The Glory That Is Rome (a Percy Jackson AU)

Losing Another Sister

        Nico needed to be there for his father and sister, but somehow, he could not be. It did not help that Hades had remarried. It was only two months since Bianca and Maria had died from a fever that had swept through Rome and Hades was already enjoying the embrace of another wife when he should still be mourning for his last.

     Persephone was a small, slight woman who was as different to Maria as silver was from gold. Maria had all the classical beauty of a Roman matron with an olive complexion, dark hair and lashes, and a beautiful face with features that were not delicate, but sharp. Persephone had hardly any color in her complexion. She was like a flower come winter: pale lips, a small nose, and large, light-colored eyes.

    Whereas Maria had wide hips and slight shoulders, Persephone's entire figure was slight from her small hands to her slender ankles. Her personality was different too. Maria was always commanding and spoke in a voice as rich as the roasted thrushes that Hades enjoyed eating. Persephone seemed much more timid, like a shy doe, and spoke in a voice that sounded like a gentle breeze: soft and utterly forgettable. Nico wondered what his father saw in her.

      His chagrin with her increased even more at dinnertime. They had a small, family dinner that night and as they reclined on sofas and Nico picked at his food, Hades announced that Hazel was getting married. 

     "What?" Nico asked, hoping his ears had deceived him.

     "Your sister is getting married," Hades repeated.

    Nico looked at his sister. With her luminous golden eyes, cinnamon-colored hair, and dark complexion, she was pretty. She was now sixteen and he shouldn't have felt as surprised as he did. That she was getting wed, however, seemed to be news to Hazel for her eyes were wide and she gaped before quickly giving her father a tentative smile. Nico felt like he was Prometheus, having his liver torn apart by an eagle every time it regrew.

     "Your mother, Persephone, cajoled me into finding her a suitable husband," Hades said, giving his wife a smile.

    Nico had never seen his father smile so much. He himself never wanted to smile less. He glared at Persephone, who looked as fragile as a reed even in her fine tunic. How dare she conspire to take away his other sister? She was as nasty as Juno was to Aeneas.  

      Nico shoved away his plate and stood up, storming out of the room. He ignored his pater's reprimands and headed up to his bedroom. As the son of one of the wealthiest men in Rome, Nico was lucky to have a soft sofa to sleep upon. Hazel had the same, but soon she would sleep in her marriage bed. The thought made bile rise to his throat and he retched in an old pot. 

      He was finished vomiting the little that he had eaten by the time Hazel came to his room. 

     "Nico," she said. "I know you're upset, but the marriage is for the best."

     "It's not fair!" Nico raged. "Persephone has no business marrying you off. I don't want to lose you."

     'You won't lose me," Hazel said softly.

     "How do you know?" Nico asked bitterly. "Your husband might live on the other side of the empire and then we'll rarely see each other."

     "Frank lives in the city of Rome," Hazel said.

    "Is that his name?" Nico said and his sister nodded.

     He hated the man already. He tried to imagine what Frank would be like. He was probably much older than Hazel. He may even be older than the emperor's mother, Rhea. He was probably harsh and arrogant and would beat Hazel just for the sake of it.

    "Please try to act happy on my wedding day," Hazel pleaded. "I am scared too, but Persephone is helping prepare me for it."

     Nico nodded, though he felt revulsion for Persephone and Frank well up inside of him. He may act happy on Hazel's wedding day, but he didn't have to be happy and he could pray to the gods every night for Frank's death.