Thanks to a guest who told me that I made a mistake! I'd uploaded the wrong document because I was too lazy to label the documents properly and ended up uploading the wrong one. Sorry guys!
The demigods made Nico and Harry wait in McDonald since they thought that Nico was too weak to be fighting and getting Voldermort's blood. After much protesting on Nico's part, and Harry looking faintly annoyed( after all, he was the one that is supposed to kill Voldermort and they are leaving him behind?!), they ended up munching on hamburgers(thanks to Hermione's allowance) while the others marched off to a battle.
Nico was still grumbling non stop. 'Bloody hell.'he muttered.'And there is six hours left until it wears off! It bloody will not last that long!'
Harry was complaining mentally too. 'I am not a burden! Why can't I go?'
'Look, I'm sorry, okay?' Nico asked tentatively. Harry's annoyance must have shown on his face. He turned to the younger boy and sighed.'It's not your fault.'
'Okay...' Nico trailed off wistfully.'If only I could go...'
An idea popped into his head at once.'Harry, you know what's keeping us here?'
'The others.' Harry was wondering what Nico was trying to hint at.
Nico's smile widened.'But they are not here now, are they?'
An evil grin crept onto Harry's face.'They are not here. Which means... We are free!'
Line break
Percy banged his head on the wall again. He had led everyone straight into an ambush.
'No need for self torture, Seaweed Brain,'came Thalia's voice from Percy's right.'Gaia would torture you later.' both of them were silent for a moment as Hermione's screams echoed in their ears. Gaia had taken her away first just as they got captured.
Thalia gave a really lame shot at comfort.'It's okay, Perce. At least we managed to kill hundreds of monsters back there.'
'Leaving thousands more.' Percy muttered under his breath.
Thank the gods that Nico didn't come with them. Imagining Nico getting 'questioned' by Gaia in his current state sent shivers down his spine.
His thankful state did not last for long.
The door opened and Nico was pushed roughly into the cell along with Hermione, who had already started berating Nico. Thalia and Percy got the feeling that when Hermione was finished Nico would have heard enough scolding to last the rest of his life, so they decided to drop it.
'Where's Harry?' Percy asked.
Nico shrugged.'We came in together, then somehow got separated. My fighting has kinda...'
Hermione said,'Oh. My lack of experience and practice.' After all, she had only twenty minutes to learn the charm then.
Nico checked his watch and took in his surroundings. It was pure earth, with a few vines snaking on the back of the cell.
'Maybe I could...' Nico said slowly. Understanding dawned on Thalia and Percy's face.
'But...you could kill yourself!' Thalia spluttered.
Hermione checked her watch. 'Nico, you still have two hours.'
Nico took a deep breath.'Maybe I can. Give me some ambrosia and nectar.'
Percy fished out his remaining supplies and gave most to Nico. Thalia did the same.
'Here goes.'
Thirty minutes had passed, and Nico was breathing really hard. He had managed to open a tunnel, but he still haven't reached the end of it.
Percy was on the stand by, getting ready to help Nico. Hermione kept fretting about not having her wand so she could help. There was still no sign of Harry, which Percy wasn't sure was good or bad. Thalia was muttering a silent prayer to the gods.
Nico stuffed another piece of ambrosia into his mouth. The tunnel became a little deeper. Percy confiscated the remaining godly food so Nico won't burn himself up.
Suddenly, there was the sound of running water. Nico had dug deep enough to reach a spring that was embedded in the cave walls.
'Hey, Nicky. I will take it over from here.' Percy whispered gently to Nico. Nico collapsed at once onto the floor. Worried, Thalia fed him a little more nectar. Nico's breathing eased a bit and his state changed from fainting to sleeping.
Smiling with pride because of his little cousin, Percy leapt out of the cell. It turned out that there was very little digging to do. Nico had covered most of it.
Scrambling back, he waved the others on. He picked up Nico's body, which was surprisingly light.
Just then, guards burst in, saying,'We are under orders to take Nico di Angelo to see our Lady.' then they noticed Percy.
Percy had no choice but to drop Nico and bust out Riptide. Only did a horrible realization hit him. This cell was sealed so magical weapons couldn't enter. Even the powers of demigods will be decreased. No wonder Nico had to work so hard on the tunnel. It was the stupid seal and the poison hindering him.
The guards smiled creepily. One of them ran for the alarms while the other went for Percy.
Percy brought the first guard down with a random bone he grabbed and was met with two choices.
A. Leave Nico here defenseless and go after the other guard.
B. Get Nico and leave. But there's a chance of them following through the tunnel.
Both was pretty bad.
But the guard hit the alarms before Percy made his decision.
BRINGGGGGGGGGGGG!
The sound startled Nico, who was up in a flash.
Then Voldermort himself arrived.
'Hello, little brother. You are not in a fine state.' Voldermort said, watching Nico cough out blood. The effort that Nico had used to open the tunnel must have weakened the charm. Wait, brother?
Percy demanded,'Are you a son of Hades?'
Voldermort chuckled,'Why, yes, I am! My mother did not fall in love with a common Muggle. He was a god. Seriously, a common Muggle would have never produced me.'
Percy signaled for Nico to go through the tunnel, but it was already closed. He spun around to see Voldermort laughing cruelly.
'I closed it. I am not foolish enough to leave it open. Take them away, but remember to let Lady Gaia have her conversation. She hates waiting.'
Nico turned deathly pale at the mention of Gaia.
'Please... Bro, you could just turn and go with us. Father is on our side after all. He would like it if you turned.'
In a flash Percy suddenly saw Voldermort's eyes change from blood red to midnight black. Then Voldermort jerked his head and it was gone as quickly as it had come.
The guards dragged Nico away, whose eyes were terrified and pleading.
Voldermort watched Nico struggle helplessly against the guards for a while, and after he was dragged away, he turned to Percy.
'Now,' he said, eyes glinting maliciously. 'For our little talk.'
Line break
The world was spinning. The earth rose again and trapped Nico, suffocating him.
'Join me, little demigod. Follow your older brother. You will get your sister back. Your father will have to treat you like a king, instead of dirt. Your friends will be granted safety. You will not die. You will have nothing to lose.' Gaia kept up her argument against Nico. She had been doing that for the past hour, and Nico was already losing the will to argue.
The poison had been not much help either. He had thrown up eight times, fainted twice and was quite sure that he had caught an extra fever. Thanks to Gaia dumping him into a pool of ice.
At last, Gaia ordered her servants to take Nico out. She'd had enough for the day.
He was kicked ruthlessly into the cell. Percy rushed over.
'Are you okay?'
Nico managed a 'Fine.' through gritted teeth. Only then he noticed Voldermort smirking in a corner.
'What are you doing here?'
'Having fun with my little cousin.' Voldermort answered, twirling his wand.
Nico pushed himself into a sitting position and made Percy turn around while he looked for wounds. There were none.
'What did he do to you?' Nico was really frightened. If Voldermort could look that satisfied, it must be something bad. Really, really bad.
Percy was getting uncomfortable. 'Nico, seriously, I'm okay! But I don't think that you are fine, though. Look at yourself!'
Nico realized that his clothes were covered in grime, and still dripping from the melting ice pool. And his face must look like a zombie.
In the back of the cave, Voldermort felt a pang in his heart.
The two of them were fussing over each other like a family. A family which he lacked.
His mother didn't want him, or else she could have performed magic and she would have been alive to be with him. Father didn't care about him either. Or else, he wouldn't have left his mother.
So all he could do was to ruin families. Why do they get to have a proper family when he doesn't? It's unfair! The Death Eaters only became his'family' because they craved power and blood.
He killed and sought immortality, to get his dad's attention. Only then he discovered that his dad despised him even more for it.
When he met Gaia, she offered him a brand new family, with her and the others who were willing to join. He accepted the offer eagerly and left his Death Eaters.
When he knew that he had a younger brother, he had tortured Percy, to confirm it. He didn't want to be disappointed again. After many shouts of'Crucio'',Voldermort confirmed the rumors. He could barely wait until his younger brother joined them. He didn't expect Nico to refuse Gaia.
When Nico came back into the cell, he was covered with bruises. Percy had rushed up to him immediately, giving Voldermort no chance to help him.
He heard the sound of splitting coughs again and decided to help, no matter they liked it or not.
Pushing Percy out of the way, he walked straight up to Nico. The boy looked up at him and smiled, giving Voldermort courage to continue.
Line break
Nico laughed with delight as he found that he could swing the sword without any effort.
Tom had performed the charm and it was so powerful that Nico was nearly back to his old self. When Tom had cast the spell, he looked up, and saw the handsome face of Tom Marvalo Riddle, not the sinister one of Lord Voldermort. He'd smiled at him, giving him permission to continue.
Affected by Nico, Percy began to laugh too, delighting in Nico's happiness. Tom was standing opposite Nico, leaning against the wall while watching his younger brother laugh as he tried out some new moves. Tom had brought Nico's sword in, trying to make him happy. And he succeeded.
Just then, Harry burst in.'Took me ages to find the right cell! Thank goodness I wasn't captured-'he stared as he took in the sight of Nico, looking perfectly healthy. Then his face hardened as he spotted Tom.
'Riddle.'he hissed.
Flame all you want. I've always believed that Voldermort isn't as bad as we think.
