Chapter 4

Nico's POV

I hate myself sometimes, and that was very recently. Why did I just get chosen? I'm not sure if I'm a hero or not. I tried to tell Chiron that this was a mistake and Hazel was actually the chosen one but no, Chiron said it's destiny and I can't change it. I wish I could just crawl in a shadow and die, alone, which was how I wanted to end my life anyway.

" I think I should lead." Thalia said." Any objections?"

" Yes." Percy said

" No." I growled. I didn't care who led, I didn't even want to be part of this quest.

Thalia frowned." Well who do you think should lead, seaweed brain?"

" Me, duh. And don't call me seaweed brain!" Percy said." Who thinks I should lead?"

Thalia crossed her arms, I raised my hand. Percy looked at me, raising an eyebrow.

" Who just doesn't care?" Percy asked.

I kept my hand in the air.

Thalia sighed. We were in Cabin 1, Zeus' cabin. I would usually hang in the shade but the cabin is so bright I might as well go blind.

" Nico, can you actually care? I know you don't want to be part of the Prophecy but at least pretend to, okay?" Thalia said, not so sugestivley.

" No, I don't care. I don't want to be part of your hero club. When you're not included in the Prophecies you can do whatever you want, save the world your own way. But now, I have to stick around you two. I'd rather be off finding clues of the 'Gods of Begining' on my own."

" Okay, but just chose okay? We're not asking much, just chose. Thalia or me." Percy said.

I looked between them, Thalia would be a good leader, but I was more used to Percy being the leader.

" Percy." I decided.

Thalia's electric blue eyes blazed, Percy smiled ear to ear gloating in Thalia's face.

" Fine! But I get to lead the next one." She hissed.

" I'll go see Rachel and Ella, see you during lunch!" And with that Percy ran off.

I started walking out of Zeus' cabin, that light was about to drive me insane. But Thalia stopped me.

" Nico, if we're going to save the world together, we need to know each other." Thalia said." You can't keep thinking that we'll slow you down, we can help each other up."

I wanted to barf. Others did slow you down. But sometimes people were just so naive that they believe teamwork is better. In some ways it is. But there is always a need for someone to scout ahead, alone so that you are quicker and less noticeable that way. They gather information and goes back to deliver it. I had always been that person, which sometimes makes me wonder if I'm not a offspring of Hermes instead. But one look at myself and I'm 100% Hades.

Thalia seemed to notice distaste in what she said." Look Nico, the role you usually play in these world threatening problems will not be the one you will play this time. The world may not like it, you may not like it, but for some reason you will be one of the main heroes this time. You need to trust your friends, that's how Percy did it in the First Prophecy. That's how the seven did it in the Second Prophecy, that's how we'll do it this time."

" Trust? The only person I truley ever trusted was Bianca! Then Hazel, but she seemed mad at me for becoming one of the three. If anything, The only way I'll honestly ever trust is if I got my memories wiped out or something."

Thalia sighed, I continued to walk out of Cabin 1 and this time Thalia didn't stop me.

Dinner was as normal as always, but with Mr. D gone to Mount Olympus, we had to order pizza. I sat alone in the Hades table. I picked up a grape and called it dinner.

Percy ran to the pavilion, he looked part excited, part confused, and part scared. Instead of sitting at the Poseidon table he immediately ran to my table. Thalia got up from Zeus' table and jumped on mine as well.

I wasn't suprised." So, what did it say?"

" Well, I think it has something to do with animals." Percy said stupidly.

Thalia rolled her eyes." That explains a lot."

Percy glared at her." Including us, I think we'll be able to bring two more people."

" Can you please tell us the entire thing? Word for word?" I asked.

" Er, sure. It went something like Five shall start to find the first gift, found within a paradise for nature. She will give, you must tame. The Sky shall try.A friend of Angel will turn, and tear his heart out-"

Percy and Thalia looked at me right at the word 'angel'. I sighed, this was the second time a prophecy had referred to me as an angel. But what really scared me was that a friend of mine will tear my heart out. I don't know anybody who would tear my heart out that's my friend. Will Solace? No, he was always more on herbs and healing than pulling my heart out. Maybe it was someone else part of the quest, I was quite sure neither Percy or Thalia was going to do that. Perhaps it was one of the hunters. I stole a glance at the Artemis table, all the hunters were laughing and having a great time. I was quite sure it would be one of them.

" Don't break your ring trying to find out who it is." Percy said.

I realized I was twisting my skull ring, the way I always do when I'm thinking.

" So, who do you think should go?" Thalia asked.

Almost immediately, Annabeth walked over from the Athena table and slammed her fist on the Hades table, which startled everyone.

" Sign me up." Annabeth glared at all of us as if daring us to object.

" That's four, anybody else?" Percy said.

" Maybe a hunter." Thalia suggested.

I remembered the last time hunters and demigods went on a quest together, none of the hunters came back. Both Zoe Nightshade and... Bianca di Angelo, my sister, both died. This was a horrible idea.

" Do you remember the last time hunters and demigods worked together on a quest? If I remember correctly, none of the hunters ever returned. Hunters should not be able to go on this quest." I said/threatened.

Thalia opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again. Thinking before acting, I noted, that's a first.

" Okay fine," Thalia said." But just who else are you planning to bring?"

There was a thinking silence before Percy spoke.

" How about Leo? He can build us a transportation!" Percy said with excitement.

I shrugged." Sure."

" I guess." Thalia grunted.

" Then It's settled, I'll go get him." Annabeth said." You three start working on where we should start looking."

Annabeth ran to the Hephaestus table.

The children of the Big Three looked at each other.

" So, Paradise for nature, where to?" Thalia started.

" It could be anywhere." I said.

Percy seemed to bethinking a lot today because what he said was ingenious.

" A zoo!" He yelled, loud enough for the entire pavilion to pause mid way through a pizza just to give him the 'do you need a doctor' look. Percy turned bright red, and tried to sink down.

Thalia raised a eyebrow." A zoo? You're joking right?"

" He could be right." I said." We don't have any other leads."

" But there are thousands of zoos!" Thalia said waving her hands.

Percy snickered." You just said Zeus."

Thalia looked like she might pulverize him.

" Not part of the topic." She grunted.

" We could always go to the biggest zoo in the world." Percy said.

" Or the most natural one." I said." Maybe we shouldn't go to a zoo, they are made by humans. Not a paradise for nature at all."

Thalia suddenly stood up." I'm tired, all this thinking is pointless. We have no idea where to start, maybe tomorrow we'll make more progress."

Thalia stood up and walked away.

Annabeth out of nowhere pulled Thalia back to the table with one hand, Leo's shirt collar with the other.

" Guys, Leo might have a start for us!" Annabeth said excitedly." Tell them."

Thalia sat down massaging her arm, Leo did the same with his neck.

" Just give me a moment," Leo gagged." I can't talk right after I've been choked."

Annabeth crossed her arms, as if refusing to look sorry.

" Ahem, okay so I had a dream yesterday. The same day Percy and Thalia were chosen, I think we do have to go to a zoo."

" Ah, I love being right two times in one day," Percy smiled.

" Here's the scary part, the dream specifically said to go to the Singapore Zoo." Leo said.

Silence, then." It's a trap." Annabeth said.

" It's so a trap." I agreed.

Demigods all had these vivid dreams that could sometimes tell what might happen in the future, or perhaps a sneak peek at what was happening during the present, but never a specific thing like, 'you will find the first gift in the Singapore Zoo in Singapore.' That just never happened.

" I think we should still go, we don't have any other choice." Thalia said.

" For once I agree with Thalia." Percy said.

All four of us looked at Leo.

" What do you think Leo?" Annabeth said." Whatever you chose is whatever we'll do."

" Um..." Leo turned pale." Since we have no other choice, we might as well...go?"

Percy and Thalia cheered, I stayed silent. Annabeth stayed quiet too but I could tell she was agitated.

Singapore was a land beyond the gods, I sighed. I feel like history is repeating itself.

Chapter 4 end.