They had Jules-Albert drive them back home, where they helped Herophile settle in. Nico took a long and warm shower, before going to sleep. It had been a long week after all. The next morning, they had breakfast and afterwards they went to the library. They moved the furniture and stood staring at the world map that Albert had insisted on having placed on the floor.
"Who knew this ended up having a use?" Helen commented, still surprised by the turn of events, and received a glare from Albert in return.
Nico ignored them and knelt, putting the compass in the center of the map focusing on who he desires to find. Slowly Nico moved as the compass directed, stopping over an island in the sea of Monsters.
"First the Labyrinth, now The Sea of Monsters, great!" Nico huffed.
"That's Circe's Island," Herophile pointed out. "She has a Spa & Resort there. Check it out, maybe your Daughters of Bellona work there."
"Do you have any clue about who is this soundless God is?" Nico asked, not really expecting much.
"My apologies, that is part of your duty," Herophile smiled apologetically.
"Still, you were a lot of help, thank you!" Nico smiled at her, getting another smile in return.
"You saved me, I should be thanking you," Siby replied warmly.
Nico waved it away. "You have."
"And I'll keep on thanking you," Herophile told him cheekily.
Whatever she was going to say next was interrupted when, in the library, shadows began to collect and left behind a huge Hellhound. She was unnaturally large, even for a hellhound. With fur as black as a black hole and bloody red eyes. She was quite the scary monster, but for some reason Nico was not afraid. Just because he did not fear her, it did not mean he did not react appropriately to a monster appearing inside his home. Nico was already in a fighting position, but the Hellhound did not attack. If anything, he simply sat, panting like a good dog. Herophile slowly stepped towards the Hellhound and took the letter from her mouth.
"This is Mrs. O'Leary," Herophile read. "She has been my companion for a while. She'll take you wherever you need. She is now yours, do good with her- D." Herophile turned to the stunned group. "Who is D?"
"How did she even shadow travel through our protection wards?!" Harry exploded and began checking that everything was in order, and their wards had not been tampered with.
"At least, we have our way to Cire's Island," Alexander laughed. "The lad is not to shadow travel that far yet."
"Ah," Nico sighed, sounding too tired to be an eleven years-old-boy. "Let's get everything in order. I need to pack for the quest. Who knew quests could be this tiring..."
With a destiny determined, the team moved to packing. Jules-Albert would be staying back with Herophile in the manor. Once they were set and said their goodbyes to Herophile, they mounted Mrs. O'Leary and shadow traveled to Cirse's Island. The first impression Nico had of C.C.'s Spa and Resort was the word "modern". For some reason he had been expecting something taken out of Ancient Grece. Which was silly as the monsters have proved to be able to adapt to the modern world. Case and point, the Lotus Hotel and Casino.
Nico slipped into C.C.'s Spa and Resort with a mixture of awe and caution, his senses immediately overwhelmed by the opulence that surrounded him. The grandeur of the white marble and the shimmering blue waters greeted him at every turn, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that seemed almost surreal. Terraces, adorned with swimming pools, climbed the side of the mountain, connected by a network of waterslides, waterfalls, and underwater tubes. Fountains adorned the landscape, their sprays forming fantastical shapes. Tame animals lounged in unexpected places, from a sea turtle dozing on beach towels to a leopard sprawled asleep on a diving board.
As Nico explored this captivating resort, he couldn't help but feel a mix of fascination and wariness, acutely aware that amidst the beauty lay secrets that needed unraveling.
"This place is popular," Alexander commented, with a look of disgust on his face.
"Of course, it is!" Helena exclaimed. "This place is incredible!"
"I can feel the magic pulsing in the air," Harry thought out loud whistling impressed, as Nico hummed in agreement- he could also feel it too. "Cirse is as powerful as I've been told. I still cannot believe I am the half-brother of a legend like her."
Entering a vast room, Nico's eyes widened at the expansive windows that revealed a breathtaking panorama. Mirrors on the opposite wall created an illusion of endless space, a visual spectacle that seemed to stretch into infinity. Expensive white furniture adorned the room, and in one corner, a cage on a table caught his attention, sparking a sense of curiosity and suspicion. A loom, an imposing structure the size of a big-screen TV, stood as a captivating centerpiece. It emitted a three-dimensional shimmer, portraying a waterfall scene so vivid that Nico could almost hear the water moving and clouds drifting across the fabric sky. The spa's allure extended to a magical mirror, one that reflected the desired image individuals sought for their makeovers, particularly males seeking an idealized version of themselves.
Knowing better than to get close to an unknown magical artifact, Nico slowly stepped away from said mirror and turned around. Just there, in another corner, a cage held guinea pigs. Nico's breath caught in his throat when he realized what they were. Or rather, who they are.
"Slowly," Harry hissed under their breath. "Let's move away slowly, the last thing we need it to be turned into pigs!"
"I do not think they will be able to transform ghosts," Nico replied quietly, but followed his guardian's instructions.
Harry turned to Nico with a glare. "This is Cirse we are talking about! I do not want to know what she is capable of achieving after being alive for so long!"
"Where is the compass pointing towards?" Albert, like any son of Athena, turned to Nico, focused on the quest at hind.
"This way," Nico mumbled, following the directions between the corridors, they made it into a magnificent room. "Wow!"
The floor, adorned with pristine white marble, echoed with each step. Plush white furniture, impeccably arranged, provided a haven of comfort for those seeking pampering and transformation. As Nico entered, the intoxicating scent of fragrant oils and subtle perfumes hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of relaxation and indulgence. Mirrors, framed in elegant silver and gold, lined the walls, reflecting the room's opulence and multiplying the sense of grandeur. Soft, ambient lighting casts a warm glow upon the space, enhancing the visual appeal and inviting clients to bask in the splendor of the surroundings.
"Well, that was quite impolite," a haughty voice scoffed. "Barging in, uninvited!"
Nico turned around startled I gasped at the beauty of the woman before him. He might be gay, but he was not blind. Standing at an impressive seven feet tall, she exuded an air of regal authority that demanded attention. Despite her towering stature, there was an undeniable grace to her movements, an elegance that spoke of both strength and poise.
Long, silky black hair framed her face, cascading in a cascade of dark waves that added a touch of mystery to her presence. Her beautiful brown eyes shone in a way no mortal eyes could. Her face bore an expression of stern dignity, features chiseled with a timeless beauty that echoed the strength of ancient statues. Nico couldn't help but be captivated by the regal lines of her countenance—stately and composed, an embodiment of both power and refinement.
Despite her stern exterior, there was an undeniable beauty that radiated from her. Draped in a flowing blue dress that accentuated the regality of her bearing, she wore a cloak made of goat skin that cascaded over her shoulders. The cloak added an earthy, primal touch to her ensemble, a harmonious blend of sophistication and natural simplicity. In her hand, she held a staff crowned with a white lotus flower—an emblem of purity and enlightenment.
Nico paused for a second and wondered why did he have knowledge of flowers. Albert never taught it to him, his tutor had only covered poisonous plants and flora that might try and eat him. So, how did he know what the white lotus flower signified?
Nico shook his head and focused on the situation at hand. The only thing keeping him from taking out his sword and pointing it, in a defensive stance, a reaction beating into him by Alexander's training session, was his instincts. They were screaming at him to be polite and not attack her. It would be a battle he would lose. And as Alexander always tells him, no matter how many times Albert rolls his eyes at him, you need to trust your gut, as it is what keeps you from losing your head on a battlefield.
"My apologies, my Lady," Nico bowed politely, being quite sincere in his apology. His mama taught him to be polite in any situation. "We are on a quest you see, and we are looking for another quest members. They are supposed to be here. Though, this is only an excuse, which does not mean I should have behaved like a heathen. My mama taught me better and I should have knocked. My most sincere apologies."
The woman stared at him with wide-open eyes, as if she was staring at a ghost. She then shook her head and smiled blandly at Nico. "Finally, a polite hero!" She exclaimed. "I never thought I would see the day that one of you had some manners!"
Nico frowned at the way she had said "one of you", but shook his head and replied politely, in an even tone. " My mama made sure I learned better."
"You seem to respect your mother," the woman commented, giving him an appreciative look.
"I do," Nico affirmed, firmly I with conviction. "A mother's job is the hardest in the world and my mama did an incredible job on her own. I love and respect her for that, feelings that only grow because of what an amazing person she is." Something akin to respect shone in her eyes, as if she was starting to see him in a new light. Not as vermin, or as "one of them". "Family is the most important thing in the world."
"If only more would see it like that," she murmured softly, with a warm yet incredibly sad look in her eyes. "Then again you are his son, of course you would."
"His? You know my father?!" Nico exclaimed, eyes widening in shock. He unconsciously realized that for some reason his ghost guardians were silent, which should have worried him, but he was too focused on the fact that he might find out more about his Godly parent to care.
"I do young hero," the woman answered. "He is a diligent God who has never broken any vow he has made or messed with mortals. He has no monster enemy or anyone swearing vengeance at him. He kept his martials vows and cherishes his wife dearly... which if I am honest, I am quite jealous of."
"If that's so, then how was I even born?" Nico frowned confused, though glad that that his father was better than the rapist, hateful, and vain deities he had been learning about with Albert. "While, mamma was like a Goddess to me, she was a mortal human."
"Oh, sweet boy," the woman giggled, sounding like wedding bells to Nico's ears. "Your mother was not only the lover of your father, but your stepmother as well. Your father and his wife have taken a mortal lover during the millenniums they've been together. Dante and Da Vinci were the other two sons your father had created with mortals. You also have a half-sister from them. Then, it was your stepmother who sired demi-children,
Mother Teresa and Jean of Arcs. I know quite ironic two of the most devout Christians were demigoddesses."
"I was raised catholic, that does not leave just after learning about… all of this," Nico looked around, overwhelmed by all this information. He now understands what Harry felt when he fanboys over being related to Cirse. Dante? Da Vinci? Joan of Arcs? Mother Fucking Teresa?!
"Well, diligence runs in his blood, your blood," the woman hummed. "Once a child of his finds their faith, they devout themselves to it. Maybe that's why after being raised Christian, they continued that path even with the revelation of their paternity."
"Well, I'm glad that at least I was not born from an affair," Nico sighed sounding quite relieved. "I loathe the idea of being the product of breaking the core vow of marriage."
"Is that important to you?" The Woman asked, startled by his relied. "Young boys and girls these days do not care much for marriage," she scowled.
"I am from the 30's, though trapped in the Lotus Hotel and Casino for many decades," Nico confessed.
"So that's how he saved you!" The woman whispered, though was unheard by the demigod, as Nico continued his explanation.
"My memories are a bit foggy from being there for so long, but I recall how much I love my mamma and sorella. But the clearest early memory I have from the 30's, was a wedding in Italy before we moved to Washington." Nico's mind was elsewhere, as he fondly remembered. "The couple looked so happy, that I turned to my mamma and asked her why were they that happy. She told me that they had just become family to each other and will now spend the rest of their lives together."
Nico had an awed expression that warmed the woman's hardened heart. "I thought how wonderful it was to be able to promise yourself to another. When I started learning about this decade and all the changes, I was ecstatic that they had legalize same sex marriage in many countries." Nico sighed both dreamily and sadly. He did not know why he was confessing all of this, but it felt as if he was being compelled to tell her the truth. "Kids my age in this era do not appreciate marriage because they do not know how easy they have it. But I promise you that I will never take it for granted!
"You have no idea what you've just done," the woman told him softly, gaze warm and in awe She then chuckled. "Though, I believe that if you did know, you would have still done it anyway. With even more conviction."
Before Nice could ask her what she meant by that, the doors opened, and two beautiful young girls entered. Both bowed lowly and apologized for their tardiness, as they began preparing their tools for a mani-pedi. Though they turned to Nico, startled when they noticed his presence. Nico was truly good at mingling in the shadows.
"Reyna Ramirez-Arellano and Hylla Ramirez-Arellano, daughters of Bellona," the woman began, the girls paling slightly. Nico turned to him surprised. "You shall follow Nico di Angelo to the west to fulfill the quest given to him by the Herophile. I decree it!"
Reyna and Hylla's eyes widened in shock, while Nico raised an eyebrow. She decrees it? With that said, the woman glowed, and she was gone in a show of white light. "She decrees it?"
"You don't know who she is!" Reyna asked him surprised.
Hylla frowned when he shook his head in negation. "That was the Goddess of Marriage and Family. Wife of Lord Jupiter and Queen of Olympus, Lady Juno."
Nico paled when he realized what he had promised to the Goddess of Marriage and turned to his ghost guardians startled. Helena was smiling comfortingly, while Harry and Alexander were laughing their assess off, and Albert was shaking his head.
"Porca miseria!"