This chapter I dedicate to Savannah Silverstone for her excellent support and amazing advice. Without her and her pestering to make things longer I would only have half the reads I have. Savannah you have earned the title of being my only beta and you shall be remembered as the nuturing hand of this story. Congratulations.
Nico
As we travelled through the shadows to Percy's apartment I noticed just how fast shadow travel was. Thalia and I lived in Florida whilst Percy still lived in Manhattan. To drive there it would take over 16 hours but shadow travel took mere minutes. Whilst I may not have been able to see anything it was comforting to know that Thalia was smart enough to remember not to let go even though she only ever shadow travelled twice in her whole life.
The last person to shadow travel with me was Frank but he forgot to hold on that time and it took a month of searching Russia but eventually we did find him. He hated me for a while though but he got over it. I think.
Then suddenly we were in the corner of Percy's apartment. The first thing I noticed was that no one was in the sitting room which was odd.
I would have thought Percy would be taking a nap by then. I looked at my Rolex and realized it was already half past one. Percy would be having lunch.
"Come on," I said "Let's go grab some lunch".
"But what about getting back in, I mean there's food here" she said. I could have sworn I heard sarcasm in her voice.
"Don't worry, if ever we can't get back in, knowing you, you would most likely break the door down" I said flashing her a grin.
"You know me to well, Death Breath" she said and gave me a quick peck on the lips before sauntering out.
"Hang on, wait for me pinecone face" I shouted and chased after her.
Hazel
I was sitting in my living room reading about New Orleans when I got a call. I looked at my clock and realized it was one in the morning.
Who would call at this time of night? I thought to myself. I picked up the phone cautiously, as if it were a bomb. "Hello, Hazel speaking" I said carefully "Who is this?"
"Hey Hazel, its Percy" the voice said on the other end.
"Oh, hey Percy" I said gleefully, "It's always a pleasure to here from an old friend"
"Yeah, like wise" Percy said, his voice sounding more odd than usual as if he were thinking deeply.
"Percy, are you dr…" I started to say before I was interrupted.
"Hazel, I am not drunk I just want to ask you something." He said.
Now I was really wondering what could be so important that he had to call at 1:00 AM. "Sure, uh fire away" I said.
"Now I am sure you saw The Choosing on telly, and you saw Jason and Leo get picked to be sacrificed" He stated
"Of course, it was horrific" I said, not bothering to hide the pain in my voice. I remembered it to well; the names were rolling in that giant crystal ball a name printed on each tiny ball. When Jason was chosen, I was horrified, but when Sammy, I mean Leo was called and he summoned fire to protect himself I was out of my mind distraught. I was tempted to run upstairs and call Frank and tell him I needed him over here but then I remembered that we broke up.
Don't think about it Hazel. I mentally scolded myself, If he really loved you he would have gone to New Orleans with you instead of staying in Manhattan.
Percy's voice snapped me back to reality "Hazel, you still there?"
"Sorry, carry on" I said quickly.
"Thank you, anyway I have a plan to get them both back" Percy said and my heart started to do jumping jacks.
"Percy, are you mad why didn't you tell me sooner, I will be there soon!" I said running upstairs to pack a small bag.
"Great you're coming… just one thing though" he said slowly.
I stopped packing, a blue blouse in my hand. "What?" I said cautiously.
"Frank is also part of the team" He said looking a tad bit worried about my answer.
"Oh…erm, " I said. I thought about tomorrow and how awkward it would be if I decided to join them anyway. I ended up weighing the pros and the cons though and I then realized that sometimes sacrifices just have to be made "That's fine…" I trailed off
"Ah, that's good" Percy said clearly excited, "We have a month before the door closure ceremony"
"Don't worry I will be there at about one tomorrow afternoon" I said excitedly.
"Great, see you then" he said.
"Yeah, see you then" I said as I put my stuff by the end of my bed along with the saddle to Arion and hung up.
Percy
As Hazel hung up at the other end I dialled another phone number.
What if she says no because I'm in the plan, what will we do? I asked myself.
I countered it as quickly as I thought it though. No stop doubting yourself, she cares as much for Jason and Leo just as much as you.
I looked at the clock and realized it was two. That would be….
I did some quick calculations in my head seven in the morning over in the UK. She would be waking up for her morning that moment.
"Here goes nothing" I muttered.
I said a silent prayer to Poseidon that all would go well with that call. I pressed the call button and the phone instantly recognized who I was calling and the caller ID came up. I was calling Annabeth Chase, my Wise Girl.