{𝟒) 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 | 𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚗

11.

⚔︎Ψ 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐲 Ψ⚔︎

𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭...𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭.

But sometimes it wasn't...

Nico was now no longer in the Underworld, and to think Hades was making me go on this stupid road trip to see him. Fuck him.

But I would eat my words as I saw Nico in a graveyard standing under a starry sky. Willow trees over him.

Gravediggers around him doing their duties. Nico dressed in a black cloak, yet his surroundings were humid, foggy, and unsettling. He almost looked like a villain in a sense...but he was just a boy that was mad at the world for what it did to him...

A Wal-Mart back was beside him as he asked annoyed, "is it deep enough yet?"

The ghost I had seen previously in my other dream was there...aiding him, "nearly my lord. But my lord, I tell you, this is unnecessary. You already have me for advice." He argued.

"I want a second opinion!" He snapped at the spirit while snapping his fingers and suddenly 2 figures climbed out of the hole, two skeletons in ragged clothing.

Shit-Nico had insane powers...I mean...he is Hades' son...

Nico dismissed the ghost and the skeletons collapsed on the ground as Nico grabbed the Wal-Mart bag and pulled out a pack of coke, 12 of them.

He opened a can and poured it into the grave as he muttered under his voice, "let the dead taste again, let them rise and take this offering. Let them remember..."

I watched him throw the rest of the cokes in to only pull out a McDonalds Happy Meal. I would always see people buying those I loved till I started growing up, now I prefer Wendy's.

He began pouring the Happy Meal out as the fries, nuggets and hamburger fell into the grave.

What the hell was he doing?

"In my day, we used animal blood, it's perfectly good enough. They can't taste the difference." He mumbled off as Nico rolled his eyes.

"I will treat them with respect," the ghost quickly butted in, "can I at least keep the toy?" He hoped while gazing at the McDonalds figure.

"Be quiet!" Nico ordered and he emptied another twelve-pack of soda into the grave. Then again more Happy Meals as he began to chant Ancient Greek.

My Spanish was far better than Greek. Not surprisingly, I picked up a few words, but it still was confusing. I watched as the graves began to bubble and the fog thickened. Frothy brown liquid rose to the top like the whole thing was just soda. I mean...of course...

The entire graveyard was silent as dozens of figures began to appear around with blush, vaguely human shapes. Looking around and seeing the dead I couldn't believe it...Nico did something so fucking stupid I wanted to smack his head, he didn't understand the implications doing this...

"You don't know your own powers! There are too many!" The ghost shrieked, staying near Nico as he spat at the apparition. "I've got it under...control..." he muttered as he drew a sword, a blade that was created of solid black metal.

I watched him wield it in his grasp as the crowds of shades retreated at the sight of it, "one at a time..." Nico commanded...it reminded me much of Luke in a way seeing him act like this.

Revenge...

One figure walked towards the grave and began to drink the bubbling soda along with the happy meal, soon he morphed into a teenage boy...I widened my eyes at the sight of it.

"Who are you?" Nico demanded as the boy with curly hair and Greek armor spoke, "I am...Theseus." He told him trying to remember his own name and recover a dry throat.

I stared at the figure as Nico asked, "how can I retrieve my sister?" Theseus panicked telling Nico, "Do not do it...no it's-" but he couldn't finish because Nico's anger got the better of him, "just tell me!"

Theseus jumped at his voice and explained, "my s-step...stepfather...he threw himself into the sea because he thought I was dead in the Labyrinth. I wanted to bring him back, but I couldn't..."

The boy sounded broken speaking as Nico's ghost hissed out, "my lord, the soul exchange! Ask him!"

Hearing that voice, Theseus turned his head, "that voice. I know that voice!" but the ghost fought, "no you don't fool! Now answer my lord's questions! Or else!"

But Theseus wouldn't give up easily pointing at the ghost's way, "no, no I do, that voice. -"

"I want to hear about my sister." Nico gritted out, "will this quest into the Labyrinth help me get her back?" He was adamant to know.

No...no, no, no don't do this Nico is all I could think of.

Theseus spoke, "The Labyrinth is far more dangerous and mind manipulating then you can imagine, there is only one thing that saw me through: the love of a mortal girl. The string was only part of the answer, but it was the princess who guided me."

The ghost argued, explaining to Nico, "we need none of that. I will guide you, my lord. Ask him if it is true about an exchange of soul. He will tell you."

Nico spoke, "a soul for a soul? Is this true?"

Theseus hesitated but answered, "y-yes however its far-"

"Just answer the question!" The ghost spat at him.

The other ghosts around the pool began to whine and groan in need of energy as Nico shouted again.

"My sister! I need to see her! Where is she!?" He asked angrily.

"He is coming, he has sensed your summons. He comes." The boy spoke as Nico spat out, "who!?"

Theseus said, "he comes to find the source of power...you must release us!"

I gasped awake as I huffed with sweat covering me even if in an air-conditioned bus. I saw a lady across from me stare and I rolled my eyes getting up quickly to get off at this stop.

Walking out I groaned. I looked down at the ground stomping like a kid, "you idiot Hades!"

My hands ran through my hair as I tried to collect my thoughts and regain focus of what needed to be done. I sighed while taking out my phone when I realized I had several messages from Damien...Clarisse... seems like Annabeth, Percy and saw others were...going to the Labyrinth too...

Great, just great. It's always my fucking luck I run into them.

I texted my mom some important information... and I hoped maybe...maybe she can do something...comfort. Best explain. I don't know all this right now so much my head is everywhere.

But I knew the most important thing was to follow through on Bianca's words...protect Nico...

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Hayley is gonna be playing a big sisterly role for Nico up until her end so it's gonna be sweet seeing them together. She wants to save both of her boys...