[Third Person Pov]
Lucian, along with everyone else currently residing within the Midnight Castle, sat gathered around the grand dining table, which had been magically extended to accommodate every last guest present.
The room buzzed with noise and life. Chatter overlapped with laughter, voices rising and falling as people spoke over one another, each trying to be heard above the din. It created a strange but comforting tension in the air—loud, crowded, and warm. Some leaned forward eagerly as they spoke, others gestured wildly with forks still in hand, while a few simply laughed without restraint.
Lucian, however, leaned back in his chair, arms relaxed at his stomach as he observed the spectacle unfolding around him. A faint, content smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
The air itself was thick with the rich, comforting aroma of food laid out across the table. Every dish was prepared through the grace of Medusa, who had taken it upon herself not only to cook, but to use the opportunity to get to know Scylla better. Despite being sisters, the two had shared little more than blood before this evening, and any bond between them was tentative at best. Unsurprisingly, the majority of their conversation had somehow circled back to Lucian.
As everyone ate, those who had taken part in the recent adventure animatedly recounted the events to those who hadn't been present. Stories were exaggerated, details embellished, and heroics loudly proclaimed, each retelling growing more dramatic than the last.
It was then that Thalia's lips curled into a distinctly mischievous grin.
Lucian noticed immediately.
A bad feeling settled deep in his gut, and he shot her a warning look. "Whatever you're thinking," he said, his mouth still partially full, "don't."
Thalia, of course, ignored him entirely.
Turning toward Medusa, she spoke with feigned innocence. "Did we tell you how Lucian became Poseidon's enemy," she began sweetly, "all because he cares about you?"
"What?" Medusa turned toward Thalia, her eyes widening with interest. Curiosity sparked across her expression, and she leaned forward slightly. "No, you did not. Go on."
"No—no, you bitch! Shut up!" Lucian shouted, panic flaring as he already knew exactly where this was going. He pushed back his chair and attempted to vault over the table, but his attack was swiftly thwarted. Annabeth and Medusa, seated on either side of him, grabbed him and pulled him back into place with surprising strength.
"Oh, shush," Medusa said, her voice adopting a teasing lilt as she tightened her grip. "I want to hear what she has to say."
Seeing the direction Thalia was headed, the others began to chuckle, and it didn't take long before they eagerly joined in, collaborating to piece together the story—much to Lucian's growing mortification.
"Then, all arrogant-like," Bianca said, standing slightly and spreading her arms wide, "he shouted, 'This is my declaration to you, Poseidon—God of the Seven Seas! Earthshaker! Stormbringer! Father of Horses!'" Her imitation was disturbingly accurate.
Lucian groaned, slumping forward until his elbows rested on the table and his hands covered his face. "I'm being bullied on my birthday…" he muttered weakly.
Thalia laughed so hard she nearly choked. "Annabeth," she said between breaths, "you have the best memory out of all of us. Do you remember what he said? Like—word for word?"
Annabeth snickered, clearly enjoying herself, and rose from her seat. With dramatic flair, she straightened her posture and recited his speech as if delivering it to an unseen audience.
"'For all the pain you inflicted upon her, I shall become your curse! One that will never allow you to forget! For every bad day you suffer, for every pain you endure, for every misfortune that befalls you—let it all be attributed to me!'"
The table erupted into even louder laughter. Medusa slowly turned her head toward Lucian, staring at him with open astonishment, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement.
Lucian whimpered softly, sliding lower in his seat until he was nearly sprawled beneath the table. "I would have just stayed dead," he groaned, "if I knew I was going to be subjected to this level of humiliation."
"Did… did you seriously say that?" Medusa muttered, her voice softer than before. Her expression slowly melted into a sincere, warm smile, one that carried both fondness and disbelief. Her chest warmed at the thought of his words, yet that warmth was laced with worry—deep concern for Lucian's habitual recklessness. "You really went out of your way to make yourself his enemy," she continued quietly, "all because of me…?"
Lucian refused to meet her gaze, instead staring anywhere else in the room as he pursed his lips. His shoulders lifted in a faint shrug. "It wasn't all because of you…" he mumbled, clearly hoping the matter would drop there.
It did not.
Medusa's smile only grew wider. She released a resigned sigh through her nose, shaking her head gently as she looked at him with fond exasperation. "Oh, just what am I going to do with you," she murmured, "you lovable fool."
Lucian's blush was impossible to miss, standing out vividly against his porcelain skin. Especially because Medusa leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss against his temple—an affectionate gesture filled with gratitude and concern. "Lucian," she said softly, "as grateful and touched as I am by your words and your actions, please… I beg of you—be more cautious in the future. I wouldn't want you getting hurt… or worse, because of me."
Lucian responded only with a low groan as his head dropped forward, thumping lightly against the table. Cutlery clinked and rattled from the impact, earning a few more amused chuckles from around the room.
Thalia snickered openly, clearly enjoying his suffering just a little too much. Lucian, already irritated and overwhelmed, flicked his wrist and hurled a small shadowy sphere at her face. It exploded on contact, coating her in soot.
Her face twitched as she slowly wiped the grime away. For a moment, retaliation seemed inevitable—but after a pause, she exhaled and restrained herself. "I'll let it slide," she said flatly, "as a birthday gift."
The tension dissolved into laughter once more as they returned to their meal, finishing it together amid teasing, warmth, and shared comfort.
…
After everything was said and done, Lucian found that his day was far from over.
He had another obligation—another birthday meal awaiting him—but this one was far removed from the warmth of the Midnight Castle. This celebration took place far beneath the surface of the world, deep within the layered depths of the Earth, descending all the way toward the Underworld itself.
The group traveling with him was considerably smaller. Many were either too exhausted to continue or unwilling to venture into the realm of the dead. The thought alone unsettled them.
Only Annabeth, Thalia, Bianca, and Nico accompanied him downward. Markus was present within the realm as well, though he departed shortly after arriving to spend time with his father before anything else.
"Where's Aunt Persephone?" Nico asked, glancing around the obsidian table. A cake—crafted with meticulous care by Medea—sat proudly in front of him.
Hades wore a wary grin as he replied, "She snuck away from her mother when she heard Lucian had died. Unfortunately for her, she was quickly found." He sighed. "She's currently in trouble with Demeter, considering it's their time of the month."
"Are they on their periods?" Lucian snorted, unable to resist the comment.
Every girl at the table turned to stare at him flatly.
Hades buried his face in his palm with a long sigh, shaking his head. "Your jokes are as tactless as ever…"
Then he raised his head slowly, an unsettling grin spreading across his face. Lucian immediately tensed.
"Speaking of tact," Hades continued, leaning forward, "care to explain how you managed to be both blessed and cursed by Poseidon during the same quest?"
"Ughhhh!" Lucian groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "I knew this was coming—I just didn't know when!"
Laughter erupted around the table. Hades clasped his hands together, clearly delighted. "No, no, please," he said, "Sing us the song that earned you Poseidon's blessing. As you know, I'm quite fond of good music."
"Why am I being bullied by everyone today?" Lucian protested, deliberately ignoring the Orpheus reference. "Isn't it supposed to be my special day?!"
Medea reached over and ruffled his hair affectionately before kissing the top of his head. "It is," she said gently. "You're simply very easy to tease—especially since you spend so much time teasing everyone else."
Lucian sighed deeply. "Let's just cut the cake," he grumbled as he grabbed the knife, "before any of you come up with more material."
That only made them laugh harder.
Despite the Underworld's usual cold, oppressive nature, the room was filled with a warmth that could not be replicated—a warmth born not of fire or magic, but of family, laughter, and shared moments that transcended even death itself.
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