Chaos Descends

Get Off My Back

"Someone please explain to me why were climbing the damn mountain and not, you know, shadow traveling up to the summit?" Axel demanded.

"Exercise." Hazel replied at the same time I said,

"More time to think of a plan." While Percy replied with,

"I would like to know as well." And Nico groaned saying,

"Shut up Axel." The five of us managed to laugh at our varying answers. After Nico had accepted our help, we had decided to start heading up the mountain. The blood pumping through our veins and the oxygen we were breathing was supposed to help us come up with some sort of plan that didn't result in Nico or I dying but so far, nobody had spoken up.

"Well nobody's come up with a plan, exercise is bullshit if we're going to be fighting all kinds of monsters up there and thank you for agreeing with me Percy." Axel said, pushing his blonde hair back

"No problem man." Percy said as we paused on the flatter portion of ground.

"Nico hold on, let's take a breather." I called out to him. Nico sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair before backtracking to us.

"Are you not hot in all that black?" Hazel asked. "I can feel the heat radiating off of you." Nico shrugged.

"I'm used to it."

"Right, isn't it hot in Hell?" Axel asked, pulling out a water bottle from his backpack.

"No it's actually pretty cold." Percy replied. "Tartarus is kind of humid though." Nico and I snorted.

"Humid?" We demanded in unison. I looked over at Nico and he caught my eye. I blushed, looking away. He said that Callisto had kissed him and part of me wanted to believe him and I did but.. That didn't change the fact that they kissed. I didn't know how to feel about it. I didn't know how to feel about us. Had we broken up? Nico made it pretty clear that we had but.. He had let me hug him and he had hugged me back. So what now?

"Has anyone thought of anything?" Percy asked.

"Well, I keep thinking about the prophecy.." Hazel began slowly.

"Like we all have.." I murmured.

"And well, you're not going to like it Violet but I think our best bet.. Is to not let you fight." I was about to open my mouth to argue with her but she kept going. "In fact, I don't think any of us should fight.. Except Axel."

"What?" Nico demanded.

"Me?" Axel asked confused.

"Okay, hear me out." Nico crossed his arms expectantly, staring down at her. "Well the prophecy, the last part said that the goddesses, which we all think means Violet, can't fight otherwise she will die. So we completely remove Violet from the equation."

"But I want to fight. If Chaos is trying to consume Nico I'm not just going to let it happen."

"And I'm not saying that you do."

"But you're also saying you and I shouldn't fight Hazel." Percy reminded her.

"I know, I know. Bear with me guys." She paused before starting up again. "The prophecy says, none of his friends can help him. Now I don't know if that counts me because I'm his sister but I would consider us friends too." She looked up at Nico expectantly. After he nodded solemnly, she smiled and continued. "And it took a while for you two to become friends but it's happened so the only person here who isn't friends with Nico is.."