Bronze Gold Shadow (Percy Jackson/Teen Wolf Crossover)

The River's Water

Nico searched the floor of the boat. "Where are the oars?" he asked. "Will do you see them?" 

Will winced. "Nico, I'm really sorry, but I kind of... lost them? Back before the swamp." 

"Is that why you pulled the canoe to shore in the river?" I asked. Will nodded, his head lowered. 

"We don't need them," Bob said, stoically. "We will be fine." 

Nyx roared in fury. She dropped to all fours as the darkness around her got bigger. My grip tightened on my bow, knowing there was nothing I could do. I didn't want to get closer and any arrow I shot would be sucked up in that vortex. 

"Are you sure?" Nico shouted. "Because it looks like she's going to absorb us!" 

I felt my hair start flying towards the vortex, my wet clothes following. The boat kept drifting downriver. Nyx crawled forward, screaming, her dress devouring everything it touched. 

"Yes," Bob said calmly. "She doesn't realise we are safe." 

I furrowed my brows, confused. Nico had the same look on his face. Then, it melted into realisation. "Neeks?" I asked. 

"Will, Will can you hear the river?" Nico questioned. 

I focused, listened for the voices of the dead and punished. Nothing. There was nothing there. I turned to Nico with shocked and confused expression on my face. The goddess swallowed up the landscape and reached out for our boat. 

"No, not over Nyx," Will replied. 

"No, remember before?" Nico prompted. "Even when we were in the boat, we could hear the voices of the Acheron." 

Will's face lit up with understanding. "Oh, you're right. Is it...empty? Like empty of souls?" 

Bob shook his head. "No. You misunderstand the nature of it. It only calls out if you let it." 

I looked down at the water over the side of the boat. I could still make out the silhouettes of the lonely souls, the ones in pain. Their mouths were open in a cry but I couldn't hear their voices anymore. 

"What?" Nico asked. "That doesn't make sense." 

"Yes it does," Bob countered. "You are not worthy of punishment and you do not despair. At least not anymore." 

I looked up at the goddess as she reached a clawed hand out for the water. Her hand submerged int the gently flowing waters. 

She screamed in pain, shooting her hand back. Her hand was blistering and smoking. 

"NO!" She boomed. She launched into the water to try and grab the stern. A hiss came from the waters, it filled my ears. She cried out again, thrashing against the current. She was forced to go to the riverbank. She pulled herself up, her skin blistered and smoking. The stars on her body winked and faded. 

"No," she said. "Impossible." 

We continued to float down the river. Nico stood up and moved to the stern. "You can't enter the River of Pain," Nico called. "Because it is all you know!" 

"I will get you, Nico di Angelo!" she screamed. Her voice was hoarse, losing its threat. "I'll capture you and seal you up, and I'll force you to... to..." 

We all watched as she went quiet. Her body formed a husk, sinking into the ground beneath her. We all watched her sink into the darkness until she was nothing but darkness. 

The boat bobbed along the river without a care in the world. Nico sat down beside his boyfriend.  I leaned back and let myself smile. I felt tears threaten to fall at the corners of my eyes. The old protogenos wouldn't be coming after us.