The Dissonant Notes Of Fate

Sixteen

A/N: Damn, we're on chapter sixteen already? I wish I could dispense these chapters faster than usual but daily updates aren't really my forte. Nonetheless, I hope you all enjoy the latest chapter of the Dissonant Notes of Fate, and please leave a comment, vote, review, or kudos if you liked the chapter. I'll enjoy reading your feedback and as usual, if you have any questions, reach out to me via PM. Thanks for taking time to read this. Have a great day/night.

-TripleHomicide.

P.S—This chapter is unedited and un-betaed because it delayed too much, in my opinion and a few readers, *Cough* Chris *Cough* got impatient. Point out any mistakes you see. Thank you!

NICO stood among the gravestones, this time in a different cemetery than before. A week had come to pass and in those short seven days, he had learnt more about himself and his powers than he could have ever thought he would at Camp Half-Blood. He held in his hands a sword—made out of Stygian Iron—which Minos had led him to at the Banks of the River Styx. And Nico liked how this new sword complimented him.

He liked how it fit with him and how it made him feel powerful. Different.

He watched as the gravediggers—skeletons Minos had taught him how to summon—did their work. He heard shovels at work and saw dirt flying out of the large hole. Nico adjusted his black cloak around him and squinted to see through the fog. It was warm and he could hear the croaking of frogs. His eyes drifted to the wal-mart bag at his feet.

"Is it deep enough?" He asked. He was tired of standing around. His patience was waning.

"Nearly, my Lord," Minos responded with a bow. Nico hated to admit it, but having the ghost at his beck and call made him feel...worthy of this power he had been born with. When he finally completed the task his father had sent Minos to give him, then he could maybe show Hades a few of his skills and impress the god enough to garner his attention.

"But, my lord," Minos spoke again. "I tell you, this is unnecessary. You already have me for advice."

"I want a second opinion!" Nico snapped at the ghost. That was just half of the truth. All he wanted to do was see if he could summon his mother's ghost. He wanted to see her, and talk with her. He snapped his fingers and the digging stopped. Two figures climbed out of the hole, their skeletons barely hidden in the rags they wore as clothes.

"You are dismissed," Nico waved at them. "Thanks for your help." The skeletons didn't answer, simply collapsing into piles of bones. Nico heard Minos mumbling something about thanking shovels but he was too distracted to pay the judge any heed. He bent, picking his bag from the ground and pulling out a pack of Coke. He popped open a can and moved forward as it fizzled. He inhaled. What he was doing was risky, he knew. But it was necessary. Nervously but full of determination, the son of Hades poured the coke into the grave the bones had dug.

"Let the dead taste again," He murmured. "Let them rise and take this offering. Let them remember." He slowly opened the rest of the cokes and poured them inside the grave, watching them soak into the earth and bubble. He pulled out his McDonald's happy meal and turned it upside down, pouring the fries and hamburger into the hole.

"In my day, animal blood is what we used," Minos mumbled. "It's perfectly good enough. They can't taste the difference."

Nico narrowed his eyes. He knew that Minos had taught him a lot and was sent there by Hades, but the ghost could get so irritating at times. "I will treat those who reside in Father's domain with respect," He hissed. Nico turned away from the transparent figure and picked more soda cans and happy meals, pouring them into the grave. He began chanting in ancient Greek, repeating the words he had said in English before. The soda in the grave began to bubble and froth. The liquid rose to the top of the hole and the fog appeared to thicken. Nico fought the urge to shiver and he pursed his lips as silence enveloped the graveyard. Dozens of figures began to appear among the gravestones around them, bluish and transparent, just like his mentor ghost Minos.