Broken--A Reynico Fanfic

Chapter 6--In Love

Nico's POV

By the time I arrived in the Underworld, with Reyna still in my arms, I was sobbing uncontrollably, harder than I had ever cried in my whole life. Sons of Hades never cry, Nico. Get a freaking grip on yourself. It was partly in fear for Reyna, and partly in fear of my fate in my father's grasp. You have nothing to fear from him. You're doing this for Reyna. If Reyna dies, I die. We die, together. Once again I wondered if Cupid had shot me with a love arrow again. I had never felt so strongly for another, never in this life. However, I had a sneaking suspicion my love for Reyna was real, not like Percy...and Will. I couldn't believe myself, but it was just too real. The chemistry between us. I could sense it. Okay, Nico, stop that adolescent juvenile nonsense and continue settling your score.

For the first time in aeons, I smiled at my own thoughts. It was a genuine smile, not a forced one, nor a sinister one. The first time I smiled again was because of Reyna. You dumb person, if you don't stop these romantic thoughts Reyna's going to be in deep trouble. I gritted my teeth and started my journey towards the distant palace opposite the far-off River Styx. I had an appointment to keep. Perhaps the conversations would be a little different than what I had imagined before. In no time I was already kneeling at Hades' dais, with my sword securely clasped behind my back. Payback time. The only one thing bothering me were those uncontrollable tears. They kept flowing down my cheeks, relentlessly. That spoiled my confident look a little.

Hades smirked at me from his high stone throne, while spirit waiters chattered and floated beside him. "You've done a great job, boy. Why cry? The girl is secured and my debt is paid." He looked down at me with a mixture of puzzlement and gratitude, but even that lying, traitorous, impostor's mask could not cover my father's true feelings. I could see through it.

He was triumphant.

The way he'd manipulated me, the way he'd manipulated all of us—that makes him triumphant? That sneak thief of a god, sitting smugly on his pedestal, is my father? My hands were trembling in rage and it took all the energy I could muster to stop myself from throwing myself at him and ending this whole pretense game. But something told me to hold back. For the sake of Reyna, I reminded myself. Only for her. I have to uncover the truth once and for all.

 When I spoke, my voice was cool, calm and collected. Holding myself in check. "You used me. It was all another plot, a plot to achieve your ends. That's despicable, Father. Reyna...you want her for something else. Bellona doesn't owe you anything!" I was starting to scream a little. Keep it cool, keep it cool. "Reyna received a prophecy, talking about how one of the Big Three would thwart one of his own offspring—" here I glared at Hades so hard that the Furies waiting on him started to converge on me, but was silenced by an impatient hand—"and that the leader would be lost forevermore if the son didn't realize his actions were harming that leader. Reyna is the leader. I am that son. You are the lying, cheating, sneaking father!"

"Finally worked that out, have you, Death Boy?" A snooty voice called out.

That voice. No. NO. It can't be! He...he's dead!

Octavian stepped out from behind Hades' throne, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"Credits to me, please. It was, after all, my idea." His easy, charming smile reminded me of Will all those months ago. Why am I thinking of Will now? This irritated me. Reyna could be in mortal peril right now, for gods' sake. I frowned, and concentrated on Octavian before me. I just stood there gaping at him, unable to process the situation. My brain seemed to have short-circuited and rewired in milliseconds. I couldn't think, let alone speak. A million questions flew around in my confused brain.