"Percy, come on!" A girl with blonde hair pulled back into a bun yelled as she ran into the water up to her knees. She wore a pair of jean shorts, a Camp Half Blood shirt and grey wrist bands. A dagger hung from a harness she wore around her waist.
A boy with jet black hair and sea green eyes ran in after her, his jeans never turning wet in the water. He wore a sea green polo which brought out his eyes. Percy caught up to Annabeth and smirked as he threw her in. She came up, spitting water out of her mouth. "Perseus!" She yelped as she spit the sea back out.
A boy of about fifteen watched them without interest from the sand. He wore a pair of dark jeans, a black muscle shirt and stood on the beach with his shoes off. His eyes were black as night and made him look like either a crazed man or a genius. His hair was as black as coal with his olive complexion. His sword laid in the sand next to his feet. "I can't believe Chiron said this was alright." Nico muttered under his breath as he watched the two mess around.
He didn't like the fact they were outside of Camp when Kronos ' and the army's whereabouts were unknown to anyone. However, Chiron had suggested that the three of them take a rest, which included going up the beach about ten miles away from the Camp boarder. Percy and Annabeth begged him to go with them, mainly for the fact two campers weren't allowed to be alone together unless on a quest usually. Even if he didn't like it, he hated Camp more.
"Nico, come join us!" Percy called from across the sand. Nico shook his head, feeling a dull pain strike up behind his head.
"Something doesn't feel right, Percy." He called back. As soon as he finished, a searing white pain overtook his senses. It forced him to his knees as he clenched his head.
"Nico!" Annabeth yelled as she and Percy rushed out of the water. They reached him in a matter of seconds, flanking his side with both their weapons out. The forest behind them was dark and ominous. "I don't like this." Annabeth muttered, kneeling to Nico's level.
A scream sounded in the distance as Nico completely lost control of his balance, hitting the ground with a thud. He grabbed his sword as his head cleared, and much to Annabeth and Percy's surprise he raced off into the woods.
The boy raced through the woods, something was pulling him to something like a magnet. He could feel the woods taking swipes at him, but he kept running against the pain. He could hear footsteps behind him, and hoped that they were Annabeth and Percy's. He had no idea what he'd find.
After what seemed like an eternity to him, he came across a clearing. He raised his sword in front of him, studying the scenery around him. A man with blond hair and golden armor stood in front of him as if he was waiting for his arrival. Behind the man, a young woman with straight black hair to her midback laid on the ground beneath a broken tree. She wore a black halter top that stopped at mid stomach which revealed a large cut on her abdomen. She had black cargo pants and black tennis shoes. Twin silver and gold swords lied away from her, the hilts matching her black and maroon wrist guards. Her silver sword stuck straight out of the soil. Nico knew enough that the girl had been fighting with the man in front of him.
"Stop." The man said as he pointed his sword at Nico's chest. Annabeth and Percy hesitantly came to Nico's side, examining the girl as she gave a soft cry. For some reason Nico felt a strong pull to the girl laying on the ground. He raised his sword and pointed it at the man.
"Hyperion…" Annabeth muttered in shock as Hyperion blocked Nico's path to the girl.
"Leave now. The girl and I were just having a little chit-chat." Hyperion said, his voice actually kind of soothing.
Nico shook his head to snap himself out of it. "No. Give me the girl."
"Who are you?" Hyperion asked, studying the boy in front of him. He started to smirk, thinking that Kronos' wish might actually come true.
It took Nico a second to realize Hyperion was talking to him. Normally, whenever they were about on their quests any god/goddess/titan was usually referring to Percy when they posed that question. "Nico di Angelo, son of Hades."
Hyperion's smirk grew larger. "Excellent." He moved his sword out of the way. "Nico di Angelo, your prophecy has just begun. Kronos is mighty pleased." He said as he took a step away from them. Annabeth ran to the girl, digging for nectar and ambrosia in her satchel.
"What do you mean?" Nico asked as he kept the same distance between him and Hyperion.
Hyperion looked at him. "This is Alayna, daughter of Zeus." He said, motioning to where the girl laid. "She's younger than Percy by a year, which means for now she's not the chosen one of the prophecy." He paused. "However, this girl and your fates are intertwined. You felt her pulling you towards her." He looked up at the sun. "I have said too much and overstayed my welcome. I'll see you again, Nico di Angelo." Nico and Percy both adverted their eyes as Hyperion disappeared in a bright column of white light.
"She's pretty badly hurt." Annabeth said as the two boys approached. "Nico, it'd be best if you'd Shadow Traveled with her, and get her back to camp quicker so a son or daughter of Apollo could look at her." She said as she gave the girl another piece of Nectar. "I don't know how much more she can eat."
Nico nodded, inside he was shaken. What did Hyperion mean by his and her fates being intertwined? And with that said, why would Kronos be happy he had found her before Hyperion killed her? He shook off the thoughts before picking up the daughter of Zeus. Once her skin hit his, it zapped him, sending a shock throughout his body. Her eyes fluttered open, the dark red stared at him foggily.
"Who… who are you?" She asked as she looked around at the three of them. Percy had taken ahold of her two swords and the sheath that was on her back. Annabeth held the bag of nectar and ambrosia. "What do you want?"
"You're seriously hurt. Can you wait for introductions and the story until we get you to Camp?" Annabeth asked the girl who reminded her of a younger, less rebellious Thalia.
"What happened to Hyperion?" The girl asked with wide eyes. "He was chasing me. I fell for a feint…" Her eyebrows scrunched, trying to remember. "Crashed into a tree out of the force of his blow and fell unconscious."
"We chased him away." Nico replied to the girl. "He said something about a prophecy."
She nodded, but as she looked up at him she did a double take. "Do I know you?"
He shifted his weight uncomfortably, which she felt. "We'll explain at camp." Annabeth said, giving Nico a look. "He's a son of Hades, so he's going to shadow travel you to camp. Your cut on your abdomen-" Annabeth stopped as she took another look at where the cut was. Or, where it was supposed to be. Nico let the girl down at her command and stared where the cut was, only know a faint grey scar remained.
"I heal quickly." She said with a shrug. "Since I'm obviously healed, who are you?" She asked again, with more force. Percy handed her the two swords and the sheath. She put the sheath around her shoulders and put her swords in at an x.
"It's unwise to stay where Hyperion was." Annabeth said with worry. Alayna gave a soft laugh.
"Wise. You must be a daughter of Athena." She turned and studied Percy for a moment. "Smells of sea, sea-green eyes, son of Poseidon." She looked at Nico with a frown. "Son of Hades." She said stiffly, turning her back to him. "I'm Alayna, daughter of Zeus."
"Annabeth, Percy and Nico." Annabeth said pointing at each one respectively.
Alayna spun around and faced Nico again. "Nico, Nico di Angelo?" She asked in confusion. She looked at him, then realization hit her face. "Oh no…" She whispered.
"What?" Nico asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hyperion said something about a prophecy, something about our fates intertwined." His face was hopeful, hoping for her to clear matters up while Percy and Annabeth watched the two in confusion.
"This is bad." She muttered, looking at him. "We need to get to camp."
Nico rolled his eyes. "Oh, so now you want to go to camp?" he asked, sheathing his sword. He quickly picked up Alayna, and rushed into the shadow of the forest.