Chapter 2
There's a bit of weather on the plane
Will
Will never had much difficulty with his dyslexia like many of the others, but the books Chiron gave them started to give him a headache. He didn't know if it was the odd swishy word font, or if it was the overall phrasing of the words. But, really, who names a plant Gillyweed? The overall concept of the aqua like plants still baffled him as he stretched his lanky body out of the sleep of reading. Casually tossing the book on the table with the others, Will prepared himself for what was to come. Already having his medical package ready and Nico's. Yes, Nico got his very own "special" medical bag. Will started for the door, taking a glance at the clock before heading out.
The cool air welcomed him as Will lugged his luggage down his cabin's steps with a steady thud thud thud. It was the ending of summer, the trees along the border already betraying their lively green tint and were transforming into oranges and yellows in patchy areas.
He threaded along the dirt driven path till he was at the foot of Thalia's tree. Surrounding the tree Nico and Reyna sat upon their suitcases like chairs and Chiron stood patiently along the side.
"About time, our quest hasn't even begun and you're already late Solace," Nico sneered.
"Happy to see you too Di Angelo." Will could already see Nico's mouth curled in a small smile before he shifted his attention to Chiron.
"Here, I have your tickets. One for the plane, and the other for the train you will be taking to the school. You must be attentive to the time as the train leaves no later than stated." Nico shifted his weight looking down at the grass that he was suddenly interested in. As if reading his mind Chiron added, "Zeus has granted all of you with passage through his realm. But, he warns you not push your luck."
"Of course," Nico mumbled.
After they bid their goodbyes and farewells the three of them pushed along and hailed a taxi. Surprisingly enough the three of them managed to travel through half of the city without having to demolish it. It must have been a new record!
Going through the plane's security took an eternity and all of them started to fidget in line. Before boarding the plane Will handed Nico a small cookie.
"What's this?" Nico raised an eyebrow.
"It's a cookie."
Nico rolled his eyes, "I know what it is, but why did you give it to me?"
"Can't I just give you nice things as your boyfriend?"
Nico just gave him a blank stare, not taking the bait.
Giving up, Will sighed, "Just eat it, Di Angelo, before I force it down." Not objecting Nico popped the small size cookie into his mouth.
There was so much stress between the chaotic plane station, and Nico's constant fidgeting Will wrapped his arms around him for reinsurance of a safe flight.
Within minutes of taking their seats on the plain Nico passed out. His head suddenly collapsing on Will's shoulder. His labored breathing began to steady out to a light rhythm in his sleep.
"Will, what just happened?" Reyna's eyes full of concern.
Will pulled out a blanket from a bag and rested it up to Nico's shoulders. " I put a sleeping pill in the cookie he ate earlier. I learned the trick in a book called How to take care of Pets on a plane."
Reyna rose an eyebrow, "So you drugged your boyfriend?" She took in the scene, "He's gonna kill you. You know that?"
"Yup." Will chuckled to himself at the idea as he rested his head against the plane's window.
When the plane took off the intercom went off, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen my name is John Hilton and I will be your pilot for this flight. Weather in London is looking a bit gloomy with clouds hanging over. Well, if you look at that, if you all could look to your right you can see a small flock of birds up ahead while we ascend." Everyone turned to their right, bringing out their phones to snap pictures of the birds. As Will looked out his heart fell. What he saw ahead we're not birds but were harpies. And, they were coming this way.
"I- I have to go to the bathroom." Will hastily nudged Nico's weight onto Reyna and quickly walked down the hall. He didn't want to worry her about this problem. Not yet. Zeus had granted them passage, but the monsters weren't going to let them go. With all the people on board, the last thing he need was a falling plane.
Not looking where he was going Will bumped into a flight attendant with drinks in her hands. "I'm sorry sir but we are still ascending, please take your seat."
"I, uh, have to go to the bathroom."
"Take a seat, sir. The plane will leave out shortly." She said a bit sour.
As Will began to walk back with the attendant following the plane lost balance. Not being aware Will fell onto the attendant as her tray went into the air, soda and water falling on to the ground and passengers. With an eruption of anger and complaining Will back away from the people to only run into the lady with a cart by her side.
It all went sideways in a chain of reactions, like the ones you see in a cartoon. The cart went zooming down with the assistance at its toe. It crashed landed into another group of people, Reyna and Nico being one of them. Before he could be yelled at again, WIll shuffled as a fast as he could back to his seat.
"Nice going." Was all Reyna said as she grabbed a complimentary towel by the workers.
Nico opened his eyes dazed of what had happened, looked at his soaked blanket and then to Will. Not looking at all surprised by the chains of events Nico rolled over to his side grumbling to himself and went back to sleep. It was going to be an interesting quest after all.