Out of Nowhere

Chapter 12

Nico and I finally decide that it's time to have a real conversation with Valca. We head to her cabin and I find myself shaking. Why am I so nervous? She's just a girl. I clench my fists to get rid of the shaking and knock on the door.

A tall boy with bright blue eyes and hair answers. His eyes sweep over me, then land on Nico. The bright blue eyes narrow, "What do you want?" He snarles. He's not as nice as I thought.

I look back at Nico to see his signature smirk and roll my eyes. "Is Valca here? We want to talk to her," I say, turning back to the boy.

"Hang on," he replies and disappears into the cabin.

"Care to explain?" I ask Nico, gesturing to the doorway where the boy was.

"Later," he answers, so I turn back to the doorway and a few minutes later the boy returns with Valca.

She whispers something to the boy, making him smirk, "Good luck," he says to us, giving me an uneasy feeling.

"Follow me," Valca says and we follow her toward the big house, their cabin door slamming behind us.

She leads us to Chiron's office and my nerves increase.

Chiron takes one look at the three of us and gestures to three chairs, conveniently sitting there.

We sit immediately, waiting for someone to say something.

"Valca, why don't you explain to Ames and Nico," prods Chiron.

Valca doesn't look at us, but she does start talking, "My mother, Hecate, sent me to find the both of you here. She told me to let you take your time, that's why I haven't come to you. It concerns your fatal flaws, the weaknesses that every dimigod has. Ames, you flaw is protection. Your first instinct is to protect anyone under threat. That's why you ran to help me first thing when I arrived. Nico, yours is holding grudges, as you've all ready know," she pauses and I hear Nico mumble under his breath.

"Seeing that Ames's flaw parallels forgiveness and Nico's the opposite,  together you could be indestructible, and that scares the gods, much like Percy's power does. Ames, your experience with water has further advanced your power with water, but Percy's experience in battle has furthered his capabilities too. I'd say you're pretty much even.

"Nico, the gods have always watched you, and unfortunately in some cases used you. Because of this you have never come to your full power. My mother has foreseen that when you do, Ames will be there and that would bind your fates together for good. That's what would make you indestructible. I've come to warn you, the dark forces in the underworld know all of this too and they will be after you. Much like the gods and titans fought over Percy, they'll fight over you. We don't want another war, so some of the gods want you to stay on Mount Olympus, but others fight for your freedom.

"I know you would choose freedom if it was your choice, but for the greater good you might need to choose Mount Olympus. We still have time, so I'll give you a bit to think about it, but soon both monsters and gods will be after you," she stops talking. I look at Chiron, plead to leave in my eyes. He nods and I stumble out of my chair and slowly descend the stairs, Nico follows.

My feet lead me to the lake. I sit on the dock and Nico sits next to me. We don't talk for a while, but I finally say something, "I thought it would be funny if two boys fought over me, but it is not funny if gods and monsters fight over me."

Nico gives a weak chuckle at this, "What do you want to do?"

I sigh, "I don't know."

We sit in silence for a while more until Nico breaks it, "I don't care what we do as long as we're together."

"Well, apparently we're destined to be," I whisper, intertwining my warm fingers with his cold ones, laying my head on his shoulder.