She didn't know where she was anymore. She didn't even think she knew her name. Who was she again...M...Mera...Pallismera? What was she doing here? Why couldn't she remember? Where was 'here' anyway?
She just remembered bits a pieces of her past...a few people. There was someone called...someone called...Thanatos. And there was a boy, a boy named Tskia. Who else was there? So may people, so many places, yet she couldn't put names to them...
But there was one boy, one that she needed to see. But why? Why did she want to see him, again? She didn't know why, she just knew he was in danger. She needed to warn him about something. But how could see, when she didn't even know his name.
Mera stood up, stumbling slightly. She had to find that dark-haired boy. Why? No idea. But she had to. It was her priority. Why? No idea, again.
She looked down at her self. Her clothes were torn and ripped; what happened to her? She could faintly see cuts on her arms where her sleeve has been ripped. Her stomach churning, she crumbled to the floor. She was exhausted.
Her top was red with blood that has been dry for a while...How long was she here again? Why was she was weak, so cut-up and exhausted?
She suddenly had an impulse- a faded hint of a memory. She reached behind her back, grasping for something. Her hands fell upon a red cloak.
She brought it up to her, inhaling its scent- it was her only comfort. In fact, that cloak rang a bell. It was so...so familiar. So , so, familiar.
A distant memory over took her...
She was young- about fourteen at least. She sat surveying the beautiful scene in front of her... the scent of flower, and several fruits. It was nice of...of... (what was her name again?) Persephone to let her in the garden.
"Hey," a voice said from behind her. She turned around, surprised. The garden was her usual spot- no one interrupted her there. Persephone didn't let anyone.
But behind her, stood a boy of about her age. He was tall, and had flaming hair. Literally. It flickered and shone, and was crimson red. It wasn't really on fire or anything, it just gave that impression. He had black eyes, darker than anything she'd seen before.
She was still shocked that someone had found her place, but she was more surprised that anyone came here at all.
"Who are you?" she said warily, staring at the mysterious boy.
He excused himself to a seat beside her. "I'm Tskia," he said, smiling. He held out his hand to her. "Child of Nemesis. You?"
She looked at his hand. Mera barely saw any other demigods. She wanted to, oh she did, but her dad had warned her. He said that the others won't welcome her, and won't accept her because she was his daughter. But here was Tskia, holding out his hand to her.
She very reluctantly shook it. "I'm Pallismera. Daughter of Thanatos." There. She said it. Pallismera closed her eyes tightly, waiting for a reaction. He would probably run away, or tell her he didn't want to stay anymore. Silently, Pallismera waited for an explosion that never came.
"Nice to meet you," Tskia's smooth voice said. Pallismera opened her eyes. Tskia was still right where he was a few seconds ago. She relaxed slightly.
"Your name's long, though." he said randomly. Pallismera couldn't help but laugh at that.
"I know," she said. "My dad calls me Mera sometimes." A new question forming in her mind, she looked at him curiously. "Why are you here, though? What's a child of Nemesis doing in the Underworld?"
Tskia shrugged. "My mom, Nemesis, she says I probably won't find a home at Camp. You know where that is?"
Mera nodded. She had, of course, heard about the Camps where demigods stayed. (Although now, she had no idea...)
"But you're a child of Nemesis." she pointed out.
"And you're a child of Thanatos," he replied. "Mom says we don't have cabins. So...Well, Demeter owes my mother. She tried to get her revenge after Hades kidnapped Persephone..So she sent me here. For a while, anyway." He turned to Mera. "Mother says I'm not like my other siblings. She keeps going on about being the mortal embodiment of revenge and all, but I honestly don't want to do that. She thinks that if she sent me here while my other siblings are out there suffering in the mortal world, then I'll do it for her." He ended with a snort.
Mera took in all this information and starting thinking for a while. "I take it you don't like your mom?" she concluded.
Tskia laughed. "What gave you that idea?" he said sarcastically. Then, he sighed, his sarcastic expression falling. "I just want her to leave me alone, you know. But she's basically imprisoned me here now. She thinks she's doing me a favor, but...I just really want to go out and explore the mortal world." he clenched his fist determinedly. "I can survive like the rest. I just want one chance to prove it."
Mera bit her lip nervously. She didn't know what to think about Tskia and his story, but she knew she had found herself a new...well, friend. Right?
"You can shadow-travel," she suggested finally. Tskia turned to her, looking confused.
"Sorry? Shadow-what?" he inquired.
"Shadow-travel," Mera repeated, a little surprised that he didn't know. "I can do it. You just, you know, back into the shadows and think of where you want to go. Can't you do it? What with your name, and all.."
Tskia looked at her, confused. "I can't shadow-travel," he admitted. "And my name's just a stupid alias. I don't even know my real name."
He turned to Mera, smiling with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Can you shadow-travel?"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Ouch!" Tskia complained, falling behind a clothes rack. Mera fell beside him, rubbing her head where it hit the floor.
"Sorry," she said, smiling at him apologetically. "You know I'm not good at-"
"Landings, yeah, yeah. You've told me that the first fifty times we've shadow traveled somewhere." Tskia stood up, careful not to knock down some clothes. He held out his hand to Mera and helped her up.
"Where are we, anyway?" he asked, looking around.
Mera frowned, trying to remember the name of the place. "Er, Mark and Spencer's, I think..."
"Another mall?"
She shrugged at him. "I always end up landing in those. Honest. I swear I was aiming for Baskin' Robins."
"Why aren't you that good at shadow-travel? Er, no offense or anything."
"None taken," Mera assured. She sighed, and managed to get them away from the racket, hoping two fifteen-year olds that popped out of nothingness didn't look that suspicious.
"Children of Hades shadow-travel better than us, children of Thanatos," she explained, trying to find the exit while pulling Tskia along.
"And.." Mera said, biting her lips. She paused, wondering if it was the right thing to say. But Tskia was her friend- what wouldn't she tell him?
"I'm kind of afraid of the dark."
Tskia stopped dead, a look of absolute horror on his face. "You," he said, softly. "Child of death, who grew up in the Underworld. You are afraid of the dark? Why?"
"I.." Mera sucked in a breath. "I'm not like, afraid of darkness in general, but in shadow travel, it's kind of...well, darker darkness. Like it's compressing on you, you know?"
"You're claustrophobic? Afraid of small spaces, then?"
Mera thought about it. It made sense. In the end, she nodded.
Tskia looked around, making sure no one was looking at them. Slowly and stealthily, he pulled a red, shimmering fabric from a shawl basket. Th cloak was taller than Mera herself.
"What are you doing?" she hissed, her embarrassment forgotten. "We can't pay for that!"
"I'll pay them back...afterwards." Tskia touched the fabric carefully. It flickered, and contracted, folding itself several times and taking a form of a beautiful cloak with a hood.
"How-how did you do that?" Mera stuttered.
Tskia blushed visibly. "My dad...he was a, well, I'll tell you when we get back. Okay?" He was still holding the cloak. It was amazing, and it seemed to absorb light and reflect it at the same time, kind of like a glowing flash-light (torch, for you brits).
He handed it to her sheepishly. "You said you're claustrophobic..So..when you shadow-travel next time, this should make you feel safe. It...it has a shielding power." he held it out to her, looking hesitant.
"It's...it's amazing." Mera said, smiling at him. She threw her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Thanks," she murmured. Mera pulled away from him, and took the cloak. It was truly irreplaceable. She put it on. Indeed, it was about a two feet longer than she was, but she wore it anyway.
She would wear it forever.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Why couldn't she throw it away? Why couldn't she just dump it in the trash and forget? She didn't like him anymore. She didn't even know him anymore.
But why, for the past years, did she keep it close to her?
Pallismera glared at her cloak hatefully, but she found that she couldn't do it. She couldn't throw her only hope in the bin- yes, that was what her cloak was. A sign that there was hope to change him back again- he was once her best friend, but now, she pretended not to even know him.
The Unseen Assasin was traitor, the Shadow was treacherous.
But Tskia? Tskia was her friend.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Disorientated and exhausted, Mera stood up, taking the cell she was being kept in. She had to warn him...She had to warn him...Nico. That's right...he was in danger. She had to warn him now...If only she could shadow-travel out of there...
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
A CLEAN CAULDRON KEEPS POTIONS FROM BECOMING POISONS and ANTIDOTES ARE ANTI-DON'TS UNLESS APPROVED BY A QUALIFIED HEALER. There was also a large portrait of a witch with long silver ringlets which was labelled:
Dilys Derwent
St Mungo's Healer 1722-1741
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
1741-1768
Dilys was eyeing the Weasley party closely as though counting them; when Nico caught her eye she gave a tiny wink, walked sideways out of her portrait and vanished.
Meanwhile, at the front of the queue, a young wizard was performing an odd on-the-spot jig and trying, in between yelps of pain, to explain his predicament to the witch behind the desk.
"It's these - ouch - shoes my brother gave me - ow - they re eating my - OUCH - feet - look at them, there must be some kind of - AARGH - jinx on them and I can't - AAAAARGH - get them off." He hopped from one foot to the other as though dancing on hot coals.
" The shoes don't prevent you reading, do they?" said the blonde witch, irritably pointing at a large sign to the left of her desk. "You want Spell Damage, fourth floor. Just like it says on the floor guide. Next!"
Nico, Harry, and the Weasley brood moved forward.
Mrs Weasley moved forward to the desk.
"Hello," she said, "my husband, Arthur Weasley, was supposed to be moved to a different ward this morning, could you tell us - ?"
"Arthur Weasley?" said the witch, running her finger down a long list in front of her. "Yes, first floor, second door on the right, Dai Llewellyn Ward."
" Thank you,"said Mrs Weasley. "Come on, you lot."
They followed her through the double doors and along the narrow corridor beyond, which was lined with more portraits of famous Healers and lit by crystal bubbles full of candles that floated up on the ceiling, looking like giant soapsuds. More witches and wizards in lime-green robes walked in and out of the doors they passed; a foul-smelling yellow gas wafted into the passageway as they passed one door, and every now and then they heard distant wailing. They climbed a flight of stairs and entered the Creature-Induced Injuries corridor, where the second door on the right bore the words: 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn Ward: Serious Bites. Underneath this was a card in a brass holder on which had been handwritten: Healer-in-Charge: Hippocrates Smethwyck. Trainee Healer: Augustus Pye.
"We'll wait outside, Molly," Tonks said. "Arthur won't want too many visitors at once . . . it ought to be just the family first."
Mad-Eye growled his approval of this idea and set himself with his back against the corridor wall, his magical eye spinning in all directions. Harry and Nico drew back, too, but Mrs Weasley reached out a hand and pushed them through the door, saying, "Don't be silly, Harry, Arthur wants to thank you. Nico, don't even think about it."
There were only three patients. Mr Weasley was occupying the bed at the far end oi the ward beside the tiny window. Harry was pleased and relieved to see that he was propped up on several pillows and reading the Daily Prophet by the solitary ray of sunlight falling on to his bed. He looked up as they walked towards him and, seeing who it was, beamed.
"Hello!" he called, throwing the Prophet aside. "Bill just left, Molly, had to get back to work, but he says he'll drop in on you later. I believe Charlie's coming too."
"How are you, Arthur?" asked Mrs Weasley, bending down to kiss his cheek and looking anxiously into his face. "You're still looking a bit peaky."
"I feel absolutely fine," said Mr Weasley brightly, holding out his good arm to give Ginny a hug. "If they could only take the bandages off, I'd be fit to go home. Oh," Mr. Weasley said, frowning slightly. "Oh, how are you. It's Nico, is it not? Heard load about you...Really nice of your lot to-" Mrs. Weasley threw him a glare, and that silenced him immediately.
"Pleasure to meet you." Mr. Weasley said.
"You too, Mr. Weasley. Nico said, nodding at him
"Why can't they take them off, Dad?" Fred interrupted awkwardly.
"Well, I start bleeding like mad every time they try," said Mr Weasley cheerfully, reaching across for his wand, which lay on his bedside cabinet, and waving it so that six extra chairs appeared at his bedside to seat them all. "It seems there was some rather unusual kind of poison in that snakes fangs that keeps wounds open. They're sure they'll find an antidote, though; they say they've had much worse cases than mine, and in the meantime I just have to keep taking a Blood-Replenishing Potion every hour. But that fellow over there," he said, dropping his voice and nodding towards the bed opposite in which a man lay looking green and sickly and staring at the ceiling. "Bitten by a werewolf, poor chap. No cure at all."
"Werewolf did you say, Mr. Weasley?" Nico interrupted suddenly. Could it be...?
"Why, yes." Mr. Weasley said. "Horribly bad luck, I dare say."
Nico nodded in agreement, while in reality, he thought of something Piper, Reyna, and Hazel had said to him...Something that seemed ages ago...A monster that looked like a wolf, with a scar...hmmm.
The rest of the Weasley brood and Harry started conversing with Mr. Weasley, but Nico was lost in his thoughts. Could the answer be that simple? But the greeks had werewolves, too. If they eve looked remotely alike, wouldn't his friend have noticed?
Harry poked Nico's arm. He turned to Harry, confused.
"I think I fancy a cup of tea, too. You coming, Nico?" He said it in a loud and unconvincing manner. Nico frowned in confusion. What?
"Uh, no thanks." Nico said. Harry shrugged at him and hurried out. It was only then did he realize that no one was there in the room but Mrs. Weasley and him.
And it was seconds later that he realized his mistake.
"ARTHUR WEASLEY! WHAT IN HEAVEN GAVE YOU THE IDEA THAT SEWING YOUR SKIN WILL HEAL YOUR INJURY! I THOUGHT YOU KNEW BETTER! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THE CONSEQUENCE OF MUGGLE AND MAGIC INTERACTING!"
"Molly, dear!" Mr. Weasley said, looking frantic. "I'm sharing this room with people, you know?"
Mrs. Weasley stopped, fuming, her face as red as her hair.
Nico felt very out of the picture, and wished desperately that he could flee away from the scene.
But both Mrs. Weasley and Nico stopped what they were doing/thinking when Mr. Weasley winced painfully.
"Oh, dear." Mrs. Weasley muttered, sitting beside him once again. "Arthur dear, are you all right?"
"Peaches, Molly." Mr. Weasley assured. Nico doubted it. He could sense Mr. Weasley dying...literally. His life source was fading, and quickly. Nico knew aht he had to do.
"Mr. Weasley," Nico said, with a hint of panic in his voice. "You're...you're, well, you're not all right. I can sense that."
"You can?" Mr. Weasley said, his expression turning into one of innocent curiosity.
"I-I can help with that," Nico said, although doubtfully.
Mrs. Weasley hurriedly budged away from Mr. Weasley, giing Nico free space. Nico advanced on Mr. Weasley.
"Stay still, Mr. Weasley." Nico said.
Mr. Weasley obeyed. "You have healing skills?" Mr. Weasley asked, looking pretty amused for a man who was dying.
"Not exactly," Nico replied, putting his hand out Mr. Weasley injured shoulder gently, barely touching it, in fact.
It was there. A lot of darkness- a lot of, and a lot of it. It wasn't the injury that attracted it, it was the poison. Tom Riddle's snake had something evil in it- and although it wasn't exactly poisonous, it did inject liquid in Mr. Weasley, meaning a part of Mr. Weasley now included something that snake hat left him- like a mark, a souvenir take unwillingly. If Nico managed to manipulate that darkness, Mr. Weasley may be able to heal easier. Nico tried to summon all the dark power- the black magic, to him. But it wouldn't work like it did with the blood-quills- this was something bigger. This was an injury. Like Kim. And this time, Nico had to deal with it alone.
He manipulated the dark power toward him and contained it. He wouldn't be able to keep this up for long...he had to do something..Shadow-travel, maybe. He couldn't just keep it in him much longer.
He held his breath, as if that would help. "Is that better Mr. Weasley?"
Mr. Weasley looked up at him, with wonder in his eyes. "Actually, yes." he said, looking at his shoulder and then at Nico. "I think the blood flow is thinning, and it doesn't hurt quite as much as it used to. In fact, I haven't felt better since I've been brought here. Wonderful!"
Nico nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Glad it helped Mr. Weasley!"
Mrs. Weasley looked like she was about to hug Nico again, and he was grateful for the excuse to avoid that.
"If you'l excuse me," Nico said, feeling like a balloon about to burst from the pressure of keeping all that dark-power inside.
He found himself a shaded place, and shadow-traveled to Hades knows where.
Hope you like this chapter! It's surprising I made it this long, really, but I couldn't help myself. You might be wondering why Mera accepted her quest, or why Thanatos acted like she didn't know who Tskia was, or why she acted that way. You'll get your answers. Now, random shadow-travelling never ends well, does it? Where do you think Nico end up THIS time?
Work with me, I work with you! I'm really excited, having reached almost a hundred and fifty reviews. Keep on giving me your opinion, and I'll keep giving you thinks to judge! Special thanks to WWS, you're really awesome. Siriusly :D.
Hey, guys, am I the only one that noticed this sign at St. Mungos?
Creature
Dangerous
Dai
Serious.
Read that aloud. Kreacher-dangerous-die-Sirius. GOD, Jo is a troll! Why Sirius? WHYYYY!
"Stop! It might be dangerous!"
"It's a book, Kira."
"Exactly!"