"Lift your shield Nico!" I yelled to the son of Hades. Perseus and Theseus sat under a tree watching. It was the last day Zeus had given us to train the young son of Hades. He learnt quickly under the tutelage of the dead heroes. Nico raised his arm which was shaking slightly with the weight of the Stygian Iron shield. My sword, destruction struck against his shield. Enhance my Katana was in the ground buried up to its hilt. Nico cut at my legs and I jumped over the Stygian blade, stumbling when he shield-bashed me. I parried away his next strike and lunged under his shield, turning the blade slightly at the last moment so the flat edge clanged against his armour. He cursed and lowered his shield and sword.
"How do you do that?" He whined.
"Practice," I said twirling my sword round my wrist, "lots and lots of practice."
"Nico, you're doing much better." Perseus said as he approached. Nico turned to him and bowed out of respect for the fallen hero.
"Well done little cousin, you've improved massively. Do me a favour and beat some Athena kids at Camp Half-Blood." Theseus laughed.
"Don't listen to him, Nico. The Athena cabin would be a good team to have in capture the flag and you want to be friends with them. Please don't make my job any more difficult than it will be." I scowled at the son of Poseidon. "One more spar then you can go." Nico nodded and settled into a fighting stance.
I swung forward and released a left hook which he blocked with his shield. Destruction followed and was parried away. Nico cut at my chest and I leapt back. He advanced shield held out in front of him. I looked at his form as he tried to get inside my guard. His legs were set squarely to give him maximum balance. Shield a bit low and his sword held out in front of him. All in all, the training we had given him had done well. I flicked my hand up, Katastrofí slamming into his shield. Nico held his ground as the force was absorbed. I saw his eyes narrow behind his helm as he lunged forward; I twisted out of the way and as Nico's sword extended forward, slammed the weight of my sword into it extending down to the hilt and rotating the blade. Nico cursed as he dropped the Stygian Iron weapon.
"Well done, you are getting better." I complimented.
"I didn't last long against you though." Nico disagreed.
"Considering that I have been trained for decades by these two idiots," I gestured to the two heroes, "you are doing very well." Nico smiled.
"Hey!" Perseus yelled.
"You know it's true!" I laughed. "We have to go. Hades wanted to speak to us before we go." Perseus nodded. I started out of the clearing grabbing Enhance on the way and sheathing my weapons across my back, Nico following carefully in my path. He had quickly learnt how dangerous the forest was when a hellhound tried to attack him on his first day. I entered Elysium, many of the souls warily watching me. The older ones whenever they saw me still ran in the opposite direction. I smiled when I saw my only friend in the underworld - if you don't count Perseus and Theseus - Fo̱s. For whatever reason, he was the only dead person who dared talk to me. He acted like we were old friends.
"Seth! I haven't seen you for days. What have you been doing?" Fos yelled running up to me. His eyes were a harsh light, like miniature suns.
"Training Nico with Theseus and Perseus." I patted Nico's shoulder.
"So he is Nico." Fos scowled and inspected Nico, "He doesn't look like much." Nico looked down and shuffled his feet ashamed. "Why do you bother to train him?"
"Enough, Fos. He is the son of Hades. He has only trained for a few days and is doing exceptionally well." I growled, eyes narrowing. Fos looked me in the eyes, searching for something in my expression. A flicker of a smile lifted his lips. I saw recognition and approval in his eyes. I once again thought that he knew me in my old life. Fos nodded and bowed to Nico, though distaste was prominent on his expression. I sighed and grabbed Nico's shoulder, willing the shadows to bring us to Hades' throne room. The first time Nico had tried to shadows travel I gave him the strength to do it and made him control where we were going. I sensed we were appearing in the wrong place and quickly took control, managing to get Nico away before he landed. I ended up in Tartarus, Nico safely in Hades' throne room. I shuddered slightly.
Hades stood up from his throne as we exited the shadows.
"I trust you are ready to leave?" He asked.
"Yes dad." Nico replied. Hades smiled slightly.
"Seth. Your protection duty includes knocking anyone who even tries to harm Nico unconscious." He said seriously.
"What about training?" I grinned. "He needs to make a name for himself; he can't do that if he is constantly looking at me to solve his problems."
"I will be fine." Nico interrupted. Hades sighed.
"Just don't get hurt. And Seth, if you find out where Bianca is…"
"Yes. I will personally send the people responsible down here for an eternity with you." I scowled. Bianca was my little sister. Nobody was going to take her and get away with it! Hades nodded.
"Nico, have you got everything?"
"Yes! Can we go now?" Nico asked excitedly. Hades nodded reluctantly and pulled his son into a hug. I was surprised. I didn't expect Hades to open up this quickly again.
"Good bye My Lord." I bowed. Hades glared at me over Nico's shoulder. The Prince of The Underworld squirmed out of Hades' grasp awkwardly before running over to me. I gently took his arm and willed the shadows to take us to the entrance of Camp Half-Blood.
"Nico, you are not to tell anyone who your father is. Understand?" I said flipping my hood up.
"Why?" He pouted.
"Hades isn't the most respected god. Not many people like him."
"Alright." He sighed. I nodded and walked across the boundary to Camp, slowing down slightly as I passed the invisible line. A dragon was coiled around a pine tree, a glitter of gold hung from a branch. It seemed the Golden Fleece hadn't been taken yet. Campers pointed towards us and started running across the valley. I saw Chiron as he galloped past the campers, skidding to a stop in front of us.
"Who are you?" He looked at us cautiously. I stayed silent and played the part of the bodyguard. Nico stepped forward.
"I am Nico Di Angelo."
"Seth Foniás."
"I am Chiron." Chiron replied. "You seem awfully calm." His eyes narrowed. Nico opened his mouth to reply but I shook my head and stepped forward, the centaur's attention swapped to me.
"We have known about the gods for a while Chiron." I sighed. There was a yell from behind Chiron.
"You! What are you doing here?" Thalia yelled.
"The air head decided we had to come here." I shrugged. Lightening flickered across the sky and thunder rumbled. Campers glanced up at the sky nervously. Chiron cleared his throat.
"Undetermined?"
"Yes. Chiron, whilst Nico settles in could I talk to you in the Big House?" I asked, though my tone suggested it wasn't a question. Chiron nodded.
"Of course, Travis, Connor could you help Nico settle in?"
Two boys shouldered their way to the front of the crowd of campers, both of them had brown curly hair and blue eyes they looked so similar I couldn't tell them apart. I remembered a certain camper that had recently come to see me in the Underworld. In one of my few rests, a son of Hermes had appeared with a deal. His name was Luke Castellan. One of the demigods I had, without anyone knowing, helped on his journey to camp. I was still thinking about the deal, gradually leaning towards one side.
"-you'll find you were meant to be here. It will be like a second home." One of the sons of Hermes finished. With a jolt I realised I had ignored what they were saying. Nico looked at me and I nodded, gesturing to follow them towards the cabins.
"Get back to what you were doing." Chiron ordered the demigods.
"Perseus, Thalia, Annabeth. I think you'll need to come too." I started towards the big house, Chiron and the three demigods following me.
Gaius Germanicus - thanks. I love making fun of Zeus... his personality is way to easy to make fun of!
I have a poll for ideas of a name on my profile... if you could take the time to choose a name it would make this story easier to do...