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

Chapter 23

A/N: I feel so bad that I didn't update yesterday! I am so sorry I was busy. On the bright side...
OH MY GODS 500 VIEWS! Only took you guys...
You know what, I'll tell you at the end.

~*~

It had been two days since I admitted that I truly loved Nico. Funny how I didn't label that day a different way. Why didn't I call it "The Day I Almost Died in My Sleep"?

I don't really know. Maybe I found my love for Nico greater than my near death. Whatever the case, as I ate breakfast that morning I felt happy.

Leo rubbed his hands together. "We are now arriving in the Underworld. Are you people ready for screaming dead people and flowers made out of glorified rocks?" Everyone laughed.

As we all climbed on deck, the ship rocked violently. "Hot diapers!" Leo yelped as he toppled off the ladder and landed on top of Percy.

~*~

A/N: Inside joke.
alyssa_coyle
1giggle2

~*~

"Dude!" Percy yelled, pushing Leo off of him. "Sorry, Sir Seaweed Brain, I forgot that you didn't appreciate people accidentally falling on top of you." Leo retorted in his sassy tone. Percy huffed and stood up, holding out his hand to Leo.

"Now that you two aren't complaining anymore," Annabeth began, rolling her grey eyes. "Maybe we want to find out what that rocking was about?"

Leo shrugged. "Well if you insist..." He said, climbing up the ladder.

As each of us poked our heads on deck, the ship would rock more violently. By the time we all got up there we were practically rolling and crawling around.

Frank got to the edge first. He looked down but almost immediately pulled away, his face chalk white. "What is it?" Jason asked. "Come and see for yourself." Frank replied, stumbling away from the edge.

We all made our way over to Frank and peered at the ground. "Seriously?" Percy muttered. Annabeth facepalmed.

The Three Furies, or The Kindly Ones, were standing around our ship, rocking it with their spindly arms. "Really, Mrs. Dodds!?" Percy yelled. "Can't you just leave me alone!? Sixth grade is over!"

One of the Furies cackled. "Do your homework, Mr. Jackson!" It screeched. The boat gave another lurch. We all pitched sideways. Annabeth landed on top of Leo, their noses inches apart. Annabeth jerked away, her face twisted in disgust. "What, are you afraid that our lips are going to touch?" Leo asked bravely. Annabeth smirked. "Right, because I'm always afraid that when I turn around I'm going to ram my lips into your face."

~*~

A/N: alyssa_coyle

~*~

Leo grinned. "Well I wouldn't exactly mind..."

Suddenly Percy was there, holding his sword at Leo's throat. "Touch her," he began, "and you die." Leo held up his hands. "I was kidding man. Kidding. I swear."

Percy, though he still looked suspicious, backed away. Annabeth pulled herself off the ground. "Don't be so over-protective, Seaweed Brain." She said, whacking him softly on the head. Percy turned her face toward his and kissed her.

"Get a room!" Leo yelled, shielding his eyes. "Oh, don't be such a-" Percy was cut off as the ship lurched again and he rolled several feet away.

Suddenly Arion was on deck, trotting around nervously and shaking his head. What the f-

I winced. "Arion, manners, please." Percy said, getting to his feet. Says the man that just held a sword to someone else's throat. "You saw that?" Arion snorted in amusement.

"Okay I know it's a gift, but I seriously hate it when you guys talk to horses and don't tell us what's going on." Piper said, twirling the feather in her braid. I shrugged. "And I hate it when you charmspeak us. So I guess we're even."

Before Piper could reply, a Fury zipped over our heads, screeching at the top of its lungs. Arion whinnied angrily.

"OKAY YOU KNOW WHAT!?" Jason yelled. "INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KILL US, WHY DONT YOU JUST LET US EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE HERE!?"

The Kindly Ones perched on the edge of the ship. "Ah, child of Zeus...or is it Jupiter? No matter. You see, Hades has taken extra precautions on entrances and exits of the Underworld. You must have a good reason to get in. Being dead would count of course. We're trying to help you, you know. Now, someone give us a reason before we do it ourselves. Lord Hades is waiting."

"His son is dying." I whispered. The Furies cocked their heads. "I'm sorry, daughter of Poseidon. I couldn't hear that. Speak up for me please?" One asked.

"Nico is dying." I said louder. All of the Furies paused and stared at me. "Nico? Nico his son?" One questioned, narrowing its beady eyes. I nodded. The Kindly Ones exchanged glances. "Erica Chase, you better come with us." They spoke in one creepy voice. I shivered as they grabbed my shoulders and dragged me away into the shadows.

~*~

Hades, in his punk rocker clothes, peered at me over the tips of his pale fingers. "So, the Furies tell me that you say my son is dying." He said, his voice showing no emotion whatsoever. "Um...yeah." I replied, not really knowing how to respond. Now, in normal cases, the father would be very sad and I would be very sympathetic. This wasn't a normal case.

"How do you know this?" Hades asked. "Dreams." I answered. I didn't really want to go into detail. Hades tapped his fingers on the arms of his throne. "I felt your soul nearing the Underworld." He seemed to be trying to choose his words carefully. I shivered. "Yeah. Not really sure how that happened but-"

Hades held up his hand. "Listen Erica. I love my son. But I don't really understand how you want me to help you. I may be a god, but even I have my weaknesses and limits." I nodded. "I understand that, sir. Trust me. It's not necessarily your help that we need though. You see, there were these little dwarves that attacked our ship so they could help us. They said that there was some sort of amulet in the Underworld that would protect us from Arc's power. That's why we came."

Hades stared at me for a moment, his face blank and emotionless. His eyes cold and empty.

"Why do you want to help my son, Erica Chase?" He asked. I stared at him for a moment, weighing my options. Would the Lord of the Dead understand love? Hades narrowed his eyes as the seconds ticked by.

"You don't...have feelings for him, do you?" His voice was dangerously quiet. He talked like he was trying to figure out how to use the words he had just spoken. Like he was trying them out, testing them to see how they would work.

"I...u-uh..I..." I stammered. Hades's eyes glittered. "Ah...so you do?"

He laid a cold hand on my arm, and an electric shock coursed through me. "Thank you, Erica. Do me a favor and take good care of him for me. Now, about that amulet..."

~*~

A/N: It's the big moment! Cue dramatic music! Cue drumroll! Cue balloons! Cue awesome game show host voice!

And now...put your hands together for...the amount of days it took to get 500 views from the day of the challenge!

...

Okay long title, but that's beside the point.

9 DAYS!

Okay, so a little over a week. Not bad. Next challenge: get me to 1,000 views. Do whatever it takes. Notifications to your followers, authors notes, commenting...just help me out!

You will get a chapter dedicated to you if you in any way help. Just let me know what you did!

Alright, peace out my fellow demigods. May your aunts, uncles, moms, and dads be with you.