Sun-kissed Angel (a Solangelo fanfiction)

CHAPTER 21: LIES

Nico

Sugar coated lies. Bitter truth. What is true for Nico had been crushed. He lost everything.

Nico took a deep breath. This is it.

I'm going to do it.

He inched closer to Hades' obsidian palace.

I can't.

Nico paused.

What will he say? That he already knew the truth? That he knew the reason why the only information he ever gave to Nico was her name? That he's an awful father?

He pushed his shaking hands on the pockets of his dark jeans before he continued walking.

The skeletal warriors parted for him.
There is no turning back now.

Daedalus met him on the gates.
"Nico! Thank the gods! Your father went berserk when you're gone! Where in Olympus have you been?"

"Somewhere," he replied. There's no evading Daedalus, son of Athena and all.

The ghost eyed him curiously.
"You look ...a shade darker. Where have you been exactly?"

Yeah, right. That's an understatement. He turned two or three shades darker. He heard it already. Reyna and Coach Hedge gawked at his new complexion when he returned to the Twenty first Nome.

"Piss off old man," Nico hissed under his breath. Sadie and her name calling got on his skin after all.

That rendered the ghost speechless.

"Where's Dad?" Nico asked, his lips twitching.

"You know you should call your father Dad," Sadie said.
"Try it just for kicks."

Nico's lips twitched.
"Like you calling the god of funerals babe?"

Sadie grimaced.
"Gross. But yeah, you get the point."

Daedalus stared at Nico like he was a madman. He probably is.

"On the throne room. He just got back from a council meeting."

Darn, Nico thought. They already know.

"Bye," he said, passing by the inquiring ghost.

He normally kept his mouth shut. But that was before his life turned for the worst. The old him wouldn't have cared though. The Underworld is his domain.

He walked to the throne room.

"...couldn't ignore her anymore than you can." Alecto half-whispered, half-hissed at Hades, who was slumped on his throne.

The god looked up, his face colder than before, it made Nico shudder.

"I will not yield! Tell the smart ass goddess to stop sticking her nose on other gods' business!"

"But Athen..."

"I AM HADES! AND I WILL NOT YIELD TO ANYONE! I WILL OPEN MY GATES IF I HAVE TO! NOW SCURRY AWAY!"