Chapter 19: Punishment?
Date Updated: May 29, 2020
Hey guys! Are you still there? I know it has been six years since I have last updated and that last update was an author's note. How cruel of me? Yet I haven't updated anything after that. But since there is a pandemic, this gave me the time to look back to this story and give you guys the update that you deserve!
I know that I have started this story ten years ago, not knowing about Nico's sexuality since The Heroes of Olympus doesn't exist yet at that time. I was wrapped up in my lovely thalico fandom. So, if you don't like this, there are other fanfics out there. But still, thank you for giving my story a shot!
Are there still thalico shippers out there? This chapter is for you!
Disclaimer: I wish I own this but unfortunately, Rick Riordan does.
One, two, three, four, five. Five arrows left. She firmly grasped the arrow and shot it with her bow to the emposai that was fast approaching her. She wiped the sweat that glistened on her forehead as she hid herself behind a boulder.
Six, eight, ten more monsters emerged on her nine o'clock but sadly, there were only four arrows left. She moved further in the woods while planning a strategy in her clouded mind. She crouched down and released a breath she didn't know she was holding in. Why isn't her arrow refilling? Engulfing deep breaths and evening out a labored breathing, she summoned lightning and placed it in her arrow and shot it again in another empousai that was advancing on her. Each second that has passed, she becomes tired but fought it because her adrenaline is still pumping.
Three arrows left and three more monsters emerged from the forest. The sun is setting now making it more intense darker in some parts of the forest. You see, she was just having a stroll in the forest, but with caution, since being a daughter of one of the big three attracts a lot of monsters. But she lost track of the time because she is clouded with her thoughts that an army of monsters appeared right in front of her. What was her first move? She ran deeper into the forest like a coward. She was still disoriented with her thoughts that the monsters barely registered in her mind that she made a run for it. She was running around, shooting light bolts and throwing her arrows using here bow here and there, in every direction she sees a monster for the past hour or so, she lost track of the time. Her arrows are definitely running low.
Maybe the gods are punishing her. Maybe there was just a price to pay in the decision she had made. She grabbed another arrow and shot it again in a monster, followed by small jets of lightning that seemed to ignite the monster. Grabbed the fourth arrow and shot it again, blasted off six monsters in a row with the lightning she summoned. There were roughly twenty-five monsters left but she only have an arrow left. The gods are really punishing her.
Well, here goes nothing, she thought. Steadying her stance, she grabbed her last arrow and did a quick glance at the monsters. She spotted the largest one and made it her target. Might as well start from the tallest, she thought and shrugged. Summoning lightning, she placed it in her arrow and with her bow, it flew and went straight, hitting it square in the monster's chest. With this, she grew more exhausted and tired but then she shrugged it off and composed herself. Hastily wiping her sweat on her forehead and neck, she is definitely battling with exhaustion and a number of monsters. Gathering up her last little strength, she summoned more lightning bolts in her hands and shot it at every monster advancing towards her.
A sudden movement caught her peripheral vision. The monsters are also disappearing in anguish one by one by one. She slashed the throat of a monster on her right with her bow and desperately searched for the source of the one helping her. I must thank that person later, she thought as she stabbed another monster with ease, her training as a former huntress is still intact. She stole another glance to the person but soon regretted it because right then and there, a monster advanced her that left a gash on her left forearm that made her release the breath that she had been holding in. Heaving lots of breath, she lost sight of the other person in the forest and she angrily threw more firebolts on that monster, leaving the Earth on a pile of ashes.
Twenty-five down to ten. There were only ten monsters left. She quickly scanned the now-dimmed forest since it was not past sunset. She just saw that shadow of the one who helped her. There stood a tall, lean, and pale person with an unruly hair was fighting six monsters at a time. Rocks were floating around the person as he skillfully slashed the monsters with a sword. Wait a minute, rocks? Her breath hitched as she thought of this. Her heart was definitely beating loudly that it might get out of her ribcage in the process, much worse, the beating of her heart tripled. That can't be him, right?
Don't let yourself get distracted, she scolded at herself. Just focus right now. Gathering more lightning, she zapped the remaining monsters and they all vanished at the same time as the other person finished fighting the other remaining monsters. Oh my gods, she muttered. Black dots appeared in her eyesight and she slightly feel wobbly. Supporting herself, she placed her hands on her knees, dropping her bow and dagger, and crouched down. She heard footsteps approaching her and she looked up right at the perfect time. Electric-blue eyes locked with obsidian black eyes. This made her breath hitch again.
"Are you hurt?"
"What are you doing here?"
"You're bleeding?"
"What are you-"
"Oh gods, you're bleeding." He placed a gentle hand on her wrist. She jumped at the skin-to-skin contact, not because of her wound.
"Wait, just-"
"You're hurt, can-" Different emotions can be seen behind his obsidian black eyes. She felt her knees buckle in exhaustion, relief, and confusion.
"Why are you here?"
He ignored her and quickly looked around. One emotion can now be seen in his eyes. Worry. The moon shone on his sweaty face and it is covered with some dried blood. She guessed she looked worse than he was, considering the fact that she had been fighting longer than he was.
"Let's get you back to-"
"Why aren't you answering-" she grew irritated and she became more exhausted, her knees buckled once more.
"Let's just go-" He place his other hand on her lower back and this made her crave for his touch that she have missed for weeks.
"Don't touch-"
"Don't be stubborn-"
"Don't you dare-"
"You need to get to the infirmary-"
"I don't need your-"
"Oh yes, you definitely need my-"
"Why are you like this, Nico?" She released her breath that she didn't realize she was holding in all this time.
"Because I -" She barely registered his last statement because she was then engulfed by blackness but she was able to hear him say her name again after weeks of not talking to each other. He called her Thalia again.
AN: I am very sorry I do not know how to write fight scenes and I forgot the monsters in this novel. I will update again next week, I promise you that! I have already finished this story so you won't be waiting that long.
I also started editing the previous chapters so if you want to check it out, feel free to do it!
What do you think? Review! Review! Review! - amazinganj