The Cursed Soul

Chapter 6

NICO DI ANGELO

It has been a couple of weeks since we came up with the idea of Iro being a demigod. We're still not sure if he really is one though, but him being dyslexic and able to understand the ancient language pushed us to conclude that. And Athena... Based on Iro's description, she's exactly the Goddess I was thinking about the first time he mentioned the name of his cousin.

But why would the Wisdom Goddess show herself to the boy? The Olympians only do that when they are planning something or preparing them into a war. These thoughts just made me think that something is going on, or was about to happen.

"I still think we should talk to Annabeth about this matter," Paul suggested one day, "Iro might be a son of Athena."

I just came back home from all the errands my father had given me when Sally and Paul talked to me about Iro. Being an immortal and Pluto's/ Hades's Ambassador takes up a lot of responsibility. And I actually avoid staying here for too long, being the son of one of the big three doesn't give the assurance of safety from the monsters.

"No, he can't be." Sally countered her husband, "Athena just claimed herself as Iro's cousin which is unlikely of them."

I nodded, "Sally's right. And all the Athena children have at least Grey eyes or blond hairs and Iro has none. If he really is Athena's child, he must have already been claimed by her at his birth like her other children. But Iro is still unaware of his heritage so obviously, he's not yet claimed by whoever his Godly parent is."

"Who do you think it is then?" Paul asked.

I shook my head, "No idea. We'll never know until they claimed him. Or Iro showed some skill that might point to a certain God."

"Like Percy being able to control the water which proves that he's the son of Poseidon." Sally silently mumbled with her stained voice by the mention of his late son.

For a moment, silence impregnates inside the room, until Paul breaks it, "Nico, if you're really sure that he's a demigod, then why won't you send him immediately to the camp? He's getting 12 this August. As far as I know, it's the last age of manifesting all your abilities right? And the monsters would start smelling him."

I nodded, "Your right, the sooner we trained him to the camp, the better chance he could protect himself from the monsters."

"But the moment he discovers that he's a demigod, the monsters would sense him even stronger."

"But Sally, he'll eventually be going to be claimed by his Godly Parent when he turns 13. Percy let the Olympians swear on the River Styx to claim all their children at that age."

She then released a sigh, "You should at least tell him when you already brought him in the camp, I guess it's safer that way." I hummed in agreement.

"I still don't get why Athena showed herself to the boy." Paul added, speaking out the burning question I have in mind since the day we realized her connection with Iro.

"I'll go ask Annabeth if she knows anything about this." I finalized. As I pictured the inside camp in my head, I let myself melted and dwell in the realm of shadows and traveled with speed. No sooner, I arrived in front of a temple-like, gray building with an owl carved over the doorway and plain white curtains, with columns, and red roof.

By the time my body has fully sprang up from the shadows, the door of the Athena cabin pushes open revealing a young blond haired boy holding what seems to be an architectural book.

"Excuse me, Is Annabeth inside?" I asked him.

He shook his head, "I think she's still in Olympus." I nodded and gave him my thanks before he left. Of course she's in there. After Percy died, Annabeth buried her whole life in work and books and never had a genuine smile since then. Percy's death affected her that much, it affected us all. The war left us a huge scar in our hearts even time couldn't mend.