So you're all getting one hell of a history lesson so be prepared for this chapter! I will quiz you all in your knowledge so please pay attention.
There will be tears at the end so be prepared for that also. I made myself cry just by reading it since my friend on this site actually wrote the battle scene thats the end for me. Big shout out to her.
I have a few announcements that have to do with my future plans on upcoming one shots and stories, so make sure you keep reading till the end of the authors note! Even though it will be emotionally hard for someone of you...anyways here's chapter 26! We're almost near the ending ;)
I keep falling, I keep falling down...
If you could only save me
I'm drowning in the waters of my soul
There's nothing left to say now
- Imagine Dragons (2013)
It was a dark day. The clouds were pitch black. The birds no longer singed and the flowers weren't blooming anymore.
Far off where the village was, there were a small group of people who were gathered around a dig up hole. As the priest began to speak a few words about the man who had passed, three other men began to lower down the coffin into the ground. A few began to cry, while Silena sobbed her heart out.
Nico didn't know if staring into Charles coffin with no tears in his eyes made him appear like a bad guy or it made him look like he had no soul. He had to go with making him look like he had no soul. Its been a week since Charles death and since the French had attacked them. So many dead soldiers didn't have a place to call it their grave and so many family members don't know if they relative had survived the bloodbath.
It's not that Nico didn't feel anything for the dead, he was deeply sadden by Charles death like everyone else. It was the fact that he considered death a part of life, that he wasn't afraid of it. He dealt with death way to many times.
When him and Bianca were younger their mother caught a terrible illness. Each day, they watched as she became weaker and paler with each cough. Their father wasn't around so they didn't have enough money to pay the doctor who for any medication. So the siblings were forced to watch their mother suffer more than she should've.
It was a beautiful day when their beloved mother passed. Nico remembered it was Bianca's cries that woke him up. He literally woke up from a sweet dream and walked into a nightmare.
His mother, Marie, was young and she was beautiful. Her life was taken away with just one snap. Bianca was eight, while Nico was only five. Once Marie's death got around town, they were immediately taken away by the foster couple in town. That didn't make the Di Angelo kids lives any better.
Not only was the foster dad an alcoholic and abusive, their mother was also the town's famous home wrecker. Nico was forced to watch men come in and out of the women who claimed to love the man she married. Even at a young age, Nico knew that marriage didn't work like that way.
Bianca also became more quiet and more fearful as the years flew by. She used to laugh and make jokes, but now that all changed since they moved into the foster home. Sure, there were other kids but they appeared to be happier.
It wasn't until Nico turned eight that he realized what was going on. Late one night, young Nico noticed that his sisters was missing from her bed. Curious, he got up from his bed and tip toed to the living room. Knowing that she loved to stand by the fireplace. What he saw he never expected and it will haunt his dreams for the rest of his days.
Bianca held a knife that was dripping in blood. Her forehead was also covered in sweat and she breathing heavily. Right next to her was the dead body of the man who abused both of the Di Angelo children. His eyes were open, staring up at the ceiling and his throat and stomach were cut open.
"B-B- Bianca?" Nico quivered in fear.
His sister dropped the knife, collapsing on the cold hard floor.
"He tried to touch me again," she admitted to her younger brother. "He threatened your life and it became to much for me. So instead of your life being cut short, I ended his." She said this with no emotion in her voice and Nico wasn't afraid.
Nico also decided it was enough that moment. Without saying a word, he left Bianca and goes inside their foster parents room. He searches through the drawers and pulls out a small bag that contained a good amount of gold coins. He then goes into the children's room and collects their things, hastily throwing their clothes and items into a bigger bag. Nico grabs his coat and shoes and goes back into the living room.
Bianca was crying uncontrollably, still holding the knife.
Nico took the knife from Bianca and threw it into the fire. "We have to hide his body," he says.
His sister wipes her tears. "How?"
Nico looked around, finally seeing the wishing well outside. He pointed outside, "There, help me with his legs."
With all of their strength combined, the two siblings dragged the body outside. It was late at night so there was no one to witness this act. Bianca grabbed the man by the shirt and had him halfway inside the well, before she went to help Nico grab his legs and throw him inside the well. Becoming the caretakers grave.
The two siblings embraced each other, crying into each other's shoulders. What they did was a crime. They should be punished but in reality, it should be the man who ended with the punishment. Not only did he sexually abused Bianca, but he also destroyed her trust in men. One of the reasons why she didn't want to get close to Apollo, afraid she'll fall in love. But it was beyond her control and she had fallen for the archer.
To this day, Bianca and Nico never talk about the caretaker. Instead, his wife was committed of murder and was take to trail. She was sentenced life in prison and as for the children they were suppose to love and care for, they were all adopted into other loving family. Nico and Bianca were forgotten from the village and eventually traveled far, until they came across an abandon cabin that was near the Chase kingdom. That's where they started their new lives and the rest was history. It was like old saying that he made up himself, life sucks and then you die.
Nico had accepted death long ago, but after fighting against France two days ago, he figured that it was a part of life and wasn't afraid of it. If death wanted to take Nico, he would greet him as an old friend.
"Are you alright?" Nico turned around to see Thalia standing in front of him.
Ever since Thalia decided to end things between them, they haven't exactly been in the same room without one of them leaving. If was painful for Nico to look at Thalia, knowing that as soon as the war is over, she will become someone else's wife. They weren't together for long, but it felt like a lifetime for Nico. He trusted her with everything and he hoped that one day in the distance future, he would give up his mother's ring and place it on Thalia's finger. Life seriously sucks.
"I'm fine," he told her.
"Are you sure?" She asked again. "You've been staring at coffin for awhile and everyone has left."
Nico looks around and was surprised that everyone has left. It was only him and Thalia that were in the open view and honestly, it was making him nervous.
"We shouldn't be here," he said, looking into the woods to make sure he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. "It's not safe."
"This world isn't safe," Thalia retorted. "I hate the time that we live in."
"Do you think they're is an alternative world?" Nico asked, "A better life for me and you?"
"I believe that there's a world where we get more chances to be free. To not live by people's expectations and we can do what ever the hell we want with our lives. Don't you want that?"
"If it means I can be with you, without your parents in the way, than yes. I do want that life, but sadly I'm stuck in this one."
"Nico-"
"I believe that after death, there comes another life and honestly, the thought is terrifying. Death has never scared me, but what comes after it, it's my nightmare. For what I know is that I can be some lonely kid with no parents or siblings and you will be a tree or something."
Thalia raises a brow. "A tree?"
"I read in some religious book that people believe they get reincarnated into animals or plants in their second life, but that's beyond the point."
"Then what is the point?!" Thalia shouted, sick of trying to figure out Nico's words. "We have more important duties to attend. For all we know that French asshole of a prince can appear any minute and-"
Nico silenced Thalia by clashing his lips onto hers. The princess was so stunned by this action that she didn't move and felt her body go stiff. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. The kiss was electrifying, lighting up Thalia's body. She doesn't recall the last time they have kissed with such passion, their last kiss was short and it was when Thalia ended things with Nico. Oh how much she wanted to scream for him to come back and wrap her arms around him.
Nico was the first to pull away, trying to catch his breath. "My cottage isn't far from here." He says, grinning.
Thalia smiles, kissing him on the lips. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Annabeth sits in the couch that was in front of the fireplace in the castles library. She had a book in her hands but she was focusing more on the fire than the passages from the book.
After Charles funeral, everyone who attended retreated back to the castle where they had a small lunch and discussed a few rules. Annabeth excused herself from the table, not being hungry or wanting to be in the room. Instead, she has the maid bring her a cup of tea, while she made her way to the library.
Besides going to the beach with Percy when they were younger, Annabeth would always find herself in the library. She would get lost in her books and before she knew it, it would be nighttime. Sally always spent countless hours finding Annabeth, only to find her in the library's couch passed out from reading.
Over time this library was also a get away with her friends. They would sit in a circle on the rug and play games, tell stories, or take naps when needed. Which was all the time of course.
She always wondered what her life would be if she did marry Octavian but there wasn't any war. Would he be kind and loyal to her? Or would he be the same asshole that wanted her husband dead? Annabeth clearly doubted it.
Octavian was a ruthless prince, she knew he would stop at nothing until they surrender their kingdom. Annabeth never believed that violence was the answer, but if that's what Octavian believed, then she would be more than happier to stab him with her sword. If she had one.
Suddenly the doors opened, causing the doors to open. Annabeth jumped at the sound and quickly got up from the couch. She was surprised to see that it was Luke and not Percy. Her husband was a commander and was constantly training the recruits, but Percy manages to find the time to be with Annabeth. Even if it would be for only twenty minutes.
"Luke, what brings you here?" Annabeth wondered.
Luke bowed his head. "Annabeth I have something that I thought would interest you." Annabeth wandering eyes saw a bag that Luke had around him.
The princess raises an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Luke opens the bag and takes out a old book. "Here, it's my uncles old journal about the first war France had against England."
"The one my father fought in," she whispered, tracing her fingers over it. "How did you manage to hold such a possession?"
"He gave it to me," said Luke a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Octavian stole it from my room after I was sentenced, but Rachel stole it back after we escaped. We thought we lost it during our journey, but Rachel was cleaning up our room and found it."
Annabeth takes the book and opens it. The words were written in French, but Annabeth had some knowledge of the language.
"He was eighteen when he fought in the war, while my father was barely turning sixteen."
"Same age as my father."
"Exactly," Luke sat down on the couch, trying not to get to comfortable. This was actually the first time he has had a conversation with the princess without anybody with them and he wanted to get to know her better. He wanted to see why she was made the perfect victim for Octavian's path of destruction. He knows the bloody history between the royal families of Chase and Cullen, but he doesn't know why they are attacking now.
"Annabeth, do you know how the whole feud between England and France began?" Luke asked, knowing he was told about this at an early age.
Annabeth frowned, deeply in thought. She sits down at a chair across from Luke, sighing.
"I actually know the story as if it was a fairytale. Let's see...it began when the princess of France of the time, Helen, fell in love with the prince of Holland, Paris. The Holland family was more richer and powerful than our family, so they were in control at the time. That soon changed when Helen's husband declared war on Vestmont. Despite being rich, the kingdom barely had an army so they asked my kingdom and Jason's father to send in an army. Naturally they accepted this request, so they fought along."
Luke nodded his head as she spoke, impressed by her knowledge about the war that continued for five years.
"Your side of the story is completely different from what I've been told." Most of what Annabeth was saying is true, but she let out on important detail.
Annabeth felt insulted, but Luke was raised by the French, their enemy. Of course they would tell him something differently.
"What would that be?"
"Piper's mother, Aphrodite, she is Helen's cousin. She helped Helen escape her marriage with King Menelaus."
Annabeth gasped, "That can't be true! It wasn't written in any scrolls or books! Piper says she was half French," the princess stopped herself. It suddenly all make sense.
Aphrodite never mentions her family or the time she spent in France. She doesn't even have any portraits of them. It's almost as if she didn't want anything to do with them.
"That sneaky Aphrodite, she'll do anything for love. Even it means causing a five year war. But it did when my father defeated your great grandfather correct? Or did some weird dragon eat him?"
Luke laughed, shaking his head. "Sadly, dragons aren't real so yes. Your father ended up defeating us. My grandfather was suppose to take the throne after his passing, but gave it to my father instead. Now he regrets that decision."
"How do you know that?"
Luke smiled, remembering his grandparents that he hasn't seen since he was thirteen. He remembered how his grandmother would get him extra cookies after dinner or how his grandfather would get him out of the trouble. Oh how desperately Grandfather Carlisle tried to talk since into Edward, saying Luke wasn't capable of murder but he wouldn't hear it.
"Well he hates how unfair my father trails peoples. For example when I was convicted of murder. Both my grandparents they tried to convince my father that I didn't kill my uncle, that's one thing." Luke chuckled bitterly.
Annabeth doesn't smile or frowns. She stays emotionless while studying Luke.
"Did you kill him?" Annabeth asked.
The former prince looks at the princess and throws a piece of paper into the fire. He watches the paper crumble into ashes, then takes a deep breath.
"My uncle may have been cruel, but he still had kindness in him. He was married, had two kids, and was a high officer and now look at him. Rotting in the ground all thanks to Octavian."
He remembered how bloody his uncle was laying on the hay. The fearful eyes on his other uncle and the guards when they walked on the scene. Luke tried to save his uncle by removing the dagger from his stomach, but he only made it look like he committed the crime.
"I would've joined my uncle if it wasn't for Rachel and this hooded lady who helped me escape from Tartarus. I owe that women my life."
Annabeth saw the tears marking their appearance in Luke's eyes. She hands him her handkerchief and he smiles softly, accepting the small exchange.
"Thank you," he wipes the tears that were escaping from his eyes. "Haven't cried in awhile."
"Sometimes it's good to let it out," Annabeth advices Luke, then she turns serious. "I have a confession to make."
Luke raises his brows, surprised that the princess wanted to share him a secret.
"What is it?"
Annabeth looks around the room, making sure there wasn't anyone else to hear on their conversation.
"I think I'm pregnant," Annabeth whispered, "Don't freak out, it's not your anyways."
Luke chuckled, "We haven't done anything appropriate and I'm a promised man." He reminded the blonde girl.
The princess groaned, "I know that! Just please don't tell Percy, I'm not even sure if I am truly pregnant."
"Are you sick every morning?"
"Yes, mostly during lunch though."
"Have you gotten your monthly visits?"
"I'm late."
Luke couldn't help but smile, "Then you probably are pregnant. Do you plan to tell Percy?"
"Luke...I don't want this baby," Annabeth confessed, tears in her eyes. "I just can't...not with everything being in chaos and him being more focused on the war. I don't want him distracted."
This was the hardest period in time and Luke knows where Annabeth's fear is coming from. Whenever he battled, he always had Rachel I'm his mind and the baby she would he having. Despite her having Octavian's child, Luke was determined to raise it as his own.
He takes Annabeth's hand, squeezing it gently. "I know what you're feeling and I get it, but understand that if you are pregnant, hope that he won't find out the hard way."
Annabeth shook her head, "If it's true then I won't hesitate to tell him, but if not then this conversation that we had never existed. Promise?"
Luke crossed his heart, "I promise." He takes out another gift from his bag and hands it to Annabeth. "Here, keep it. Use to belong to my grandmother, but she gave it to me before I sailed to England."
Annabeth removes the cloth and was amazed to see it was a dagger. "Luke, I can't take this."
"Keep it, it had an engraving on it."
The princess puts the dagger closer to see it has the word 'Family' written on it. "Thank you, Luke."
"Use it to protect yourself and the little one that you're carrying. Heaven knows you'll need it at one point."
He couldn't be more right.
Tyson waited for Triton's arrival in the front of the gates, he expected his brother to arrive well and ready to fight. He couldn't be more wrong. Triton came with the army yes, but they arrived all bruised and battered.
"What the hell happened to you?!" Tyson asked, helping his brother get off his horse.
Triton whimpered as his foot hit the ground, still sore on his ankle from twisting it. He was bleeding from his knee and had bruises on his right temple.
"Those damn French caught us by surprise at the docks," Triton explained as they walked down the hallway. "Assholes caught half of my men, but not all of them. We fought back hard and I'm proud to say that they lost a good amount of them as well. Including two of their commanders, who I expect are related to royalty."
"How do you know this?"
"They wore the seal of France in their armor unlike the others."
Poseidon suddenly appeared from a room, shocked to see his sons arrival.
"Triton!" Poseidon exclaimed, happy to see his son but worried to see him in a terrible state. "What the hell-"
"French attack in the borders," Tyson explained.
"We lost, Philip," Triton told his family. "He fought like a warrior but he fell as one as well."
Poseidon bit his lip. Philip was a good friend of the royal family and a good advisor to Poseidon. He is deeply sadden by his death, but didn't show it.
"Did you also bring Kym and William with you?" The king asked, knowing that those two were the strongest commanders they had.
Triton snorted, "Of course I did! Kym gave birth two months ago and William is looking for blood. I had to bring them or our army would've been doomed."
Poseidon smiled in satisfaction. "Let's get you to the dining hall and get you cleaned up. Then we'll go have a chat with the army before anything else goes."
"Agree," said both brothers and followed their father to the dining hall.
The royal families, except for Annabeth and Thalia, were seated on the table eating lunch. None of them heard the door open, so seeing a bruised prince was the last thing they expected.
"I need a nurse!" Athena shouted, as she got up and took a chair for Triton to sit on.
"Thank you, your majesty," Triton muttered, taking a glass of water from the Queen.
Frederick orders one of the knights to go get Jason, Leo, Percy, Nico, and Luke to greet the prince and for they can know what France has been up to.
It didn't take long for all of the knights to show up, except for Nico. No one has seen him since Charles funeral, but they continued without him.
Poseidon introduces the knights to Triton, introducing Percy last.
"This is my son, Perseus." Said Poseidon.
Triton narrowed his eyes at his father's son, amazed by the striking resemblance.
"Nice to meet you," he said.
Percy nodded his head, "Likewise."
"What happened at the docks when your ship landed?" Luke asked, getting straight to the point.
Triton chuckled, "Eager much?" No one laughs or cracks a smile. "There were fifty French waiting for us at the docks. We were planning on docking in another harbor, but it was far from where we were. I ordered one of the ships that carried all of our weaponry to find another dock and arrive to the castle before us. We couldn't afford to lose anything valuable, so I also ordered one of my lieutenant's to lead the way."
Reyna suddenly comes in with a few bandages and towels. Athena thanks her and sends her off, saying she'll take care of it. Leo and Reyna exchange looks, before she leaves to go back to the infirmity.
"The ship sails away and right as were put down the anchor, those bloody French attacked us. They were clearly outnumber but damn were they strong. Managed to kill seven of my best men, but not all of them. We took our horses and raced over here, but they are everywhere! In the trees, the bushes, just everywhere. I brought over ten thousand men, and managed to kill at least fifty percent."
"Not a terrible lost," said Percy but they needed all the men they could get. "Anything else?"
"We got one of their men," everyone looks at each other. "We got him alive and we made sure he's ready for whatever questions you have."
Luke's hopes raised up, but who did they captured? Could it he someone he might know? Or maybe it was one of his uncles? Luke would rather confront his uncles here than in a battlefield. But they didn't have time for interviews, for another knight had barged through the doors. It was Nico.
"The enemy has been spotted in the dark woods by Artemis huntresses," he informed them. "We must prepare for battle."
Triton grinned, taking a wet cloth and dapping it over his cut. "Well, looks like I'm going in for round two."
"Leo, escort Athena and everyone else to a secret hide away. I'll follow you in a matter of minutes."
Leo nods his head and escorted the queen to a hide out.
Frederick takes Percy aside and says, "I want you to protect the grounds and make sure none of those rats come into this castle. If they do, exterminate them."
Percy nods, "Of course, your majesty."
Fredrick looks back at his knights and runs to follow his family to a hideaway.
"I love you so much," Frank reminded Hazel, kissing her on the lips. "Please stay safe for me and don't leave the hideaway unless Leo gets you."
"I wasn't planning on dying today anyway." Hazel says, kissing Frank over and over again, until he finally leaves to go prepare for battle.
Piper stood in the doorway of their room, holding Julia in her arms. "Come on Hazel, Leo is waiting for us and he has to leave as well."
Hazel grabs a couple of her things and they both rush down the hall to meet Leo. He smiles when he sees little Julia in Piper's arms.
"Wanna hold her?" Piper asked, noticing Leo's sadden eyes.
Leo didn't reject the offer and carried his daughter until they were forced to be separated when they arrived at the hideaway.
Julia was crying and crying as she watched the man she had learned to loved dearly over time, leave and close the doors.
"Daddy!" Julia cried, "Daddy!"
Leo closed his eyes, trying to shut his little's girls cries. Once he locked the door and puts the key away, Leo walks away.
Hazel and Piper tried to calm down Julia, while Annabeth lighted up some candles. Athena and Frederick spread out a few blankets, and Thalia stared out at a small crack between the walls.
"Deja vu as the French would say."
Aphrodite chuckled, "Tell me about it."
Annabeth stares at the women, remembering what Luke had told about her about Aphrodite's past.
She looses her braid, not caring about how terrible she looks. "How long do you think this battle will take?"
Thalia shrugged, "The last one lasted almost all day. Starting from the morning all the way to twilight."
"Let's hope it's not that long," Annabeth whispered, hearing footsteps above them.
Piper held on to Julia closer to her chest and Hazel continued to calm down the child. Everyone stayed quiet, afraid that a possible enemy was above them. They soon heard the footsteps leave and they all let go of the breath they were holding.
"That was scary," Piper whispered, placing Julia in a bed of pillows they made for her. She grabs a blanket and places it on the little girl to keep her warm.
Annabeth agrees, laying down next to Julia. "Guys..I'm drifting off into sleep." She yawns deeply, why was she feeling so sleepy?
"Are you alright?" Hazel asked.
The princess nodded her head. "Yeah I'm just really..really...tired." In a matter of seconds, Annabeth was knocked out.
Annabeth walked down the forest to follow the deer that seemed to want to show her something. She knew she was still in England, since she passed the cottage where her and Percy would go to escape their families.
Annabeth...Annabeth...
The princess heard the haunting voice continue to whisper her name. Who was that? The deer stopped in front of a willow tree and suddenly disappeared.
"What the hell..."
"Now, now, princess. Let's not have that pretty little mouth get dirty."
Annabeth groaned, recognizing that voice. "Esmeralda."
The witch flashes in front of the princess, chuckling. "That's me! How you been sweetheart?"
Annabeth laughed bitterly. "How have I been?! My husband and friends are out there risking there lives, not knowing if they will live to see another day! My friend already lost the father to her child if that couldn't be bad enough."
Esmeralda didn't seem affected by Annabeth's outburst. Instead, she was focusing more on sipping her tea than the princess.
"And that's is my fault?"
"No...but you keep popping into me and Percy's lives like a disease!"
"You're comparing me to a disease?" She muttered. "That's a first, but it's just you and Percy who hate me as well."
Annabeth froze, "Who else are you appearing on?"
Esmeralda shrugged, "Jason Grace, Rachel Dare, I tried appearing in Hazel's dream but she always shuts me out. She must have some sort of a protection spell, I also tried with Frank but it was hopeless. Let's see...I scared the crap out of Reyna in her dreams, by disguising myself as her ex-lover who abused her physically. Man, it was fun messing around with her."
The princess couldn't believe this bitch. How dare she do that go Reyna after all she's been through? Annabeth clenches her fists and takes one step towards Esmeralda. She then holds back her fist and punches the witch in the nose.
Esmeralda was so surprised by the sudden act of the violence, that she stumbled back and fell on the ground. Under the moonlight, Annabeth can see that she caused Esmeralda to bleed.
The witch covers her nose, slowly getting up from the ground. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Now, now, we don't want that mouth to get dirty." Annabeth mocked, grinning.
Esmeralda smiled, wiping the blood clean from her face with a wave of her hand.
"Cute, Annabeth." She says. "Real cute."
"I want you to stay out of our lives," she told the witch. "I don't want you anywhere near me or my family. I especially don't want you near, Percy."
The witch laughed. "You see, Annabeth, I can't do that."
The princess frowned. "Why not?"
"My job is simple and always has been since the start. I give a prophecy to an unfortunate soul and it becomes my job to make sure that prophecy comes true. I may have destroyed lives in the progress, but it's my job."
Annabeth was taken aback by this. "Wait...so you're the one who helped Luke and Rachel get to England?"
"You're wise side is finally showing, Annabeth. Yes, I did help Luke and Rachel so the prophecy will be completely set. Now I get to watch everything unfold as planned, but you becoming pregnant wasn't part of the plan."
Annabeth gasped, holding her stomach. "So I am..."
"Yes, you're pregnant with a little girl. Oh how beautiful she will become and I can just imagine her holding hands with the boy who would become her love. He'll be adorable! After all, he is the son of-"
"Stop!" Annabeth screamed, making the crows fly away from their nests. "Just stop it!"
Esmeralda stared at the princess, surprised by her shouts. "Whats wrong? Don't you want to know that you will live long enough to see your daughter grow long beautiful black hair as ebony and have the most precious grey eyes as stone?" She then notices the princess twirling the ring on her finger. "Oh..Percy doesn't know does he?" Annabeth shakes her head. "Did you plan on telling him?"
"I didn't even know I was truly pregnant until now," Annabeth confessed. "It's to shocking to be honest."
She remembered that night. It was the last time they made love. Both were so stressed over the war and being separated, so they decided to let off the stress and make love. Annabeth didn't care about the consequences, that she didn't drink the tea that Calypso makes to prevent pregnancy. Annabeth didn't even think she could get pregnant, she was barely seventeen!
Esmeralda handed Annabeth a tissue and says, "I know this is shocking to you but trust me when I say this; To get a happy ending, you must go through hell so the fates can decides if you are worthy of having the perfect ending. If Percy ends up dying on the battlefield and you don't tell him you're expecting, he will die without knowing he would be a father. Think about it."
With a swift of her hand, Esmeralda was gone. Leaving a soon to mother alone in her dreams.
The clang of swords. Sweat rolling down his back. Another soldier standing next to him as he slashed and swung his blade.
Nico was in battle mode, registering the minutest of details. He ducked, rolling to his side to plunge his sword into another man's armor, barely noticing as the man fell to his knees, as he was already on to the next enemy.
Bianca was across the field, and Nico's eyes lingered on her a second longer than they should have, before he immersed himself in battle again.
The shouts of men on both sides- you could never tell which side they were on by their screams, only by the armor they wore, which made it harder to tell if it was one of yours, harder to tell if it was friend or foe- sounded around him. He blocked it out the best he could, knowing the best way to help them, to avenge them would be to slay more of the enemy. To end the war so that the survivors could get on with their lives, or get on the best they could.
Even with the dead surrounding him- especially with the dead surrounding him- Nico felt in his element. The feel of his blade in his hand felt steady and sure, and he didn't have to worry about what he was saying or doing as long as he protected the castle.
Though he was in no way enjoying himself. Not with people to protect, not with Thalia inside and Bianca fighting alongside him and his men.
Sudden panic struck him, the need to see her, the need to make sure she was alright. It was stupid panic- of course she was alright, she was Bianca- but he made his way towards her, fighting his way through the crowd.
"There's too many of them," he shouted when he reached her. "We need to move inside the castle and defend the doors!"
He said it partially because it was true, and partially to get her inside, where there was less of a chance of her getting hurt, less of a chance of her being separated from him.
"Should we call a retreat?" She asked, still firing from her bow.
"No, just you and me," Nico replied, as the two stood back to back and made their way into the castle.
A few knights were already inside, so they traveled further into the castle, towards one of the many servants entrances. They stood there for a moment, catching their breath as the adrenaline coursed through their bodies.
Bianca lowered her bow, still keeping the arrow notched. She turned to say something to her brother as a loud bang sounded through the room, echoing off the stone walls. The wooden door splintered, a pattern like that of a spider's web forming through the wood.
Two men broke through the doors, ugly men with blood staining their armor, swords in their hands, and daggers sheathed in their belts.
Bianca fired an arrow as one of them lunged towards Nico. The man dodged, however, the arrow only nicking his ear. Suddenly, he was in front of Nico, and their swords were clashing and clanging.
Bianca fired arrow after arrow at the other man, who dodged them, or they buried themselves in his arm or calf- never anywhere fatal, never anywhere that would kill.
Then he was too close to shoot at, and Bianca dropped her bow, pulling an arrow out to stab him with. As it plunged toward his heart, he caught her wrist in his, snapping it back painfully. The sickening crack of bone shattering echoed through room, and Nico was filled with rage, bringing his sword up and into the man he was fighting landing a killing blow that would have the man dead within minutes.
He ran towards Bianca, but it was too late, he knew it was too late, the thug who had come in after the man Nico had just killed was driving a blade through Bianca's chest.
His eyes clouded with tears- he wouldn't let them escape however, not until he was alone and this man that had killed his sister had suffered would he let them out- and he was seeing red.
With a battle cry he drove his blade through the thug's stomach, a wound that would cause the man much suffering as the liquids in his stomach ate away at his other organs. In fifteen minutes, he would be dead, and he would suffer for those fifteen minutes, though he wouldn't suffer half as much as Nico was right now, not even a fourth as much.
And then he was kneeling before his sister, kneeling beside her corpse as the ice cold stone dug into his knees and his sword clattered to the floor, falling along side her bow.
"Bianca," he whispered, caressing her rapidly cooling cheek. Memories of them came rushing through his head, though they were all blurry, blurry like his eyes were, and then he was crying, fat tears running down his own cheeks, as he leaned over the body of his dead sister- how, how could she be dead? How could a person be alive in one moment and gone the next, like they had never been there at all, like sand falling through your fingers and being swept away by the wind. He lost his mother and now he has lost his sister. Nico was officially alone.
He heard something behind him, but dismissed it as the pitiful man behind him- the horrible, cruel man behind him- slowly dying, not letting Nico have this one moment. But Nico wasn't going to give the foul creature one look, for anyone who had killed Bianca- who was so beautiful, and young, and in no way deserved this, in no way deserved to be dead- truly was a foul, despicable creature.
But behind him, the man rose to his knees, and in one last act of vengeance- in one last act of cruelty, of savagery, of inhumanity- slowly drew the dagger out of his belt and made his way to the man kneeling over his loved one.
And he smiled- this despicable being, for he was not human, could never be human, smiled a vicious smile- and brought back his arm, raising his dagger, the silver of the blade refracting the dull candle light, and drove it into Nico's back.
Nico, grief stricken as he was, did not feel the knife protrude through armor and flesh- did not feel the blood seeping through his clothes, did not feel it as the other man finally collapsed behind him- leaving a gaping wound straight to it's target.
He did not feel it because his heart was already broken.
XX
Blood.
The crimson liquid was everywhere they turned, staining the yellow and orange carpet that had taken the seamstresses months to sew.
That wasn't the only damage the castle had taken, however. The curtains that the servants would spend hours dusting were torn, shredded as if a cat had raked it's claws along them. Family portraits littered the floor, ripped into stips, some still attached to the frame, hanging on by a thread.
Annabeth covered her nose to lessen the putrid smell of blood, for it was too much for the princess to handle. Beside her was Piper, holding Annabeth's hand, her chest heaving with sobs. Hazel carried a sleep Julia in her arms, trying not to cry for she wouldn't wake up the child.
Every few seconds they would come across another body, both male and female. Some they recognized and some they didn't. Whether the royal family knew them or not, however, there was something they all had in common; they all had families. If you looked closely, you could see husbands and wives, daughters and sons, lying dead on the floor- not soldiers, for they were part of a family first, although now their spouses were widowed and, in some cases, their children were orphaned.
No matter what color the corpse wore, passing each body caused another crack to form through the royal family's heart.
Throughout the battle, the Chase family and other royals had been hidden in a secret passageway underneath the castle. Once the battle had ended, Leo had been sent to guide them back to the surface. Even so, Athena had found their refuge more pleasant than this ruin, where there were bodies everywhere you looked.
"We should go to the dining room," spoke Frederick, shattering the silence. "It… there might be food there."
Following after Leo, the family kept their eyes rooted to the floor. Thalia was the only one who was observing their surroundings, noticing most of the dead were of France.
The princess craved to kick their corpses, to spit on them and scream profanities at them, to tell them that they had ruined everything. She had some self-restraint though, and knew that would not be appropriate.
They passed nurses- including Calypso and Reyna. Both women were helping a knight walk on one leg to the infirmary.
Thalia couldn't help but notice the exchange between Leo and Reyna as they passed. She saw tears of relief in the nurse's eyes, happy to know that her beloved was still alive. Bruised and battered, but still alive. She also seemed to long to hold her daughter, but knew she had a duty first. And that was to aid the injured. The princess caught sight of an empty hallway with only two or three bodies on the floor. As she was about to continue walking- there was nothing new down that hall, only more carnage, more people left for dead- she heard a groan of pain.
The castle went silent as the sound echoed off the walls. Another groan, and the faces of those around her- those who were still alive- morph into shock. A knight was still alive!
"Oh, my gods," Thalia picks up her skirts, clutching them in her hands as she runs down the hall, ignoring the shouts of her family.
She was only a few paces away from the body, when her foot caught on the shaft of a discarded arrow. She fell on her knees next to a corpse, screaming when she noticed that his eyes were open and a blow to his head was what had taken his life. Blood flowed from the wound like a river, leading a path to three other knights.
A lump formed in Thalia's throat. Two paces away were none other than Nico and Bianca Di Angelo, a body of an enemy soldier lying behind them.
"No," whispered Thalia, crawling on her knees to the siblings. She held Nico close to her, and touched his cheek. It was ice cold. His skin was pale- paler than usual- and his hair had lost it's shine. A dagger was sticking out of his back, directly above his heart. Blood covered his body.
Another groan, but this time the source was closer. Thalia looks to Bianca, realizing the girl was the one groaning. The princess gasped; Bianca was alive! She looked over her shoulder. "Call a nurse," she ordered. "We have one alive over here, who needs serious medical attention."
Athena offered to fetch the nurses and disappeared from the hallway. Thalia heard her family coming in as well, but paid them no mind.
"Nico," she murmured, tears falling off her cheeks. "Please, open your eyes, for me."
Memories flew through Thalia's mind. Their first meeting, their first kiss, his smile- the one that he only gave her, the one she was the only person to see-, and the first time they had made love. It had been when she was leaving for Scotland, both afraid of losing the other. Nico had promised that he would never leave her; she knew now that some oaths were made to be broken.
Thalia held Nico's body closer. "I love you," she whispered, crying harder. She knew that she would never hear those words spoken by his lips again. They were separated for good, and nothing could bring them back together, nothing but death.
Two nurses rushed in with the queen, shocked to see Bianca alive. They quickly helped her stand and took the wounded warrior to the infirmary.
Athena noticed Thalia holding a man in her arms. "Should I get another nurse for him?" she asked, not knowing that Nico, the man Thalia loved, the man she had given her heart to, was dead.
Thalia slowly shook her head. "I couldn't save him this time. I wasn't here to stop this," she whispered. "My angel is now dead."
Yeah...that's the chapter and I am so sorry...so so sorry. I didn't want to kill him off but I had to, trust me.
So go ahead and leave hurtful reviews about me being a terrible author. I won't blame you or get upset.
So here's the announcement! At least we get some good news.
I am working on a new story and it will be Jasper story! I am very excited for it but the ideas for the story is coming slow so it might take time until I upload it.
I'm also working on my second installment of a Christmas oneshot series with the 7! It will have different stories with two being based on New Years Eve, unless plans change.
So yeah get excited for those and the holidays!
I love you guys and trust me, there will be a bright ending. It might even shock some of you.
Oh! I'm going to go watch Mockingjay this Friday and I am so excited! Who else is going watch it? Tell me in the reviews!
Well, until next time!