
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/3985474.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M, M/M, Multi, Other
  Fandom:
      Percy_Jackson_and_the_Olympians_&_Related_Fandoms_-_All_Media_Types, The
      Heroes_of_Olympus_-_Rick_Riordan, Percy_Jackson_and_the_Olympians_-_Rick
      Riordan
  Relationship:
      Nico_di_Angelo/Percy_Jackson, Nico_di_Angelo/Jason_Grace/Percy_Jackson,
      Nico_di_Angelo/Jason_Grace, Jason_Grace/Percy_Jackson
  Character:
      Nico_di_Angelo, Percy_Jackson, Hades_(Percy_Jackson), Poseidon_(Percy
      Jackson), Zeus_(Percy_Jackson), Aphrodite_(Percy_Jackson), Jason_Grace,
      Leo_Valdez, Frank_Zhang, Hazel_Levesque, Annabeth_Chase, Will_Solace,
      Apollo_(Percy_Jackson), Piper_McLean, Reyna_Avila_Ramírez-Arellano
  Additional Tags:
      slight_Jercy_-_Freeform, Minor_Character_Death, Minor_Violence, Eventual
      Smut, Fluff, Mpreg, starts_out_as_rape_but_ends_up_something_more
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-05-22 Updated: 2015-07-13 Chapters: 5/? Words: 12555
****** The Rose's Forest ******
by Apalla, NicoleLeeLy
Summary
     Percy gathered up his sword and his strongest men and marched to the
     forest without delay. He stumbled through vines, cutting at thick
     briars, and worked his way to the heart of the forest til he was
     bloody, panting, and tired. He expected a monster, hulking and
     terrifying and ready to rip him apart.
     He found, instead, a fourteen-year-old boy so beautiful he looked
     like a rose that had come to life. A human rose.
     Vines wound up his arms, flowers sprouted from his hair, and leaves
     grew from his hips, wrists, and ankles. The boy gave Percy a smile
     and said, “The vines told me you were coming, Your Highness…”
     There is no monster. Only a rose.
     Percy’s rose.
Notes
     There will be eventual smut, I think. I'm not sure what pair yet
     though, so ;)
     Don't hate me if this is bad, I didn't make you read this, I just
     posted it.
***** The Quest *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
In the Kingdom of Olympus, the land was rich in greens and population of humans
was steadily increasing. The people were well-fed, well-groomed, there hadn’t
been a war in decades, and the economy was thriving. Everyone was happy. King
Poseidon and his wife, Queen Sally, looked over all the citizens, even the
plants and animals. They were a just and fair couple, deeply in love since
their younger days, and their loved still remained true and strong now. They
had two lovely sons: the eldest and heir to the throne, Perseus, and the
youngest and extremely playful, Tyson, who had a little “wife” named Ella. They
helped alongside their parents to ensure the kingdom’s safety, though Tyson
couldn’t do much yet. Percy, however, patrolled the walls of the city, kept an
eye on the crime rate, and made it his personal secret pleasure to watch the
girls in the kingdom swoon over him and his cousin, Jason Grace.
And then came all the murders. People started to show up in rivers by the walls
of the city and on the edges of the woods with bruises around their necks and
cuts on their person, as if strangled... Terrors and fears arose like the
living dead, spreading like a disease or wildfire. Talk of an evil presence
began to spread throughout the kingdom, and people invented many rumors and
ideas. Some blamed a curse on the forest, some blamed an evil witch, some
blamed a band of thieves hiding in the woods… No matter what people said,
though, no one had ever managed to actually see what was taking and killing
people.
Concerned, Queen Sally convinced her husband to speak to the Council of
Advisors and find a quick solution to the problem. The councilmen--Lord Zeus,
Lord Apollo, Lady Artemis, Lady Hera, Lord Ares, Lord Hephaestus, Lord Hermes,
Lady Aphrodite, Lady Athena, Lady Demeter, and Lord Dionysus--came to an
agreement that the forest must be cut down so the kingdom could continue
expanding and reduce the dangers to the people. Although Poseidon’s word could
be law if he so ruled against them, he preferred to have their support and
advice with him when he made a decision--after all, one of them could easily
spark a revolution and overthrow him, and then his head would be on a spike or
in a basket.
“Obviously we have no choice! Over a hundred of our people have been found dead
this last week!” Zeus frowned at his brother as he harshly slammed his hands on
the golden, horse-shaped table. His electric-blue eyes flashed angrily and one
could hear thunder in his booming voice.
Poseidon frowned at the black-haired man, trying to remain calm.
“Brother...please… If there really is something in the forest that is attacking
people, we should find out what or who it is instead of just tearing the whole
forest down. Think about it! It isn’t logical!”
“Logical? You think sacrificing our men instead of expanding our kingdom is
logical? That’s as if saying horses can fly!” Zeus huffed and looked away
before looking back at
Poseidon with something dangerous in his eyes. “And if you forget, you are only
King because we lost Hades to that forest.”
“Brother, please…” Said King frowned at the memory. Poseidon was never supposed
to have been the ruler, if he was being honest. Originally, the throne was
meant to go to their eldest brother, Hades, but the forest had taken him away a
long time ago. If he closed his eyes, he could still remember the absence of
their oldest brother on that fateful day. Hades had been supposedly kidnapped
from his room fourteen years ago by talking vines. “I don’t want to talk about
this right now.”
“Dear..” Sally rested her hand on her husband’s arm. “You know...Percy has been
waiting for you to request something of him. He’s young and eager, and even
though he likes patrolling the city, he wants to go outside and see the world.
You could send him and Jason to the forest...maybe with a few other knights?”
Poseidon sighed and brushed his fingers against Sally’s. He glanced at his
brother as if waiting for approval, though he knew it wouldn’t matter much.
Zeus had never been the kind of father who cared for Jason, other than that he
brought pride to the family with his looks, strength, and good deeds.
His younger brother gave a flick of his hand, dismissing the council and
getting up to find his blonde son, who was so lovestruck with Aphrodite’s
child, he could barely believe that his son could get anything done with that
girl around him. “Jason would be happy to follow Perseus to death in the
forest. Idiot boy...”
--Meanwhile…
Percy and Jason were fooling around outside in the castle’s garden. It mostly
consisted of Jason tackling Percy into the grass, flower bushes or the small
pond in the center. Both of the boys were full-on laughing and chasing each
other, covered in dirt, grass, leaves and water. Though, without Jason’s
tackling, Percy would be the only clean one there.
“Jason, stop it, dammit!” Percy yelled, running from the blonde with a grin.
“I’m going to get yelled at by my mom and your dad!” He could hear his little
brother, Tyson, laughing and following after them as quickly as his little six-
year-old legs could carry him, and smiled. “At least let Tyson catch up!”
“Fine!” The blonde picked up the tiny, yet chubby, six-year-old and began to
chase Percy again. He laughed when Tyson screeched and squealed. He could feel
the little boy squirming in his grasp, like a plump baby seal.
“I’m gonna get you!” Tyson shouted, extending his arms in a grabbing motion.
“Don’t you dare drop him, Grace!” Percy shouted over his brother’s giggling.
Jason simply grinned and threw the two of them at Percy, slamming into his
cousin and tumbling to the ground.
“Ah!” The black-haired boy exclaimed, not only catching the blond, but his
little brother as well. He frowned and glared at the blonde man, who just so
happened to be on the line of life and death. “Jason!”
Jason smiled and placed a hard smooch on his cousin’s lips. Percy froze for a
second. He was used to Jason’s usual displays of affection behind closed doors
since they were about ten when their bodies started ‘changing for the better’,
as Jason put it, but he just kissed him in front of his little brother!Jason,
you idiot, I’m gonna kick your damn, nice-to-touch ass...
Tyson watched the two, blinking as Percy struggled from under the blonde. The
boy laughed and bounced on the two while clapping his hands.
“Are there evil fairies around?” Tyson asked, looking from side to side. He
laughed again, then began to pout. The kiss between Jason and Percy had started
to get a little weird. He noticed teeth and a tongue, though his older brother
still looked like he was trying to get away. “When do I get to kiss Percy..?”
Percy gasped and pushed Jason’s head away, squeezing it slightly like it would
pop if he tried hard enough. “You idiot! What are you telling my brother?! What
are evil fairies?!” He glared and shoved the blonde off before taking his
brother and letting the boy kiss his cheek and give him sloppy little kisses.
Jason grinned and shrugged. “I dunno what you’re talking about.” He laughed to
himself and winked at Percy when Tyson wasn’t looking.
“Jason said evil fairies will come and steal my dreams! But, he said if he
kisses you, that makes them go away!” His little brother smiled at him
innocently.
Percy gave Jason a death glare before getting up and walking away. “Idiot
Grace…,” he muttered.
Jason whined and got up, chasing after Percy. “Percy...wait!”
Zeus was waiting by the open halls of the garden. He was frowning at Jason,
giving him looks of disapproval. He looked at Percy, Tyson, then back at his
own seventeen-year-old child.
“Perseus, your parents would like a word with you.” He continued to frown at
his own son. He wasn’t particularly proud of Jason for...playing with Percy,
but he couldn’t stop the blonde, so he put up with it. Unlike Jason’s
womanizing good looks and heroics to the kingdom, his relationship with Percy
was a well-kept secret that had never left the palace in seven and a half
years.
Percy nodded and quickly went inside to find his parents, leaving the blonde
alone to deal with his dad. He walked down the hall and went into the great
chamber where his parents were waiting. He paused for a moment, suddenly
regretting coming in immediately after his game of tag with his brother and
cousin. He was still covered in mud and leaves. Even worse, so was Tyson, and
Sally was sure to give him an earful. It was hard enough for her to get Tyson
to take a bath without him climbing out and getting the bathroom all soapy and
wet, or if he climbed out and ran down the hall naked, but now he would want
nothing more than to run outside again.
“Uncle Zeus said you were looking for me?” He set his messy brother down and
the boy ran to his mother and bounced a little to be picked up. He could hear
Tyson’s happy calls of, “Up! Up!”
Poseidon nodded and kissed Sally’s cheek before going over and taking Percy to
the other room. He sighed and glanced at his son. Percy’s clothes were dirty,
covered in mud and grass, and there were some leaves and petals in his hair.
Not to mention that his skin looked as if he just crawled out of the ground.
“Percy...you know your mother doesn’t like you to track dirt in...and you know
how Zeus is...” He frowned a little. In all honesty, he didn’t really care if
Jason and Percy got a little dirty, since it was better than getting in trouble
or breaking something. And he was fully supportive of Jason and
Percy’s...adventures of exploring one another’s bodies beneath their sheets. At
least they couldn’t get one another pregnant or catch anything from the other
person, since Poseidon was pretty sure the only other person Jason slept with
was Piper.
Percy sighed and nodded. “I know...sorry…,” he muttered like a child and
glanced down at their feet. “What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Poseidon smiled a little. “I know you’ve been requesting to go outside Atlantis
lately, and I think you’ll like this. But...this is a job, not a game. You,
Jason and a few other men are to go out into the Rose’s Forest and see what is
killing all our people. Understand?”
Percy looked back up at his father in disbelief, eyes wide. Although Percy had
proved himself a good warrior before, he’d never been allowed outside the walls
of Atlantis without his parents and practically an entire army to protect him.
He broke into a grin before nodding. “Yeah! Okay. What other men? How many?
When do I leave?”
Poseidon laughed a little and nodded. “Tomorrow afternoon. Your mother wants to
make a good lunch for you before you leave. Plus, I don’t want Tyson to cry
when he sees you’re gone when he gets up.”
Percy nodded and grinned again. “I can take Tyson to the bathroom so Mom
doesn't almost have a heart attack trying to clean his hair like last time.”
Before getting an answer, he was already walking out the door to the hall to
kiss his mother and grab Tyson. He was excited to finally leave the city to
explore outside. Gods know how long ago the last time he went outside the city
walls was .
“What did Daddy want?” Tyson asked, kicking his little feet as he squished a
leaf against Percy’s cheek.
Percy smiled and glanced at Tyson. “Dad said that I have a quest to defeat the
evil fairies so you can dream about sweets and Ella.” He laughed and rubbed his
cheek a little to get the leaf off, feeling as if he were practically floating
from all the excitement. “Ready for a bath?”
Tyson laughed and nodded happily, squirming as if the water were already below
them. And while Percy scrubbed his adorable little brother and tried not to be
drowned by soap when Tyson splashed the water higher and higher, he couldn’t
keep the wide, excited grin from his face.
Chapter End Notes
     What to you think? :) I hope you like it. If you don't, don't leave a
     hate. But, I think criticism is the best way to improve!
***** The Race *****
Chapter Notes
     How doth thee like? *I'm not good at old modern english* Sorry. I'm
     sort of impatient. I just wanna update, update, update! Cause I know
     the horrors of waiting for a chapter to update, and it sucks. My
     partner keeps telling me I need to be patient...Ha! Who needs that!?
     I don't...*sobs*
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It was the next morning, and Percy was already packing his stuff. He’d woken up
early, practically as the sun arose in the sky, and laid there awake for
awhile, holding Tyson. The little boy liked to climb into his bed at night most
of the time, whether it was because of nightmares or because he just wanted to
sleep in Percy’s bed. Of course he didn’t mind; it was his brother.
Percy got out of the bed to take a bath and wake his little brother up for his
own bubble bath, but the little boy didn’t budge. He simply whined and pulled
the covers over his head and curled up into a small, fluffy ball.
“Tyson...Please.” The older boy sighed and picked up his brother, blanket and
all. “It’s time to get up. We have to clean up the bedroom, make the bed, take
a bath--which I know you love--and eat breakfast and lunch with Mom and Dad.
You wanna have breakfast with Ella, don’t you?”
Tyson whined once more and just barely poked his head out of the blanket. The
little boy’s hair was sticking up in all sorts of directions. His brother’s
hair had always been untameable when he woke up. He really needed a bath...but
he would probably need one after breakfast too. Whenever his brother ate, he’d
magically get food everywhere, in his hair, all over his face, on this clothes,
you name it.
“Can Ella really eat with us..?” Tyson asked with a small yawn and a rub of his
eye with the blanket. Ella and Tyson had been friends since the two could
remember. He would call Ella his wife and Ella would call Tyson her husband.
Tyson would always buy little rings for Ella to put on so their “marriage” was
“official”.
Percy smiled at his brother’s utter cuteness. He practically saw little clouds
of cuteness floating around his brother’s head. He nodded and shifted his
brother’s weight.
“Sure, if you wake up and go get ready for breakfast.” He nuzzled a strand of
hair that was sticking straight up.
Tyson giggled and swayed his chubby little body. “Okay!”
The little body squirmed until Percy set him down. He watched the boy run our
of his room with a huge grin on his face, calling out for their mother.
 --After breakfast and later after lunch…and another bath...
Lunch with his family was great, but he really wanted to focus on packing
everything he needed. Tyson kept flinging his food everywhere, claiming he was
feeding the birds. Ella copied him, making an even bigger mess.
He sighed and glanced at his bag. It was only half full, and he had little time
before he and the others needed to leave. He had to get more clothes and food,
especially since his mother would worry and fuss over him the entirety of his
trip if she thought he wasn’t well-prepared. Maybe he’d bring a few pots and
pans to cook since he planned on being gone for about a week or two. After all,
he didn’t really know when the next time he’d be able to go outside again would
come. As he finished packing, there was a knock--more like bang--on the door.
He could already tell who it was; Jason, undoubtedly. Who else knocked that
excitedly (besides Tyson)?
“Percy!” Jason called, his bag on his back already and Tyson in his arms. The
little boy had just gotten out of his morning bath, so he was fresh and clean
for his brother to hug. “Tyson is waiting for you...So am I. Which one of us is
cuter?”
“Jason, it’s barely past noon,” Percy said, rolling his eyes and ignoring the
question completely. He opened the door to see the blonde and the six-year-old
boy standing there, both with huge grins on their faces and both practically
bouncing where they stood. He couldn’t contain a grin at the sight of his
little brother throwing himself at him, arms and chubby body wiggling. “Tyson,
careful... I don’t want you to fall again...”
“But I didn’t even hurt myself last time!” The little boy smiled, waving it off
as if pain were nothing.
Percy sighed. That’s because I caught you and became your cushion...and
Jason’s. But that didn’t feel as good... “Where’s Mom and Dad?” He smiled and
took Tyson from Jason, though the blonde pouted in the slightest way. Jason
liked children, and he planned to have some of his own with Piper. He
especially wanted a little girl to spoil and love and play with and protect.
Though, he had a hunch that Jason wouldn’t have a girl anytime soon and he knew
if Jason didn’t have a girl on the first try, he’d continue to try and try
again.
“They’re waiting outside!” Tyson wiggled in his brother’s strong arms, wrapping
his own smaller ones around Percy’s neck. “They have a black horse-pony for you
too!”
“Horse-pony..?”
“Your dad got you a new horse since you never really had your own...bet he
can’t beat Tempest.” Jason snickered, already eager to race Percy into the
forest and hopefully leave him in the dust. “Oh, Leo, Frank, and the others are
also waiting for us too.”
The blonde smiled and took Tyson back as he walked down the hall. He whispered
to the little boy as they vanished around the corner, with Tyson giggling in
response.
Percy sighed and slung his bag over his shoulder. He smiled to himself at being
able to leave this place and explore on his own. He glanced around his room,
mentally going over his checklist to see if he had forgotten anything. After
finishing, he closed his door and walked to the front of the castle. He didn’t
bother going to the horse stables since Jason had told him of his present, and
it was probably already waiting for him in the courtyard by the castle’s gates.
Turning the corner into the open yard, Percy noticed a black stallion standing
in the middle of the way, the sun shining off of its dark coat. He stared at
it. He could tell that the horse was young and that it was built for speed. Its
muscles were undoubtedly noticeable and defined, and the horse’s mane looked as
if it were just groomed, though not trimmed. It looked so silky and shiny,
Percy just wanted to touch the horse already.
“...Dad?” Percy asked, slightly whispering. He didn’t want to risk startling
the horse and getting kicked in the face. He’d seen dim-witted stable boys die
from things like that, and it wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Poseidon smiled and kissed Sally’s hand before walking over to his eldest son.
“Your mother and I thought that you could use your own horse since you’ve been
using your friends’. This is Blackjack, Percy. He is a young stallion,
friendly, and for some odd reason...he likes bread.”
Percy looked as if he were ready for Elysium. His face was bright as he glanced
at his dad before hugging him and running up to his mother to hug her too. He
ran towards his horse and held his hand out slowly. “Hey there, big guy.” He
stroked the horse’s snout and sighed to himself happily. “This is awesome,
Dad,” he said after a minute, glancing back at him and smiling. Blackjack
snorted as is saying Boss, I’m ready.
Poseidon shrugged and took Sally’s hand back and held onto it, pressing the
front of her hand to his lips. “Anything for my family.”
Sally blushed and smiled, leaning against her husband and rubbing his strong
chest affectionately.
“Ready, Jackson?” Jason grinned devilishly as he mounted Tempest, a bigger,
blonde horse with trimmed hair. It looked like it was glaring at Blackjack, as
if Jason’s competitive side was affecting it as well. “I’ll beat your ass to
the forest!”
Poseidon rolled his eyes at the boys and ordered the gates to be opened.
Stepping back with his wife, he picked up Tyson and the three of them all waved
to the group. Be safe, Percy… We can’t lose anymore firstborn royals to that
forest. Not again.
Bring it on, Pretty Horse! Blackjack neighed and stomped his hoof to provoke
the blonde horse.
“In your dreams, Grace!” Percy quickly got on Blackjack and whipped the reins.
The black horse was fast! Faster than he thought the horse could be! He could
feel the muscles of it flex as its body moved, galloping powerfully toward the
tall, dense trees. The wind in his hair felt amazing. He would surely get use
to this, racing Jason. He could look around and everything would be a blur. He
didn’t even know where Jason was until the man shouted out his name.
“Percy! Be careful! Don’t get too far ahead!” Jason frowned and whipped
Tempest’s reigns, the blonde horse speeding up as it tried to get closer to
Blackjack.
Percy looked over and realized that the forest was only a mere twenty feet
away. Gasping, he pulled Blackjack to a halt, holding him tightly as the
horse’s steps stuttered for minute before it steadied itself. Percy panted,
swallowing, and tapped his chest to calm his heart as he stared up at the
incredibly tall trees. He’d always thought the forest looked beautiful from a
distance, but right now, staring it down, a horrible truth dawned on him: this
place was as terrifying as the monsters that Tyson claimed were under his bed.
“You okay?” Jason arrived next to him, followed moments later by Frank, Leo,
and the other men. “You look freaked out, man…”
“I didn’t know Water Boy could freak out!” Leo laughed and nudged Frank with
his elbow, who simply looked at him with a slightly annoyed face.
“Maybe we should wait a few minutes,” Frank offered, a deeply concerned look
etched into his features.
If Percy were to be honest, he was kind of freaked out. It seemed that there
was some horrible curse on the royal family, for the King’s eldest son to be
taken by this forest and never seen again. This forest took Uncle Hades, he
reminded himself, trying not to show any of his fear. He barely remembered his
uncle, since he was only three when he was taken, but he was still afraid.“Just
a little… Never mind. Come on, let’s go.” Swallowing his fear, Percy steeled
himself and whipped Blackjack’s reigns lightly, heading inside.
This was his only chance so far to see a piece of the kingdom he was meant to
rule, and he intended to take it.
Chapter End Notes
     Still like it? I hope :) Cause otherwise you wouldn't be reading it.
     Tell me what you think!
***** The Forest Wakes *****
Chapter Notes
     My partner is unhappy with my impatiences...I'm also kind of nervous
     for uploading this chapter for reasons.
     WARNING: Rape and minor character death and blood
     I'm so nervous! I'm SORRY!!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Nico waited in the heart of the forest, tossing a bloody and bruised body into
the river. He frowned and sighed as the body floated down the path to vanish
from sight. So far...his goal wasn’t being fulfilled. He was of the age where
he needed offspring. Though, all the men that have come by, didn’t hold the
seed he could carry. The vines, whenever the man deemed himself infertile,
would strangle and beat the man to death, then presume to kidnap and murder
others after disposing the bodies.
No young flowers had bloomed, none had even appeared. He was sure that he
wasn’t going to be able to have children. The mere thought depressed him. A
life with no kids in a empty forest like this? There was company, but the vines
didn’t really do much… Especially, the bloodthirsty one. It would always
suggest killing the guy before even starting the ritual of skin.
And then, of course, there was always the issue of what would happen to the
father, if one were ever to give him children…
Sometimes, after impregnation, the vines would kill the father like they had
killed all the other men, since the father had served the only purpose of him
being in the forest. The vines had tried to do that to his father, but Nico’s
mother had stopped them and told him to escape. His parents had been in love,
and his father still sometimes wandered into the forest to see him and tell him
about his mother, since all he could remember from her was a warm smile,
feeling loved, and her singing voice as she lulled him to sleep each night with
it.
In all honesty, Nico wanted a love like that. He wanted the father of his
children to love him in general. He didn’t want to feel like he was using or
abusing some poor man, and he didn’t want to be feared by that man either.
However, he was sure that he would never gain love. The vines were distrustful
of humans, even hating them, and didn’t believe they could ever love Nico the
way Hades had loved Maria. In their opinion, humans like that were rare, and
exceedingly so.
Nico, there is a group of men in the forest. Are you ready?, the vines asked,
dangling from trees and sprouting from the ground. The purple flowers holding
sleeping spores and aphrodisiacs were starting to bloom and open.
Nico glanced over from the water where a small streak of red was still visible.
He sighed and gave a slight frown. Did he not just finish business moments ago?
Now there were more men in the forest. He could feel it too. Four..no...six or
seven men were entering his forest.
“Yeah, sure.” Nico glanced at the water again before getting out and shaking
the water droplets off. He followed after the vines, paying close attention in
case one of the men tried to kill him.
--With the group of knights…
Percy felt a chill run down his spine. Was it just him or was the forest
getting...closer? That couldn’t possibly be...the forest wasn’t alive. It
couldn’t think, it had no heartbeat, no need to--well, plants do breathe...in
their own way… But still! The forest couldn’t think, couldn’t feel!
“Jason…? Do youfeel that?” Percy glanced over at his cousin and bit his lip,
trying to steel himself. He was a prince, damn it! He refused to shrink away
from a few trees and shrubs.
“Feel what?” Jason asked, turning his head to glanced back at Percy. He frowned
a little, then glanced out around them, wondering if there was something out
there that Percy could see and he couldn’t. Percy was really freaking out.
Something must really be wrong if Percy was freaking out. Percy never freaked
out. “Why?”
“It feels...alive…” Percy frowned and tightly gripped the reigns, fully aware
of his sword at his side now. “I feel like the forest is moving…” Oddly enough,
it also felt like it was pulling on him, calling to him. Maybe that was the
only reason he seemed to be the only one who could sense it…
Jason sighed and opened his mouth to speak, though his effort was useless when
he heard a scream from one of the extra men. Both quickly whipped their heads
around to the origin of the sound and found...nothing. Terrifyingly nothing. A
man was missing off his horse with a few leaves falling from the trees above.
His screams of help were still heard before an unpleasant choking noise and an
oddly wet sound could be heard. A moment later, droplets of blood fell on
Jason’s cloak from above.
One of the humans is royal, the vines were whispering to each other and Nico.
Get the royal one!
“What..? Which one? What about the others?” Nico asked, watching the men from
his hiding spot. He was about to ask another question before the group started
running ahead. All of them had terrified expressions as they shouted at each
other for one to send help and backup.
Percy frowned and stared at the treetops. He knew now wasn’t a good time for
him to be a brave idiot, but being Percy, he pulled his horse to a stop and
looked around. This forest wantedhim and if it meant his friends might live, he
was going to make sure that would happen. “Jason, take the others and get out!”
The vines took the other two knights, leaving Frank, Leo, Jason and Percy to be
attacked and stolen. Frank was already freaking out. He didn’t like the way
this was going. He could see movement amongst the leaves and treetops. He
turned to Jason. “I think we should listen to Percy…”
“What?!” Jason frowned and looked at the prince. “You can’t be serious! I’m not
leaving you here to die! We can leave together, we just need to run back the
way we came!”
“Jason, quit being an idiot and listen to me!” Percy growled, gripping the hilt
of his sword.
“Guys…,” Leo interrupted, trembling slightly as the rustling and whispering got
closer
and louder. “I think..I-I think they’re coming back…”
As Percy and Jason yelled at each other over one another’s plan, Frank was
struck with a vine and was soon pulled into the forestry. He yelled for Percy
and Jason, even Leo.
Percy gasped and gave a quick gallop forward on Blackjack, cutting the vine and
freeing Frank. “Jason! Out! Now!”
Frank nodded in agreement and scrambled back onto his horse, glaring at the
trees around them and Jason.
The vines hissed and thrashed out against Percy. They were angry. They
immediately pulled Percy off Blackjack and slammed him onto the ground. Jason
shouted for him as the vines started to drag him into the heart of the forest
by his legs and torso. Percy kicked and squirmed, but he was glad the vines
were now more interested in him than his friends.
“We have to go!” Leo said, whipping the reigns of his horse. “We don’t have
time, Jason!”
“Percy!” Jason cried out, suddenly panicking and fearing for the worst. He
cursed and glanced around as he whipped the reins on the horses. “I will come
back for you, Percy!”
The three frowned and rode as fast as they could in any direction possible to
get out of the deadly forest as quickly as humanly possible.
Percy was dragged along the forest floor, ripping and cutting at the vines.
However, every time he was freed, he was grabbed again, tighter and tighter,
until he was bloody, panting desperately for breath, and on the verge of
falling unconscious.
Nico was waiting in his flower, a giant rose to be exact, in the heart of the
forest. He was helping sprout the aphrodisiac flowers so they could spour. He
hoped this wouldn’t last too long...the poor guy. He just killed three men and
almost killed another. Probably his friend. The sea-green-eyed man must be
terrified.
Above Nico, the flower opened enough for the vines to drop Percy in, and he
gasped furiously for breath, since they’d practically been choking him. We got
the royal, we got the royal!
Nico stared at the royal and shifted him a little. “Is he dying?” he asked,
probing at the guy’s clothes before removing them. His eyes widened a little at
the sight of the man’s tan, leanly-muscular body. He had a minimum amount of
scars, but he was sure to have more since the vines had recently given him new
wounds.
We had to choke him, the vines said casually, as if it were nothing. But he
will be fine in a moment.
Nico nodded and leaned back, waiting for the royal to catch his breaths.
Percy gasped a little and coughed as he finally managed to refill his lungs
with air. He shuddered and glanced down at the boy whose body was covered in
leaves. He glared at the kid before slowly realizing...the boy wasn’t covered
in leaves, the leaves were growing off of him! Leaves sprouted from his hair,
around his waist, his ankles and wrists. Vines were wrapped ups his limbs and
he was covered in dirt.
“Who are you and what do you want from me?” He coughed and tried to sit up,
feeling dizzy and somewhat lightheaded.
The vines pulled Percy back and pinned him down. The purple flowers bloomed and
let the pollen escape, making the air look like it was full of pixie dust. They
waited for the flowers to take effect on the royal’s body, watching intently as
they clung to the walls of the flower.
Nico watched as the man’s length began to twitch and stand up. He couldn’t help
but lick his lips. This man’s body was gorgeous. This would probably be his
favorite session… Though, he did feel slightly guilty about it. If the guy
wasn’t the correct seed, then they would dispose of him.
“What..?” Percy muttered and shifted uncomfortably. He frowned. “What’s going
on…?”
“This’ll be over soon, I promise,” Nico whispered and crawled into the man’s
lap. He straddled him and licked his lips as he glanced over the man once more.
He leaned back and took hold of the royal’s erect member and started to guide
him inside.
“Ahh..!” Nico jolted, feeling a sudden spark. He shuddered and furrowed his
brows a little and stared at the guy’s face as he seated himself fully on his
cock.
Percy’s eyes widened in horror and started to furiously struggle. “No!” he
shouted and began to kick. He pulled on the vines, crying out as Nico started
to move his hips. “Stop--!”
He was cut off when a vine wrapped itself around his neck to silence and keep
him still. They tied around his legs and kept him bound to the ground. He shut
his eyes tightly and bit the inner wall of his cheek. Percy shuddered and held
in a groan when Nico’s wet walls clamped down on him. He jerked up
instinctively and mentally cursed himself.
This was some kind of nightmare...but at the same time, it felt really good. He
needed to get out of here as soon as possible, but he could barely
breathe...everything was blurry, spinning, fading in color but too bright at
the same time. And then there was this weird boy… What was happening anymore…?
Nico cried out and arched his back from Percy’s sudden thrust. He licked his
lips and bounced in the man’s lap faster. “Oh gods…” He panted and stroked
himself to the rhythm of his thrusts, little sparks of pleasure dancing up and
down his spine and flowers blooming in a crown across his head. This was
probably the best session he’d had yet, so much so that he almost forgot the
reason Percy could barely breathe or the reason he was tied down or the reason
he was evenhere. “Please...do that again...”
Percy growled weakly then coughed when the vines got tighter on his neck. He
gasped and stilled to try and loosen the grips of the vines to no avail.
“Please,” he managed to rasp out, his voice hoarse. “I can’t...b-breathe…”
The vines didn’t budge.
Nico shuddered and nodded a little. He gestured his hands for the vines to
move. They tightened more before slowly, begrudgingly loosening. He moaned
again, louder and more needy. “Now...please...! Do it again…”
Nico whined and leaned back, panting. His bangs were damp with a minimum amount
of sweat that were clinging to his face. He ran his hand through his hair to
pull it back. His movements never slowed, instead, they got rougher and more
frantic.
Percy panted and tilted his head back, taking deep breaths to calm himself.
Half of him wanted to comply with the kid’s desire and screw him until he was
even more of a whiny, needy mess, but the other half--the losing half--was
trying to think of a way to get out of here andlive to see his family and
friends again. He groaned and twitched inside Nico, closing his eyes and
shuddering. He wouldn’t last long, not with the pace this kid was going, and he
was grateful that this would be over in a little bit, because maybe when it was
over, he would be let go… Yeah, right. They were probably going to kill him.
“Fuck…” He muttered and jerked up, giving in to what the kid and the vines
wanted.
Nico cried out when the jerk of his hips caused him to strike his prostate. He
panted and bounced faster on him. “Please...please! I’m gonna cum…!” He
shuddered and looked down at Percy, a little upset that his eyes were closed
and he was biting his lip, but he also wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t like Percy
wanted to be here.
Percy opened his eyes just a little, only enough to see if Nico was done yet.
Nope. He was still going for it. Moaning a little, and not by his own choice,
the sea-green-eyed boy yanked and pulled on the vines again, though this only
caused them to tighten. “Let me go… I-I want...to touch...h-him…” As if to
punctuate and affirm his statement, Percy thrust hard up into Nico, causing him
to strike the human rose’s prostate again. The way Nico tightened down on him
right after with his warm, soaked, unbelievably tight walls made spots dance in
front of his eyes for a few minutes, like when he’d been unable to breathe.
“Oh, fuck…”
Nico cried out again, arching his back until he practically looked like a “C”
in Percy’s lap. He squirmed, bucking desperately against Percy as he came, the
vines still clinging to the walls of the flower sprouting little blue and pink
buds with his joy. There were a few white ones, but it was an extremely small
amount. Still up in the wonderful throes of his orgasm, he continued to ride
Percy, pleading him with his eyes and adorably flushed and thoroughly fucked
expression to cum in him...which Percy did. But not happily.
Percy panted, staring at the top of the closed flower. He glanced down below
them, at the glowing floor of the flower that filled it with a golden light,
and then at the blossoming vines around them. “W-What--”
Nico shook his head at percy and shuddered. He needed to stay on Percy until he
was sure that he was fertilized. Then he would see about what would happen in
the morning. He leaned down and rested most of his body on Percy’s. He put his
face in Percy’s neck and gave it a small kiss, making a little flower mark on
his neck to symbolize him as his. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he felt
a strong connection with this man already...even if it was just the sex.
Percy frowned. He wanted to struggle again and snap at Nico to get off of him
and let him go, but he didn’t say anything. He was too tired to fight with
the...boy...flower...thing… So he just sighed and turned his head away from
Nico before falling asleep.
--Later…
Jason had just barely made it out of the forest alive with his friends. He was
still regretting the decision of leaving Percy behind, but there wasn’t much he
could do. Right now, he needed to rest and heal his body so he could return to
save Percy from the wrath of the evil forest.
“Jason, look…,” Leo mumbled tiredly from his place atop his horse. His shoulder
was bleeding and his neck was bruised, but he--like the others--was struggling
to stay awake. They’d been out of the forest for a few hours and it was almost
nightfall now. In the dim sunlight, he could just barely make out the outline
of a town in the small valley below. “A town…”
Eyes widening, Jason whipped Tempest’s reigns and galloped ahead of them to the
edge of the hill. It was true! There it was, a quaint, nice little town that
more than likely had an inn, a hot springs, a bakery, and a doctor.
“Guys! It’s just a little farther! C’mon, we can do this!” Jason galloped back
to them and urged them forward.
Frank was the first to make it into town before collapsing off his horse and
onto the ground. Leo managed to laugh a little at him before everything became
blurry and he fell on top of Frank, with Jason sighing as he climbed down to
throw Leo onto his shoulder and help Frank up.
Hazel, a villager who was carrying a basket of greens to her father, noticed
the two collapsing and gasped. She dropped her basket and called for help
before running over to see if they were okay. She came over quickly with worry
printed all over her face. “Are you alright? The village doctor is on his way.
He’ll help for sure. The rest of us can help you to my house!” She urged and
took Frank’s other side to help support the guy.
Jason nodded slowly, frowning. “Yeah….okay..” He muttered and followed after
the golden-eyed girl. He watched her open the door to her house, glancing at
Leo on his shoulder and at an unconscious Frank beside him. She called for her
father, Pluto, was it? He wasn’t completely paying attention. He just wanted to
pass out as soon as possible.
“Dad, they need help. please!” Hazel called and dragged her father out of his
study.
The man was white--about as white as snow, if that was even possible--and his
hair was black, slicked back, and down to his shoulders. He had bags under his
dark, soulless eyes, and a little bit of chin stubble. He looked
familiar...older, but familiar. Like a painting in one of the castle halls. Who
was it..? Why did he feel as though he should know this man…?
The man seemed to recognize Jason, though, a lot more than Jason could
recognize him. He looked shocked for a minute before his expression turned dark
and he groaned. “Oh, by the gods…”
It took Jason some time to realize who the man was. His eyes widened in shock
and delight. He stepped forward, breath in his throat and heart beating faster.
“...Uncle Hades…?”
Chapter End Notes
     *dying quietly in the corner* The guilt is consuming me...please
     don't kill me. Why did I do this..!? Some of you guys wanted a quick
     chapter. I was already working on it yesterday, but didn't post it
     etc. *MORE UNHOLY SOBS* Anyway...please no hate....I so sad. LUV YA!
***** A Possible Relationship *****
Chapter Notes
     I got so lazy with this chapter my partner started nagging me to
     write it. I wrote part of this chapter so...part. Anyway!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The entire house was as silent as death for a moment as Hades and Jason stared
each other down, Hades with an uncomfortable, unhappy look, and Jason with a
wide-eyed, shocked yet excited look.
Finally, Hazel broke the tension with a question.
“Dad, what does he mean…? Who’s ‘Uncle Hades’..?” She frowned and glanced up at
him, hands twisting the apron on the skirt of her dress nervously. “Do you--”
“I’m not going back,” Hades hissed, frowning at Jason and sending him a death
glare. “I don’t care if they send a whole company to get me--I won’t go back to
my brothers.”
“We’re not here for that,” Jason said. He normally would’ve sounded more
defensive, but he was still in shock, so it came out a little breathy and
quiet. “My friends, they’re hurt--the forest--”
Hades’ eyes widened and he grabbed Jason by his cloak and shirt collar, shoving
him against the wall. “What about the forest? Did you go in there?! Tell me you
didn’t go in there, you stupid, stupid boy!”
Jason was shocked for a second before grabbing Hades’ wrists and trying to push
him away as gently as he could. “Yeah, we did, and the forest took Percy! What
do you know about it? What’s in there?” He sounded angry, but he had a
desperate look in his eyes as he stared his uncle down, pleading. “Please,
Uncle Hades, tell me what’s inthere...I can’t let Percy die…”
Hazel sighed and began to take care of Frank and Leo in the background, since
she obviously wasn’t going to get a chance to talk with her father anytime soon
about what was happening. “Take him to your study, Dad. I’ll keep an eye on
these two…”
Hades glanced over at Hazel before sighing begrudgingly and taking Jason to his
study. He sat in his chair for a moment and stared at his folded hands silently
before lifting his dark eyes to Jason and speaking.
“The forest is inhabited by a spirit named Nico. Nico is my son...and that
makes him your cousin.”
Meanwhile….
Percy came to slowly, and as he did, he coughed harshly, turning over on his
side and realizing he was wrapped in furs. Fumbling with the soft pelts in
confusion, he continued to hack and gasp. His throat felt raw and hot, even a
little swollen on the inside, and the rest of his body was sore as well.
Struggling to sit up, it all came rushing back to him when he realized he was
inside a giant flower. His men dying, his friends escaping, the vines, that
boy--
Oh, by the gods.
That boy. Where in the world was that boy?! He wasn’t in the flower with Percy,
but he still felt like he was being watched. Glancing around, Percy noticed
tiny pink flowers and tiny blue flowers had sprouted on some vines that clung
to the inner walls of the flower. There were a few white ones, but mostly blue
and pink.
“Hello?” Percy tried to call out, but his voice was hoarse and strained, and it
only made his throat throb. Rubbing it and groaning internally, he curled up
and waited for something to happen.
A moment later, the top of the flower opened and Nico climbed in, holding a
bowl of water and a woven basket made from twigs that was full of nuts and
fruits from the forest.
“You’re awake! That’s good!” He set the bowl of water and food down in front of
Percy and waited for him to eat. Nico’s skin was damp and shiny, free of dirt
and pale as the moon. His leaves and flowers were dotted with water droplets,
and Percy guessed he probably just finished watering himself.
“.....” Percy’s throat burned but he didn’t want to touch the water or food.
For all he knew, this odd flower-boy or his pesky vines could’ve poisoned it.
“What’s wrong?” Nico blinked and glanced at the food he’d given Percy. Was he
allergic to something here…? Then again, he probably didn’t trust Nico at all,
given what happened earlier… “I didn’t do anything to it, Your Highness…”
“Percy,” the older boy managed to wheeze out, rubbing his bruised and slightly
swollen throat. “My name...is Percy…” He glared at Nico and snatched up the
bowl of water, drinking it down gratefully and feeling a little soothe in his
throat.
Nico frowned a little. He watched the man’s hostile state and shifted uneasy.
He knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but he wanted to talk to the guy...get to
know him...maybe...maybe love him. “My name’s Nico… You can call me Neeks if
you want?” There was a small, tentative, but purposeful question to his words,
given Percy’s distant and injured state.
The boy tried a small smile and tilted his head slightly, letting his hair fall
over his face a bit. “Do you need more water?”
Percy nodded and finished the last gulp before handing it to Nico. “Your
vines...tried to kill me…” He glared at the interior of the flower, his fingers
still on his throat.
“I’m sorry about that...They’re protective, I guess...” Nico sighed and picked
up the bowl, climbing out of the flower. He returned a moment later and the
flower closed again as he handed Percy the water. “Your throat should be fine
after all this water and some rest…”
We don’t have time to rest!, the vines hissed, moving a little on the flower’s
walls. We must act quickly to get you a child!
Nico frowned and ignored the vines. He wanted a child, yes, but he didn’t want
to put Percy through all that again after it only happened last night, and he
was still covered in bruises and cuts.
For the next few hours, Percy fell into a cycle of silence, drinking water, and
napping. By mid-afternoon, his throat’s swelling had gone down a considerable
bunch and his voice had lost a great deal of its hoarseness and wheezing.
Finally, when he could form a full sentence without stopping for breath or
because of pain, Percy asked if there was somewhere he could bathe himself.
“There’s a river down the trail,” Nico said, getting up with a smile. “But I
don’t know if the vines will let you leave…” He glanced warily up at the
magical vegetation, shifting uneasily.
The vines rustled slightly, discussing it amongst themselves before they
grabbed Percy by his ankles as quickly as possible and dragged him out the
flower, with Nico following as closely and quickly behind as he could.
Percy gasped and glared at the vines as they paused over a river. It wasn’t a
necessarily fast river, nor did it look too deep, but he didn’t want to be
dropped into a damn river! Who did?! “Put me down!” He blinked a second later,
regretting his words immediately. “WAIT--”
The vines released him, rustling hard, like they were laughing.
Percy took a deep, quick intake of breath before he splashed down into the icy,
dark, murky river water. He fell about three feet deep from the speed and
height that the vines had dropped him at, but he--thankfully--wasn’t very
disoriented after the shock of his landing, and he managed to swim to the
surface and grab onto a huge rock that was nearby. Taking in another gasp of
air, he rubbed his sore neck, which had started to throb slightly in dull pain.
“Stupid vines…”
Nico waded into the water until it went up to his waist and he frowned. “Are
you alright?” he called, unable to go any further. He wasn’t the strongest
swimmer, since flowers couldn’t have too much water.
“No, I’m not!” Percy frowned and threw a river rock at the vines. It missed
them and fell back into the water with a small splash as the vines continued to
laugh.
Meanwhile…
Jason stared out at the forest, still trying to process what his uncle had told
him, and the fact that his uncle was alive. He bit his lip and sighed, running
his fingers through his hair. Uncle Hades is alive, then he tells me the thing
that killed the men and took Percy is related to me… He wondered if anyone else
but Hades knew about the forest and its little guardian, and he wondered why
Hades had never gone back home if he’d managed to escape the former guardian
after impregnating her.
“You should be resting, boy.”
Jason jumped and glanced over his shoulder as his uncle stood in the doorway,
making sure to stay away from a shaft of sunlight that fell into the room. It
made him look even more terrifying and serious than he usually did, avoiding
the light like a demon. “Sorry, Uncle Hades… I just wanted to talk to you about
the forest…”
Hades frowned deeply, like he’d just tasted something rotten or sour, and came
over, walking around the sunlight and sitting in front of Jason. “The light is
unpleasant and hurts my eyes,” he said nonchalantly, shrugging. “Hazel believes
I’m overreacting, but I spend so much time in the study that I think I’ve
become a mole…”
Jason nodded absentmindedly, watching the older man. “So, the forest…?”
“Ah, yes… Well, I might as well tell you the whole story then.” Hades sighed
and leaned back, hands folded, as his expression changed to one of reminiscing,
thoughtfulness, and...unbelievable sadness and grief.
Chapter End Notes
     Still like it? Tell me what you think :)
***** The Birth of the Rose *****
Chapter Notes
     Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait. As my friend said in the
     comments, her internet was down for awhile, and then we had some
     other important things pop up, but we're back! Anyway, on with the
     chapter. --Apalla
“It was fourteen years ago,” Hades said after a moment, staring Jason down.
“When you and Perseus were only three…”
 
Fourteen years ago…
 
Hades was waiting on his throne, listening to the complaints of the man who had
been sent to him by the townsfolk. He was propping his head on the arm of the
chair with his chin rested in his palm. Most of the complaints so far were all
about the forest that was neighboring the town. The commoners were telling him
that there were vines twisting from the darkness of the looming trees, flowers
attacking the men who came by, leaving the women free to be widows and to find
new husbands, and children who only had fathers to be orphans and without
enough food.
Hades raised his hand and sighed as the clock struck noon and the belltower in
the courtyard chimed loudly. “I understand. The royal knights will check on it
immediately. In the mean time, make sure none of the townsfolk go outside the
perimeter. They are not to leave the village or go anywhere near the edges of
the forest, and tell them not to touch unfamiliar flowers and vines.” He got
up, rubbing his forehead as he dismissed the man and swept from the room.
Poseidon came over, frowning. He followed him out of the Great Hall and into
the side halls. “Brother, you’ve been getting complaints about this for weeks.
You’ve already sent the best men we have. You don’t plan on going there
yourself, do you?”
Hades glanced at his brother. He was still young, only by a year, but he wasn’t
ready for the throne just yet. The man was still exploring his luxuries and
free will away from responsibilities, along with their youngest brother, Zeus.
Both had children already, though, in comparison to Hades, who had been king
for about three years now and still had no queen or heir (that was his own
child, that is; at the moment, Poseidon was his heir). Poseidon had a son named
Perseus that Hades remembered meeting when he’d returned from a neighboring
kingdom on business, and the little boy had been playing with the water in a
fountain and splashed him while his father laughed. Zeus, however, had two
children: a little girl named Thalia who was already almost ten, and a boy of
Percy’s age named Jason, who was often found getting into trouble with his
cousin.
“Poseidon…” The older brother sighed. “This is my kingdom, and these are my
people. Our people. We have to protect them.”
The younger frowned. “But--”
“If I don’t go and find out what’s killing our people, then who will? Surely
not Zeus, he’d sooner burn the whole forest to cinders than find the core
issue, or even you. You both have families to look after. If you leave, who
will watch after your wife and child?” He sighed, frowning and placing his
hands on his brother’s shoulders.  “You will be in charge in my absence. If I
am gone longer than a week, then prepare your coronation.” He turned to go
before pausing and turning back to Poseidon, frowning and face grave. “Zeus
mustn’t have the throne. The gods may only know what that man will do with all
that power in his hands.”
He started down the hall before Poseidon could reply.
Down the hall, by his study door, were two small boys trying to pick the lock
with a pin they had taken from Sally’s boudoir. They obviously had no idea what
they were doing, though. Hades sighed and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms as
he came up behind them.
“Jason, you’re doing it wrong!”
“Nuh-uh! You are!”
“Gimme it!”
“No!”  
“What do you think you two are doing?” He raised an eyebrow at the two and
rested his hand on the outer shoulders of both the boys.
Jason jolted, accidentally snapping the pick, getting it stuck on the keyhole.
“...uh-oh…”
Percy glanced up nervously and laughed a little, looking away. “Hi, Uncle
Hades…”
“Perseus, Jason. I think we need to have a little talk with your daddies.” He
frowned and leaned away from them.
“No!” both of them cried, clinging to Hades’ legs. “No!”
Hades rolled his eyes and ignored them as he picked both of the boys up,
walking towards Zeus’s room first to drop the tiny blonde off. Then he headed
towards Poseidon’s room to drop of the other annoying tiny child.
Sally poked her head out of the bedroom and frowned. “Is something wrong?” She
put her hands on her hips and glanced at the little sheepish Percy, rocking
back and forth on his heels and not looking at her. “Perseus Jackson, what did
you do?”
“I believe this belonged to you.” He held out the broken pin with a frown. “The
other half is lodged in my study door’s keyhole.”
“Wha-- Percy! Why were you trying to get into your uncle’s study?!” Sally
crossed her arms and tapped her foot as she waited for a response from the
little boy, who turned red and looked like he was about to stutter through a
response.
“Um… I-I-- Me and Jason just wanted to see it…” He pouted and looked down,
kicking his feet. “‘M sorry, Uncle Hades…”
“Hmph…” Hades nodded at Sally and went to his own room for some peace and quiet
(hopefully). The King of Olympus was asleep before his head even touched the
black silk pillows.
 
Later…
 
Hades awoke in a...flower. Wait-- A flower? Was this some kind of dream?! He
sat up slowly, blinking and looking around. Everything was in a haze, and his
head throbbed slightly, but other than that, he seemed to be fine.
“Hello?” He prodded at the insides of the flower, touching its walls made of
petals and the vines that lined said walls. When he touched the vines, though,
they twitched and began to rise, causing him to lean back and stare at them
with wide eyes. “What in the name of the gods?!”
The vines paused and clung to the walls of the flower again as the top of it
unfurled and opened enough for a woman to fall into it. The flower closed again
once she was in and the vines didn’t move again.
The woman had long, thick, curly black hair and a slender, pale body that was
nicely curved and proportioned. Her eyes were wide and dark, framed by long and
thick lashes, and she was completely naked, save for a belt of flower petals
that seemed to be growing from her hips. In fact, they were growing from her
hips! She also had leaves growing from her ankles, wrists… She looked like a
human flower.
Hades blushed and cleared his throat, trying to look away politely. “Um…
Hello.” However, in looking away, Hades noticed something about himself as
well: he was also naked. “Why--”
“Don’t worry,” the woman said in a gentle voice as she handed him a ripe
nectarine and a basket woven from leaves that was filled with water. “You’ve
already done your job for now.”
“My job…? Could you please tell me who you are, why we’re both naked, and where
I am?” Hades frowned and glanced suspiciously at the food.  
“I am Maria. I am this forest’s protector and mother.” She smiled at him
kindly. “And you are in my home.” She gestured to the flower around them.
“Hom--You’re the Rose of the Forest who's been killing all the men?” He almost
stood up before pausing when the vines seemed to become hostile. He sighed.
“Okay...you’re the Human Rose and…” He rubbed his face. “How I got here….did
you sneak into the city and kidnap me?”
“Well…” Maria shrugged. “Technically speaking, I didn’t. The vines fetched you
for me while you were sleeping in the palace.” She smiled as if it were nothing
and bit into a nectarine of her own.
Hades’ frown deepened. “None the less, you still kidnapped me. What do you want
from my kingdom anyway? I had planned to come out…” He glanced up to check the
time mentally, noting the the sun was brighter through the petals than the
dimmer orange sunlight that he’d fallen asleep to. “...today to see what you
were after. We can’t have you killing all our men.”
Maria pouted. “The only thing I need right now is a child. And I think I may
have one soon!” She perked up and kept eating the fruit, confusing Hades to a
deeper level, but also making him blush--which he rarely ever did.
“Wait...you--” He cleared his throat so he didn’t sound too concerned or
embarrassed. “We...while I was unconscious?!” His face became a deeper red,
almost the shade of an apple or a rose, and he stared at her incredulously.
“How-- That is very--”
Maria blinked. “What? If you had been awake, the vines most likely would’ve
been choking you and tormenting you the entire time! It’s better if you’re
asleep for it!” She huffed and crossed her arms.
“That doesn’t make it any better.” He frowned. “Have you been doing this to all
the men you’ve taken hostage? Raping then killing them?”
Maria’s eyes became even darker, if that were possible, and she glared at him.
The vines unstuck from the walls and rustled threateningly and the petals that
grew from her waist darkened from a pink color to a reddish-purple. “It’s not
my fault your kingdom can’t produce virile men, Your Majesty.” She spat out the
last two words venomously and smirked.
Hades growled and stood up. “I did not say it was your fault, but selfishly
killing my men is your fault. You have made many women, now widows , nearly
grab a torch to burn your forest down. You should think about what you do with
your leftovers, Maria.” He snapped back, glaring daggers at the woman in front
of him. “And if you’re even considering killing me, I’d rethink that decision,
because then an army might burn your forest to the ground.”
Maria was quiet for the longest time before she blinked, looked at the fruit in
her hand, and threw it at Hades. When it missed, she frowned and stood up,
opening the flower and climbing out. “I’m going for a walk!” she snapped,
closing the flower behind her. “Do not kill him!”
Hades snorted and looked around the flower for his clothes. He found fruits,
nuts, fish--ew…Poseidon would like that--and finally his torn clothes. He
frowned when he picked them up. What exactly did they do to remove his clothes?
They didn’t even look like clothes, just ripped pieces of black clothing.
“Damn plants…,” he muttered to himself and dropped the cloth. He glanced around
and pushed open a petal. The vines moved in front of him and he swore he heard
them hiss. Could plants make noises? “Let me through,” he demanded, crossing
his arms.
The plants didn’t budge. In fact, the flower seemed to grow more petals.
Groaning, Hades collapsed on the floor and waited.
 
About a week later…
 
Hades stared at what little of the blue sky he could see from the slightly open
top of the flower. Maria was asleep beside him, having recently confirmed that
she was with child. As he stared at the sky, it occurred to him that Poseidon
was probably being crowned king right about now, and he severely hoped his
brother didn’t send a search party into the woods after him, or come in
himself. Even if the vines had grown begrudgingly used to Hades’ presence, they
would surely execute his brother before he could utter a word to Maria to stop
them. And he couldn’t go back… He wasn’t quite sure why--maybe he just didn’t
want to take this opportunity from Poseidon, maybe he just knew he wasn’t right
to be king anymore--but he was sure he couldn’t go back to the castle and be
with his family again. There was a village just outside the forest… No one
there would know his face…
He sighed and sat up, looking over Maria and her enlarging stomach. He was
surprised at how fast the child was already growing, and he’d be lying if he’d
said that he had no feelings for her or the child. Though, before the
kidnapping, he’d never really thought about starting a family back at the
palace. Maybe it was all the responsibility on the child that made him not
really want one...responsibility...he was free of that now, but then grew
concerned about his brother soon taking over. What if Poseidon couldn’t handle
the pressure or the problems? And what about Percy? Oh the gods, Percy taking
over. Well--Hades didn’t much care for Percy’s problems, but hopefully the
little boy would mature enough to be king one day. He felt a headache grow and
he sighed. He would never admit this aloud, but he supposed that he might--
might--actually miss his family...just a little.
“Mmm…” Maria stirred next to him and cuddled up to him, nuzzling his arm.
“Hades...we need to talk about something…”
Hades glanced down at the woman he was beginning to love. “ Yes, amore mio?” He
pulled her a little closer to him.
Maria sighed and put a hand on her belly. Her lovely dark eyes filled with a
bottomless sadness. “It is normal for the mother of the next Human Rose to not
live more than a month, maybe two, after the birth of the baby… After she dies,
the vines and the forest nymphs raise it.”
Hades’ eyes widened in alarm. “WHAT?! You’re going to die? Why? Since when?” He
sat up and stared at her, worried and hurt mixed in one. “You’re going to leave
your child--our child in this forest alone? I can’t raise it, I know nothing of
these plants…”
Maria sighed, as if she were already weak from labor--more than likely, she was
still very tired, or even half asleep. The baby seemed to make her sleepy, and
have vivid dreams. “There have been one or two cases where the mother survives
at least a few years, but it’s very rare. But you can’t stay in the forest,
Hades. When I die, the vines will kill you, because I’ll be unable to protect
you and the baby will be a baby… Well...they might kill you. I’m still unsure.
The child will be safe with the vines and the nymphs, I promise.”
Hades clenched his fist. “You’re going to leave us...?” He sighed. “How long
‘til the child is born? I need to know so we can...spend good times together
before you pass on.”
“Mmm…” Maria yawned and tried to stay awake, blinking lazily like a cat.
“Perhaps a few weeks, maybe a month.” She pulled him down and kissed him. “It’s
a boy, you know.” She smiled and pointed at all the little flowers around them
that had bloomed. A majority of them were blue.
He gave a small chuckle. “Then what will his name be? His last name will be di
Angelo.”
“Hmm…” Maria sat up and stretched. “I think we should name him Nico.”
“Nico di Angelo?” He smiled and leaned over to peck her cheek. “That’s a
wonderful name.” He sighed and got up, stretching. “I’m gonna go to the river,
I need a bath.”
 
A few months later…
 
Nico cried a lot. Hades never slept whenever he did, so he hardly slept at all.
Maria was gone, for about a week now, and Nico had not stopped crying since.
Hades considered taking him out of the forest, but he knew that was a bad idea.
Not only would the vines try to kill him, but it was likely Nico wouldn’t
survive such a journey as such a young age. Hades was even surprised he was
still alive, since he had insisted upon staying in the forest for awhile with
his newborn son, but he knew it was only a matter of time before the vines
chased him out and took Nico to the nymphs.
“Oh, for the love of the gods…” Hades rubbed his poor head and looked down at
the pale boy swaddled in furs and flowers as he began to sob for the fifth time
that night. “I know, you miss her…” He heard a rustling that meant the vines
were laughing at him and he growled at them.
Nico looked up at his father with eyes that reflected his own, only red from
crying and stained with tears. His bottom lip stretched out in a pout as it
threatened to quiver. “Papa…” He whined and thrashed around, reaching out to
grab something, a vine.
One of the vines zoomed passed Hades and reached for Nico, but Hades batted it
away and picked up his son. He shushed him and bounced him, trying to get him
to sleep again. “Shh, shh… It’s alright, everything’s going to be okay…”
Nico cried, screaming really. He continued to reach for the vine, waving his
tiny arms around. He didn’t want sleep, he wanted his mother, he wanted food
and her warmth, the comfort from another Human Rose. Hades, however, could not
give that, and Nico could sense it. He wasn’t really old enough to know that
Hades was his father and his blood; only that Hades wasn’t like him, and that
felt wrong.
Hades felt his heart sink, and he felt like he had failed Maria. He glanced at
the rustling vines, who were still laughing, but now seemed to be twitching
impatiently, waiting for him to give in and hand Nico over. He didn’t have to
be a Human Rose to know that they were clearly saying they could take better
care of Nico than he ever could. And, sadly, he knew it was true, and he was
beginning to consider giving them his child.
Nico screamed and cried, now kicking his feet. He was throwing a fit before he
yawned, tired from his tantrum. It didn’t stop his kicking or waving of arms,
but it did make it a little easier to hold the boy, to rock him back to sleep.
Hades waited until Nico was cooing in his sleep and sucking his thumb to sigh
in defeat and give him to the vines. “I am not abandoning him here with you.
I’ll be visiting him.”
Whatever, the vines replied as they made a nest for Nico to be cradled in,
similar to a large bird nest. You’ve overstayed your welcome for now, though.
And just like that, they began to shoo him out, swatting at him and whipping at
his feet until he had left the forest altogether and gone to the village.
 
A few years later…
 
Nico was running around, laughing as he played with the vines. He was waiting
for his father to visit. He had collected the best fruit he could find and the
most beautiful flowers around, hoping his dad would like them--which he usually
did. He glanced around by the river, wondering which direction his dad would be
coming in. It had been a week since Hades visited and he was extremely excited
for this visit. Apparently, Hades was gonna bring ‘soup’ over, whatever that
was.
The vines were not happy. They still didn’t trust Hades, after all these years,
and they didn’t like Hades filling Nico’s head with stories about his uncles
and cousins, stories about the human world. If Nico became too curious, he
might try to go visit the palace or the capital city, and Nico’s departure
would spell trouble for the forest and its inhabitants. However, they knew they
couldn’t banish Hades, or Nico would become unhappy, and that could be just as
bad.
Hades came in, carrying a small bag and a pot. He called for Nico, walking to
the giant flower that was now his son’s.
“Nico!” He called and started setting things up.
The boy whipped his head around and immediately ran over. “Dad--what’s that?”
He pointed to the shiny object. He reached out to touch it, but his hand was
caught but Hades’.
“It’s hot, it will burn you if you touch it.” He sighed at his son. Nico was
naturally curious; so many times he had to tell the  boy to calm down and not
touch things.
Nico pouted and sat down. “What is it?”
“It’s a soup pot,” Hades said as he sat down with him. “It’s filled with
vegetable soup.” He figured he should make soup out of something Nico was
familiar with and would eat.
“Really?” His eyes sparkled with excitement. “How do you open it?” He reached
for the pot again.
Hades batted his hand away. “Nico, I said don’t touch it. You’ll hurt
yourself.” He grabbed a piece of cloth and lifted the lid off. The smell of
spiced tomato broth with carrots, peas, corn, and potatoes wafted into the air
in clouds of steam, and the vines shook a little from the heat of it. “Does it
smell good?”
Nico nodded and bounced where he crouched. “Can I touch it now?” He smiled and
reached for it again. He glanced at the silverware and stared at it. He reached
for those instead. “What’s this?” He held up a fork and spoon.
“Those are the things you eat with. You hold it and it collects the food so
your hands don’t get dirty when you eat.” He grabbed a bowl and poured some
soup in it. “Here, take that one.” He pointed to the spoon.
Nico nodded and set the fork down. He took the bowl and smiled. “It looks
funny.”
Hades gave a gentle laugh and patted his son’s back. He showed Nico how to eat
with his own bowl of soup and spoon. Through the rest of the day, Nico asked
Hades many questions about the human world, and Hades answered them the best he
would that would make sense to the boy. Although he felt every day that he
wasn’t welcome there, he wouldn’t allow Nico to be raised by those cold and
cynical plants. At nighttime, when Nico had finally worn himself out, Hades
tucked him into the furs in the flower and grabbed a lantern to make his way
out of the forest.
 
Present…
 
Jason frowned. “Wait, so… You still go out there and talk to Nico, even though
you clearly had a baby with another woman, and knowing that he’s killing
people?”
“Nico himself isn’t killing anyone. It’s the vines,” Hades snapped, He folded
his arms and pushed back his already slick hair. “Now, I suggest you get some
rest. You’re injured too, you know, and I’m not sending you back to Zeus all
covered in lumps and bruises.”
“Wait, I have another question--”
“I’m not going back, Jason.” Hades left the room without another word, leaving
Jason to sulk and stare out at the forest.
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