"To talk, of course." The god twisted his mouth in a cruel smile. "Didn't Nico

tell you?"

 

"So this whole quest was a lie. Nico brought me down here to get me killed."

 

"Oh, no," Hades said. "I'm afraid Nico was quite sincere about wanting to help

you. The boy is as honest as he is dense. I simply convinced him to take a small

detour and bring you here first."

 

"Father," Nico said, "you promised that Percy would not be harmed. You said if I

brought him, you would tell me about my past — about my mother."

 

Queen Persephone sighed dramatically. "Can we please not talk about that woman

in my presence?"

 

"I'm sorry, my dove," Hades said. "I had to promise the boy something."

 

The older lady harrumphed. "I warned you, daughter. This scoundrel Hades is no

good. You could've married the god of doctors or the god of lawyers, but noooo.

You had to eat the pomegranate."

 

"Mother — "

 

"And get stuck in the Underworld!"