Nico POV

I opened my eyes and saw that I wasn't in the kitchen anymore. Or the house, for that matter.

It was all dark. Pitch black.

I even put my hand up in front of my face only to put it back down, realising I couldn't see it. I turned around on the invisible ground and saw a faint shimmer.

I walked towards it and it got brighter. It kept getting brighter as I walked closer. Right when I thought my eyes couldn't stand the light anymore, it formed into an image. Or rather, a scene.

It showed two little children playing in the lobby of an elegant hotel, chasing each other around two marble columns.

A woman sat on a nearby sofa. She wore a black dress, gloves, and a black veiled hat like a star from an old 1940's movie. On a chair next to her sat a large, oily man in a pinstripe suit. With a shock, I realised it was Hades. He was leaning towards the woman, using his hands as he talked, like he was agitated.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it was clear that they were arguing about something. They spoke back and forth. I heard something like thunder off in the distance.

Hades wrung his hands and had a look of worry on his face. The woman kissed Hades and walked upstairs. He watched her as if each step caused him great pain.

A moment later, he tensed. The children also stopped as if they sensed something.

Suddenly, Hades got up, causing me to jump. A wall of black energy went around the children and the hotel exploded. I covered myself with my arms, but realised I didn't need to. I got up, unscathed.

The force was so violent that the entire mist image had nearly dissolved. When it came back into focus, I saw Hades holding the broken form of the woman. Fires still burned all around them. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled.

Hades shook his fist at the sky and yelled something.

I walked closer and took a better look at the woman. Her dark eyes stared blankly off to the side. Her prominent cheek bones cast shadows along her elegant face.

I didn't even have time to gasp as I felt a tug in my gut and was pulled sharply into reality. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding in.

I stared into a pair of blue eyes, tears blurring my vision.

She had looked so familiar.

I could feel my mouth forming the words, but didn't know if any sound even came out.

Someone shook my shoulders.

A tear rolled freely down my cheek.

That woman

I heard someone yelling.

was my mother

I took a shaky breath and felt myself slipping into unconsciousness.