Chapter 26

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO

Song, Trampoline by The Unlikely Candidates. Ok, I have nothing else to say.

CAS'S POV

So, after Nico kissed me, we hung out for a bit longer, learning things about each other.

"Hey, so Daniel invited me to go down to the beach with him, I'm going to head over there" I said, playing with the ends of my end. It was my nervous habit, as Nico so graciously pointed out for me. We were sitting on his bed still, and I wasn't exactly sure why I told him, but I just thought he should know.

He looked at me and say "Alright. Well, as long as you're doing that, I'll be training some Aphrodite girls because, let's face it, they couldn't defend themselves against a rock." I laughed and stood up. I stretched and put my shoes back on. I kissed Nico on the cheek and said goodbye, before heading to my cabin to change into my swim suit. I had a black one-piece. I wrapped a towel around myself, and walked down to the beach. I saw Daniel, but he didn't see me. I snuck up on him and yelled.

"BOO!". He jumped a bit, and I laughed. He playfully smacked my arm and said "Don't scare me like that". I laid my towel out next to his.

"Sorry, but I couldn't resist! It was just too easy" I said, getting into the water. I walked until I was shoulder deep, Daniel following me. For a while we played tag, while having a splash war. It was a lot of fun. After an hour of our game, we decided to relax and just chill in the water.

"Hey, I was wondering if you want to watch a movie in my cabin later?" He asked confidently, his green eyes sparkling. Uh oh. Would Nico be upset? I quickly dismissed the thought, telling myself that I could do as I damn well please.

"Yeah definitely" I said smiling.

"Great! Well, I think lunch starts pretty soon, we should probably go change." We got out and dried off, going to our respective cabins. I got to mine, but realized there was already a line for showers. I grabbed my clothes and shower stuff, walking to Nico's cabin. I knocked on his door and waited. After waiting a while I tried again. Nothing. I finally just opened the door and looked around his cabin. I saw him passed out on his bed. I smirked, and snapped a picture of him.

"Hey, Nico!" I whisper-yelled. I tapped his shoulder, but he still didn't budge. I started writing him a note.

"I'll be using your shower just so you kn-" The world around me started to disappear. I started choking on the red mist surrounding me. I fell to the ground, clawing at my throat. I couldn't breathe. I tried to get Nico's attention. I reached out blindly and I'm pretty sure I grabbed his arm. I squeezed with all my might, then the world went black.

NICO'S POV

I had had a dreamless sleep so far, when suddenly a nightmare began to form. I was in total darkness, but I could sense that someone was there with me. Suddenly, Nyx appeared from the shadows.

She looked at me evilly and said "Come get her boy!" Her voice echoed around the cavern we were in. I suddenly recognized it as Tartarus. I felt a pain in my arm, and I woke up gasping. I had just enough time to see a red mist clouding around…

"Cassidy!" I lunged for her. I was too late though. The cloud disappeared along with Cassidy. I started panicking but I steadied my breathing and shadow traveled to my fathers throne room.

"Dad!" I called out looking for him. I never found him, and realized no one would know where Cas and I went. Oh well. I guess I'll have to live then. I went into my dad's castle and found his portal to the abyss. I arrived in the pit, a coldness washing over my body. Luckily I had my stygian iron sword with me. I knew in which general direction Nyx's place was. I started my trek.

-Line Break-

I found the cave I'd seen in my dreams. I'd only had to fight a few monsters on the way here. Being a son of Hades made it easier to avoid them. I walked into the cave, and saw a single bed inside. I rushed over to it.

"Cassidy" I said, relieve but scared. She wasn't waking up. In fact, I'm pretty sure she was having nightmares.

"I see you found us. What a shame, I wanted to keep her here forever" I whirled around, face to face with Nyx.

"Let her go bitch" I growled out. She glared at me, and snapped her fingers. Suddenly, Cassidy screamed out in pain, arching her back on the bed. My eyes widened.

"Please! Stop hurting her! Please, I'll do anything!" I pleaded. She looked at me curiously, and dropped her hand. Cassidy sagged back down onto the bed, still deep in her sleep.

"Anything? Boy, be careful when you say that" she said wickedly. "Alright, I'll let you take her back, but I want a few things. First, you need to break her heart. And I want excitement. If you fail to do so, I'll kill her. Got it? She loves you more than her own mother, and we can't have that can we? So you will hurt her. Badly. Second, you must swear on the Styx that you won't tell her about this conversation. Deal?"

I couldn't believe what her terms were. But I couldn't let her kill Cassidy.

"Deal" I said trembling with sadness and with anger.

"Aw, don't be so sad. Once you break her heart she'll come running back to me, accepting her power and joining me in the realm of chaos. I love her more than you ever will Nico di Angelo. All I want for her is to have a loving, caring, mother. So you will break her. Break her to the point where she cannot be fixed. Then I will swoop in and save the day."

I felt my eyes water. "How could you do that to her? You claim to love her, yet you want her to rule in chaos? You don't know what true love is Nyx."

She glared at me. "Take her, and break her. Before I kill you both." With that a purple mist surrounded us, and I suddenly found us back in my cabin. It was nighttime by now. The clock read 11:30. I looked at Cassidy sadly. She must have still been having nightmares. I tapped her lightly, and shook her a bit. She woke with a start, before meeting my eyes.

"What happened?" of course she wouldn't know what happened.

"You were in the shower, and you must've climbed in bed in here tonight. I just woke up." I lied easily. And it hurt so much to lie straight to her face. She was either too tired to notice that it didn't really make sense, or she didn't care. She stood up, wobbly, I helped steady her, and lead her to my bed. She laid down and quickly fell asleep again. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I wasn't sure if I could break her heart, but I sure as hell couldn't let her die. I groaned in frustration. I fell back onto the bed, and felt her cuddle up next to me. This would kill me.

-Three Weeks Later-

CASSIDY'S POV

Nico and I had been getting really close. I was happy about that. But something was bothering me. That night, when I couldn't remember what happened. That scared me, especially because I kept having weird nightmares about being in some cave. I think Nico was there. And one other person. Every time I asked him about those dreams, he waved them off, and changed the subject. Anyway, I was currently walking towards Nico's cabin. I was going to surprise him with a picnic in the forest. The other day I told him I loved him. I know, huge deal right? He said it back, and we had a little make out session of sorts. I smiled at the thought. I was about to knock on his door when I heard a girls voice from inside. I gasped in surprise. I heard a moan? Um, moan my ass! I barged inside and saw Nico and some skank making out, which was quickly turning into sex.

"What the hell!" I screamed, holding back my tears. Nico looked me directly in the eyes "You were just too plain Cas. I was getting bored. I'm sorry but, we're over." I stood there, shocked. I didn't know what to do, to I turned and ran out of the cabin.

Well, my darlings, this story is almost over. Although, I think I have a sequel idea. Love you all. Peace out and Rock On ~ Phoenix Veil