Chapter 10: Nico

I was glad that she was okay. But I was worried too. Worried about the anger that I saw in her beautiful eyes. Scared even about what she meant. Even more so, I didn't know what it was that she and her mother were going to do now. They were dangerous together. Perhaps I did hate Zeus with a flaming passion, but that prophecy gave me the shivers. Destined to destroy Olympus. What was it like, to live with the knowledge that you wouldn't be remembered for saving the world, but for destroying it? But it said that she would at last stand tall. Perhaps some good was to come out of it. After all, it also mentioned that she defied her destiny. I hoped this was so. But even if it wasn't, I loved her. Nothing would change that. Not now, not ever.

She looked up me tiredly. "We're going to have to shackle the others," she said, gesturing at the gods who we had eliminated.

Numbly, I nodded. Nimn came over and helped us bind them together with the strange fiery stuff that had been used to bind her and Kenzie. We never ran out of the stuff and when we were as sure as Hades that they couldn't escape Nimn told us to step back. We did so and Kenzie took my hand in hers. Even though she tried to suppress it, I could feel her shaking. I put my arms around her and held her close. Nimn didn't take any notice. I was glad that she wasn't treating me the way Athena did Percy whilst he and Annabeth were together. She raised her hands and began to chant. Darkness swirled around her and moved forward, enveloping the gods of Olympus. Percy tried vainly to struggle, but the darkness only surrounded them all the faster. In a few seconds, I couldn't see them at all. Artemis cried out, but then there was a flash of blinding light. Not exactly hostile, but cold and unfriendly. Black dust seemed to fly straight towards us, and Kenzie grabbed my hands, and I held her tighter. It past through us and when I dared look again, the gods were gone.

Nimn looked sadly at us. "They aren't dead Nico, so stop looking so horrified."

"Then what'd you do to them?" I demanded.

"I sent them straight to Tartarus, where I was banished myself for my powers. Your friend Percy may be able to find his way out, I have a soft spot for young heroes."

I almost laughed. To my surprise, I found that I didn't want that fate for Percy. I was relieved. I was glad that he may have a second chance. Perhaps it wasn't really his fault. It was a new feeling to me. Perhaps I could talk to Hades and ask for his release when we went back to the Underworld.

"What happens now?" Kenzie asked, her voice stronger than I had thought it would be. "What about Zeus. This mess that we're in is his fault after all."

"Yes," Nimn said. "He will not escape us my daughter." Her voice was like ice and her eyes were as cold as the dark side of the moon when she gazed into the distance. "My brother needs to pay for his mistakes and prejudice."

Kenzie nodded. "I want to do it," she said distantly. "He destroyed our lives."

I wasn't following this. All of a sudden, it hit me. "You're going to kill him?" I asked. Neither of them answered. "But, if we kill Zeus... then..."

"Zeus isn't a worthy ruler," Nimn said with utter conviction.

I had to admit that she was right about that. Zeus was weak, spineless, easily angered, and judgmental. However, I was reluctant to bring him down. "Are you sure we can find a better ruler?" I asked.

"I think Mother would make an excellent Queen of the Gods," Kenzie piped up.

Nimn shook her head. "No. I think not. Hestia would be a much better ruler than I. She's smart, humble, and not the sort to let power corrupt her."

It was a smart decision. But, I realized however, that by handing the role of leadership to Hestia instead of seizing it herself, she was placing herself at the mercy of the other gods. If they found fault in her actions, she would have to serve whatever punishment was bestowed upon her. I wondered if she realized this. The haunted look in her shadowed eyes made me guess that she was perfectly aware of what her actions would result in. Yet still defiant, she would follow through. I didn't understand immortals. Heck. I didn't understand myself half the time. But whatever it was that drover her, I was proud of Nimn for carrying through.

Kenzie took a step forward, and I allowed my arms to slide back to my sides. She caught my hand though, and pulled me forward with her. "We have to find Zeus then." It was a statement and a rhetorical one at that. Yet without stating it directly, it expressed the direness of the situation.

Nimn nodded. "I think it best to search the rest of the palace first. We have to stay together. Do not get separated whatever happens. Got it?"

We were both adults, but we nodded mutely like children again.

"Right. Follow me. I remember this place, if only vaguely."

Again, we nodded. Nimn turned and we followed her through a door that had been concealed behind an elaborate tapestry. We searched the place head to toe. We didn't find anything, even though we searched numerous secret passageways, a dungeon, and Zeus' bedroom. Remind me to never forget that he wears red heart underpants. I will so hold that over him. When we were sure he wasn't there, we went outside. The sun was setting by that time and it was getting dark.

Kenzie was swaying slightly on her feet. That made me worried. She normally was up all night even without caffeine. She staggered slightly and I caught her before she could hit the ground. She steadied herself and shook her head, hands going to her temples as she closed her eyes before her knees buckled again. I laid her gently on the ground and looked to Nimn. The goddess came over and tears pooled in her eyes. I stroked Kenzie's black hair and brushed against a clump of dried blood. Her eyes fluttered closed.

"Oh my gods Kenzie. Why didn't you say something?" I asked despairingly.

"It was internal," Nimn whispered. "When Artemis struck her on the head, she crushed the skull partially and there was slight brain damage. I can't heal something like that. Only the outer injury."

"Can anybody?" I cried, desperation coloring my voice.

"Only Apollo," she whispered.

"Then we have to summon him, come what may."

Nimn didn't protest, only bowed her head. She loved her daughter too much to let her go for our own cause. And I loved her too much not to act.

"Kenzie," I whispered, "if you can hear me, don't give up. Not yet."