I saw firsthand how powerful Emerald had become with all the training she had, and she's only about sixteen or so, a year older than me. I stared at all the Olympian faces. "You mean, you'd have me doing missions and running errands like her?"
Ares spoke up. "After a lot of training, yes."
"My son," My father addressed me as he stood up. He looked paler than usual, and his helm of Darkness sat on the arm of his chair. His dark black shimmered where I knew tortured souls were captured. "You do not need to decide right now. We have decided to give you a taste of power until the quest is over, but by then you must have your decision."
"We wanted you to wait before you were told." Percy's dad, Poseidon, surprisingly spoke up behind me. "This quest is crucial to the Seven. If you three do not succeed, there is no possible way for them to succeed also. However, the majority of the group wanted to push for this and grant you more power. Don't take our warnings lightly, Gaea is shifting her arsenal onto you two. She needs to squash you so the others don't have a chance to control the prophecy."
My head was swimming and my temples were throbbing. I wanted to know what Emerald thought about this, and what she'd have to say. Dealing with gods for about five minutes already had me drained.
"I wish to wait to decide until the end of the quest, I need to focus on that and keeping her alive." I replied finally as I ran my hand through my hair. "Afterwards, I'll come to Mt. Olympus and give my decision to you all."
Athena nodded. "A wise choice, son of Hades. We will enhance you to where it will help you with your quest. You'll need it."
Apollo was still standing in front of me. He grabbed both of the golden bracelets and I could feel the power flowing from him into it. "If you cross the bracelets together, a fire shield will pop up in front of you. Use it wisely, because it only can take a certain amount of hits."
"The doe's head can be twisted and turned into full body armor." Artemis said from behind her brother.
"And one more thing," Aphrodite said as she walked up to me. She touched me on the center of the forehead and muttered something in Ancient Greek. I felt something surge through my body as if I was shocked by electricity. "You will always be able to know if you wish to."
"Now Nico, we're going to teleport you back to your father's castle. Be ready." Apollo said as he grabbed both of my arms and I blacked out while watching the gods and goddesses shuffle around me.
"Nico!" Emerald yelled as I opened my eyes. I felt a sizable knot forming on the back of my head. I groaned as I pulled myself up in a sitting position, and examined my surroundings. I was sitting on the hard, black granite floor in my father's living room. Emerald was kneeling in front of me, her face inches away from mine as she searched my face with her shockingly bright emerald green eyes. "Are you alright?" She asked as I realized she was gripping my left hand. I ran my right through my hair.
"Yeah, I am. Why?" I questioned as I looked down at myself. I was still wearing the same outfit I had on from visiting the gods.
"Luke said you Shadow Traveled and never came back, and then I started worry and pacing thinking Gaea captured you again, but then you just appeared on the floor and managed to knock yourself out by hitting your head so then I got worried again and-"
"Shh," I said, placing a finger on her lips. "I'm alright, trust me. I was called to Olympus is all. They wanted to talk to me. Where's Luke?"
"Sleeping." She answered as she stared at me. She was wearing a black Columbia fleece jacket with a neon green tank top underneath. Her eyes were outlined in dark black and she wore a pair of black skinny jeans. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves of black ringlets. Her converse were at her feet and her sunglasses on her head. "What did they want?" She asked as she sat back down on the couch, never letting go of my hand. I sat down to her right.
I gave a quick rundown of my meeting with the gods. Her lips were pursed together as if she was worrying, or thinking. She looked absolutely beautiful.
Of course I left out what Aphrodite said to her.
"Apart from the defense items, I can tell the two of them upped your strength and speed." She said as she examined me. "And I like the new clothing."
"Err, thanks." I hoped I wasn't blushing.
"How long do you have to decide?" She asked as she let go of my hand. We were sitting on a couch that probably the god of forges made, because it was about ten feet long. She laid her head on my shoulder as she stretched out.
"I have until the quest is over." I replied as I stared into the distance. "My father and uncle persuaded them to give me until then."
She nodded. "Good," She replied as she yawned. We sat there for a moment, she thinking about who knows what, and I just thinking about her.
"Why don't you use the name Alexandra?" I asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence. She stiffened.
"Because of the title it brings along."
"Defender of men?" I asked confused. "How is that bad?"
She sighed. "It's bad because everyone expects so much out of you. Your friends, your enemies, everyone expects you to have perfect plans and techniques."
I nodded, deciding not to push it any further. A few more minutes passed before I spoke up once more.
"What you thinking about?"
She paused for a moment. "I'm thinking that I'd be pretty happy if right now lasted forever." She said with a smile.
"Oh really?" I asked teasingly as I raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
She sat up and playfully punched me in the shoulder. "I think you know why." She was staring into my eyes and I could feel butterflies in my stomach as she looked at me.
Don't repeat that to anyone, I swear to gods.
I (smoothly) softly put a strand of hair that was in her face behind her ear. "I think I have my guesses." I said softly with a smile dancing on my lips.
"I think you're right." She said smiling as she leaned in. Our lips slowly met as she pushed me back into the couch. My brain felt as if an electric current was running through it, short circuiting everything.
I'll spare you the details. Let's just say we got to know each other's mouths pretty well until Luke cleared his throat at the doorway.
"You two ready to leave?" He asked in a strained voice. His blue eyes were glaring in my direction.
Whoops.
