Chapter 8
Will understood when Nico said that he needed a strong mind. He could hear the shadows whispering, begging and in pain. He heard their cries of agony or to come and join them. It was too much, Will could feel their tug on his body but it felt different from his mind.
He could feel himself dragging to join them, he struggled but the shadows overwhelmed his thoughts, it was too much. Will was going to fail without even finding Nico from the shadows drowning him-
Be gone.
Will could feel the shadows recede little by little through the strong voice in his mind. He felt his body float back to reality. He felt getting attached. He felt Mrs. O'Leary from under him, her fur brushing his arms.
He could still feel the shadows pulling at him but he felt the solid presence of the voice hold them back. He felt them dominate over the shadows so much that the whispers fell silent under his voice.
Be gone.
With that last sentence the whispers fell silent and the pulling ceased. Will found himself next to Lou Ellen panting, on the ground by the river Styx. Mrs. O'Leary seemed exhausted. Will realized that he just shadow traveled. Will shivered, knowing that without the aid he would have been gone.
Then Mr. O'Leary was bounding off. Will looked ahead and saw Cerberus, guarding and all the souls parting. Will looked over at Lou Ellen who was still shivering slightly. Nodding they both got up and headed off to Hades Palace.
The river was polluted, that was clear. As Will walked with Lou Ellen down, he tried not to worry so much. Will considered filling the silence, but what were they going to talk about?
So he let the silence consume them as they continued towards Hades palace.
Will was staring to get creeped out. How did Nico like it better down here than at camp? After being guided by a ghost to Hades palace, now they were being lead down hallways that were way to dark. But that's completely biased. Apollo kids are going to like their light.
They finally reached what looked like a throne room. As they rounded the corner, Will swore he heard someone yelling. It sounded like…Nico?
Will started to listen to what they were saying, and yes it was indeed Nico who didn't sound too pleased.
"WHY IN OLYMPUS DID YOU TELL THEM I WAS HERE?!"
"I didn't think you would find out. And for that matter how did you find out?" someone asked, and Will figured that to be Hades.
Nico snorted. "Next time father don't let just anybody shadow travel. Not unless I'm there or if it's really desperate Hazel. Not everybody can block their thoughts, Father. Children of hades can only do it for a reason, Will and Lou Ellen almost got tugged to gods knows where they planned to take them. If it wasn't for me intervening, well this quest would have been done." Nico stated.
"Ah. That slipped my mind. Um I shall keep that in mind. But Nico, I really think you should go on this quest." Hades sighed.
"Father… I really don't do well with others. You know that. And I really wish not to. I need this alone time. If I were able to go alone, maybe, but… you know what I need to go. Don't give me that look father. I know they are coming."
At that point when Will entered the room, there was swirling shadows and an indifferent Hades.
"Lord Hades." Lou Ellen greeted. Hades just nodded. After a minute he returned his piercing gaze to them.
"I apologize. It slipped my mind that not all demigods are capable of shadow traveling." Hades said, sounding truly sincere.
"It's alright, so may I ask if Nico was the one that kept the voices at bay?" Will asked cautiously. Hades just sighed.
"Ask him yourself. Though I know you must find him so please heed this: my son takes all the risks so many won't have to risk everything. Right now he sees no point in staying so if sacrificing himself means saving everyone so they won't get hurt then he wouldn't hesitate. Please. Don't let that happen." Hades almost pleaded.
Lou Ellen just bowed and said "Of course, Lord Hades."
"I would threaten you but then you wouldn't do such a good job. And my only son would be deeply upset with me, please. He is my only son and I want him to be happy. And the more powerful he is, the less likely that is to happen." Hades sighed.
Hades flicked a hand. A single bone rose from the ground. "Since my son would be really upset, I can't tell you where he has gone but, when you get closer" Hades gestured to the bone "More will pop up to form the skeleton. When you get there the skeleton will be complete."
Lou Ellen nodded and Will bowed and Hades just disappeared. They started to leave and the bone followed them popping up here and there.
"Hades really cares about Nico huh?" Lou Ellen said. Will nodded.
"It's his only son. I honestly don't blame him with what happened with Bianca. It must be tough. He really didn't seem all that bad. Scary? Yes. But arrogant like the other gods? Not really." Will agreed.
Lou nodded. They didn't realize they were outside until a bone popped up again.
And of course it has to be facing the fields of punishment.
But as it turns out, halfway to the fields there was a training arena. Nico was sparring with some really skilled undead skeleton. Their blades clanged and slipped off each other. Both were flashed as they quickly dodged and parried, their blades flashing. Nico ended it in a complicated flash of slashes along with a back hand spring to avoid a slash. Nico finally flipped and stabbed behind the warrior. It bowed and sunk back into the ground.
By then Will and Lou Ellen were near the bottom of the arena. The skeleton was fully built until Nico turned and there was a flash flying towards him and…
The skeleton right beside him had a sword impaled in it, like 5 inches away from Will. Nico glared at them and with a wave of his hand and a 'Be gone.' The ghost was gone leaving Nico's sword.
"Well?" Nico asked.
