One For Love

CHAPTER 8; FEAR AND THE SEARCH WITHIN

All characters in this chapter belongs to Rick Riordan.

She chuckled darkly at that and said in a dry tone, "Because I am Not a villain. But someone who wants the best for my home. And as for who I am....."

She clapped her hands and a cloud of darkness waved around her. It lifted in a moment and a woman stood where Nakshatra stood before.

She was tall and as white as a bone, wearing a black cloak which billowed around her. And she was the most terrifyingly beautiful person Annabeth, Grover and Percy had ever seen in their entire lives. Her thin lips were coated in a dark purple colour. Her wavy, pure white hair tumbled around her shoulder and her eyes were of the blackest colour. She looked exactly like the personification of-

"Night." Annabeth whispered, "You're Nyx"

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"Yes dear." Nyx sighed. "And don't worry, I forgive you for fooling me at my home."

The three of them had shrunken back. They barely had managed to win against her in Tartarus. But out here in the open? They had no chance of besting her.

"Didn't you hear me?" She exclaimed, frustrated. "I don't care that you made a fool out of me. I just need you to help me. A deal?"

"I need my sister back before I do anything." Percy retorted. "If you had just talked to me instead of kidnapping her, I would've at least considered it."

"So you do not understand." Nyx sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I have your sister! I only need you to manage my army. In a way, you are protecting mankind."

"I shall give you a few hours to make your mind. Till then, you can try to find Estelle Jackson yourself. Good luck, Saviors of Olympus." She smirked and vanished in a swirl of darkness.

Once she had gone, they stood there in silence for a while. Annabeth quietly asked Percy what he wanted to do.

"I don't know." Percy replied, voice breaking. "Training an army could take years. But I don't have any clue to find Estelle on my own either."

"I don't support your joining Lady Nyx. I rather find Estelle the hard way." Grover quipped up.

"Me too." Annabeth said. "But it'll be hard. Why don't we start by finding Mr D's temple?"

"Sure." Percy and Grover said at the same time.

They went to where the map showed and looked for any clues to find out where it laid. After a few hours of searching without any luck, Percy summoned water to wash out some sand from the area.

A cold wind washed up on them. They heard noises all around them. As Percy looked around, he saw Nakshatra walking out from the same tree. She looked furious.

"I told you not do anything!" She screamed at them. "Now suffer the wrath of Durga maa!" With that, she disappeared.

Tigers stalked out of the woods and crept towards them. Percy palmed Riptide and Annabeth took her dagger out of it's sheath. Grover took his pipes and started playing a soft melody.

"Percy," Annabeth hurriedly whispered, "We can't fight those tigers. They aren't even corporeal. You focus on finding Mr D's temple. It probably can't enter inside. We'll distract them until you find it."