Forgotten prophecy

Chapter 35

"So you don't know anything?" Nico pressed, following after his father's robes as he strode through his palace. "Nothing at all?"

"For perhaps the hundredth time, no." Hades said curtly, removing a large leather bound book and flipping through it. "I was not even aware one of the souls from Elysium had gone missing until you brought it to my attention. The other gods may have some inkling as to what is going on, but I would be the last to know. Of course that should not surprise me, but it is rather tiresome nonetheless. I have saved them more times than I can count and yet they insist on keeping me out of the loop."

Nico suppressed his desire to roll his eyes. His father was in a mood to rant about the unfair treatment of the other gods and little would be able to bring him out of said mood. "Do you at least know how a soul would be taken?" He asked hopefully.

"Thanatos generally keeps a very good eye on such things." Hades told his son, slamming the book shut and replacing it on the shelf. Persephone looked up from where she was reading by the black fire that flickered in Hades' fireplace and shot her husband a sour look. When Hades turned his back she and Nico shared an exasperated expression and Nico hid a smile. Persephone had recently been much kinder to him than she usually was, a welcome reprieve from her former coldness. The Lord of the Underworld turned back around and glared at the two of them suspiciously. "When he returns I will ask him if anything has been amiss in the Underworld."

"Can't you just Skype him?" Nico sighed. "I know you have him in your contacts. He added me a few weeks ago by accident."

"That actually was not by accident." Hades admitted, pulling his tablet out of a fold in his robes. "I asked him to look after you in the off chance I was busy."

"I can look after myself." Nico insisted with a scowl that accentuated his resemblance to his father. "Also, while we are on the topic of you being busy what's with the Di Angelo Funeral Homes?"

Hades blinked in surprise and then smiled ruefully, the expression odd on his normally angry face. "Well, I rather thought that you would enjoy a summer job." Hades admitted. "Most other children your age seem to take enjoyment in the idea of earning money, so I thought that I would give you the same opportunity that they had. Consider it me teaching you financial responsibility."

Nico was actually at a loss for words. He had thought it might have been a joke on his father's part, Hades was not known for his sense of humor after all, but hearing that he was actually touched. "Well... thank you." Nico said awkwardly.

Hades smiled back with just as much awkwardness. "Of course." He sighed and shook his head. "I will do what I can to find out about the missing soul. If something has been plundering Elysium that necessitates further investigation."

One of the massive doors to the mansion opened and a terribly handsome man with wings as dark as midnight stepped through. "Ah, Thanatos." Hades greeted. "I was hoping that you would be stopping by soon, I needed to speak with you."

"You couldn't have Skyped me?" The god of death inquired with a raised eyebrow. "You both have me in your contact list."

"That's what I said." Nico agreed, nodding to Thanatos in lieu of a greeting.

"Since I am here, what did you need my lord?" Thanatos asked politely, pulling his iPad out of his suit and beginning to tap away at the screen with a stygian iron Stylus. "I don't see any discrepancies in the soul collection for the day. Are there new names to add?"

"Not quite." Hades told him regretfully. "There has been an issue with Elysium."

"An issue my lord?" Thanatos asked curiously. Nico couldn't help but notice that his voice constantly took on the tone that one would assume when telling someone that a dear friend had died. It was very disconcerting, especially given Thanatos's propensity for sarcasm. "What issue would that be?"