I scoffed at Hyperion. "You're stupid," I said plainly. "Stopped by Satyrs of all people. Idiot." He snarled, grasping my wrist, causing a new burn mark to appear. The warmth of it could hardly be compared to the air of Tartarus. "Really?" I shook off his hand in annoyance. "Do you know how far the River Phlegethon is? I wanted to visit the Void today."

"Oh, yeah. Brag about that, why don't you." He growled, picking himself up, groaning. "I already did." I pointed out. "It's not my fault Lord Chaos favours me. It's your fault, last I recall." I couldn't actually recall much. Most of my childhood was spent in pain and suffering. Misery. Training. Honing to be the greatest warrior. Not that it helped. They thought I would serve them after what they did. All they could get out of me was that I would help overlook the regenerating ones. They couldn't kill me, that would mean all their hard work was to waste and I would fight for Olympus as one of the dead soldiers of Hades. I personally didn't care. They stay out of my business, I don't care what they did. I placed my finger on my chin. I didn't care much. I knew what I did. I took care of the ones in the Void as thanks to Chaos for granting me his blessing of immortality among other things. I helped the regeneration of monsters go faster like what I did with Hyperion. I trained by killing monsters and occasionally Hades's undead soldiers. I trained the newborn hellhound pups to hunt. I played with the older ones.

Other than that, I did nothing. I couldn't remember my time in the mortal world, with my mother, my brother, and my friends, if I had any. I didn't remember what they looked like. Once, I left Tartarus to find them. Barely a minute there, I was blinded by the light. I immediately fled back there. I didn't even remember what I looked like. The rivers are much too blurry and confusing. Nyx would welcome me warmly, as warmly as she knew, but she was darkness. I trained with her for months until I learned how to fight without one of my senses. The long scar across my right leg was thanks to Thanatos. He was forever loyal to Hades. Since I didn't participate in the Titan war, he is more lenient with me. Now though, he is chained in Alaska. The Doors of Death are chained. We use it to our advantage. Gaia has tried to convince me to her side. I at least remember how that went.

"Fight for you?" I asked blankly, one hand wrapped around Prodido, my sword I crafted out of the gems of Atlantis and Stygian steel my hellhound pups stole. "Yessss." She slurred sleepily. "You will get what you always wanted, sweet Andy. Revenge." I snorted at her implication. "You would go against your children? I have no desire for revenge against the gods. Besides stupidity, they haven't committed any crimes."

"Are you sure?" She asked, eyes closed. "My father's essence is in you. That is why you have survived without the continuous douse of the River Phlegethon. I ask you because you are the most powerful. Trained by the Titans, blessed by the creator, who else can be stronger?"

"Someone with a cause?" I suggested. "You forget that I fight without meaning. I know only of monsters. Only hatred is in my blood. Someone who fights for love is always going to go further than someone who fights with hate." She snarled. Her beloved, Tartarus, shakes in her anger. I don't react. "That is foolish, my sweet. Who told you that?"

"Luke Castellan," I said without shame. "You forgot we communicate often through Kronos's dream messages. He told me that."

"He was weak." She said firmly. "He wavered in his duty and died." I traced the pearl on the handle of Prodido. "Maybe," I murmured. "But he died with love. He was mourned as a hero despite his evil deeds. That is a feat itself."

"It does not matter! Will you stand with me or not?" I glanced at her, contemplating. "I do not care, Gaia," I said finally. "I have no care for what happens elsewhere. Revenge is something I can get whenever I want. If I so wish, I could climb out of Tartarus for revenge and no one can stop me. But I haven't. Do you know why? I couldn't be bothered. So there, that's your answer. I choose neutrality. If I change my mind, I'll be sure to tell you."

It was silent for a bit before she came closer and stroked my cheek. She traced a healed scar, shaped like an A. "You do that, sweet Andy." She said carefully with restrained anger. "As long as you do not side with the Gods. The monsters."

"Both sides are monsters, Gaia," I said as her touch became warmer and warmer. Soon, it will be like boiled water on my skin. Too bad I've gotten used to pain. Hate it but I will not scream. "Either side, I will condemn the humans to torture and death. The first, I have experienced. The second one, I never will. It does not matter. I can tell you, I cannot be persuaded and right now, I lean more towards you. I only ask that my family is not harmed if I join. That's in the future."

"Yet you do not remember your family."

"You do." I challenged. "You know who my parents are. My siblings. You will protect them. And if I were to join your cause, you will tell me. Not today, but one day."

"I had plans for your family. You know, you are related to the gods."

"A little," I admitted. "For the Titans wouldn't have taken me from my home if I wasn't. But I wasn't talking about that. Merely, my father, mother, and siblings."

"Very well. Your father was on my to-kill list. For you, right now, I will change them." She said at last. "Perfect. If they aren't harmed by your hand or your children, or by any ploy you make, when you awake, I will bring you Zeus's head." I know well enough he isn't my father. If he is, I would still kill him.

"You have a deal." She vanished, leaving me. "I still do not care," I said blankly before shrugging. A couple of deaths don't matter much. As long as I can be left alone afterwards.

That reminds me. I turned to Hyperion who was still climbing out. "You harmed him," I said carefully. He paused, confused. He had hurt too many people. "Gaia promised me my family won't be harmed by any of her children. You hurt him. He could've died."

"You don't even know who your family is." He growled, albeit a little afraid. He was one of the first people to get a scream out of me. "I don't. Never had a reason to find out. But Lord Chaos told me. And now, it's your turn to die." I said as cheerfully as I ever had. It scared him even more. I whistled. A full-grown hellhound appeared. Crystal. Cheerful name, huh? I didn't name her.

"Sweet Crystal, I must ask for your help. Would you like a new play toy? He's all yours." I said, flashing her a sweet smile. I was unused to it. It looked creepier than sweet. She sniffed my hair, recognising me before turning on Hyperion and tearing him apart as I watched. Chaos was nice to make me the leader of hellhounds. They will forever be loyal to me first. Including the one at that camp. That… that… Mrs O'Leary! Right, I forgot her name. She hasn't visited Tartarus in a long time. The campers must have been taking extra care of her. Crystal tore at Hyperion's body as I enjoyed his screams of horror and terror and pain. When he was gone, I tossed Crystal a treat that she ate happily. "Go find your child, Crystal," I said. "Thank you for what you just did. I'm only sorry I cannot help clean you up. The river Styx is that way," I pointed left. No river in sight. "You can bathe there."

She licked my cheek before running away. I took out my compass that helps me navigate. Not through Tartarus, which I have memorised since living here for 13 years. (Pretend that Tartarus does not have weird time changes) instead, through troubles and monsters. Like right now, close to where Damasen lives, there are empousai causing havoc. Most monsters are gathered at the Doors of Death in Tartarus's heart. I have long mastered Mist control. I removed the Mist covering me. There was a crowd of monsters at the entrance of Tartarus, the place where the underworld and Tartarus connect. I sighed. What could that be? Since I wanted to go to the River Phlegethon anyways, I decided to check. It wasn't like I had things planned today since Hyperion messed up my wrist. It was black now that I saw it. Huh, it hurts less than I thought it would. Then again, I survived when my whole body was burned.

Time skip

Cries, as monsters died, were the only thing I could hear. And the screams of tortured ones in Hades's realm. I wonder what that's all about. I had healed myself already and was on my way to dealing with the stupid problem. Somehow, as the only human in Tartarus that lived, monsters call on me to deal with those problems. That was before Chaos came to me just a year ago. Now all their problems are dumped on me. At first, I refused. Then, they found out I still enjoyed going to the Void for some peace and quiet, away from any troubles. The monsters took advantage of that. If I didn't clear up their arguments, the Titans and Giants would lock me up and forbid me from going to the Void. They realised I could escape later on and placed too many guards at the gateway to Void. Grr… not that I cannot kill them all, there is a certain time frame you can enter Void. I always miss it.

I whistled loudly. Every monster stared at me. "Do you want to fight or do you want to scram?" I asked plainly. "Someone tell me. Now." A younger hellhound whined at me. "What?" I cocked my head to a side, never letting my hands fall from where it was crossed just below my breasts. A cyclops came up. "Nice smell." He grunted. "Demigod as food."

Demigod? Now that was interesting. "I'll deal with it. As usual. Weren't you going to the mortal realm? You know how Krios and Koios get when people lose their tickets. Go!" I snarled loudly. All of them flinched. They all ran away. Leaving the young hellhound whimpering. "Oh, sweetheart, go find your mother, alright?" I asked softly. My heart felt funny at this scene. Like I missed my mother. Please. She probably forgot about me. It licked my hand as I patted it before shadow-travelling away leaving me with the goth demigod. Great. He was passed out with scratch marks all over him. 'You'll heal." I decided before levitating him up and taking him away.

Time skip

I had some bread while waiting for him to wake. What? I do eat, I'm not like all these monsters. Usually, the Titans would feed me, but ever since I killed more than half of them trying to escape, they struck a deal with me. I was allowed to leave the castle but I had to provide for myself. They knew I wouldn't escape since I had forgotten the mortal realm. Still, I nearly died but Damasen saved me. I was forever grateful to him. After that day, I learned how to get my own food. But I was always grateful to know there was at least one person here I didn't need to be wary of.

The boy's groaning shook me out of my thoughts. He was younger than I first thought. Much younger than me. 13 maybe? He wore all black. A Stygian sword was on his side. "Son of Hades." I snorted. "From what many of my hellhound children told me, you convinced Hades to fight. I'm sure they must've welcomed you like a hero to that camp. Still, it doesn't look like you came here unwillingly." I said, thinking back to where he landed. "You didn't fall, I know that. The place I found you was unlikely from a fall. You passed out from blood, not fall. So you must've shadow-travelled down. I wonder, what were you looking for? Perhaps that can finally pique my interest." I chortled at my own words. "Not likely." I decided. The only one who has done that was Damasen and that was because he never wanted anything from me, willing to hear me out and see me for me. A girl and not a tool. He gave me the flower wreath I now wore, the only nice thing to see in Tartarus, that he made out of his garden.

I snapped my finger. "Time to wake, Hades spawn," I murmured.

Nico POV

I woke up in pain. Wasn't I dead? I remember talking to Hazel about checking the doors but the monsters found me first. I remember being in pain. Welcoming the sleep. I squinted my eyes. It was dark. Tartarus. Where's my sword?

I scrambled around as best as I could, finally seeing my sword. That's the good news. The bad news is the girl who stood in front of it. It was too dark to see her face. The only glow came from my sword, something at her waist, and under a door. At least I assumed it was a door. I could see something sitting on her head, not sure what it was. Her skin was surprisingly pale. It was like Percy's skin colour mixed in a small tube of silver. She wore a dress that split at her left leg and reached to the ground. It was green, the colour of life. Where did she get that? She wore no shoes. She observed me for a second. "Son of Hades. Fast. I'll note that." She said robotically. It was then she moved over and opened the door that faced me so I could see what was outside and she waited as I took a while to gather in Tartarus. The.. the ground was his skin. I was breathing in his air. I can't… I wanted to vomit. But the girl didn't look like she would like that so I controlled myself. Thank her for saving me, then go find the doors. Yeah, that's it. I reminded myself. I opened my mouth to thank her but ended up with no words spoken. She turned to me. I saw her face.

Jet black hair was straight and long, all the way to her navel, and on them rested a wreath that was like a crown on her. A bit like the laurel wreath but with flowers that reminded me of Pan… the faded god. I forced back the bitterness. The dress I saw was amazing, much nicer than what I imagined being in Tartarus. It was green, that part I guessed right. Butterflies danced on her bodice. Her neckline wasn't ridiculously low, which I could admire. Her hemline was decorated with waves, like the kind you see in the ocean, with bubbles rising. The part that got me stunned was the eyes. Keen, hard bluish-green eyes stared at me, peering into my soul. She was… she was a copy of Percy. A feminine, no-nonsense, beautiful version but still. If I were straight, I would fall for her. "Why are you here?" She asked monotonically. Like she couldn't be bothered. I growled slightly. "None of your business."

"You're rude, I'll give you that." I was stunned. Being rude was… a good thing? She laughed. It sounded musical but also like she was fake laughing. Dry. Uncaring, detached.

"No, son of Hades. Take that thought out of your head." She flicked her hand at me. My heart thundered. As beautiful as she seemed at first, her arms were littered with scars. Many, many, many scars. More than what I have ever seen on anyone. Not even Percy. They were all more or less healed but there was a burnt part on her wrist. I don't know how I missed that. It was poorly covered by her half-transparent sleeves. "W- what?"

"I'm not saying that being rude is a good thing. I'm saying that your achievements must have been pretty good if the gods do not smite you for being rude." She said carelessly, her hand brushing against me. I leaned away. "Um… thanks." She said nothing. When I looked at her, she cocked her head, in confusion. "Thanks." She said like it was the first time she heard it. "I have never heard gratitude so easily given. Especially to a demigod like me."

I blinked. I must've heard wrong. "You're a demigod?!"

"I think so, Gaia told me so." She murmurs. "I have no special abilities other than the ones Lord Chaos granted me."

I laughed mockingly. Now I know she's joking. "Which monster are you? Empousa? A goddess? Some other weird monster I never heard about? Chaos is no more, faded. I know you are joking."

"Lord Chaos can never fade, he is the world's creator. He rests in the Void, watching over the ones who sleep forever. And he gave me the key to visit the Void. Visit him." As if to prove it, she reached up and a key appeared in her hand. It was shrouded in smoke but I could see the shape of it. "Lord Chaos gave me the ability to go in whenever. An escape from Tartarus when he found out I refused to go to the world above. The world you know, I'm sure."

"I'm getting so confused." I groaned. "As soon as you heal, you should leave. My presence has the monsters afraid. They will not go after you. Not when the hellhounds protect you."

"Wait." I reached out and grasped her hand gently despite hurting. She froze completely, a look of wonder on her face. "What did you just do?" She breathed, looking at where her arm was in my hand. "Er… touch you? I'm sorry if you don't like it." I quickly took back my hand but she stayed in wonder. "The last time someone touched me like that, it was Damasen." She muttered. "Touch your arm?"

"Touch me without inflicting injury." She said casually as I flinched. "Wait. First, what is your name?"

She glanced at Tartarus, unseeingly. "They call me Rhea but it is not my birth name. You could call me that."

"Why would they call you that?"

"Because Rhea betrayed them. They say I look exactly like her. Kronos hated me, especially because of that and it made them want to torture me more. They hurt me, they mock me. I am supposedly supposed to be grateful none touched me. Am I?" She turned her blank stare and met my horrified ones. "My real name has been long forgotten. Gaia calls me sweet Andy. You could also call me that, I suppose. Or like how most monsters call me, girl."

"Andy…" I stuck with that for now. "Why are you here?" I should be resting so I can hurry and heal. But this girl's mystery has enraptured me. It's not like the doors will vanish or something and I couldn't move. Listening doesn't hurt anyone right? "I told you. The Titans took me." She said plainly, still not looking away. "But why? And where are they?"

"My birth parents are special. They owed the Titans something. The Titans stole me as punishment. And they aren't here. I have long earned my freedom."

"If you earned it, why are you here?"

Her cold green eyes assessed me. "I should be asking you that, boy. Barely grown up yet going through here. Unless you were born here, which is very unlikely, you should be back at Hades's home."

"How did you know? How did you know I was a son of Hades?" I demanded. "Kronos was the one who took me long ago. Do you think Luke Castellan wouldn't seek me out? They tried, you know. Tried to convince me to willingly work for them. A foolish request."

More questions. I'm so confused! "Could you," I hesitated. "You should be going for whatever you came here for," Andy stated. "But-" I was cut off by her sighing. "Lay down if you want to know. It's not like my presence is a secret." It most certainly was. I wanted to tell her. Us demigods and gods didn't even know she existed!

I looked around for any sign she wanted to kill me. There was a bed, a table, a chair, and a bookshelf. No windows, only a door. Only one room. There was a pack of M&Ms on the table that I saw. She tossed me the packet saying, "as a demigod from the modern world, I think you know what this is."

"You mean you don't know?" I asked, a smile almost appearing. Andy paused in whatever she was doing. "Should I?" She asked. "Someone sacrificed it to Hermes. I took it. But it wasn't as if I had someone to explain it to me. It didn't seem like food. I had been planning to leave it there but if you know what it is, you're more than welcome to take it." I tore it open, took out a red M&M and passed it to her. Her eyes met mine and she took it with some hesitance. "What is this?" She asked. It was strange as she was close to Percy's age and I was like 4 years younger. "It's food," I said as plainly as I could. "How is this filling? It is so small, no one could be satisfied by this!"

"That's why there's more. Why don't you just try?" I asked in amusement. She ate it tentatively and made a gagging noise. "Hey, you alright?" I stood up in concern, nearly bumping into her. "What is this? It is like sugar. So sweet." She gagged. She fell to her knees and just knelt there for a second. "It's a snack, Andy. Kids like to eat it because they find it tasty."

"I do not like sugary things." She scowled, settling into the chair, facing Tartarus. "It reminds me of before."

"Before they kidnapped you?" I asked.

"Exactly. Before, I had a brother. And a mother. No father. My mother would always bring back sugary goodness. My brother and I would fight each other for more."

"Then why do you hate it?"

"Have you ever stopped doing something because it reminds you of something you miss a lot? I miss my brother and mother. Mostly, I stop doing many things."

Bianca. Mythomagic. "I get you. My sister died around 3 years ago to get a toy. For me. I hate it now." Well, mostly.

"Then you understand me. How odd. Most do not. Except for my hellhound followers."

"Why are you so close to the hellhounds?" I asked. "Lord Chaos. He sleeps in the Void. Most cannot confront him which made me special. Once, the Titans dropped me into the Void but I survived. I faded but survived, hanging on by sheer luck. Chaos noticed me and talked to me. It almost shredded my mind but I managed. He told me many things. How the world has been unfair to me, how I deserve better, and how he could help me. He made me a champion of Chaos, giving me his blessing. I can survive Tartarus's air without drinking from the River Phlegethon."

"How did I survive then?" I interrupted her. "I never drank its water."

"But you are a son of Hades and I am not. Besides, I force-fed you to heal some of your wounds." She said blandly. "Anyways, he gave me the key to Void in case they ever threw me down again. That's how I can visit Chaos. He understands my desire to stay in Tartarus so made me their leader. I have their respect and loyalty and friendship. They all know they can trust me. I may not be able to understand them all of the time but they understand me just fine. Besides that, he granted me special powers that help me survive Tartarus. Celestial bronze and imperial gold are less lethal to me. My knowledge of weapons is better. My senses are enhanced and my stamina is better than any demigod. My wounds heal faster which is a good thing and I have perfect bearings. My aim is always accurate. I have control over the flames of Tartarus, I can teleport and I can levitate. I have slight control over the other elements and I can sense them anywhere if I focus. My favourite is the compass he gifted me. It helps me navigate through Tartarus and where the trouble is. It will return to me so it cannot be stolen."

"Like Riptide," I murmured but she heard. "Who is Riptide?"

"Riptide is my cousin Percy's sword. It's just like your compass." Her eyes softened. "I have heard that name in many places and quite often."

"Probably from the number of times monsters grumble about killing him." I snorted. She placed her hand over mine. A strange tingle ran up my hand. "Chaos knows I cannot bear people being hurt when they do not deserve it." She mutters. The scratches on my arm disappeared. Her eyes glowed green. Just like Percy's. The similarity is uncanny.

"Andy?" She paused for a second but continued. I could see sweat appearing. She must be getting tired. "Is your father Poseidon?"

"Poseidon?" She took her hand away. "That name is familiar. Is he the god of the seas?"

"Er yes," I said. "Then I do not know. I have never been able to control water, although I do see Oceanus many times." She said, placing her hand back. "The Titans have been careful not to tell. Chaos almost told me my godly parent but I stopped him. I have never hated anyone intensely and I do not want to start now. If someone told me, I might just storm to where he dwells and scream at him. No god wants that. I do not want to leave Tartarus. It is a win-win for both of us."

"Why not? Why are you so intent on staying in Tartarus?" I asked, gritting my teeth as she went to heal the more serious ones. Now she was definitely panting. I wonder if she had done this when I was unconscious and had a break before continuing. It certainly made sense. "Earth is nothing to me, boy. I was born there but I grew up here. Tartarus shaped me. It is the only home I know."

"Tartarus isn't a home, Andy. It isn't." I said firmly, grasping her hand with my other hand. She paused again. When she met my gaze, she wasn't even fazed. Gods, what did the Titans do to her? "You may think it is a home, but it isn't. Home is where you are happy. Where you feel safe. With people you love. How can this be your home? Can you laugh here? Genuinely?"

"No, I can't. The one time I nearly did was in the Void." Andy stated plainly. "But wishful thinking isn't good here, boy. A home isn't something I think of because it will forever just be a dream. I would rather willingly live in my nightmare than wake up from a nice dream to realise it wasn't real."

"Oh yeah? I prefer the latter. Because, although it is a dream and thus not real, I still experience happiness. I still know that at least I have something I want to look forward to."

"Not unless the people in the dream are dead."

"That means I am still human and still miss them. Can you say you are human Andy? And actually mean it?" I challenged her.

"The Titans have tortured the humanity out of me, boy. I am not afraid to say I am not human. No pride while saying that, but at least I do not lie to myself." She says.

"Gods. My name is Nico, okay? Nico di Angelo." I groaned. I cannot believe I forgot to introduce myself. I was so intent on understanding her, I forgot that to her, I am a stranger. It didn't help when she didn't seem curious about anything. She just accepts whatever.

"Nico. Ni-co. Nico." She mutters my name again and again and again. "It does not sound Greek."

"Of course, it doesn't! My mother was Italian!" I said. Gods, she knows nothing. "What is Italian?" I huffed but gave her a description of what exactly Italian is. All the while, she nods, healing me while staring out into Tartarus. "You are here for the Doors of Death, aren't you?" She asked softly. It was the first sign of compassion coming from her. "How did you know?"

"You are a child, Nico." She places her palm on my skin. Despite the dry air, her hand is cooling and gentle. "Unless you foolishly went against the temperamental gods, you have no other reason for desperately coming here." There were some words I didn't get. Temperamental for one. How did she know? Does she know more than she lets on?

"Helping you is something I will not do." She said, peering at me with those wide green eyes. Cut her hair, darken her eyes a little, change her features to more masculine-like, and she can be a twin of Percy Jackson. "Why? We both are demigods." I protested, knowing that that won't help. "The Titans are afraid of me, Nico di Angelo, son of Hades. They fear me because they made me almost indestructible. I am not loyal to them. They tried to break me but I am not one to be broken. I have screamed and screamed. Begged them to stop. They do not. They know where I live these days and they know I cherish my pups. If I were to go, they would harm my babies. You told me about your sister. If our situations were switched and they knew where your sister lived, would you help me with something you think is pointless?"

"How is it pointless?!" I yelled. She placed a soothing hand against my forehead, calming me. "I live here in Tartarus and am immortal. I eat because I want to, not because I need to. I do not live on worship. The world above doesn't welcome me so I live here. I have everything I need, I need not care for what happens above. I told Gaia that merely days ago. She has made sure my blood family will live in exchange for Zeus's head. Everything I ever need is safe or will be safe. They cannot cross me because they have trained me so well, I could kill Tartarus. How else is it not pointless?"

"And their lives?" I asked angrily. "7 billion live on Earth, Andy. Are you going to condemn all their lives? Some were even younger than you when you were kidnapped! I know, Andy, I know how lonely your life must be. I've survived a year with only a ghost to accompany me, only for him to betray me in the end. I can only imagine how horrid your life must be, living with enemies, alone and forever in pain. How you did the impossible and kept from breaking. That must've made you selfish but you must think of the other lives that will be ruined if you do not help me. Please, Andy." I wasn't joking. Coming here to Tartarus was an impulse. I don't know where I was supposed to go.

Andy's face crumpled a little. I think she does care, no matter how hard she tries to convince herself. "What about my life, Nico? What about mine? Am I really just a tool to bring others happiness? Once, desperate to break free from pain, I accepted Kronos's offer and tortured a demigod much older than me. He tried appealing to me, you know. Tried and tried. No matter what I did, he wouldn't stop. He continued asking me, again and again, if this life is truly worth it. Watching others suffer just so I could escape the pain. After that day, the boy was woozy from blood loss. I was 12. I couldn't… I couldn't continue. I set him free. He ran. Without thinking or asking if I would join him, he ran, abandoning me with my torturers. When he was taken back, I learned my lesson. I was just someone people used to escape. I killed him. He was my first kill. Yet from that day on, I realised I didn't care. I didn't even know his name and I killed him." She walked to the doorway. "His blood was splattered on my gown. The Titans left me alone for a day in congratulations. I could only think of that boy. How he used me. I decided I would never let another person use me for their own gain." I tried easing myself up. "Andy. Stop. Please, just stop trying to convince yourself."

"I'm a villain, Nico. That boy said it himself when they dragged him back. He said it with such hate, I believed him. But then I decided, who was he to decide that? I may not be a hero but I'm also not the villain. So I just didn't care what people thought of me. Eventually, I stopped caring about anything. Everything I did was for them to stop pestering me. The only one I somewhat cared for is Lord Chaos and that is because there is nothing he could want from a simple demigod like me.

"Andy. I'm serious. Stop for a while and just listen." I finally said. "You told me so much, which I am thankful for, but just listen, will you? I think I should repay the favour."

Andy didn't move but she nodded for me to continue. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I think your parent is one of the Big Three, that's why the Titans took you and why they were so reluctant to kill you. There was a Great Prophecy, about one demigod becoming 16 and making a choice to save or raze Olympus. They trained you so you would lead their armies and ultimately destroy Olympus. But they focused on Thalia, the daughter of Zeus. When she failed, they turned to you. But you were stronger than they thought and survived. So, they tried to kill you or at least break you so you wouldn't fight for Olympus which worked a little. You aren't fighting for Olympus but you aren't fighting for them either." Andy took out the sword at her waist and rotated her wrist. Hopefully, that's a sign to continue. "Help me, Andy, and I'll take you back to Olympus. You can have a family again. Your brother and mother, don't you miss them? They might have thought you died all this time, don't you want to see them again? And your father. He might have wanted to save you, Andy. You said they kidnapped you. How did they do so?"

"It was when my mother took my brother and me to the playground. I was four." She said, stiffer than usual. "I was smarter for my age and I screamed for help when they tried to lure me away. When my mother and brother came running, they placed a knife against my throat and threatened them. I didn't know back then they were Titans. My mother and brother probably also didn't know. Mother came forward anyway but they threatened my brother's life. She could choose to save his life or mine. She chose him. They dragged me away. Sometime later, they tore my dress's hem and threw it in the river. My father never came."

"Then he might not have known, Andy. They were Titans. He was a god. Only one. They could've easily hidden from his view." I pointed out. "Why don't you ask him yourself? Come with me, please." Andy suddenly laughed. She tipped back her head and laughed without restraint. The sound of music was nothing against her laugh. It would've charmed gods themselves. It was nothing like that first laugh that sounded plain and dry, like a dying gasp on her lips. This was a melody that not even the best musician could've created. "You have a way with words, Nico. I like you. And I'm sure whichever gay person will like you too."

There was a teasing lilt on her tongue. How did she go from that uncaring person to this fun goddess? I dunno, but I like her. "How did you know?" I blushed hard, looking anywhere but at her.

"The Titans mock my beauty." She said easily. "I have long forgotten how I look for beauty is nothing in Tartarus but they call me out of this world which I assume is good considering how jealous the female monsters are of me. I have seen how you react to me, like a friend instead of someone to charm. The men population is lucky to have you." She said, not as easy as before but at least less stiff as we first met. "I will not go with you." I deflated. She said all that just for nothing to change?

"I have visited the world above before, Nico. I can tell you I will never fit. I am unused to the bright light. People run away from me because they think I am much too wild and ferocious. I do not doubt your kindness but no one will ever accept me there. My family has most likely forgotten me, I will have no one there to rely on. It is safer here. I will stay. Maybe only to guide those who have fallen to Tartarus like you. Who knows? Maybe that can be my new cause. It matters not. If you fail and Earth falls, my family will be safe. For as evil and corrupted Gaia is, her promises are not given lightly. If you pass, my family will still see another day and I will still stay in my peace here in Tartarus. However," she unhurriedly walked over, brushing my hair aside. "I can help you as a guide. I will not fight, not for you nor for the Titans and Giants. If you can somehow reach the doors of death and unchain them, I will hold the button for you to return. Yes?"

"Why do you want to help me?" I asked, confused. "It is a very small possibility, Nico. You will most certainly fail. But you are the first demigod who has correctly guessed what I want. Alas, I can never get it, here in Tartarus or up there in Olympus. The least I can do is make sure you survive. And you will survive."

"How do you know? I'm not one of the Seven."

"Whoever the Seven is, they're self-proclaimed and I do not like them. But I like you. Gaia wishes to be in my good graces for she knows how talented I am. I can face her entire army right now, in this dress, and win. Well, aside from the Giants because, you know. Anyways, she knows that and would hate it if I fight for the gods. Besides, if her plan does not work, she can use my blood. Just a little is enough, so I will not die. I am more valuable to her alive than dead. If needed, she will spare you. Possibly use you as bait but as long as you are alive, I don't really care."

"You are very selfish, Andy, you know that?"

"Oh, I know. And you can thank the Titans and Giants for shaping me. Now come. The doors are working over time, even now." She pulled me off the bed. I kinda missed the comfort of it. She had no expression on her face but I could see a kinder twinkle in her eyes.