Through the Burning Fires of Hell // A Nico Di Angelo Fanfiction (On Hold)

Chapter 3

Raven

Raven was starving. It had been three days since her wing had been torn, which made it four days since she'd last fed. And she was hungry. 

And then, of course, there had been a demigod wandering Tartarus (what were the chances of that?) and just happened to stumble into her little cave. She was still too weak to shadow-travel out, and flying was out of the question. So, the demigod entering her cave had been the perfect opportunity. 

Except for the fact that the demigod was carrying a sword, he looked like he knew how to use it, was young, and extremely cute. 

The boy was gripping his sword, ready to fight if need be, and though his efforts would be entirely futile, Raven had to admit that he had some nerve. Plus, there were no waves of fear rolling off him. Instead, he was surrounded by a dark aura that stank of the upper Underworld. 

"Son of Hades," Raven purred. "What are you doing here?"
She stifled the urge to spring across the tower of rocks and sink her teeth in his neck.

The boy flinched. "How did you know?"

Raven looked him up and down. "Even if it weren't for your entirely black attire, the skull ring, and the fact that you carry a stygian iron sword, you have an aura that literally shouts out to everyone that your father is the King of the Underworld."

"So," the boy said, making eye contact with Raven. His dark brown eyes were like pools of liquid chocolate, and Raven shivered as they met her molten gold ones. "Are you a minor goddess?"

Raven snorted, then laughed. The boy's face was still neutral, but she could see the surprise in his. 

"Haha," she replied dryly. "I wish."

"You wish?" he asked, curious, but still wary. 

"I'm a demigod," Raven clarified. "But not half-god, half-mortal. More like two-thirds god, one-third mortal."

"My blood is red, but Nyx and Erebus are my parents," Raven added when the boy was still looking at her in blank confusion.

He stumbled back. "Y-your parents are both primordial gods? Night and Darkness?" There, that was the fear that had been missing. 

"Yes," Raven said, smirking slightly. "What's your name, son of Hades?"

He regarded her warily. "What's yours?"

Raven sighed. "Of course, you don't know me." She sniffed. "Raven Sable, daughter of Nyx and Erebus, the Midnight Phoenix, at your service." She sketched a bow. 

"Ow!" She winced and hissed in pain. Damn her wing. And fuck that stalactite. She glared at the crumble of rocks at her feet. 

"Are you alright?" the boy asked. He took a step forward. 

"Fine." Raven winced. "I told you mine. Now tell me yours."

The boy sighed. "Nico di Angelo, son of Hades."

"Nico," Raven muttered, tasting his name on her tongue. "I do know you." She met his eyes. "Searching for the doors of death, are you?"

Nico sheathed his sword. "Do you know where they are?"

Raven snorted. "Of course I do. Tartarus has been my home for the last three hundred and fourteen years. I would have to be extremely dim-witted to not know where they are."

"Three hundred fourteen?" Nico echoed. "But you said you weren't a goddess. How can you-"

"Immortal in Tartarus," Raven added. "Not the point. Point is, I can take you there. But why would I help you?"