A/N: Guys I keep forgetting to update this, I suck... anyway, I promise from now on, updates will be more frequent! Hope you're excited. :D
If there's one thing I've learned about being a demigod, it's that life really hates you.
Sure, some demigods get it better than others. Some have a good life with their mortal family. Others, not so much. Some don't even have a mortal family (ie myself). But no matter what situation your family might be in, it doesn't change the fact that as soon as you were born, your life was pretty much screwed.
From an outsider's perspective, being a demigod probably sounds like fun. Fighting monsters, throwing chocolate fountains at an empousa, fighting a manticore on a waterslide, getting in a car chase with your zombie chauffeur. To a mortal, I bet it all looks like fun and games. But to us? It's life and death. You mortals have no idea how lucky you are. I don't mean to sound preachy, but keep living your normal lives. You're much better off than us.
Isabella was one of the unluckiest demigods I'd ever met, including myself. And considering us demigods aren't really known for being lucky… yeah. Monsters had it out for her even more so than your average demigod. I've lost count of all the weird encounters we'd had on our journey. I was genuinely surprised we survived it all.
The dark presence underneath my feet was really putting into perspective how unlucky Isabella was. The dark presence was reminding me of Tartarus, which isn't exactly a fun family vacation hot spot. The storm brewing in the sky wasn't doing us any favours either.
"So," I turned to Sage, who looked like they were going to faint. "A monster under the mountain."
"Get out of here," they repeated, getting into my personal space. "Now."
Their eyes were narrowed, and their fists were clenched.
"Too late," Isabella said, grimly. "It's already here."
The ground began to tremble like my dad was having a tantrum. The trees were falling over one at a time. The solid ground beneath us was full of cracks.
"You're right, Sage," I said. I grabbed Isabella's arm. "Screw it. Let's get out of here."
Isabella pulled her arm away from me.
"You go," she told me, blinking heavily. "I stay."
"Don't be ridiculous, kid," I said, reaching out. "We're leaving. Come on."
"No, Nico," Isabella said, her voice emotionless. "You've done your part already. All you need to do is leave me here."
"With that monster under the mountain?" I asked. "No way in Hades. Come on."
For some reason, I thought of the prophecy for a second...
The child of the soul,
A destiny so cold.
But Isabella still refused to move. She turned away from me, as the ground continued to crack. I could hear monsters screeching in the distance.
"What's wrong with you?!" I demanded. "Bella, you're going to die here!"
I realised I couldn't sense her emotions anymore. There was nothing there. It was almost like she was…
"You're going to die if you stay here, Hades' kid," Sage told me, appearing beside me. "Use your shadow powers and get outta here! And, uh, take me too, please…"
"But Isabella…" I reached out.
Isabella stared at me. Her expression was blank. She was starting to look like a soul from the Fields of Asphodel.
No, don't think that way, I thought. I had to be positive for once. She's alive. She's not going to die.
"This is my destiny, Nico," she told me. "My soul will be the one to destroy that monster."
"So…" I coughed it out, "you're going to…"
A journey she must make,
A heart she must break.
"Die," Isabella finished. "But you're a Child of the Underworld. Death is no stranger to you."
"Yeah," I agreed. "I am a Child of the Underworld." I grabbed her shoulder. "But I'm also a child of a mortal. That means… when possible, even I try to avoid death."
"Then avoid it this time," Isabella told me, expression blank. "You brought me here, you gave me the strength to defeat the monster. You gave me my hero's blessing. That's all you needed to do. You can leave."
"Are you serious?" I asked, clenching my fists. "Did you… know this was going to happen?! That you were going to die up here?!"
Isabella didn't reply.
"You did," I said, trying to control my fury. "So… you've been lying to me."
No response.
"Or have the gods been planning to use you as some kind of weapon?" I asked. "Either way… you knew, and I didn't. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Go," Isabella replied.
"Why did you lie to me?!" I demanded.
"Go away!" Isabella retorted. "You'll die if you stay here!"
A wave of sadness rolled over me, dragging me down. I clenched my fists over my heart. The prophecy came to me in a sudden moment:
A heart she must break.
The son of Hades protects her fate,
Yet in the end she cannot truly escape.
"Don't die," Isabella pleaded, tears falling down her cheeks. "You're my only friend. Please… don't die."
"Bella…" I tried to speak.
"Alright, fine, I'm leaving without you," Sage yelled. "I don't wanna die either!"
They ran off, leaving us alone.
"Nico…" Isabella sobbed, falling to her knees. "I don't want to die… I don't want to die fighting that thing…"
I kneeled down beside her, awkwardly touching her shoulder. "I know. That's why we're going to leave."
"No, we can't leave," Isabella said, eyes going wide. "That thing has the power to destroy humanity! I don't want to, but…" She gasped. "I know what to do."
"What is it?" I asked.
"You can fight that monster," Isabella said. Her eyes lit up. "That's why you accompanied me. Nico, with my power… you can defeat the monster!"
"With your power?" I asked.
"You gave me my hero's blessing," Isabella told me. "That means you can help me! And we can win... together!"
A hero's blessing she must earn,
Or evil consumes and Mount Othrys burns.
Hero's blessing… I thought.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"I'm the child of the Soul," Isabella told me. "I can combine the godly part of our souls. Which means… we'll create a new god to fight that monster."
"Are you serious...?" I asked, taking a step back.
Isabella nodded. The ground continued to shake. The monster was going to be here at any moment.
"It's up to us," Isabella said, taking my hand. "Nico… if you don't want to…"
"No, let's do it," I said, firmly. "Let's become a god."
Isabella had me stand up. She then took my hands.
"Close your eyes," she told me. "Think of godly power."
When it came to godly power, the first thing I thought of was my father. Then I thought of the other Olympian gods, Chiron, Percy, and all the others at camp. It would be a shame if something happened to them. Camp was the only person I had ever called home.
Then it happened. I was dying and being reborn at the same time. I was screaming as everything turned black and white. My head pounding and my eyes were being forced open. My body felt like it was being flayed alive, but also changing form, getting stronger…
This was it. I was becoming… a god.