If Only (Nico di Angelo) {Complete} {#Wattys2015 #Feels}

Chapter 20

I followed Reagan down a long steel hallway. Flickering lights hung from the ceiling every few feet. "Why does Hylla want to see me?" I asked warily. Reagan shrugged. "Don't know. She just told me to get you."

The hallway seemed to stretch on forever. Eventually we came to a large steel door, guarded by two girls in camo. They help up their daggers as we approached, but Reagan raised her hand. "Here to see Hylla with Erica Chase."

The guards stepped aside and opened the door for us.

The room was huge. The ceiling stretched so high into the air you couldn't see the top. Two guards stood silently in opposite corners. Sitting on a throne, in the middle of the room with a belt tied around her waist, was Hylla.

I mean, I had never seen Hylla. But judging by the fact the Reagan bowed and nudged me down alongside her, this was Hylla. The legendary Hylla Twice-Kill.

Hylla smiled. "Thank you Reagan Mae. I'd appreciate it if you, Asha, and Lola would step outside for a moment." Reagan nodded and lead the way out, the other two guards, Asha and Lola, behind her.

Hylla looked at me, her black eyes glittering. "Hello, Erica Chase. I've heard a lot about you." I winced. "Good or bad things?"

Hylla laughed. "A little bit of both, actually. My sister has informed me that you are going on a search for Nico. He has been kidnapped by Arc, as I understand it." I nodded. "They took Nico away from me. I'm not letting that happen."

Hylla frowned. "Yes...love for a man." She shook her head. "No matter. What I must say is that we too are tracking Arc, along with the Hunters of Artemis. We have an idea of where he is, so I figured that you should be told."

I raised my eyebrows. "And you had to kidnap us instead of just...oh...I don't know...visiting us on our ship and telling us?"

Hylla grimaced. "I suppose that would have been the better option. We did send Arion as a warning though." I laughed bitterly. "Yeah don't do that. He wasn't much of a help."

"Beside the point. We think Nico is in California. In the Red Wood Forest." Hylla told me, running her hand through her black hair. "They can move that fast?" I asked.
"Arc used to be a centaur. He can probably still bend time."
"Right. Well thanks."

I started to walk out the door, but Hylla put a hand on my shoulder. "Wait." She ordered. "What?" I turned around to look sideways at her. "Not to be disrespectful, but I want to leave. I know where Nico is now. I have to find him." I added. Hylla smiled. "I want to send Reagan Mae, Asha, and Lola with you. They can help."

"More people? With all the respect, Hylla, I don't think adding more demigods onto our ship is the best idea." I said, shrugging off her hand and heading back to the door. "Maybe not, Erica, but they're good trackers, and fighters. They would be a great addition to your crew."

I paused. "Well..." "This is a generous offer, Erica. I don't usually offer my women to go on demigod quests." Hylla added. I sighed. "If you insist..."

Laughing, I shook Hylla's outstretched hand. "I'll meet you outside. I'm sure all of your friends are awake by now. Well...except for that kid Leo. We never did manage to catch him." "What about our ship?" I asked. Hylla grinned. "I had some friends bring it in."

~*~

I stood in a huddled group with my friends. Reagan, Lola, and Asha were talking in hushed voices to Hylla. "Why did you agree to this?" Percy whispered to me. "Because it was a logical decision." Annabeth replied for me, poking her head between us. Percy glared at her. "Whatever you say, Wise Girl."

Leo poked his head in. "What're we talking about?" He whispered. "Nothing." I replied, slapping his shoulder. "You know you ruined my chance to set off those smoke bombs. I mean really, how fun would that have been?"

Annabeth snorted. "Yeah so fun. Us against a super elite team of girl ninjas." Leo scowled. "You didn't seem all that disapproving when you were tied up." "I was desperate!"

Lola, Asha, and Reagan came over to us, bags on their shoulders. "Ready to go?" I asked. Reagan nodded. "I think we are." She said, looking at Asha and Lola, who nodded their heads.

"Goodbye, Erica Chase. I hope to see you again." Hylla said, shaking my hand. I grinned. "Just without the arrows and kidnapping next time?" I suggested. Hylla laughed. "We'll see." She turned and walked back to the steel building alone, twirling a dagger in her hand.

The rest of us trooped into the ship, where we were greeted by a bored Arion and an excited Blackjack. Thank the gods you're okay! I thought you were dead! I thought they killed you! Blackjack whinnied, trotting happily around us. Arion tossed his head. Will somebody please shut him up? I spent enough time listening to him for the last hour and a half.

I giggled. Percy facepalmed. "Er, what are they saying?" Reagan asked, tilting her head. Percy frowned. "I'm not going to explain it. Horses are weird." I'm not a horse! Blackjack and Arion shouted at the same time. They looked at each other and snorted.

"Yeah...they don't get along." I explained. Asha smiled. "I can tell."

Asha, judging by the color of her skin, hair, and eyes, was Italian. Her hair was long, straight, and dark brown. Her skin was olive. Hey eyes were such a deep shade of brown they were almost black.

Lola was a different story. She was tanned, with wavy dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was more like the all American girl. She was basically a girl version of Jason.

And then there was Reagan. She had brown curly hair, as I had mentioned before, and pale skin. Hey eyes were light green.

"Well," I said, extending my hand, "welcome to the Argo II."