The Son of Death in Gotham(A Nico Di Angelo Fan Fic)

35) Memories

Will's Pov

"What the heck do you mean he's a fugitive?!" Will shouted. They'd somehow gotten away from Valhalla in one piece, and were now hanging out under a statue of a man in a metal bra.

Annabeth lifted up her hands in a placating gesture, "Not to us. But the Norse think that he just killed their king. This is like Percy's situation with the lightning bolt, except this time they have proof. We need to find Nico, and find out how to get him out of this situation alive."

Will was fuming, he did not want to deal with this, "It was Odin's fault though! Bringing up Nico's family like that. If he hadn't done it I would have."

Annabeth nodded, "I agree with you, he was being an ass. But that doesn't mean that Nico didn't kill him and it doesn't change the fact that Nico's missing. We need to get in contact with our friends back home."

"Um," Magnus rudely interrupted, "I might be able to help with that?"

*** *** ***

They were standing in front of a row of nine ducks. This is why Will didn't trust the stupid Norse "einherjar".

"I just need to find it," Magnus muttered, he'd been standing in front of the ducks holding his sword over it for a few minutes now.

"Well please hurry Magnus," Annabeth asked, she looked as jumpy as Will felt, "We need to get back home fast."

Magnus just nodded, but after a few more moments Will got impatient.

"We should just call Mrs. O'Leary," He repeated to Annabeth, "Or we can have Percy or Reyna call the pegasus to give us a ride. Or I'd even take the Gray Sisters taxi."

"Give him a chance Will," Annabeth snapped back, she'd begun looking a little annoyed at Will for some reason, he hadn't done anything wrong, "He's trying to help us."

"Yeah, back off." Alex snapped.

Then Magnus's sword finally spoke.

"This one. It'll bring you the closest to the New York branch of the World tree. It's harder to jump to other places in your world, than to jump to other worlds."

Magnus nodded then slashed his sword through the air. A rip seemed to form in the space, that Magnus jumped through without hesitation, crazy idiot. Annabeth looked more hesitant, but she followed. Will was not so eager.

"Isn't there another way?" He asked, he didn't love jumping into random tears in space.

"Nope." Suddenly he felt someone push him forward. He fell through the gap onto the other side and was caught by Annabeth.

"What the heck," Once he regained his balance he spun around to see Alex casually standing next to Magnus, "Did you push me?"

Alex shrugged and turned to follow Magnus, who'd started walking down the branch they were on.

Will made the mistake of glancing down as he followed. All that he could see was shadows. Well, not exactly, it was a mass of black, gray, and other darker colors. It was unnerving, knowing that he could fall down and maybe never land. Magnus had explained what the Gap was, and Will personally didn't like the sound of it.

They followed Magnus down a few branches. Will would say that it was difficult sliding from one curved surface to another while they were swaying and moving under his feet, but he wasn't going to complain. Nobody else seemed to have a problem with it.

Magnus seemed to be zeroing in on something, or at least his sword was, when they suddenly heard a loud sound.

Yark

Magnus froze, looking behind them in terror, then he started running. Will made the smart decision and followed him.

They'd gotten halfway down the branch, when suddenly Will's mind was filled with another voice. It sounded suspiciously like his inner monologue at times.

You're worthless.

Can't even fight.

Couldn't save them.

He doesn't love you.

You'll never work out.

Never even met him.

You hurt him.

They left you for a reason.

He hates you.

You're weak.

Can't defend yourself.

Can't even use a bow.

Why are you even here?

He felt the tears coming. Normally he could fight off his emotions, an important skill for a healer was to stay calm in overwhelming situations, but this cut deep. It exposed his deepest insecurities. And the way it was said, like they were digging a knife into his stomach and twisting it with every word. He felt himself fall to his knees, a sob building up in his throat. Then he was suddenly being dragged away.

He felt himself falling, then everything went black.

*** *** ***

Nico was freaking out.

Everything was dark and shrouded in smoke. He didn't know where he was, or what he was. He just felt like a consciousness, floating in the midst of the darkness.

His mind slowly started to adjust to whatever was happening. His mind raced, thinking of things that might be happening. He tried to remember the last place he remembered being.

The last thing he remembered was the jar.