Chapter 1

The shadow disappeared beneath me. I stood up and began walking towards the black gates signaling my presence. I felt the immense aura of death ahead as I waved my hands opening the skeletal palace doors. I look up to see my father seated on his throne beside the empty throne of Persephone. Unusual since it is winter she should be seated next to him but I am not about to complain. I look towards father and notice the faces of the damned covering his red-black robes seemed even more tortured than usual today. Almost as if Father was disturbed by something. I quickly kneel knowing that something severe and grave must have happened since the last time we spoke as I conclude that Persephone was sent away or is not to hear what is happening for I was not even summoned by Alecto.

"Nico" He stood up sharply and walked down shrinking to human size. He stopped a meter before me.

"Yes, father?"I look at the reflecting marble watching him contemplate.

"I summon you here because a problem has arisen. "

"I am ready Father."I lowered my head further to the ground.

"Hn. I do not know if you are aware but there are other mythologies that exist besides the Greeks."

"What do you mean?" I lifted my head observing his impassive face. His eyes, however, seem madder than normal. I look back to the ground yet curiosity forces me to ask "Besides what you have told me about the Romans? Are there Egyptian? Persian? Aztec? Slavic?-" I stopped remembering to whom I was speaking with yet surprise to see the amusement in his expression.

"No comment on the Egyptians right now I will discuss with you at a later time about that pantheon, the Persians no longer exist, no to Aztec and interesting response with the Slavic but no. Though I am somewhat impressed at your knowledge. Sometimes you can be so dense yet you can be sharp like earlier today on how you notice my irritation through my clothing. You are perceptive and I believe that will help you in your quest. As I am the first born son I am the most mature of my brothers and most responsible for the lot. It is one of the reasons why I have domain over the underworld. Unlike the sky, there is much more work needed to control the dead. This brings me to my problem, but first" he leans towards me looking me straight in the eyes "what do you know about Japanese mythology or more specifically Shinigami?"

"The Japanese word for death gods?"

"Yes, though it is a major misconception. These 'Shinigami' are no gods but are leftover remains of when Olympus resided in the East. They were assistants of Thanatos but they are now cursed-by whom you will not learn- and the curse renders them useless. They are a matter that is forbidden to be spoken about and many of the gods do not know of their existence. The Shinigamis were banished to another realm where hundreds still exist today. However, there is a hole that allows the passage of Shinigamis to earth where they take the lives of a mortal to extend their own then they return right back. While they cause some paper works they are a minor nuisance. That is not the problem.

The quest I will send you on is that a mortal has somehow obtained a shinigami's method of killing and has been using it zealously. I order you to exterminate the mortal and return with its head as proof. Oh, Don't look so disgusted think of it similar to killing some of the half-bloods from fathers army and the murderer deserves it. It isn't as if I will be able to give the mortal eternal suffering as any human that uses a Shinigamis method of killing will have their soul to cease, unable to receive judgment. I believe people are starting to consider the mortal a god." Hades sneered at the stupidity of humans believing a mortal a god.

I began to wonder 'why does he not send the-'

"I know you must be wondering 'Why do I not send the furies?' I cannot send them because even they cannot interfere with what is occurring and currently Thanatos hasn't been responding my summons and the furies are currently keeping order in the underworld. This mortal upstart must be dealt with quickly as I currently can not afford more deaths in the underworld. Also with Thanatos currently what I would assume to be incapacitated the souls of the more cunning and intelligent are escaping the underworld and entering the living. I need this to be completed quickly and then I will deal with theses Shinigamis at a later time once control in the underworld is returned."

"What is the real reason for the haste father?" He gazed at me with a calculated look and a smirk appeared on his face.

"The mortals are starting to become more aware of the supernatural. I cannot let this awareness of the weaken mist around the world get to the Olympians. A great oversight of the remaining gods of Olympus is they had only checked the mist in North America. Currently, I was ordered by Zeus not to communicate with you either as Olympus is closed. To busy either way to be on Olympus hiding and swearing an oath to not contact our children. He can be a paranoid leader but hearing from the shadows it seems that he is acting even more strange than normal. Either way, I chose to ignore it as I need all the assistants to regain order." He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled.

"I do not know if you have realized during your travels the mist has become weak since three months ago. The Mist was overstretched by hiding the involvement of the second Titans war and now has little control outside of America."

I frowned remembering how my sword kept being seen as a weapon somewhat like a fencing sword in Italy or in China a kendo stick used in martial arts instead of the usual mostly harmless illusion of a walking stick. My father continued to speak.

"With enough time one of the Olympians will get the stick out of their ass and pay attention to the lesser problems of regular mortals. They will realize that something has gotten the rest of the world outside of America spooked. Probably when having an affair with a human. Nonetheless, they will catch the whisper of the word Kira, a god. And when one of them like Athena, if she is stable enough, will realize a Shinigami is connected to Kira I will be in a predicament that will be difficult to explain. Think of the fear the other Olympians would have if they learn of their existence only hearing the popular translation of 'death gods'. No, Nico, this must be solved quickly for I sense something even darker is coming. Stand."

He then turned away gesturing for me to follow him. Standing up quickly I wonder how much chaos the world is currently in right now. I abruptly left the Roman senate meeting on the anniversary of the first month of Jason Grace disappearance. I was only able to have any power in the Roman pantheon by claiming and producing papers of Pluto claiming I am his ambassador. Thank the gods that Father decided to gift me the ghosts with a silver tongue like Napoleon to teach me how to speak to the Romans. The missing Jason Grace is another problem I wonder about. I shake my head and jog two steps behind Father. He opens his one of his locked chambers and enters. I walk in and surprise by the things he has. Interesting inventions stacked along the wall. I look at him confused.

"Nico, did you believe Hephaestus was the only one to have unique gadgets for demigods? These are creations of inventors who live in Elysium. Whenever something interesting catches my eyes I would ask for another one to be made as a bargaining tool. Since they have eternity to tinker it is very useful some of the things they created. Here."

I look at the silver chain in disbelief but immediately put it on.

" Now can you understand what I am saying?"

"Er yes I can but why-?"

"I spoke to you in Japanese. It was created by a son of Hecate and three children of Athena.

My eyes widen in disbelief. I then saw the pair of shades he placed on the table next to me. I grab them and put them on unable to see a difference. A thick file appears in his hands which he then places onto my outreached hand.

"I want you to read the case file with the glasses on. You should be competent enough to take care of everything else. I feel Persephone calling me. I can no longer contact you but when you have completed the quest burn the black page with hellfire. He reaches out and touch my shoulder then faded away along with the room and I came to the realization I was currently in my Father's temple in New Rome.

This chapter has been edited to correct the grammar mistakes.