"Creature? What do you mean sis?"

"So my new guard, he was out swimming, and he found this creature, and captured him." Hazel replied

"Has the creature spoke? What if it doesn't want to be in there?" I told her

"Calm down, Nico, I haven't even seen it yet, Frank just said-"

"Woah woah woah. Hold up here. Frank? You're on first name basis here?"

"Nico stop being so overprotective, he's just my guard,"

"Just your guard my ass," I muttered

"Nico! Language!" My sister said, scandalised

"Whatever. I don't trust him. He's too desperate for attention."

"Nicooo, whatever, just leave him alone,"

"Look, I'm just trying to look out for you, I don't want you to get hurt,"

"I can protect myself!"

"You know they're just after your title,"

"You think they can't like me for who I am?!"

"No! That's not what I meant and you know it! Besides you love Leo!"

"I know! But he won't take a hint! And I'm tired of waiting around! I want to have some fun in life,"

"Fine, you know what, we'll talk later. Let's go see this 'creauture'"

"Frank. Did you get your friend Leo to make the tank with the hidden tunnel to escape?"

"Yeah, he's finished it now, but it took him days, so this better be worth it," He warned

"It will be, trust me. Remember what you need to tell them: I'm a merman, I can turn invisible and I need to be fed."

"Yes, yes, I know, you've told me over and over."

"Okay then. Let's go."

I got in the water and motioned to him.

"Come, onnn," I whined at seeing him test the waters and slowly slip in.

When I pulled him in with my powers he screamed.

"AH! Okay, I'm coming, no need to be rude,"

I stuck my tongue out at him. "My territory my rules,"

I swam away before he could splash me, bending currents after my control to pull him along behind me.

"H-Hey!" he spluttered through the water in his mouth.

Nico's POV

I walked into the hallway to look for father.

"father?" I called out

"Where is the 'creature', Father?"

"It's...It's amazing, Nico. It's beautiful. Reminds me of someone I used to know..."

"What is it!" I yelled

"Just come see for yourself!" He yelled back "It's in the main throne room!"

I could hear Hades shouted to Nico and I suddenly got nervous.

I never got nervous. I always just acted on impulse, and had no regrets.

But I was seriously regretting this.

Why did I do this? it was such a stupid idea.

His footsteps were getting louder and I was getting more and more scared. What if he thought I was a freak?

Oh no.

I walked into the room and there was an actual real life mermaid in a tank.

Wait. No, a merman. He turned around and suddenly I was staring at the most gorgeous, beautiful creature ever.

He had the most lovely sea green eyes, filled with raw emotion, like the the sea, raging, and calm, clashing together.

He had a long tail with shimmering blue and green scales, matching the colour of his eyes, and a muscled, lean torso.

His hair was raven black and longish, decorated with coral and shells.

I must have been staring for a while because he was staring back looking a bit concerned.

You okay? He mouthed.

I kept staring, walking closer towards the tank he was in.

"You're pretty," I blurted out.

He blushed and tried to hide his face.

"Son. Nico. Hello?" My father waved a hand in front of my face.

"I know, intriguing, isn't it,"

"Look, dad, can you not refer to him as an 'it'"

"It...I mean well it is an it..."

I almost growled at him.

"So, what are you going to with 'it' then," I asked him frustrated.

"Put him on display, keep him in here, try to talk to him,"

"Ugh!"

"What's up with you these days?"

"Just leave dad!"

Once dad had left I put a hand up to the tank.

"Hi. Hello. um...I'm Nico,"

There was an awkward pause while he swam up to the top of the tank, using his tail to propel him upwards.

"I'm Percy. Nice to meet you," He shouted down at me. "Any way we can talk to each other without me having to shout?"

Oh my goodness he's talking to me, I thought. My brain short circuited.

"You have such a beautiful voice," I said, then immediatly clamped a hand over my mouth.

My big fat mouth. Stupid Nico.

"Thanks, but it's kind of difficult to talk when you're down there and I'm up here. Can you come up here somehow?"

"Uhhh..." I spotted a platform at the top of the tank. "Sure, I'll see you in a minute,"

I left the room and went to a side turrent next The the main throne room. Climbing the stairs I spotted a platform I'd never seen before.

I walked out onto it and sat on the edge with my legs hanging over the edge.

Percy swam towards me.

"aren't you afraid I'm dangerous? Aren't you afraid I'm going to attack you, or drown you, or something?" He asked with a playful smile

"Um...no, you look like around my age," I answered

"Well you should be!" He leaped up to an impossible height above the water and grabbed my feet, pulling me in.

"AH!" I shrieked before I went under.

I closed my eyes. So much for trusting him. Now I was going to drown.

"Hello? Nico?" I heard someone asking. But that was impossible. I was in the water with only Percy...

I opened my eyes and found I could breath normally, like I wasn't even in the water. Looking around I saw we were floating in a bubble of air that was constantly being replaced with new air from above.

"Woah." I said

"Woah is right," Percy replied, his eyes tracing over my body. You look even better in person."

I blushed bright red and he smiled.

"Oh sorry, ai haven't properly introduced myself," He told me

"Your Highness Prince Niccoló, I am Perseus Jackson," He said bowing.

I sighed. Not this...

And then he burst out laughing. "Our names are so ridiculous. Your face...when I said that," He said between fits of laughter "You really thought... I'd call you that."

Phew, I thought relieved.

"So what do you want to do?" He asked

"Hmm...well I may have a few ideas, but it depends. Can you like...get out and walk or something?"

"I can turn to my human form, so yeah," He answered

"Good." I smiled at him and he smiled back.