Percy Jackson: The Curse of Memory

Chapter 9.

Nico's POV:

The stupid horse wouldn't listen.

Some shouts were coming from Thalia's direction. He turned. He couldn't hear them but they looked like they're fighting.

He walked to them. "Guy's," He said as calm as he could.

Nico didn't know what they were arguing about but he decided to say something. "Yelling isn't going to get us to the library. You two are acting like four-year-old siblings arguing over  toys."

Percy stared at the ground sheepishly as if Nico was a teacher scolding him. He might as well had made a homework assignment for them.

Thalia tried to cover her face with her spiky hair like she was hiding her eyes. As if he would take one look at the electric blue eyes then learn everything there is to know about her.

"Hey, we do need to get to the library, " Percy said.

Didn't Nico just say that?

Thalia fingered her charm bracelet. "Maybe you and Nico can be up in the air, and I could patrol the ground."
"Sounds good to me, " Percy replied as if they already had this conversation.

They got everything situated and got their horses. Thankfully, Theophanes, Theodore, Theo, whatever was finally cooperating. Thalia kept the backpack on her back. And sooner than Nico knew it, he was flying in the air.

Percy was staring at two small silver polls connected together. "What's that?" Nico asked.
"I found it in the backpack, " Percy told him. He pulled the poles and it revealed a huge map.
"So we're right here, and there is the library. Perla Library." Nico studied the map. He knew that meant pearl in Italian.

Nico flew closer to Percy and reached for the map. He stared at it.

"Helle River?" Nico stared at the river in Germany. "That name is hella stupid."

Percy snorted. He then reached for the map back.

It was quiet for some time. Thalia was under them but she looked like a dot cause they were so high up they were almost in the stratosphere. (And that's what you call paying attention in Meteorology class.)

"Hey, " Nico finally said. "What were you and Thalia arguing about?"
Percy lowered his voice as if Thalia were right next to them. "She said no when I told her to fly up here."
"Well, that's kind of a stupid argument."
"I don't know. It just annoyed me."
"How?"
He thought for a moment.
"It was like you need to save the world but then the other person refuses and- wow this is stupid."
Nico looked a waterfall in the distance.
"Have you ever thought it was for a reason?" Nico asked him. Percy stroked Theo's mane gently, causing Theo to neigh softly.

He didn't reply so Nico didn't either. After a minute of silence, Percy spoke again.

"Everyone has a reason for how they act. Especially her, I understand it. She can be bossy at times, but heck, we would all be dead without her."
That wasn't the answer Nico was looking for though.

"Thalia is a good friend, Percy. And sometimes, even friends fight."

"Yeah, " He said, his hair gently flying in the wind. "Like if Mcdonalds is better than Chick-Fil-A."
"It is obviously Mcdonald's, " Nico declared.
"Excuse me?"
"I am not listening to someone who enjoys waffle fries in their cereal."
Percy sighed.

About three more hours until they would get to the library Antheia mentioned. They could find the gem and the scales somewhere. They couldn't waste a second. Nico figured he should get some rest.

He laid his head down, his hair pooling on top of Theos mane. He closed his eyes and of course, demigod dreams took over the darkness.

A wood door was in front of Nico. He heard a noise that sounded like nails on a chalkboard, making him cringe.

"Why are you like this?" Screamed an ear-splitting voice.
"Let them have it back." The voice was for sure female.

That one sentence filled Nico's head with many questions.

He heard chains being yanked, echoing throughout the whole room. A man laughed hysterically. The laugh made Nico freeze. It was horrible. It sounded like acid was being poured down the man's throat. "Come here." The man said between dangerous chuckles.

It was silent for a second. "Come here, " He begged. This time it came out as a whimper. He knew the guy wasn't talking to Nico, but he felt the need to walk right over to him. Could voice have that much power? The voice was so desperate Nico almost felt sorry for him.

More chains yanked but this time, a more frightening scream escaped the lips of the women. The smell of ozone flew into Nico's nose. He resisted the urge to cough. It was a dream, wasn't it? It's not like he would get caught...

There was more silence except for the sound of something cracking but not the type of glass cracking. It sounded like fire but also lightning. Then there was a faint sound of crying.

The cry was so beautiful but yet so painful. It mixed with all the horrible things but the most amazing things at the same time. Her tears fell to the floor and Nico could have sworn he heard them. It sounded like gold. One of the most gorgeous things in the world. Nico wanted to help her. Her cry didn't just hurt herself, it hurt Nico too. His heart ached. He couldn't understand why but at the same time, he knew exactly why.

Nico never understood that one quote that stated "When a girl cries, it's not usually over one thing. It's built up anger and emotions that she's been holding in for too long." Now he did.

Nico felt her emotions and anger and sadness. He felt like a failure. He was angry at the world.

Then, He snapped out of it.

Something he realized unsettled him. He had felt the lady's pain inside of him. How is that even possible? It was like he became her for a second. But the real question was, was it true?

Before he could even think, the dream changed. He was sitting at an obsidian table. In front of him, two people arguing.

"He is my son, darling!" Nico froze. The man who said that turned around. Nico saw the family resemblance. "Hades, please, " Said a desperate voice. A glass smashed to the ground. Nico caught the whiff of sweet flowers and spring.

Persephone.

She put a hand on her husband's chest but he quickly removed it.

"Give up, already, " muttered a voice. Nico turned and a woman who looked bored fiddled with a piece of grain then stuck it in her hand which was an odd piece of fashion.

Demeter said something, and Hades grabbed a sword off the table.

Nico sat bolt upright. He almost had a heart attack when he forgot he was on a flying horse. "Dreams?" Percy asked. He sounded worried.

Nico didn't respond.

But he now knew who is dad was.

Hades, lord of the dead.