Percy Jackson: Son of Hades - Prince of the Underworld

[Third Person's PoV] 

"Thank goodness you're here. For a moment, I honestly thought you were going to skip out on the play entirely—you had me nervous there," Mr. Matthews said, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.

Lucian gave a smug grin as he walked in with theatrical flair. "Please. As if I'd ever deprive this crowd of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness my fantastical, awe-inspiring performance," he said, dramatically throwing an arm in the air as if taking a bow before the show had even begun.

All around them, chaos buzzed in the air as students and staff rushed to finalize last-minute preparations. Costumes were being adjusted, props double-checked, and stage lights flicked on and off in quick succession. More and more elegantly dressed students began to file into the auditorium, voices chattering with excitement as the show's start approached.

Suddenly remembering just how large the audience was expected to be, Lucian grew curious. With a sly look, he sauntered toward the side of the stage, pushed aside the curtain ever so slightly, and peeked out into the auditorium. His eyes swept over the crowd where teachers, students, and faculty members were finding their seats, chatting softly among themselves.

A faint smile tugged at Lucian's lips when he spotted Nico and Markus seated together. They looked relaxed, if mildly amused—clearly anticipating the idea of watching their friend on stage. That was enough to bring Lucian to smirk and even snicker… until his gaze drifted to another section of the crowd.

His smile twitched as if he didn't know what face to make at the moment. 

Thalia and Medusa had snuck in and were seated incognito among the audience. Thalia was holding a camera at the ready, a wicked gleam in her eyes that promised future torment. She looked like she couldn't wait to immortalize Lucian's most embarrassing moments for eternity. Medusa, on the other hand, had somehow disguised herself convincingly enough to sneak into the mortal school without raising suspicion. She leaned forward slightly, eyes alight with curiosity and expectation.

Lucian groaned under his breath.

Just when he thought it couldn't get worse, his eyes swept past the rows of students and landed on the front row of the audience—where he froze.

No. No way.

He blinked hard, rubbed his eyes, and looked again, as if hoping the figures he was seeing would vanish. But they were still there.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something unintelligible before he spun on his heel and quickly walked over to Bianca.

Without saying a word, he grabbed her hand and gently tugged her toward the curtain.

"Huh? What are you—?"

"Please," Lucian interrupted, his voice hushed but urgent. "Tell me I'm hallucinating. Tell me I'm just stressed and seeing things."

Bianca gave him a confused look, but humored him. She peeked over his shoulder and out at the audience. A second later, her body went rigid.

Her breath caught in her throat. "No. Freaking. Way," she whispered in horror. "What the hell is our father doing here?!"

Lucian's expression darkened further. "Oh, it gets worse," he muttered. "You see who's sitting next to him?"

Bianca looked again—and her eyes widened even more.

"That's Persephone," Lucian said grimly, she was indeed next to Hades and she was smiling like this is the best date night ever. "And in her hands? A crystal ball. Which means my mother is watching this mess too. And sitting next to Persephone…"

"Demeter," Bianca breathed in disbelief, recognizing her instantly, she remembered the faces of all the gods of her trial. 

Out in the audience, Hades sat in the front row, wearing an expression that was calm, almost bored, but unmistakably amused. Persephone radiated delight, holding the crystal ball carefully in her lap, within which the faint shimmering image of Medea could be seen, watching intently. Demeter sat beside them, her arms crossed, face curled into a deep scowl, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else in the cosmos.

Lucian and Bianca slowly turned back to each other, their faces drained of color. They both stepped away from the curtain in complete silence, their minds clearly racing.

Then, at the exact same moment, they both muttered under their breath:

"…Fuck."

Lucian ran a hand through his hair and let out a long groan. "I'm really starting to hate omnipotent parents."

"Are you… smiling?" Bianca asked, eyes wide with disbelief as she leaned closer to get a better look at Lucian's face.

"Wha—?" Lucian blinked in confusion, then instinctively touched his cheek. His fingers brushed against the upturned curve of his lips, and his expression faltered as he realized the truth—he was smiling. Like a little kid.

Immediately, he flushed in embarrassment and looked away. "No… I'm not," he mumbled unconvincingly.

But it was too late. The smile had been seen, and Bianca wasn't going to let it go unnoticed.

The truth was, Lucian had never once experienced this feeling. As an orphan, he'd grown up without anyone ever showing up for him—no parent sitting in the audience during school performances, no comforting presence during parent-teacher conferences, no proud figure cheering from the sidelines during sporting events. For others, having family attend these occasions might seem normal, even forgettable. But for Lucian, just seeing someone show up—especially someone tied to his blood—meant more than he could put into words.

Of course, he would never say that out loud.

As he stood backstage with the curtain still down, Lucian glanced at the floor, that faint smile creeping back onto his face. He thought of the countless times he had stared out into crowds during events, already knowing no one would be there for him. Remembering that sense of emptiness only made the contrast now even sharper—Hades had come. His father had actually shown up. And not just him. Persephone, Demeter, even his own mother. The thought made his heart flutter in a way he wasn't used to. He felt… noticed. Acknowledged. Maybe even loved.

That quiet warmth stirred something in him, something small and vulnerable he usually kept buried deep.

Annabeth approached just then, tilting her head slightly as she caught the odd shift in Lucian's mood. "What's with Lucian?" she asked, her voice low but curious as she leaned toward Bianca.

Bianca, still a little stunned by her brother's rare expression, whispered back, "I'm not completely sure, but… I think he's happy. I think he's really happy our father's here. Though knowing him, he'll deny it until his dying breath."

"Awww," Annabeth cooed softly, her eyes twinkling with affection as she found Lucian's rare display of vulnerability downright adorable.

Lucian, of course, heard everything. His ears turned red as he shot both girls a scandalized glare. "I am not adorable," he muttered, though the effect was ruined by the shy look lingering in his eyes. He quickly turned his head as Annabeth peeked over the curtain and caught sight of the scene for herself. Her smile only widened.

Before Lucian could sputter out a proper protest, the backstage area began to fill with students. Atropos had finally arrived, along with several other cast members, all chattering nervously or adjusting their costumes. Mr. Matthews, clipboard in hand, strode to the center of the chaos with practiced authority and began a quick headcount.

"Alright, perfect!" he called out, his voice cutting cleanly through the noise. "Everyone's present, dressed, and ready. This is it, folks—the moment we've been building toward. Places, everyone! Get into position. Remember, the show must go on! Break a leg!"

Excitement rippled through the cast as they scattered to their designated spots, voices buzzing with adrenaline and anticipation. Mr. Matthews retreated to a corner of the stage, hidden from view but close enough to watch and guide as needed.

The lights dimmed.

The hushed murmurs of the audience faded into an expectant silence.

And then, the curtain slowly rose.

The play had begun.

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