Chapter Nine: Dragons and Nico
Jason
Being a demigod I'm use to unexpected happenings. But being chosen for Champion now that was a surprise. There are a lot of legionnaires that are more experienced and are better fighters than me …Reyna for example. I know its weird coming from the guy who faced a giant, battled the Trojan monster and all that but it's true. I know that one mistake could make me disgrace Rome. Especially being its praetor. I fell asleep as soon as I got to the cabin.
In the middle of the night.
I woke up with a start I heard a door open. I groaned and looked at the clock. it was 2 in the morning who could be awake at this time of night. I went to check it out the door across me was a man around 20 years or older he was carrying a pale boy in black pajamas who was clearly knocked out. It was Nico! the man was kidnapping Nico. he saw me I took out my sword and charged but apparently not quick enough. He took out his wand and shot a spell.
"Stupefy" he said then the next thing I know I was in the floor completely paralized. he was now standing right above me. he shot another spell and everything went dark
"Hey Sparky!" I opened my eyes and saw Percy and Thalia were right on top of me " you sleep well? " Percy asked trying not to laugh. I noticed I was lying down in the floor.
"Not funny Percy" I said getting back in my feet.
"So what happened to you anyway?" Thalia said "how did you end up in the middle of the room?
"I don't know" I said yawning "all I remember is going to bed last night"
"You sure?" Thalia said with concern
"Hey maybe he sleep walked" Percy said jokingly I shot him my best glare. He plainly ignored me "hey I don't mean to alarm anyone but has anyone seen Nico?"
"No actually maybe he is still asleep." Thalia said
"No" Hazel said from behind Thalia "I got this from inside his room" she held up a sheet of paper with a message in Greek.
"It says he is in the underworld" she said "helping dad with something"
"In the middle of the night?" Percy asked
"Apparently" Hazel shrugged
"Anyway why don't we go to the castle" Percy suggested
We were called by some hyper Kid named Collin. He kept asking questions and asking to take our picture. He brought us to a small classroom with a large space in the middle. The only occupants of the room were Victor Krum from Durmstrang and the other Champion of Hogwarts Cedric Diggory. As soon as the kid walked away Percy groaned
"Man that kid reminds me of Nico" Percy said "right Thals"
"Yeah like a few years ago" Thalia replied
"Yeah good times" Percy said
"How does that kid remind you of Nico?" I asked curiously "he seems a bit too serious this kid is like he just drank a mug of espresso"
"Oh you didn't see Nico back then" Thalia said "it was before I joined the hunters and Bianca was still alive"
"Bianca?"
"his older sister" Percy said "his real older sister back then Nico was like that kid awhile ago but worse I seriously wanted to throw him into a meat flavored sack and feed him to the Hunter's wolf"
"Good thing that you didn't. He was great help during the war"
"Yes he is a powerful hero indeed" Dumbledore said with Chiron at his flank from behind me making me jump "he saved a girl from being killed here two years ago"
"Really?"I said
"So that's where he went" Thalia said
Percy shrugged "I was asleep for eight months"
"Anyway we should continue" Chiron said "I am here to check your weapons for any defects. Percy"
Percy brought out his pen and uncapped it. It turned to a three-foot long bronze sword. He gave to Chiron. Chiron checked its blade and hilt. After a few more test he returned it to Percy. He motioned to Thalia. She reluctantly gave him her bow. He again did a few tests on the bow then returned it. He motioned for mine I flipped my new coin it turned heads and into a sword. He checked it like Percy's and returned it to me. When Chiron finished he motioned for us to join the other four. Then a lady, with spectacle looking glasses that made her looking like a bug, entered.
"This is Rita Skeeter" Ludo Bagman said, gesturing toward the bug looking witch. "She's doing a small piece on the tournament for the Daily Prophet. ... "
"Maybe not that small, Ludo," said Rita Skeeter, her eyes on Harry. I don't exactly know why he is so famous here in the Wizarding World
I wonder if I could have a little word with Harry before we start?" she said to Bagman, but still gazing fixedly at Harry.
"The youngest champion, you know. . . to add a bit of color?"
"Certainly!" cried Bagman.
"That is - if Harry has no objection?"
"Er -" Harry said nervously but he was already dragged away.
"What was that about?" I asked Victor
"He iz famous here" Victor said "he iz known to be ze only one to survive the killing curse"
"So that's why here he is known as 'The boy who lived'" said Cedric "and from what I heard you guys are well known around yourselves as well even here rumors are starting to spread"
"Rumors?"
"You know like someone told me that you shouldn't get Thalia and Nico mad and that Percy is invunerable" he said Percy was laughing "what's with that?"
"lets just say that they have a temper..." Percy said
"and if you're a boy don't start flirting with ANY of the hunters if you want to end up in the infirmary with a silver arrow poking out of your body" I glaced back at Thalia. thankfully she is talking to Fleur. "and as for Percy's ...condition was some ancient curse. the curse of Achilles"
"ze myth about zhat boy with an arrow at his ankle" victor said
"yeah him"Percy said "the curse makes you invincible except for a small part of your body. problem is you can tire out easily. "
"and that's only part of our families...advantages and disadvantages." the bug lady came back in the room with Harry in tow
"Well its time to start with the interviews then" she said "who's next?"
apperantly she did this from youngest to eldest so my cousin, sister and everyone ekse looked at me. Rita seems to get the point."good the demigod next" she hastily grabbed my arm and started to drag me out of the room.
she brought me all the way to a broom closet "Comfortable?"
"uh fine"
"so what is your name title or anything that you do as a hero?"
"I am Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, praetor of the twelfth legion."
"I see so what made you Jason Grace age of fourteen.."
"I'm sixteen"
"think if joining a competition of this ... difficulty? attention problems?"
"no not really "
"What about your parents don't you think they sill be worried to see you a fourteen year old here now fighting this, Leading a band of warriors into a dangerous quest."
"No our parents need us in the war" I protested "And I am SIXTEEN"
"You sure your "gods" can't do it themselves aren't they powerful enough to fight them on their own" she said sarcastically I saw her sarcasm and I knew what she was implying
"You think I am lying don't you" I said plainly "you think that gods don't exist"
"Of course I do" she said "gods don't exist I think…..
The first part was good enough. I stormed out of the broom closet with her following me at my flank, asking questions and being annoying. When I came noisily back to the room everyone was looking at me but I ignored them and went straight to my sister and cousin,
"She's lucky I didn't stab her with my staff" I said to them in Greek which I learned while in camp half blood
"Why what did she say?" Thalia asked
"She thinks were pretending and gods don't exist" I said "she starts talking about how we are weak and incapable of winning a war against the giants or the titans"
They started protesting in Greek as well and didn't stop till Chiron came in and broke it up. He told us to line up for the photo. They took some shots and Rita continues the interviews. She started with Thalia who reluctantly followed her. And when she came back there was a new look in her eyes one like a hungry wolf. Everyone, including me, stayed away from her till the interviews were done. Even Percy was angry at this lady. After his turn we decided to go back to the cabin and i decided take a nap to calm down…
Dream
I saw a man who looked like a rat, and even twitched like one, enter locked door with bars. Inside was another set of bars and a boy in black clothes, hands and feet tied with a golden chain, blindfolded.
"So have you made your decision, kid?"
"No I won't join you" the kid's voice sounded familiar "you can't do anything to make me betray the gods or my father" the man brought out his wand and waved it over the boy the blindfold went off and I saw his face… It was Nico di Angelo
The man pointed his want Nico and shot a spell at him. Nico screamed worse than those at the fields of punishment. It lasted for awhile before the man lifted the spell. Nico was panting frantically I thought the man was finished but I stand corrected. He again lifted his wand and shot him again. Nico's agonizing screams filled the cell. The poor kid looked like a wreck. His clothes were tattered there are small cuts around his limbs, like that spell wasn't torture enough. When the man finally finished he put down his wand and into his pocket. He fiddled with the other keys to the bars. When he opened the door, Nico was skidding to the edge of the room looking absolutely terrified. The man brought out a knife.
"Fine, Fine" Nico stuttered like his life depended on it "I give! You win!"
"Good" the man said unchaining his feet he lifted him up "it's time for you to meet the Dark Lord"
I went to the castle with Piper before dawn. I woke up so early that the sun isn't up yet. So I went to the cabin which the Aphrodite Cabin and Hephaestus Cabin shared and called for Piper. We went for a walk I told her of my dream. She looked unsettled.
"So you didn't tell anyone?" she said we were by the lake under the tree.
"No I'm not sure how I can tell them. Especially Percy and Hazel"
"I'm not sure how you can do it but you've got to tell them sometime" she said "don't worry you'll figure it out" she made me face her "I know you will" we kissed and used the rest of the time watching the sunrise.
"Hey Ron" I called he was talking to some guy that looked familiar I was with Piper walking around the grounds
"Hey Jason " he said the guy he was talking to turned. It was Charlie Weasley.
"Hey Piper, Jason how've you been"
"I've been better, woke up in the wrong side of the bed this morning" I said sheepishly
"Yeah," Piper said "and he isn't joking too" they both laughed
"So what are you doing here anyway" I asked
"Well I'm here for the first task" Charlie said "come check it out"
We walked deeper into the forest and we heard roaring. There were dragons in cages
"Are those Dragons?" Piper choked
"Yes"
"That's the first task" I asked
"Yeah we brought them all the way from Romania and other places" Charlie said "and trust me those ancient dragons were harder to control than the Norwegian Ridgeback"
"Ancient Dragons?" Piper looked around then she looked through one side then she turned pale "isn't that … A Hydra?"
I turned to where she was looking. And saw the terrible seven headed dragon I was completely shocked "they aren't seriously going to let us fight THAT?"
"I'm not sure really but I think you have to face them though" Charlie said "anyway why don't you guys go back I have to go back to work"
I rushed back into the room totally shocked and a bit nervous the two were fighting with each other.
"Guys stop fighting at once" I said "The Next Task is with DRAGONS!"
"You're joking?" Percy asked "please tell me you're joking"
"Did I ever joke at something this serious?"
"No"
"Then you answered your question"
"Why would they use Dragons of all monsters for the first task?" Thalia said
"All I know is that we have to fight them on the first task" I said
"Well" Percy stood up "Then we'll just have to show them whose boss"
Hey guys thanks for the AWESOME reviews… YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME 900+ views most ive had in one day THANKS and here is the new chapter. Also thanks for the compliments and suggestions: P WUS (will update soon)
BTW I have set up a poll on what you want Thalia to do at the Yule Ball feel free to vote. If you want you can PM me who you want to be her date if you want her to have a date.
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