[Third Person's PoV]
As the final curtain descended and the stage lights dimmed momentarily, the audience broke into thunderous applause that echoed throughout the auditorium. Just moments later, the curtains were drawn open once more, revealing the entire cast and crew lined up proudly onstage. The student actors, still in their elaborate costumes and flushed with adrenaline, held hands as they stepped forward to take a collective bow. The crowd roared with approval—cheering, clapping, even whistling with excitement and admiration.
Lucian and Chloe, the two leads of the performance, stood front and center. Their portrayal of Romeo and Juliet had captivated the entire room, and their commanding presence naturally drew the loudest applause. Some members of the audience even rose to their feet in a standing ovation, whistling and shouting praise. Amid the noise, Lucian clearly heard a familiar voice rise above the others:
"That was my big bro! Woohoo!!" Nico's excited shout rang out proudly, drawing a smirk from Lucian.
As the curtain finally closed, Mr. Matthews turned to face the cast with his hands clasped together, beaming with pride. "Absolutely brilliant!" he declared. "Good work, everyone. That was marvelous—truly spectacular! Honestly, I think that went better than any of our rehearsals. You should all be extremely proud of yourselves."
He walked along the line of students, offering nods and quick words of praise to each one. As he neared Lucian, preparing to personally thank him for taking the role seriously and delivering a performance beyond expectations, Lucian suddenly tilted his head to the side, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"…Dad?"
The single word halted everyone mid-celebration.
"Dad?!" several students echoed in disbelief as all eyes turned toward the back of the auditorium.
A collective gasp swept through the cast and crew as they saw a group approaching—a group so dazzling, so ethereal in appearance, it made everyone momentarily forget how to breathe. At the forefront was a man whose presence alone seemed to bend the very air around him. Tall, dark, elegant, and carrying himself with the confidence of a king, he had a grin on his face that radiated both warmth and mischief.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," Bianca groaned, slapping a hand to her forehead. "What are you doing here, Dad?"
"Wait—is that really their dad?"
"He's gorgeous!"
"No wonder Lucian looks the way he does…"
Students whispered in hushed amazement, unable to tear their eyes away as Hades, God of the Underworld himself, strode across the stage carrying a few small but vibrant bouquets of flowers. Beside him were equally stunning figures—Persephone glowing like the embodiment of spring, and even Demeter with her regal and commanding aura.
"What?" Hades asked innocently, flashing a wide grin. "Can't a father come watch his children perform when they're putting on such an impressive show?" He tilted his head, clearly enjoying the attention he was stirring.
"No, you absolutely cannot," Bianca snapped, her face turning beet red as the stares intensified.
"Well, too bad. Here you go." He handed her a bouquet of carefully arranged flowers, crafted with care.
"…Thanks," Bianca muttered, accepting them with a shy glance away.
Then, turning to Lucian, Hades grinned and held out another bouquet. "You weren't half bad, brat. Maybe I should have you perform sometime—we've been needing new entertainment."
Lucian took the bouquet, raising an eyebrow as he immediately recognized the floral touch, immediately guessing they were Persephone's doing, "You're just hilarious old man"
From behind Hades, Persephone stepped forward and wrapped Lucian in a warm, heartfelt hug. "Lucian! You were incredible!" she gushed, holding him close. "Your performance… it really made me cry. I haven't felt so moved in years."
"Is she his mom?"
"But she doesn't even look like him."
"Still… she's gorgeous. Does everyone in Lucian's family have perfect genes or something?"
The whispers continued to ripple through the student body, but Lucian could only give a bashful shrug. "Thanks," he muttered, awkwardly patting Persephone's back as she pulled away, misty-eyed.
Hades, in a surprisingly thoughtful gesture, approached Annabeth and offered her a bouquet as well. She blinked in surprise, looking between the flowers and the god offering them.
"For me?" she asked, stunned.
Hades nodded with a rare gentleness.
"T-Thank you…" Annabeth murmured, cheeks flushed as she accepted the bouquet.
Persephone leaned close to Lucian and whispered in his ear, "Call your mother later. She's inconsolable. Your acting made it look like you really died—she hasn't stopped crying since."
Lucian let out a long, exasperated sigh. "I'll call her later…"
As he looked across the stage, his eyes landed on Demeter, who stood with her arms crossed and her usual stern expression. Seeing Lucian staring, she scoffed.
"Don't look at me like that—I didn't come for you," she said curtly.
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Still… I'm surprised you showed up, Auntie."
"Aunt—Auntie?!" Demeter repeated in shock. No one had ever called her that before. She didn't even know how to respond.
Before anyone else could speak, Mr. Matthews cleared his throat, nervously stepping forward. "I… I'm sorry, but I just have to ask… how exactly did you people get in here?" he asked, clearly intimidated by the overwhelming aura surrounding Lucian's divine relatives.
His thoughts ran wild. 'This is Lucian's family?! Why do they all feel so… scary?!'
But Hades simply gave him a charming smile and said, "We donated to the school and were granted VIP access."
"…I see," Mr. Matthews said, visibly sweating. "W-Well, I hope the play met your expectations."
"You really shouldn't have come," Bianca grumbled, still trying to hide behind Chloe. "This is beyond embarrassing."
Unbeknownst to Hades or the others, the Fates, cleverly disguised, observed the entire scene unfold with great amusement.
Meanwhile, Hades and the rest of the divine visitors began to move away, guiding Lucian and the others off the stage and out of the spotlight,
"Yo."
Lucian turned, quirking a brow as he spotted Thalia striding toward them with Medusa walking beside her. Medusa froze the moment her eyes landed on Hades, her entire body stiffening like she'd seen a ghost. Her posture tensed as if preparing for judgment, but she quickly bowed her head in respect, her voice faltering slightly.
"Lord Hades…"
Hades gave a small, acknowledging nod, his tone surprisingly warm. "Medusa… Be at ease. I'm aware of how you've been looking after the children—particularly Nico and Bianca—even though they are not your responsibility. For that, you have my thanks."
Medusa relaxed somewhat, her eyes softening. "It was nothing, my lord. They are both remarkable children. It has been my honor."
After Thalia offered a respectful greeting to Hades and the goddesses, she turned toward Lucian with a smirk tugging at her lips.
"I recorded everything, by the way."
Lucian immediately straightened, striking an exaggerated pose like a seasoned model. "Tell me you got my good side."
Before Thalia could answer, a voice rang out behind them.
"Dad!"
They turned in unison to see Nico jogging toward the group, his face bright with joy. But while Hades and Persephone were delighted to see Nico, their expressions shifted dramatically the moment they noticed the boy walking just a few steps behind him.
Their eyes widened in complete and utter disbelief. Hades blinked rapidly. Persephone's mouth slowly fell open in astonishment as Markus stepped forward, his posture tense but composed.
Lucian, standing slightly off to the side, looked like a volcano ready to erupt—desperately trying to suppress the enormous smirk that was taking over his face.
"…He had a son," Hades whispered hoarsely, his voice filled with incredulous awe.
Demeter, standing nearby, took one look at Markus and immediately scrunched her nose in disdain, as if someone had held a rotten pomegranate under her nose. Her eyes practically screamed, "Ugh."
"Markus!" Lucian called out, waving him over. Markus approached hesitantly, every step weighing heavier with the realization of who exactly he was walking toward. The casual word Dad that had come from Nico's mouth earlier now echoed in his head with sharp clarity.
He knew who Hades was the moment he laid eyes on him—and his presence alone was like a black hole, ancient and powerful.
"Oh, this is going to be so good~," Persephone whispered, barely able to contain her excitement. She practically bounced on her heels, loving the drama.
Lucian threw an arm around Markus's shoulder, grinning ear to ear. "Markus, this is our father—Hades. And Dad… this is Markus. I'm pretty sure you can already guess whose son he is."
Markus straightened and gave a respectful nod, trying to keep his voice steady. "Hello, sir…"
Hades stared at him for a long, awkward moment before replying, "Ah… yes. Hello, child."
He then turned his gaze toward Lucian, who looked seconds away from bursting out laughing.
"Markus, was it?" Hades asked, folding his arms. "Does your father know of your existence?"
Markus sighed, glancing down. "No. And… I'd prefer to keep it that way—for now. I'm not ready to face him just yet."
There was a long silence. Hades's eyes softened, and he gave a slow nod.
"…Very well. I'll respect your wishes. But knowing your father as I do, I assure you—he would be overjoyed to know you exist. He's not a cold man, not truly. Don't make him wait too long."
Markus blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Hades to say that. Thanatos, the literal personification of death, being happy to see him? It conflicted with everything he'd prepared himself for. Still, the ache in his chest—resentment, confusion, longing—remained.
"…We'll see," Markus muttered, eyes distant.
Hades turned to Lucian again, curiosity now mingling with mild exasperation. "Where did you find him?"
Lucian grinned smugly. "He's my roommate. Met him on the first day of school."
"You mean to tell me you've known about his existence for months and didn't think to mention it?"
Lucian gave a helpless shrug. "You never asked. Plus, you heard him—he didn't want anyone to know yet, and I respected that. Oh, and did I forget to mention I've been training him and made him my lieutenant?"
He clapped Markus's back proudly, still grinning like a madman.
Hades stared at Lucian, utterly done. He didn't even speak—just slowly raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.
'Old friend…' he thought, directing the words silently to Thanatos, 'I'm so sorry. You have your work cut out for you.'
********************************************
A/N: Happy 300 chapters everyone! ❤ Thank you all for the support you have shown thus far and sticking with the story 🥰
+10 advance Chapters and my other patron exclusive content on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3