Chapter 7

Hades Cabin

Snow Sabrina

I walked with Nico to his cabin. when we got there I closed the door, so as to avoid unwanted listeners. "It's about Hades staff isn't it?" He blinked. "How did you know about that. I haven't told you yet."

"Because I talk to Hades too. Even if he didn't tell me, it was pretty obvious that one of his symbols of power was missing. He specifically asked YOU to lead the quest, he wouldn't have done that if it didn't involve him. And he made sure not to tell people what it was for; Hades wouldn't want people to know about that kind of thing. It could've been the keys, his helm or his sword, but the keys are IN the sword, and it's one of the main things he uses now, as is his helm, which would be well guarded after it was stolen 6 years ago by Luke Castellan. His staff would be the easiest thing to steal to provoke him. The only question is WHY did they want to make him angry. Are they trying to start another war among the gods? Nothing else has been stolen yet, though."

"Do you have any theories on who is doing this?"

I sighed. "Yes, it is highly possible the Titans are coming back, that seems like the kind of thing they would do. The giants don't think that way; they're not smart enough. Their only gear is to fight and to follow Gaea's orders. Another thing... that is much more disturbing."

He sat next to me. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath. "It's possible that the monsters are getting tired of having to reform. It's highly painful, another reason I don't like to kill them besides that I don't want to make any enemies. They may think that if they can control the underworld, they can stop death. They can stop having to go to Tartarus. Their next move would probably be to take out all the minor gods of the underworld. Then they probably think that that in itself will destroy Hades. Or they might think that killing Persephone would kill him. Or you or Sapphire really. Maybe even Hazel. If everything he stands for, everything he believes in, everything he cares about is destroyed, he will be as well. That is how you kill gods."

I took a shaky breath. "Nico, I don't know if you should go. Out there, they'll be able to get to you. I don't want anything to happen to you." A tear traced down my cheek. I had lost enough people already. Had enough horrible things happen to me. My scars...

"Don't worry. They won't be able to get me. I'm a very powerful demigod. And it will be so much more painful for them if they try to hurt you... and...you think Kronos is behind this, don't you? He's whispering in their minds. They're not smart enough to think of all that. I WON'T let him get you. I can't lose you too."

I hugged him tightly. "Who are the 6 you decided to bring?"

"That girl, Caspia Kelly, she seems smart, she's nice, and she fights well. Percy and Annabeth, that Blade guy, Leo, and... Sapphire. I hope that's okay." I shook my head. "I don't think it's a good idea. But, I don't suppose there's any changing your mind once it's made up. And anyway, she can help you with shadow traveling. It would get difficult with 9 people. You're getting stronger... Do you want to go tell them they're on the quest?" He looked up. "Yeah, and then we can... have some fun."

"It's kinda late."

"Come on, please?" I sighed. "Okay. Let's go. We went over to the Persephone cabin and told Sapphire, then Percy and Caspia, then Annabeth, then Blade, then Leo. After a long walk from bunker nine, we finally got back to the Hades cabin.