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

Chapter Five: Quintus

"Come on down, get a hotdog, five dollars!"

"Nico-"

"Come on down! Get a hotdog! Five dollars!"

"If I could-"

"COME ON DOWN! GET A HOTDOG! FIIIIIII-"

"Please be quiet!"

"Psh, whatever bruh. You're just mad that you don't get my reference." Nico said, his hands behind his back as he and The King wondered through the labyrinth. He wasn't at all surprised at its existence, he had felt like there was a hole underneath him for years, but he had always assumed it was the Underworld. So.. He could sense holes. Out of all the powers he could have gotten from Hades.. He had to be the most boring Child of Hades to ever exist.

"If I may, I believe this to be an excellent spot for a break." The ghost spoke, and Nico stopped in his tracks.

"Okay, sweetles beetles. So uh, you gonna tell me why my dad wants to see me, or what's up?" Nico Di Angelo asked, a suspicious tone to his voice.

"Oh yes, of course.. Though I believe it would do me well to have a visual aid. Sit, please sit, while I prepare it." The fifteen year old sat criss cross on the ground, his new brown leather jacket flopping around, and his already messy black hair falling to cover his eyes. Which he then blew back to its previous position. "Καλώ την ομίχλη, εξαπατώ αυτό το αγόρι και εκλιπαρώ για τη μεγαλύτερη μου επιθυμία!" Now, The Son of Hades' Greek wasn't the best, but he recognized a few words. The biggest of which being: 'Mist.'

Suddenly, a column of dark grey mist erupted from the ground, to which Nico jumped back, stood to his feet, and reached for his sword, but King Minos simply grinned a ghastly smile. When it ceased suddenly, there were no heat markings, no implosion points, nothing.. Nothing except for-

"That's me!" Nico yelled, confused. On closer inspection, it was Nico, but not Nico at the same time. This Nico had a darker complexion, was more built, and was generally taller. This looked like him, if he had made very different life choices. The Son of Hades was justifiably freaked the Heracles out, but luckily aminos was there to give an explanation of what was going on.

"Indeed Nico Di Angelo.. Or rather, what you could have been, had you not been.. Hindered." Nico took the bait.

"Hindered?"

King Minos shook his head sadly, like he too was devastated at the news. "Yes. Unfortunately you have deviated heavily from the path your father had intended for you. Your befriending of the Son of Poseidon and the Daughter of Zeus has changed your destiny drastically."

Nico, out curiosity, let slip the sentence: "What was my father's original plan for me?" Minos smirk surfaced once more.

"Walk into your original self and find out."

Nico, hesitantly, made a few steps towards the other Nico. It did not react. The Son of Hades touched the fake ones back, then felt a force sucking him up into the shadow. For a moment, he tried to resist, but it didn't matter, he merged with the shadow. Then he was no longer in the labyrinth, but rather on a hill, in the rain. One he recognized: The hill that housed Grovers tree. He looked in front of him, and there on his knees; being choked out by him, was none other then the traitor Luke Castellan. He could feel Luke claw at his arm, but Nico's grip was steel tight.