Chapter 9: Chick Version Of Hades

"Why does that matter?" he asked with a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Well, I saw her name carved in a tree and, I don't know, it seems so familiar to me," I explained.

"Nyx is a dark goddess. She is like the chick version of Hades. You don't want to mess with her, trust me," he said almost aggressively.

"I feel like I have a connection to her somehow. It's like it's important for me to remember that name. Like, I'm part of her or something," I mumbled the last part hoping not to frighten Nico any further.

"Don't say that. Don't you ever say that!" Nico yelled gripping me by my wrists.

"I'm sorry, it's just. I don't know what's so bad about it!" I tried to explain to him.

"You're not like her. There's nothing that I notice about you that resembles her," he growled at me. The lights flickered before slowly dying. While some people were afraid of the dark, I loved it. I always have. It seems to resemble the unknown to me.

Nico grabbed me by the waist and pulled me onto his lap. He seemed tense again so I rested my head on his chest.

"Danielle, this isn't the time for a love fest okay? Something serious is going on right now and I don't need distractions," he said bitterly. A distraction? Is that all I am to him? Just something that always gets in his way?

"Okay," I mumbled sadly. I slid off his lap against his protest and slid out the door. I walked through the dark camp, hoping to find a place where I could think. I saw the big houses lights were on so I trudged there. I slid through the door to find people arguing. There was a woman with black hair and almost black eyes. She looked like she was going to someone's funeral. A smile spread across her lips and everyone noticed. They all looked at me in a what-is-she-doing-here kind of way.

"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt but, well I need to talk to Chiron about something," I explained.

"I already know," he almost sneered at me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Danielle," funeral lady said with a grin ear to ear.

"It's nice to meet you too miss," I said hoping to get a name out of her.

"Nyx," she said. I tensed up and froze where I was standing. It's like I just saw Medusa herself.

"Oh, um," I was at a loss for words. How exactly do you address a goddess? Miss Nyx? Your highness?

"There's something you need to know," she said. I saw glances of dissatisfaction from the others in the room.

"You're my great-great-great-granddaughter," she said. What? That's impossible! She only looks about a year or two older than me!

"Oh um okay?" I said clearly confused.

"You are an important part of the prophecy Danielle. Very important,"

"Um, I think I'm going to be going so," I bolted to door. I ran until I couldn't run any more.