Hello again guys! Sorry for the long wait, but I had no idea how to proceed with this chapter. So I apologize in advance for the choppy work, but once this is done I have the plot done for the next few chapters! Anyway I've bored you enough with this so let's get on with the show.

Chapter Twenty: Butterflies and New Days Ahead

Breakfast the next morning was tense to say the least. Nico had deemed it safe enough for us to stay, but I wasn't sure if my talk with Hades last night had any impact with the Lord. Sitting at this ridiculously large table with only the four of us as occupants in total silence gave me some hope that it had. Hades hadn't said two words to me yet and even managed to throw his dirty looks at me only when he knew his son wasn't looking. The whole scene might have been less awkward if there wasn't a plate of food in front of me. Yes, to a normal person this would have been a polite gesture, a welcome one even. But this was the Underworld, and both the king and queen of this place were testing me. Well, not testing per say, but reminding me every second of what I was getting myself into. You see, if you eat food that is from the Underworld you are tied to the place. The plate of fruit and wheat cereal was a message and it made me feel uncomfortable. I loved Nico, but I was in no way taking this step yet or if I would at all. And everyone at the table knew it.

Nico for his part wasn't eating either. Whether it was because he didn't want me to be the only one not eating or if he just didn't eat here I wasn't sure, but I welcomed it all the same. This was just one of the reasons I knew Nico was right for me. He just seemed to pick up on things without me saying a word at all. If only the guy had some tact.

"Well we better get going. I have a feeling Mr. D is going to notice you gone eventually." he said to me as he stood from the table. I was quickly behind him. I didn't want to be here another minute.

Persephone looked up at us with seemingly innocent eyes. "Already? You both didn't even touch your breakfast." That bitch.

"Thank you, but I tend to skip breakfast most days." I said just as innocent. Two can play this game. And that was really all I was to her, a form of amusement.

Nico put his arm around my waist lightly as he turned his attention to Hades. "I'll see you in a couple days father."

Hades merely nodded his head slightly, but he wasn't looking at his son. Those dark eyes were fixed on me. My instincts wanted me to look away, but my pride was stronger and had me looking straight back. Somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered if my power could drive the Lord of the Underworld mad. Out of sheer force of will I broke from those thoughts and cleared my suddenly dry throat.

"It was...interesting to meet you Lord Hades." I said shortly. The less I said to him the better, no reason to give him any ammo to snap at me with. I turned slightly to Persephone. "Nice to see you again my lady."

"Oh I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again Sarah. Nico you must bring her back again soon." she replied and I could just see her mind racing at thought of me returning. Yep, it's official, I'm her new toy. Hopefully she's not the types to play with Barbie dolls then pop their heads of when they tire of them.

Suddenly the arm at my waist tightened and I was being pulled into Nico's chest as the shadows cloaked us. The familiar pull at my stomach told me that we were shadow traveling, the intense cold also helped. When I could see again I was met by the sight of the inside of my cabin.

"Why did you do that? I thought we would walk out, not that I'm complaining. It made leaving easier." I asked as I stepped away. Looking around I noticed the place was empty except for Nico and myself. Pollux must be at archery by now. And he would be wondering where I was. Maybe.

He shrugged as he took a seat on my bed. "Didn't want to take any chances. The longer we were there the higher the chance of you and my dad getting into a death match. And, I love you and your ass kicking skills when I say this, you can't take him Sarah."

"Agreed." I mumbled, hating that he was right. Not only was Hades a god, but he was the god over the realm of the dead. How is a girl to compete with that? Quickly rummaging through my dresser I grabbed a pair of shorts and a green tank top and vanished into the bathroom. Making fast work of brushing my teeth and redoing my hair, I changed my outfit before looking into the mirror. I looked tired, not raccoon eyes tired yet, but dark circles were starting to form under my eyes. I guess staying up late and roaming around a palace in the middle of the night didn't help sleeping matters at all. Or maybe this was how you started looking after spending time in the Underworld. Shaking my head I pulled my old clothes off the floor and left the bathroom. After throwing my clothes into the hamper I turned back to Nico who was staring at me.

"What?"

"Nothing. It just never ceases to amaze me how easily beautiful you are." he gives me a smile and a wink.

"I think you have me mixed up with Sophia."

"And it also shocks me how you don't even realize how beautiful you are."

"A butterfly can't see it's own wings." I said under my breath. It was a habit really, one I gained in childhood. Being a kid with weird eyes, even if most didn't realize that was the reason they picked on me, at school made me a target. Mom would always tell me after that I was very pretty, only I couldn't see it because I was like a butterfly. When I asked what that had to do with it she smiled and told me that a butterfly's wings are very beautiful, but the butterfly itself can't see them because their wings are always behind them. So they have to rely on others to tell them about their wings. Only thing was that I was the one butterfly that still couldn't take what people said at face value.

"Say what?" his eyebrows pulling together in confusion.

"Nothing, just talking to myself." I grabbed my sword holder and strapped it around my waist before slipping the sword in. "Ready to go?"

"Not at all. Let's see what chaos happens when we're not around." he deadpanned as we walked to the door.

"Seriously? We've been gone one day, what could have possibly happened?"

Nico's hand had grabbed the doorknob when he stilled. Turning his head to me I saw nothing joking or hinting at teasing on his face.

"You'd be surprised what could happen in an hour, let alone a day."

His voice, the somewhat deep voice that I had come to enjoy, was low and sad. Filled with a echo of depression and anger. I gently reached my hand out and placed in on his shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I had a feeling that he did, but at the same time he wanted to keep me in the dark. Like he didn't want his past to taint or endanger our future. I knew so little of Nico's past and before it hadn't bothered me. Or maybe that was the tunnel vision again. I looked into his dark eyes, usually filled with a glint of light, that now only held a searing coldness. "We can stay in here if you want to."

Nico only looked back at me with a blank expression, but I could tell he was weighing his options.

"Nah, not right now."

As if a spell had been lifted, time moved forward again. He turned the knob and opened the door. The midday sun was bright and filled the cabin with a warming glow. It seemed to thaw him somehow. I opened my mouth to ask if he was sure, but he stopped me.

"Maybe another time, I just-I can't, not now."

I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Alright. Another time, but Nico, if you never want to I understand. There's things you don't know about me. Because I don't want to talk about them either. I get it."

And I did. Somethings in life needed to go unsaid, unexplained, even from those you care about. Unless it was a life and death situation I wouldn't push Nico to talk. I know I would hate it. We stood there right outside the door for who knows how long, just looking into each others eyes like the rest of the world had faded away. It was only when we heard shouting coming from the distance did the moment break.

"Come on Violet Eyes, lets go see what the fuss is about."

"Right behind you Goth Boy."

We took off at a jog, Nico leading in front and me following after him, just like I always did. And just like I always will.