A/N: So how is this chapter? i really need more reviewers so pretty please tell anyone that you know about this story! thanx! and enjoy.
Chapter 3
Nico POV
After a huge lunch that consisted of a variety of foods, we went to Annabeth's cabin to start planning. Travis and Connor made a small detour to get pilfered sodas from their cabin.
We sat down to get comfy and made small talk as we waited for Chiron to arrive. Connor and Annabeth were arguing about the wrongs and rights of stealing. Percy was talking to
Rachel about what university she was going to in the fall. Travis, Grover, and I were huddled in a small corner. I was fingering Alysa's necklace and Travis was attempting to steal
the chain off of my black jeans. Eventually he gave up and tried to get into a conversation with me.
"So Nico, I heard that you were like… really geeky when Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia told you that you were a demigod. Is is true?" Travis asked, looking curiously at me. I
rolled my eyes, remembering how nerdy and geeky I used to be.
"Yeah. Unfortunately it's true. I used to be obsessed with these stupid games and figurines. There was this one game, I think it was called Mythomagic, and all of the gods could
battle against each other and against monsters… I also had action figures of Zeus, Ares, and Apollo. I used to think that they were the coolest thing in the world. But my sister,
Bianca, hated them.
"Huh," I snorted. "From what I could tell, she hated me too. After all, she left me. First by becoming a Hunter, and second by dying. It's pathetic," I spit out, eyes watering slightly.
Travis looked concerned and serious for once.
"Hey Nico, what did happen with Bianca and all? I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but… I never did learn the full story," Travis said hesitantly. I nodded.
"Travis, it's okay. I'll tell you." I noticed that the room had become quiet and that everyone was watching us. "I'll also tell everybody else!" Annabeth and Rachel at least had the
decency to look embarrassed. I shook my head.
"I'm not sure exactly when Bianca became a Hunter, but I think Percy knows." Percy nodded and began telling the story.
"I was talking to Artemis, explaining what the monster had said to us-" Connor interrupted him.
"What monster?" He looked guilty for interrupting.
"It was a manticore. He was disguised as the vice principal of some military school," said Annabeth quietly. Her eyes took on a dazed look. No doubt she was remembering how she and the manticore plunged off of the cliff.
"Anyway, so I was talking to Artemis, and she promised to find the manticore and bring it back to Olympus by the winter solstice. Artemis broke the news to Zoe Nightshade,
another Hunter and second in command, that I would lead the Hunters to Camp Half Blood where they would be staying for a while. Artemis turned to Bianca and asked if she
had made up her mind. Artemis told her that she would have a new family that was free of responsibility. If anything, Artemis is awesome at the skills of persuasion."
Percy said with a dark chuckle. My face darkened at hearing the words 'free from responsibility.' So that's what I was. A burden. Pathetic. Percy looked at me worriedly before talking again.
"So Bianca took the pledge and Artemis said that we would get a ride to Camp Half Blood form her twin, Apollo. She said something about how he was irresponsible… Anyway, I
think that Nico can take it up from here… Oh wait, not yet. Thalia got really mad at Zoe and then Apollo came. He was driving a red convertible Maserati Spyder. My future car." I
gave Percy a look and he grinned and continued talking.
"So then Apollo asked Thalia is she wanted to drive. This is where I learn that Thalia has a fear of heights." I chuckled. Thalia seemed immune to fear, and her only fear seemed
pretty lame if you ask me. I mean, her dad was the Lord of the Skies. And she was afraid of heights? Come on! I took up the story.
"Eventually we managed to get to camp in one piece. I met Chiron and thought that this was the coolest gig ever. For Capture the Flag, Percy had me on guard duty with Travis
and Connor. I think that he was trying to keep me safe. Key word: trying." I rolled my eyes and the Stoll brothers bumped fists.
"So Percy had this stupid idea that he could get the Hunter's flag by himself. He ran off, leaving us to guard the flag." Percy looked offended but continued the story.
"I almost won, but Zoe Nightshade got our flag first. Then Thalia and I got into a huge fight. She shocked me, throwing me into the creek, and I had a ten-foot wave rise and
douse all of her lightning power stuff…." Percy sighed as he looked back on the memory. Travis got a dreamy look on his face.
"That was pretty awesome!" exclaimed Conner. Annabeth looked patronized.
"Why didn't I ever hear about this?" asked Annabeth. Percy shrugged.
"I didn't think that it was too important. And I'm not even at the best part." Annabeth's eyes widened.
"The Oracle came down from her dusty old attic. She stood in the middle of all of us and said a prophecy to Zoe.
Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,
One shall be lost in the land without rain,
The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
Campers and Hunters combined prevail,
The Titan's curse must one withstand,
And one shall perish by a parent's hand.
The Oracle sat down on a rock and became as still as she's been in the attic. Zoe, Bianca, Phoebe, Thalia, and Grover were going. I wanted to go too. The next day, before they left, I
had to do a rescue mission for Bessie, when I saw Nico spying on the the Hunters," Percy looked pointedly at me. I lifted the corners of my mouth and almost smiled.
"I overheard that Phoebe had gotten centaur blood on the inside of her shirt that Travis and Connor gave her." The brothers looked at each other and laughed. Annabeth looked
scandalized while Rachel, who was now lounging on a beanbag, rolled her eyes.
"So Phoebe couldn't go and I took her place.. secretly. I promised Nico that I would protect Bianca, but I failed. So Nico was really mad at me when I got back and told him the
news." I felt ashamed. But I had a right to be angry at Percy. My sister had died… but Percy did let her go as a hero.
"Perce, did I ever apologize for sending those skeleton warriors after you?" Percy smiled and waved, the past forgotten.
"Still," I said. "It's not fair that Bianca had to die. And now I know that my fatal flaw is to hold grudges. Stupid fatal flaw," I muttered. Everyone's heads turned to the door at the
sound of a new voice.
"And yet, you're fatal flaw shall one day be your greatest gift," Chiron said, standing at the entrance of the cabin. We beckoned him in and he showed us some papers.
"So you need to talk to the three goddesses. I would say that one of you go to Olympus and request a private audience with Aphrodite and Artemis. I also think that Nico should go
talk to Hera." I was surprised.
"Why me?" I asked. Chiron looked me in the eye.
"Because you had the dream about her daughters. I believe that Hera would be pleased to know that her daughters are still alive."
"Not unless she planned for them to be turned into trees until they wither and die," I muttered.
"What?" asked Annabeth, shock written over her face.
"Well, again, something is missing from all of this. I know it. There's some big piece in this that
we don't know of yet. So tomorrow, I'm gonna march into Olympus and find out the truth, one way or the other!" I said, standing up to pace.
"Don't you think you're being a bit hasty?" asked Annabeth.
"No, because we don't have much time. We're only going to have another week and a half torescue Alysa and Alethea." I nodded. "So tomorrow let's meet at Thalia's tree after
breakfast."
Everyone nodded.
"Oh, and Percy?" Percy turned around.
"Try to tell your dad to get his wife ready to talk to us." Percy gave a mock salute and everyone laughed. We walked out of the door, my heart thrumming with anticipation for the day to come.
That night I had another dream. Alysa was waiting for me and her face lit up when she saw me.
"Nico, you came!" she cried joyfully. I felt confused.
"Didn't you summon me?" I asked. Alysa shook her head, looking worried.
"I don't like the fact that neither of us consciously summoned us, but who knows? Your powers may be growing." Alysa put on a cheerful face. I hated to ruin her happiness, but I hated lying to her even more. I fingered her necklace.
"Alysa, cut the crap. I know who you are." I expected her to maybe start crying, like all of the Aphrodite girls. But instead she just shrugged and said,
"Eh. I knew that you would figure it out sooner or later. You aren't mad that I deceived you?" she asked timidly. I waved it off.
"No. Not really. But I do want to know more about you and Alethea. No more secrets?" I asked, and held out my pinkie finger. Alysa giggled.
"No more secrets," Alysa promised, looking into my eyes. When our pinkies touched, it was like a spark of electricity went through me. I pulled away soon, too soon. Alysa noticed the awkward silence.
"So who finally told you who I was?" she asked, curious.
"Chiron. He seemed kind of.. annoyed. But eventually I got him to praise you and Alethea." Alysa laughed.
"Well, I guess an entire day of calling Chiron 'pony' would get him a bit riled up." My eyes widened in awe.
"You called Chiron a pony?" I asked her incredulously. She laughed again before answering,
"Yeah! It was totally awesome. I was dared to call him pony. I got fifty dollars by the end of the day." Alysa finished with a smug smile on her face. I laughed loudly and motioned
for her to sit down. She sat, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her knees.
"So, your sister, tell me more about her," I inquired, eager to hear more. Alysa took a deep breath before beginning to talk.
"Alethea is my twin. While I'm darker... at practically everything, she's like my opposite. While I have brownish black hair, she has auburn hair. Thea has azure blue eyes and she
can shapeshift and turn invisible. Also, while I like to dress up, she prefers to wear loose and comfortable clothes. But she's really smart and when she wants to, she can look
beautiful." Alysa looked at me, as if gauging my reaction.
"Your sister seems interesting. What's her personality like?" I asked, hoping to get to know more about Alysa's personality. Alysa sighed.
"She can be a pain sometimes. But she's kind and nice unless she gets mad. Then she'll slap you. She has a quick temper but doesn't judge people too quickly. Also, Thea is
amazing in battle. She's got quick battle reflexes so she's really good at fighting with daggers. Thea was teaching me, but I'll never be as good as her." Alysa sighed, looking as if she
was missing her sister very much. I held her hand, rubbing her thumb comfortingly. Another electric current ran through our enclosed hands. Alysa gasped and looked up into my
eyes again. I felt drawn to her eyes, with their amazing color and the way that the light reflects in them. The next thing I knew, I was less than an inch away from her face. Alysa
looked dazed, but shook her head and moved away. I felt disappointed. Why did she move away? Just when the silence was getting unbearable, I broke it.
"Tell me more about yourself." Alysa looked startled.
"W-what?" she asked, voice almost cracking.
"What do you like about yourself? What are you proud of?" I asked. Alysa blinked really quickly and began answering.
"Well, I'm really proud of my style. I like to design my own clothes and I think of my style as girly-funky-punky. I adore cowgirl boots and always have a dagger in my boot or a
sword on my hip. I love sword-fighting and I'm not a bad shot in archery. I love jogging, horseback riding, and reading. I also love to sing. Thea and I used to do talent shows
together. I'm really clumsy and tend to break a lot of things. I act crazy and love fictional characters. I love the color purple." Alysa finished and looked down at her lap. I smiled and
pulled her chin up so she could look at me.
"Thank you," I said. Suddenly she looked panicked.
"I have to go!" I pulled up, surprised.
"Wait, what?" I asked, rushing to stand up while maintaining my grip on her hand.
"I don't have enough time right now, but I'll tell you tomorrow night!" Alysa threw her arms around my neck. I held her waist for a second and felt her nervous body quivering
against mine. Alysa leaned her head back and kissed my cheek before breaking away from me and waving. Before I woke up from my dream, I could've sworn that I saw her eyes
overflowing with tears.
-&***^%$$#!#$^&*(_-
I woke up, sweat pouring down my face. I could still feel the burn of Alysa's kiss on my cheek and her arms left an invisible imprint around me. I smiled goofily as I thought of our
time together. Aly was amazing. I knew it. She was the one for me. I smiled in contentedness before remembering her hasty goodbye. Something wasn't right and I was going to
find out what it was. I lay back down to try to get some sleep before we had to go to Olympus.
A/N: So how was it? Please review! PLEASE TELL EVERYBODY THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY! AND PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE? THANX!
~InheriGirl
