The Darkness Is Coming

SILENCE!

Nico POV

"Son."

"Uh, hi Dad..." I stared up at my father. His dark eyes bored into me. The shadows around us were writhing as if in agony. The souls of those sewn into his clothes were screaming in more pain than usual.

"So...what's up?" He glared at me.

Did I mention he's literally pissed as hell? Ironic, right?

"I have had six new demigods cross the River Styx today. In the span of only a day. And do you know who they were?"

I winced at the pure fury in his tone.

"Um...no."

"Mason Carl, Alex Dorli, Marielle Schulz, Emily Daniero, Sam Daniero, and Thalia Grace."

My jaw dropped at the last one.

"Thalia? She's dead?! What happened?!"

Hades made a growling noise. "Your cousins happened."

"Wait, Jason and Percy?! They killed Thalia?! THEY KILLED HER?!" Okay, now I was pissed. Thalia was my cousin. Sure we didn't have the best relationship, but still!

"Where are they?"

"No clue. Stop them, Niccolo. If this continues, my domain will be overcrowded. Your cousins could destroy the world, given the time."

My dad disappeared in a whirl of shadows.

Thalia...

I let out a scream and slammed my sword into the ground, burying it almost to the cross-guard in the dirt.

Skeletons erupted all around me, bowing and awaiting my command.

"Find. My. Cousins." I enunciated each word slowly. "And tell me where they are. If you find them, congregate where they are and follow them until I reach you. Do not let them see you and DO NOT. Under any circumstances. Stop until you find them."

The skeletons slipped silently into the woods, splitting up into small groups.

I yanked my sword from the ground, using the tiny amount of control I had over the earth to make it easier.

Percy and Jason were going to pay.

---------------------------------------

None of my skeletons had sent me a message yet.

"Nico!" Annabeth's voice rang over the camp as she flagged me down.

"What's up?" I strained to keep the frustration and anger out of my voice.

"Have you found them yet?" I recognized the emotion in her voice and eyes. Those calculating grey orbs flared with hatred.

Toward her boyfriend.

I guess he'd be an ex now, wouldn't he?

"No. It's really bugging me." I looked down. Admitting failure isn't one of my strong suits.

Annabeth's rough, worn hand rested on my shoulder, warm and comforting.

"Bring the bastards to justice, Neeks. Piper and I are counting on you."

I nodded and she walked away.

"Pssst."

What the Hades?

"Psssst. Nico!" My name was hissed from the forest. I was still pretty close to it.

"Who's there?"

"Get in here and I'll tell you."

Cautiously I snuck into the forest.

"Okay, who's there?"

"You aren't going to like it." A figure stepped into view.

"You!" I snarled, pulling my sword and starting forward. But something stopped me.

Those familiar blue eyes were filled with tears. I didn't see any bloodlust. Only regret.

"Jason?"

"Neeks, I've done something really bad." He was leaned against a tree, practically bawling. I'd never seen Jason show emotion. At least not this much.

"Ya think?" Even I flinched at the cold tone in my voice. Jason reacted as if I'd spit ice spears at him.

"F-Four people, N-Nico! I-I...I ki-" He choked back a sob, his entire body shaking. "I killed four people!" The son of Jupiter collapsed onto the ground.

"Why?"

"I-I dunno." He jerked himself up to look at me, pleading. "I was angry. And now she's dead." Lightning flashed. "My own sister! Gods, how could I have been so cruel!"

"I don't know." I was still feeling hatred towards the broken blond in front of me.

"I smiled as I did it! I...I g-gloated! Nico, please..." He sat up, leaning against the tree.

"What?" I snapped.

"Kill me."

"What?!" Was he serious?

"You h-heard me." Jason sniffled.

"No. You're gonna make up for this. You're going to work your way out of this, Jason Grace." I grabbed him by his shirt and dragged him to his feet.

"And you're going to start by telling me where Perseus is."

[A/N I couldn't keep Jason evil. I actually really like him. And I have an idea for this. Where he needs to be on the good side. So we're gonna do it this way. Hope you enjoy!]