Raven (Nico Di Angelo love story)

Chapter 8-Departure and Mcdonalds

(Quick A/N: I totally just realised that new york and Alaska are sooooo far away from each other. I am australian so i had no idea. When Nico, Grover and raven were traveling from Alaska to New york it took them way shorter than it should have. So i apologise for any confusion._.))

I dragged myself up the hill, mumbling about how this sucked.

"Gods. Just shut up and get here." Nico rolled his eyes in pure annoyance.

"Dont fucking tell me what to do Di angelo because i wont hesitate to kill a bitch at this time in the morning." I snap back at him. We have a silent glare off as i continue to lumber up half-blood hill.

"We haven't even stepped out of the camp borders yet and you two are already at each other throats. Please just act civil for a bit." Percy begs as he smiled down at Annabeth, who had woken up at the crack of dawn to say her farewells to her beloved.

In sync, as if it had been rehearsed, Nico and I roll our eyes.

"Okay lets go." Percy says cheerfully when i reach the top of the hill. He looks as if he is ready to skip down the lane while flower petals fall from the sky and perhaps kill a few monsters on the way.

Percy kisses Annabeth goodbye and Nico hugs Hazel, who is also present at this un-holy hour of the morning.

I get a head start as i step out of the camp borders. I feel vulnerable, having stepped out of the protective boundaries. I get ready to activate my ring.

"How are we going to get to Manhattan?" I ask Percy when he and Nico appear behind me.

"Um..."

"Raven! Guys! Wait up!"

I whip around to see Leo chasing after us. He looks the same as he did when i said goodbye: covered in soot with a crazy look in his eyes.

"Leo what the bloody hell-" I begin.

"Let me come." He begins.

"No-"

"Actually let me rephrase that. I am coming with you." He says, completely and utterly serious.

"You can't the prophecy said for only us three to go." Nico point out.

"Yeah i don't care." Leo quickly snaps.

"No but it's pretty much a rule-"

"And when do rules affect me?" Leo tilts his head.

"But you could get into trouble." I add.

"Yeah whatever. I'm coming to protect my best friend and thats that. No 'if's' or 'buts' or whatever else." Leo stamps his foot for effect before adding, "And i don't need and answer from you guys because i'm coming anyway. If you say 'no' then, well, your just going to be followed."

I grin at his persistence and link my arms through his.

Percy and Nico, both frowning, decide there is nothing they can do about it so they shut their mouths.

"Okay." Percy says getting back on track. "Chiron gave this to me." he pulls out piece of old parchment and held it out in front of him.

The parchment had pictures of all 12 Olyimpian jewels and their place of birth.

"Now only Zeus, poseidion and Hades' jewels have actually been stolen. The rest of the jewels are all at risk though. So in Manhatten is where Hera, Dionysis and Hermes' Gem or jewel things are hidden. Alaska: Hephastus and Ares. California: Aphrodite and Athena. And Texas: Apollo and Artemis. So the task is simple in a deadly way." Percy tells us.

"Find all the Gems-keep them safe-find who ever stole the 'Big three' Gems- Kill the thief- return all the Gems back to the Olympians." Nico finishes.

"Okay. Lets do it." Leo says, enthusiastically punching the air with his fist.

"Yay." i mumble, frowning.

"But from New York to Alaska will take ages." i input.

"I can try and shadow travel us there." Nico mumbles.

"What? but thats way to far!" I exclaim. "You will injure yourself." Looking at the surprised faces around me i quickly add, "Not that i care, or anything...Because i couldn't care less..."

Nico clears his throat and purposely avoids my eye contact.

"Anyhow..." Percy awkwardly interferes. "We should worry about that when the time comes. Now we should think about taking the train into Manhattan. Okay?"

We all nod in agreement and make our way out of the forest to find a bus stop going to the nearest subway. (Is that what they call trains in America? Help meeee!)

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((hahaha^^)

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I sat next to Leo on the train ride. I had my earbuds in and was observing my friend.

Leo was fiddling with some wires and clogs, turning them into some odd gadget. He was- i guess- subconsciously tapping his feet and swinging his legs. His eyes brows were furrowed, as if in deep thought.

I sat so my back was against the window and my legs were across Leo's lap. He was the friend of the group who went un-noticed. The one who no one ever pays a second glance or makes an effort to get to know them. Leo was, in a scrawny elfish way, good looking. I forced him to comb his hair before and although it wasn't in a birds nest anymore it was still sticking up in every direction. Not that combing his hair did anything to not draw attention to us because Leo was still covered in dirt and grim.

Nico, who looked ghost like, had his sword strapped to his waist and Percy was dressed head to foot in battle armour. Lets just say we didn't go un-noticed.

"Thank the gods were here." I hear Nico mutter from the seats in front of us.

We departed and i pulled my earbuds out, eager to fight with my new weapons.

"Okay Percy we have the whole of Manhattan. Where do you suggest we search?" I ask.

"Mcdonalds." Percy answers, triumphantly.

"Perce, we have to find the gems. Personally i would love a cheeseburger too but now isn't the time-" Nico says.

"No, the Gem is at macca's. The map thing, or whatever it is, says so." Percy so bluntly tells us.

"Okay but there is like a million macca's." Leo points out. I nod.

"Yep but i bet you a trillion drachmas that it is that one." Nico says, turning around.

"Yeah well-" I begin when my eyes land on a Mcdonalds down the street with people running out of it screaming, 'monster!' "You're probably right." i shrug

We run down the street weapons ready and adrenaline surging through us.

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