The VIP lounge was enormous. On the ceiling, you can see a crystal chandelier illuminating the room with streaks of yellow light. The gold framework of the chandelier is elegant and teardrops of diamonds hanging on the chandelier are like sparkling stars because of the reflection of the light. Tall windows are covered with the passionate colour of red curtains. Across the room is a 12 inch plasma television with the latest video player installed next to it. You can find a huge comfortable sofa of Victorian style at the back of the room, with the Goddess of Love lounging on the luxurious sofa with two henchmen wearing rather colourful tuxedos. Aphrodite took a sip of her martini, her thin, delicate fingers wrapping around the narrow stem of the glass. Her ever changing kaleidoscope eyes were staring intently on whatever is projected on the screen. The scent of perfume became stronger than usual and Percy, the henchman in a neon green suit, sneezed rather loudly.
Aphrodite gave him a warning glare
"Do you want me to call Annabeth and tell her that you are involved in this speed dating?"
"I most certainly don't want that, Mademoiselle. I'm really- I mean- I truly am apologetic for the distraction I have just caused" Percy said hastily. By the gods, why do they even have to speak like English noble men while doing this ridiculous job? Instead of simply saying, "I'm really sorry" it just have to be more classy, they just have to be more like a sir.
"No, no... Our angel won't be able to find a girlfriend if he continues that. Honestly, that girl is quite strange, isn't she? Who would've guessed that she would accuse Nico being gay only to steal a kiss from this guy?" she said as she put down her glass of Martini on the tray being held by Jason.
"Well, she probably can't get another man to kiss her, no?" Jason replied nervously as he tries to balance the tray settled on his hand. A smile tugged on Aphrodite's lips.
"That's why I used magic over Leo" she said passively and Jason raised his brow
"What did you do to him now?" Jason demanded, though his voice was calm in any way.
"Aren't you supposed to call me Mademoiselle?"
"Apologies, Mademoiselle" Jason apologized giving a slight bow. In his mind, how on earth did he get to be here in the first place? Once he returned to his normal composure, he sneaked a sideways glance at Percy who stifled a laugh at him. Jason's eyes narrowed at the moment he thought Percy was teasing him.
"Well, the power of desire overcame him and he unconsciously kissed the girl. I can really see a budding romance here"
"I mean no disrespect, but Leo doesn't seem to fucking like the girl" Percy stated and then received a much colder glare from the goddess
"Let me rephrase that. I meant no disrespect, Mademoiselle. But it seems like sir Leo does seem to enjoy the lady's company" Percy said with a British accent to emphasize the "sirness" of his words. Aphrodite seems to be pleased.
"The deepest love can sometimes be found in the strongest hate"
"That, has got to be one of the most romantic things I ever heard!" Jason gasped and Percy looked at him as if he was crazy. And Jason quickly averted his gaze at Percy
"I mean, the catchphrase really is moving. Since, uh, it has a deep meaning?" Jason tried but it was too late. Percy was already stifling a very loud laughter and already prepared a perfect blackmail for the son of Zeus.
"Aww, I really appreciate the fact that you actually liked my phrase! This calls for a more loving Piper Mclean after all of this is over!" Aphrodite squealed happily. Jason's face turned beet red. Come to think of it, Piper was actually a bit cold and hot-tempered these past few days. With her behaviour going on like that, Jason always had his share of frequent screams from his girlfriend.
"Yes, and it's also a potential blackmail" Percy whispered to himself, but loud enough for Jason to hear.
"Oh, don't you dare!" Jason warned and Percy gave a twisted grin. Boy, he sure love teasing Jason.
"Well, you have to go and stop me, son Zeus" Percy pushed
"Why you-"
"Boys, behave yourselves! You are distracting me from watching Nico's date with this hipster, Tamara" Aphrodite reprimanded as she stared intently at the flat screen television. Jason and Percy looked at each other with hateful glares before both of their eyes were glued to the screen.
"Haha" the girl in the screen laughed sarcastically, "Try telling me a catchphrase that might actually make this date turn into a blast"
"Umm... If you're a booger, I'd pick you up first?" Nico attempted, with a nervous laugh. Aphrodite face-palmed and Jason hung his mouth open. Percy's laughter boomed in the room, laughing like there is no tomorrow.
"Seriously? Didn't he get the sarcasm in the girl's statement? Gods, I never knew you were that dense, Nico" Jason snapped.
"What the fuck is with his pick up line? I really have to IM this with the Stolls" Percy clutched his stomach; he can no longer resist his urge to laugh his head off. Aphrodite sighed in dismay.
"By the River of Styx, this boy needs help" she thought miserably as Percy and Jason's laughter are ringing in her ears. Making Nico fall for a girl is proving itself to be a bitch, not to mention, to make other girls for him. Some liked him, much to the point a girl tried, but failed, to seduce Nico. And Nico, in return, is scared to death. She watched as Nico left the room, his face filled with embarrassment.
"Really? Booger? Is that the best thing he can come up with?"
"I don't really know! But he just made my day!"
Aphrodite held back an annoyed groan. And here she was with two demigods who don't seem to care at all. So, she stood up, catching the attention of the two demigods who choked in their laughter.
"I'm going back to Olympus. I'll bring Eros with me. We need to talk. I'll be leaving for awhile and you two will take charge, do not make a mess out of this" Aphrodite said in a warning tone. Boy, she never looked a lot scarier before.
"Yes, ma'am!" both of the demigods replied, though deep inside their minds they have no idea on how to deal with this.
And with that, Aphrodite left in a pink puff of smoke, leaving traces of rose smelling perfume. Percy and Jason halted as silence filled the thin air.
"What now?"
"I don't know, I guess we'll just watch over Nico? In case there are monsters in the disguise of a hot girl" Jason suggested
"Nico can handle himself. He's a child of Hades, for Zeus's sake!"
"But Aphrodite restricted him from using weapons or any power right?"
"Shit that means more work for us"
"Damn right"
"Hey, can you pass a Diet Coke for me from the fridge?"
"Fine, Nico can wait"
And then the two demigods lounged at the couch, watching their dear friend go on with his dates. Once Nico went inside his next date, this caught the attention of the two.
"Why the fuck is there an old hag in this dating system?" Jason raised his brow as he took a bite from his chocolate bar. Percy was staring intently at the old hag which Nico is talking to with such comfort.
"Wait, something's wrong" Percy said, dropping his empty can of Diet Coke. Jason looked at Percy confusingly as he pushed the last piece of chocolate in his mouth.
"What?" Jason asked not wiping the morsel of chocolate on his cheek.
"Fuck" Percy quickly jumped over the couch, but fell on his face. Despite the excruciating pain in his nose, he stood up and continued to run. Jason did the same and followed Percy through the corridors.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Jason screamed at Percy when he finally reached him.
"Nico's in danger! We must save him!"
"So, that old lady is..."
"Exactly! That's why we must go there, fast"
xXxXxXxXx
"Isn't this supposed to be a dating system for teenagers? Not Grandmas?" Nico asked straightforwardly at the old woman sitting in front of him. He know all too well that his statement was rude and all. But what the hell? He's like degraded by almost all of the women he dated with in this speed dating. Wasn't fair if he does the same
"Well, they permitted me to join" her husky voice was barely heard by Nico. As much as Nico didn't want to go on with talking to the old lady, he still forced himself to say it.
"I can't do anything about that. So, what do you do?" he asked casually. Say, it was rather odd for him to speak so comfortably with the old lady. But he just prays hard to Aphrodite that the old lady would not be the one who will fall for him. Not a chance.
"I'm a middle school teacher" she said. Though she looked too, well, too villainous for Nico. And in a way, she's quite familiar. He just can't get put his finger on it.
"I see, I'm a normal student who frequently travels abroad" he said and the woman sneered, well it sounded a lot more like a screech of a Fury. But Nico didn't mind. He disregarded the thought that he just thought he heard a monster.
"I sure hope that your father has his approval on those things..." she said in a low voice
"He doesn't really like the idea, but I guess I'm old enough to go on my own..." he continued to tell his tale on how he gets to leave his home with his father's approval.
"Well then, he probably didn't like the idea of his son going on speed dating" she laughed sardonically, her eyes narrowing as she waited for Nico's response. Despite the look the woman is giving him, he just continued his story. Who knew Nico was actually talkative?
"NICO!" Nico jumped on his seat and turned his head around only to see Percy and Jason panting heavily, with their swords placed on their hands. The woman seethed.
"Mrs. Dodds?!" Percy screamed, Nico turned his head to his date, and the woman screamed. Her eyes glowed red, her teeth turned into sharp yellow fangs that can rip your nose of once she bites you, and wings sprouted from her back.
"What the fuck?" Nico said flabbergastedly , "A-alecto?"
"Yes, young master Nico. Your father has brought me here to take you!" she said in her most evil tone yet. Jason felt chills crawl up on his spine and Percy gulped, given the fact that this lady actually scared him to death when he was a kid.
"Oh, that's great! I must say I didn't feel your presence really. You are improving!" Nico cheered
"Why, thank you, Master Nico!" then Alecto grimaced, "I mean- No! But you should feel remorse by now!"
"Well, I don't really like being here. So you can take me." Nico said casually, secretly crossing his fingers in the pockets of his leather jacket.
Percy, who has just snapped out of his deep thoughts, yelled at Alecto
"NO! There is no way we will let you take Nico!"
"Right! Aphrodite will kill us if you do!" Jason added
"Guys, I really appreciate the fact that you want to keep me safe from harm and all, but this is my chance to get out of this place!" Nico said cheerfully and Alecto gave a devilish grin
"Good. I get to take my master and do my job at the same time, the demigod I hate the most will be killed by a love goddess. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't take the young master with me" Alecto remarked and Percy slapped the back of Jason's head.
"Yeah! Alecto's right! I don't see the reason why I shouldn't go back to the Underworld!" Nico protested
"Well Nico, your fate will soon be decided once I get to beat the living crap out of your nanny!" Percy snapped as he charged at Alecto. The Fury skilfully dodged the bronze blade and Percy tumbled over the chair. Jason lunged as well, his sword ready to plunge through the Fury. Jason's sword reached Alecto, leaving a long cut on her wings. The Fury screamed in pain, she was about to claw Jason's face off when Percy stood in her way, his Riptide clashed with her sharp claws.
Nico felt like was useless. He's not used in staying on the sidelines while his friends clash in a battle inside a dating room. He can't do anything, for he remembered the condition Eros has set upon him. And he actually can't do anything.
"GUYS!" Nico screamed. And the three of them stopped, and glanced at Nico.
"Seriously? I'm sick of staying in the sidelines! Now, all of you just fucking keep still!" Nico crossed his arms over his shoulder.
"But, young master-" Alecto began but Nico shushed her.
"Shut the fuck up Alecto, or I myself will shut it for you! Now, why does my father want me back in the Underworld?" he asked
"Well, he said he needs to talk to you"
"And that I need to be kidnapped?"
"It's his way I guess" Percy butted in and Nico glared at him
"Young master, I just did what Lord Hades asked me to do! You can't blame me on-" Percy slashed Alecto's back and she turned to dust, leaving an echo of curses.
"Dude! I was talking to her!" Nico cried, and Percy raised his brow.
"Well, I just can't resist the urge. Hell, she was scaring the crap out of me" he reasoned out and Nico face-palmed
"At least you are safe and sound! No wonder why Aphrodite chose the two of us to maintain the order here!" Jason smiled goofily
"You mean like, destroying the room here?"
"Well, it's for the greater good..."
"Whatever Jason"
Nico sighed and fixed his pink scarf. Well, all his hopes of leaving the place is long gone, now that Alecto is back at the Underworld. How can his day get any better?
Then a dark portal opened behind Nico and the shadows pulled him into the portal. Percy and Jason tried to pull Nico back to them, but the shadows were too strong.
"What the hell?" Nico almost screamed, but stopped when shadows begin to encase him with darkness.
"Hang in there, bro! We'll get you!" Percy called out but it was too late. Nico was already taken by the shadows and the portal closed as if wasn't even there in the first place. Percy and Jason's mouth hung open. By the Gods, who knew what would the consequences of their actions will be?
"What happened?" they heard the voice of Leo at the door. Both of them stared at Leo as if he was poison. And the Latino looked around the room warily.
"What did you guys do?" he asked and Jason wiped his forehead.
"Nico was abducted back into the Underworld. It's a long story, I guess I'll just tell you on detail later..." Jason muttered
"Percy?" Leo stared at the son of Poseidon
"Just like what Jason said, Nico got abducted. And now, well now, I know pretty well that Jason and I are fucked"
xXxXxXxXx
"So, you talked to Lord Hades about this?" Eros asked, while twirling his gold locks passively.
"Yes, my dear. And apparently, we have reached an agreement" Aphrodite smiled sweetly, while dabbing a red lipstick on her lips. Eros stopped playing with his hair and sprayed a peppermint mouth freshener in his mouth. He smiled at himself when his eyes glued at the tall mirror just in front of him.
"Mother, will I go back there and send the message to Nico, hm?" he said, not giving a sideways glance at his mother who seemed busy fixing her mascara, even though there seem to be no problem with it.
"No, my dear. I myself will talk to him" Aphrodite replied
"But, apparently, he was taken back to the Underworld. Isn't that bad?"
"Well, if it's Lord Hades who took him, it won't be a problem at all" she said casually, checking herself out in the mirror. Aphrodite grimaced once she saw a microscopic mistake in her make-up.
"What if he actually talked to him about it already? Would there still be a need for you to talk to the son of Hades?"
"I will still speak with the son of Hades. We've got lots of thing to talk about, by the way" Aphrodite smiled, pleased with her make-up. She stood up and faced Eros.
"How are you going to do that then?" Eros asked as he continued gussying up.
"My dear Nico will perhaps be more than surprised once his next date would be the most beautiful being there ever was." Aphrodite winked as she disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.
