Chapter 17. Nico: Half Truths and Outright Lies.

The plan had been simple. Annabeth had wrung the location of Clarisse's flag out of a wimpy Aphrodite kid, who was only too happy to surrender information to us. Though Annabeth's threats of destroying his secret stash of chocolates may have something to do with it. During the game, we would distract the opposing team while Annabeth invisibly snuck in and stole the flag. It was as easy as pie. Too easy. Of course the Fates couldn't let us of with an incident free game of Capture the Flag for once. Gods forbid that should happen.

We had just begun celebrating our quickest victory ever when I heard the startled scream. I whipped around instantly, I recognized that voice. Vanessa. My eyes widened heart in my throat when I saw her crumpled on the ground, shoulders heaving, and her blue eyes wide and staring. I stumbled forward and felt Annabeth's hand on my shoulder, steadying me.

"Vanessa!" I called out to her. She turned and met my eyes; her own bright with surprise and something like… fear? Why should she be afraid? "You okay?" I continued, stepping forward again. Something was wrong. Every inch of her stunning face was telling me that. The little pucker between her brows, the glimmering light in her eyes, her mouth which was open in a little 'O'. Vanessa looked down at her hands. I followed her gaze and cursed. She had dislocated her ankle. It was pointing at a sickening angle.

"Shit," I muttered. "Hang on, Vanessa, I'm coming!" I called to her, but she wasn't looking at me anymore. She was staring right ahead with a look of utter horror. Then, Vanessa screamed, her voice rising shrilly over the chaos in the valley. It was a sound of utter terror and helplessness. It was a sound that I knew I would never forget.

I followed her gaze into the leafy depths of the woods. I could literally feel everyone else in the valley doing the same. At first I saw nothing. Just the usual trees, trees and more trees. Then, something moved. Something big. Behind me, Annabeth let loose a plethora of Greek curses.

Huge ant-like creatures poured out of a whole in the ground. For some reason, the Earth around them was covered in shiny paint; silver, gold and electric blue. I was rooted to the ground with sheer terror. The creatures just kept pouring out, spreading into the valley. Greenish liquid frothed from gaping holes on their faces and the waved pincers longer than my arm about.

I dimly aware of Annabeth shouting something and the sound of Chiron's horn filling the air but there was a fog in my mind, suffocating everything except the creatures and the sight of Vanessa sprawled on the ground directly before them.

Campers were panicking, trying to get away. I watched as one of them pushed Vanessa down roughly. A part of my mind was yelling at me. I should move. I had to move. Help her. Help Vanessa. Vanessa. But I couldn't. Another part was just repeating one thing over and over. She was going to go too. She was going to leave me. Like Bianca. Like my Mamma. Vanessa screamed again, the sound soft and distant the in bedlam of my mind.

One of the creatures, reared up before her. I watched as she scrambled back, her ankle limp and useless. Do something. I had to. But what? Suddenly, I could move again. The fog in my mind cleared and noise fell upon my ears. Campers yelling, those creatures shrieking, the twang of bows and arrows. But I only saw and heard Vanessa.

"No!" The strangled cry fought its way out of my throat. I was too far, I couldn't help. Damn it, why hadn't I moved earlier? From the corner of my eyes, I saw a figure with dark hair and clothes whizzing past the other campers. I blinked and just like that Alva was standing before Vanessa, arms stretched above her head. She was completely focused on the creature before her, eyes flashing with an eerie silver glow.

"επιστροφή στηνκούφιασπίτι σας! Αφήστε μας στην ειρήνη!απωθούν! Προστατέψτε τον! Στο όνομα της εκάτης" her voice rose over everyone else's and a hush fell over the valley. Light flashed in valley, stinging my eyes. I shielded them with an arm. I heard Annabeth gasp behind me. Lowering my arm, I stared at the new drama unfolding before us. Alva was swaying in front of Vanessa, her face paler than my own. She turned her head and looked up a low hill at someone. Vanessa glanced around, taking on the frozen faces of the campers.

"Nico! Connor! Annabeth! Somebody! Help her, now!" Vanessa yelled desperately, eyes still roaming around the valley. I saw someone respond to her pleas. I saw Alva crumple in their arms. I saw light flash above her. Throughout it all, I stood there, my mind reeling. Alva muttered something before passing out. I saw a glowing symbol above her head, confirming my suspicions. Three entwined torches, glowing with Greek fire.

It was a sign I passed often in the Underworld. There were quite a number of doors emblazoned with the sign. The halls behind them were strange, twisting and turning, ending abruptly with strange doors leading to fantastic places or plain grey walls. I had asked my father about it once. He had answered my question with a sharp hiss of "Traitor". I never asked about it again. The Olympians never took kindly to turncoats. And to them, Hecate was the worse of the lot.

Gradually, antagonizingly, I had dug out the story out of the servants of the Underworld. It was a slow job. They were either to terrified of Hades or too loyal to speak of it. But I managed. And what I discovered only served to deepen my curiosity.

Hecate had been a powerful goddess of the Underworld. She was almost as influential as my father. She assisted in the last rites of the dead, calming and releasing them from the worldly fears and doubts. She had staunch worshippers everywhere. Yet she remained loyal to my father, serving him for centuries. She was as dominant and as important in this world too so her time was divided between the two worlds.

Hecate was a mystery. She was hardly ever seen by the servant, only whispered of in the halls. Then, suddenly, one day she appeared at the gates of Hades. The servant I spoke to had shuddered at the memory. She was fiery, they said. Her hair surrounded her like a dark halo, silver eyes piercing all those before. Her hands glowed blue with her mystical powers as she barged onto my father's palace.

According to some, she had accused my father of abusing her powers and her loyalty to her family for his own convenience. Others whispered than she had claimed to have more power than Hades and sought to take control of the Underworld. However, the older, calmer servant made the most sense of all. Hecate had been brain-washed, they said. I asked for more information, searching deeper and deeper until I found one servant who had witnessed the whole thing with his own eye sockets.

Hecate had stridden in, interrupting my father and my terror of a stepmother who were in the midst of another of their quarrels. She had drawn herself up to her full height and said she was a part of this plan no more. Hades, still annoyed from the quarrel, had grouchily asked what plan.

"You used me," Hecate had replied, her voice icy. I knew nothing of what happened after that. The servant had refused to elaborate beyond saying that neither party was to blame. I almost murdered that stinky little skeleton again. Unfortunately, my father appeared. I had never seen him as angry as he was that day.

"Leave this matter alone, Nico," Hades had hissed. "Nothing will change the past. Just leave it be." With a snap of his fingers, Hades and the servant both disappeared.

I swear that was the most frustrating moment of my life.

"Nico, what took you so long?" Vanessa demanded when I finally reached her. She was staring, uncomprehendingly at the still rotating symbol above Alva. I held her at arm's length and looked her up and down, as clinically as I could manage. I felt my heart go haywire as I took in Vanessa's figure. She was definitely not as developed as some girls around but it was enough. I felt my face begin to burn.

"Why are you blushing?" Vanessa asked, confused. I shook my head wordlessly. She looked at Alva again, too preoccupied to waste more than one of her gazillion questions on me. Irrationally, I felt a familiar feeling flare up in my chest. Honestly, I had no idea what was wrong with me, she was injured and I was wasting time being jealous of her friend. Who also happened to be the daughter of my father's worse enemy. Perfect. Vanessa went on, oblivious to the confusion in my head, "Do you think she's alright?" I rolled my eyes. Honestly, you'd think she had no sense of self-preservation.

"Are you alright?" I asked her, looking right into her eyes. She stared back, eyes wide. Face red, she stammered out an incoherent response. I sat back relieved. She was fine. She was okay.

I had never thought that I would feel as helpless as I had watching Vanessa being attacked. Never again, I swore to myself. It happened with Mamma. It happened with Bianca. It was not going to happen to this girl, whatever she meant to me.

"Good," I replied shortly. Scooping her up in my arms, bridal-style, I called out to Conner. "C'mon, man. Let's get them some help." Connor looked at me blankly. Vanessa decided to help me.

"Connor, you fool," she yelled. I smirked. That girl never ran out of things to say did she? "Alva's hurt! Come on!" Her words seem to have some effect. Mirroring me, Connor placed a trembling arm under Alva's knees and lifted her effortlessly. She sure was light for someone so scary. I couldn't say the same for Vanessa.

"How many pounds of chocolate do you eat, woman?" I groaned. Don't get me wrong, I was no wimp but she was heavy.

"Well, you can save yourself the trouble by letting me walk, couldn't you?" Vanessa shot back. Not a chance, I thought. I was enjoying this too much. Her body pressed against mine, her hands around my neck, her breath wafting up to my face. I felt like I had died and gone to Elysium. "And for your information," Vanessa ranted on, "My favorite flavor is blueberry. I hate chocolate." I made a mental note of that and carried her to the infirmary, complaining all the way. Occasionally, we would glance back at Connor, who still had not spoken a word.

When we reached the infirmary, I was torn between feeling relieved I could put Vanessa down and reluctance to let her go. Finally, I laid her down gently and looked right into her eyes again.

"You okay?" I whispered. She nodded. "I'm sorry," I continued. Vanessa raised her eyebrows.

"For what?" she whispered back. I bowed my head.

"I didn't help you. I couldn't. I don't know why." I felt color rise in my cheeks with shame.

"You've been helping all along, Nico." I ignored the thrill that shot through me when she said my name. Her words made my heart lighter. She wasn't mad at me. I let her go reluctantly, and straightened up, smiling.

Connor stood at the other bed, frozen, staring down at the daughter of Hecate. His face was ashen. We both looked up when the door was blasted open, revealing a very angry Annabeth and a grave Chiron. Uh-oh, I thought.

"Someone," Annabeth hissed. "Some idiot sprayed shiny paint all over the Myremekes nest and made a trail leading right to that valley. It could be an accident of course, except for the fact that Myremekes are attracted to shiny things." Her stormy yes were trained right on the child of Hermes before me. He seemed to shrink before Annabeth who was trembling with anger. Even Chiron looked pissed, which was a rarity for him. I felt sorry for Connor. But not so much. After all, Vanessa did get hurt. Annabeth went on, her words raining blows on the poor guy. "Now, which imbecile might that be?" She finished with a hiss. Connor gulped and stared at his feet.

"I'm sorry,' he croaked. I felt my eyebrows go up. Connor apologized? Even Annabeth looked surprised and Chiron looked outright stunned. As far as I knew, neither of the Stoll brothers had ever apologized for a prank. Not when they poured dye into the lake and turned the dryads hair bright red for a week. Not when they almost caused a feud between the Aphrodite cabin and the Eris cabin. Not when the Demeter cabin's plants were destroyed by birds after they placed chocolate bunnies on their roof. Even the short time I had spent in Camp was enough for me to learn of the extensive history of the Stoll brothers. And one thing had always been certain. They never said sorry. Ever.

"I didn't know anyone was going to get hurt," Connor went on in that same strangled voice. Annabeth opened her mouth to rant on but Chiron stepped forward and silenced her with one gesture. I pulled put a chair beside Vanessa, who was silent with horror. This could go on for some time.

"You will be punished, you know that don't you?" Chiron asked Connor grimly. Connor nodded mutely. "Good," Chiron turned from him to Alva. Annabeth started to protest but one look from Chiron and she thought better of it. She met my eyes and I saw that she was still pissed though. She probably was going to be for a while. Vanessa, who seemed to have found her voice again, chose that moment to speak.

"Is she going to be okay?" she asked timidly. Chiron looked at her and then at me.

"I told her the story." I answered Chiron's silent question. He nodded. Vanessa looked from me to Chiron, a wordless plea in her eyes. Neither of us said a word. I was a little confused. Hecate was my father's enemy. I, however, had no problem with her other than the fact that she was a major pain. I could demand that she be thrown out, but that would hardly dear me to Vanessa. No, I decided. I won't start a fight with the child of Hecate. She didn't deserve it and it would do me no good anyway. Besides, we had a quest to go on.

"You're going to leave her be, aren't you?" Annabeth asked. When I nodded, her eyes flashed triumphantly. Apparently, she already knew what I was going to do. I rolled my eyes, wondering why people bother to decide anything. They could all go ask Annabeth what to do.

"She is going to have a hard time," Chiron boomed. He was right. There were hundreds of campers out there who still haven't quite forgiven Hecate for the war. I doubt they would be willing to let Alva be.

"Why?" Vanessa demanded to know. I had also explained that the symbol meant that Alva had been claimed by her godly parent and I hadn't missed the numerous times Vanessa had glanced up hopefully. She was doing it again. Frowning, she went on, "Alva didn't do anything wrong." Annabeth let out a harsh laugh and even Chiron smiled. I just shook my head, wordlessly. She was so innocent. Too innocent to be involved in this crap.

"They don't care about that, Vanessa." Alva's low voice answered. She pushed herself up, waving Connor's hand away. Rubbing her head, which was now a bright ridiculous blue, she continued, "Besides, for all they know, I could have helped my mo- Hecate in the war. Not that I did." Alva looked at each of us in turn. She met my gaze evenly. Her silver eyes dared me to say something to contradict her. I just gave her my best smirk. She clenched her fists, hair turning a fiery red. I didn't want to fight with her but that sure as hell didn't mean I had to like her.

Vanessa opened her mouth to continue but a strange, horrible cry echoed in Camp. I was up on my feet in seconds. I knew that sound. It sent chills down my back, urging me to run, run now. I was breathless with panic. Vanessa had clamped her hand over her ears. Chiron and Annabeth looked horrified. Connor looked even sicker, if possible. Alva was the only one who seemed remotely unaffected.

"Grover," Annabeth whispered. She looked at me and I nodded. Only Grover could have made the sound. I only heard the Great God Pan's Panic once but I was pretty sure I would never forget it.

Simultaneously, Annabeth and I rushed for the door. Something pretty big had to happen for Grover to use the Panic. And I wasn't sure I wanted to know what it was.

AN: Quite late, I know! But I hope everyone isn't as confused as they were in the last chapter. Anyway, Review!