Chapter Text
“Hey boy, hey! Hey!”
Cerberus bounced to one side and then the other, tail wagging. His middle head was pointed with magnetic accuracy towards the prince, while the other two heads pointed in opposite directions, the right one sleepy and unconcerned, the left one irritated and snooty.
Zagreus tossed the chthonic ball from hand to hand. It was leather and twine, but somehow robust enough to stand the large hungry teeth of the hellish beast. For that reason, it was very well-loved. If he wasn’t quick, Cerberus might just try to snatch it from his hands.
“Fetch!” Zagreus tossed the ball as hard as he could.
Cerberus reared onto his hind legs as the ball sailed over his head, past Hades’ empty desk, and towards Persephone’s locked garden. Before the ball could land, Cerberus had launched himself after it. There was a loud crash of marble breaking.
Zagreus winced.
Cerberus’ wagging tail was all he could see of the garden. The enormous dog turned; ball proudly caught between the jaws of the middle head.
“You’re a bit of a force of nature, buddy…” Zagreus said, approaching the wrecked doorway. He brushed dust from the broken sheet of marble. Cerberus padded backwards, chewing his ball happily.
He had been in the garden many times, although it occurred to him he hadn’t been in since he found out the truth about his parentage and learned whose garden he had spent his youth chasing Thanatos around in. The grass was a deep red, shining orange when the light from the hall hit it. The trees were greenish grey and the pomegranates which hung down from branches swung against each other as he walked under the trees.
“Was it just the door we damaged?” Zagreus asked, shoo-ing Cerberus further back.
The hellhound didn’t answer him, but Zagreus caught sight of something dripping from the animal’s flank. He frowned and brushed a hand along the vivid red fur. He drew his hand back and saw dustings of wood chips.
“Which tree did you hit?” Zagreus asked.
Cerberus only tilted his head.
Zagreus dusted his hands off. He followed the trail of destruction they had left in the garden and noticed that Cerberus had hit a tree with his back paw. The tree had no leaves or fruit. It was a rough, gray-black, too short to be any good for climbing and the wrong shape besides. Zagreus remembered passing it by when he would play as a child.
The prince put his hand on the bark and felt the crack which spread there. It was slightly damp. He felt something under his fingers, something very small and thin. He pulled it up to the light of the hall. It was a long, curly black hair.
Zagreus frowned at the hair. He searched the bark for where he had found it and felt an expanse of curly hair under it. He worked his fingers into the wood and snapped off a weakened section. What he saw nearly made him cry out. There was a pale human ear under the bark.
“Oh, hi Zag. Did you damage the prisoner’s tree?” Hypnos asked.
Zagreus startled. “Hypnos? Aren’t you working right now?”
Hypnos ignored him, floating into the gardens. He waved at Cerberus and yawned. “You should probably tell your dad about that. He won’t be happy.”
“Who’s in there?” Zagreus asked. He was looking at the tree with renewed interest. Now he had uncovered the ear, he could see that the tree itself was large enough to hold someone folded-up tightly, with their knees tucked under their chin.
“It’s Commander Nico,” Hypnos said. “He used to work for Hades, until… well until he didn’t. Nice guy, though.”
Zagreus frowned. “Was he a shade?”
“No idea. Nobody was quite sure what he was,” Hypnos said. “He just appeared some day and he could control basically all the underworld minions. Mom thinks Chaos sent him, for some reason. But he got hired and he worked in Tartarus mostly.”
Zagreus stared at the pale ear. “Has he been here this whole time?”
“Yeah.” Hypnos said. “He’s asleep, actually. Persephone asked me to do it, er… back when she was Queen.”
“Persephone?” Zagreus was so startled he didn’t know what to say for a moment. “What was he imprisoned for?”
“How should I know?” Hypnos asked. “He must have done something pretty bad. It’s the only sentence Persephone carried out on her own, without putting the subject to trial first.”
Zagreus swallowed. There was something weird about this, but he wasn’t sure what. “Can you wake him up?” He asked.
“Eh?” Hypnos frowned.
“Can you wake up Commander Nico?” Zagreus asked.
Hypnos scratched the back of his neck and paused. “I can. But shouldn’t we wait for Lord Hades?”
Zagreus pulled out his sword and used the hilt of it to break up the tough bark. It snapped like pottery, revealing more and more of the Commander. He pulled the bark from a leather jacket, pale skin, dark curls. The Commander looked young, he couldn’t be older than twenty. It didn’t take long for the tree to begin to break up, and Nico’s body flopped onto the floor. Zagreus pulled the Commander onto his lap. He was battered and bruised.
Hypnos hesitated, and waved a hand towards the sleeping man.
For a moment there was only stillness, and soft breathing.
Then Nico’s eyes peeled open. His dark eyelashes were dusty and it was a long time until he had the strength to lift his head up. He groaned softly.
“Why did Persephone imprison you?” Zagreus asked the moment Nico’s head rose.
“Dio Mio… Mi dia un momento… I just woke up,” Nico croaked. He wiped his face. “Who in Hades are you?”
“I’m Zagreus,” Zagreus said, quickly. “I’m the son of Hades. Now answer my question.”
Nico massaged his eye sockets with the back of his wrist. “You’ll have to repeat your question. What year is it?”
“Oh… we don’t really measure time in the underworld,” Hypnos said. “But for reference, you have 3,278 years left of your sentence to serve!”
“Then why am I awake?” Nico asked. He pulled himself up.
Zagreus couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the other man. Nico didn’t look like a criminal. His dark eyes were lined, and his face looked sallow. His temple was swelling with a dark bruise. Nico touched the wound absently.
“Why would Persephone imprison you? What did you do?” Zagreus asked.
“Maybe she can tell you herself when she comes,” Nico said. He knelt in the dust of the broken doorway. “I’ll need her to grow another tree for me, anyway.”
Zagreus and Hypnos exchanged glances.
“What is it?” Nico asked. “Where is she, anyway? It’s her garden.”
“Queen Persephone is not in the underworld anymore,” Zagreus said, awkwardly.
Nico frowned. Then he nodded and stood up. “Oh, right, sure. Well, I guess it can wait. I have nothing but time lately. Sucks, because she’s great at healing.” He cradled his wounded head. “You don’t have any ambrosia, do you?”
Zagreus bit his tongue. He had been saving the ambrosia, which was difficult to acquire, but he brought it out anyway. He had the strange urge to take care of Nico, like the man was a baby bird dropped far too soon from the nest.
Nico uncorked the ambrosia with his teeth and poured the divine liquid onto his temple. He hissed as the swelling across his temple began to quickly deflate and heal.
“I’ve never seen anyone do that before,” Zagreus said with a frown.
“It probably won’t work on you guys because you’re too godly,” Nico said, taking a sip of the ambrosia.
“So you’re not a god, then?” Zagreus asked. “You’re a shade?”
“Who knows what I am, at this point,” Nico said. He leaned on the dusty tree remains. “Did Persephone give you that sword?”
Zagreus touched the broad side of his stygian sword. “No. Is it hers?”
“It’s mine. I gave it to her to help protect herself when she’s on the surface,” Nico said. “It’s weird that she left it down here. I hope she’s alright.”
Zagreus couldn’t help but smile. Here, finally, was another of his mother’s allies. A million questions jumped to mind, and he took a moment to decide which one to ask. He opened his mouth.
“Prince Zagreus!” Hades’ voice boomed through the halls. “What destruction have you wrought in my house?!”
Nico’s tired eyes widened. He rolled to his feet and stretched, before he climbed over the rubble and headed towards the desk. “Lord Hades!”
“Commander Nico,” Hades looked the thin man up and down. Nico had stringy arms and legs and a bow to his back which made him look smaller than he was. It was hard to believe he bore the title of commander.
Nico stood before the desk, shaking the last of the tree shards from his dark curls. He brushed his shoulder off and cleared his throat.
“Prince Zagreus accidentally released me from my tree early,” Nico said. His chirpiness was false and seemed to make him look even more exhausted. “So, if you could just build me another one and putting me to sleep so I could get on with serving my sentence, that would be excellent. It doesn’t have to be a tree—just anything I can curl up in. Thanks.”
Hades said nothing for a long moment. His expression was dark and unreadable. His pure white eyebrows drew together. “Remind me of your crime, Commander.”
Nico paused.
“There was nothing listed in your verdict,” Hades said. “I looked over your papers and could find no fault. If anything, your work was exemplary.”
“Thanks, but it’s probably best not to discuss it,” Nico said. “After all, I thought her ruling was fare and even-handed. I’m not asking for parole.”
“No, I think it is good to discuss it,” Hades said. He sat down behind his desk and drew a sheet of paper towards himself. “Security in the underworld has become lax in your absence, Commander. My son is making himself a nuisance. If you cannot even seem to remember your crime, perhaps it is better to commute your sentence to time served and re-enlist your services here.”
“No!” Nico yelped, before he recovered a little composure. “No, I, er… I like being unemployed, actually. Besides, you shouldn’t go back on Persephone’s decisions, it undermines her rule here. She’s Queen, isn’t she, even if she’s not here right now?”
At the mention of the goddess’ name, Hades’ expression tightened. “Do not talk about her.”
“I know you’re probably missing her but,” Nico took a step forward. “Look, can we call Persephone or something? Send her an iris message? I’m sure that she’d—”
“I am the ruler of the underworld, not her!” Hades bellowed, loud enough to shake the marble. “You would do well to learn your place here, Commander!”
Nico didn’t even flinch. Instead, he scowled. “Oh, come on! You can’t go back on what she promised me. I don’t want to work for you!”
“It matters very little what you want, Commander,” Hades said, his voice dripping with rage. He began to write, the contract rolling out from his quill fluidly. “You will work for me and my ranks of foes, or I shall make your stay in the underworld… deeply unpleasant.” He finished the contract and laid it onto the table before Nico.
Nico frowned. He picked up the quill and looked down at the contract like it might bite him.
“Do you doubt my ability to punish you?” Hades asked, coldly.
“You know contracts signed under duress aren’t legally binding, right?” Nico asked, but signed on the line anyway.
Hades didn’t smile, but he pulled the contract back with a look of satisfaction. It rolled up on its own and split into two. Hades held out Nico’s copy of the contract out, and Nico plucked it from his fingers. The other copy drifted away to be filed by the clerks who worked endlessly in the office.
Nico tucked the contract into the waist band of his jeans. “I don’t suppose I can take holiday right away?”
“Your term of service begins immediately,” Hades said. “If you are lucky, your performance will make up for your impudent comments.”
“I’m guessing that’s a no,” Nico said, sourly. He stalked out of the halls.
Zagreus broke into a run to follow him. Hades looked at his son with a frown but didn’t speak to him. Nico passed the station where Nyx usually stood and walked into Zagreus’ room.
“Hey, Nico!” Zagreus caught up with him.
Nico glared at him. He raised an arm, fingers splayed.
The sword on Zagreus’ back shivered and jumped into the air. It flipped over itself and settled, hilt-first, into Nico’s outstretched hand. When the man touched it, the sword pared down to a pure, black slice of a blade, the colour leaching away immediately.
“Don’t talk to me,” Nico said, sheathing his sword. “This is all your fault! Now I’m back to working for the god of grumpiness for months until Persephone comes back.”
Zagreus was about to comment that he’d never heard anyone call Hades the god of grumpiness before—but then what Nico said struck him. “You believe Persephone’s coming back?”
“Of course she is.” Nico threw aside the curtain doorway with a slap of silk on silk, his shoes slapping the flagstones. “The summer can’t last forever, can it?”
Zagreus frowned. “What’s summer?”
Nico groaned. “For a god, you sure are stupid, aren’t you?”
“Ouch,” Zagreus said.
Skelly jumped into life with a jangle of bones. “Mister! You’re back! Wow, it’s been—”
“Not right now, Skelly.” Nico snapped, and glared back at Zagreus. “Look, Hades might be acting like a dog who thinks his owner’s never coming back because they went to the store for five minutes, but you can’t all be this clueless,” Nico said. “It happens every year! Persephone goes for six months then she comes back for six. Duh!”
Zagreus paused. He wasn’t entirely sure how long a month was, but he was fairly sure he had lived through the equivalent of a few of them. “I don’t think she’s coming back, Nico.”
Nico frowned at him. The unearthly fire cast bright green pools over his dark curls. “What do you mean?”
“She left for the surface soon after I was born,” Zagreus said. “She hasn’t been back since.”
“That can’t be…” Nico shook his head. “No way. That’s not how it’s supposed to happen.”
“Supposed to?” Zagreus echoed.
Nico glanced at him. He seemed about to say something, then he closed his mouth tightly. “This is all wrong.”
“Nico,” Zagreus started.
But Nico just stepped forward. Before his outstretched foot touched the flagstone, a rush of black shadow came up to meet him and he flickered out of phase. He was gone with a sound like rustling feathers.
Zagreus stared at the space where the Commander had just been seconds earlier.
“Don’t let it get to you, boyo,” Skelly said. “Commish is probably missing your ma.”
Zagreus glanced at him. “So they were close, after all?”
“You bet. Nickels used to sleep in her garden when he wasn’t working for your pops,” Skelly said. “It was a sight to see. He was the only one eating fruit from her gardens. Persephone taught him to play the harp. Besides your dad and old lady Nyx, he might have been her closest pal down here.”
“I thought they might be,” Zagreus said. “But what changed? Why did Persephone imprison him? What did he do?”
“You’re asking the wrong fella,” Skelly said, shaking his head. “Still… it was the weirdest thing. When she sentenced him, she cried but Nickels didn’t seem that torn up. He was comforting her. Strange reaction for a guy about to be jailed for longer than any human civilisation’s lasted.”
Zagreus wasn’t sure what to say. He just frowned, taking that in.
Skelly slapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure you know by now, but your pops employs all types. Nickels is a bit of a sourpuss most of the but he’s an alright fella. You’ll grow on him!”
“Thanks, Skelly,” Zagreus said. In this heart, though, he wasn’t sure.
*
Zagreus didn’t have to wait long to see Nico again.
When he left for his next escape attempt, spear in hand, Nico was waiting in one of the broad rooms of Tartarus. The leaping green flames made him look even more ghoulish and dead-eyed. The pits under his cheekbones were deep in shadow.
“Turn back,” Nico said. He had his black stygian sword slung against one shoulder like a baseball bat.
“Sorry, Nico,” Zagreus said. “I can’t do that.”
“You aren’t going to win,” Nico warned.
“Let’s not be pessimistic,” Zagreus said.
Nico didn’t smile. He drew his sword out and touched the tip of his sword to the grey flagstones. There was a hiss and a rumble. The fires flared.
Zagreus jumped forward, trying to get ahead of whatever attack Nico was preparing, but his strike met iron.
Achilles blocked the strike inches before it struck Nico.
Zagreus was so startled he didn’t resist when Achilles shoved him backwards. He stumbled across the cold stone, heart beating wildly. “What?”
“Sorry lad,” Achilles said. “It isn’t by choice.”
“He’s right,” Nico said, taking a step into the shadows. He didn’t disappear, but the edge of his jacket became transparent. “I’m the Ghost King. Every hero who has ever died is under my dominion. When I say jump, they… well…” He waved a hand.
Achilles struck Zagreus in the heart.
Zagreus looked down at the sword which had slipped between his ribs. He dragged in a single breath through ruptured lungs and choked on bubbles of hot blood. He expired.
*
Every time he left the house, he was felled in Tartarus.
It wasn’t that he was bested in combat. That he could accept, even enjoy, and rail against and defeat. But Zagreus knew he wasn’t fighting his best. His strikes were weak and deflecting. He cringed at striking his teacher.
Achilles was not able to exercise restraint. Nico kept him on the offensive, directed him to strike like a viper at every opening. Once, Zagreus managed to reach around Achilles to strike Nico, but the Ghost King just smacked aside his spear easily. In the moments that Zagreus was without a weapon, Achilles beheaded him.
Each attempt drove something deeper into Zagreus. He started to dread it, just a little.
*
On one attempt, Zagreus made it through Tartarus without seeing Nico at all. When he returned, involuntarily, to the house after reaching Elysium, he saw the young man in the hallway in loud conversation with the god of sleep.
“I’m really not asking for the moon here,” Nico said. “All I’m asking is that you do the same thing again. I know you can do it.”
Hypnos closed one luminous eye. “Mm… I don’t want to make Lord Hades mad.”
“And I don’t want to have to be awake for the next three-thousand years with only skeletons for company!” Nico shot back. “You know the only thing I can eat down here is in the garden? My skin is turning red from all these pomegranates! I can’t—”
“Oh, hi Zagreus!” Hypnos interrupted chirpily. “Let’s see, you died in Elysium this time? Sounds like someone’s been neglecting their post~!”
Nico spared a glance at Zagreus and growled under his breath. He turned on his heel and teleported away before the prince of hell had a chance to say a word.
*
“Wait, please,” Zagreus said, just as Nico was opening his mouth to speak.
Nico stepped back. In the lime green fire of Tartarus, his eyes looked very black. His mouth drew a thin line.
“You can summon any ghost, right?” Zagreus asked. “Could I ask that you don’t summon Achilles? It can be almost anyone else, just not him.”
“Are you kidding me?” Nico hissed. “Achilles is the greatest Greek hero, of course I’m going to use him! He has the most attack points! And, while we’re at it, it’s your fault I’m even stuck here! You’re in no position to—”
“I know, I know, I’m sorry,” Zagreus said. “It’s just… I can’t fight him. It’s difficult to explain. He’s like a father to me.”
Nico didn’t look convinced. He closed his eyes for a moment. Then he drew out his sword, letting it slice through the air with a thin whistle. The ground cracked and a shade swelled into being like a coalescing of grey light.
It was a tall, boxy-shouldered man with densely curling brown hair and bright blue eyes. Dark hair covered his broad arms and trunk-like thighs. He drew his long sword, the razor edge flashing in the unearthly torchlight.
“Hector,” Nico said. “I want you to bring me Zagreus’ head.”
Hector smiled broadly and struck forward. Zagreus intercepted his strike with a clash of metal on metal.
*
It took him three attempts to break through Hector’s solid vanguard. But on the third attempt, he slew Hector and went around to strike Nico—but felt something slice his ribs. Zagreus dove to one side to avoid it.
Another man stood between him and Nico now. It was a man with long, straight black hair tied into a high tail. He held a net and trident with razor points.
“Bellerophon,” Nico said, tiredly. “This is Zagreus.”
“Another challenger?” Zagreus asked. “How many do you have?”
Bellerophon sliced the air where the young god had just been.
“I have literally… almost an infinite number of shades I can call on to attack you,” Nico said. “I can probably do more than one at once, too, I just don’t want to because it’s an effort. Plus, it’s not that large a room in here and I don’t want somebody to accidentally spear me.”
Zagreus dodged another strike and managed to cut Bellerophon’s net in half. The hero struck the god and scattered red blood across the flagstones.
“Why are you holding back?” Nico asked.
“Excuse me?” Zagreus asked.
“Come on,” Nico said. “You’re a god, aren’t you? You’re the son of Hades and Persephone! You should be able to kick my butt like nobody’s business.”
Zagreus gritted his teeth and drove Bellerophon back with a few keen strikes. “I appreciate your faith in me, but I’m not holding back.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Nico said. “You haven’t done anything. Your father’s called the Earthshaker, isn’t he? You mother, she can turn a tide in war. Why aren’t you wiping the floor with half of the underworld?”
Bellerophon struck through his defence and struck him through the stomach. Zagreus faltered, stumbling back. “Sorry to disappoint,” Zagreus said, as he died.