Quick author note. If you haven't heard, I'm not using a schedule anymore. This means that this fic can now be updated at any point. I'm going to update all of my stuff, regardless of stuff like reviews, but I will say that more reviews will get chapters out faster. I'm feeling more relaxed, though. I have more time to read and play games. Although, I've picked up League of Legends, which has been distracting me, a lot. Anyways, I'll keep this super short. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. As I said, Percy and Nico would be meeting early on in this story.
Oh, damn, I almost forgot. There was a review I wanted to address. I got a review asking me about Nico being dominant in this story. My answer is going to be keep reading, but I have a small rant. In gay sex, and in straight sex, dominance does not mean a character is a top or bottom, if that is what you were asking about. But, like I said, keep reading to find out who is what.
Warning: Implied sex. Language. Alcohol. Implied killing. Violence. Slash(boy/boy)
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Heroes of Olympus.
Chapter 3
Percy's green eyes followed Michael around as he walked around the campfire. Or more precisely, his eyes were watching Michael's ass. He could practically feel Anaklusma's judgment, mainly because the dragon kept lecturing him about getting distracted. It wasn't like she didn't get distracted by treasure, Percy thought. Besides, she wasn't capable of coming and doing anything about it.
Percy glanced over at Deimos, who watched him from across the fire. Percy arched an eyebrow at the blond before looking at the grass. The blond hadn't been very talkative since they began their trip to the capital, but he sure studied Percy a lot. He was pretty protective of Michael, which was why Percy theorized that Deimos was being cautious of Percy.
"When are you going to tell me about this Dreamer thing?" Percy asked as Michael sat down a few feet to Percy's right. "You said that you're one. I just want to know more about it." And it was true, he did. Gaea had only spoken vaguely on the issue of what he was. She had said that they could lead to corruption and hinted that they could be dangerous. But from how dismissive that the Dragon Queen was about it, Percy had never put much concern into being one.
"It's a gift," Michael said simply, smiling at Percy. He tilted his head to the side and stared into the fire. "For a Dreamer, they don't always have normal dreams. However, you can't have them just anywhere. You need a place of power, which was what I was actually looking for." He twirled a strand of his hair around his finger. "Anyways, when a Dreamer truly dreams, they dream about themselves, and only themselves."
Percy nodded. That was all he remembered. From as far back in his dream, until he had woken up, all he remembered was walking in deserted areas. Anaklusma had been the only other living thing in his dream. But that probably had to do with him being a Rider.
"Depending on how long you dream, your reality becomes the dream, and the dream becomes the reality. The shortest of these dreams can last around a month or two. A long dream can last up to a hundred years, for immortals anyways," the raven haired boy continued. His eyes darted back over to Percy, the fire reflecting in his eyes. "Dreams vary from person to person. Each vision of power, each piece of knowledge, is represented in each person's dream."
Percy arched an eyebrow. "Knowledge?" He asked. "I don't recall gaining any."
Michael chuckled. "You probably just didn't realize it. But, since you woke up from your dream, did you not notice knowledge that you previously didn't possess? Perhaps that you knew spells that you never learned?"
Realization sort of dawned on Percy. "Well, I know the words, but-"
"Not how to use them?" Michael finished.
Percy nodded. "Yes."
Michael let out a sigh. "You just need to learn practice." He picked up a twig and began to draw in the dirt. "So, you gained knowledge. But, you also gained something else." He glanced up from the dirt for a moment to meet Percy's eyes. "You also got to see every possible outcome for your future. Everything that you saw in that dream is something that you could create, whether it be for good, or evil."
"Evil?
The other boy nodded. "Dreams of Power don't discriminate against such things. They are merely there to give you the knowledge. It's up to the Dreamer to decide how to use it."
"You mentioned immortals earlier."
Michael swept his foot across the dirt, erasing his work. "I did," the brown-eyed boy answered. "If you're not an immortal, you can die in these dreams." Michael smiled at Percy. "You know, you have a very cute accent. Where are you from?"
Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "Not from around here," he mumbled. "Is it that noticeable?"
Michael shook his head. "No, not really. I mean, I can hear it, but it's not that heavy. It sounds odd, with an ancient and strong feel to it."
Percy cleared his throat, staring at the fire. He supposed living with the dragons for the past three years had rubbed off on him. What was he supposed to say, though? He doubted anyone else besides him spoke like this outside of the dragon nests.
"Um, is there anything else you can tell me about the dreams?" Percy asked, changing the subject back to their original topic.
Michael chuckled at him, which earned a grunt from Deimos. "You're cute," the dark haired boy confessed. Percy smiled at him, his eyes dilating slightly. He wasn't saying that he was going to take advantage of this confession, but he was completely going to take advantage of the confession. "Anyways, back to our original topic. A problem with the dreams could be seen with the amount of time you spend in them."
Percy cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
"You can lose memories from your life before the dream. It's not that big of a deal, especially for what you gain in the process."
The green-eyed boy frowned. "Can you get them back?"
Michael shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
Percy slowly nodded his head. "Have you had more than one?" He asked.
"I have," the brown-eyed boy confessed. "There's so much to learn from them. The possibilities that one can achieve are so vast, so enlightening."
Percy stared back at the brown-eyed boy. "So, if I want to dream again, I have to find a place of power?"
Michael nodded his head. "Afraid so." He gave Percy's body a slow once-over. "You know, I've never attempted a Dream of Power with another Dreamer. Makes you wonder if something would be different."
Percy smirked, crawling a little closer. "I could think of something else fun to try," he said suggestively.
Deimos grunted and tossed some wood into the fire. "At least wait until I fall asleep before you go at it like wild animals," the blond huffed.
Michael laughed. "Don't mind him," the raven haired boy said in amusement.
"You might as well yell for bandits to come attack us."
Michael smiled and looked back over to Percy. He winked at the green-eyed boy before smiling back at Deimos. "Fine, we'll behave."
The blond grunted at his friend. Percy frowned at the irritated looking blond, who plopped down on his back with another grunt. Percy leaned back on his elbows and stared up at the night sky. A dark silhouette flew above them, far enough to go unnoticed, but close enough for it to do its scouting. He arched an eyebrow up at Anaklusma as the dragon circled around to fly in between two tall mountains.
"Cozy?" The Rider asked, opening up their mental link.
"While you were busy staring at ass, I found some nice horse to feast on," the dragon scoffed.
Percy smiled. "You managed to find some wild horses?"
"I did. Although, they didn't put up much of a fight. They somehow got themselves tied to a post, and were unable to run."
Percy made a face at the mountains. "I try my best to hunt. These two are odd. They keep offering me food, and don't expect me to find my own."
He heard Anaklusma grunt in his head. "Your species is bizarre," she decided.
Percy chuckled and lay back on the ground. "What's so funny?" Michael asked, settling down on his bedroll.
Percy turned his head to look at the pale boy. "Oh, it was nothing. Just a funny story I was remembering," Percy lied.
The other boy nodded before laying his head down. Percy stared back up at the sky. They would reach the capital tomorrow. The problem was that Percy was still trying to figure out how to get to, and kill, Kronos. He couldn't just go up and stab the man. That would be disrespectful. He had been raised better than that. The man sat on a seat of power, and that was no way to deal with someone like that.
"You better not give away any more of my treasure," Anaklusma growled in his head.
Percy rolled his eyes. "I needed a horse, Ana," he reasoned.
"Use your own shinnies."
"I did make you that jewelry, you know. Besides, I can make you more. It's not my fault that these people are greedy like..." Percy trailed off, pursing his lips at his almost slip. Dragons were also greed when it came to shiny things, so it would probably be best not to say the word dragons. "Actually, never mind."
He could feel his dragon giving him a look. "You were going to say dragons, weren't you?"
Percy's eyes shifted off to the left. "No," he lied.
"I shall remember this, Percy."
The Rider sighed. "Fine. Eat the horse when we get to the capital." He frowned up at the sky. "Just don't get caught taking it."
"Me? I'm like a stealthy lion. I move like a black cat stalking its prey in the middle of the night," the dragon scoffed.
Percy rolled his eyes before chuckling to himself. He was ready to see his dragon again. They had been traveling for two days now, and he hadn't been able to see Anaklusma. He had tried to sneak off to meet up with her, but Michael kept worrying about him wandering off.
After several long minutes, Percy sat up and glanced over at Michael's sleeping form. His eyes dilated slightly before they flickered over to the slumbering Deimos. He slowly crawled across the grass, making sure to be as quiet as possible. He crawled on top of Michael, sliding a hand under the boy's shirt.
"Took you long enough," Michael whispered, rolling onto his back to grin up at Percy.
Percy narrowed his eyes at the boy beneath him. "You knew I was going to try this?" He hissed.
The brown-eyed boy shrugged. "You have been staring at me a lot during our travels." His grin widened. "Especially my ass."
Percy grinned back. "Then you won't mind being quiet so that I can make use of it."
Michael quietly chuckled, placing his hands beneath his head. He watched in amusement as Percy yanked down his pants. He pursed his lips tightly to silence a moan as Percy ran his tongue along his length. "I don't have any oil, though," the pale boy breathed out.
"Then we'll make due," Percy growled, lowering his head. He lifted Michael's hips and ran his tongue along the boy's entrance.
The Rider dipped his tongue into Michael, causing the pale boy to squirm. Percy grabbed his pale ass and spread his cheeks apart to get better access. Michael bit down on his lip to stifle his moans, while Percy went about loosening him up.
Finally, Percy pulled back and spit in his palm. He pulled his pants down and coated his arousal before lining himself up with Michael's entrance. He smirked down at the brown-eyed boy. "I do hope you don't wake Deimos," he said. "Because you are going to do a lot of moaning."
Percy climbed out of the lake and shook his head, flinging water everywhere. He grabbed some clean undergarments that he had pulled from his bag and slid them on. He picked up his pants and stood up. He looked up when he heard someone approaching. He blinked at Michael, who was staring at him with mixed emotions.
"So, about last night," the pale boy began.
Percy slid his pants on, raising an eyebrow at his new friend. "What about it?" He asked.
"You sort of got up afterwards."
Percy's eyebrows rose, not understanding the problem. "Was I not supposed to?"
Michael stared back at him with a mixture of disappointment, sadness, and slight irritation. "I just thought you would be a little different in regards to the bedroom," he said after a long silence.
Percy blinked at him. "But we didn't have sex in a bedroom. We're outside."
Michael groaned. "You know what I mean."
Percy shrugged. "Not really."
The paler of the two bent over and picked up Percy's shirt before handing it to the other. They were relatively close in height, so neither had to tilt their head to look at the other. Percy smiled at him and took his shirt. Michael sighed and began to undress. "Anyways, Deimos has some breakfast. You should eat now. We're going to head out after I'm done getting clean."
Percy frowned. "I think I'm going to go hunt," he stated.
"But we have food," Michael reasoned.
Percy stared back at the other in confusion. How did Michael not understand why Percy wanted to do this? Deimos didn't question him about it. "I just prefer to fend for myself."
Michael sighed. "Fine. But like I said, make it quick."
The green-eyed boy nodded and headed back to their camp, running his fingers through his bangs. As he approached the camp, Deimos didn't even bother offering him anything. The blond seemed used to Percy's habit of providing food for himself. They didn't speak; Deimos just nodded at Percy as he grabbed his spear, knife, and a spare sack to go hunt.
It didn't take him very long to find a boar wandering around in some grass. Percy got onto his stomach and crawled along the ground, his spear in his right hand. He let out a growl as a twig broke beneath him. The boar squealed and started to run away.
Percy shot to his feet and hurled his spear. He held out his hand and yelled, "Hasta!" His eyes flashed blue and white. The spear rocketed forward and struck the boar, killing it upon impact.
Percy walked over, a smile on his face, and pulled his spear from the corpse. He pulled the sack from his belt before kneeling in front of his kill. He grabbed his knife and began cutting. He growled as he remembered Michael's words. He had to be quick if he wanted to eat. He hated wasting some of his kill, but he didn't have a lot of time.
He cut several pieces from the boar, plenty to fill him up with. He stuffed each piece of meat into his sack before standing back up. He blew out his breath as he stared down at the dead animal. Well, perhaps some scavenger will come along and eat it, he thought.
When he returned, Michael had already finished bathing. He sighed as Percy sat down beside him. "You really do need to hurry with that. We still have some distance to cover, and I really want to get to Olympus before the sun begins to set," the brown-eyed boy mumbled.
"Sorry," Percy replied, sticking the boar meat onto a stick and placing it above the fire. He watched as Michael at some of his berries and chew on a leg of a goat while his food cooked.
Deimos gave him an annoyed look every now and then. "Why can't we just let him travel on his own now?" The blond asked. "The capital is only a few hours away. Surely he can't manage to get lost."
Michael rolled his eyes. "We'll be fine," the boy mumbled. He smiled over at Percy. "You know, you're going to have to get used to letting others feed you in Olympus. You can't exactly go hunting the animals you find in the city."
Percy tilted his head to the side. "Why not?" He asked.
Both Deimos and Michael gave him a shocked expression, the blond less so than the dark haired boy. "Because they belong to people," Michael answered. "Well, most of them." He scratched his head. "I suppose you can eat rat, but I wouldn't recommend it."
Percy shrugged. "I can just leave the city and go hunt, then I'll just return."
Michael chuckled and shook his head. "You're very stubborn."
After his food was done cooking, Percy quickly scarfed it down. As he did, Michael and Deimos went about packing up and preparing the horses. He was still getting used to riding the creature. He missed Anaklusma, a lot. She would have made this journey much faster.
When Percy was done eating, he gathered his things and readied his horse. "Ready to go?" Michael asked, smiling at Percy.
"I think so," Percy answered.
The raven haired boy nodded before spurring his horse. The three began to ride south. After about an hour, Michael pointed to the distance. Percy followed the boy's gaze to something rising out in the distance. It was a large structure, though it was still miles away.
"That's Olympus," Michael said.
"We'll be there in a few hours," Deimos added.
As they road, Michael began talking about the city. Apparently, it was surrounded by mountains on three sides. To the southeast, there was a large lake and a gap in the mountains that was used for traveling. They had journeyed through the two northern mountains, following the river south. The way Michael described the city, it sounded like a forest made of stone.
"You'll probably get lost," Michael teased him.
Percy frowned. He didn't need to get lost. He needed to find Kronos, even though he still didn't know what he was going to do. "Where's the palace?" Percy asked.
Deimos's eyebrow rose as he stared at Percy from the corner of his eye. Michael gave him a curious look. "You mean the castle? Why would you want to go there?" The raven haired boy asked.
"I just wanted to see it."
"It's hard to miss," Deimos said in his deep voice.
Michael nodded. "It's the highest point in the city," he added. "The city is built sort of like steps. It rises the further in you go. At the very center is the castle."
"Look for the dark stone and gold banners," Deimos grunted.
Michael gave the blond a stern look. "But, it has a wall surrounding it. Besides, the guards won't let you past the wall, so you won't be able to get close enough to truly appreciate its beauty."
"And the dragon, where is it?" Percy asked, glancing to the city on the horizon.
Both of the others gave him odd looks. Michael opened his mouth a few times, unable to find any words. "Why do you want to find the king's dragon?" Deimos inquired.
"Oh, uh, I just wanted to see it," Percy said quickly.
Michael chuckled. "Well, it's not like the thing sits on top of the castle, breathing fire down upon any that come near its home," he answered. "No one ever really sees the thing. But then again, no one really sees the king."
Percy felt himself start to scowl. Well, that wasn't going to make his job easier. "So, what is the city like?" Percy sighed.
"Busy," Deimos deadpanned. Percy frowned at him.
Michael smiled. "It's the center of trade for the country," he added. "You can find a variety of goods within its walls. It stretches for miles, extending even across the river to its south. It's a nice city. I mean, it's not without its flaws, but what city isn't? It's beautiful to look at, and people come from all over to start a life."
"Is it your home?" Percy asked.
Michael shrugged. "For the most part. We stay there most of the time, but I like to travel." He smirked at Percy. "There's not really a place to have good dreams within the city."
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Percy kept staring at the city as it rose in the distance. As they neared the walls, Percy marveled up at the capital. Most of the city was made of white stone, so well done that even Percy was taken in by it. After seeing Mitra, he wasn't expecting such a nicely constructed city.
Towers were positioned along the wall, an even amount of distance between each one. The city rose up within the walls, reminding Percy slightly of home. At the very top was what looked like Kronos's castle. The city leveled off at the top, so that walls could be placed defensibly around the black castle. Steps descended from the front of the castle, leading down towards the rest of the city.
As they came to the gate, Percy caught sight of some of the banners. They were gold, just like Deimos had said. A black dragon was embroidered in the center of it, its tail curling around itself and its wings spread behind it.
They passed through with no trouble from the guards on duty. Percy's brow furrowed. They just let anyone into the city? An assassin could walk in their front door. Percy sort of wanted to laugh at that, considering what he had been sent to do. Deimos led them towards the stables, where they dismounted. Michael took the lead as they continued on. They passed through a second gate before Percy finally got a look at the city itself.
The buildings ranged in all sizes and shapes. As they walked, Percy gawked at all the different shops that they walked by. And the people. There were so many people. All of them dressed differently; some strange, some plain, some with odd hair. Children ran around, playing different games with each other. As they walked by, some merchants in odd wooden structures tried to call them over. He had seen them at Mitra, and he assumed they were for business. So, why didn't they just get a real shop? Michael would occasionally shake his hand, letting the merchant know he wasn't interested.
Some things that he saw were odd. Some men attempted to sell women odd bottles that squirted a gas of some sorts. Percy always had to wrinkle his nose as they passed those, as they had strange smells. He just didn't understand it all. He assumed these people had some sort of work that provided them money, but where did the money come from? And why didn't they just make these things they wanted themselves?
He found the people to be a little vain. They seemed to care a lot about their appearance, even though most of them appeared to look fine. And they were greedy, always bargaining with customers or merchants. Dragons were greedy, but they never argued over treasure so possessively. Sure dragons would get angry if another attempted to steal from them, but he had never seen something like this before.
"Are you all right?" Michael asked.
Percy blinked and looked at his new friend. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just a lot to take in," he answered.
Michael nodded. "I suppose it can be."
As they continued to walk, Percy's attention drifted back to his surroundings. He made faces as he watched people eat. The way and amount people ate, no wonder some of them weren't in the best shape. They would not survive if they were threatened. How would they run? Could they even put up a fight? Why did people need to eat so much? Sure, Percy ate a lot, but that was just what he needed. But he didn't eat like these people. He watched as men and women stuffed their faces with odd circular bread that had fruit inside.
"Did you hear? The rebels struck again a few nights back."
Percy slowed down when he heard that. Michael turned and gave him an odd look. "Was it the Rider?" Another man asked.
Percy's brow furrowed. Rider? His head started to spin. Why did something about that sound familiar? Someone had spoken of another Rider back in Mitra, after he had left the forest, hadn't they?And the Rider was still alive? He needed to know more.
"Sorry," Percy apologized as he caught up to the other two. "What were those two men talking about? Rebels? Rider?"
Michael sighed, glancing up at Deimos. "They like to call themselves freedom fighters, but I kind of think they are dangerous," the pale boy answered. "Our country has been well taken care of since Kronos took over, and they want to end it."
"Why don't they like him?"
"They call him mad," Deimos grunted. "It's old history, their problem with the king, dating back to the Rider Civil War."
Michael sighed again. "And they recruited the last known Dragon Rider." He scrunched his lips. "I feel a little sorry for the kid. He's just getting corrupted by those people."
Percy frowned. "Do you know anything about him?" Percy inquired.
Michael let out a breath. "You're very curious about this, as well as the king. To be honest, I'm a little worried."
Percy shook his head. "No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just curious."
The pale boy nodded. "Well, I know he was the king's ward. The king took the boy in after his parents' died, and then he turns around and steals a dragon egg from the king."
Deimos rolled his eyes. "He wasn't even in danger. He runs off with the egg and joins the rebels. The king didn't want the Riders destroyed, at least I don't think so. He just wanted to put an end to their corruption," the blond added.
"Either way, it has caused some problems of late," Michael continued. "Just keep in mind that all of this is our opinion. It doesn't make it fact."
Percy nodded. So another Dragon Rider still existed. That made three then. And Percy didn't like either of them. He didn't want either of them being victorious. The king had slaughtered all those dragons, for whatever reason he may have had. How was that fair to the dragons? And then there was this rebel Rider. Percy didn't want to see the Riders returned to what they were. From what Gaea had told him, they treated their dragons like slaves or pets. He could never let that happen to Anaklusma or any other dragon.
But he was going to need help with Kronos. Gaea had given him orders to kill Kronos, not this other Rider. But Percy wasn't interested in him, he was interested in the Rider's allies. These rebels might be able to help him. They took in one Rider, how much would they want a second? He just needed to use them to get to Kronos.
Michael cleared his throat. "Anyways, I hate to do this, but we have some business to take care of," the boy said. "I trust that you can take care of yourself?"
Percy smirked as he glanced around the city. "I'll be fine," he assured Michael.
The raven haired boy smiled at him. "Good. Well, perhaps I shall see you later. Try not to get into too much trouble."
Percy nodded. Michael winked at him before heading into the city. Deimos gave him a nod before following after Michael. Percy stared at them until they were out of sight before looking around again. He let out a sigh. "Now how do I get to the castle?"
Nico groaned as his leg was kicked. He rolled onto his back and cracked an eye open to stare up at Poseidon. "We need to get moving," the man instructed before packing up their things.
Nico sighed and sat up. "Can I get cleaned up first?" Nico asked.
Poseidon grunted at him. "Just make it fast. Cerberus is out getting you food, so you have a little time."
Nico stood up and stretched his arms above his head. He let out a small yelp as his clothes were tossed at his face. He narrowed his eyes at Poseidon's back before heading down to the lake. They were just south of the capital, at the very lake that they had emerged at during their escape from the castle six years ago.
He could see the capital on the horizon, looking as magnificent and intimidating as ever. He didn't mind the city itself, it was just what it reminded him of. Kronos. He was unlikely to see the man, but his wanted poster would be all over the place. Olympus would always be the most dangerous place for him to be.
Nico sat down by the edge of the water and yanked off his boots. He removed the rest of his clothing and slid into the water. He dunked his head under the water for a few seconds before reemerging just in time to see Cerberus fly overhead. Nico ran a hand through his wet hair, pushing his black locks out of his face.
After a few seconds, Cerberus glided over and landed beside the lake, curling up by Nico's clothes. "Did you have a nice hunt?" Nico asked.
"It wasn't as fun as hunting in the mountains, but I did find plenty of food," the red dragon informed him.
"There are mountains just east of here, you know."
The dragon blew a puff of smoke at him, making Nico cough. Nico glared at his companion before dunking his head under the water again to wash off the smell of smoke. Nico swam over to the edge of the water and crossed his arms on the grass before resting his chin on them.
"Are you going to be all right while I'm in the capital?" The Rider asked.
The dragon's tail swished as he stared back at Nico. "How will I ever survive without having to put up with you all day?"
Nico rolled his eyes and pulled himself out of the water. He grabbed his undergarments and slid them on. "Would it kill you to say that you're going to miss me, or perhaps worry about me?" Nico grumbled.
Cerberus's head hit the ground, his eyes closing. The large dragon rolled onto his back, earning another eye roll from the Rider. Nico slid on a pair of black pants before putting his boots back on. Cerberus's tail lifted his dark leather jerkin. He slipped it onto his head and looked down at himself.
It was his usual attire. The only difference from how he dressed in Valterossa was that he didn't wear his cloak and hood in the rebel city. Outside of Valterossa, it was one of the things that kept his head attached to his body.
Cerberus made a rumbling noise as he placed his head in front of Nico. The Rider gave him a lopsided smile before placing his hand on Cerberus's snout. "Sorry, just thinking," he whispered.
"You worry too much," Cerberus said. "Poseidon does that enough for all of us."
Nico chuckled. He then let out a sigh and looked at the capital. "Just stay close, but make sure no one sees you."
"No one is going to see me as high as I fly."
Nico arched an eyebrow at Cerberus. "You sound awfully confident about that, considering Hyperion could be in the city."
Cerberus's reply was to snort smoke at Nico. The Rider let out an exasperated sigh before grunting and heading back to their campsite. Upon arrival, Poseidon handed him his food. "Hurry up and eat, we need to get going," the man instructed.
Nico sat down and began picking at his food, while Cerberus curled up behind him and began to devour a bull's carcass. Nico made a face, feeling slightly less hungry. "So, what's the plan?" Nico asked.
"Our main priority is to meet up with the rebels within the city," Poseidon replied. He pulled out Nico's cloak and sword. "Which means, you'll need these." He placed them down beside Nico, where the boy stared at them.
The cloak was a deep green color. Poseidon had it made to look worn and ragged, so that it would be less likely for Nico to stick out in a crowd. The cowl had a pointed tip, hanging down to his eyebrows. It cast a shadow over the top of his face, so that even if someone looked at him, they wouldn't be able to make out his face.
The sword had once belonged to Poseidon, from his days as a Rider. The sword's hilt was silver, with a red ruby in the center on both sides. The cross-guards of the sword pointed downward, forming the appearance of a trident. The blade was pure black with old markings etched into the hilt Nico had been shocked when Poseidon had given it to him, but the man had said he wanted Nico to have it. That he was supposed to have it.
Nico finished eating and grabbed the cloak. He stood up and fastened it on before raising the cowl to cover his head. He bent down and picked up his sword, placing it on his belt. He went over and pulled out his leather vambraces before slipping them on and fastening them. He walked over to Cerberus and placed a hand on the red snout of his dragon.
"Stay out of trouble," he whispered. He then gave Cerberus a stern look. "And be careful."
"You be careful," the dragon shot back as it flapped its wings and flew off.
"Ready?" Poseidon asked.
Nico nodded and walked over to his horse. The two mounted up and rode off towards the capital. "Why couldn't we just have gone the rest of the way last night?" Nico decided to ask.
Poseidon shrugged. "Less suspicious. You may blend in better with that on, but I don't want to chance what the guards might do if they saw you entering the city, dressed like that, in the dead of night," the man stated.
Nico's dark brown eyes drifted up to the capital, slowly drawing closer to them. He hated Olympus. It had been his prison for ten years, and held very few good memories. His mother had died giving birth to him in those walls. He wished he could have met her. His father had died when he was a child.
He didn't remember much about his father. He knew he looked like his father, almost an exact replica. His father had appeared the same age as Nico did now on the day that he died. Nico's father had been a cold man. And while he wasn't the loving father that Nico had always wanted, he had been a better man than Kronos. He had been Kronos's right hand man up until the day he died, and then Minos had filled the spot.
As they approached the gates to the city, Nico lowered his head. Poseidon led them over to the stables, where he gave a friendly nod to the stable boy there. He nodded off towards the city, and he and Nico began to walk through the streets.
It was just as busy and crowded as always. Every time he saw a guard patrol, his eyes would dart in their direction, following them until they left his line of sight. His wanted poster was more abundant in the capital, which was not surprising.
"Wait right here a moment," Poseidon instructed.
Nico nodded and the man walked off down an alleyway. Nico stared around at the taller buildings in the city. One thing he did like about this city, compared to Valterossa, was that it didn't feel as confining. Well, it did, but that was more the castle and less the city. But there were more people, which did make Nico a little uncomfortable. Perhaps it was all the time he spent in the wilderness with Cerberus and Poseidon, but he didn't like large populated cities that much.
Someone bumped into Nico's shoulder. He narrowed his eyes and turned his head to glare at the tall boy that had just passed him. "Watch where you're going," Nico snapped.
The boy turned around and blinked, searching for the person who yelled at him. He was a few inches taller than Nico, standing around six foot tall. He had black hair like Nico's, though this boy's hair was straighter than his own. His skin was tan and without a single blemish. He had slightly more muscle than Nico did. His eyes, though, were what Nico's own eyes focused on. They were sea-green in color, and had a very familiar feel to them. Almost like the color of...
Nico shook his head. He turned around before the green-eyed boy could locate him in the crowd. He let out a sigh when Poseidon walked back towards him. "Sorry about that," the man said.
Nico shook his head. "It's fine. Can we go now? I really want to get off the streets," Nico mumbled.
Poseidon nodded his head once before gesturing for them to walk again. Nico was led down several streets, until they came to a small house on one of the street corners. Poseidon knocked on the door and they waited for someone to answer.
An olive skinned woman answered the door. Her black hair was long and curled, draping onto her shoulders. A few bangs hung in her face, while the back was kept up in a small bun. A few flowers rested in her dark hair. She had light, warm brown eyes, which were busy inspecting both Nico and Poseidon. She had a few wrinkles on her face and a pair of small glasses rested on the brim of her nose. A smile finally appeared on her lips, though it kept to only one side of her mouth.
"You're late," the woman said to Poseidon.
"Sorry, Iris, but we're here now," Poseidon replied.
Iris stepped aside and gestured for them to enter her home. "Well, come in, come in."
Nico followed Poseidon inside. Iris poked her head out the door to make sure no one followed them. Two young men, a man, and two girls were in the room. The man stood in the corner, while the rest sat at a table.
The man was an average looking blond man. He had abnormally large blue eyes. He looked quick and agile, but also carried an air of strength about him. His hair was put in a ponytail and he had a scar running down his right arm. He had his hand on the sword on his belt, ready to strike if needed.
The first young man looked to be a year or two older than Nico. He was rather bulky and had a shaved head. In Nico's opinion, he looked like he had a sack of bricks land on his face. He had a tattoo on his right arm, a large black line wrapping around his bicep. He had dark hazel eyes and a cut on his left cheek.
The young man next to the first looked to be around the same age. He looked to be very tall, and was as buff as the young man sitting beside him. On top of his head sat a mass of black curls. His blue eyes seemed a little odd, like they weren't lined up right. As Nico looked at him, he felt his entire world was tilting slightly to the side. In his hand was a wooden cup, full of what Nico assumed was wine. He figured this because the young man's lips were tinged red.
The girl across from the intoxicated young man was rather short. Although, she slightly reminded Nico of Thalia from the way she dressed, the difference being that this girl had a slightly more muscular tone to her body. She looked rather young, and added with her height, Nico wasn't sure how old she was. Her hair was platinum blond, and could easily pass for white. Her hair was rather frizzy and stuck out all over her head. She had grey eyes, which shifted from light to dark in the light.
The final girl drew the majority of Nico's attention. Like Nico, she wore a cowl over her head, though hers was part of her dress. As he walked in front of her, he finally got a look at her face. She looked tall and slim, with beautiful red hair. A few freckles dotted her face and she had pale skin. She was very pretty, from what Nico could see of her face. But when Nico looked into her eyes, he felt like she was staring into his very soul. Her bright green eyes seemed to pierce right through him.
She was clad in a relatively simple dress. A few thin circular pieces of silver were attached to her cowl. Her hair was hidden, and Nico wouldn't have even known the color of it, if it weren't for a few strands hanging in her face. A line of black dots trailed down from her neck to her collarbone, spreading out to each of her shoulders.
Nico nearly jumped when Poseidon placed a hand on his shoulder. He tore his eyes away from the girl, feeling slightly uncomfortable, and swallowed. As his attention tried to focus on the rest of the house, he was fully aware that the green-eyed girl was still watching him.
Iris snapped her fingers at the non-drunk young man at the table. "Butch, get these two something to drink," she requested.
Butch grunted and stood up before walking back to the kitchen, mumbling a "Yes, mum," over his shoulder.
Nico stared down at the drinking young man. "I feel safer already," he mumbled.
Iris smirked at Nico before smacking the back of the black haired young man's head. "Dakota, stop your drinking. We have guests."
Dakota shot up in his chair, rubbing the back of his head. "Yes, ma'am," the young man apologized. His eyes drifted over to Nico. They squinted at him for a moment before widening. "Hey, your der Rider everybody's looking fur," he continued, slightly slurred.
Nico let out a sigh. Butch returned with two cups of, thankfully, water. Nico took his and tossed it back, feeling parched. Poseidon stared down at the blonde girl with a smile. "New addition, Iris?" He chuckled.
Iris looked up from preparing a tray of bread and fruit. "Ah, yes. This is Fleecy," the woman informed them.
"Hello," the girl greeted them in a sweet voice.
Poseidon nodded at the girl before looking at the mysterious girl. His forehead wrinkled and his lips tilted down into a frown. "And this?" The man asked, his voice lowered.
Iris's lips formed a thin line. "It seems the Rider here isn't the only person we will be sheltering right now," the raven haired woman said grimly.
"Who is she?"
Iris's eyes darted to the red haired girl, who was remaining silent. "She's a seeress."
Poseidon's brow furrowed, looking slightly astonished. "An Oracle?" He asked.
Iris gave a single nod. "You know, I'm taking a big risk doing this, Poseidon. I have been keeping her here for several days now, and then Chiron sends word that Nico was going to be coming here."
Poseidon placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Where did you find her?"
The girl finally looked up, staring straight into Poseidon's eyes. "Kronos was hunting me," she finally said. Her voice carried a weight of power behind it.
Iris sighed and nodded. "I don't know what for, but he's been doing a lot of this lately," the woman whispered.
Poseidon's lips tilted down. "What do you mean?" The green-eyed man inquired.
"Well, I don't know about Oracles, as the only other one than Rachel here, that I know of, is Phineus. However, there's talk of sorcerers disappearing."
Rachel's eyes settled back on Nico. "I know you," she said softly.
Nico's brow furrowed. "You do?" He asked.
The girl nodded. "I've been dreaming about you." She stared at Nico for several long seconds before speaking again. "And of him."
Nico's brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but there was a loud banging at the door. "Open up, in the name of the king!" Someone shouted.
Nico's eyes darkened at the door. But Poseidon knew what Nico was thinking. He grabbed Nico's shoulder and yanked him away from the door. "Safe room?" The man asked.
Iris was already busy tidying up. "Fleecy, get them to the room," she hissed.
Fleecy shot out of her chair and moved towards the kitchen. "This way, quickly," the girl whispered.
Poseidon shoved Nico forward. The Rider turned to scowl at his mentor, who was yanking Rachel up and pushing her after Nico. Fleecy stopped in front of the kitchen and walked over to a bookcase with a set of stairs wrapping around it. She kneeled down and reached into the lowest shelf. Nico heard a click, but nothing happened.
He was about to open his mouth to give a sarcastic remark, when Fleecy reached over to the wall and yanked a candelabra downwards. The bookshelf swung open, revealing another set of stairs, this one leading down. Fleecy quickly went down the stairs and motioned for them to follow.
"Open this door!" The guard yelled again.
Nico tossed a final look at the door before descending the stairs. Rachel and Poseidon followed closely behind him. Poseidon pressed a space on the wall and the bookshelf swung closed, casting them into darkness. "Poseidon, could you or Nico give me a hand with some light," came Fleecy's voice.
Nico felt his mentor shove past him. "Conflare," Poseidon muttered under his breath.
Fire appeared in Poseidon's palm, casting a dim light into the room. The man walked over to Fleecy and lit a candle she was holding out for him. After they were done, Fleecy sat it down on a nearby table. Nico glanced around at the room.
A few weapons and pieces of armor lay strewn about. There were several books and maps laying on another nearby table. One of Kronos's banners hung on one of the walls, having been ripped to shreds by a blade of some kind, probably a knife. He found some food stored on some shelves in a far corner, probably for rations. Other than that, the room was relatively barren.
Nico's attention drifted back over to Rachel, who had sat herself down in a corner. He slowly walked over to her and sat himself down near her. He slid his cowl off of his head and stared at the girl. "Can I ask about your dreams?" He said quietly.
The way the fire lit up Rachel's green eyes made Nico feel cold. "Be careful with the future, young Rider. Ask only what you need to know, nothing more," came her grim reply.
Nico hesitated for a moment. The hair on his arm was now standing up, leaving him with goosebumps. "You were dreaming about me? What about?"
Rachel's gaze stared off into space for a moment, as if she was trying to recall something. "You have a long journey ahead of you." Her brow furrowed. "The path is thin, and can easily be stumbled from. If you fail, it would mean the end of us all."
Nico attempted to swallow the lump in his throat. "You...you said you also dreamed of 'him'. Who were you speaking of?"
Rachel's green eyes darted back to meet Nico's brown ones. "One who walks the same path as you. Your roads will meet at this fork."
Nico's face reflected his confusion. "I don't understand."
The Rider jumped when a hand was placed on his shoulder. He looked up into Poseidon's stern green eyes. "That's enough," he hissed.
"Only what you need to know," Rachel repeated.
Poseidon's sea-green eyes turned on Rachel in a harsh stare. He yanked Nico to his feet and pulled the boy to the other side of the room. "What did I tell you about Dreamers?" He hissed.
"But-" Nico stopped himself, swallowing another lump. "But she's not one, she's an Oracle."
"What do you think an Oracle is?" Poseidon sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. "They are Dreamers, yet they are not. They dream differently than other Dreamers."
Nico pursed his lips and nodded his head. "How?"
"Instead of dreaming of themselves, they dream of the future of others. Fragmented pieces, but still dreams of power. Yet, they can dream anywhere, opposed to needing a place of power."
Nico opened his mouth to reply, but footsteps above them caused Poseidon's hand to clamp over Nico's mouth. "Is this really necessary?" Iris asked.
"Just doing my job, ma'am," came a voice that sounded slightly familiar to Nico. He frowned to himself. He couldn't quite place it, but he was sure he knew that voice from somewhere.
"There aren't any rebels here," Butch grunted, sounding annoyed.
"I think I'll be the judge of that," the familiar voice said. There were some more footsteps. "Well?"
"We can't find anything, sir," someone said.
Nico's breath hitched as he heard someone walk up to the bookshelf. Fleecy pulled out a knife and Poseidon placed his hand on his sword. "Could I get you Bacchus's special brew to take to the king?" Iris asked, her voice rising slightly.
There was a long silence and the figure in front of the bookshelf moved away. "You have it here?" The familiar voice asked curiously.
"I do." Iris snapped her fingers. "Dakota, fetch the bottle your father sent by you."
There was some movement upstairs. "Here you are," Dakota said, sounding more sober now.
There was another long pause. When Nico was starting to get concerned, the familiar voice spoke again. "Very well. I'll make sure that the king gets this right away. Men, let's move out. We have more homes to search."
Nico breathed a sigh of relief as he heard a lot of footsteps heading for the door. He heard Iris bid the guards farewell before shutting the door. They all stayed still, though, until the bookshelf swung open. "You can come out now," Iris called.
Nico and the others slowly walked back up the stairs. The walked back into the dining room, where Nico sat down at the table with Rachel and Dakota. "What was that about?" Poseidon asked.
Iris sighed as she began putting the trays of food away. "The king has been ordering searches, in attempt to find us rebels," she said.
"And the wine?"
Iris pursed her lips. "I was getting desperate."
Poseidon's brow wrinkled. "That was about Nico, wasn't it? You risked his exposure?"
Iris quickly shook her head. "No, never. I knew it would get him to leave." She sighed. "The one in charge was one of us. I knew that he wouldn't try exposing the sanctuary if he knew Nico was down there."
Poseidon sighed, but nodded his head. "As long as nothing bad happens because of it," he relented.
"Who was it?" Nico inquired. He knew that the voice had sounded familiar.
"Best not to say," Butch grunted. The young man sighed and sat down next to Dakota. "We don't want to risk his exposure."
Nico glanced at Poseidon, who was staring at Iris. The two seemed to be having a silent conversation. The woman finally nodded and Poseidon gave a grunt. Did Poseidon know who it was? Was he asking for confirmation?
Iris cleared her throat, glancing at her son. "Speaking of him, Butch, you need to go pick up the dead drop," she instructed.
Butch grunted. "Great. It seems like such a good day to go," he grumbled.
Nico looked from Butch to Iris. "I can do it," the Rider said.
Poseidon gave Nico a stern look, crossing his arms. "I don't think-" the man began, but Nico cut him off.
"It's just a dead drop. All I have to do is pick it up and come straight back."
Poseidon sighed. "Very well. Just be careful."
Nico smiled and stood up. He came to a stop beside Iris and Poseidon. "Where is it?"
Iris smiled at him. "It's in the market district. There's a large tree between two buildings. You need to sit down in front of it. You need to sit on the side where it looks like an animal burrowed underneath it. Sit down with your back to the tree and slip your hand underneath it," she carefully instructed.
Nico nodded his head before placing his cowl back over his head. As he was about to open the door, Poseidon grabbed his arm. "Come straight back," he whispered.
Nico nodded again before heading out the door. He made his way through the crowds of citizens, weaving through those that decided to stop and chat. He didn't make an attempt to stop and stare at anything. Part of him wanted to get all of their business over with as fast as possible. The sooner they could leave Olympus, the better.
As he entered the market district, his eyes traveled up to the castle looming above them in the distance. His lips formed a thin line as he stared at the black walls surrounding it. He pulled his attention away and stared at a fountain in front of him. The city wasn't as bad as the capital, nor were the people as bad as Kronos. If they were, he wouldn't really have any reason to fight. They were just blind, it wasn't their fault.
Nico's dark eyes searched around the area until he spotted the tree that Iris spoke of. He walked into the alleyway and tilted his head to look at the hole that had been dug under the tree. He glanced behind him before placing his back to the tree and sitting down. The Rider placed his hand beside him and slipped it backwards.
As he was searching the spot, several guards marched into the alleyway and pointed swords at Nico's cloaked form. "Looks like we found ourselves a rebel," one of them said with a smirk.
Nico sighed and withdrew his hand. He slowly stood up with his hands raised in front of him. "Now, now, gentlemen, there's no need for trouble. Just let me walk away, and we can forget all about this," he tried.
One of the guards laughed at him. "Begging won't help ya."
Nico's brow arched behind his cowl. "Actually, I was giving you that warning for your benefit."
Percy sighed as he stared at the large walls surrounding the castle. There didn't seem to be a good way in. Guards were posted everywhere. The castle seemed to be mocking him from behind its walls. However, the only way he could find to get in would to either fly in with Anaklusma, or charge in the front gate. Neither seemed that appealing to Percy.
He sighed again and stood up. He looked around for a moment before deciding on a direction. He wondered what he should do now. He could always try and find Michael, but he didn't even know where to begin his search.
Percy rubbed the back of his head as he continued to walk. His brow furrowed as someone bumped into his shoulder. He scowled at the muscular man that continued walking, ignoring Percy's existence. That was the third time today. Was there no consideration in this land?
Percy felt Anaklusma's mind reaching out to him. He frowned and opened their link. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"There's something you need to come see," the dragon replied.
Percy sighed. "I'm a little busy right now. Can't it wait?"
Anaklusma growled at him through their link. "I found a dragon."
Percy rolled his eyes. "So? It's probably a wild dragon looking for food," he rationalized.
"No," Anaklusma said firmly. "This was a tame dragon. He had supplies on his back. There's another Rider in the city."
Percy stopped in his tracks. He looked around at everyone, analyzing them carefully. It could be anyone. He swallowed. "Well, where is the dragon now?"
There was a pause before dragon's response came. "I don't know. He was a little fast. He was growling at me as I approached, but then something drew his attention away. Before I could get any closer, he had taken off."
Percy's brow furrowed. So the other Dragon Rider was in Olympus as well? And he was supposed to be connected to the rebels. Percy let out an aggravated growl. As much as it pained him, if he wanted to find the rebels, he was going to have to find this Rider.
"Keep looking," Percy requested before cutting off their link.
He continued on his way, making sure to look around at every person that he passed. He knew it wouldn't do him any good, though. Still, it was the best that he could do. All he needed to do was use this Rider to find the rebels. After that, Percy could just ignore him. In all honesty, he wanted nothing to do with the Rider. And if he tried to stand in the way of Percy rebuilding the Order in the way that Percy wanted, he would run the Rider through with his blade. He wasn't going to have any more mistreatment of dragons in the Order.
As Percy made his way through the city, something drew his attention. There was a lot of shouting going on up ahead. He frowned and quickened his pace slightly. His hand carefully traveled down to his sword. As he drew closer, he could make out the sounds of sword fighting.
He rounded the corner to find several guards circled around a cloaked figure. He frowned. That wasn't very fair. He was about to jump in, when two guards attempted to attack the mysterious figure. Like lightning, the cloaked person slashed through the first attacker before grabbing the second one's head and smashing it into the side of a building. He swung around and kicked another guard in the chest before driving his blade into a fourth one's chest.
Whoever this was, they moved with greater agility than Percy had not expected from anyone here. His sea-green eyes turned a shade darker. It couldn't be, could it? Was this the Rider? Percy wasn't sure. But, from the guards' yelling, he knew that it was, at the very least, a rebel.
Percy's eyes widened slightly as the cloaked figure kicked one of the guards into the others, sending them all tumbling backwards. Before Percy could finish blinking, the mysterious fighter had taken off down the streets, knocking over barrels, carts, and people. Percy growled slightly before taking off after him. He was not going to lose this chance to find the rebels.
As Percy followed after the possible Rider; the guy kept glancing back at Percy. It was almost as if he was surprised that Percy could even keep up with him. He bolted down around a corner, out of Percy's sight. Percy frowned and gave chase.
As he rounded the corner, he found the tip of a black sword pointing at his throat. "Why are you following me?" Came the cloaked figure's voice, also confirming for Percy that it was, in fact, a male.
"Get that sword out of my face," Percy growled, knocking the tip away.
The hooded boy took a small step back and swung at Percy. The green-eyed boy jumped back before reaching for his own sword. He glared and swung his celestial bronze blade at the slightly shorter male. Percy grunted as he received a swift kick in the chest.
He placed a hand over the spot and glared at the boy as he ran off. Not about to give up, Percy grabbed his sword tightly in his hand and took off. As they entered another large space, the hooded boy suddenly came to a stop and spun around to strike at Percy. The green-eyed boy parried before attempting his own swing.
The two exchanged quick blows, each one being parried successfully. And while Percy could tell he was stronger than this boy, the other had the advantage of speed. Percy was learning really fast that he was going to have to watch out for the boy's legs, as the hooded figure made several attempts to knee or kick him.
Percy lunged at the boy, tackling him to the ground. Before Percy could realize what had happened, he was being kicked off and thrown into several barrels. He rolled back onto his feet and blocked two swings from the other's black sword. On the second swing, the hilt suddenly caught his attention.
The hilt of the boy's blade seemed familiar to Percy somehow. It was too hazy in his head to recall, though. But he was sure he had seen that blade hilt somewhere before. "Where did you get that sword?" He asked, his brow furrowing. He pushed against his own sword and shoved the other boy back.
The cloaked boy tilted his head to the side and stared down at his sword. He then pointed its tip at Percy. "None of your business," the boy growled.
Percy narrowed his eyes before swinging his sword. The mysterious boy stepped to the side and grabbed Percy's arm. He swung around behind Percy and pressed his back against Percy's own. Percy was forced to bend over as the other fighter rolled across his back and kicked him in the side. Percy narrowed his eyes again and charged the other.
He blocked an attack from the shorter boy before elbowing the cloaked figure and knocking him into a wall. The boy grunted before Percy grabbed him by the boy's jerkin and tossed him to the side. He made an attempt to swing at the other boy, but the cloaked figure rolled underneath the attack.
As they locked blades again, several guards appeared. Percy heard the other boy let out a sigh. They pushed apart and stared at each other for a moment. The guards, not waiting for them to make any form of decision, attacked them. Percy, wanting to get back to what he was doing, made quick work to cut through any that came at him. If this other boy was the other Dragon Rider, he wanted to make it very clear that he was the more dominant of the two. He was not going to let this other Rider walk over him.
The cloaked figure drove his blade through a guard's chest. He swiveled around and raised the guard's sword arm with his free hand, just in time to block an attack from another guard with a spear. He kicked the dead guard away before ducking under another attack from the spear. As the spear was going over his head, he grabbed it and pulled the guard closer. The cloaked boy quickly grabbed the guard's head and snapped his neck.
Apparently, the other boy saw an opening, as he kicked a guard away and bolted away. He leapt on top of a box and swung from a sign. A cart came rolling by and the boy leapt into it before climbing out on the other side. When the cart passed, the boy had vanished.
Percy growled and cleaved his sword into a guard's skull, completely cutting through the helmet. He wasn't going to lose that boy now! Percy struck the ground with his sword and yelled, "Saxum displode!"
The ground around Percy went off like an explosion. The guards were flung backwards rather harshly. Percy sheathed his blade and took off in the direction that he had last seen the cloaked figure. His eyes quickly scanned through the city, but didn't have much luck. He occasionally found where the boy had knocked some things over, but that was about it.
As he neared the outer rim of the city, Anaklusma flew overhead. "Percy, I found him. He's with his Rider preparing to leave. We must hurry!" The dragon yelled into his mind.
Percy ran straight up the stone steps of the city's wall. The guards yelled at him to get down, but he paid them no attention. Without a pause, Percy ran straight to the edge and jumped. As he fell, Anaklusma flew in and caught him on her back. Percy held onto her neck until he got situated on her.
Anaklusma quickly flew into the air before anyone could attempt to shoot her down. She changed course slightly and headed northeast. As they flew through the air, Percy could make out what looked like another dragon ahead of them. So it was the other Rider then? Percy pressed himself against his dragon's body as the blue and white dragon made an attempt to catch up.
"They seem to be slowed down!" Percy yelled out over the wind.
"Probably from those supplies I saw on him," Anaklusma reasoned.
"Then let's use it to our advantage!"
Unfortunately, they didn't seem to be catching up to them. They seemed to be at a matched speed, possibly from a combination of Anaklusma's jewelry and the weight the other dragon was carrying. But, fortunately for Percy, the other dragon wasn't losing them either.
The other dragon made several attempts at losing them. First, it flew up into the clouds. And when that didn't work, it dove closer to the ground. Unfortunately, by this point, they were traveling over a desert, so there wasn't anywhere to hide.
When they finally reached some woods, the other dragon descended once again. But this time, it landed. Anaklusma flew down after him and landed several feet away. The two dragons roared and growled at each other as Percy climbed off his dragon's back. He placed a hand on Anaklusma's snout to calm her down.
"Rider, I wish to speak to you," Percy called over to the large red dragon, who had its wings up to shield its Rider.
As the wings finally lowered, Percy saw that it was, in fact, the cloaked boy from Olympus that sat on the dragon's back. "How do you have a dragon?" The boy asked carefully.
"I'm a Rider as well. I need to find the rebels, and I hear you can take me to them."
The boy sighed and pulled off his hood, revealing his face to Percy. He had shaggy black hair that had a slight curl to it and hung down into his eyes. He had pale olive skin and dark brown eyes. There was something within the boy's eyes, something dark and mad, yet also warmth. And, as he climbed off his red dragon's back, Percy got a feel for his height. The boy came up to Percy's mouth. He was also slightly less muscular than Percy was. He was lean and slender.
Percy licked his lips, his eyes dilating slightly. Even if he was supposed to hate this Rider, he wanted him. There was no harm in that, right? The boy stared back at him curiously, arching an eyebrow at Percy.
"There aren't supposed to be any other Riders," the boy finally said.
Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I am one," he replied. He gestured to his dragon. "This is Anaklusma."
"Cerberus," the boy said, nodding his head towards the red dragon.
The two dragons had finally stopped growling at each other. The brown-eyed Rider rolled his eyes and turned his gaze upon his dragon. Percy frowned. What were they talking about? The boy finally sighed. Someone else climbed off Cerberus's back, but Percy still watched the other Rider, who was beginning to glare at him.
The boy cautiously walked up to Percy and held out his hand. "The name's Nico," the slightly shorter Rider said.
Percy stared down at the hand in confusion. "Um, what am I supposed to do with that?" He asked.
Nico stared back at him like he was crazy. "You shake it."
Percy's head cocked to the side. "Why?"
Nico pulled back his hand to stare at him. He frowned. "I'm not really sure. That's just how people say hello."
Percy's eyes dilated more. "I could think of other ways to say hello," he purred.
Nico took a step back and pushed a hand against Percy's chest. "I think you're barking up the wrong tree, friend."
Percy's head tilted once again. "What tree?"
Nico sighed and shook his head. "Never mind. I'm not interested. Do you understand that much?"
Percy frowned. "Not really. What reason do you have not to be?"
"Well, for starters I'm in a committed relationship."
Percy arched a brow. "A what?" He asked.
Nico sighed again. "Anyways, I never got your name."
Percy blinked, having been staring at Nico's lips as they moved. "Oh, I'm Percy."
"Percy?" Came another voice.
Percy looked behind Nico to find a man standing beside Cerberus. He looked vaguely familiar, and he actually carried a lot of the same features Percy did. But Percy could not place him. The man's face seemed cloudy in Percy's mind. He frowned and his brow furrowed. He clutched his head as he felt a headache coming on.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" He asked politely.
The man frowned at him. Nico stared between them for a moment. The man took a step closer. "Percy, it's me. It's your father."
As much as I did enjoy having Percy and Nico finally meet, I think I enjoyed introducing Rachel more. What was your favorite thing or person introduced this chapter? Favorite thing that happened? I suppose I wonder if any of you have your curiosities peaked about a certain thing that occurred this chapter. For any of you that read Children of Loss, I'm working on the chapter right now. It should be out within a week. I do think some time away from that story has done me some good. New ideas and inspiration have come, not just for that story, but for all of them. This chapter was written a month ago, so it doesn't have the inspiration, though I did enjoy it. Genesis will be out soon. I'll be working through the next two chapters of that fic, so that I can post the first chapter. Anyways, I'll see you all next time. Stay awesome.
