Chapter Twenty-Two
Disclaimer: I do not own the PJO or HoO series by Rick Riodan, nor do I own Star Holder Commander's character Walker. I do own all of the other OCs mentioned.
Nico's POV
I was barely breathing, and the others looked just as stunned as I did. No one made a move, and neither did the Drakon. It was just staring at us, its cold eyes narrowed and curious.
Then Jamie made the wrong move. She had already been trembling, but not enough for the creature to notice. But after standing there for at least five minutes, she fell to her knees and started sobbing hysterically, telling the thing to just go ahead and eat her.
Thalia launched herself forward just as the Drakon did, and scooped Jamie up in her arms, running as fast as she could away form the Drakon.
Kyra and I still stood, not making a move while watching the thing dive head-first into the ground and getting a mouth full of grass and dirt. I looked over to her and squeezed her hand. She looked at me and nodded just ever-so-slightly. I steeled myself for what I was about to do, taking one big breath.
I gave Kyra's hand one last squeeze then let go, screaming at the top of my lungs. The Drakon whirls around, stopping its chase after Thalia and Jamie. My breath caught in my throat as its eyes pierced right through me, like cold daggers. Kyra had taken the chance and moved around and behind it, slowly walking backwards while still watching me.
I wished she would just turn around and book it as fast as she could, just let go of me and find help and save Michael. But I knew she wouldn't do that. She wouldn't leave me unless we were leaving together.
More than anything I wished I had my sword, then I would have a better chance at fighting this thing. Not much better of a chance, but still a little better. But it was still in the driveway back at the safe-house in Pennsylvania, and I didn't have any way of getting it.
I gasp as a thought pops into my head. I was in the shadows. I was stronger than I was yesterday – whatever Jamie had put in that tea last night did the trick. I could shadow travel back to the safe-house and grab my sword. I could be back here in seconds. For that matter, I could travel back here to where I was behind the Drakon, grab Kyra, and just get out of here.
Kyra had noticed my sudden freezing and the moment of realization face. She had stopped dead in her tracks, a look of confusion plastered on her face. I give her the most self-explanatory expression I could muster and fall into the shadows just as the Drakon lunged.
I had sunken into the shadows, their grip on my body strong and familiar, wrapping me in cold black velvet. And as soon as I was in them, I was out again.
I practically fell out from behind a bush and onto the early morning dewy grass. I felt disoriented and dizzy. That usually happened if you hadn't traveled in a while, and man, was it coming on like a suffocating wave now.
I stumble to my feet and take three deep breaths. I had to get it together and get back to Kyra as fast as I could. I open my eyes and see everything clearly and vividly.
Kyra's red Jeep was still in the driveway, its top up and covered in dewdrops. There were also black tread marks from where Osiris had peeled out of here weeks ago. And our weapons were in the same place we had dropped them. No one had touched them, or even knew we had gone missing for that matter.
I run over to my sword and grab it up, and swipe Kyra's dagger as well. I look at the house, and decide to run in there as well and grab our sheaths. Better than carrying around sharp, pointy weapons and nearly stabbing ourselves several times a day.
I find them in the bedroom amongst the disheveled blankets and sheets that we had clambered out of so quickly that morning. I knew I didn't have much more time left, but I got together a quick survival kit as well with an extra pair of clothes and shoes for both of us, some water, ambrosia and nectar, and money; drachmas and regular money alike.
I throw the backpack over my shoulder, my sword in the sheath around my waist and Kyra's sheathed dagger in the backpack. I find a closet and dive into its shadows, thinking of Kyra and Kyra only, wanting to be wherever she was and by her side.
I end up falling from the trees. Not a pleasant experience, especially when what you land on is a Drakon's rearing head. I had to hold on for my life, otherwise I would have been thrown into a tree or onto the ground fifteen feet below.
When I got my balance back, I noticed Kyra darting from tree to tree, firing arrows at the thing and hoping to lodge one in somewhere. One barely missed my ear by an inch.
She was getting tired, I could see that. She was going slower than usual, and there was sweat glistening on her forehead. I hoped the Drakon couldn't tell.
After waiting a couple of minutes so I wouldn't impale myself, I unsheathe my sword. The pitch black Stygian Iron glimmered wickedly in the shadowy sunlight. I raise it up, and with a cry, plunge it straight into the Drakon's head. It goes right through the skull and hits the brain, making the creature drop with a bang within a minute of being hit.
I yank the sword out, my breathing labored, and wipe the blood off. I sheath it and hop off the thing's head, stumbling over to Kyra.
"Gods, I'm so glad you're okay. I just—"
"Nico di Angelo, how dare you leave me like that! What the fuck were you thinking?!" she screams, waving her arms around.
"Shh!" I say, trying to quiet her a little.
"Don't you shush me! You pulled a huge risk traveling like that, gods know what could have happened to you. You could have ended up in Russia or some other country and been stranded there for weeks!"
I chuckle and shake my head, smirking. I turn around and start walking the way Thalia had run with Jamie. "But I didn't, did I?"
"That's not the point, the point is—" And suddenly, she stopped talking.
"What's the point, Ky? That I took a risk and ended up saving our asses? We would have been slaughtered had I not taken the chance. Ky, are you even listening to me?"
I turn around, to see Kyra crumpled on the ground five feet back. Her body was motionless, except for her twitching eyelids. I suck in a breath then bolt back to her.
I feel for her pulse, and it was barely there. So weak, so weak. I pat her face, calling her name softly at first, then screaming it.
"No, no, you can't do this. Not now, not now. We have to save Mike, we have to get home. Then I could find something to help you, save you. Please Ky, don't do this to me, not now," I hug her body against mine, cradling her and praying to every god I knew that she'd wake up.
A/N:
I DID IT. I FINISHED THE CHAPTER LAST NIGHT AND GOT IT POSTED EARLY *victory dance*
And what a chapter it was, am I right? I bet you guys hate me for leaving it like that. And ya won't find out more about their situation until chapter twenty-four :)
Uuuugghh, I have such a long week ahead. Today I have an ortho checkup at 3:30, I have to run to the bank, and I told my friend I'd go shopping with her today as well. Then I work all day tomorrow, so Tuesday's pretty much occupied, then Wednesday I have a bunch of stuff to do around the house before my mom and I leave for Texas on Saturday morning. Thursday I have to work again all day, then I have pottery class later that night, and then Friday is last minute things like dropping the dogs off at the kennel, doing little chores around the house, probably going to the bank again, making sure everything I need is packed ect, ect.
So that's gonna be my week.
M/A:
"'Every accidental damage that I wouldn't take
Every heart I left behind that you couldn't break
We can make it up again
We can make it up again
And we don't care we just pretend
With the faces of the men
And don't ask a lot
And you won't lose a lot
Don't ask for much'"
Action Cat by Gerard Way
XOXO,
Mrs-diAngelo25
