"Isn't this too soon?" Helena asked concerned, they were all in Nico's recently bought Mercedes GLB, which was black of course- Gods did Nico love his Lotus Hotel and Casino card!
"We are already so close to Los Angeles," Alexander scoffed. "Couldn't ask that sooner? Hey! Jules-Albert! How long till we make it to the entrance to the Underworld?"
"Half an hour," Nico's zombie chauffeur croaked.
"See," Alexander mocked, as he turned to receive a glare from Helena and an exasperate sigh from Albert, as Harry egged them on. "Also, the twerp is more than ready."
"As much as I hate to with this barbarian, he is right," Albert looked like it pained him to say that. "Nico is ready and his powers need the right weapon to balance them."
"I know," Helena sighed as she cuddled the sleeping boy closer. "But you can't blame me for worrying. He is so small... so young…"
"With the spells I taught him no one would realize the is there." Harry assured her. "We will smuggle him in when we "pass on". Then because of the soul bond we have with Nico when he shalowtravels out we will go with him. You got to love Necromancy."
All four of them remember how Nico had stumbled upon them within the confines of the Lotus Hotel Casino, their ethereal presence unsettling him. Unaware of his powers back then, Nico's shock triggered an involuntary reaction, linking his essence with the four ghosts in an unbreakable soul bond. From that moment on, Albert, Helena, Alexander, and Harry found themselves bound to Nico's will, tethered to the Living Realm until the inevitable passage of Nico into the afterlife. This unexpected fusion of mortal and spectral existence forged an unusual alliance, with Nico becoming an unwitting conduit between the worlds of the living and the dead. Not that any of them minded, they were enjoying their time wandering as ghosts on the Living Realm.
Nico was woken up once the SVU was parked in front of the HOLLYWOOD sign. Nico sighed but got ready. He casted the spell to hide his living presence among the death essence of his ghost guardians. They made their way inside and Nico almost gasped at seeing all the souls lining up, waiting. He did gasp once his eyes laid upon the smartly dressed man behind the counter.
Charon presented an imposing figure, standing tall and elegant, his features harmoniously blending with his chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond, military-style shaved hair. His attire exuded sophistication, draped in a silk Italian suit that seamlessly matched the hue of his hair. Tortoise-shell shades concealed his eyes, leaving an air of mystery around him, while a black rose adorned his lapel beneath a silver name tag.
Despite the striking exterior, Charon's eyes betrayed a haunting emptiness, filled with the essence of death and despair. Strangely, rather than unsettling Nico, this deathly aura emanating from Charon enveloped him in a sense of connection and peace. The morbid tranquility seemed to resonate with Nico, in the shadow of Charon's enigmatic gaze and death-infused atmosphere, Nico found an unexpected solace.
Nico frowned in contemplation. Why did he react like that? Who was his father? Nico shook his head, getting his head back on the game. He had a mission to complete! He to focus!
"It's good to see that someone appreciated a good suit!" Charon replied, looking quite pleased. It seems like Helena and him had spent most of the time talking about Chacon's penance for suits.
"Such a beauty should be praised," Helena replied with conviction. "A masterpiece!"
"I know!" Charon agreed.
"Can we get this over with?" Alexander growled, as Harry giggled at the twin glares the son Ares received.
"Here's our payment," Albert put down bag of drachmas.
"It's been a while since someone paid with drachmas," Charon raised an eyebrow and started counting the money. "Of course, demigods would be the ones bringing the tradition back. Isn't this too much for you?"
"It's for all the souls that cannot pay and need passage across. Or at least, as many as those drachmas can pay for." Harry answered, following their charge's wish. Nico had a big heart, much to Helena's pride, and he could not allow those souls to wait for centuries to rest. Also, that more souls they can get, the easier it would be to hide Nico's living aura. "It's not like we have any use for them anymore."
"As you wish," Charon looked at the four strangely, with something akin to pride in his eyes. "Follow me."
Helena, Alec, Albert, and Harry followed the God with Nico tucked protectively between them. Over a hundred more souls followed closely behind them. It could only be the work of magic which allowed them all to fit in Charon's boat.
The notion of using the drachmas to facilitate the passage of countless souls touched Nico deeply. He understood the significance of each coin—representing a chance for restless souls to find peace. It was a departure from the norm, a deviation from the self-centered desires often associated with demigods. Nico found himself surrounded by the ethereal presence of the departed souls, and a sense of contentment settled over him.
Nico's confusion stemmed from the unexpected rightness of the situation. The natural flow of empathy and generosity felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place. The act of aiding these souls, guided by Nico's selfless instincts, struck a chord with a deeper truth, one that resonated with an innate purpose he possessed within.
Why?
Why did he feel a duty to these souls?
Only once Charan paddled back to the other side of Acheron, could the five of them sigh in relief. Though, Nico was quick to be captured by the ethereal and strange beauty of the Underworld. A myriad of emotions welled up within him. There was an initial chill, a haunting acknowledgment of the Underworld's connection to death. Yet, the beauty that unfolded softened the edges of that chill, transforming it into a poignant appreciation for the strange and ethereal.
The Underworld, shrouded in an ethereal and mysterious beauty, unfolded before Nico's eyes. The grandeur of the landscape was dominated by the looming presence of Hades' gothic castle, a structure that seemed to defy the conventional perceptions of darkness and foreboding. Instead, it radiated a captivating and otherworldly allure.
The castle's spires reached towards the shadowy heavens, their intricate details etched against the inky backdrop. Gargoyles, frozen in grotesque poses, adorned the battlements, serving as silent sentinels to the realm of the dead. The architecture, while undoubtedly gothic and imposing, held an unexpected beauty—an eerie juxtaposition of the macabre and the sublime.
The hues of the Underworld were unlike any Nico had seen before. The darkness wasn't merely absence; it was a velvety tapestry of midnight blues, deep purples, and inky blacks. Faint glimmers of phosphorescent lights danced in the air, casting an otherworldly glow that played upon the edges of the looming shadows.
The Underworld seemed to evoke a sense of ancient melancholy; an atmosphere tinged with the weight of countless souls that had passed through its gates. Nico couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence.
"Are you ok Nico?" Harry asked gently.
"I am, I just feel at home… w-why do I feel like that when I am still alive?" Nico turned to his guardians in startled confusion. "Is there something wrong with me?!"
"No, there's nothing botting wrong with you!" Helena quickly assured him, bringing him into a quick hug- because Nico was their "master" they could touch him even though they are dead, without the need of any kind of spell to aid the process.
"We theorized that your godly father belongs to the Underworld because of your powers. It is not farfetched to think that you feel at home because this is the home of your father," Albert explained going on his professor mode.
"Let's get going!" Alexander barked. "We've got a mission to complete! No time for pity parties!"
"Alexander!" Albert, Helena, and Harry exclaimed at the same time, with various degrees of anger and exasperation on their faces.
"No, he is right," Nico stopped them, shaking his head. As he was looking ahead, he did not notice the look of pride in Alexander's face, not that it lasted long. The son of Ares needed to keep his aloof reputation. "We have a mission to complete!"
As the five moved in coordination through the Underworld, they could hear the screeches harpies, the howls of Cerberus, and the cries of anguish from the souls in the Fields of Punishment. While, for some strange reason none of that caused Nico any fear, it made him grateful for the spells and training Harry had given him. It kept him concealed and protected from the dangers of the Underworld.
Meanwhile, Harry looked at their charge strangely. No matter how natural Nico was with necromancy and mist manipulation, he should have not been this good at hiding their presence the Underworld. The realm in which Hades worked constantly to make sure no one could con sneak in and specially sneak out. They should have faced trouble by now. But nothing yet. It was almost as if Nico's power camouflaged seamlessly with the of the Underworld essence.
Just who in Hades' name was Nico's fathers?
"So, this is it," Nico sighed stopping before the magnificent castle of Hades. "I can feel its power calling to me..."
"Put your barriers up!" Harry was quick to command, as they saw Nico's eyes starting to glaze over. "Power calls out, but it corrupts. Especially, power like this. Which is too much for human bodies... I know that more than anyone..."
"Got it," Nico took a deep breath, getting back control over his powers. "Shields up. Let's get this over with. I'm starting to get tired from all the hiding and I am starting to feel my control slip."
Inside the gothic castle of Hades, the grandeur of the architecture resonated with an opulence that defied mortal expectations of the Underworld. Every corner seemed steeped in a sense of mystery and grandiosity, adorned with ornate carvings, dark tapestries, and hauntingly beautiful stained glass windows depicting scenes of the afterlife.
The air was heavy with an ancient, musty scent, as if the very stones held the memories of centuries gone by. Intricately designed chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, casting a dim, flickering light that played shadows against the cold, stone walls. The interior of the castle seemed frozen in time.
As Nico navigated the secret passages, hidden away from the prying eyes of souls and zombies, a thrill of excitement coursed through him. Harry, being a legacy of Hermes, was embodied in his skills, and guided Nico through the labyrinthine twists and turns. With each step, he marveled at the ingenious design of the hidden passages. The quietude within the hidden passages, shielded from the typical commotion of the Underworld, allowed Nico to appreciate the complexity of his surroundings. As Nico made his way through the secret passages, a sense of rebellion intertwined with a deep appreciation for the beauty of the forbidden. The legacy of Hermes lent an agility to Nico's movements, enabling him to navigate the labyrinth with a grace that mirrored the god of cunning.
As they made their way through towards the armory, they all stopped when they heard the voices of Hades, Persephone, and Thanos discussing the disappearance of three ex-emperors of the Roman Empire. Though, as they were discussing the roman side of their being, they used their Roman identities, of Pluto, Proserpina, and Mors to talk to each other. For some reason when the name of Nero was mentioned Albert froze, anger radiating from his soul, before guiding Nico away. After all, they could not get caught by the King and Queen of the Underworld.
The five of them quickly made their way to the armory and froze at the hordes of different kinds of weapons. Alexander whistled quite pleased at the collection. "Now this is what I am talking about! Get going, twerp. Look around and find a weapon that calls for you. Remember, the weapon chooses the wielder. Not the other way around."
"Got it," Nico nodded and walked around with Helena hovering overprotectively around.
In the dimly lit chamber of the gothic castle, Nico came to an abrupt halt before an exquisite and ominous sight—a three-foot-long black sword, crafted from the legendary Stygian Iron. Its ebony blade seemed to absorb all surrounding light, rendering it as dark as a nightmare and exuding an air of palpable dread. The sword emitted a faint, sinister purple glow, a spectral luminescence that hinted at the otherworldly power contained within.
As Nico gazed upon the weapon, a chill ran down his spine, and a sense of awe mingled with trepidation. The Stygian Iron sword possessed an unmistakable aura, one that spoke of its ability to extract the very essence, the soul, from its unfortunate victims. It was a weapon designed for a Necromancer, perfectly suited to channel the forces Nico had command over.
However, what truly left Nico breathless was the uncanny connection he felt with the sword. It was as if the blade itself resonated with his very essence. It was an almost preternatural connection, a magnetic force that drew Nico closer to the Stygian Iron blade. A mixture of awe, fear, and an unspoken understanding washed over Nico as he stood in the presence of the Stygian Iron sword. The realization hit him like a tidal wave—this sword, black as the shadows, glowing with a malevolent hue, had an affinity for him. It felt as though it had been forged not merely in the fires of the Underworld, but with the specific purpose of becoming an extension of Nico's own power. The very thought sent shivers down his spine.
"Not bad" Alexander came to a stop behind Nico. "Take it and let's go."
Nico rapidly took it and shadow traveled them all back to their SVU. Nico knew deep in his core that if they had stayed one more second in the Underworld, Nico would have not wanted to leave. The Underworld and its essence were quite addicting for the young boy.
As Jules-Albert drove them back to Las Vegas, Nico collapsed on Helena's lap and slept the exhaustion away, after devouring ten packs of Kit-Kat. They had so many flavors! His favorite was dark chocolate and cookies and crème. They might not have fought any monster, but he still had used too much power.
"He did good," Helena smiled gently, as she played with Nico's curls.
"He was smart and careful. Demigods should learn from him, maybe then there would be less deaths during quests," Harry agreed. "Also, he held on against the temptation of power. That's praiseworthy on its own."
"Nah, he did not do that bad of a job," Alexander said nonchalantly but his proud smile gave him away. "At least, now that he has his weapon, we can start training seriously."
"A training he will need," Albert commented with a grim look on his face, one that put the other three on edge. "You know I've wondered why the Fates sent us Nico's way. Because it was quite a coincidence that just the right type of demigods sort of found Nico at the same time. Coincidences that do not happen to us unless the Fates or deities make sure if does." Albert took a deep breath, trying to collect himself. "Now I understand. We were united to train a child of the Underworld to go against them… against the Triumvirate."