Chapter 18: Awkward Meetings and Not so Casual Insults

Shadow traveling was getting easier to handle, but it could stand for improvement. The cold still shocked my nerves and the sudden black out doesn't help keep me from panicking. At least the motion sickness had gone, not to mention having Nico's arms around me made everything easier to take. After opening my eyes I found my cabin gone and instead looked around the entrance to the Underworld. You would think that after being here once that the place would lose its scare. I would call you a dirty liar. The dark cave with skulls littered around us were not now and would never be charming or welcoming.

"So why are we all the way back here when you could probably take us directly to the palace?"

His arms let go of my waist and I instantly missed the warmth. My discomfort dissipated as his hand closed around mine leading me forward.

"I did say that you are in very high demand Sarah. It's not only my father and Persephone that want to see you." he said smiling.

I didn't have to wait to understand what he was implying as we came to stand in front of an old boat. This was no ordinary boat mind you, but the infamous boat of myth that souls would travel on to reach Hades's kingdom. And at the helm of the boat stood no other than the equally infamous Charon. True, he was an unfeeling bastard most of the time; uncaring about the stories of those he ferried across the river Styx and any demigods who were brave (dumb) enough to come down here. You had to be emotionless if not cruel to do this job for so long. However, the last time I had visited this place, Charon and I had struck some sort of tolerable acquaintanceship. More so if the look on his face was anything to go by.

"And the young prince brat returns. At least you brought her, now you can stop moping about. It's getting pathetic." he smirked, but I could see a gleam of playfulness in his old eyes. Nico must have too because he mocked glared in return.

"I do not mope old man."

I hid a giggle behind my hand as we stepped onto the boat. I wonder if anyone has ever fallen in? Looking down into the dark, dirty water, I could only imagine what lay beneath. A chill shuddered through me.

The boat ride was quick and painless. Charon just steered and occasionally sent an amused smirk towards Nico, whom, had yet to release my hand since we entered the Underworld. Nico, for the most part, ignored the ferry man and kept glancing at me. He knew I was worried. And how could I not be? Meeting Persephone was one thing, but Hades was in a class all his own. My childhood times flipping through mythology books had given me some basic information on the gods, but none more than the big three. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were brothers that drew straws to determined who got what realm to rule over. Zeus got the longest straw and was named king of the Gods, mostly for his defeat of his father. He was given the sky to rule over. Poseidon drew the slightly shorter straw and claimed the oceans as his domain. Leaving Hades the shortest straw and the Underworld as his. To anyone else this would have been unfair, seeing as Hades was technically the elder of the three. And who would want the realm of the dead anyway? I would. Because logically he had the most powerful domain, but no one ever looks at it that way. Hades had power at his disposal and I had no doubts he would bring it down upon me if he felt like it.

"You need to stop over thinking this." Nico interrupted my thoughts.

"You need to stop under thinking this."

"It's not like I don't have to deal with your dad almost every day, you're getting off easy."

"That's different and you know it. You also know that he wouldn't have sent for me if he didn't have a bigger motive. It's how he operates."

"Percy told you about his meetings with my father didn't he?"

"Yes he did."

No more was said as the boat pulled to the other side of the river and we got out. I threw a smile at Charon and the old stiff nodded his head slightly.

"Until next time brats." he bade farewell and pushed the boat back from the shore, probably to go collect his next passengers.

Nico pulled me close again and I knew we were about to shadow travel again. The cold and darkness took over and the sensation of falling enveloped me. When I felt ground beneath my feet again I pulled away from Nico's chest to observe my new surroundings. I could tell it was the palace, just from the décor alone. Expensive yet deadly looking, regal and terrifying; a true home for Hades. Two thrones stole attention at the back of the room. They were the same as they were before when Persephone had walked me around last time, but one thing was different. It was then I realized that the thrones themselves were occupied.

Persephone was more or less the same as the last time I was here. Her dark brown hair fell in waves around her face and shoulders. Eyes that were fair, young but so ancient, looked straight into mine. Her lips formed a small smile as she rose from her throne that had crystal flowers imbedded into it. Her dark green dress flowed around her as she strode forward, ignoring Nico, and wrapped her arms loosely around me shoulders. What the hell? I didn't think we were friendly or even friend like, but here I was getting hugged by the goddess, Queen of the Underworld. She pressed her face closer into my shoulder, her mouth right next to my ear.

"Watch your words young one, use tact." she whispered so only I could hear. Pulling away she released me, but made no move to return to her throne. "It is very good to see you again Sarah, are you well?" she asks all casual like, as if we all couldn't feel the tenseness coming from the other throne. I have a feeling she was ignoring both men just for kicks. I almost felt confident I could do this. Until he stood up as well.

When Percy first described to me what Hades was like I didn't believe him. He told me when they first met that Hades had the appearance of a Gene Simmons rock star that wore leather. That his skin, for a ruler of the dead, wasn't that pale and his head held longer wavy locks. He also told me that it was all a disguise which hid a demon like appearance underneath. Percy told me that the power that radiated off of Hades was intense and dark and scary. And boy, was he not kidding!

"Nico, have you lost all your manners? Introduce me to your" he looked me over with eyes that were identical to Nico's, but at the same time opposite. " Friend." he finished after a moment. Like he had to settle for a non offensive term.

I could feel Nico hand press a little harder into the small of my back. I knew he had been nervous, maybe even more so than me, but had refused to show it.

"Father this is Sarah, Sarah Kenneth. Sarah my father Hades."

I bowed my head, because there was no way I could kneel with the little feeling I had left in my legs. "Lord Hades. A pleasure." I turned slightly towards Persephone and bowed my head again. "Lady Persephone, nice to see you again under different circumstances."

She smirked at that. "Yes, it's nice to not have my hounds fall to your blade. It took the guards ages to sweep up all the dust from last time."

And with that little joke the tension, or some of it, drained from the room.

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The lounge was as cozy, yet dark as I remembered. It wasn't so long ago that Sophia, Gwen, and I were spread out on the furniture with Nico, going over the details and clues to our quest. I remember panicking and worrying over how we were going to survive the quest, let alone finish it. How much doubt I had. It's weird looking back now that it's done and thinking how much worse it could have been. This time though my friends weren't here. Nico was, with his father and step mother, who just so happened to be a king and queen. Much worse.

"My son speaks of you constantly, mostly while he is supposed to be attending to his duties, and yet, I know so very little about you Sarah." Hades tone was light, but I didn't miss the remark hidden in his words. From is body stiffening, Nico didn't either. He sat next to me on the love seat while Hades stood at the fireplace. Persephone reclined in a chair nearby looking amused by all of this. That bitch.

"There's not much to me my Lord. I'm good with a sword and talk about your son just as much as he does about me." I replied neutrally.

Hades smirked at that. "Now we both know that's not true. My son has never took to someone so much before, there must be something interesting about you, even if I can't see it."

"Father-" Nico started, but I cut him off.
"He talks of you too my Lord." I smiled sweetly. "He tells me that you're not nearly as big of a headache as my father is, I'm sure that's true even if I can't see it."

His smirk froze, but something in his eyes changed. Darkened.

"Ah yes, how is my nephew? Has he killed any of the brats at that camp yet?"

"Nope, but some of us have a bet going to see how long it takes before Percy becomes a dolphin. Nico is the next one on that bet list."

"Fascinating." his tone implying anything but. " I heard from my son that you had some issues coming into your gifts, is that right? A tantrum that made a girl go mad?"

A tantrum?! Five year olds have tantrums. I no longer had any delusions that Hades was merely trying to provoke me. But to what end, what was the freaking point?

"I wouldn't call it a tantrum. She merely refused to leave me alone when I warned her otherwise. Frankly, she should have just fucked off." Oh yes Sarah, start cursing, that's an excellent impression.

"Maybe you should learn to better control yourself. It could be dangerous to others if you just continue run wild with your powers." he stated, looking down at me. The politeness between us was fading faster with each word. I was starting to care less too.

"I've never 'ran wild' with them sir, in fact, I've saved lives with them. But as you are ruler of the dead, you wouldn't care too much about those details right?" my tone turning to ice.

Nico squeezed my hand. "Sarah maybe you shouldn't-"

"Maybe he shouldn't." I cut him off again, but my glare leaves no room for arguments and his mouth snaps close. My eyes go back to Hades who is starting to look as I feel, angry and insulted. "I'm wondering, did Nico tell you that my powers defeated a very powerful and deadly being? Did he say anything about the fact that I'm getting more control, more powerful with each passing day? Or did he casually mention that I insult a god almost three times a day and not give a damn?" I hiss.

Now Persephone was sitting up and looking alert, her eyes shifting back and forth between her husband and myself. But she made no move to intervene. Neither did Nico.

"Now that you brought up the Keres, I'm wondering how much you actually did against them with your 'powers' and not that stone which you stole from me." his voice rose and I was on my feet in a second.

"Really? Now that I brought it up? You brought it up, from asking pointless questions you steered this conversation to the Keres and my stone!"

His eyes got really dark as his face contorted with anger.

"Your stone?! That stone was in my vault girl, you are nothing but a thief who thought she had gotten away with her crime. Do you know what the penalty is for stealing from a god?"

"You know what, I don't know." Sarcasm back in action. I put a finger to my chin in mock thought. "Let me ask Thanatos because it was his stone to begin with. And sense it was his and he told me to keep it, that makes it mine. Or if you don't like that" I threw a smirk of my own at him, causing his face to turn redder. "How about finders keepers?"

Suddenly I was being pulled from the room by Nico, He yanked me into the hallway and slammed the wide doors shut, but not before I saw a mass swirl of fire and something that looked to be the stuff of nightmares. I turned to look at him, but the glare on his face told me to shut up and just follow him. For once in the entire night I listened and let him pull me down the hall, away from the furious yells of Hades, the ruler of of the Underworld. And a god I probably shouldn't have pissed off, yet I had. Well, there was no turning back now was there?

Hello readers! I am so sorry for how long this update took. Things just got a little busy with moving into my new place, then school, then the holidays...but never fear! I'm back and ready to pump out as many chapters as I can before my fingers fall off! This chapter did not come easy to me and I still feel a little iffy posting it. But tell me what you think in a review and let me know. Thank you for being so patient with me guys, I appreciate it.