AN: So, here we are. We've made it this far. There are actually only four chapters left before the sequel. Also, merry Christmas everyone, or you know whatever it happens to be you celebrate.

Also, I think it's pretty obvious before we get to the main pairing, which is Melinda/Apollo, she'll be having a relationship with Hades. Let's just say...it gets complicated.

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and I'll have the next chapter up sometimes tonight, probably (she'll be meeting Ares next chapter). It depends because I want to update Switch today as well - though it might actually end up being early tomorrow.

Enjoy the chapter, everyone!


The Sea's Daughter: The Lightning Thief.

Chapter 15: Mistress of Death.

The moment Melinda caught sight of Hades she was stricken by his black gaze. She'd never seen such an eye color on anyone, not even Snape had such a penetrating stare.

It actually made her chest constrict and her breath come out in smaller, almost panting waves.

She had stared at him in curiosity opposed to fear, yet as she looked at her uncle she could see the loneliness in his eyes and body language.

It wasn't so much that his aura revealed this fact to her, as opposed to the fact she'd seen the same sort of look in her eyes, in her body language when she was little. When she'd been forced to live with her muggle relatives.

It was almost like he had been shunned by his family, and forced here. Into a much larger, nicer version of her cramped lonely cupboard under the stairs.

Melinda had met her fair share of gods and goddesses. Hecate, Poseidon and Triton, but Hades was the first one to actually seem godly. He was also surprisingly handsome.

He was dressed in black silk robes, which seemed to be woven with souls aching to get out, and on his head was a crown of braided gold.

His skin was pale, albino white, pale. His hair was around shoulder-length and jet black, slightly wavy yet it did not look oily from living in such a place as the underworld. It was silky looking. He wasn't an overly bulky or muscular man, but he radiated power.

So much power it nearly made her senses go into overdrive. The way he lounged on his throne, his chin resting upon his fist when they'd entered made him look lithe, graceful, and dangerous. Like a dark jungle cat. The throne made of bones finished this look.

It was...attractive. She fought off a flush at her own thoughts, but she couldn't help it. She hadn't felt this sort of attraction since Fred had been alive.

She couldn't help but be enthralled by his words, he truly did believe everything he said. It wasn't until she swore by the Styx and Nile – the latter something Sesha had taught her – that he focused more on her brother and friends.

She honestly hadn't meant for that to happen and she tried to help, but it only ended up backfiring on her. She knew he'd seen her slipping Abyss and Tachýs to Percy and Grover – Annabeth already had her dagger, and Grover had no weapon.

Just as she knew he'd seen her flinch earlier, when he was still ten feet tall instead of the now human 6'2. That he'd seen her look of fear, shock and confusion, then realization.

If souls from the fields of punishment were woven in that robe, she'd bet her left kidney that Voldemort's soul was as well.

After living with a piece of his soul in her body for sixteen years, being this close to it again was bound to have some sort of effect. Even if she was no longer a Horcrux.

The twinge was no more then a tingle really, not painful at all, but it had surprised her after having felt nothing from it for nearly two months.

Now, standing before him with no one around, after sending her brother and friends off without her. She felt the weight of her decision weigh down on her.

She had been truthful when she'd told him she thought he was a good man deep down, that he was just bitter at the rejection of his family.

She could understand, her only relatives had rejected her, her whole life, and her brother had been upset with her not long ago.

She felt sorry for him, but she tried not to pity him. She hated pity and she couldn't imagine the Lord of the Dead felt any different.

"Do you wish to fight me, niece?" he asked, canting his head to the side with curiosity after a few more seconds of tension.

Melinda took in a deep breath and gripped her bone dagger. What chance did she have against a god, against Hades of all the gods? She was terrified but at the same time she was excited.

She licked her lips, lowering her dagger closer to her side.

"I'm not stupid, I know the rules. You can't initiate a fight unless I challenge you," she said.

Hades' eyes seemed to lighten in admiration or at least some sort of impressed. He nodded.

"Hecate prepared you well, despite breaking rules to aid you as she has," he said. "Zeus would usually have thrown a fit, I'm surprised he hasn't cared to mention it, as it is obvious she has come to you in the past."

Melinda frowned, aware of the laws. Zeus really had no room to talk. If turning his dying daughter into a tree to preserve her life force was not interfering with her life, or aiding her, than she had no idea what was.

She thought the law that limited the interaction between gods and their mortal children was one of the dumbest he'd allowed and attempted to enforce.

"I don't want to fight you, I just want to leave here with Sally," she said. "I've sworn that I do not have your helm and neither does Percy."

Hades laughed darkly.

"That remains to be seen. If he does not, than who?" he asked.

"Ares," Melinda said. "Annabeth said he was the one who gave them the bolt in that pack. He probably has your helm as well, uncle."

Hades frowned, coming closer to her. So close it made her stumble back some in surprise, but not fear. Not exactly at least, she would admit there was some, but mostly there was just an undeniable urge to...

she shook her head and locked her green orbs with his black ones, though she had to crane her neck a little to look up into them.

"I shall strike a bargain with you, niece," he said, ghosting the back of his hand gently across her left cheek.

She gulped, but not in fear, and she was sure her eyes had dilated and were giving away her attraction. Mentally she cursed herself. He must think her a fool, looking at him in such a way.

"And what is that?" she asked. "I do not have to take it, you can not initiate a fight, and I can easily walk out with the right plan. I may not be able to defeat all of your skeletons, but I can get away if they can not see me."

He smirked, amusement flashing in his eyes.

"You are intelligent, and cunning indeed. You must have gotten that from your mother and Hecate. Hecate, I know is a cunning, intelligent woman in her own right," he said.

He stepped back some, looking at her in thought and...was that lust? She wasn't sure, but she bit her bottom lip in contemplation. Maybe she wasn't such a fool after all?

No, she thought to herself.

Fred had wanted her to move on, but she didn't exactly think he meant to a god who she couldn't exactly have a future with. But than again, he'd never said she had to move on into a committed relationship that led to white picket fences and 2.4 kids.

She might not even live past her eighteenth birthday, so why bother shooting for such a thing? At this point in time she didn't think she even wanted a committed relationship. She just wanted some sort of comfort, of love. Even if it didn't last.

"You're not what I thought. You're...not as cruel as everyone makes you out to be," she said.

He frowned and then smirked at her.

"Ah, yes. Well, I'm not exactly the social type, my dear," he said. "Now on to my bargain. I will allow you to leave, I'll even help you get to your brother faster. But you must return with my helm, I want you to bring it to me...personally, Melinda."

The way he said her name made her body shiver, but it was a shiver of delight, to her embarrassment.

"And Sally?"

He frowned, looking at where he was keeping the woman imprisoned. He snapped his fingers and it was gone, just gone. For a moment she began to worry.

"She is safely outside her apartment. You and your brother will find her there, I assure you this by my honor as the king of the underworld," he said.

Then, suddenly like a shadow he was in front of her.

Melinda gasped as he placed a hand at the nap of her neck. Pulling her forward, so her body was flush against his.

"Be aware, Melinda Potter, if you betray me your suffering will be legendary. Even to the dead, and Sally Jackson will pay in her afterlife for it as well," he said, and she exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"I swear," she said, moving one hand to placate an agitated Sesha.

Hades paid the large snake no mind, just as he'd paid Sesha no mind before. It wasn't like the serpent could harm him, she supposed.

"Good," he said, releasing her. "If you're afraid of the dark, I'd suggest closing your eyes."

Melinda nodded and tucked her dagger back into her boot.

"I'll return with your helm, and I'll visit. It must be lonely for you without Persephone here with you."

She'd said this just as he flicked his wrist and she only saw his eyes widen at her words as shadows engulfed her and she was almost instantly gone.