Chapter 1: No, You Stupid Christians
Nico really hated his life. Right when his dad finally got around to giving him an apartment in the old building, a manager came up to tell him that he was underage for owning a house. The argument was long and satisfying, but they both knew that the manager would win in the end. They took him to an orphanage to live, "But no worries, such a sweet kid like you would be adopted in no time!" They had said. He really doubted it. In mortal words, Nico Di Angelo was the devil's son.
Like they said, he was one of the first in his group to be adopted.
A few days after he arrived, they mixed up the groups, and added him to one of them. Soon, a couple with two kids arrived. They searched for a while, and finally stopped at his group. "We would like to adopt that one, please," they said, pointing at Nico. He wondered why. Did he have a hopeful face on? No. Was he wearing his skull T-Shirt? Yes. Was he in the shadows? Yes. So what was it?
After a while, his brain started hurting, so he shut off his brain after one last message: Whatever, go along.
They pulled him to a car, with his brain snapping open again, and thinking:
Τι και αν είστε θρήσκοι; (What if they're religious?). Είστε παιδιά των θρησκευτικών;
he blurted out. They gave him strange looks, and he finally realized that he had gone into full Greek mode. Wow. He'd heard of Piper and Leo getting those moments, but he'd never experienced it.
"Never mind. I have a Greek heritage," he told them.
The little girl looked murderous.
"Filthy Greeks! They believe in a false God! They don't know that there is only ONE GOD!" She roared.
Nico immediately gave her a death glare, but only halfway, even though no one but stupid demigods ever insulted his dad. She was just a stupid mortal. They all were.
Just for laughs, Nico told her,
"Κανείς δεν προσβάλλει τον μπαμπά μου . Δεν είσαι ημίθεος , είτε . Δεν ξέρω τίποτα για τους Έλληνες . (No one insults my dad. You're not a demigod, either. You don't know anything about Greeks.)
He watched, amused, as the kids' faces twisted, trying to understand what he had said. The adults just sighed, like they already knew that he was a hopeless case.
After what seemed like forever, they finally got to the house. Though he was tired, Nico instantly ran into the house, looked around, and Shadow-Traveled towards the camp site where there is the one person who would understand the Christian problem: Annabeth Chase.
When he got there, he ran upstairs to where Bobby and Matthew were playing with Lego outside of her room. He asked them where she was, and Bobby pointed at the door while Matthew said, "She told us not to let anyone in." Nico sighed, pushed past them and barged in, noticing that she hadn't locked the door. Annabeth turned at thecreeeeaaaak, and slammed her new laptop's cover down.
"N-n-n-nico?" She muttered.
"The one and only." He grinned, spreading his arms.
"Go away. Leave. Back to your adoption family. Scram," she told him, obviously angry. He slowly backed away. "O-ookay...I guess you already know about the Christians."
She looked confused, then groaned.
"Stupid me. Well, yeah, I know about them. I'm guessing you came because of Helen?"
"Yup," he answered. Then he realized something. "Wait, isn't that a Greek name?" Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. Anyway, the best way is to isolate yourself from everyone except the person who trusts you most. For me, that was Bobby. It might be that little boy, Jasper. I don't know. Someone."
Nico stared at her. That was definitely the best advice EVER. He said a quick thank you, and shadow traveled back.
He went straight into a random room, where Jasper, unfortunately, was changing. Nico waited silently while he pulled on a sweater. While waiting, he recited some of the memory helpers Chiron had told them about a few weeks ago.
"Woah! Wha-how did you get here?!" Jasper yelled.
Nico instantly knelt down to his height. "Jasper. Quiet. But...Just...Do you trust me?"
What? Of course I do. That's only my sister." Nico nodded. Good. "...But still, how did you get here?" Jasper pressed.
Nico groaned. Was this kid ever going to stop? He replied, as patiently as possible, "I'll tell you when you know more." Jasper nodded, clearly satisfied. "Okay. So, how much do you know about Ancient Greek?" Jasper looked surprised for a second, then answered, "I'm top of my class. Why?" "Swear. Swear it on the river Styx that you won't tell any one what I'm about to tell you." "Why... Don't answer that. I swear on the river Styx I will not tell any one outside this room of our conversation." Nico smiled and nodded, satisfied.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. "Good. Now listen close, I've got a long story to tell..."