Percy’s POV

Nyx ignored the nickname, and looked at me for a second, before turning to Zagreus and saying, “I have just been told that Kronos is planning to put the whole of Manhattan to sleep, with Morpheus’s and Hypnos’s help, to make fighting easier. And they are starting it now.”

I paled while Zagreus just looked horrified. “They’re putting all of them to sleep? Do they know how dangerous that is? The other mortals could find out about us!” Then he paused, and added as an afterthought, "Plus, they could die."

Nyx huffed slightly. “Of course they know, they just don’t care. They think that when they take over the world, they’ll be able to do what they want without having to worry about mortals finding out, because they’ll all already know! Kronos and the other Titans are going to rule over the mortals by fear, giving no regard to the mortals, or our safety. And while I don’t really care about the mortals dying, some of the other’s do.”

I was gonna ask who the others were that she was talking about, but I decided against it.

Styx scowled, while Mnemosyne just looked pensieve. “Nyx, isn’t Hypnos your child? And then Morpheus is his child?”

Nyx nodded, looking bewildered, and replied, “Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

Zagreus smirked catching on. “So they owe their loyalty to you, over Kronos, right?”

Nyx’s eyes widened and she smiled. “Oh! Yes, they do.” Styx looked confused and frustrated. I felt the same way.

“What are you all talking about?” She asked suspiciously.

Zagreus smiled smugly, and said, “Have you heard of the loyalty oaths Nyx forces her children to swear to her, so she doesn’t get killed like Ouranos?” Styx nodded, while Nyx protested, “I do not force my children to swear it! They do it of their free will!”

I was about to open my mouth to ask something, when Mnemosyne gave me a warning glance and shook her head. I snapped my mouth shut in frustration, glaring at her, while the voice in my head only laughed. Stupid, unhelpful idiot.

“Sureeee, they do. Anyways, did you make Morpheus swear one?” Zagreus asked Nyx.

She humphed. “Of course I did. I’m not taking any risks.” Then her eyes widened, and she reached out a hand to slap Zagreus. “Zagreus don’t you dare-”

He jumped out of the way, and sang gleefully, “She admitted it! She did make him do it!” I snickered quietly, with my hand over my mouth, while Mnemosyne and Styx freely laughed.

“I did not!” She protested, glaring at everyone, but she was ignored.

After about a minute of watching the others laugh, I sighed and said, “Can you get back to the point?”

Nyx shot me a grateful look, which turned into a frown when she realised what she had done. I smirked back at her.

“Sure thing, Sia.” Zagreus replied, trying, and failing, to stop laughing. The others managed to stop before he did.

I looked at him, confused. “Where the heck did you get that nickname from?”

He smiled proudly. “Well, your name is Perseus, so I got Sia from the ‘se-us’ in your name.” Then he put his hand over his heart in mock horror. “Please tell me you didn’t think I would use such a common nickname for you?” He said the word ‘common’ with a tone of disgust.

Mnemosyne slapped him on the back of the head and said, “Why is it that we can never manage to stay on track with the conversation when you’re here?”

He managed to look offended and amused at the same time. “My darling Nemy, are you blaming me for something that is totally not my fault?” He sighed, shaking his head. “I would never distract everyone from something so… important.”

“Don’t. Call. Me. Nemy.” She said angrily.

He raised an eyebrow. “Now who’s changing the subject?”

“I will gag you.” She threatened.

He paled and backed away. “You wouldn’t.” He gasped. She smiled. “Wanna find out?”

Styx cleared her throat. “Guys. Stop flirting and pay attention. “

They both blushed. “I was not flirting!” They both denied at the same time. They glared at each other, then looked back at Styx.

“Uh-huh. Nyx, you can probably get Hypnos to back down, but what about Morpheus? He isn’t your child.”

Nyx grimaced. “I can still try.”