Nico: A lot to Take in
By the time I reached the cabin, the only thing on my mind was Phoenyx. I know what pain does to people. I've seen it in myself. I twisted the knob and rushed inside. There was a pool of clear liquid on the black marble floor. I slipped into the Shadow Layer. A cluster of Shadow Spirits formed a protective circle around something. I moved toward them and shooed them away. Phoenyx was lying curled on her side with her head in her hands.
Leave me! she boomed.
No, I replied. It wouldn't be right. I'm sorry. I . . . guess I forgot I'm not the only one who's suffered. Please, whatever it is, let me help you. I reached down and touched her shoulder. My whole body recoiled. I could feel her pain, her guilt. I saw Nyk die, and I felt his loss. I knew Hades' rejection, the scorn of mortals, and the hate. Her physical turmoil was mine. Her scars were mine. How she kept from going insane . . . I don't know. There was one thing in the midst of all the suffering that made it possible to hold on, that gave her a will to live: Love. Nyk's, mine, and . . . one I didn't know, that was somehow different. I pulled away. My heart felt like a three hundred pound weight was attached to it. I could tell Phoenyx had seen my experiences too. I'd never felt more exposed, more naked of secrets and barriers . . . not even when I encountered Cupid.
How . . . the guilt . . . I faltered.
It's killing me, Nico. I'm dying, my sister said gravely.
But . . . how? I asked. She didn't reply, and didn't meet my eyes. Please, tell me. I reached for her hand, but she recoiled and pulled it away.
Some things are better left unknown, Phoenyx said quietly. Something in her voice told me not to pursue it, but I did anyway.
I have a right to know, I reminded her. I'm your brother.
That's exactly why I can't tell you. Her eyes were wet. She pulled away and turned her back to me. I tried to follow her as she moved away, but the Shadow spirits grabbed me by the arms and held me back.
Phoenyx! I yelled. Please! Stop! Just let me help you!
No, she said, her voice breaking. I must do it alone. You wouldn't live. It would kill you. And I can't loose another brother.
And I can't loose another sister! I protested. Suddenly, the Shadow Sprites shrieked and dropped me like a hot potato. A voice like the earth ripping itself in half sounded. I clamped my hands over my ears.
TELL HIM! It thundered.
No! I can't! Phoenyx screamed.
TELL HIM! DO NOT DENY ME, CHILD!
No . . . Please, Father. It will destroy him. Don't make me. Please! she pleaded.
DO AS I SAY, OR SUFFER THE CONSIQUENCES!
Fine! Phoenyx sobbed. I lay there, trembling, hoping the terrible voice had gone away. Cautiously, I sat up. Phoenyx stood up shakily and pulled the half glove off her right hand. The skin on her palm and the back of her hand was smooth and pink, pulled taut. Burn scars. Not terrible ones, but bad enough to make one cringe. But what was on the other hand was much more terrifying.
A faint glow emanated from the tattoo. Words were written in a spiraling pattern, getting smaller and smaller as they curled into the center. Even still the words were clear:
Your warning is the meeting of another
Thy saving grace is the blood of a brother
Else Hades' Heron will fail and the Ghost King smother
And as dust-to-dust, both will fade to the Nether
That's the truth. That's the big secret, Phoenyx said bitterly. The thought crossed my mind that those were the exact same words I had used after I confessed I had a crush on Percy. I'm cursed. And if I don't find a way to break it . . . her voice broke. You will die too. And I will have caused it. I sat in shock. The Fates are cruel. So, so, so cruel, it made my blood boil like lava. My sister had gone through so much, just trying to survive, and now this.
I can't let that happen, Phoenyx said softly. Not again. Not after what I did to Nykolas.
I stood up and took her glowing hand. Let me help you, I insisted. We'll figure this out together, or die together.
Thank you, she whispered, and leaned her forehead into my shoulder. I hugged her close. She drew us out of the Shadow Layer. We stood on the fringe of the woods, maybe ten yards behind the Zeus and Hera cabins. The moon illuminated the roofs of the cabins, and the moist bed of earth on the forest floor. Phoenyx's figure seemed to melt into the shadows, probably the only reason I could see her was because I knew she was there.
"Nico? Hello?" a familiar voice called.
"We should go," Phoenyx said softly.
"Yeah." We walked side by side toward Percy, who apparently had terrible night vision.
"Poseidon's Underpants!" he yelped. "You scared the living god outta me! Where the Hades were you?"
"Doesn't matter," I said. "Tell everybody to go to bed. And let Chiron know we need to meet tomorrow."
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That night, I dreamt again about Pheonyx's past.
The Rubidoux family was sitting around an oak table eating. Hades, at the head of the table, cleared his throat.
"I am sorry to say I have business to attend to that cannot wait." He glanced at Phoenyx. "I regret I shall not be able to dine with you tonight. He stood up and left the room. The family of six dined in silence. A chubby little boy, about a year old threw a spoon across the table and laughed loudly. Phoenyx's mother scolded him and asked Nyk to hand it back to her. Phoenyx stiffened and looked straight ahead, her eyes glowing purple. She stood up.
"Ellie," Ms. Rubidoux chided, "sit back down." Phoenyx didn't move. Her mom gave her a hard look. "Eleanor, I said pleas sit down." No reply. "Eleanor Phoenyx Rubidoux, I will not–'' Phoenyx slammed a knife point down into the table. It was buried up to the hilt. Carol Rubidoux flashed with anger. "Young lady, for the last time–" My sister threw a goblet at her. It hit her in the face and knocked her back. Nykolas got up.
"Phoenyx–!" She grabbed him by the wrist and threw him across the table. His nose bled. Phoenyx drew a sword on the wall and brandished it. Nyk scrambled backwards. His sister advanced, and cut deep into his lower leg. An anguished, high-pitched scream came from him. His pant leg was torn below the knee, soaked with blood. He pulled it aside and gagged. His leg was cut deep into the bone, and blood was pumping out at an insane rate. He passed out.
Phoenyx was swinging the sword around wildly, hitting her brothers and sister. I prayed for the dream to end. I tried to block it out. Nothing worked. I watched all of them, except Nyk die.
I started awake, gasping and my heart pounding. It was just a dream, I told myself. No. Maybe it was to me, but that was real. It actually happened.
I presence entered the room. A ghost.
"Show yourself," I ordered. The figure wafted into a shape I'd seen before. Nykolas. He hopped easily onto my bunk and sat down. A wicked grin like the Cheshire Cat's crossed his face.
"Little brother. We meet again," his smooth tenor voice said casually. "I see you've been dreaming about my past." He picked his golden crowned tooth with a fingernail.
"What happened after that?" I asked, leaning against the wall.
"Don't remember anything after passing out. All I know is during that time, my lower leg got chopped off, and replaced with a high-tech prosthetic. Woke up a hundred years later and my mom was dead. Committed suicide after she found my siblings' bodies." He stared at the wall in silence. "You know, I never even saw daylight until I was eleven. Never'd seen a tree, or even grass in real life. Only in movies."
"Why?" I asked. Nykolas scowled.
"Hades didn't want us exposed to the world. He said we weren't ready, until he decided our training was done. But I used to sneak out early. Once Phoenyx caught me going above surface. But I made her promise not to tell our dad, in return for taking her up for a few minutes. I remember the awed look on her face. She couldn't believe how blue the sky was, or how incredible the wind felt." Nyk shook his head sadly. "That innocent little girl is gone. She always was a warrior, but she'd never seen the gritty, dirty, evil side of war. I almost wish I could have lived and Phoenyx died. She wouldn't have had to suffer so much." His intense brown eyes met mine. "Have you ever felt that way, Nico di Angelo?"
"No. I haven't." I tried not to look away from his steely gaze.
"Do you love my sister?" he asked.
"Yes." Nykolas hopped off the bed and looked over into Phoenyx's bunk. She was lying on her side with one of her arms hanging off the edge. He brushed his hand over her cheek and looked back to me.
"Take care of her. Or I swear, I will kill you." I hadn't been so scared for my life in years. I could see Nyk would not hesitate to slit my throat if something happened to Phoenyx. But then his hard expression softened.
"No. I couldn't. She wouldn't forgive me. Do you have any idea how much she loves you already?" He almost looked jealous. "She would die for you. In a heartbeat. Phoenyx doesn't trust people the way she trusts you."
"Take care of her," he whispered.