The House of Hades

Chapter I

Nico di Angelo

Finally, Nico was able to escape that stupid bronze jar that those two giant's kept him in. And right after being able to see the sun and breath fresh air; the two people that he knew and trusted without the slightest hesitation just fell into the worst place for the living or the dead can be sent to. Tartus. Simply by thinking this word he felt himself go through all the memories, all of the unending pain that consumed him. It was enough to make him pass out. But he knew that he couldn't, he knew that he had to hold the tears that were were just begging to be released. He had to do this, he had to keep his promise to Percy.

Now that he was finally on the Argo II and finally got some control over his emotions. He took a look around at the others that were trying to deal with this new found realization. Coach Hedge went back to his room after Leo finally told him to stop hitting himself and saying that it wasn't his fault, which it wasn't. But that didn't matter everyone was feeling as if it was their fault. He then looked at his little sister who was crying in Frank's shoulder. Frank was trying to keep a calm look but Nico could see his eyes were simply about to let loose a flood. As for the Son of Jupiter, his older cousin, Jason. He saw that he was holding Piper as she too was crying and Jason looked as if something inside of him broke slightly. Then he looked to the mad genius with a coffee and sugar problem, Leo. Unlike the others, what Nico saw was just a complete break. He kept on talking about a fortune cookie and Nemesis. Nico knew that look on Leo's face well, the look of complete terror and overwhelming hopelessness.

Nico understood that if this despair continued, this whole quest will be lost. He knew that he had to do something. So he finally got up enough strength to actually use his voice, which in itself was weak. But he knew that he needed to make the rest of them push forward. So he finally said, "Everyone." At this new voice, that broke the dreading silence of the ship, everyone turned to Nico. Nico continued on by saying,"We need to continue with the quest. If we don't then at this rate well all sink into this bottomless pit of despair. We need to keep on fighting if we want to rescue Percy and Annabeth. So let's start helping them by first making a plan."

Upon hearing this, Jason responded by saying," Then we'll go to Greece, isn't that where the Doors of Death are?" Nico looked at Jason, he looked at his lighting blue eyes that slightly looked desperate to save his older cousin. (Please note: Percy's about 17, Jason's about 15, and Nico's about 13 not including the time when he was in the lotus hotel) Nico looked around and saw that the others agreeded with Jason, they all wanted to bring Percy and Annabeth back as soon as possible, Nico was sure that even he had that same look. No, he was sure that among everyone, including Leo, he was the one who wanted to bring Percy and Annabeth back the most. After Nico tricked Percy a couple of years ago and got him locked up in his father's prison even though he was one of the four people who actually saved him and his sister from the manticore. He knew that he owed Percy and that he knew Percy and Annabeth more then anyone else on the ship.

After a minute or two, Nico finally spoke," We can't."

As soon as he said those two words, the whole ship became chaos. Everyone else kept on saying stuff like "We have to" and "Its our fault" but what really ticked Nico off was when someone, maybe Jason or Leo there was to much shouting, finally said,"You don't want to save them, do you!?" Just by hearing someone say that he didn't want to save them. It made complete rage flow through his body. And with the last of his strength he shouted at them," SHUT UP! WE CAN'T! We can't because look at you all, simply by getting here your exhausted to the point where if a large pack of monsters comes to attack us then we'll DIE! Percy and Annabeth falling into...into Tartus." Just by saying this word he felt like he was back there, his vision blacked out for but a moment. "The sadness of them falling is effecting all of your reasoning and your battle skills. And if we did get through all the monsters that are going to attack us on the way to the House of Hades, there's still a whole army waiting for us there. And even is we, by some miracle make it through that insane army, then there are also traps inside the House that are strong enough to kill you in less then a heartbeat! SOOO, what we need to do right now is get back to Camp-Half Blood, stop the Roman's from killing the Greeks and vise versa, then if we some how live through that very unplleasant experience, we have to use both the Romans and Greeks to wage war against the army that surrounds the House."

Upon hearing Nico's pent of rage and unflawed reasoning, everyone simply stared at him in silence. To Nico, this felt like an eternity but somewhere inside he knew that it was only a couple of seconds. However, through all of the events that happened in the past couple of weeks: him being forced to live through unimaginable pain, suffering, and torture in Tartus, then immediately thrown from Tartus into a bronze jar where two stupid giants used him as a form of entertainment by seeing how he struggles to live in that stupid bronze jar, and in order to live he had to place himself in a death trance and eat pomegranate seeds to live in that jar for a week, then once he finally gets out, his older cousin and the one who rescued him and his girlfriend got thrown into the same place he was just in. And so by using the last of his strength on this ridiculous argument, he finally passed out.

As he was falling into this unconscious state, he heard Hazel screaming," NICO! NICO!" and he also heard her telling Jason and Frank to help her get him down to the infirmary.

Nico was finally able to get some sleep. He even surprised himself about how long he was actually able to live without going to sleep it had been about a week. Though he also thought that it was probably something with the death trance that helped him get at least some sleep. But Nico knew what was going to happen next, here come the dreams.

At first, when Nico looked, he saw nothing but pure darkness. That wasn't the only thing, he also heard wind that was beneath him. And he knew right away that this was the fall to Tartus. He looked around in the darkness, which his eyes adjusted to slightly so that he was able to make out some objects such as concrete and falling cars. After a while he saw a slight glitter that didn't look like a car head light, it was to fluid of a motion. That's when he knew that this was Annabeth's blonde hair. And if Annabeth was there he knew without a doubt that Percy was still gripping his hand to her, not letting go a bit. He felt a tinge of happiness fully knowing that they were still alive but that feeling soon past because this was going to be the best part of the whole quest for them in Tartus.

His dream soon changed from the howling dark wind to walking in an underground cave. At the end of the cave, he knew exactly where he was, the House of Hades. He saw surronding the out exterior whole army of Draecanae, Telekhines, Ventii, Cyclopses, and other monsters. There were so many it seemed as if their numbers went on forever. Soon after, Nico's dream allowed him to move pass the monsters without any of them noticing. Eventually, he found himself at the entrance to the House of Hades. The whole temple was built out of jet black bricks. The only way anyone could even possibly see was thanks to the Greek fire that was lit at the entrance. Nico actually found this a bit funny because this reminded him a bit about his cabin back at Camp-Half Blood. He also had to use Greek fire to light his cabin. He didn't know why he designed his cabin with Greek fire, it just seemed right to him at the time. Now he knew why, its because Cabin 13 or Hades Cabin was also like a temple to that god. And this was the first temple that was made by others to pray to his father. Nico was thinking who actually built this. He thought that it was either demi-gods that knew that they were facing certain death, humans that possessed a clear sight into the mist, or it was back in the olden time when all humans worshiped and believed in the gods.

Just as he was about to enter the House and learn more about the challenges that they were going to face; he heard Hazel calling his name again and shaking him to wake up. As soon as he heard his little sister's voice, the whole dream began to dissolve and break apart.

Once Nico finally opened his eyes, the first that he saw was Hazel hugging him. Nico saw how worried Hazel had been. He saw the large bags that were under her eyes.

Hazel asked," How are you feeling? You've been passed out for a couple of days."

Nico spoke almost screaming," WHAT?! Where are we heading? Please tell me that where heading to Camp-Half Blood!"

"Don't worry we are. As soon as you pass out I told Frank and Jason to help me get you to the infirmary. Afterwards, thanks to you pretty much shouting at us, Leo was able to start going back to Camp-Half Blood. Though I have to say, I really wasn't expecting you to give a speech like that. You usually stay quiet and try to avoid being the center a attention."

Nico finally calming down," Your right, I actually really didn't want to. But I knew that if I didn't say anything that all of you would continue to being eaten by guilt. Ohhhh. and I'm actually kinda hungry." Staring at his continuously grumbling stomach.

Hazel laughed at her brother," Come on, let's go get you something to eat."

And right at that moment when the two of them were going to go eat in the lunch hall, they felt the ship taking a hit. They immediately went on deck to try to see what was happening. Unfortunately, Nico was still very weak. Even though he was able to get some rest. His abilities at the moment would be close to nothing. When he tried to run, the best that he could manage without falling on his face was a slow walk.

By the time that they finally reached the deck, they saw a whole squadron of Draecaneae. They also saw Jason trying to fight them off. As for Frank, he was busy dealing with a sea monster. And Leo was trying to cover Jason's back in case one slipped passed his defense, but he had to be careful because if he missed he might hit Jason. But the worst part was that there seamed to be a storm that was focused mainly on the ship. And this wasn't any normal storm or any Jason-made storm.