𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚔𝚒𝚍 - percy jackson x oc

025

XXV - COOL SCAR

THAT NIGHT, VALERIA FELL ASLEEP EASILY UNFORTUNATELY.

She first fell into a dream about Kronos calling to her, saying she could destroy the gods and be his salvation, blah blah blah boring.

Then she saw her brother Nico.

He was throwing pieces of paper into the fire—Mythomagic trading cards, part of the game he had been obsessed with last winter.

Nico was only eleven, but he looked like he had aged years since everything went down. His hair had grown longer; it was shaggy and almost touched his shoulders. His eyes were dark. His olive skin had turned paler. He wore ripped black jeans and a battered aviator's jacket that was several sizes too big, unzipped over a black shirt. His face was grimy, his eyes a little wild.

He just looked sad.

Nico tossed another trading card into the blue flames. "Useless," he muttered. "I can't believe I ever liked this stuff."

"A childish game, master," another voice agreed. Valeria's eyes focused on some spirit. He looked familiar, but she noticed all ghosts did.

Nico stared across the River Styx. "I've failed," he muttered. "There's no way to get her back."

The other voice kept silent.

Nico turned toward it doubtfully. "Is there? Speak."

"It has never been done," the ghost said. "But there may be a way."

"Tell me," Nico commanded. His eyes shined with a fierce light.

"An exchange," the ghost said. "A soul for a soul."

"I've offered!"

"Not yours," the ghost said. "You cannot offer your father a soul he will eventually collect anyway. Nor will he be anxious for the death of his son. I mean a soul that should have died already. Someone who has cheated death."

Nico's face darkened. "Not that again. You're talking about murder."

"I'm talking about justice," the ghost said. "Vengeance."

"Those are not the same thing."

The ghost laughed dryly. "You will learn differently as you get older."

Nico stared at the flames. "Why can't I at least summon her? I want to talk to her. She would...she would help me."

"I will help you," the ghost promised. "Have I not saved you many times? Did I not lead you through the maze and teach you to use your powers? Do you want revenge for your sister or not?"

Nico turned from the fire so the ghost could not see the tear falling down his face. "Very well. You have a plan?"

"Oh, yes," the ghost said, sounding quite pleased. "We have many dark roads to travel. We must start—"

Valeria shot up as she heard a roar. She grabbed her quiver and ran outside.

An Aethiopian drakon. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, known for their large size and their tendency to kill elephants, oddly enough.

Valeria raced up the hill and nocked a few arrows at the beast. It roared and it turned to her angrily.

She was lucky. Judging by its size, it was only a baby. It was maybe thirty feet long, maybe ten feet tall. They were known to reach heights of 180 feet.