Title: Promises

Pairing: Percy/Nico

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any Percy Jackson characters, they all belong to Rick Riordon.

Warnings: boyxboy, a little mention of drugs

A/N: Sorry for all the mistakes you find :)

Thanks to all those who reviewed!

Chapter Nine

We had spent the rest of the day holed up at the oasis, agreeing that we would find another hiding place later. Dinner went better. Percy and I held a silent conversation across tables, gaining curious looks from Annabeth.

After we had gotten out of the water, we had agreed that sooner or later we will have to have a talk about what had happened and what it means to us. A time was never mentioned, and I wasn't eager to get into that. Until then, no kissing without both of us approving; it was safer this way. Not moving too fast to overwhelm us.

After dinner, I made my way back to the infirmary, wondering what Empedocles will have me do this time. When I got there, he had the room shrouded with shadows, keeping the nearest lamp to him on. The ever present clipboard wasn't in his hands this time; it was resting next to him on the bed he occupied. He waved me forward, telling me to side on the bed in front of him. I did as told.

"Tonight, Mr. Di Angelo, we are going to see to your abilities."

"What do you mean?" I asked, stuffing my hands under my thighs so I won't fidget with anything to show that I was nervous.

"Last time, you had that moment of sensing Mr. Jackson's hellhound, did you not?" He waited for me to nod before continuing on. "Well, that means that you're regaining a semblance of your powers. I want to see how much."

"Okay and how are we going to do that?" Cause as far as I'm concern, I can't do much. Like at all.

"Simple. You are going to attempt to practice." He said, making sure I knew that this was a me only exercise.

I nodded, toeing off my shoes so I could bring them up to sit Indian style, my hands resting on my lap. If I was going to practice, then I wanted to be comfortable. Something tells me that this was going to be a long process. When I glanced back up at him, he was waiting patiently for me so he can explain further.

"We will be doing this every night. This way, I can see how fast they are returning. Now, I want you to give me a list of what you can do regarding your demigod abilities." Here he gathered the clipboard and a pen, ready for the list.

"Shouldn't you know this already?" I asked. Chiron probably should have told him.

"I want to hear it from the source. You don't have to go into detail."

"Um, okay. I can uh, control the earth to an extent. I can do necromancy-?" This was making me feel awkward, like I was praising myself and a narcissus. "Um, I can sense death, and control shadows. Solidify them and all. And shadow travel. I think that's all."

He hummed, finishing whatever it was that he was writing. After a few moments in silence, he set the clipboard aside and turned all his attention onto me. His creepy ass smile was back, and it was making me tense.

"Relax, Mr. Di Angelo and try to command the shadows as you would normally do. Solidify it within your hand."

Sighing, I looked at the shadows surrounding us trying to feel them, raising my right hand that they would use as a perch. I searched for that connection that was always there whenever I conversed with the shadows. But, like I expected, it wasn't there. It was just vast emptiness. No matter how many times I tried to talk to the darkness to just move or something, it was like I was talking to a brick wall.

I tried to communicate to them for a while longer before giving up. Opening my eyes (I had closed them in hopes to better concentrate); I thought Empedocles couldn't get even creepier. He was in the same position as when I first started a couple of minutes ago. Still as a statue, if I didn't know any better I would say he had turned to stone.

"I can't do it." There was bitterness in my tone.

"So they haven't advanced that far. I want you to do one more thing tonight and then you can go to bed."

"And what's that?"

"Where's Mrs. O'Leary?"

The answer came automatically. "She's on her way."

"Thank you, that's all for tonight. Please get some sleep." With that, he left with his things.

Rolling my eyes, I changed before turning in for the night.

I didn't get a chance to see Percy as I had woken up early and was wrangled straight into activities with the Ares cabin. They wanted to get started on picking strawberries; it was our turn this time, so that by the time the sun was almost at its peak, we would be at sword skills. The logic was that if we finished early, we would have extra time at swords.

I tried to be slow at picking berries, there was no way I was excited about going to sword practice. The Ares cabin was nothing but brutes and they enjoyed showing no mercy and gloating for every win. The Fates were against me, seeing as I was only one against 20 plus. So 45 minutes later, the group made our way to sword practice.

Immediately everyone paired up and as the outsider I was left alone which was perfectly fine by me. I waited until the others were done before grabbing an armor set and strapping it on. Next to the armory racks were the weapon racks that held more than just swords. I pulled one that was roughly the same length as my stygian sword and was made out of celestial bronze. It was heavier than what I was used to, but after practicing with it for 30 or so minutes, I should get used to the weight.

I had forgotten about my sword after the whole kidnapping ordeal, worrying only about my health. It didn't really register that I had lost it until the first time at sword practice when I had to settle for a regular crafted weapon. Vaguely could I recall entering a battle with someone before the heroin episodes. My kidnappers must have taken it from me and that angered me. That sword was an extension of my body, that's how used to it and comfortable I was. I had forged that weapon with my own two hands with the help of my powers. Now I don't have the extension of my body and I can't create a new one.

Clicking my tongue in irritation, I moved to the practice dummies set up throughout the area. Maybe sword practice wasn't so bad now that I have pent up anger to release. I went through several warm up swings and lunges, trying to get a feel for the foreign sword. On my 5th swing, another sword intercepted it, making a loud clang and sparks to fly. Following the bronze up to an arm and then to a face, I stared into the challenging smirk of the Ares cabin counselor, Clarisse La Rue.

"What do you want?" I asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance in my tone.

She rolled her eyes, shoving my sword away from hers as she successfully stepped fully in front of me. "I need a partner and lucky you you're the only one without one." She sneered.

"Really? Cause from where I'm standing, I'm not the only one who doesn't unwillingly have one. What's wrong? No one wants to play with you?"

The smirk left her lips at my words. She took a step forward, trying to intimidate me. With a swift move, she knocked her sword against mine, moving it to the side before bringing hers back up to my neck.

"Maybe I just want to play with them. Ever think of that?" I glared at her then her sword, silently telling her to move it. Surprisingly she did. I took 2 steps back, getting out of her range. When she saw that the smirk was back with amusement.

"I've beaten all of them, I'm looking for some new blood and those Aphrodite's sissies are terribly weak and bore me. Then there's you, don't think much of this but I think you can last a second longer than them. Get more entertainment out of you."

With a condescending laugh she came at me. I blocked with both my sword and shield, reflecting some of the swings and counterattacking with some of my own. We carried on for a long while before with an impeccable timing and a good maneuver; my sword went flying from my hand. In another two swings, Clarisse's sword was once again pointed at my neck.

"Like I said, more entertaining." She sneered, arm and sword retracting away from me.

Snarling, I brought my shield up and pushed it again her slack sword, getting it out of my way before I dropped to the ground and swiped her feet from under her. She let out a small shriek as she collided with a ground. Grinning, I stood over her.

"You're right, this is entertaining." She screamed, getting back up.

By that time I had already retrieved my sword and we continued fighting until the bell for lunch ringed. She managed to defeat me a 4 more times (She didn't go easy on me at all), with me stealing a win somewhere in between there. As we placed all the equipment away, I made sure to stay clear from Clarisse, sticking to the back. As counselor of her cabin and the best fighter out of her half-brothers and sisters, she tends to stay in the front of the group as its self-appointed leader.

Aphrodite's and Ares' cabins split immediately as we entered the pavilion, meeting up with all the other groups that came from different activities. Grabbing my plate of food and sacrificing some to Hades, I finally sat down, noticing that my muscles were already starting to become sore. Clarisse is strong, I'll give her that.

Percy was sitting at his table when I glanced over at his direction, earning a smile and a wave. I returned it back but in a lesser degree. I finished eating quickly after that so I could have a few minutes to talk to him, but as I was on my way to his table after throwing my plate away, I was dragged away by Clarisse herself.

"You're not holding us back, Di Angelo." She said before pushing me out of the pavilion and in front of her so she could push me faster if I started to slow down. "We have some tracking to do. And guess who's it?"

Grinding my teeth in frustration, I prepared myself for hell.

I'm SOOOOO SORRY! For taking this long to update :( There's no excuse, but i am slowly getting back into the swing of things, and i hope to continue and finish this story. Thanks to those who still read and follow. Updates may be few and far between, but i will update! Just not as fast.

Let me know what you think!