We were close enough to 200 reviews, so half virtual blue cookies. Fair warning: If the conversation sounds loopy at any point, it's because I am currently on cold medicine… Which makes people go slightly loco.
Percy hung up the phone, the echoes of Nico di Angelo's nerve-chilling laugh echoing in his head. The d*ck had drugged Annabeth to a point of inducing a coma. And what about the whole spying deal? He was the spy in the marines for them, a spy with a mission. But now, they have a spy for a spy. These guys don't leave any stone unturned.
He shuddered at the thought as a chill breeze swept by. Mrs. Arnolds had given him another hour till curfew, plenty of time to meet Nico before returning.
As Nico had said, the coffeehouse was indeed across the street from him. Percy entered Starbucks with an air of foreboding, his hand pausing for a second on the door handle. Having entered, he figured he might well as buy something to throw off suspicion.
He ordered a simple vanilla latte and took his seat beside the window to get a glance at those passing-by. A man entered the café with a black brim hat, like in those detective novels. His trench coat collar was popped up, and a pair of Ray-Bans masked his eyes.
The man murmured a few words to the waiter before walking to where Percy was sitting. He took the seat opposite Percy, the wooden chair making a scraping sound against the tiles, crossing one leg over the other. The server brought out a cup of steaming plain, brewed coffee. Percy could imagine the bitter taste by just looking at it. The other man slipped the server a ten dollar bill before turning back to coffee.
"Some expensive coffee," Percy remarked dryly.
The other man shrugged impassively, "Not on my tab." He took off his sunglasses to reveal his dark, almost soulless eyes. They seemed to sink for eternity in a deep pit of eternal night. He tucked the sunglasses on the collar of his shirt. The man had a grin on his mouth as he spoke up again, "Pleasure to meet you Jackson."
Nico di Angelo held out his hand which Percy shook with scorn, "Can't say I reciprocate the feelings."
Di Angelo let out a hoarse, throaty laugh which seemed to mimic the sound of fingernails grating on a chalkboard, "It looks as though we could be brothers Jackson. Our personalities are something left to be desired for."
"Enough with the small talk. Get to the point. Why'd you do it? And who's the infiltrator?"
"All in due time. All in due time. Patience is a virtue."
Percy was already getting irritated with the man's manner of speaking, somewhat old-fashioned and condescending.
"Let me enjoy my coffee," Nico continued, taking a sip from his now lukewarm bitter coffee. Percy resisted the urge to gag at the mere thought of the coffee. He sat there with his arms across his broad chest, impatiently waiting for Nico to take his own leisurely time.
"Take all the time you want. I have to be back in forty-five minutes," he muttered sarcastically. Nico grinned as he caught a hold of Percy's tone, his eyebrows rising a little.
"I can sense your impatience Jackson. You might want to work on that."
"Don't worry di Angelo. I will. Punching someone in the face always did relieve my anger management issues."
"Like you did with Annabeth? Sexual tension?" Nico mocked as he took another sip.
Percy once more resisted the urge to punch the guy, "And I suppose you drug people for fun?"
Nico's face immediately soured, "I was under orders as you are supposed to be. I have to admit, like the boss said, you seem a little lax with the issue at hand."
This was enough to fuel Percy's anger. He kept his voice in a low, hurried venomous tone, "Di Angelo, if there is anyone who wants more vengeance than the boss, it's me. You saw what he did to Rachel. I will never forget."
He almost spat the last word at Nico's face. Nico looked at him curiously, "You were always keen on Rachel. I never understood why."
"Have you ever loved anyone?"
"No."
"Then don't expect to be sympathetic. Rachel was the closest person to my heart, di Angelo. The person who killed her will be expected to pay. I'm not going to let it go just like that."
"You think I haven't suffered either?" Nico asked quietly.
"What?"
"Why do you think he recruited me, Jackson? He picks up those whose minds are focused on the revenge. He cultivates the feeling and channels it towards his own personal goal. Personally I don't mind. I just want those who killed Bianca to lie at my feet, begging for my mercy as I persecute them."
"Bianca being…?"
"My sister," he replied curtly.
"You still haven't answered my question. Why drug Annabeth?"
"Why? Do you like her?" he asked Percy shrewdly, looking him straight in the eye.
"No. I can't afford to fall in love, especially not after her involvement in Rachel's death. You think I'm a traitor?"
"I was making your job easier," he replied simply.
"How so?"
"I got rid of Annabeth for you. You have more access to Luke as you had wanted. No more Annabeth to play watchdog. I figured you wouldn't want to kill her, so I just drugged her. The dosage was fatal enough, but only twenty-five percent of the time. If she recovers from the concussion you gave her, she should be able to get rid of the effects of the drug. But, she should be out of action until you've had a chance to…um… clean things up a bit."
"You sly dog," Percy grinned at the thought, "Your sources. How'd you get in?"
"Like I said, you'll find out when the time comes."
"I hate being spied on, di Angelo."
"Too bad, he insists."
"I don't care what he wants. This is my revenge as much as it's his. I don't even know why he's so intent on it."
"He doesn't tell me these things either. I've only seen him twice in the five years I've worked for him."
"I want to talk to him," Percy said abruptly.
"What?"
"I need to speak to him, not today, but soon."
"You can't just call him."
"Tomorrow Nico. Same time, same place. I want to call him...On your phone."
"You sure man?" he asked dubiously.
"I need to know what the bastard is up to," Percy got up to leave, leaving the waiter a tip. Nico's eyes trailed him out, watching him until he went out.
Nico quickly picked up his phone and punched in the numbers furiously on the touch screen. The receiver picked up the phone on the third ring.
"Yes?" a deep, low voice answered the found, a voice that sound like metal scraping against itself. "Di Angelo?"
"Boss," Nico began nervously. The voice sent him to a state of anxiety he hadn't felt before. It scared him truthfully. "He wants to speak with you tomorrow."
The voice considered, pausing for a moment, "Let him. I want to hear what he has to say."
So, hopefully that cleared up a few things here and there…except for whom Percy and Nico are working for. And yes…the Percabeth will come.
If you can guess who the voice is correctly in your review, I'll plan something…once we get to the part where it's revealed.
Make sure to read, review, fave, follow.
~TJ