Crap...can't believe it was two months since I last updated D8 I'm really sorry! I got in a bit of a rut and needed to figure out how to get the story moving along since it seemed kinda mundane for a while so I apologize again for the lateness I have really got to time my writing better haha. But here's where things get interesting in this chapter so read, enjoy and review please! all comments are great and suggestions are even better!
EDIT: Okay since I've gotten some reviews asking about ages I'll put the ages here
Percy (12), Nico (14), Bianca (15 since she's suppose to be older), Luke (16), Annabeth (14), Thalia (15)
Oh and the french stuff I added i used an online translation so please don't be mad if the context is wrong since I never took french and never will i just needed it for a few scenes here.
The occupants stared at the shaking satyr in shock; no one said a thing too stunned by what he had said.
"Grover…are you sure that was the scent you picked up?" Chiron asked worriedly.
"Yes! Its nothing I ever smelled before but but it just has that sort of smell! Like a lizard only much more powerful!" Grover wailed, looking like he was about to fall over any second now.
"Did you happen to run into a dragon? Those creatures are very dangerous and its rare we would see one that just happened to be around." Chiron replied looking at Annabeth, Travis and Conner who had just walked in.
"Hey uh what's going on? I finished getting the new kid acquainted." Conner said looking at the group.
"Conner when you were escaping with the new half-blood did you see any other creatures besides the Cyclopes and succubi?" Annabeth asked.
"No I was too busy making sure the kid didn't fall behind why?" he asked confused.
"Because Grover thinks Nico got in contact with a real dragon." Chiron replied grimly.
"You serious! A dragon!" he exclaimed as his mouth dropped, "but those creatures are extremely rare usually living in one area for their whole lives!"
"Which greatly worries me…" Chiron replied, "I'm going to have to report this to the gods. Go on with your duties for today and please refrain from telling any of the other campers."
When he said this he gave a particular hard look at the Stoll brothers who just laughed nervously.
"We understand Chiron, we use discretion and try to figure out where a dragon came from." Travis said.
"I hope so, the last thing we need is for the camp to get into an uproar about this creature." Chiron said, "now on your way."
The four of them walked out of the big house contemplating.
"Do you think there are any particular reason for a dragon to be in New York? Wouldn't a place with lots of space or even the mountains be better?" Conner asked looking at the others.
"You'd think so but then again you wouldn't really expect Cyclops and succubi to be running around these parts either but looked what happened." Annabeth pointed out.
"I…I'm still in shock that something that strong was around!" Grover stuttered, "dragons are really difficult and powerful creatures."
"Do you think that the dragon was in a disguise?" Annabeth surmised, "that would make sense since we didn't see a towering dragon flying anywhere."
"Okay now that's just scarier, we could be walking one moment and then gone the next because we don't know a dragon could be standing right next to us." Travis shuddered.
"We shouldn't worry about it that much, its not like we could do anything." Conner said.
"I'd like to be prepared just in case, you never know what could happen." Annabeth retorted frowning.
"Do you think Nico would have any idea?" Grover asked looking around for the dark haired boy.
"Doubt it, he was just as clueless as we were." Conner replied, "besides even if we asked him do you think we'd get anything out of him? The kid rarely speaks and when he does its to tell us to go away."
"Good point, that kid is just the complete opposite of his sister and they're BOTH children of Hades." Travis said.
"Well I'm sure Chiron will inform us if anything happens with the dragon we have archery with the Apollo cabin." Conner groaned, he had wanted to start planning the next prank on the Ares's cabin for practically smashing them to the ground during sword practice.
"I have Greek studies." Annabeth replied, "I can do some research about dragons and hopefully find something useful."
"I'm going to go see Juniper." Grover said dashing off into the woods making the others roll their eyes at the satyr.
"He'll find any excuse to be around his nymph girlfriend." Travis said amused.
The group separated to go to their tasks for the day as Nico leaned up against the trunk of a tree in a peaceful area of a camp trying to catch up on some sleep he had missed because his sister woke him up. Just as he was about to close his eyes he heard someone walking up to him and muttered under his breath before he opened them and saw a fourteen-year-old dark haired brunette standing in front of him.
"Oh, its just you Josh." Nico said yawning as the other boy leaned against the tree trunk.
Out of the people in camp Josh was one of the few people he talked to, since he didn't like being at this camp much either as he was forcibly taken from his home and dragged off here by some satyr…said satyr ended up being knocked out for a few days with a brilliant shiner when Josh was able to move.
He had yelled and argued with Chiron about not caring if he was a half-blood or not but that he had responsibilities he had to take care off and being dragged off to some camp was not his ideal place. Unfortunately, since Josh had been an orphan with no immediate family he didn't have much room for argument against the ancient trainer. Nevertheless he dealt with the camp as much as he could even if he was claimed to be one of Apollo's children, he didn't act like one that was for sure…he was more into swords then arrows and music.
"You haven't seen…him around have you?" Josh replied looking around paranoid.
At the mention of the person Josh was looking out for Nico couldn't help but let his lips twitched amused.
"You mean your self-proclaimed boyfriend?" Nico chuckled making Josh blanch.
"Don't call him that! You'll give him ideas which he doesn't need!" Josh hissed back at the son of Hades, "bad enough he appears out of now where and tackles me down but he doesn't need to suddenly add the title of being my boyfriend!"
"Its not like its hard to see it with how attached he is to you." Nico pointed out.
"Shut up ghost boy…" Josh grumbled folding his arm.
"You first sunshine." Nico retorted.
"For the last time I am not into-" Josh started but suddenly there was an explosion of colorful confetti and Nico heard brunette boy let out a surprised yelp as something tackled him.
"Je vous ai trouvés Joshy! (I found you Joshy!)" A happy voice giggled.
"Get OFF of me you stupid magician! And speak freaking English would ya?" Josh shouted back.
"Looks like your boyfriend found you Josh." Nico said flicking some confetti out of his hair as the smoke cleared, giving Nico a full view of a boy who had tackled down Josh.
He had long dirty blonde haired that was tied in a small ponytail with bright violet eyes that seemed to shine as he looked down at Josh as he sat on top of the said downed boy, who was glowering up at him.
"Zacharia Valentine get your French butt off of me…" Josh growled.
Zacharia Valentine was an Aphrodite child that was a bit unusual from his half-siblings…sure he was vain and took care of his looks, but he had a tendency to concentrate on things of interest…like the newest resident in the Apollo's cabin.
"Can't you call me Zack or Zacky?" the dirty blonde haired boy asked pouting.
"Yeah Joshy call your pretty little boyfriend a cute nickname." Nico teased as he smirked.
"He is not my boyfriend!" Josh shouted.
"Not yet I'm not!" Zack laughed as he hugged Josh as he sat up, the other boy grunted and tried to dislodge Zack off of him.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not into guys!" Josh argued making Zack look at him as he folded his arms.
"Have you even kissed a girl?" Zack asked seriously.
"No! But that doesn't mean-" Josh started but Zack interrupted him.
"Have you ever had a crush on a girl?"
"Not yet! But-"
"Did you ever have certain DREAMS about a girl?"
"I AM NOT ANSWERING THAT QUESTION YOU PERVERT!"
"You do realize your dad had male lovers…and your father's father~" Zack stated smartly making Josh stare at him gob smacked.
"I do NOT take after my father!" Josh shouted but Zack just clung tightly to Josh.
"You don't know that~ which means my chances are still pretty good!" Zack stated firmly going back to hugging the obviously disgruntled boy.
"You two look so good together, an Apollo's kid and an Aphrodite kid together." Nico snickered, "tell me when the wedding is…"
"We're not even a couple!" Josh shouted but let out a strangled noise when Zack pressed against the other boy's body.
"Not yet, come on Joshy you know you like me!" Zack laughed as the brunette's face just burned as it seemed the brunette was a little tongue tied.
"I do NOT!" Josh growled back as Zack leaned back and sighed.
"Oh fine I'll let you continue to drown in your denial until then…look what I 'borrowed' when I was out of the camp!" Zack laughed as he snapped his fingers and something appeared in his hand covered in smoke.
"If this is another one of your ridiculous magic tricks then I'm going to shove you off right now." Josh said dryly, "I'm warning you this time…"
Zack just grinned and in a matter of seconds the smoke disappeared and Nico along with Josh stared at the object in the blonde's hands.
"You 'borrowed' that…" Josh said dryly looking at Zack, "you borrowed a soccer ball from a store with the price tag still on it…"
"its not like they're going to miss it! They had a whole pile of these things!" Zack replied grinning as he held ball in front of Josh's face, "well? Wanna kick it around a few times?"
Josh looked at Zack for a minute before he sighed giving in.
"Just don't try anything magic boy and that includes any of your tricks." Josh replied.
Zack leapt off of him and looked eagerly at Josh, practically giddy and couldn't wait another second before he reached over and grabbed the brunette's hand pulling him away from Nico and the tree.
"Venez sur Joshy jouons au football déjà! (Come on Joshy lets play soccer already!)" Zack said excitedly in French.
"Speak English!" Josh groaned but allowed himself to be pulled away by the French teen, "I'll see you later Nico!"
"Have fun sunshine boy!" Nico called making Josh fumble.
"STOP CALLING ME THAT DAMMIT!" Josh shouted before he disappeared over the grassy hills leaving Nico in silence.
Nico just enjoyed the solitude and silence as he just let the wind blow through his hair and closed his eyes to rest. He tried to get comfortable and his hand unconsciously slipped into his pocket and blinked when he felt something there. He pulled the object out and he saw it was a small seashell that the little boy had put on his dresser by the bed sometime during the night he spent the night there.
A young dark haired boy with sea-green eyes flashed in his head and he kept thinking back to how the boy had healed his wound when the Cyclopes at the beach had attacked him.
"That's not a normal skill, in fact I don't think any half-bloods can do that." Nico stated frowning as he sat up, sleep momentarily forgotten. Nico's curiosity was getting the better of him, and he wanted to find out more about the kid he had run into.
Standing up with a plan in mind he focused on the area of where Percy's house was and disappeared in the shadows just as Bianca was about to approach him. She frowned when she watched him disappear just as Luke came up to her.
"Is something wrong Bianca? Its time for sword practice." Luke said at the older Di Angelo, "hey where's your brother?"
"He went off somewhere, which is strange." Bianca replied shaking her head.
"How is that weird? He doesn't do much of anything regarding the other campers." Luke replied as they walked to the training field.
"Exactly, he seemed interested in something he had probably picked up at the last mission." Bianca replied, "and he hardly shows any interests…"
"That is strange." Luke said, "but maybe you're worrying over nothing your brother's smart and wouldn't' do something that was risky."
"Maybe…" she said quietly as she drew her own weapon once they got to the training field and starting to spar with one of the girls from the Athena's cabin while Luke was showing some new half-bloods the training.
Nico reappeared down by the empty beach where he had ran into Percy the first time, he was lucky that this was one of the spots where people seemed to rarely come. He made his way towards the pier, climbing it and looked around to try and remember the way Percy had shown him to home. The dark haired teen growled when he didn't recognize much and decided to walk around until he found something that looked familiar to him.
He tried to stay with the crowd to blend in and be discreet as he looked around for anything that was familiar, all the while questioning why he was doing this. He could've just left the whole matter alone and just had gotten some sleep instead, but he just couldn't drop it. Not only was he curious about Percy, but also he was wondering if there was something about the father, he had been around other adults and not once had he ever felt his senses screaming at him to bring out his sword and defend himself.
Nico shook his head as he continued to look around for something familiar, he needed to satisfy his curiosity somehow or it was going to bug him. He was broken out of his thoughts when he crashed into someone, and cursed for not paying more attention to where he had been walking.
He looked up at the person about to give a quick reply and walk away but then stopped when he saw a familiar looking woman. The woman blinked surprised and stared down at Nico before a smile crossed her lips as she let out a small chuckle.
"Hello, Nico right? What a surprise to run into you here!" Amelia said at the dark haired teenager.
"Er…hello miss…" Nico said unsure what to say.
Amelia seemed to notice and continued on her way, only stopping to turn and look back at Nico.
"Come on Nico, my shop is over here and we can talk a bit if you like." Amelia said, as the child of Hades nodded and slowly followed the woman past several shops until they reached a bakery with the title, "Sweet Dreams" over the door.
"This is my little dessert shop, we have all sorts of baked goods here." Amelia said opening the door and walking it.
There were two people inside along with a few customers buying coffee and doughnuts for breakfast.
"Amelia! How can you be a good boss if you're late opening your own shop!" the dark brown haired woman said as she rang up a customer at the cashier.
"Sorry sorry Melanie , I had some new ideas for recipes I just HAD to write down." Amelia apologized.
"Again? Well at least you're here and most of the morning rush hasn't come in yet." Melanie replied shaking her head.
"So who's the kid? A friend of little Percy?" The blonde haired man with green eyes asked.
"Yeah Percy met him yesterday and I ran into him today." Amelia said, "Melanie, Isaac this is Nico."
"Nice to meet you kid, by the way Tobias says we're running low on chocolate so Danette is out getting some more along with some other supplies so we're a person short today." Issac said.
"Really? Drat…" Amelia said biting her lip before looking at Nico, "say Nico are you doing anything right now? Or were you busy?"
"Not…exactly…I never really got to thank Percy for helping me yesterday…" Nico replied shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Well would you mind helping us out here?" Amelia asked.
"I can't cook nor bake." Nico said in a deadpanned voice but Amelia waved the boy off.
"Don't worry about that Tobias can help you! You'd just be helping us around for a while please?" the dark haired woman asked giving a pleading look to Nico, " Percy's at school right now so he won't be back until the afternoon, you can stay here until he gets out."
Nico inwardly grimaced.
He had two choices as he saw it, either stay here and bake a bit as much as he despised being caught dead in an apron and covered in flour or go back to the camp and deal with campers that didn't want him around. It would be better if he just stay here and let Percy come to him rather then him searching out the strange boy, though if he ran into anyone familiar he swore on the river styx that he'd make them forget seeing him actually baking.
"Fine…but I'm not wearing a frilly apron." He grumbled out as Amelia's face brighten.
"Oh don't worry we have normal aprons! Isaac can you show Nico to Tobias and tell him what's going on?" Amelia said as she was pushing the reluctant boy behind the counter as the blonde haired man nodded.
"Sure thing, have you baked anything before?" Isaac asked as Amelia showed Nico the backroom where he could put his jacket and other things as she put away here jacket and grabbed her own apron.
"No…" Nico replied flatly.
"Well do you have anything you enjoy eating?" Issac asked as they entered the kitchen.
"Hey Isaac who's that?" another man asked as he was moving some melted chocolate on a marble slate.
"This is Nico, he's going to be helping out a bit since Danette went out to buy supplies." Issac replied.
"I see, well I'd shake your hand Nico but as you can see I'm a bit busy tempering this chocolate." Tobias said.
"Tempering?" Nico asked.
"Its getting chocolate to the right consistency for baking." Tobias explained as Isaac handed Nico a white apron over his black shirt and pants as he showed him to a table.
"Now let me just show you the basic structure for some of these recipes, its very simple once you've done it enough times." Isaac said as he grabbed the ingredients and started to show the lord of the dead's son how to bake a simple cupcake.
Nico could already tell it was going to be a long day with how Isaac was explaining that this was just the beginning…
"Professor Kazuki!" an aging man said catching up to the teacher walking down the hallways to his classroom.
"Yes Headmaster?" Tatsuya asked as he shifted his papers in his hand, "was there something you needed?"
"Just a bit of a favor, see there's a representative from an elite school that wished to check out some of the classes so I was wondering if it would be alright if they could sit in one of your classes." The headmaster replied.
"As long as they are not disruptive in my lectures I do not see why not." Tatsuya replied, "is the representative here now?"
"Yes they said they would arrive in a bit, I shall direct them to your classroom." The headmaster said grinning happily as Tatsuya just nodded.
"I'll be on my way then." Tatsuya replied as he continued on his way.
He entered his classroom and saw that a few students were already seated as he put down his papers and took out the thermos of coffee Amelia had made for him this morning and smiled.
'She always does make the best coffee…' he thought to himself as he arranged his papers as the bell was about to ring.
As the last student quickly ran in Tatsuya looked up when he saw one last person walking almost silently into his classroom. She was tall looking woman, with dark hair that was tied neatly into a bun with a few strands framing her face, she wore a formal outfit as her heels clicked on the floor as her stormy gray eyes looked around the classroom.
When her eyes fell onto him Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, as the woman seemed to just stare at him, as if she was trying to figure out how just how he ticked. He made his way over to her as his students were still settling down and taking out their notebooks.
"You must be the representative the headmaster was talking about." Tatsuya said to the woman, "I am Professor Tatsuya Kazuki the ancient history teacher here."
"Yes, the headmaster told me a bit about you, my name is Shannon Alvis." The woman said in a regal sort of tone, "I am very interested in to see how your class proceeds."
Tatsuya just nodded but there was a twitch on his lips as if he knew something she didn't which just made her frown even deeper.
"I see, there are plenty of seats nearby for you if you're excuse me now I have a class to start." Tatsuya said as he walked back to the center of the classroom and alerted the class that the lesson was starting.
All throughout the lesson, 'Shannon Alvis' wouldn't keep her eyes off of Tatsuya it was as if she was expecting something to happen and was just waiting for the moment to happen.
For the most part Tatsuya ignored her and went on with his lesson about some ancient myths and passed back a quiz from the other day to his class a few minutes before the bell was going to ring.
"Most of you did relatively well. But for those that had gotten below a 70 you are to do an extra paper about the subject the quiz was on. It is to be at least three pages minimum. This will affect your quiz grade so make it count." Tatsuya said as several students groaned, "you have until Friday to turn it in to me and I do know whom you are that didn't get a passing grade."
"Yes Sir…" the class replied in unison.
"Good, now off with you to your next class." Tatsuya said as the students hurriedly packed up and rushed out of the classroom leaving it empty except for Tatsuya and Shannon. The woman stood up and walked towards the professor as he was cleaning up himself.
"Your class was very interesting, you really know your history." Shannon said.
"I make sure to do my research, it would be wrong of me to teach something that wasn't true. I hope my class was up to your standards." Tatsuya said as he finished packing up his papers.
"Yes it was, would you mind if I continued to observe your class?" Shannon asked.
"I don't mind but there are other professors who are just as qualified as I am to be observed." Tatsuya replied.
"Yes, I will be observing them later but I myself have an interest in the ancient world." The dark haired woman stated as the two walked out.
"I see, would you care to go to get coffee together sometime? I have another class but it is not until later." Tatsuya said observing the other woman and saw that she looked a bit surprised but nodded.
"It would be interesting to compare our opinions on ancient history." Shannon said.
"I look forward to it Miss. Shannon." Tatsuya said before he turned and walked away from the woman as a sly smile appeared on his face that she couldn't see.
'If you want to play this game then I'll play along but just know you aren't getting anything from me miss goddess…no matter how good your disguise may be you can never suppress your aura…' Tatsuya thought to himself as he headed to his office, but that just made him frown thinking more about his 'surprise' guest.
"My only question is why exactly was she interested in my class…" Tatsuya mumbled as he entered his private office and sat down, leaning back in his chair, "something must be going on I better be careful…"
He glanced at his desk to a photo that had him, Amelia and Percy in it smiling happily, it was a photo taken after a trip to the beach. They were all sitting in the sand with the sand castle that Percy had made with Amelia proudly in front of them.
"I do get the feeling it has something to do with dear Perseus…but I'm not going to give them the chance to do anything to my son…" Tatsuya growled.
"Hey who's that kid standing by the gate?"
"Looks like some sort of punk…"
"Is he waiting for someone?"
"I've never seen him around before, maybe he's a foreigner?"
"Who cares he isn't bad looking…"
"Oooo I wonder if we can get his number?"
Nico groaned inwardly as he leaned against the entrance gate to the private school that Amelia had told him that Percy goes to. It was bad enough he was cooking, despite enjoying the Tiramisu he had helped make, but all the other student's gossiping around him as they looked at him, trying to be discreet which they were failing at.
Since Amelia was short handed today, she couldn't go and pick up Percy from school she asked him to pick him up. She had given him the directions to the school and just told him Percy would know where to go afterwards. The bell had rung and the students were walking out and many of them were passing him and whispering to each other.
"Excuse me but uhm what are you doing here?" a girl about Nico's age asked shyly.
The dark haired boy glanced at her and could see that she was blushing as well.
'That's a first…' the son of underworld thought to himself.
"If you're not doing anything would you like to-" The girl started to ask almost eagerly but then someone stopped him.
"Nico!" Percy said surprised as he stood near the boy. He was shocked, he hadn't expected to see Nico so soon again but he wasn't complaining.
"Hey kid, your mom sent me to pick you up since she's busy…" Nico said pushing himself off of the wall and walking towards Percy.
"H-hey! You never answered my question!" the girl said practically whining.
"I'm busy." Was Nico's reply as he walked off with Percy running after him to catch up.
"That is so not fair!" the girl groaned watching the dark haired boy walking off with Percy.
"So…not that I'm not happy to see you again but why did you exactly come back?" Percy asked as they walked down the road to his house, as he looked down and kicked a stone out of the way.
"I…wanted to get to know you better you're an interesting kid." Nico replied.
Percy couldn't help but frown a bit as he looked up at him.
"You're not going to ask about that time at the beach?" the younger boy asked.
"As much as I would like to know, I'm not someone that would pry into someone else's business…" Nico replied looking down at the other boy.
Percy bit his lip as he seemed to be thinking about something before he came to a decision.
"Does that mean…you'll come and see me more?" Percy asked.
"I don't see why not…" Nico replied before he gave the younger boy a small smirk, "its not like I do much of anything else but train…" the boy added under his breath.
Percy seemed to brighten up and was practically bouncing as they walked.
"Really! Yay I can show you Celeste my puppy! You didn't get to see her last time cuz she got sick and had to stay at the Vet's." Percy said grinning and started to ramble off in his excitement.
Nico just nodded letting Percy ramble off and just nodded at certain points as they continued on their way to the younger boy's place. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw someone following them but shook his head but just stayed close to Percy as Nico kept an eye out for anything else. Luckily there wasn't any more incident as they made it to the light yellow house, Percy unlocked the white gate that surrounded the house and walked inside.
"You might want to stand back…" Percy said making Nico blink as he watched Percy unlock the front door wondering why he wanted him to stand back.
He got his answer when as soon as Percy opened the door a black blur tackled the younger boy and licked his face making the boy laugh.
"Ce-Celeste! Hahahaha that-that tickles!" Percy giggled as the puppy barked happily and continued licking his face.
"So that's why you didn't want me to stand near you…" Nico said watching the puppy.
The Labrador's ears twitched and turned towards Nico and started growling at him.
"Celeste! Down girl! Down! He's nice he's not going to hurt you!" Percy said wrapping his arms around the puppy as he stood up and walked towards Nico.
"She's had all her shorts right?" Nico asked warily eyeing the puppy.
"Uh huh, Celeste be nice to Nico!" Percy pouted making the puppy whine as her ears flatten, "good girl! Now you can pet her Nico!"
"Uh I rather not." Nico said.
"Please? It'll prove to Celeste that you're okay." Percy replied holding the puppy up high for Nico.
"You're not going to drop this until I pet your dog aren't you?" Nico said as Percy nodded. The dark haired boy sighed and slowly held out his hand close to the puppy's nose out for the dog to sniff.
Celeste eyed the other boy and slowly leaned over and sniffed Nico's hand.
Nico watched interested, as the puppy seemed to blink and pull back before she sniffed his hand again and then the puppy's eyes seemed to shine brilliantly. The puppy then barked happily and licked Nico's hand happily making the two boys stare.
"Uh…Nico? Do you have your own dog because Celeste only acts like this when she comes into contact with someone who has a dog around them." Percy explained.
"I see well that makes sense." Nico replied before thinking to himself, 'Especially since I usually hang around Cerebus at times though…'
"Well I'm glad that Celeste likes you." Percy said smiling as he put down the puppy and she ran around the two boy's feet happily as they walked inside.
"So what do you do know?" Nico asked.
"Oh I just grab Celeste and then go to mom's bakery. She lets me have snacks while I'm doing homework." Percy laughed as he made sure that Celeste didn't have any accidents in the house.
"What else do you like to do?" Nico asked as he glanced around the living room.
"Well…daddy signed me up for martial arts and mom has me playing the violin." Percy said shrugging, "daddy said its because I have something called ADHD and its hard for me to focus."
"Really now…" Nico said, "does it happen a lot?"
"Yeah, but mom has me think about my music scales to help me focus." Percy replied, "I have lessons every Tuesday and Thursday for about two hours."
"Do you like it?" Nico asked poking a figurine.
"Its not that bad, I'm pretty good." Percy replied, "okay Celeste didn't make a mess so now we can take her with us to mom's bakery."
"Is it really healthy to have a puppy in a bakery?" Nico asked as he followed Percy out the door as he watched the younger boy lock the door behind him.
"Celeste stays out of the back and more towards the front. She's a good girl." Percy replied making sure that the dog's leash was on before they walked off, "besides it gets lonely when she's by herself in the house."
"I guess that makes sense." Nico replied as the two walked away the house and to Amelia's bakery.
Throughout the whole trip while Percy and Nico were talking a bit to each other to get to know the other better the hairs on the back of Nico's neck wouldn't go down as if there was someone watching him and Percy. He frowned and made sure to stay close to the younger boy not sure if it was a monster or something else that was watching them.
"Nico are you alright?" Percy asked looking up at the older boy, "you seem a bit tense…"
"Its nothing come on I think I see your mom's bakery over there…" Nico said pointing a few feet ahead of them.
"Ah! You're right come on Nico maybe Mom will give us some cookies while you help me with my homework!" Percy said grinning.
"And when did I ever agree to help you with your homework?" Nico asked raising an amused eyebrow as Percy just stuck his tongue out at him before laughing as he ran ahead.
Nico followed after the boy at a more leisure pace but still keeping his muscles tense as he kept glancing around at the crowd around them. In some way Nico was right, there was someone watching him and Percy but they weren't in the crowd, they were on the rooftops.
A figure put down the binoculars they had been using to 'observe' the two since the darker haired one had seen him from the corner when he had been watching Percy. There was a slight noise and the figure pressed a finger to his ear.
::Aquila report what is the status?:: a voice from the transceiver in the person's ear.
"It was only a child Lord, I am not sure if it is the one." Aquila replied quietly.
::I see, keep looking for clues and observe we know he disappeared here somewhere.::
"Yes my lord." Aquila replied ending the conversation with the other person before disappearing from sight.
"Oh Chiron!" an excited voice exclaimed stopping the centaur where he was and turned to see who had called him.
"Lord Hermes, is there something I could do for you?" Chiron asked bowing to the god of messengers, "are you here to see your children?"
"No no, I actually have a message for you from Lord Zeus." Hermes replied.
"Really? I was about to go inform him of something some of the campers had discovered when they had just come back from a mission retrieving a half-blood." The centaur stated.
"Well you can tell me what it is and I'll report it to Lord Zeus myself to save you the trouble." Hermes said, "now why don't you go first?"
"Alright, well one of the young satyrs Grover had apparently discovered the scent of a rather…powerful creature." Chiron said.
"Powerful? Exactly how powerful are we talking about?" Hermes asked his smile dropping and looking concerned.
"When was the last time you saw a dragon around New York Lord Hermes?" Chiron replied gravely.
"Wow…and he's sure that it was a dragon?" Hermes asked, "because I don't' want to report a false alarm."
"No we asked Grover the same thing and he was positive it was a dragon…he may not have seen one before but it was his instincts that told him what the monster was." Chiron replied.
"Now that is worrisome what would a dragon want in New York?" Hermes said frowning rubbing his chin as he floated in front of the centuries old centaur, "there's really nothing precious here for it to take or guard."
"I do not know either but that is what the young satyr smelled when he was in town the other day," Chiron said.
"Was there anything else that Grover said? Anything else could help." Hermes said as he looked at the aged old trainer.
"Nothing much but…he did happen to say that Nico Di Angelo had the scent around him…that was how he found out about the dragon in the first place." Chiron replied.
"Oh boy…Lord Hades isn't going to be happy his son got in contact with a dragon of all creatures…and not tell him." The god of messengers grimaced at how mad Hades would be at Nico.
"I don't understand why Nico wouldn't say it either but my only guess was the dragon was in disguise and he didn't know it was one." Chiron said defending the young son of Hades.
"Wouldn't be the first time a monster has taken a disguise." Hermes said, "but I'll inform the council when I head back up there."
"So what was your news Lord Hermes?" Chiron asked.
"Oh that…well…there's another child of the big three" Hermes said with a smile as Chiron's mouth seemed to drop as the god of messengers and thieves explained how the third child was revealed in the council of the gods.
"I better inform the campers of this evening during dinner..." Chiron said as Hermes nodded.
"When you do, please tell the kids that they are to just observe him for now." Hermes stated.
"I'll be sure to tell them that and report if they see him although…do you have any idea what this child looks like?" Chiron asked.
"Oh yeah I managed to make copies of the photo that Apollo had for the campers to see." Hermes said handing over the copies, "that's about it for now I'll come back if the council found anything regarding the dragon."
"Thank you Lord Hermes." Chiron said bowing slightly before he trotted off back towards the camp as the sun started to set in the distance.
All the half-bloods of camp were chatting with each other as they filed into the mess hall and sat down at their respective tables.
"Nico still hasn't come back?" Luke asked as he looked at Bianca who was looking around for her younger brother.
"Its really unlike him to be gone for a whole day and not come back." She said biting her lip.
"I'm sure he's fine he can take care of himself." Thalia said trying to assure the girl.
"I just wish he would talk to me some more." Bianca groaned shaking her head as Annabeth and Thalia looked at each other and tried their best to comfort the girl.
"Attention can we please have all half-bloods seated? We have an important announcement!" Chiron shouted over the chatter of the other campers, two campers in particular were still rather vocal.
"Awww à bientôt Joshy! (See you later Joshy!) " Zack said kissing the Apollo boy on the lips much to his horror as campers around them had froze and just stared at the two.
"You know I find it rather amusing how Zack chases after that Apollo kid when he's the older one." Thalia snickered at Joshua's burning face as Luke groaned.
Some girls of the Aphrodite cabin giggled and commented how cute the two were while one didn't seem to agree with them. A tall Asian girl with long dark hair narrowed her eyes at the two boys as her lips curled upwards into a snarl.
"Zacharia! What the in name of Zeus do you think you're doing!" she shrieked.
The platinum blonde pulled away but still had his arms wrapped around Joshua as he rolled his eyes at the Asian girl.
"I'm saying good bye to Joshy, Drew." Zack replied as if it was obvious.
"Do you have to kiss that raggedy looking…THING? At least find someone more attractive!" she sneered.
"Hey! Lay off my half-brother Drew!" Lee Fletcher growled standing up from his seat, "just because you can't find a someone that would like you without you using your ability to charmspeak them doesn't mean you have to ruin it for them!"
"Oh please sweetie! Like I would be interested as someone as violent, unseemly and just so very PLAIN that-" Drew retorted but before she could finish there was a sharp blade pointed at her throat by a furious half-brother of her own.
"As interesting as it is to hear you rant dear half-sister I think it would be in your best interest to stop insulting Joshy in front of me unless you want to find yourself with chopped hair." Zack said holding a small bronze dagger to the girl's throat.
"Hey that's my dagger!" an ares kid shouted as he felt around his belt for his spare weapon, "how the heck did he get it!"
Drew just swallowed nervously, she could really mouth off and hardly anyone would say anything against her since hardly anyone could resist her when she used her charmspeak but there were people like her half-brother Zack that was unaffected and weren't scared of her.
"Enough, Zack give the dagger back to the Ares cabin and Drew stop antagonizing the other cabins." Silena said stepping up since she was cabin leader.
"Okay Silena." Zack said as he walked to the camper he had 'borrowed' the dagger from while Drew glared darkly at Silena as she was apologizing to Lee Fletcher about Drew.
When Zack came back Josh glowered at him.
"I don't need to be defended for you know…" Josh said looking at Zack who just grinned.
"So? She's my half-sister so its better if I teach her a lesson." Zack replied, "besides she doesn't know she's talking about she's just jealous that I'm happy chasing after you."
"Vous êtes un idiot si pénible (you are such a troublesome idiot)…" Josh grumbled before he slapped his mouth shut, realizing what he had just said.
"You spoke French! You really do like me!" Zack laughed.
"I do not! It's because you're always speaking it around me I must've pick it up! Go sit down now you!" Josh quickly retorted but Zack just continued hugging him.
"AHEM! If you all are done we have an issue to discuss." Chiron said at the head table as everyone quickly went to their seats respectively and waited for the announcement.
Chiron looked around and nodded seeing that all the campers were sitting at their tables and turned to Dionysus who just looked bored as he sipped some cherry coke.
"You go ahead and tell the brats." The wine god said yawning bored making Chiron sigh.
"Very well, I have just received a message from Lord Hermes it appears something or should I say someone important has been revealed during the latest council meeting." Chiron started, "As you know all the cabins in the camp all have at least one half-blood in it save for a three…the first two are obviously Lady Hera's and Lady Artemis. The last one that was empty was Lord Poseidon's cabins."
"Wait a minute Chiron what do you mean by 'was'?" Bianca asked looking at the centaur.
"It seems…that there is a child of the last of the Big Three out somewhere in New York…" Chiron finished letting the information sink into the campers. It wasn't long before there was a loud uproar.
"WHAT!"
"Calm down you stupid mortals!" Dionysus scowled as he glared at the campers just itching to snap his fingers and tangle them all in some grapevines to shut them up.
"So what do the gods want us to do?" Annabeth asked speaking the question that was on most of the other camper's minds.
"They wish for you to search out for this child and bring him back to the safety of the camp." Chiron replied.
"Oh right why don't we put up posters all over New York, Lost, a child of the god of the sea willing to pay a reward." Clarisse sneered folding her arms, "we don't even know what this kid looks like or his name!"
"Yes we do…it seems that Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo have had an encounter with him before but didn't know it at the time. Lord Apollo was lucky enough to get his name and a photo." Chiron replied.
"So? What is it?" Clarisse asked getting irritated by how slow the announcement was going.
Chiron handed the piles of photos to some Nymphs and Dryads to pass the photos out to the campers while he continued.
"What's being passed around is a single photo for each cabin to use when they are out of the camp, be advise you are not to immediately bring him in but just observe." Chiron added.
"Awww he's so cute!" a girl in Aphrodite's cabin cooed
"Scawny looking kid isn't he?" an Ares' camper commented.
"Well he probably looks like his dad in some way…" Luke said looking over the photo of the young boy.
"The young child's name is Perseus or Percy Jackson." Chiron finished.
Next to Lee Joshua stiffened when he heard that name and quickly snatched a photo that was being passed around and stared. It was the same little boy that the caretaker at the orphanage had introduced to him and the twins, the child of Apollo couldn't help but laugh silently at how obvious it should've been.
'He can control water…of course who else can control water so well…it should've been obvious…' Joshua thought to himself shaking his head at the irony.
"At least now I don't have to worry about you Percy…" Josh said softly.
"Did you say something Josh?" Lee asked next to him but the brunette just shook his head as he pocketed the photo.
"Nothing at all Josh just thinking outloud." He replied breezily as soon the food was being passed around.
Later in the night after the sing-a-long with the Apollo cabin Bianca made her way to the Hade's cabin and opened the lights. There she found Nico sleeping on his bed snoring a bit. Feeling irritated at her brother she stormed up to him and yanked the blankets right out from under him making yell out in surprise before he crashed onto the hard black floor.
"Bianca! What the Hades was that for!" Nico scowled looking at his sister.
"I had the right to do that! You've been disappearing more often then usual and you missed an important announcement today!" Bianca replied as Nico sat up rubbing his head, swearing he could feel a lump growing.
"Okay okay so what was the announcement about?" Nico grumbled.
"First tell me where you've been disappearing to." Bianca retorted folding her arms.
"I've just been going into the city! Alright camp is a bit boring at times and I've been hanging around some of the piers and beaches alright!" Nico replied making sure not to give her specifics less she decided to follow him.
"Alright just don't do anything too dangerous but here." Bianca replied handing Nico a photo as she started to explain closing her eyes to concentrate to remember the details, "it seems that Lord Poseidon did have a son just like dad and now they want us to find him to bring him here for safety."
She waited for Nico to ask question but when she was met with silence she opened her eyes and growled.
"Di Immortals! Nico Di Angelo!" Bianca shouted frustrated again.
"There…" Percy said as he stood knee deep in the ocean and gently placed down the paper boat with a single candle in it, pushing it away and watching it sail away.
Smiling at his accomplishment he waddled back to the beach to pick up his shoes before his parents discovered he was out of his bed again. Just as he got to the shore he stared when he suddenly saw someone standing near his shoes. He couldn't see who the person was very well since the only light around were the lamps on the pier, he slowly moved closer to the beach keeping close to the wooden pillars that held the pier up. When he got close enough Percy's sea green eyes widened when he saw who was at the beach.
"Nico? I thought you went home!" he said running out of the water and towards the older boy.
"Percy…there's something I really need to talk to you about." Nico said looking around worriedly as if someone was going to over hear them.
"We can go back to my house again, I'm sure my parents won't mind and they're asleep by now anyway." Percy said as he picked up his shoes.
"I guess that would be best, but why are you out anyway? Its kinda late for you isn't it?" Nico asked.
"Oh I was trying to send my dad a guide." Percy said.
When Nico gave the boy a confused look Percy smiled.
"I read it in a book daddy gave me. People from his country sometimes release paper lanterns on little boats to help guide spirits back home or something like that. I wanted to try and do that with my real daddy since mommy said he was lost at sea." Percy explained.
"So you wanted to use the boat as a guide for your dad." Nico replied understanding.
"Uh huh I've been doing this for a long time but I hope it works." Percy sighed.
"Oh trust me Percy you'll be meeting your real father soon enough." Nico muttered under his breath as they quietly walked into the household and into the guest room.
"We can talk here since dad and mom's room are upstairs right across from mine." Percy said as he sat on the bed, "So what is it?"
"Percy look I'll just go out and say it you're-" he started but then the door opened and both boys turned to see Tatsuya walking in.
"D-Dad!" Percy gulped as the adult gave him a look.
"I thought I put you to bed an hour ago Perseus?" Tatsuya said and he eyed Nico who seemed just as nervous for some reason, "I didn't think you'd be bringing over your friend again."
"Sorry dad its just er…well Nico had something he wanted to tell me." Percy said and Nico mentally groaned.
"I see does it have anything to do with your…abilities with water?" Tatsuya asked.
"Wait you know about his powers does that mean you know?" Nico started but Tatsuya shook his head.
"I only know that he has them not who he acquired them but from what I can surmise you know don't you?" Tatsuya replied folding his arms.
"Have you ever heard of the Greek Gods?" Nico asked warily.
"Yes, I have talked about them in my classes." Tatsuya stated.
"What if I were to say…they were real?" Nico asked slowly.
"I'd find that a bit hard to believe then again there are things in this world we have no idea about." Tatsuya said after a moment enigmatically, "but I'm guess this pertains to what you were going to tell Perseus right?"
Nico nodded and turned back to look at the curious twelve year old boy watching them.
"Percy…the reason you have those powers is because you're a half-blood…" Nico said.
"A half what?" Percy asked.
"A half-blood…meaning one of your parents was a mortal and the other was an immortal…specifically, you're the half-blood son of one of the big three greek gods, Poseidon…" Nico said.
"Bu-but how do you know this! And a…a…god! Poseidon there's just no way!" Percy exclaimed shaking his head.
"I'm being completely serious Percy! The reason you have the ability to do what you probably do with water and heal me that time was because of the abilities you got from Poseidon!" Nico argued.
"But…if he was here the whole time why didn't…why didn't he ever come see me! Or or even take me out of the orphanage!" Percy asked sniffling a bit.
"My guess, would be there were strict rules in place to prevent the gods from seeing their only children." Tatsuya spoke up after listening in for a while, "but Percy you can give your father the benefit of the doubt, at least you know he's alive and you don't have to keep sending those little boats."
Percy sniffed as he wiped his eyes.
"That…that's true…" he mumbled and smiled a bit, "so…what now?"
"Now? Now I think we should up your training with your water abilities." Tatsuya said, "but what I'm more curious is about your little friend Perseus if he knows that your father is a Greek God then that must mean he's a half-blood himself."
"Yes…I come from a camp where there are other half-bloods staying there and training for monster attacks and finding more half-bloods before monsters do." Nico explained.
"So you're going to take Percy there?" Tatsuya asked his eyes narrowing.
"No, we were just instructed to just observe and even if I did I wouldn't want to." Nico replied.
"I see, but who exactly is your godly parent?" Tatsuya asked.
"Lord Hades of the underworld." Nico replied grimacing.
"That explains the hint of death around you." Tatsuya replied.
"How can you even TELL that?" Nico asked frowning looking at Tatsuya.
"All in due time, it is late we can tell your mother about all this in the morning Perseus now get to bed young man." Tatsuya said.
"Yes dad." Percy said as he hopped off the bed but looked at Nico, "Is it alright if Nico stays here? Maybe he can tell me more about this camp thing to us and maybe even train as well?"
"I don't see a problem with it but I have a few conditions in order for you to stay here with us young one." Tatsuya stated firmly, "first of all even though you found Percy please refrain from telling this camp of yours where he is until I deem him worthy to protect himself, the second condition you are to protect Percy when you two are together and finally, do not question my 'abilities' when I'm training Percy or anything else. I will explain all that in due time."
"I understand." Nico replied nodding.
"Good, you may use the guest room as your own bedroom we will see you in the morning Nico." Tatsuya said as he and Percy walked out of the room, the later waving goodnight to him before the door shut behind them.
Nico fell back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
"Well this is certainly an interesting situation I have gotten myself into…" he muttered, "I found Percy but can't report him due to his 'dad' who I still think is hiding something big…and then there was that guy following Percy but it didn't feel like a monster."
The son of the underworld just groaned as he rubbed his head.
"I'll think more about it in the morning I think I just need to sleep on things…" he mumble as he kicked off his shoes and put his jacket on a chair before he got in the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
oOo The Next Morning oOo
Nico yawned as the sun was barely up and he had remembered looking at the clock in the kitchen as Percy had forced him to wake up so he could train with him and Tatsuya.
"Do you guys always train at six in the morning?" Nico asked blearily.
"Its best to do this when there aren't people around, even if most people don't use this part of the beach." Tatsuya replied as he took off his shoes and rolled up his pants with Percy doing the same before both of them walked into the water until it was up to their knees.
Nico just sat back and watched not even asking how they could stand being in freezing water since they seemed use to it.
"Alright Perseus ready?" Tatsuya said.
"Yes! Go ahead dad!" Percy shouted as the older man nodded.
He concentrated a bit and then before Nico's very own eyes water columns started to rise all around Tatsuya. Nico could feel his mouth drop at the control that Tatsuya had over the water and in the next few seconds beach sized balls spheres of water were being launched towards Percy.
The young teen controlled the water and surrounded himself with a bubble as the spheres broke against the shield.
"That's good Percy but you need to attack not just defend!" Tatsuya shouted as he moved one of his arms and several spheres of water were launched at the same time at the young boy.
Nico watched as Percy summoned a trident of water and managed to deflect most of the spheres but he got knocked into the water when he missed one and making his trident dissolve. Percy quickly got up and spat out some water that got in his mouth and looked determined at Tatsuya.
"Again dad! I can do it." Percy said determined as he created another trident of water.
"Excellent Percy! Nico why don't you join in we can work on your reflexes." Tatsuya said and he had a strange grin on his face like he was going to enjoy training the two half-bloods.
"Sure, how hard could it be to dodge water." Nico said sarcastically as he removed his bomber jacket, socks and shoes, making sure to roll up his pants as well as he waddled into the water near Percy.
"You shouldn't have said that Nico." Percy said.
"Why not?" Nico replied but was quickly knocked over into the water, the ice cold water quickly seeping into his shirt and clothes.
"Because dad will just make the spheres fly faster and harder to dodge." Percy replied laughing as Nico shook his head.
"Great...me and my big mouth…" Nico grumbled and quickly ducked as another sphere shot over his head.
" Less chatting more dodging you two." Tatsuya smirked making the two groan, "and we've only just begun to train."