Chapter 13

Merope's POV

Words could not express how happy I was to finally get out of that stinking truck. The others were as well. The moment we stepped out, we breathed in as much air our lungs would keep at once. Percy manipulated the mist to make sure the men who drove us here didn't have a heart attack and tell the whole world that kids sneaked aboard his truck. We had no money to buy zoo tickets, and so we sat around Frank in a distant part from the parking lot.

" So what do we do now?" I asked. I hated being clueless.

" I say we steal some money." Nico suggested, which was not a bad idea.

" No, what are we thieves?" Percy shook his head.

" Kinda." Nico said.

" Well if we don't come up with a solution soon. We're going to fail the mission." Frank said, he was now tied up again.

All our stomachs grumbled at the same time.

" Not to mention starve to death." I grumbled.

Nico looked strait at Percy." Steal. Money. Now."

Percy sighed." Do I even have a choice?"

A shadow appeared right next to Nico. He dug through it like it was a hole, and pulled out a leather wallet.

" Here." Nico tossed Percy the wallet.

Percy massaged his forehead." So much for being heroes."

" I told you I'm technically not a real hero."

I found this amusing. Nico wasn't a real hero. I shuddered, but he could find out the truth about me easier than the rest.

We walked to the entrance to the booth where you could buy zoo tickets. Percy and Frank were considered adults. Nico and I were able to get the children's pass. Surprisingly, everyone in Singapore knew how to speak english. Very accented english but who cares.

We walked inside the zoo and immediately noticed a problem. Everyone there were wearing normal street clothes. We were wearing rags. And apparently, tiring up another person is against zoo rules. I was pretty pissed about that, now Frank could kill us any minuet. What's worse, is that you're not allowed to bring weapons in either. What kind of place was this? Thankfully Percy manipulated the mist again, so the guards don't know we have weapons, but he needed to be able to concentrate. So no fighting.

" What exactly are we looking for?" I asked.

" Clues. Anything abnormally, uh…naturey." Frank said stupidly.

" Maybe we're talking about Pan? No, actually he's gone." Nico said.

I would've felt like I was surrounded by idiots if I didn't know what to do myself.

" I'm going to see some falcons." I said.

Nico raised an eyebrow." And how would that help?"

" Most falcons are loyalty Artemis. I can communicate to animals and creatures loyal to Artemis. Maybe they know something."

" Good idea. I'm going to look at some horses."

" Uh, and I guess Nico and I will…eat something?" Frank said.

" Sure…" Nico agreed.

And so we ran off in different directions.

After what seemed like a millennia, I found the bird area.( Rhyme :D) There were huge metal cages filled with colorful birds. I found the falcons in the birds of prey section.

They looked old and tired. Many tourists crowded them, flashing pictures. I swam through the old ladies.

"Can any of you hear me?" I asked.

The oldest one it seems, lightly flew to me.

I can, but my friends cannot. Are you, a comrade of Artemis?

"Yes, I am. Can I ask you something?"

Ask away.

I found Nico, Percy, and Frank stuffing their faces with what was left of our money.

" Guys! I know where we must go!" I said exited.

" Gweat. Us I int ot a clue whom horses." Percy said mouth full.

" It was actually to obvious! Paradise of nature, it must mean Mesopotamia! Where the Earth Mother's spirit is strongest!"

Nico choked on his burrito." Earth Mother, as in Gaea?"

I nodded." She's the Paradise for nature. The falcons sensed it. Something is gathering Gaea's spirit in Mesopotamia!"

" So we came here for nothing?" Frank looked down.

" No, someone gave Leo the dream. To make us go on a wild goose chase." Percy concluded." The horses said something about the night and darkness."

We looked up, the sun was about to set. I immediately felt a feeling of dread wash over me.

" We need to get off this island." I said." Before it turns dark."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Suddenly the ground shook.

" I won't let you get away that easily." a female voice hissed.

Percy turned pale." Nico."

A woman in black stood behind them." Hello Percy the Tourist. Its been a long time."

" Nico now! Get us out of here!" Percy yelled.

The sky turned bright orangish red.

" Ok-" Suddenly, something or someone crashed on top of Nico.

" Hello brother." Hazel hissed.

" Ha-Hazel?" Nico sputtered.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Frank pounce on Percy.

I drew my bow and two arrows and aimed at the woman in black." Just who in the name of the gods are you?"

The woman smiled." Why, my dear child. I am Nyx. Goddess of the Night!"

I let the arrows fly. Nyx literally brushed them away.

" And you, are not supposed to be alive."

I cursed. I f one more person knew my secret I think I would've exploded.

I charged at Nyx with my twin daggers. The moment I took a step, My foot sank into the ground. Nyx herself looked a little surprised. She turned around and faced Nico.

" Nico di Angelo, why resist? You have nothing to fight for." Nyx half soothed half threatened.

I realized I was sinking in the shadows. Frank jumped back from Percy, who was also sinking away.

" Nico, just stop!" Hazel yelled.

The shadows paused, I got stuck in the middle.

I saw Hazel half grin." Nico, I know you don't want this. You don't want the prophecy. Give it to me! Give me your part of the prophecy."

Nico slowly looked up. This was bad. No matter how ridiculous the prophecy is for choosing Nico, it chose him. He would have a part, and only he could fulfill it.

" Don't listen to her Nico! You're part of the prophecy! Not her. You! You can't give it up." I tried to pursued him.

I barley heard Nico whisper." I know…"

We sank even deeper into the shadows, and eventually, the darkness surrounded me. I heard Nyx curse. I guess the real reason Nyx tried to trap us was to make Nico switch his destiny. There was a light, and I floated towards it.

I crashed into the sand, Percy and Nico right behind me. I expected another thud from Frank, but it never happened. Percy nodded in approval at me.

I helped him pick the limb Nico up. I don't know if it's only me, but I feel like Nico was being stressed way too much.

" So Mesopotamia?" Percy asked.

" Yes." I said." I think, just maybe. The others were here too. The falcon said another follower of Artemis asked him the same thing. It might be Thalia."

" Good. Great." Percy stood by the shores and raised his hands." Come to me."

Nothing happened for a quick second, then, the small waves turned fierce. Hippocampus galloped to the waters edge.

" Nico ride." I quickly stated before I hopped on one.

Nico blinked a little bit before climbing on top one as well. Percy kept on the biggest one.

" Nope sorry Rainbow, no Tyson today." The hippocampus snorted sadly." Take us to Mesopotamia."

We left Singapore knowing we had been betrayed by two of our allies.

Chapter 13 finished.