A.N. Um...I just brought this a.n down about a whole page. Jeez! What's wrong with me?
Disclaimer: What do I own? Hmmm, a lot, really. Just not Percy Jackson
White Heather
Once the group stumbled back to the camp, everyone ran to them. Some of them were confused as to why they came back so early, others were worried why they were hurt so bad, and only one was mad they came back at all.
Nico was rushed to the Apollo cabin first, followed by Annabeth because they were hurt the most. On the outside of course. Nico realized that he may be thinking really cheesy right now, but he was thinking that Viscaria was more traumatized from this incident then the others were. They, of course, had been in a war before, had actually seen death. Viscaria was wherever she goes when…she goes somewhere. She obviously never had much doings with war and monsters and things like that. I'm sure she's had her fair share of monsters, but maybe none like that.
It made Nico really scared. Where does she go when she disappears? And why?
Once Nico had his wounds healed, he went looking for her. It was actually Clarisse who told him not to go looking for her.
"What?" Why would she be telling him to stay away from Viscaria?
"Leave Viscaria alone right now."
Nico was suddenly angry. Why the hell couldn't he see her? "And why do you suddenly care if she is left alone or not?"
Clarisse seemed to be about as mad at him as he was to her. "Normally, I wouldn't give a rat's ass who bothers her. But if you'll take a look around, idiot, you'll notice that there are no flowers."
Nico didn't care if there were no flowers! He just wanted to see her! But Nico looked around none the less. Clarisse was right. There were no flowers. Like absolutely, positively no flowers. Usually, when Viscaria wasn't here, there would be some by the Demeter's cabin, or maybe some sprinkled here or there.
But there was nothing. Not even a dead flower. Or a weed. It was like the Sahara desert.
"If Viscaria is upset enough to actually go out of her way to get a rid of the flowers, then maybe we should just leave her alone." Clarisse said in a soft voice. Nico wasn't expecting her soft voice.
He nodded. He didn't want to (hell no!) but listening to Clarisse's reasoning, he figured she was right. If Viscaria didn't even want flowers for her company, she sure as heck didn't want people.
But, then again, he was Nico di Angelo. And she was Viscaria Ahura. If he wanted to talk to her, than he was going to talk to her.
He couldn't find her. He practically tore the camp apart. And still, she was no where to be found. I guess if you were Viscaria Ahura and you wanted to be alone, then you would be alone. Regardless of if there was a Nico di Angelo.
He sighed. I suppose he could go tell Chiron his crazy dream. Thinking about his dream got him out of his haze. It's not like she disappeared off the face of the earth. You'll find her later.
He went to Chiron instead.
He found him by the big house. At the moment, Percy was describing what happened to them, and how the door wouldn't open.
"Hmmm. How strange. You think it would open if you played a lyre?" Chiron suggested.
"I don't know. Annabeth sent a few people to go check it out, but I don't think it'll open. We sang four different songs! If it didn't open for that, I don't think it'll open for a lyre."
"Yeah. It should've opened for us singing." Nico said, causing Percy and Chiron to jump. He smirked. Gets 'em every time.
"Ah. Nico. I take it you are feeling better?"
"Much, yes. Still a little tired, but at least healed."
"Well then, why aren't you sleeping? From what I gather, you'll be flying to California tomorrow."
Nico nodded. "Yes, but I have to tell you something first. I had another dream about Marive and Orpheus."
"Marive? Who's Marive?" Percy asked. He's never in the loop…pity…
Nico then told the first dream to Percy, then the second dream to both of them.
"Hmmm. So, this boy you saw in the white room, you say he's from camp?"
"Yeah. He had those beads." He pointed to Percy's.
Chiron nodded. "And he's gone crazy. Just like Orpheus. Muttering about getting Eurydice back. How strange." Nico nodded. Chiron thought for a moment."Well, that just takes things to a whole 'nother level."
"Yeah. He sounded just like Orpheus, like he loved her and was sad that he didn't get her. Like he went to the Underworld to save her. Everything was like Orpheus."
"Yes, that is quite weird. Maybe this is the other curse it is talking about."
"And let me guess: since I control water, I'll be saving him?" Percy asked, like he was actually annoyed that he would be saving someone.
"Well, that is what it says." Nico pointed out.
Percy rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah yeah. I know."
"Well, as long as you know…" Nico laughed along with Chiron as Percy glared and huffed in his seat.
"Clarisse?"
Clarisse whipped around and came face to face with Viscaria. A tear stained Viscaria.
"Viscaria?" Clarisse didn't know if she should ask if she was ok. She didn't really like Viscaria, but seeing anyone cry can make you do things you don't want to do.
"I'm-I'm sorry. Not for filling up your house with flowers, you deserved that." Clarisse held back a smile. Viscaria sure knew how to make her angry, she'd give her that. Even if she was in total break down mode.
"What are you sorry for, then?" she asked. Viscaria would never be sorry to Clarisse.
She sighed. "For what I'm about to ask you. I don't know if you'll actually do it, but I was hoping-" she cut off, choked by one of her sobs.
Great, Clarisse thought angrily. Now I'll have to do what she wants.
"What do you want?" She meant for it to be mean, but she just couldn't.
"I…I want you to teach me to fight."
"What?" Clarisse exploded. "You leave tomorrow! It'll take weeks to get you to be half as good as you should be!"
"I know! I know. It's just…" She trailed off. Clarisse saw some more tears. Man, this girl can cry. "You should've seen me out there, Clarisse," she whispered. "I was helpless. All I could do was watch from the side lines, hoping everyone would be ok, hoping Nico- I mean- everyone got through the battle alive. And knowing that no matter how it went, I'd make it back, unscathed. I couldn't even do a thing! I just grew them flowers…" She started to cry again, but she stopped herself. Don't look weak in front of your enemies.
But sometimes the person you expect to kick you while your down can be the one to help you get back up.
"I'll try. No guarantees."
Nico finally found her. She was in the last place he expected her to be (but he already looked there like to two times before, just to check. That was before. This was now.).
She was in the arena, being yelled at by Clarisse. He was about to protest, but then he realized what was going on. She was training Viscaria. Nico grinned. Oh, this should be good. He went and sat down. And he watched.
She wasn't that good. But given her previous experience (nothing) she was doing pretty well for as long as they had been training. She had a look of pure determination. She didn't even notice Nico come in and sit down.
Clarisse was a pretty good teacher. Viscaria was picking things up quickly, and if she messed up, Clarisse would point it out to her over and over again till Viscaria got annoyed enough to snap at Clarisse, not even realizing she was perfecting that move. And every time Clarisse would grin.
"You're doing pretty good for a beginner, Flower Girl."
"Thank you."
"Now, watch my feet…"
And it continued. And Nico continued to watch them. Eh heh, uh them? Uh, no. Viscaria. He continued to watch Viscaria. After several hours (he thinks), Viscaria suddenly called it quits. She was beaten and bruised, but looking very proud of herself.
"Thank you, Clarisse," she said, smiling.
Clarisse even had a small smile. "Just a favor for doing this for you, Viscaria."
"Yes?"
"No more flowers."
Viscaria grinned, and it looked a lot like the smile Clarisse had before she did anything...Clarisse. "I'll try. No guarantees."
Once Viscaria noticed Nico, she blushed crimson and asked how much he had seen.
"Not much." He smirked at her while looking at her through the corner of his eye. They were walking along the edge of the forest. Viscaria thought, if it seemed just a tid bit too bold (but true) that Nico looked very sexy when he looked at her like that. She blushed some more.
"Oh. Well, I didn't want something to happen like that again." Nico didn't have to ask what she was talking about.
"We don't blame you or anything. It's ok," he added. He just wanted her to feel better about the whole thing.
"I know. I just don't want you guys always coming to my rescue. I can take care of myself, you know." She glared at him.
"Yes, yes. I know. I was just saying I would always protect you." Whoops. He didn't mean to say that. Sure, he was thinking it. All the time. But if he knew he was going to be saying it out loud, he would've made the I into a we. Too late now. Just hope she takes it good.
Instead of laughing (like he expected) she beamed at him. She bent down and came up with a flower, of course. Nico looked back to camp. Whew. All the flowers were back.
She handed him a white flower that looked like a bell. It wasn't a bell flower, it just looked like one. It was very pretty. He didn't take it.
"It's a white heather. 'Protection from Danger'" She prodded for him to take it.
He took it. They both looked at it, waiting. Nico held on for a long time. A whole minute of looking at a very alive flower. Nico sighed in relief. It didn't die right away. But once he sighed he lost his concentration. It died. Nico sighed again, this time in sadness.
"Well, at least it lasted a minute," he mumbled.
Viscaria touched his hand. "Just because a flower dies doesn't mean it loses it's meaning." She took it better than he thought.
Then she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Good night Nico," her voice whispered from the flowers. The kiss whispered to his heart.
"Good night, Viscaria." And she was gone.
Nico looked at his flower. His dead white heather. And he knew he would be protecting her from anything.
