Chapter 16
*NICK*
I walked up the stairs hand in hand with Nico di Angelo! I had dreamt of this, well, technically I had dreamt about many things. My dreams were filled with plain and pleasure, dark and light. Past and future, but I just passed those particular dreams off as fantasy.
"We have reached a verdict" Minos drawled, pulling me from my reverie. Nico stepped forward, releasing my hand.
"And?" Nico demanded. He flipped his long black hair out from his eyes and ran his fingers through it absently.
Minos began speaking once again, "We see fit to grant you the Scales of Justice".
I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
"On one condition!" Manty snapped.
"Oh calm down." Trip said coolly.
Manty ignored him and spoke softly menacing, his mask, which depicted anger and the contrast in his speech painted a disturbing picture in regards sanity," You must return them when your camp no longer requires its aid. You must swear it on the river Styx".
"I swear on the River Styx the Scales will be returned to you when Camp no longer needs its aid, but not before." Nico said quickly.
"So be it." Minos said dramatically and motioned to the Sclaes sitting upon a gold pedestal. Nico darted forward and grabbed the Sclaes of Justice.
"Th-" Nico began before turning and seeing four empty chairs made of gold, that looked more yellow, like corn. Nico walked slowly back to my side. Suddenly, a shimmer of mist and light swirled in the air before us. The image shifted and I knew this was an Iris Message, but it was from my mother. She often sent me IM's that showed an image of what she wanted me to do. I often wondered how she did this and why. I had been thinking lately that, perhaps, my mother did that to keep with Zeus' noninterference policy.
It showed Nico, Percy and I walking through an airport, I had been here before, it was LAX. We walked up to counter and then we continued out a side door directly out to the plane. My mother's private jet. I had flown on it many times when I had gone on missions for my mother, often times around the world. Let's just say you do not want to be in Egypt and not know Egyptian Arabic.
"My Mom has given us a way back to New York, we will be taking a plane." I say turning away from the image and sprinting down the stairs.
Percy and Nico right behind me.
"What? Wait a second, I'm not cool with a plane. Son of Poseidon and all that. Zeus would love to see me killed." Percy said wearily.
I rolled my eyes involuntarily.
"Percy…Zeus won't risk angering Poseidon, Hades AND Nyx. That would be insane even for Zeus." I said incredulously.
"Well, why not? I mean he could just get rid of all his biggest opposition's mortal chess pieces off the board." Nico said.
I considered this briefly, "No, My Mother and Hades would not allow it. They converse more than either of us know, "I said turning my head slightly to catch Nico's eye. He simply nodded and I chuckled turning back. When we reached the end of the stairs and solid ground again Percy began in again, "If we have to go on a plane can we at least get there quick? Can't you guys do you shadow trick again?"
Nico and I exchanged glances and he shook his head ever so slightly and shrugged.
"If we spend the night here in the Underworld, we should have enough energy to make that work." I said to Percy, trying to be civil. I would get my revenge in due time.
Percy deflated comically and said, "A night in the dark and dreary it is."
I was pretty much dead on my feet by the time the three of us had found a cave built into the side of a mountain. One of many mountains down here. My eyes began to shut almost immediately, after all the fighting and energy that I had expended that day, let's just I was surprised I wasn't worse off. I had only suffered exhaustion and a bloody nose. We would be back to camp by tomorrow night and Nico was actually giving me a chance. I kept thing back to that kiss, it was electric, and it was otherworldly. I tried to speak as I laid down on the cold rock ground, "Goodnight.", but I'm pretty sure I only mumbled before I surrender to the pull of unconsciousness and mystery.
