The Prince of the Underworld

by kurenohikari

Being on the run from monsters was not something Nico had been expecting to do in his life. For all his love for Mythomagik, Nico had never believed the cards to be based on real life events. Who would ever expect myths to be real? It was madness! What made everything worse was the fact that Nico was following four ghosts. Nico was sure he was losing his mind.

8. ACT I - PART VIII

"It looks like you've made this place a home," Persephone commented as she looked around the Di Angelo Manor. "Quite comfortable within, and the hearth burning brightly. The garden outside is also blooming just right. You did a great job there."

"Thank you," Nico smiled bashfully. "It's all thanks to you for claiming me as your champion. I still recall killing every plant I touched back in the 30's in Italy."

"Well, you don't need to fear ever killing a plant again," Persephone smiled gently. "Not with my blessing and Apollo's protection," she looked deep into Nico's eyes, which used to be dark brown, but now glowed gold like Apollo's eyes. "I do wonder, though. How did you buy this place? I know my husband had only started paying you recently, for all the work you've been doing for the Underworld."

"Oh, I used the card I got from the Lotus Hotel and Casino to pay for everything for the last two years," Nico answered. "It's unlimited and they accept hotel cards everywhere in Las Vegas. Food, clothes, electricity, transportation, even schooling fees though I am being home schooled."

"You've adjusted to the 21st century quite well," Persephone praised, making him blush.

"Mostly because I got my ghost guardians teaching me everything," Nica replied. "Even my home tutors are ghosts. It's been working for me somehow. My grades are great, and my house is believed to be a haunted house by how much it reeks of death. No monster dares coming close, not that they know I live here, as I always come via shadow traveling."

"They wouldn't dare to come close," Persephone scoffed. "Especially, now with the pack of hellhounds you've rescued and added to patrol your home. You might have only taken in runts, that normal hellhound packs would drown in the Acheron, but all of them combined have the lone monster trembling in their boots." Persephone's smile turned proud as she looked at her son, the boy of her husband and precious Maria. Behind him, floating the air his guardians lined up in a protective formation: Helena, daughter of Aphrodite; Harry, child of Hecate and legacy of Hermes; Alexander, son of Ares; and Albert, son of Athena. "You've made the Underworld proud."

"Well, it was a couple of hectic years," Nico sighed. "I did not expect to find a group of demigod ghosts in the Lotus Hotel and Casino, that's for sure." Nico's smile turned soft and nostalgic. "But it was worth it. We avenged Albert, stopped the Triumvirate from plotting to bring us down, saved Bianca, and now she and Reyna are happily traveling with the Hunt of Artemis."

"And now, your duties must continue," Persephone stood up and nodded gracefully at him. "You need to present yourself to New Rome and Camp Jupiter." Her form flickered slightly between her Greek and Roman form, before returning to her Greek form. "I shall come and have tea with you twice a month. My father's laws prohibit us from being in contact with our mortal children, but technically you are my husband's child." She smirked mischievously, making Nico giggle in delight. "My mother and Aphrodite want to come as well; they are eager to meet you. Dite is specially interested in seeing Helena, she had missed her daughter."

Persephone smiled gently at the ghost daughter of Aphrodite, who had tears in her eyes, before disappearing in a burst of flowers. Nico shook his head with a chuckle, before going back inside the manor and getting the girls. They all needed to get going.

"How are you doing?" Hylla asked Nico, as the two of them and Herophile reached the entrance of New Rome. "Ready?"

"I am fine, no need to hover. It's not your style." Nico grumbled.

"It might not be. But we both parted ways with our sisters, after they decided to join the Hunt." Hylla huffed. "It must have been especially hard for you, as you had not seen your sister in over a year."

Nico's frown became more pronounced. "My sister had no choice. She was forced to join because of the prophecy."

Nico had learned about the prophecy and the fate that had befallen his mother. At the end it was all for nothing, his mother had died for nothing. He was not the child of the prophecy. It was no wonder Nico had entered a state of depression. One that only seeing his sister again had helped. But now that Bianca had left with Artemis... well it seems that rather than depressed he was constantly angry.

So, Nico had done what he could to distract himself from all of it. He threw himself at work. He threw himself at remaking Triumvirate Holdings into a well-respected company. One that did not cheat or manipulate people. Nico kept the monsters hired, they already knew their jobs and Nico did not have the time or patience to instruct new employees. It also kept those monsters from hunting down demigods.

What Nico changed, though, was that Triumvirate Holdings now hired older demigods. He had transformed the Tower of Nero into a school for demigods. One specialized in teaching their students with their ADHD and dyslexia. Not to me mention, with elastic schedules, for when students had to embark in quests by the whim of the Gods. The older demigods who do not work for Triumvirate Holdings teach there. They had also adopted the orphaned demigods that Nero had been keeping. With older siblings taking in their younger orphaned demigod siblings.

For those demigod future students who still have their mortal parent, Triumvirate Holdings had been giving them scholarships for their upcoming Elysium Prep. While their mothers or fathers, who were struggling, were offered jobs in the company or in the school. The Parents were over the moon! The previously known Tower of Nero, now the campus of Elysium Prep, was warded against monsters. With the lower levels being used for teaching and the higher levels to house the demigods' families, it meant that their children were kept safe all year round.

The Tower was big enough as it was, without adding the magic that made it bigger from the inside. This magical expansion made it so Nico could house every Greek demigod and their families safely inside if they so wished for. All without asking for a penny from the mortal single parents. It made some parents wary, and the other half worried about taking advantage of the sweet boy that was aiding them. Not that they needed to worry about anything. Nico had more than enough money, he was the new CEO of Triumvirate Holdings, he still possessed the Lotus Hotel and Casino card, and that is without mentioning the fact that his father is the God of Earthy Riches.

So, no, money was not an issue for Nico, which is why he had no issue about spending millions in fines for tax evasion. Triumvirate Holdings had purposely affected the lives of the single mortal parents of many demigod children all over the world by tricking them. The most famous case being Tristan McLean, whose daughter Piper was a daughter of Aphrodite. Another good outcome of said choice had been that the world now thought that Triumvirate Holdings had been inherited by a good person, who was coming clean. Triumvirate Holdings might have been a powerful company, but it had always been surrounded by sketchy rumors. So, Nico believed it was a good step on fixing his company's image.

He was still in disbelief about the fact that he was the CEO of Triumvirate Holdings and the demigod children of the Nero Tower and all the monsters, still call him Emperor Nico di Angelo. He wanted to break something half of the time, while the other half he just wanted to curl underneath his bed sheets and forget that the rest of the world existed.

As for the Underworld, there was not much he could do about it. Because of his position as mortal, he could only offer suggestions and do quests for the Underworld. It did not matter that he was a Prince of the Underworld, there was only so much he could do. That meant Nico could not choose the souls in the Fields of Asphodel that deserved a second chance, a job Persephone had taken over. Or oversee the requests from the many Gods about their cabins and temples, a job that required Dedalus.

He, however, had been instructed to oversee the construction of said cabins and temples on the mortal realm, and go back to the Underworld to report to the royal family. Though, these reports were an excuse for him to spend time with his godly family, and mostly consisted of family dinners and royal balls. As Hades has made this a long quest, they were breaking no rules.

Gods, you've gotta love loopholes!

Which lead them to where they were. Standing before New Rome to present themselves. Hylla was aiming to become a praetor, but first she was going to join the legions and raise up the ranks. Meanwhile Herophile wanted to inquire if the position as augur was open. Maybe she will find a new home and purpose here. As for Nico, he had been named Ambassador of Pluto and sent to oversee the temple buildings which will begin soon. Hades believed his new status as Ambassador of Pluto and his favor from Juno, would be enough to mask the Greek odor from the Laresin in New Rome. Id that does not work, Nice could always command them to shut the Olympus up.

"Come on! You should be the most relaxed!" Hylla shoved him playfully. "Olympus already give you the title of Pontifex Maximus! You have a job here, you are not waiting for them to decide if they let you in or not."

"It also means that I was forced on them, not chosen," Nico grumbled. "A double edge sword, many won't be happy about it. Especially, as they know they cannot do anything about it. If you want to become a praetor, you will need to hone those diplomacy skills."

"That's why I keep you around, my emperor," Hylla teased, laughing as Nico sighed but did not protest. "I knew I would get to you one of these days. Just accept your destiny! Less sighing and more walking!"

"I should have just stayed in the Lotus Hotel and Casino. Why did I ever leave?" Nico complained, as he allowed Hylla to drag him in.

"Because it was a lotophagi lair," Herophile chuckled. "Talking about the Lotus Hotel and Casino, where are your ghost guardians?"

"At the Di Angelo Manor," Nico answered, ignoring the looks they were receiving from the residents of New Rome. "They would have blown my cover."

"The poor graecus all alone surrounded by the mean romans," Hylla teased him, throwing one arm around his shoulders playfully. "Sucha pretty face like yours, will only lead you to be eaten. But wouldn't you like you like that? Getting eaten by a hunk of a roman?"

"Shut up!" Nico whined, face all red and embarrassed, as Herophile laughed out loud.

He was thankfully saved from further embarrassment by the presence of the praetors and legionnaires. "Welcome to New Rome."

The female praetor greeted them. Nico sneaked a peak at her tattoo and hummed in delight. A daughter of Venus, whoever said love could not fight, knew nothing at all. She was as beautiful as Helena, with perfectly smooth pearl-white skin and long silky raven-hair. Her Japanese aesthetics only highlighted her beauty even more. But the way she stood, that was all the warrior in her. Her katana strapped on her back, ready to easy to grab at any given moment.

"It is an honor to have you here," the male praetor stepped forward and Nico almost gasped at the symbol he saw. A son of Hercules?! Now that's shocking! "We've heard of your quest against the Triumvirate, we thank you for your bravery."

"Thank you for the warm welcome," Nico stepped forward and bowed politely, following protocol. "I am Nico di Angelo, Prince of the Underworld, Emperor of Triumvirate Holdings, Ambassador of Pluto, Champion of the Queen of the Underworld, Favored by Juno, and Blessed by Apollo."

Nico hated name dropping but in enemy territory he needed all the defenses he could get. He was pleased by the awed and respectful glances he was receiving from the romans. But the one that caught his attention the most was the look on a blond legionnaire.
Shaking off the weird feeling in his gut at that look, he focused on the task at hand. "However, I am here as the Pontifex Maximus, tasked with said duty by the King of the Underworld and the King of Olympus."

"We greet you and welcome you Pontifex Maximus," both praetors bowed and said at the same time, as the legionnaires followed their lead. The romans surely love their protocol.

Nico felt overwhelmed suddenly. He had been working hard to save his sister, and one second later he was hijacking a prophecy, saving the world, thrown in front of Olympians, and given so many titles he could barely keep track of them all. However, for some reason, now it all started to feel real.

Hylla and Herophile stepped forward, their warmth, as their shoulders touched, filling him with courage to keep on going and grounding him at the same time. "These are Hylla, Daughter al Bellona and slayer of Commodus, and Herophile, one of the Great Oracles. They've come with me to find a home in Camp Jupiter and New Rome, as part of your legion and your new augur."

The praetors' eyes widened in shock as they exchanged looks of surprise. The daughter of Venus took the initiative and replied, "We greet and welcome the Daughter of Bellona and the Herophile."

"We would be delighted to continue discussing their stay in Camp Jupiter and New Rome," the son of Hercules continued. "Legionnaire Grace, show the Pontifex Maximus, where the workers from the Underworld had setup."

"Yes, praetor!" The blond boy from before saluted.

Nico's stomach was filled with butterflies. Those intense blue eyes and perfect cheekbones just did weird things to him. His nerves become worse when Hylla winked teasingly at him and a giggling Herophile followed the praetors away. It took all of Nico's restraint not to gasp when he turned back to Grace and locked eyes with such an intense look. Why was he looking at him like that?!

Nico silently followed Grace through New Rome until he caught a peak of his tattoo and exclaimed stunned. "A son of Jupiter."

"And the Champion of Juno," Grace replied stoically. "Jason Grace, named after Queen Juno's favorite hero and given to her by my mother as compensation for infidelity." Jason's intense blue eyes turned back to Nico. "I might be her Champion, but I am sure I do not possess her favor. You might have many titles, but the one that surprised us the most was Favored by Juno. How did you achieve that? Her dislike of heroes is well known."

"Demigods more times than not, are born from infidelity. Broken marriage vows. It is no wonder why the Goddess of Marriage and Family does not look favorably upon demigods," Nico replied after a moment of silence.

Jason's jaw clenched in barely contained anger. He was so angry. "It is not our fault."

"No, it is not," Nico agreed sympathetically. "But it is not like she can go and punish the King of Olympus for his infidelity. Marriage and family are complicated, she simply represents these complications."

"What makes you so different?" Jason repeated his question. "You are like me, a child of the Big 3 and your stepmother made you, her Champion. Why are you favored by Juno?"

"First of all, I was not born out of her husband's loins," Neco replied dryly, making Jason look at him startled but chuckle, nonetheless. Nico's smile grew, Jason had a beautiful smile. "I was also not born by breaking an Oath to the River Styx. I was born before that and as you know, kept safe in the lotophagi lair." Jason nodded, having heard the story from the praetors. By now all New Rome knows the tales of Nico and the daughter of Bellona. "It also helps that the King and Queen of the Underworld Lave never cheated on each other," Jason turned to Nico shocked making him chuckle. "Shocking, right? They are faithful and very happy about it. But sometimes the desire to bring a third to play is not cheating if consensual. This is why, there had only been five demigod children of my father in total. I think Queen Juno's fondness of my godly parents' marriage, tints how she views me. There's also the fact that I also frown upon infidelity.

"But you wouldn't punish a child for it," Jason grumbled.

Nice sent him a warning look, one never knows when the Gods are listening in. "No, I do not believe children should pay for their parents' mistakes," Nico answered carefully. "But the Gods work differently than us mortals."

"Tell me about it!" Jason scoffed, and then stopped walking. "Here we are."

"There are many more worker souls than I had expected," Nico whistled impressed Especially, considering that the same amount had been sent to Camp Half-Blood. Well, it is not like the Underworld does not have souls to spare, especially in the Fields of Asphodel. "They've also advanced much further I had thought."

"Well, I am leaving you to do your job. My legion has training scheduled soon and I need to prepare," Jason informed Nico. He then threw the raven-haired boy a smirk, that had Nico blushing and giggling. "I hope to see you soon."

"Me too..." Nico whispered at Jason's retreating back.

Nico's gaze lingered on Jason's retreating figure, and he couldn't deny the undeniable handsomeness that accompanied the son of Jupiter. Jason Grace possessed a certain regality, as if sculpted by the hands of ancient Roman artists, his features chiseled into perfection. The electric blue eyes that met Nico's were like pieces of the sky, vivid and entrancing. Close-cropped blond hair framed Jason's face, a familiar sight seen on every disciplined legionnaire at Camp Jupiter. Nico couldn't help but notice a small scar gracing the corner of Jason's lip – a subtle imperfection that only served to enhance his overall attractiveness. The scar, Nico observed, added a rugged charm, making Jason look even more appealing.

Jason's kindness and gentleness radiated from his face, a warm contrast to the somber undertones that seemed to shadow him. Despite the captivating exterior, Nico sensed a lingering sadness in Jason's gaze. Nico recognized the loneliness that often-accompanied demigods, especially those with parentage as powerful and formidable as the Big Three. It was a feeling Nico knew intimately, the solitude that came with extraordinary lineage.

Tall and athletically built, Jason embodied the essence of a Roman warrior. The word "rugged" came to Nico's mind, an apt descriptor for the boy. There was an undeniable allure in Jason's demeanor – a combination of strength, stoicism, and a certain vulnerability that piqued Nico's curiosity. As Jason disappeared from view, Nico found himself unable to look away. The magnetic pull of the son of Jupiter left an indelible impression on Nico, a swirl of emotions and thoughts that lingered in the air.

"Olympus! What is wrong with me?!" Nico screeched into his hands. He then took a deep breath to collect himself and turned to the working souls. "Ok! Let's start working!"