Chapter Ten

Yay! Finally a long chapter after three short ones. I was kind of feeling sorry for you for having to read the short ones. But compared to other people's even my long chapters are considered short. For that I am sorry. But I do like writing for you so my story will speed up after this chapter (I hope). Anyway, enjoy! Plus I put Nico in place of Percy for reasons later revealed. But for the time being, Nico won't be all cryptic and mysterious like he was in the books or the fourth chapter. So don't get pissed off at me if he seems OC I just don't want three pissy people on this quest.

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Heroes of Olympus. But I do own Nachesa Smith and the Olympians.

"You know, I could go with you if you want," Annabeth jumped when she heard a voice off to her right and when she looked out popped Nico.

"You know, it's not cool to sneak about like that," she retorted trying to restart her heart.

"It's common for people of my stature to do such things, besides you do need one more person for that quest of yours, no?"

"Why would you want to go?"

"I would like to know who her parents are too. Plus, my research has gotten me nowhere, since I can't talk to her and I wasn't there when you found her."

"Fine you can come but your going to have to hold you own, and don't patronize me with how I treat her."

"What? How are you going to treat her?"

"You'll just have to see for yourself, now wont you?"

"Okay . . .," he was at a loss for words. "So what now?"

"Do you know where she is?" Annabeth asked as a rhetorical question, looking around. "She's not in the Big House."

"She's in the arena," Nico said proudly.

Annabeth looked at him strangely. "How would you know that?"

"Uh . . . I um," he stuttered.

"Were you stalking her?"

What? No! Why would I stalk her! That's like total creeper status! And I'm so not a creeper!"

Annabeth laughed. "Does the child of Hades have a little crush on someone?"

Nico glared daggers at the blonde girl. "If you tell anyone, even Percy, I will personally take you to my father and you will forever be in the Fields of Punishment."

Annabeth shivered. The air around her had just dropped ten degrees when he said that. She didn't mean to provoke him like that, she was just teasing, but he obviously took this very seriously. "Sorry, I won't tell anyone."

"Swear on the river Styx," Nico growled.

"I swear on the river Styx to not tell anyone you like Nachesa Smith," Annabeth sighed.

"Good, let's go find her."

Annabeth sighed again and followed him down to the arena. When they arrived they saw Nacy trying to defeat eight stuffed dummies surrounding her. (Emphasis on trying) Every time she swung she missed. She had a look of frustration on her face like she wasn't trying to miss but her sword (normal now) just wouldn't make contact. It was like someone put a spell on her that made her miss everything.

Annabeth almost felt sorry for her, when she suddenly saw a look of pure anger on Nacy's face. Nacy dropped her sword and lunged at a dummy, tackling it to the ground. She started punching the living daylight out of it. And soon the straw started coming out from the holes Nacy made. Annabeth started to feel sorry for the dummy now.

"I didn't think it needed that much punishment," Nico said beside her.

Nacy just sneered as she stood up. There was straw stuck to her everywhere. "I swear there is something wrong with me." She went over to pick up her sword. She swung at a dummy one more time but still missed. Annabeth noticed that she had good form and wondered how she could miss. "So am I in trouble or something?" Nacy asked, looking (more like glaring) at Annabeth.

"No we're here to take you on a quest," Nico answered, trying to break the tension between the two girls. He was beginning to think that, maybe going on this quest wasn't such a good idea.

"A quest?" Nacy said as if in a trance.

"You know a mission to do something, an expedition, a journey, a voyage." Annabeth explained impatiently.

"Thank you very much, freaking human thesaurus. I know what a stupid quest is. What I am asking is why?" Nacy said through gritted teeth.

"Were trying to find out who your godly parent is, and we're not finding any answers her. So we have to go somewhere else," Annabeth was practically yelling in Nacy's face.

"Why do you freaking care who my parents are? It is none of your business and you should just leave me alone!" Nacy yelled back.

"Can't you see I'm trying to help you!"

"Who in hell said I needed your help?"

"Well obviously you do because instead of searching for clues to your past you're sulking around like a ghost!"

"Why do I need to be searching! It is not like I have anything to go off of anyway! I have only three months of memory from before you found me! Not exactly all of the research material I need!"

Nico decided now would be a good time to intervene. He took out his sword and pointed it at the two girls. He didn't plan on hurting them, just getting their attention. As soon as his sword came out of its scabbard Annabeth froze and looked at him, but Nacy on the other hand didn't even notice the sword that radiated dark power.

"What are you doing, Nico?" Annabeth asked staring at the Stygian Ice sword only a foot away from her face.

"You two should really stop fighting. Before this goes way overboard," he answered, staring at Nacy, who was still glaring at Annabeth. "How are you doing that?"

"Huh, doing what?" Nacy snapped out of her rage and just noticed Nico's black sword. "Why are you pointing your sword at me?"

"Didn't you notice it earlier?" Annabeth asked, going back to her inquisitor self. She acted like they didn't just have a screaming war that would have probably brought the campers running to see what was happening.

"No I noticed it just now. How long did he have it out?"

"A few minutes. Don't you notice the dark aura of it?"

"Uh, no. . . It has a dark aura?"

"Okay I'm officially confused right now," Nico stated, putting his sword away.

"We really need to see Rachel now." Annabeth said.

"Who is Rachel?" Nacy wondered.

"A friend."

"Finally a short simple answer, was that so hard?"

"But 'A friend' doesn't tell you anything about Rachel."

"But I do not need long complex answers; just keep it short and sweet, if you can manage?"

"Short and sweet. . ."

Short and Sweet. Short and Sweet. Sounds like a tongue twister split in half. Say, "Sally, Short and Sweet, Sat in her Sister's Shower," three times fast and you'll sound like a snake. Ha-ha I just came up with that. I do love this chapter because Nacy. Whoa major déjà vu right there! Anyway, Nacy was so frustrated she took it out on a poor defenseless dummy. Poor dummy! But it got what it deserved for not letting Nacy hit it. Anyway, Review! And Please tell me if my story makes sense. I have a horrible feeling that I am leaving guys hanging for everything. :( Makes me sad.