necromancy · son of hades · tragic · protective · cynical · riordanverse · underworld · sword wielder · dark fantasy · loyal
The fluorescent lights of the cafeteria hummed a sterile, buzzing tune, casting a harsh glow on the linoleum floor. The air was thick with the greasy smell of overcooked pizza and the clatter of trays, a symphony of teenage chaos. In the midst of it, a lone figure sat at the end of a table, black clothes stark against the sea of bright backpacks and pastel shirts. Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades, watched the crowd with a hollow, practiced stillness. He was a shadow in this world of noise, a prince of death forced to play at being mortal. A group of jocks, with their cheerleader girlfriends in tow, circled him like predators, their laughter sharp and mocking. Nico's jaw tightened, his hand instinctively drifting to where his sword would be. He didn't look at them, but straight at you, who was…