Whilst today is one of my longer chapters, I don't think it's one of my best; Saturday just isn't one of my more creative days :/
hope you like it anyway :)
A Very Percy Jackson Advent
December 14th
Frank found Hazel stood in the top deck, looking out across the horizon. "Hey," he said as he walked toward her.
"Hey," she replied, turning to face him. "How's Nico?"
Frank shrugged. "He's okay I guess... he's still in a mood with me because of what happened yesterday."
Hazel chuckled at the memory. "He knows it wasn't you; he even has them back now."
Frank scowled. "Yeah but he still won't let me play Mythomagic with him..."
Hazel rested her head on his shoulder. "If I'm honest with you, I'm glad about that; we hardly ever get time alone these days... Don't get me wrong," she added, "I love the fact that you're becoming friends with him, gods know he needs a few friends like you... I just miss spending time with just you."
Frank tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and rested his head on hers as they watched the winter sun dance across the harsh waves of the ocean. "You should have just said something, Nico likes being alone as much as I like spending time with him."
They stood together in comfortable silence for a while until Frank broke the silence by asking. "How's your sea sickness coming along?"
"Fine if I don't think about it," Hazel replied.
"Oh... Sorry," Frank said.
"Don't worry about it." Hazel waved her hand dismissively. "At least Percy's happier in the sea."
Frank nodded but didn't have anything to say in reply.
-0-
"You said you wouldn't be summoning me for a while, Sir," Emerson the ghost said.
Nico stood in his room staring at the ghost desperately. "I'm losing my mind, Emerson," he said weakly. "I can't sleep and when I do my dreams are so confusing and all over the place that when I wake up I feel more tired than I was before!" He slumped down on his bed whilst the ghost stood there patiently waiting for his king to get to the point. "I can't wait any longer; I need to talk to Bianca... I know I can talk to Frank now and Jason knows my secret too even if I don't particularly want to talk to him about it... Haven't you gotten anywhere closer to finding her?"
Emerson shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry sire; the troops you have looking for her are having a really hard time. It takes a lot of energy to look into someone's soul and your sister could be anyone... It's practically impossible."
"No!" Nico yelled. "Don't tell me it's not possible! You know what's not possible? Being born in the 1930's and still being alive and young now but here I am! I will find Bianca even if I have to raise every ghost in the underworld; I won't go another Christmas without her."
He stormed out of his room and to the dining hall where he grabbed a huge helping of practically everything. "Sir... What are you doing?" Emerson asked as he hesitantly followed Nico.
"I'm going to raise every ghost in the underworld," Nico replied angrily.
"Sire, with all due respect I don't think that's the wisest choice..." Emerson said carefully.
"I'm not stupid; I'm only raising good ones," Nico snapped.
"But sir..." Emerson began before Nico cut him off with a single look.
With the food, he marched down to the training arena – the biggest room on the ship – and made sure to lock the door. He placed the food down as an offering and summoned whole armies of ghosts.
The whole room filled with dark shadows as the dead climbed their way through the floor. Once he was finished, the room was filled with un-dead armies standing to attention and Nico collapsed on the floor. He managed to stand up to bark his order. "Find Bianca Di Angelo; she's been reborn so doesn't go by that name... Find her anyway."
The ghosts looked confused but did as they were told; they disappeared from the room to carry out their orders. When they had all left, Emerson remained trying to get Nico to stand back up as he lay collapsed on the floor until there was a knock on the door.
"Who's in there?" Annabeth called. "Why's this door locked?" Nico nodded for Emerson to open the door. When he had done so he disappeared. Annabeth walked in to see Nico sat weakly on the floor. "Nico?"
"Annabeth," Nico croaked.
"What happened?" she asked, looking around the room suspecting a break out of monsters.
"I tried to do more than I thought I could." Nico admitted.
"I know what that feels like," Annabeth said, for once she didn't ask any more questions. "Come on, you're supposed to be building your strength back up. I'll go get you some food and drink; go lie down."
"Annabeth..." Nico croaked. "Stop it; I don't want you to fuss over me."
"Nico, you've exhausted yourself doing... whatever... let me look after you." When they'd reached Nico's cabin, she pushed him down into his bed despite his weak attempts to resist. "I don't want things to be awkward between us just because I know..."
Nico refused to meet her eyes but did allow her to pull his blanket over him. "Can you just get Frank instead? It'd only be awkward between us if we suddenly start being friendly because you know."
Annabeth looked slightly insulted but complied.
"What in the name of Hades have you been doing to yourself you idiot?" Frank asked as Annabeth brought him to Nico.
Nico shrugged.
Frank sighed. "Are you not telling me because you're still mad at me for taking your figurines? I didn't take them yesterday!"
"I know you didn't," Nico said, his voice was becoming slowly better. "Fine, I raised a ton of un-dead armies and I wasn't strong enough to."
Frank stared at his friend in confusion. "When?"
"Just now," Nico answered.
"Why?"
Nico sighed and decided that he should tell him. He knew Frank wouldn't tell anyone and it felt nice to have someone he could tell anything t again. "I'm getting them to find Bianca."
Before Frank could reply, Leo marched in with a food trolley full of Turkey and stuffing and vegetables and Christmas puddings and Christmas cookies. "I heard someone needed to build up their strength and what better way to do that than have an early Christmas dinner?"
"I don't want-" Nico was saying before Frank shoved a fork full of Turkey into his mouth.
"Get your strength back," he said.
"Yeah," Leo said with a grin. "We need you to be healthy when we sing on Christmas."
Nico groaned but with both boys looming over him, he had no choice but to eat the stupid (but really nice – not that he would admit it) dinner.
PursuerofNovels: Aw thanks *blushes* I can't wait to see what Christmas brings either x
BiancaDiAngelo: Thank you c: I'll try my best to update every day up until christmas!
Percy'sSisterSPQR: thank you :)
thefangirlthatwon'tshutup: Yes, I laughed whilst writing that... I should probably make tomorrow's chapter more funny since today's one was a little gloomy...
YeahI'mWeirdAndILoveIt: OMG YES! Someone should go to tumblr user Vivira and request Percy in a pink fluffle dressing gown
sonofthetrigod: Glad you like it :) thanks for the review x
theargo11: That song is the best! I'll try to incorporate it in some way, thanks x
Ana-DaughterofHades: Ugh speaking of spoilers though, I still need to read the damn book! Thanks for the review x
Guest: Really? :') You think i'm one of the best writers on here *happy sobbing* I'd love to do this every year, I'm having a lot of fun doing this and the reviews are all great, I've never gotten this many reviews before... I never dreamed I'd get this many reviews
see you all tomorrow - it'll be less gloomy tomorrow, promise.