Chapter 11: The Reckoning

"A single feat of daring can alter the whole conception of what is possible."

-Graham Greene

AN: Hey Guys! Obvious good news, I'm updating the story today! HAHAHA No classes is a precious gift to students after all. I mean, after every schoolwork they gave is finally done, what better way to pass time than to update? I'm really, really trying 'coz i know how irritating it is when the story you pined for doesn't update as often as you would like. Anyway, here I am, proudly presenting the latest chapter! Enjoy Guys!

-06-27-17—6-47-

He had watched; and he had waited.

Now, his time had come.

His eyes swept over the smooth, glassy surface of the screen as he studied his targets. They probably thought little else about the world around them, enraptured by each other.

His eyes glowed gold.

Next to him, the potted plant, a centerpiece to welcome guests, he presumed; seemed to age a day in a millisecond. He watched the ashes float around as the marvelous bouquet was reduced to nothing else but dust bunnies floating in the air.

Life is so fragile, he thought. And time…time moved so fast. It was wild and untamed…just like him.

His musings were interrupted when the couple stood up. He observed them quietly and watched as the black-haired, green eyed boy open the door for the blonde, grey-eyed girl. She was rolling her eyes at him and it seemed that she was telling him that she could open the door on her own, thank you very much. He had merely grinned at her, and spoke a few words, no doubt some witty or sarcastic remark.

Their ignorance was such a bliss.

He watched him stiffen suddenly as the boy looked around. From his point of view, it seemed that the green eyed monstrosity looking at him directly; via the screen, of course.

His eyes glowed green, charged with powerful energy, his eyes narrowed.

The screen suddenly blurred, went dark and cracked before him, exploding like someone shattered it with a hammer. Despite the wreckage around Him, He remained untouched.

He almost laughed out loud. The boy couldn't have made this more obvious! He thought. Perhaps he knew after all.

His eyes glowed gold once more as he checked his watch, the hands jerked, as if shocked surreptitiously. Then they swerved, each going on an opposite direction, flinging wildly. He had merely smirked. His smile was sinister and crooked.

He had found the boy's Achilles Heel. The human girl.

It was time for the Crooked One to make his move.

Nico and Thalia were sparring inside the Coliseum.

Yes, the Coliseum. The one in Rome, Italy.

Shadow Traveling had amazing perks.

Thalia's eyes narrowed and she thrust her celestial bronze tipped spear aside. Nico blinked and raised his Stygian Iron sword. If she hadn't he would've been skewered.

And that would've hurt. A lot.

The energy barrier which was keeping the mortals from interrupting and observing their training flickered. Sparring with him and keeping the barrier under control for nearly three hours was taking its toll on her.

The message in Nico's eyes were clear. Again.

Thalia jabbed her spear at him but this time, his attention was focused solely on their fight. He knocked aside her attack deftly and swerved out of the way. He looked just in time to see her charging at him. He met her attack with his own, countering her strike and parry.

Both of them knew he was at the advantage.

Nico saw an opening and sidestepped, causing Thalia to momentarily lose her footing. He took the chance and knocked her spear out of her hands, sending it flying and hurtling point blank on the ground, a considerable measure of five and a half feet away. He pointed the sword at her throat, cornering her.

Nico didn't expect his cousin to surrender so easily.

Thalia smirked at him, she didn't disappoint.

She dropped down and swung her legs knocking Nico off his feet. She took his sword and pointed it at his throat.

Nico raised his hands in surrender, knowing that his cousin was tired but was too proud to admit it. His sword melted into smoke and a tattoo of it appeared on the inside of his left wrist. Thalia sighed in relief; but quickly regained her composure and did the same, her spear disappearing into sparks, as a tattoo of a spear appeared on her collarbone.

Being supernatural beings had its perks.

"I won." Thalia smirked as she let the barrier slowly dissolved.

Nico shrugged. "Hardly; I disarmed and cornered you first didn't I?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I wasn't the one who surrendered."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't the rule disarming the opponent and cornering them?"

Thalia opened her mouth to retort but said nothing. She closed her mouth and settled on glaring at her cousin instead.

Nico sighed. "Fine, it was a draw. Deal?"

Thalia pursued her lips in thought. "Fine. Deal."

She knew both her cousins would beat her in close range combat anyway. After all, her cousins were one of the best swordsmen in the galaxy.

But she knew it irked Nico that Percy was better than him.

She knew because it irked her too.

Like how she knew she was best at long range combat and how Nico's specialty was stealth and tracking.

As they walked into the edge of the arena, even Thalia had to admit, her cousin's Shadow Travel had it's perks.

When they appeared at the rooftop of Percy's apartment, Thalia knew something was wrong.

She knew because Nico suddenly stiffened and whispered. "Weapons."

Black, smoky mist wrapped around Nico's hand as the tattoo on his wrist faded as it materialized in the form of a sword into his hand.

Likewise, sparks jumped down Thalia's arm as her spear appeared, crackling with energy.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, holding a gleaming celestial bronze sword.

Percy stared at the two of them, both sides equally perturbed.

Percy sighed and lowered Riptide, his weapon of choice. It dissolved into mist, smelling faintly of crisp ocean air. She knew a tattoo of it would appear at the small of his back. Nico and Thalia did the same.

Nico spoke sharply at Percy. "Did you feel it too?"

Her other cousin nodded. "Yeah. We need to talk."

Then, Thalia felt it. The cold, unrelenting aura that seemed to flow like the sands of time. It made her skin crawl and made her feel like she was trapped, while someone was gazing amusedly at her obvious discomfort.

She wanted to strangle the person who had this aura. But she was afraid it would be—No way

Percy sighed at his cousins steadily darkening faces. "I think he's back."

AN: So, What do you think? I really am finding time to update the next chapter. Maybe sometime next week? Thesis making is such a pain. Honestly. See you guys then! Don't forget to follow, favorite or review! See ya!