Chapter 17

Disclaimer: I no own Percy Jackson plot or characters

Hey pretties! How are you all doing this fine evening? Well, I'm doing well, thanks for asking. I've decided to update early, because I was feeling generous. Here is another installment of Death's Prankster...and I may or may not change the title, but I need your opinion. Song you should listen to is Call Me, Shinedown. Oh, and guys? PLEASE READForget what I said about Poseidon being her grandpa. I have changed my mind

CAS' POV

After our father/daughter moment, Hermes led me to another room. It wasn't much. A small table at the center. The plain, tan colored walls were bare and chipped. There was a few boxes in the dusty corner, but other than that, the room was empty. I could feel a draft going through out the room but I wasn't really cold. Hermes led me over to the table and we both sat down.

"Now Cassidy, I'm going to attempt to explain what your mothe...Nyx was going to. Alright?" I nodded slightly, gesturing for him to go on.

"When Nyx had you, we were more than thrilled, but we knew that if Zeus found out about you, he would try in earnest to kill you. We have so many memories with you as a child, but we can get to that later. Anyway, soon after you, your little brother Joseph was born. We loved having both of you. We had you both until you were about 5 years old, and Joseph was 4. By that time, Zeus was growing very suspicious. He knew I was hiding something. I told Nyx about my father, and she grew fearful, and together, we decided it was no longer safe to keep you with us. We searched for about a week or two, before we found the perfect couple to leave you with. They were sweet and very kind. They didn't have any children of their own, but we knew they would be perfect."

"Wait, then how in the hell did we end up with Lauren?" I asked, angrily.

"I'll get there, hold on. Anyway, Nyx and I approached the couple together, and we talked to them for a while. We didn't tell them about you or Joseph, we just wanted to see what they were like. After a while, it began to rain, and we parted ways with them. Nyx and I knew it was Zeus, and that we needed to act quickly. That night, we dropped you and Joseph off at her door step, but not before we..." he sighed sadly, "...we erased any memories you had of me and Nyx." I was shocked, but Hermes continued.

"For a few days, we watched over the both of you, and saw that we had chosen excellent parents for you. And...well...I think I will show you the next part." With that, he waved his hand over my head, and I fell into a sleep like state. I was having a dream...no. I wasn't. This was what Hermes wanted to show me.

I saw a man, probably in his 40's, kicking down a door on a day where the rain fell like bullets, with lightning going off like terribly beautiful fireworks, and thunder roared like a great beast. Inside the house, another man, with black hair and blue eyes, stood abruptly.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOI-" The first was threw his arm out in front of him, and a bolt of white lightning shot from his palm, hitting him dead in the chest. I felt a sense of great sadness, and anger towards this lightning man. I saw the life leave his eyes almost instantly. He hit the ground with a thud, barely heard over all the commotion outside. I heard a scream, and I turned to see a woman with brown hair and the kindest green eyes I'd ever seen. She was sobbing into her hands.

"DADDY!" Cried a little girl from behind the woman. The little girl had electric blue eyes, with bits of purple and gold in them. She had wavy, black hair that went down to below her shoulder blades. She looked frightened as she clung to her mothers leg. I could her another voice coming from behind her. I saw a young boy standing there, next to his...sister I'm guessing. One of his hands was wrapped around his mom's leg, the other was holding his sisters hand. He was crying into his mom's leg. Suddenly, the young children rushed forward together, hands still linked. The man who had broken in held his hand out, while their mother rushed forward. She tried to shield them, but it was too late. A bolt of bright purple lightning shot from his hands. Because the children were so close together, the bolt hit them both. It hit the little boy in the head, and the girl in the chest. I felt a sharp pain in my chest at that moment, but it faded quickly. Both children hit the floor, and I could tell they were dead. I wanted to sob myself, but I held myself together.

"NO!" The woman screamed. It was a heart wrenching sob. She fell to the ground, cradling her children's heads. Her head whipped up towards the man.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? YOU'VE TAKEN MY CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND! WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU!" She screamed at the man, fury and sadness dripping like venom from her lips. The man just smoother his suit, and said "Sorry, but it needed to be done." With that, he walked out to the door. The woman just sobbed into her children's lifeless bodies. I felt like I shared her grief. I wanted to comfort her, but I knew that this was only a memory. The scene faded, and I woke up again. Hermes was looking at me sadly.

"W..was th..that...m...me and Jo...Joseph?" I asked unsteadily. With tears threatening to spill, Hermes nodded. He cleared his throat.

"After that, I visited Lauren and explained who I was. I told her I was a god, and that my children had died. Once she decided to believe me, I left and visited Nemesis. She told me that she would go visit the woman, and make her a deal. I would've made one myself, but Zeus cast a binding that forbid me from bargaining with Nemesis. He knew I would try to get you both back, but he didn't think I would tell Lauren who I was. Nemesis visited her. They made a deal and Lauren agreed. But Nemesis tricked her. For both of your lives, Lauren would have to give up all of her motherly instinct and love, and all of her memories with you both. Lauren didn't know this, and the deed was done before she could change her mind. Along with the deal, Nemesis swiped your minds, and made you think that Lauren had been a terrible mother from the start. I haven't forgiven myself since that night." he finished. I started at my feet, taking in all of the new information. So Lauren really had been an amazing mother.

NICO'S POV

Suddenly, the woman opened her mouth wide. Her skin started melting off. Let me just say, it was disgusting. All three of us drew our weapons. Ava had a dagger, I had my sword, and Amber had her bow and quiver already strapped to her person. I turned my attention back towards the thing. It was a monster alright. And not just any monster, and drakon. And not just any drakon, the Laconian drakon., which happens to be the worst drakon out there. I haven't fought this thing in a long time. It was huge, and was breaking the walls out the small restaurant. I could tell the supporting walls of them place were crumbling. We needed to get out of here before the whole building collapsed.

"GO! YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE! I'LL DISTRACT IT!" I yelled towards the girls. The drakon suddenly charged at me, due to my yelling. I jumped out of the way, not a second to soon.

It turned its head towards on me again, and spit venom and fire from it's mouth. I ducked out of the way. I knew this thing not going to be killed without a special weapon, or better yet, a god. I turned to see that the girls were already gone. Mistake. I wasn't paying attention, and some of the venom got my leg. I growled in pain. I grabbed one of my extra throwing knives and threw it in the creatures eye. I roared in pain and anger. I took my change and limped out of the restaurant. I made it out okay, but the drakon was following me. The girls rushed towards me, talking about my leg.

"I'll be fine" I snapped at them. I figure, they would've been mad, but their attention was on the giant serpent, hell bent on following me, and eating me. It crawled towards us slowly. We all knew there was nothing we could do about this beast. We all backed up a bit. Suddenly, with a flash of light, the drakon was gone. We looked at each other, confused. We heard someone clear their throat to our left. We turned, weapons still drawn. With a quick glance, you would've mistaken her for normal person, but if you looked closely, you could see the slight glow around her.

"Hey guys. I'm Nemesis. Goddess of balance. How's it going?"

CASSIDY'S POV

Hermes left me alone for a while, to take in all the news. I knew right then, that I would make Zeus pay, and I meant it. I would end him...permanently.

75 REVIEWS FOR NEXT CHAPTA! So, what did you think? This was a pretty good chapter, huh? Because I have put up another chapter I want 75 reviews. I think this was a pretty nice chapter. I wanna know what you all think. Please review! I love you guys. Peace out and Rock On my pretties! ~ dark-rebellion di angelo