This is chapter 2 of Welcome To The Black Parade- Birthday Presents. Read on for the story, and of course we don't own PJO because if we did we'd be rich, and at the moment we're not. So there.
"If I'm right, it's the only way you'll stand a chance," Nico paused. "Is that birthday cake?"
"Come in for cake and ice cream. It sounds like we have a lot to talk about."
As they exited the fire escape, Kallisti was in the living room.
"Gee, your bedroom window's really small, Jackson," she said. "And the décor is kinda lacking."
Nico sighed. "I thought you were going to stay outside."
Kallisti shrugged. "It's cold out, and there's nothing to do."
"How can it be cold, it's August! And it's New York City, there's always stuff to do."
Kallisti bared her teeth. "Not the stuff I like, Dead Boy."
Percy held up a hand to his forehead. "Excuse me, but who are you?"
"Erm, I'm Kallisti. He-," she pointed at Nico, "was supposed to say who I was."
"I am not your slave," whined the son of Hades.
"If you want that bottle you'll have to be," she retorted.
Percy looked confused, then sighed. "Okay, you're Kallisti. Are you a daughter of Hades too?"
"No!" Kallisti looked shocked. "It's Eris dumbass!"
Percy blinked. "Hold on, Eris. Isn't she working for the Titans?"
"Stop assuming! And no!"
Nico stepped between his two friends. They silenced for a moment.
"Okay, Percy, we visited to bring you this."
Kallisti held out the small bottle in front of her. Percy looked at it with a raised eyebrow.
"What is that?"
"Guess."
"I'm guessing, not a birthday present?"
"Nope," said Kallisti.
"Is it empty?" Percy hazarded.
Kallisti shook it. "Yes, Jackson, we came from Los Angeles to bring you an empty bottle."
"Wait, there's paper in there. Erm, okay, why do I have a bad feeling about what's written on that paper?"
"No that's just my aura. Sorry 'bout that," said Kallisti. Nico rolled his eyes.
"I'll give you a hint Percy," said Nico finally. "It's a prophecy."
Percy stiffened at Nicos words.
"Bingo, we have a winner!" said Kallisti. She began to do a happy dance. Nico and Percy qucikly turned away from her.
"What
prophecy?" asked the son of Poseidon, though he had a bad feeling
what prophecy.
"Do you want to read it?" Nico asked
carefully as Percy still seemed a little shocked.
"I guess I'll have to then."
He looked at the bottle and back up to Nico's face. "One question."
"Mhmm?" asked Nico.
"How do I open it?"
Kallisti took out her dagger.
"Here's the official Great Prophecy bottle opening thumb pricking knife!"
Percy looked at it in disgust, shrugged and pricked his thumb. "Owch," he muttered.
"Baby," Kallisti's voice had a serious tone to it now that she had stopped happy dancing.
Percy pressed his thumb to the cork, and the paper fell out. Unrolling it shakily, he read it, once, twice, three times.
Bored, Kallisti began humming a Paramore song to herself. When that got dull, she asked Nico, "Wow, is he that slow a reader?"
Nico rolled his eyes. "He's about to discover his fate and determine that of the world."
"Drama queen."
"Who, me or him?"
"Both."
"Wow," Percy finally said. "Um... wow. Are you sure this is the right prophecy?"
Nico glared at him. Kallisti smacked her forehead. "And this," she asked the ceiling, "is who's supposed to save the world."
"Hey!"
"Well, stupid, prophecies don't work like buffets! You're kinda stuck with what you get."
Percy flinched. "Sorry," mumbled Kallisti reluctantly.
"Anyway, our other reason for visiting," continued Nico, "was to give you a quest."
"Um, thanks?"
"Well, you know how the prophecy says when day turns to night? Well, the Herespides are the nymphs of the twilight. We need to convince them to turn to our side or we're doomed. So we need to release Promethus, because he's the only one who could."
"Didn't Hercules release him?"
"Long story."
"But long story short," Kallisti said, "he was put back on the moutain."
"And we can't tell anyone..." continued Kallisti...
"Not even your mother," accused Percy.
"Mom will know."
"If you tell her."
"She will know. She's actually smart enough to keep an eye on her kids."
"Hey!"
"Well, it's true. If the gods hadn't been too lazy to claim some of their kids, we wouldn't be facing this big an army."
"Whatever," said Nico.
"Anyways, it'll be good to have one goddess on our side, cause you two can't pray to your fathers if we don't want to get dragged up to Olympus," she pointed at them.
"Why would Olympus be mad?" asked Percy."
"Well, starting with the fact that we just showed you the super top secret prophecy about your 16th birthday, which the gods have been trying to keep a secret from just about everybody since before you were born; Pardon me if I don't think they'll clap us on the back for doing this."
"But releasing Promethus and getting the Herespides on our side will be a sign of good faith," said Nico. "It is always easier to get forgiveness than permission."
"You like Eragon?" asked Kallisti.
Nico blushed. "Well, yeah, but why is it a Cycle now? I hope Christopher Paolini knows what he's doing."
"Me too!" agreed Kallisti.
"Anyways..." said Percy. "Can I bring anyone?"
Kallisti pursed her lips. "Only if it's someone who's smart enough to know we can't tell Olympus about it."
"Let me guess," Nico said drily. "Annabeth."
Percy flushed. "We kinda haven't spoken in a while..."
"We need all the help we can get," inserted Kallisti. "Swallow your pride and send her an Iris-message. And for the love of Eris, tell her to bring any weapons she has. And no four-leaf clovers. Or pink."
"What?" asked Percy.
"My powers are of bad luck, chaos and despair. Haven't you noticed I only have one weapon?"
"You can't be that powerful," scoffed the other demigod. "Eris is a minor goddess-,"
Kallisti's eyes flashed dangerously. Percy gulped. "Eris is a minor goddess in the eyes of Olympus, but she is also a daughter of Nyx. I am a granddaughter of Night itself, and unless you want to be blinded in eternal darkness by yours truly, you'll respect me and my mom."
Percy nodded.
Kallisti smiled sunnily then. "Anyone have a drachma?"
We hope you liked it and we will try to update soon.
Love Sethking and Sistergrimm.