Remember (A Percy Jackson Fanfic)

25. Double Meanings

Third-person POV

Nico di Angelo can be a really scary person. His slim frame and pale skin make him look a skeleton in the ghastly glow that seemed to come from his body. His black Stygian Iron sword swinging around him like it was a third arm, emitting a dark purple light that the hellhounds and other monsters try to avoid. Skeletons crawling out of the ground at random intervals, serving their master. Shadows gravitating towards him like iron filings to a magnet.

But Nico di Angelo was nothing compared to Nyx, the primordial of the Night.

Nyx's black dress billowed behind her, its hem blending into the darkness perfectly. She dragged a tied-up Percy behind her through a scorched landscape, little Greek fire flames still burning from all the traps that went off. Percy struggled against her grip but it was no use. The shadowy tendrils seemed to sap at his strength and energy.

'Nico!' Percy tried to warn his cousin but his face was scrunched up from Nyx's grip and the tendrils didn't help either 'Nico, ru-'

His face snapped to the side as a tendril, with a mind of its own, slapped him and wrapped itself around Percy's mouth, silencing him.

Nico turned around to see his best friend tied up and being dragged along by their enemy. He didn't even realise that Nyx was going after him. As soon as he saw Percy at Nyx's mercy, he snapped. Raising his sword, Nico called upon the undead and commanded them to attack the primordial.

Smiling at the weak and pathetic skeletons coming after her, Nyx thrust her hand forwards and the army of skeletons were instantly swallowed by a wave of darkness. When the darkness dissipated, there was nothing left of them. Not even a single bone was left behind.

Nico's eyes widened but he composed himself before charging Nyx with his sword drawn. Nyx grinned at the charging son of Hades before raising her hands. Tendrils appeared out of the shadows dozens at a time, stopping Nico in his tracks. He tried to control them but he found a higher power denying him access to control the shadows. Nico looked up to see Nyx looking straight into his eyes.

'A good try, son of Hades,' Nyx mused while she dropped Percy and stalked towards Nico, the tendrils waving around her like pool noodles 'But it appears you are too weak.'

Nico tried taking control of them but it was like trying to push a sumo wrestler. Percy could only watch in horror as Nyx stalked closer to his cousin, the tendrils whipping at Nico. Nico managed to block every single attack sent in his direction but Percy could see he was struggling. Not only were the tendrils hard to see but they attacked Nico five at a time. It wouldn't be long before Nico finally fell at the hands of Nyx.

Percy's screams were muffled by the tendril over his mouth when Nico's leg was pierced by another tendril. Blood soaked his pants and he fell onto the ground clutching his injured leg. Percy tried to escape the clutches of his living bonds but it was no use. He could tell the restraints had already sapped away half of his energy and they were still going steadily. If he didn't do something fast, he wouldn't have the strength left to do it.

'My, my. Look what we have here,' Percy heard Nyx say as she loomed over an injured Nico di Angelo 'Mr. Nico di Angelo. It's a shame you can't stay long. It appears Perseus Jackson has let another friend down.'

Percy continued struggling against his bonds, trying to find a way to free himself. He was about to try wiggling out when the tendril covering his mouth suddenly disappeared. He had to keep himself from gasping because it was obvious Nyx wasn't the one in control of the tendrils. A moment later, Percy found himself flat on the ground with his restraints gone.

'What?' Percy whispered to himself confused as he sat up as quietly as possible.

'Are you okay, nephew?' a voice sounded off from Percy's left, making him jump.