Nico's POV:
I can kill him, skewer him right now and no one would be the wiser. Maybe they'll chock it up to an assassin over this war no one is talking about. Though I am not stupid. No one will know it is I who did it. Who did him in. The oh so great Percy; considered handsome among anyone, a godsend, every girls' dream... The bastard that murdered my sister. And got away with it.
I can still her crying for help, for someone to save her. I can still hear the ugly sound of ripping flesh. And there was nothing I could do about it... Just watch from the eyes of a murderer. The helplessness as my limbs moved on their own gripping that god forsaken weapon.
No. Stop, don't go there again. But I can't help it. The loop of her death is constantly reminding me of just how damn useless I am.
I can still see it clearly. Percy's face. His face, reflecting back at me through the pool of her blood. Why? Why didn't he do anything!? Why didn't he save her like he did others!? Everyone makes him out to be an unstoppable force! So why!? Why wouldn't he save her!? Tsk, some hero...
I can't stop my hands from trembling nor the tears pooling in my eyes.
I can- should kill him. I hate him. I want Percy dead. I want him to know...
The realization hit me with the force of a truck. The knife I've been holding slid out of my hand clattering on the ground. I glared at his soon to be corpse digging my nails into the palms of my hand so viscously an oozing warmth began to trickle down. It does not seem right to do anything right now. Not when he has no clue. It is not fair. Not to Bianca's memory.
I want him to know who finally shoved a sword through his heart. And why. I want to watch him suffer. I want revenge. This isn't revenge. No, it is mercy. Killing him right now without the foggiest idea won't give Bianca the justice she deserves. I'll tear down his thrown brick by brick if I have to. He'll know. He has to know who did him in. Nico Di Angelo... Before he dies he will suffer like my sister suffered. I will make him beg.
It is strange, his white hair. White; symbolizing purity and innocence. The irony in that alone just makes me scowl and want to beat his face in with a shovel.
Also, how dare his brother try and cover for him? Do they think lying will help? Wrong! I know who I saw, I know who did it.
"That's right. Perseus." The voice in my head echoed.
A wicked smile slowly crawled over my face. Oh yes, this will definitely help. But as the way I am now? Hell no. It is clear that Percy definitely has some experience. So I need to train. Not here though. I don't trust them. And it is clear that they do not trust me. I see the way they look at me. Even Chiron. I can see how they want me out of the way. Just like Bian-... That is why she left in the first place. She didn't want to deal with me anymore.
If this bastard can survive on his own then so can I. No one wants me here anyway... No one wants me at all. Not dad, mom's dead, and Bianca chose to leave. I have no one... Because- because- because Percy took her away! "AAGHHH!" I shouted punching the wall. "Ow." Looking over, there wasn't so much of a scratch. And that's so freaking annoying!
'What do I have!? What makes me different from them!? Why doesn't dad care enough to claim me? Why does it feel like the world is always against me?...'
This is just so damn stupid. Propping my back against the wall I slowly slid down smacking the wall once more out of frustration. Before plopping down on the ground and bringing my knees into my chest. 'Why does everyone I care about leave me?' Sniffling, I dug my face further into the crook of my elbow, clutching my body a little harder... My sleeve slowly soaking in the tears that can't stop. 'It's not fair... I just want my sister back.'
Who am I kidding? For all my talk and almost doing it. I could never- I wouldn't ever... How can I when I can't even keep my thoughts straight?
"Pathetic."
I rubbed my face against my sleeve, wiping my nose against it as well. 'I hate you Percy.' I cursed at him, flipping him off.
"...You're sure you heard someone?" A girl asked walking by the window, her teeth chattering. My breathing got caught in my throat. I shouldn't even be in here, it's past curfew. 'Oh gods, what are they gonna think if they find me?' My eyes widened and I can't control my breathing. Oh I'm panicking. I'm panicking. I run a hand through my hair, what should I do? What should I do!?
"Yes, now would you shut up? And how are you even cold?" The guy or whatever scoffed playfully. Wait a minute, what are they doing here!? This isn't good. Not good at all.
"I get cold easily." She responded, but it sounded muffled. My heart is beating so loud that my ears can hardly make out what they are saying. I sprang up hugging my back to the wall, shuffling towards the door. *Clank* I held my breath, the kitchen knife, I kicked the damn kitchen knife!
"Shh. I think I heard him." Their footsteps stopped and my heart clenched.
"Or her." She clearly pushed him. For the first time I noticed their shadows dancing along the wall through the open windows. The moon now out which means their is less places for me to hide.
"Not helping." The other one mumbled. Their footsteps continued to drift away until I couldn't hear them anymore. I have to go. I can't stay. I just know they are gonna check in here because why not? I have to go. I took in a deep breath and held it, letting it go a few seconds later. My panic already dimming down a notch.
Waiting sucks, but I have to be sure that they aren't out there when I am. I cracked open the window and slid out into the chilly night, closing the window behind me. And ran.
"Running away like a coward. How predictable." That same cold voice entered my mind cutting away at that particular insecurity. I'm trying to ignore the voice in my head, but he just never seems to go away.
I don't know exactly where I'm going, but I'm going. Running away, I'm running away. I've seen kids do when they feel trapped. I definitely feel trapped. My feet pounded into the soft snow, my breath continued to escape my in short powerful breaths. I don't even know which direction I'm going in, just going. As I am running I can barely make out the cabins, trees, or whatever because my damn eyes just can't give up the water works.
Don't stop, just keep going. My foot caught a branch causing my to role down the hill "Ugh." escaping my lungs as I tumbled and rolled, seemingly hitting every freaking branch on the way down. The falling in a hole is the easy part, gravity is an efficient force. My face hit the ground hard, must've been a rock or something cause I'm feeling the strange tug of blood pooling just behind my nose. "Ow." I mumbled crawling onto my hands and knees. A trickle fell out of my nose and I immediately clapped my hand around it.
Titling my head back and putting pressure on my nose, I looked up. A small fissure just above me letting in the slightest of lights to pass through. So I did actually fall into a hole. Looking left, then right, this place is a lot bigger than I thought possible. What the hell? How many more secrets does this place have anyway?
"Nice going Nico." I grumbled. It's be best to get out of here. Now all I have to do is jump and - "Wait!" The fissure crumpling in on itself. That was my only way out.
Annabeth's POV:
Hindsight really is twenty-twenty. Looking back, I honestly don't know what to really make out of the last week. Sure, I've been give the chance to reconcile with my mortal parents, which I am now forever thankful for. And given the opportunity to share a day, a complete day, with my mother of all people just to nerd out over my designs is truly a blessing. I will never be thankful enough to the Fates for giving me such a prospect. I will also never live this down till the day I die... I doubt things will ever align so willingly in the future.
It's not pessimism, but my life hardly ever goes this well without nightmares backing it up. And of course it has to be this set of nightmares.
After so adamantly trying to be there for Percy, even though I probably didn't have that right in the first place, I was reminded how little I actually know. By Triton nonetheless. He made me question why I was doing any of this in the first place. I care, I know that much and I'm positive Percy would do the same for me. But does that really warrant me going this for someone I hardly know? Was is just because I considered him a friend? Or was it because I liked him?... Still like him. For some damn reason, that no logic or wisdom can seem to grasp. It's infuriating. Plus talking with Aphrodite only slapped me in the face.
Then hearing that Bianca died. Hearing, not seeing. I didn't see anything, I only had to rely on Triton's solemn words. That hurt because maybe if I was there I could have prevented that passing. Unlike Jessica's. I was too weak for her.
And yet, after all that. After the whirlwind of emotions. After believing I can stop another death from happening. After seeing Percy baring the weight of the sky. His condition. His blood. The pain. The utter agony he's endured. And him humming... After all that, dying actually looked rather pleasing. Rather worth it, if only it would stop the sheer misery.
Looking back at it, it really has been a monstrous rollercoaster of emotions. No matter what, I will never forget the positives. But, separating that from the events that will no doubt plague my nightmares will be difficult.
Now? Now, I honestly don't know. Plans need to be made, precautions need to be taken, and that is all well and good if we can keep it to ourselves. But, I'm not stupid to believe there aren't going to be spies. Now that is a sad thought...
I spot Thalia at the end of the pavilion chatting with her newfound sisters. Who were now simply waiting for Artemis before heading back to camp. Yea, the party was great and all, but now that things were dying down, for us mortals at least, it was well into the morning. Dawn is already here, as shown by the light chasing the dark away.
The moment she spotted me, she said something then jogged her way over to me, "So? It's official." I told her crossing my arms over my chest.
"Yea, it's like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders." We winced at that followed by an awkward moment of silence.
"Anyway, it's good seeing like this. I know things were a little rough when you came back-"
"A little? I practically arrived right when Percy left basically swapping places with him overnight." Thalia scoffed and I know that she is reminiscing how that particular night lasted longer than almost any other night.
"Sorry. We shouldn't have put that on you."
"Don't worry about it. I mean one child of the Big Three disappears only for another to show up like magic. It basically screams the gods getting involved. Who wouldn't think that was a sign for a change or something?" Thalia looked at me then sighed, I guess my face wasn't all that convincing because she continued, "Seriously it's okay."
"Still..." I rubbed my left triceps.
"I did it for you, you know. You and everyone else. Sure I was pissed that it was dropped onto me, but hey it made me realize something... I've never been free and when it all came closing in. Everything with Aphrodite, I admit it hurt, but now I get to live for myself. Please understand that this isn't anything against you or Percy." Yea, I knew exactly where she was coming from. "And... *Sigh* I felt like I was staring death right in the face up on that mountain. It scared the hell out of me." Yea, so was I it seems.
"I do understand. Maybe that's why it's so easy to let you go... But I can't join you either." I sighed staring directly into her electric blue eyes. I know she wants me to, I wanted to for awhile there. But I can't just drop everything and leave it to the other campers. It wouldn't be fair for them, nor me. I'm not saying they can't do it... But my family has grown, so I have to do it for them. I know I can do it. I don't know what life would be like without camp to be honest. How sad is that?
"I know. Trust me I know... Maybe one day when things blow over, we can be sisters again. Sisters that are on the same page." Thalia smiled bringing me into a crushing hug. "I'm going to miss you." Thalia mumbled into my collarbone.
"Now who's being dramatic? We still have all day before you guys head out." I chuckled pulling away while getting a good look at her face. She had that face.
"Well, about that. Zoe already talked with Artemis and once we're ready we will drop you guys off then leave. Something came up and Artemis wants to look into it right away." I figured something like that would happen. Something like that always happens.
"Oh." Was the only I thought of to say.
"Yea, oh." Thalia responded bringing me into another hug. This time I just let us stay like that for a moment. Who knows when I will see her next. "I'm gonna miss you guys."
"Me too." We hugged for a little while longer before Artemis came over. Along with a gleaming Apollo.
"Change of plans. It seems Apollo volunteered to take you three back." Artemis looked apprehensive, but clearly she agreed.
"Yeparoo! I drop you kids off, check on Percy, then I'm off to do my duties or whatever." Apollo spread his arms out wide nearly blinding me the flash of his teeth alone.
Apollo step closer ushering us towards the far end of the pavilion giving us little chance to say edgewise. The way in, naturally, is also a way out. It seems that the wind gods also grew stricter in their duties because the four of us walked further and further. Until we hit the pathway to the elevator Yet, Apollo hardly seemed to care because he just kept talking the entire time, arms still spread wide. As if he's trying to stop us from turning around. Though I don't really care anymore. I'd like to take a break right about now.
Through the elevator doors. *Ding*
Past the guard.
Onto the street.
Into a luxury sports car. That thankfully seats four.
Driving mindlessly, no radio music by the way. Just Apollo's songs. They're quite catchy actually. Don't tell him that though.
Early enough that traffic didn't occur yet.
Past the city. Towards camp.
It felt surreal as we finally broke the barrier of the city during the cusp of dawn. The darkest part of the day no longer exists, so we finally get to look forward to the glamorous shine of a new day. If that shine can beat the relentless cover of gloomy grey that maybe things will finally lighten up. We are no longer cowering in the unknown threshold of the shadows. No, now we have the chance to see and therefore plan for the future.
Seeing the white touched trees through a thin pane of glass while cocooned in warmth, some part of me thinks that is Apollo's doing, reminded me of every winter centered movie I've ever seen. Not that it was much, but the feeling is still there. The slight orange tinge to the powdered snow slowly melting away as more light comes forth. The silence winter brings that never changes. This nostalgic feeling of bundling up with a nice cup of hot chocolate while reading a good book.
Yes, it definitely feels surreal. A nice change of pace... I know I wanted to do a quest, but the cost? I wasn't prepared for that. Now that things finally have died down from all that excitement, I can take a moment to myself and relax. Just a moment. Because life has decided that war is the next step. And we will be prepared for that. But in order to be prepared, I need to be at my best. Otherwise it will cost lives...
Well that took a dark turn. Why can't life be like the books I read, where no matter what the situation is it ends with laughter and a happy ending. Where trauma is a beautiful lie we deny and beat every time it comes up. Just to get stronger and beat the bad guys again and again. If only.
The car jerked to a stop and it hit me. We're here; Camp Half-Blood. We exited the car by the side of the road under the edge of the barrier to camp. Why not inside? I don't know and really don't care enough to ask. Must be a trust issue leaving a fancy car where kids are known to be trouble.
We walked through the snow silently as we approached Peleus. The snake-headed dragon with copper scales and yellow eyes only gave us a passing gaze as we ventured forward. The boundary was clear as day, as was the shift in temperature giving me the chance to ease off hugging my stomach tightly for warmth. A part of me wants to hike straight to my cabin, faceplant, and sleep like my life depended on it. But, I felt obligated to at least see Chiron before I do so.
So to the Big House it is.
And I'm not the only one. Actually all four of us, Zoe, Apollo, Grover, and I just kept on walking in sync. Apollo found it funny enough to laugh. Only to have Zoe snarl at him with Grover torn between laughing nervously and glaring to impress her. What a sight to see.
"If you're looking for Chiron, he just left." Malcolm yawned shaking away some of his exhaustion. Why was he up? He walked past us from who knows where towards the cabins.
"Where?" I asked.
"He'll tell you later. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going for a well deserved nap." Malcolm yawned once more, his eyes already looking droopy. I nodded then turned finding that they went on without me. Those jerks. Jogging up to the house I walked through the rooms until I reached the obvious.
"Thanks for waiting up. Much appreciated." I threw out just now noticing the fact that they were all doing something different.
Apollo walked right up to Percy's bed with the posture of a soldier. Every action he took was precise and purposeful. He smiled in the cold and distant way professionals do. I can never relax around such expressions. I need a genuine face, preferably a smile, but if not I'd really rather they didn't fake it. His eyes were devoid of anything real. It's scary how he can change from the usual cheerful to sort of dreary at the drop of the hat. I can't even figure out why, why is he even doing this, and it's bugging me. Through the examination he gave commands rather than requests of what we should be doing from now on. When the prodding was over my eyes wondered over to the boy in the covers in anticipation of him speaking to me, but when I raised them again the room was quite empty; Apollo wasn't anywhere. I don't get it. The walls seemed far away. Now thinking about it, does Percy felt trapped- tethered by tubes?
Grover had hovered two feet behind, his nervous expression of earlier replaced with a grim slash for a mouth and knitted brows that downright screamed uncertainty. Something is eating at him, again, and I definitely need to ask him about that.
The huntress immediately took the armchair over to the side, legs crossed and fingers intertwined over one knee. She leans forwards and watches Percy uncaringly, but in duty. Zoe doesn't so much as budge. She doesn't waver nor twitch. But as quick as she settles, Zoe jumps a little reaching for one of her pockets. I saw her pick out a flute and stare at it for a second before scoffing and tossing by Percy's bedside.
I recognize that flute.
"Where did you get that?" I demanded, definitely remembering the last time I heard that flute play.
"Artemis wanted me to give back seeing that I'm on guard duty." Zoe waved off. "All this over a boy nonetheless."
"That doesn't answer my question." I said matter of factly. Grover agreed with me. She's deflecting. Not that I expected her to do anything else.
"Look, we found Percy, let him go, then he vanished. All we found was that damned flute and some frost. We couldn't find him after that until the entire quest debacle." Zoe sighed as if there was a lot more to that situation than she's letting on. Of course there is, this Zoe speaking. "I've been carrying that thing for awhile now. About time."
"What happened?" Grover asked, plenty intrigued.
Zoe didn't answer. In fact she decided to stay quiet. Practically ignoring us. And it stayed that way for a few minutes.
I called it, I'm heading to bed. As I left the Big House rounding the corner I wondered why-ever I had gotten out of bed yesterday. My facial expression was cadaver-like, not just sagged but lacking it's usual liveliness completely, as if I had left my spirit snuggling under the duvet yesterday. Now I'm walking to get back there. My eyelids started drooping and there was a slight loll to my head, drunk with fatigue after that doozy of a party.
Once I hit my cabin, I subtlety dragged my feet to my bed. Plopping down I didn't even bother putting on a change of clothes. No I just went under the covers wanting to get any sleep I can in before the hell of prep settles in.
Falling asleep was one of the best parts of the day, there in the cozy blankets, snug and safe, letting the world of dreams come to me in its dancing way. As long as the nightmares don't stab me first.
The first of many.