat glad. I was happy that there's a chance you have forgotten about Piper - which you did - and maybe come to me instead like what I thought things would end up in middle school. I guess I was wrong. You're dating Piper now. I'm okay, really. I don't care."

"I'm sorry." Jason murmured softly. "I..I don't think I knew you liked me even in high school."

"You didn't."

"I had a crush on you too." Jason whispered. "From kindergarten to middle school. I'm sorry I don't feel the same way anymore."

Reyna hesitated. "You did? You liked me before?"

"I haven't forgotten that part. I also did thought we'd end up together."

"So why is Piper in the way?" Reyna couldn't help but blurted out.

Jason's blue eyes gazed intently into Reyna's. "Love happened. Reyna, you'll know when somebody you love comes along. I have to admit, I still don't know Piper very well but I know there's something between us. I know I'm just a teenager and stuff but I know there's some special. Reyna, you have to feel it to know it and don't worry, I know you're going to meet someone pretty soon. In fact, you might already met him. I think Leo-"

"I know Leo likes me." Reyna muttered. "Mitchell told me."

"Oh and Mitchell. You guys were pretty close, I guess." Jason shrugged.

Reyna blushed. "I don't think there's anything going on between me and Mitchell and gods, I hope there isn't. And Leo, please don't. He's nice and all but-"

Jason looked at her expectantly. "The friend zone."

"No!" Reyna cried out. "He's really cute but I don't feel like I'm the right person. I'm not really friend zoning him. Jase, we have nothing in common! It's not going to work out!"

"Opposites attract. Reyna, how do you know it won't work out if you never gave it a chance? Besides, some people worked out perfectly fine even if they are nothing alike. If you're too similar to a person, it's not going to work out either." Jason pointed out.

Reyna shook her head. "No. I'm not giving Leo a chance. I don't even think he knows that I know he likes me."

"Do you like him?" Jason asked simply.

"Don't think so."

Jason smiled. "It's not a no, is it?"

Reyna shuffled nervously. "The thing is, I kinda held Mitchell's hand before he got shot." She admitted. "I hope it's nothing though. It felt great when we held hands but I don't know anymore. I never saw him more than a friend. Oh my gods, sorry, this must be so awkward now."

Instead of what Reyna thought Jason might do, he laughed. "Reyna, you do like putting people in the friend zone don't you?"

"Friend zone?" Reyna repeated defensively. "No way! I'm just not entirely over you yet and then there's Mitchell which I seriously hope I won't hurt and there's Leo. It's all too much."

"Come on, I'm not worth it anymore. Let me go, Reyna. Go for either Mitchell or Leo instead. If I were you, I'd go for Leo."

"You're his best friend!" Reyna replied punching her friend in the arm.

2007

It has been days since they left New York City. Now, they found themselves in Tennessee. They still had no idea where Annabeth is but they made a vow not to return back to the City until they find Annabeth. It's hard wandering around the country when you're 11 with 5 other people who aren't exactly much help. They're all just kids and they have nothing with them.

Thank god they have Thalia with them though. Thalia is almost like an ATM machine. Her family is so rich she stole some money from her father and he never noticed. She's the only reason they're alive right now.

They spent another night in the wilderness. With a lighter, they managed to build some sort of a campfire between them. Tonight, they are sleeping under the stars.

"I love my dad." Percy started. "But he's never home. Like I wish he comes back more often."

Grover chewed his soda can. He had nothing to contribute to their discussion of dad's. His father has always been there for him and it doesn't seem exactly sympathetic to bring it up.

Bianca shuddered. "My dad's always home but he's just really creepy. He's strangely obsessed with death and all those kind of things. He's also like some mafia leader or something. I don't know. He never tells me anything. He said I'm too young to know but I know he deals with really dangerous things."

"Yeah. I heard things about your dad." Thalia nodded. "My dad's a giant dick at times but most of the time, he's okay. He really favors my little brother Jason though." She turned to Zoe. "How is your relationship with your dad? I mean you have this whole hating boys thing going on and your dad is male."

Zoe's dark eyes gleamed. "Me and my dad's relationship is over ages ago. You can say he is the first male I despised."

"What happened?" Percy wondered curiously.

Zoe flicked her hair. "He never liked me. He never liked my other sisters too. I dislike them as well but that's another story. I no longer keep ties with them either. Anyway, my father abandoned us when we were young. Shortly after my sixth birthday, he came back into our lives because my mother died but he often physically abused us. I had an aunt Artemis. She takes care of me now. We are really close and we share the same interests. She is like the parent I never had. One night, my father came back into our house extremely intoxicated. He wanted to kill Artemis but I wouldn't let him do that. Artemis is the only person I cared about as she is the only person who showed me kindness at that time. Instead, I injured him severely and sent him to the hospital. Before he came back from the hospital, me and Artemis packed our bags and left for San Francisco for New York City."

"Holy shit." Thalia said in disbelief.

Zoe shrugged. "That's what I learnt about people, especially boys. Even if they're suppose to be the loving dad in your life, they can turn out to be total assholes."

"My dad is an asshole." Thalia said. It was the first time she agreed with something Zoe said.

"Thalia, I am not telling you to hate your father but you don't have to believe everything he says and be the perfect child if that's not who you are." Zoe told her. "Be something different. Be who you are. Don't be something your dad wants you to be."

2013

Silver Bells. Silver Bells. It's Christmas Time in the City. Piper's 1980's Jukebox played out.

Jason got up and turned it off. "Piper! Christmas music, really?"

Piper laughed. "Halloween's over. It's the start of the Christmas season. Have some Christmas spirit."

Jason sighed. "I guess but I tried contacting Nico. He wouldn't answer. I'm worried about him, you know?"

"We all are." Piper pointed out. "Maybe you should really give him some space like how Hazel suggested earlier."

Jason shook his head. "But I don't know. I have a feeling he's pushing us away because of Percy. Did Percy offend him?"

"Not that I know of."

"I"m calling him up again." Jason said as he took his phone out.

"Go ahead but I doubt he'll be very happy having you bothering him 24/7."

Jason knew Piper was right but he felt like reaching out to Nico di Angelo. He wasn't particularly close with him and he always wanted to get to know him a bit more.

To his surprise, Nico picked up the phone.

"Hey Nico. This is Jason." Jason begin but was interrupted by Nico.

"Yeah, I know. I have caller ID."

"So..how are you?" Jason asked awkwardly. Before calling Nico, his main goal was to reach him. Now that he managed that, Jason didn't know what he could say.

Nico heaved a sigh on the other end. "I'm fine. Did Bianca make you call?"

"No." Jason said, shaking his head even though Nico won't be able to see that. "Look, I'm worried about you. I hope you're okay."

"Right." Nico replied bluntly. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine. Nico, it's okay to admit you're not. Any sane person wouldn't be fine. I mean, your mom just died." Jason blurted out. He knew Nico was lying when he said he was fine but he figured out blurting that out wouldn't really help. It'll probably just make Nico mad at him and hang up.

But all Nico did was stay silent. After a few moments, there was an answer. "You're right. I'm not okay."

Jason smiled. "Tell me everything, Nico."

"What's the point in that? You don't understand. Nobody does."

"Maybe I will." Jason replied gently. "How about this, tell me everything and I will swear on anything that I wouldn't tell anybody anything you told me. It's confidential. Act like I'm your councilor or something."

"My mom died, Jason. I have nowhere to go. We have no relatives to take us in. And I can't believe she would leave me and Bianca in this world, especially in a time like this. She killed herself. It wasn't like she was killed by anyone else. I suspect it's the pressure the Shooting and the Shooter is giving her but at least she could have told me who the Shooter is before she died. She knew who the Shooter is."

Jason's sky blue eyes widened. So people did know who the Shooter is. It is possible to find the true identity of the Shooter after all but he decided not to say anything.

"And just now, I went to find Percy. He..he…" Nico choked. Jason realized he couldn't say the words out loud.

Jason quickly added. "Don't say it if you don't want to. Don't say anything unless you're prepared to tell me."

"I will never fit in. I'm too different. If you really know me, like my sister does, you won't accept me. And it's not exactly like I'm the most accepted person around the city." Nico gave a bitter laugh. "I'm just like my father but I don't want to grow up to be like him."

2007

They found Annabeth not long after and bought her back to New York City. Everybody was glad to see them alive. However, life for Thalia wasn't great when she came back. Her dad got really pissed at her for leaving the city to find her best friend.

"Do you know how worried I was? How worried your mother was? You could have died out there!" Zeus roared. "You are never allowed to go out on any of your silly adventures again. I don't care if it's your family member or whatever. You're not going anywhere. In fact, I don't think you'll be leaving this house until you're 16."

"She is my best friend!" Thalia said indignantly. "I have to bring her back."

"She isn't your best friend anymore. I am forbidding any friendship or any communication between you and that Chase girl." Zeus bellowed.

In that moment, Thalia remembered what Zoe told her earlier. To be who she is, not somebody her dad wants her to be. She has to stand up for herself. Obviously, her dad has the right reasons to be angry at her and not let her out. What she did is rather dangerous but Thalia knew this isn't a one-off situation. And she also knew, she couldn't stand being like this anymore. Thalia is herself and she never listens to people. "No." She said simply and yet defiantly. "I'll go out if I want to. I'll be friends with people I want to be friends with."

"No?" Zeus repeated, raising his eyebrows skeptically. "Is that a no?"

"I believe N-O spells a no." Thalia confirmed.

Zeus's expression was livid. "Go to your room." He commanded. "And don't ever come out until you have an apology that I accept."

2013

"Nico?" Night has fallen and guided by the street lights, Bianca di Angelo was determined to find her brother. Now that both of her parents are gone, she has to take care of Nico. "Nico?" She called out again, softly.

"Bianca?" A muffled voice came from a distance. Bianca ran towards the voice source and found Nico, sitting on the curb. He looked dull and gloomy. He was allowed to look like that of course, finding out his mother killed herself earlier in the day.

"Nico!" She cried out relief. "I was starting to get worried about you. Come home."

"I don't know where home is anymore. We can't live there, Bianca. We'll be sent to an orphanage. I don't want to go to some orphanage."

"Oh, Nico." Bianca sat down next to Nico on the curb. "I don't know what's going to happen to us. I don't want to go to some orphanage either. I want to go back to England and pretend nothing happened. I want to go on believing that mother is still alive. Father too. That they'll be here waiting for me when I come back from England. But I can't, can I? Life isn't about what I want."

"Luctor et emerge." Nico responded. "I struggle but I'll survive. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"I hope so." Bianca said with a small smile. "And I'll struggle and survive alongside you. That's what siblings are for."

AN: Happy belated Halloween! This chapter is extra long for Halloween and I hope you guys like the whole thing where there are different settings and times in the story!

Sorry for not updating earlier but I thought I might update a bit later since there are suggestions of things that might spoil the House of Hades so I thought if I updated it later, more people would have read the book and ugh, I don't think I can update soon since I have a school trip to Berlin but I'll try to update it as soon as possible. Thank you for putting up with all these irregular updates! But yeah ahah, if any of you read the House of Hades please message me! I have so many things to say about it that I don't want to spoil to those who haven't read it yet because I hate it when my friends spoil books and movies to me too :)

Hehe, I'm so excited because it's my birthday soon :3

- Kisses, Emily