AN: I know it's short, but it's just to get me back into the story, though I am unsure as to how long the next chapter will take. Hopefully not as long.

Shadows In Light

Chapter V

. . .

NICO

It took Hecate three more hours to arrive. Three hours of having Regulus stare at him like he was torn between deciding rather Nico was a monster or a hero. It wasn't an unfamiliar look, he'd gotten it a few times at Camp Half-Blood and at Camp Jupiter, but it was less often nowadays. Before Regulus he couldn't even remember the last time he'd been on the receiving end. It was unpleasant to say the least. Even when Regulus settled on a sort of wary gratitude it wasn't even better, because he had a sly carefully dissecting look that Nico didn't trust. Kreacher was on the complete opposite of the spectrum. He was even worse though. Dislike and distrust Nico had learned to deal with, but hysteric gratitude and random outbursts of tears made him uncomfortable in ways he couldn't hide. Regulus had smiled amused when the elf had given him another wet hug, but one glare had sobered him up. Nico almost regretted it. At least smiling Regulus looked like pleasant company.

"He—Aunt." Nico said barely catching himself voice tight as he looked at Hecate in her new form. "You're late."

Hecate looked amused, her hair was darker and longer now and pulled up in an elaborate bun with obsidian pins. She looked middle aged, but attractively so. In a antique black gown from what Nico guessed was the late Victorian period. It flattered her figure revealing a small waist. Her green eyes were surprisingly maternal looking and her mouth softer, face gentler than her other more sharp, wild form. She still wore her diadem, but she looked much more civilized now like an old fashioned matron instead of a wild girl.

"So impatient." she said amused. Even he voice was different a little more husky, but sweet and drawing. Throwing the annoyed demigod a quick grin she turned to the other occupants of the kitchen who'd jumped in surprise when she'd arrived and now stood gaping like, in Nico's opinions, idiots.

Her gaze softened even more when she looked at Regulus's pale gaunt expression.

"I am so sorry for your losses child, but I am glad to tell you that your brother is alright and I will do my best to reunite you, though it may not be as you expect."

Regulus straightened and took a cautious step forward looking braver than he had since he woke up. "Who are you and why did you save me?"

Hecate paused and with an indulgent smile she sat gesturing for the males to copy. Nico did immediately, but Regulus with more reluctance. He looked almost petulant, clearly ready to argue for the answers that Nico didn't blame him for wanting.

"Nico said I did a great service for you." Regulus said dark eyes pinned on Hecate, hands sitting on the table fists clenching and unclenching. "But we've never met."

"That's true, but a service done in accident does not diminish it's value." Hecate smiled at the look she received at this. "Tom Riddle was becoming a problem and you not only discovered his secrets when no one else could, but you acted and found one of the Horcruxes. I could not allow your reward to be death."

"And that's all? You aren't asking for anything in return?" Regulus said disbelieving and defiant, even though he looked very pale and shaky at the plural on Horcruxes, whatever that was. He was pretty smart, Nico decided. Nothing in this world came for free.

Hecate smiled seeming pleased by the trust. "You're right this isn't free. I will expect payment, but that will come later. For now you must change yourself, I have prepared a new identity with papers, false memories, the works. Regulus Black is dead."

Nico felt for Regulus who took it calmly, but his eyes told him how upset he was. He'd lost everything. His life, family, and now even his own name. Nico tuned out the conversation as it turned to Regulus's new identity filled with words, people, and references he didn't understand. The others allowed this not bothering to pay him mind until an hour later while Nico was memorizing the patterns in the ceiling.

"Nephew." Hecate said face serious, but emerald eyes amused at the word. Nico frowned and looked at her. "What do you think of Regulus's glamor?"

Nico looked at Regulus for the first time in twenty minutes and immediately wished he hadn't. Regulus's appearance kept shifting, his features mixing and morphing in a nauseating way. Nico could feel a headache building as Regulus went from the face Nico was used to, to an unfamiliar slightly bigger blonde with apple green eyes and long lashes. Nico grimaced looking back to Hecate quickly only to find her suppressing laughter.

"You can see underneath it then. No doubt due to your heritage." Hecate said, making Nico bite back a nasty, sarcastic response. No matter how much he wished he could, he couldn't get snappy with this Goddesses, she was too close to his step-mother to offend. Not only would she possibly turn him into some flower or perhaps a shrubbery this time, but she could sway Persephone's opinion and ruin the tenuous peace he'd managed to form between them.

"Nico look at him again." Reluctantly and scowling as he did Nico complied. "Regulus do as I told you."

Regulus nodded and looked into Nico's eyes. "Nico di Angelo I am Regulus Black."

Suddenly the shifting stopped and it was just the Regulus Nico had first met. Nico's scowl weakened at this and when he looked at Hecate he was just frowning. The Goddess still looked insultingly amused.

"The glamor can only be broken if Regulus tells an individual his true identity. A pretty piece of spell work if I do say so myself." Hecate said with no little amount of pride straightening proudly and shaking her carefully groomed hair.

Hecate clapped smiling brightly and stood. "Now Nico and I really must be off, but first." She snapped her fingers and a thick folder appeared in front of Regulus. "Your story just in case you need a refresher. Now be good, stop evil, and don't get caught. I'll send for my payment later. Farewell loves."

And with that the Goddess grabbed the Son of Hades firmly by the arm and they disappeared.

. . .

Nico's landing was soft, which was all he could say for it. What he'd landed on was warm and moving and after some squirming and a few slaps to his head he got off whoever it was only to find a very scandalized Daughter of Venus holding her arms in front of her in a universal sign for protecting your virtue. Nico groaned. He'd only just recently gotten over his nature for being a deranged potential dangerous Schizophrenic, he didn't need to be accused of being a molester on top of it. He really, really did not like Hecate.

Then Hecate appeared in her girl form grinning like a cat who'd gotten the cream. Nico glared at her not caring that she had magical powers or that she was friends with his step-mother.

"Was that really necessary Hecate?" he snarled and the girl on the groaned squeaked as she placed the Goddess. Nico looked down to find her looking very pale and terrified even. It took Nico a moment to remember Hecate's unsavory reputation among the Romans. Nico rolled his eyes and turned back to his glaring.

"Oh, it was definitely necessary. I just wished to congratulate you on fulfilling your quest young demigod. I'm very pleased." Hecate said, but her eyes glimmered in a way that made Nico wish she wasn't. Gods getting that look in their eyes didn't end well. He hoped he didn't end up with same horrible gift like turning everything you touch to stone. "Expect to hear from me soon for your reward, but for now go with my Blessing."

Hecate practically sang the last word and Nico yelped feeling a sudden flash of painful energy like he was being electrocuted. He was tingling and his ears were ringing afterward, but other wise he seemed alright. Hecate smiled at him, but turned to give the girl a curious and mean look, her face taking a more elderly, fierce, and darker aspect. Nico could feel the shadows clinging to her and the wave of terror and darkness that most Underworld creatures gave off.

"You haven't greeted me properly little Venus." Hecate said darkly and the girl, barely nine, looked close to tears.

Nico snarled stepping in front of the girl. He was done, flower or no flower, Persephone or no Persephone he wasn't going to let a little girl be terrorized in front of him. "Enough! She just got a Son of Hades dropped on her and you know the Romans are scared of you already. Don't bother with a reward and back off!"

For a moment Nico thought he would die, Hecate's face cloudy and pensive, but then it cleared to be replaced with her annoying amused grin.

"I'm surprised by how much I like you Son of Hades. Glad to see you're finally showing a backbone. She can live for now. Until we meet again."

And then she was gone, making Nico sigh from relief. When he looked down he was uncomfortable to find the little girl close to tears. Nico scowled. Stupid Goddess.

"It's alright." Nico assured her a little out of his element with the whole comforting thing. "Hecate's gone, let's just get you back to your Cohort."

Nico offered her a hand as politely and gentlemanly as he could and helped her get to her feet. She didn't let go starring up at him with big pretty doe brown eyes. Something glowed in her eyes under the tears. Nico's stomach twisted as he recognized it. Hero worship and gratitude. Damn it another Kreacher.