AN Hello my followers and all newcomers! This chapter is starting literally five minutes after he other chapter because I'm pretty sure you don't care about their battle strategies but if you do then I'm sorry because I don't know them :P. Anyway I don't own PJO and there will about three more chapters before the SEQUEL! AHHHH. Okay that's all!
"I can't believe I'm stuck with you." Nico complained loudly. He hasn't stopped complaining for five minutes. It gets pretty irritating.
"Better get a smile on your face Little Miss Ray of Death before we get Will or else he'll see you all grumpy cat." I retorted. Chiron assigned Nico, Will, and I to a group to ensure that Nico will be safe. The only person happy about the arrangement was Will. Me? I'm still angry that Nico didn't tell me the prophecy. Following that logic, I'm also angry at Thalia and Annabeth.
"Why do I need my own bodyguards? If I'm supposed to be this magical prophetical child then why can't I take care of myself?" Nico asked the wind.
"Do you want the truth or a lie?" I replied with a cold front but secretly I was freaking out. Despite keeping a secret from me, Nico was still one of my best friends. I don't want to hurt him with the truth. It hurt me too when I found out.
"Truth." Nico said confidently.
"Even though you kept the secret from me I trust you and you hopefully trust me . . . but some people at camp don't trust a child of Hades or Hunters of Artemis who can stand being in male's company. Chiron put us in a group to show the campers the Hunters and you can be trusted." I looked away as I replied so I couldn't catch his hurt face.
"They expect me to save them yet they don't trust me?" Nico clenched his jaw and turned away. I tried to hold on to my anger from earlier but I couldn't. To be honest, I don't even care anymore.
"I'm sorry I exploded at you earlier. It's not even that big of a deal it's just . . . I want to know what you are going through so I can help you." I confessed and he looked at me shocked. I guess I must have really seemed upset.
"It's fine. I should've told you. We are here. Let's get Will and get going." Nico replied stoically. Before I could respond, we reached Cabin 7 and knocked. Lee Fletcher opened the door with a smile that became strained once he saw Nico.
"Will! They're here." Lee called into the cabin. Seconds later Will appeared and walked with us out of the horseshoe of cabins.
"What are we going to do now?" Will asked excitedly. I merely pointed to Nico who scowled at both of us.
"I'm going to Luke's house to understand my enemy. You two can do whatever you want." Nico replied casually as if he was reporting the weather. Well on a sunny day anyway because if there was a storm there would be more urgency but never mind.
"Nu uh sweetheart. You're stuck with us. I am not pass handcuffing us all together." I told him with a dangerous edge in my voice. He isn't escaping me that easily.
"Fine. Let's go our ride is here." Nico relented as Mrs. O' Leary showed up. She wagged her tail when she saw Nico. Gulping down my fear, I did try to kill her after all, I hopped on board behind Nico and Will.
Then we were off.
If someone ever asks you to shadow travel and you are not a child of Hades please don't do it. Adding on to the mini heart attack you get when you jump into a SHADOW, this lovely form of transportation squeezes your insides and everything is so blurry you aren't sure if you're inside an over enthusiastic baby's rattle. Though the best part is when it all abruptly stops, leaving you wanting to hurl on the Castellan's driveway. Luckily I was able to push away the feeling but Will . . . not so much. Guess darkness and sunshine don't mix. Just kidding I still ship Nico and Will. Even though I usually don't use my powers of relationship from Aphrodite, I used it a few days ago and they are both head over heels in love with each other. Why won't they just kiss already?!
"Come on. Let's go inside." Nico ordered the two of us.
"Yes sir." I mock saluted him and marched towards the door, the two boys in tow. Hesitantly, I knocked on the door. It creaked open slowly.
"Is this Paranormal Activity 6 or something?" Will whispered to us sarcastically.
"Come in!" A frail voice called out from inside, making us jump. Nico, being the brave one, strode inside confidently. Will followed him and I just shut the door on my way in. We tracked the voice into a kitchen to see a lady around the age of 40 sitting down making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The sandwiches littered the floor and small table inside the kitchen. Once she turned to us Nico blended into the shadows. Maybe he wasn't the bravest.
"Luke! You're back." May Castellan exclaimed as she saw us. Will and I exchanged looks before I shrugged. Just go with it. Though I am a little offended I was mistaken for a guy. Hello I have long hair and boo-
"Yes I am. I'm sorry for running away because . . ." Will prompted.
"The monsters kept attacking me? That wasn't the last time I saw you. Not too long ago you were in here to get my blessing to become a vessel. Even that day you wouldn't accept the sandwiches I made you. They're your favorite." May laughed, still spreading jelly onto another sandwich. Something in her laugh sent chills up my spine. Nico's face appeared in a shadows behind May and he mouthed two words. Get out. With much exaggerated waving, we edged our way to the door. May seemed to get taken over, emitting a green mist.
"Run!" I yelped and we quickly rushed outside, Nico appearing next to us.
"That was close." Will sighed but Nico still seemed guarded as he turned to Ms. O' Leary. Following his gaze, I saw a middle aged lady who looked comforting and blazed of fire. Lady Hestia.
"Let's go." Nico ordered and we marched over to the goddess, bowing once we got close enough.
"Lady Hestia. What brings you here?" I questioned with barely contained glee. She is like . . . the Doctor. My idol. Hestia smiled back at me.
"Please stand young heroes. I have come to see if you understand the important of family." Hestia lectured softly. We all rose in sync. Family? I have the hunters, Poseidon, and Artemis but they aren't my family. The Hunters are my closest friends of course yet they didn't offer the same comfort a family did. Poseidon is my father but with less than five visits throughout my entire life he could hardly qualify as anything other than my biological father. Artemis is my caregiver and the one who always watched over me but somewhere inside of me I knew she wasn't truly my family. I don't get to choose my family. Then again, there isn't anything to choose from.
"I'm sorry but I don't get it." I said sheepishly. Nico and Will stared at me sadly, probably thinking about their siblings. Hestia looked at me with a mixture of pity and concern but moved on anyway. What? I never really had family to love.
"As you know, the gods have been facing Typhon. The father of all monsters. I am stuck on Olympus because I am home and the hearth. Nico you must remember me, whether you are with or against the gods, because I am the last Olympian. You all say you don't have family but I am sending you back to camp. Despite what you may think Percy you can choose your family." Hestia told us, turning to me at the end. Blushing furiously, I nodded. She smiled at us once more before the world was torn apart and rebuilt. In front of me was no longer a Goddess but instead Thalia.
"Hi." She whispered hesitantly at my appearance. Woah this is not Thalia. The rambunctious daughter of Zeus I know never does anything hesitantly.
"I'm sorry." I threw myself at Thalia and hugged her. That was when it hit me. Family wasn't just blood. It's the people you surround yourself with and trust enough to die for them. "Really I just wanted to be able to help you and Nico and I felt so useless that I didn't know." I continued but Thalia laughed.
"No problem. I've been a bit distant haven't I? Sorry about that." Thalia amended and we both grinned. Will and Nico had left once we apologized, probably to find their family. I filled Thalia in on May Castellan and saw her eyes cloud when we spoke of Luke.
"That sounds like why he would leave. He never did trust us enough to tell us." Thalia spat bitterly. My heart went out to her. She has to face her best friend from the past who is now their worst enemy. No pressure.
"We should go find Nico and Bianca." I finally offered weakly after a few moments of silence.
"Are you going back out again?" Thalia asked.
"Yeah but where we're going Bianca is needed more than Will." I replied, hoping she didn't get what I was trying to say.
"Persephone Jackson Crescent! Are you going to the Underworld?" Thalia shouted, drawing the attention of some Ares kids. Nervously I nodded quickly.
"Then let's go find them." Thalia sighed, defeated, as I smiled. I love my cousins.
Maybe I do have a family.
A/N YAY next chapter is the Underworld SPOILER ALERT Bianca gets left there to sway Hades SPOILER ENDED and I'm super excited for the final battle so I can start the sequel. Guess with fire wielding demigod is going to meet Percy ;). OMG enough spoilers I'm just going to post this because it's like midnight where I am and I can't stop rambling. Also I may not be able to update as much as I have because I go back to school in two days (ugh).