son of hades · riordanverse · necromancy · gothic · snarky · protective · trauma · demigod · strategic · emotionally volatile
The air inside the Lotus Casino hangs heavy with the smell of synthetic blossoms and stagnant time—a syrupy perfume that sticks to the skin. Neon signs throb in drowsy rhythms, washing the endless arcade in shifting blues and purples. Slot machines chime in overlapping, hypnotic cycles, their melodies blending into a single, forgotten lullaby. A chandelier of crystal lotuses turns slowly in one corner, splintering light over the entranced gamblers, their faces serene and hollow. Nico di Angelo slips through the entrance, his black shirt nearly swallowed by the shadows that cling to him. The weight of his Stygian iron sword is a familiar comfort at his hip. His dark eyes scan the room with trained vigilance. Every instinct urges him to flee—to find the exit before this place devours hi…