Children of the Big Three Book 4: Battle of the Labyrinth

Chapter Fourteen: We Gotta Stop Meeting Like This

"You cannot keep this locked up within yourself a moment longer, my Son. It tears at you."

"I am not having this conversation with you. Let me wake up, I have.. Things to do." Stood in front of Nico was his father, Hades. All around them was pitch black, nothing but the two of them existed in this dreamscape. "Why do you even care? It's none of your business!"

"It is none of my business that my son is ripping at the seams? It's none of my business he's rushing head long to his death because he's being stubborn-"

"I-I'm not being stubborn! I'm doing what's right for my family! I'll claim whatever soul I need to, bring back Bianca, and then.. And then!" Nico hated himself for feeling so weak, but his voice broke, and tears threatened his eyes. But then he felt something, his fathers hands upon him, pulling him into a hug. His father was cold, but a comfortable cold. Like a candle was blown out, but the smell remained. The Son of Hades froze, unsure of what to do or how to react. His father spoke, his voice hushed and soft, like he was afraid Nico would break if he spoke too loud.

"Daedalus."

"W-Wha-"

"Daedalus is the soul you wish to claim in exchange for your sister. If I wanted to stop you, I would have by now. But I must warn you that the path you walk does not lead to him. It leads only to me, permanently."

"So, death." Hades nodded, and pulled away from his son, on one knee, he looked at him, face to face.

"But this is not what I was speaking of. It is not the only burden you carry upon your shoulders."

"The-The Prophecy?" Nico almost sounded hopeful, but Hades shook his head and put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Annabeth, Juniper, and I believe next you were to set your sights on the one named Clarisse La Rue. Time and again, you have thrown yourself at different people with distinct personality, hoping that they would drown you out. Hoping that you could make yourself believe you felt for them. With Annabeth, for a time, you even managed to fool yourself. That is a difficult task indeed."

"I-I don't.. I don't know what you're talking about." His voice was quieter than Hades', but The God heard him all the same.

"Yes. Yes you do. For all the pain the future holds for you, no longer let the weight of lies hurt you now."

Tears fell from his eyes. "I.. I'm.. Scared."

"Of what, My Son?"

"That everything will change! That everyone will look at me differently-talk to me differently! I'm afraid they'll hate me or I'm afraid that once everyone knows, that's all I'll be. The gay friend, nothing more. I don't know what I'm afraid of anymore!"

"Who? Thalia, Silena, Beckendorf?"

"No-No they wouldn't, but they aren't-"

"The only people in the world... Tell me, if I told you that you were to be my general as I conquer the mortal realm and destroy Camp Half-Blood, would you just accept it?"