hiraeth

fourteen

xiv. Nia

Her dream is a cesspool of elongated shadows and cold marble, a single candle flickering in her periphery like a beacon of hope in this dingy place. It doesn't do its job very well, however, as she can't see anything else in the distance.

Footsteps approach. Someone is coming.

"Have you found him yet?" a low, chilling voice drawls.

"Not yet, my lord," another responds timidly. "We've monitored the perimeters of the camp to no avail."

"And the other parties?"

"Still searching, presumably."

The leader gives a hum of dissatisfaction. "Anything else?"

"W-Well, my lord, there was an interesting event several days ago," the timid one adds. "It seems Percy Jackson destroyed two of our, er - travelers - above."

Nia catches the last word and some semblance of epiphany strikes her.

"For death's sake," Hades seethes dangerously. His subordinate makes an apologetic noise. "If I ever get my hands on that bastard..."

The scuffing of a boot against the tiles. "We believe the party's little rendezvous must have been carefully chosen if it was on Jackson's radar."

"You mean to say they found a lead, and Jackson is somehow involved?"

"If we're going by previous records, it's not unusual that the boy would be involved in your son's disappearance. I suggest you, ah, schedule a meeting in due time."

Hades' mumbles incoherently before drawing in a shuddering breath. "You are dismissed, Jorah. As promised, you will be paid in full for your contributions. Now get out of my sight."

Nia can't see Hades, but she imagines he looks cross. She has the insane urge to reveal herself, though it's impossible given the circumstances.

"Nia!"

Someone is calling her name in the darkness. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

"Nia! Get up!"

Get up? From where? Something grabs her by the shoulder.

The candle flickers out and she wakes.

~~~

"I need to go to hell," Nia states as soon as she opens her eyes.

Everyone stares at her.

Edmund says, "What?" at the same time Enne says, "Same."

They're in her and Enne's motel room again, and Nia props herself up in the bed on her elbows like a sick patient who's found themselves landed in the hospital. Enne informed her she went for a "frolick in the woods" and fainted, though she doesn't recall going outside. Briefly, she wonders who carried her back. She entertains the idea of all three of them trying to haul her up on the count of three, but by the way Peter is awkwardly shuffling at the foot of the bed, she inferences he had played hero. And she means no offense, but Enne can't lift a jug of water without struggling, and Edmund looks like he'd rather touch her with a ten-foot pole than go anywhere near her, which confuses her, because she hasn't even done anything to make him stay away.

"You heard me. I need to go to the Underworld and talk to Hades."

"Why?" asks Peter nervously.

"Man knows something about an attack Enne and I faced in New York," Nia explains. "Apparently it's connected to his son."

She repeats details of the conversation she heard as best as she can.