You're family, aren't you?

The name and the face of Sephie Jackson

Persephone Amphitrite Jackson.

Hades frowned as he read the name of the hero Alecto had identified as the potential child of Poseidon and the thief of his Helm.

What was he supposed to do now? He had been expecting the boy with some degree of resemblance to his favorite brother – but a girl? Poseidon never had a mortal daughter before: a scant few immortal daughters like Kympoleia and Rhode, but a mortal?

The added trouble was the guilt Hades knew he would feel if he hurt his niece. No matter what, Poseidon and Hestia had always valued family bonds, and his little brother gave his damn best to include Hades into the family. He hadn't failed to notice how Poseidon seemed to target Hades specifically on the Winter Solstice councils to provoke a reaction out of his older brother and drag him into the conversation. To hurt his child, even if she was born out of the breach of the sacred oath, would feel like a betrayal, and if there was one thing Hades detested, it was the betrayal.

To make things worse, the girl bore the name of his dear wife and her father's wife: Persephone Amphitrite. Hades couldn't help but feel reluctantly impressed by the lover Poseidon had chosen, for she must've been a clear-sighted or Poseidon trusted her enough to reveal his true identity. Whichever was the truth, the result was the same: little demigoddess' first name protected her against the excessive wrath of the monsters allied with Underworld and endeared her to her uncle, and the second name would hopefully pacify the enraged Queen of the Seas when she hears about her husband's newest bastard.

Persephone Jackson.

The name would not leave him alone, teasing him in his wife's absence and calling up the image of his wife overlaid with his brother's intense green eyes instead of Persephone's soft blues, and for the first time in centuries Hades decided to check on a mortal that was not his child of his former lover. He needed to get the image of the child and, hopefully, get her out of his head before she had time to root herself there too deeply. Hades was no one's fool, he knew his weaknesses, and beautiful women were one of them.

The worst part was, no one could deny the fact his brother's children were show-stoppers, with their inky black hair and intense green eyes, and Persephone Jackson promised to be just like her half-siblings: both powerful and beautiful beyond all mortal standards.

Waving his hand, he summoned the rainbow and tossed one of the many drachmas littering his office, mentally calling upon assistance from Iris. Iris, dear, please show me Persephone Jackson.

Of course, Lord Hades! Iris chirped. Will you tell your Persephone to call me when you see her?

Hades flushed slightly at the unsubtle way Iris differentiated his wife from his niece. Of course.

Thank you!

The rainbow blurred for a second before smoothing out, revealing the image of the young demigoddess exiting the yellow taxi, looking over her shoulder with cautious eyes. Hades' heart nearly stopped at sight and he heard himself gasp.

Mother?!

He found himself glued to the display in the shimmering air, but he couldn't care less. How was this possible? Rhea Ourania had disappeared from Olympus' sights soon after the Gigantomachy, but the elder Olympians knew she was still alive due to regular check-ups and occasional gifts she sent them. So how was it possible for his niece to look like her grandmother's spitting image? How?

From the soft, inky black ringlets framing the green eyes that Poseidon inherited from Rhea to the tanned skin, frail build and full lips now scrunched in an expression of distaste Hades had seen numerous times on his mother's face when she heard anyone talk about her husband, seeing Persephone Jackson was like seeing his own mother in a miniature form, and Hades found himself torn.

How was he supposed to hate his niece when she reminded him so much of the woman he loved unconditionally? Was it truly possible that Poseidon sent the little girl to steal both the Master Bolt and his Helm? His little brother had never a cruel god; temperamental and unfaithful, yes, but never outright cruel, and to send a miniature copy of their mother to steal his brothers' symbols of power would be more than cruel.

Suddenly overwhelmed with questions and having next to no answers, Hades stood up from his throne, summoning Thanatos and dispelling the rainbow with a flick of his wrist.

“Yes, my Lord?” Thanatos asked when he appeared, his wings outstretched as he bowed shallowly as per his custom.

“There is a little situation in the mortal world I need to resolve,” Hades said regally, hoping the vagueness of his words and the stressing of the word 'situation' would mask his true intentions from his lieutenant. “Will you be able to watch over the Underworld for a short period of time?” The question was entirely unnecessary, but there were some rules and procedures Hades needed to observe before he went off to have a little uncle-niece chat.

“But of course my Lord,” Thanatos' entire being glowed and his wings flexed slightly at the thought of the challenge and the trust the God of Underworld showed him. “Although, may I ask... is this about...”

Son of Nyx looked pointedly at the armrest of Hades' throne, where his Helm of Darkness usually resided.

Hades nodded, and Thanatos' face darkened, but the older immortal did not inquire further, merely taking the seat. That dealt with, Hades closed his eyes and imagined the address he had briefly seen in the Iris message – East One Hundred and the First in Manhattan – and melted into the shadows, letting them guide him to the alleyway next to Persephone's apartment block.

~

The first impression Hades got of his niece's living area could be summed up in one word: disgusting. Granted, this was Manhattan, and certain level of sleaziness and dirt Hades had come to expect in every modern mortal city, but this apartment building seemed to have a particularly potent scent of decaying humanity. Hades' eyes narrowed as he processed the thought, moving mindlessly to the entrance of the building. Either this was an amazing coincidence, or his brother's lover was smarter than Hades initially gave her credit for.

Looking at the names taped to the post boxes in the lobby of the building, Hades quickly determined which apartment he needed – the Jackson-Ugliano one. Feeling a little lazy, the Ruler of the Underworld let his shadows unfurl, and sent them to find out where exactly his niece resided. After getting the exact floor, Hades ghosted up the stairs, applying a little whiff of Mist to hide himself from the ordinary mortals. It was a bit of an overkill, but Hades didn't want any interruptions or for his presence to be detected by either of his brothers. Poseidon and he had a more amicable relationship than Zeus and he did, but Hades had no illusions what kind of things his younger brother would do if he found out Hades had been visiting his daughter without alerting him beforehand.

As he climbed up the stairs towards the correct floor, the scent of the decaying humanity grew in intensity, reaching the point where Hades felt the need to breathe through his mouth. This was no coincidence: Poseidon's lover must've hidden Persephone near the origin of that repulsive smell to cover up girl's natural scent. That would explain why no monster managed to stumble upon her despite her heritage. Hades' respect for the woman grew as he arrived at the door of the correct apartment and the scent hit him with its full power, which made his eyes water slightly.

Dear Creator, was it even possible for a mortal to reek so repulsively… well, mortal?

He knocked at the door, praying to Fates either his niece or his brother's lover answer the door, for he doubted he could endure being so close to the origin of that smell.

“Sally! Open the door!” Deep male voice shouted from inside the apartment, and Hades tilted his headslightly as he analyzed the new information. Sally, not Persephone – so the lover. Sally Jackson. The name was utterly unassuming, but Hades had learned a long time ago never to assume things based on something as shallow as a name.

The key turned and the lock clicked before the door opened a notch, revealing a chain and a face of Sally Jackson behind it. Even though her face was slightly drawn, the years showing in the soft lines and wrinkles on her face, his brother’s lover still retained the air of beauty and dignity. Her eyes widened as she took in Hades' appearance before obediently dropping her gaze to the floor.

“Lord Hades Aidoneus.”

That threw Hades for a loop. So, the woman was clear-sighted, but greeting him with both his name and most common title, The Unseen One? This went beyond the usual clear sight. This spoke of preparation.

“Miss Jackson,” he replied after a moment. “May I enter? I would like to have a little chat with your daughter.”

Sally lifted her head, her murky blue eyes wide with what Hades easily recognized as fear. He could understand her reaction: to have one of the gods appearing on your doorstep was one thing, when said god's name was Hades?

“It is not your daughter's time yet,” he reassured her, watching as the relief spread through the woman's body, making her slump slightly. “I merely wish to have a chat with her.”

“What about, my Lord?” Sally asked, removing the chain and opening the doors completely. “I've not told Sephie anything about her father, and she has never told me about anything unusual happening to her.”

Hades glided in the apartment, breathing through his mouth to filter the stench of the place, and turned around to fix the mortal with an incredulous look.

“She knows nothing about us? The gods, monsters... anything?” He questioned, a deep set unease crawling into his gut. If Persephone Jackson had no knowledge of her father, how could she have stolen his Helm?

“Nothing at all,” Sally confirmed. “She believes her father was lost at sea.”

A small smile tugged at the edges of Hades' mouth. “Clever, Lady Jackson,” he deliberately addressed her with a formal title, watching the woman's cheeks redden. “Very clever. I can see what my brother saw in you.”

“Sally!” the male voice from before shouted again, and Hades heard the scraping of wood against the floor before the obese man waddled into the hallway from what Hades guessed was the kitchen, bringing with him the horrible stench. Hades' eyebrows rose as he again had to concentrate on not breathing through the nose. “Who the f**k is this, Sally?!”

“Language,” Hades chided the mortal before Sally could say anything. “And I am merely here to visit Persephone.”

“The brat?” The mortal narrowed his eyes, and Hades saw him look over the fine suit and the various gems and precious metals adorning his wrists and fingers. “What, are you her father?”

Hades chuckled. While he wished he had met Sally Jackson before his brother, he valued his oath of no children more. “Dear Fates, no! I am, however, her family: her father's older brother.”

“Uncle?” A high, feminine voice came from behind him, and Hades spun around to confront the owner of the voice, only to promptly lose his voice. If he had thought Persephone looked incredibly similar to her grandmother in the Iris message, it paled to the resemblance she bore at the personal inspection. By the Creator, she was not 'practically' a spitting image, she was Rhea's little clone, the voice aside! “You're my uncle?”

“Sephie,” Sally moved around the god of Underworld to reach her daughter while the said god stood silently in shock. “Please go back to your room.”

“Are you my uncle?” little demigoddess repeated, a pout Hades was all-too-familiar with appearing on her face, and he groaned inwardly. There was no saying no to their mother or to his brother when they made that face!

“Yes, child, I am,” Hades somehow said those four words without stuttering. “You look incredibly like your father and grandmother.”

Persephone's eyes lit up, and even Sally looked intrigued at his admission. Hades wanted to curse himself for that little slip-up, but before he could say anything, the reeking mortal interrupted.

“Are you taking the brat away?”

“Gabriel!” Sally exclaimed in shock and anger, but Hades tilted his head, deep in thought. The interference on the quests and contact with their demigod children was absolutely forbidden to the gods, but this was neither his child nor part of anyone's quest. However, there was still a matter of his little brother's rage that needed to be factored in.

“No, I am not,” Hades declared, and watched Persephone – Sephie as her mother called her, and Hades had to admit the nickname was cute – wilt, so he quickly added, “but I need to have a little private discussion with my niece, about some family matters.” He smiled slightly at the girl's sudden interest and Sally's confusion. Before the disgusting mortal could react, Hades tugged his niece by her shoulder into the room she came out of and closed the door, murmuring a locking spell and a spell against eavesdroppers.

“Family matters?” Per- Sephie asked him as he finished with the spells.

“Yes, my dear niece,” Hades sighed and turned around. “Some rather serious family matters. Before we start though: what do you know about your father?”

Sephie blinked, taken aback, before her eyes hardened and face smoothed into a neutral expression. “He was tall, dark and handsome,” she said in a monotone, almost as if quoting someone. “He was very powerful and very important, and his relationship with my mum was secret. Then one day, he set sail across the Atlantic and never came back. He was lost at the sea.” She blinked again, her voice returning to its normal cadence. “That's all my mum told me about him.”

Hades nodded, sitting down next to his niece on the rickety bed. As far as stories went, this was one of the more accurate ones, lying only in the fact it didn't mention gods anywhere. “Not bad,” he admitted.“Completely truthful, yet an utter lie. My nephew, your cousin, would've been impressed.”

Sephie looked rather lost, so Hades went on. “

The essentials of the story are the truth. Your father is powerful and important, and his relationship with your mother was certainly a secret – for twelve years, none of our family members knew you even existed, which is quite impressive, everything considered.” He couldn't help but admire how dedicated both Sally and Poseidon were in hiding Sephie from immortal eyes. “We usually know very quickly when my brothers or I sire a child, due to the gifts and the curse our children bear.”

“Gifts? Curse?” Sephie interrupted, looking quite annoyed, and Hades cracked a smile at the blunt display of Poseidon's impatience. “What are you talking about? I don't even know your name!”

Ah, there was his opening. “Hades,” he said simply, letting the name hang in the silence. “My name is Hades.”

“Like, the Greek god of the dead?” Sephie scoffed, and Hades shook his head. His little niece was quite amusing, and thankfully she didn't confuse him with Thanatos, who governed over the actual death.

“Not like. I am the Greek God of Dead, Ruler of the Underworld.”

Sephie exploded in laughter. That was not the usual response to the existence of the world beyond the Mist, but it was better than blubbering panic.

“You expect me to believe that?” Sephie spoke through laughter before she realized Hades was not laughing with her. “You're kidding me, right?” She sounded a little unsure.

“I am afraid not, my dear niece,” Hades sighed. “Greek gods are quite real, and you are the ultimate proof. A child of a god and a mortal – a demigod, or demigoddess in your case.”

“Look, even if I believe that gods are real, what do I have to do with that?” Sephie asked, now quite unnerved. “Where do I fit in?”

“Why, you're my little brother's daughter, not to mention your mother named you after my wife and your cousin,” Hades told her, letting her connect the remaining dots. If she knew anything about the mortal recording of their pantheon's antics, she'll know pretty soon who her father is.

“Little brother... Poseidon, God of the Seas,” Sephie sounded quite faint, and Hades noted how pale she became, looking everywhere but at him. “He's alive?”

“Unfortunately,” he informed her with a put-upon sigh, “although he's still a much preferable brother to be around than the Drama King brat.” Thunder rumbled ominously, and Hades sighed. “See? I don't even mention his name, and he gets all huffy.”

“Then why hasn't he visited me?” Sephie suddenly demanded, her eyes glittering, and Hades leaned away from the demigoddess. Fates, he feared the day she stepped into the Olympus: she would bring down the elder Olympians on their knees with her eyes alone! “Is he's really my father, why hasn't he visited?”

“The ancient laws forbid the gods from interacting with their children directly,” Hades smirked, and Sephie's eyes widened.

“But you're not my father, so - ”

“So I have every right to visit you, if I want to. I was not exaggerating about those twelve years we hadn't known,” he forestalled her next question, raising his palm in a stop gesture. “Your mother and father hid you almost perfectly from the immortals. You've probably gone on undiscovered for a year more if the situation hadn't arisen.”

“Situation?” Sephie leaned forward. “What situation?”

“Your uncle's Master Bolt and my Helm of Darkness are missing – stolen,” Hades revealed.

Sephie gasped, covering her mouth. “Who'd be an i***t enough to do that?”

“You,” Hades smiled humorlessly, “if you ask your uncle and until a few minutes ago, me as well.”

“Wha – is Zeus crazy? How could I’ve done that if I didn’t even know who my father was?” Sephie exploded, hair flying everywhere. If the eyes and the hair weren’t enough of a proof, her temper only cemented the resemblance to her father. How many times had he seen that same expression on Poseidon’s face when he believed he was falsely accused of something? The sound of thunder cut through Hades’ musings and forced him to deal with his niece’s righteous anger.

“Please, my dear niece, refrain from using names,” he warned the young demigoddess. “Speaking the name may summon the one you’re speaking of, and my baby brother is not one of the most reasonable gods when angered.”

Sephie huffed and crossed her arms, but the glint reappeared in her eyes. “Is that why my mum refuses to address me as Persephone? To avoid accidentally summoning your wife?”

“Very likely,” Hades concurred. “Your mother is very smart.”

“Duh, she’s my mum,” Sephie deadpanned, and Hades was suddenly reminded of the hero that partly shared the name with the young heroine, and his eyes when someone dared to insult his mother.

“Indeed. Now, my dear niece, may I ask a favor of you?”

“A favor?” Sephie tilted her head, and for the first time Hades could see something in her face that didn’t connect her to either Rhea or Poseidon; something that belonged solely to Persephone

‘Sephie’ Jackson – the brilliance of mortality, the ability to adapt to anything. “What favor could I do for my uncle, the God of Underworld?”

Hades chuckled: the way she phrased it, it did sound quite ludicrous. “A very big favor, Persephone Jackson, daughter of the Sea. I cannot look for my Helm personally: Thanatos cannot watch over my domain for that long. When you get a quest for my baby brother’s Bolt, would you seek out my Helm as well?”

Sephie blinked before nodding. “Of course, Uncle. You’re family, aren’t you?”

And Hades was not prideful enough to deny his eyes watering as his niece spoke the words he had only heard out his mothers, Hestia’s and occasionally Poseidon’s mouth before. Not a single family member who was not either married to him or sired by him had so explicitly included him.

Thank you, Sephie Jackson.