Nico's dream.
(Third person)
Nico was lifted into the air and carried off before anyone could react. Jason snapped out of his daze and flew into the air, speeding after the dragon. The creature swung its tail, whacking him in the chest and sending him hurtling towards the ground. Piper screamed and Percy quickly summoned a bed of water to catch his cousin. "NICO!!!" Percy yelled. Tears spilled down the cheeks of all his friends. Will rushed forwards to heal Jason but found that, surprisingly, the son of Jupiter was unharmed. "Huh?" Will said, looking at Jason in confusion. "What?" Piper asked. "The dragon, it didn't even hurt him. It seems like it just knocked him out." Piper looked at him in confusion before going to tell their friends the good news. They needed something to cheer them up. Will pressed his hand to Jason's forehead and sang a quick hymn to Apollo. Nothing happened. He tried again, and after that failed, tried a third time. He pulled out a small flask of nectar and let some trickle down the demigod's throat. Jason didn't wake up. "Piper?" Will half whispered. "Jason won't wake up." Tears slipped down her cheeks and he softly enveloped her in a hug. It only lasted for about thirty seconds but it stopped her sobs. Leo came up behind them and held Piper before taking her arm and leading her to the group, who came over and helped carry Jason to the infirmary. Will made sure that Jason was stable and then went to the beach. He sat there a while before looking at the sky with a forlorn expression. "Come back soon Nico." Will whispered. Then he got up and headed to his cabin.
(End of Nico's dream.)
I bolted upright. "I'll come back Will." I whispered before getting dressed and heading to the training room. I closed my eyes and held my hands out in front of me. I summoned the shadows, calling them to me. I made them dance, curling around my body, occasionally reaching out to the other Angels. The shadows embraced me and I lifted my arms higher. The shadows curled and took the form of a humanoid figure. I opened my eyes as the shadows solidified and drew my sword. It glittered in the darkened daylight and I grinned as the shadow warrior charged at me. I ducked its first swing and blocked the second. I gripped the hilt of my sword as I attacked the warrior with every ounce of power in my body. It let out a hissing noise as I slashed its torso, drawing black blood to the surface. I grinned maliciously and let out all my pent up rage. It hissed and spat as I cut its arms, legs and back. Eventually, I tired off sparring and lopped off the shadow warrior's head.
I whirled around at the sound of clapping and nearly decapitated the source of the noise. It was the Angel that I had nearly decapitated yesterday. "Sorry!" I said, sheathing my sword. "One might think you actually want to kill me. You have almost beheaded me twice in the past two days." he joked, chuckling slightly. "My name is Crimson." "Mine's Nico. What are the other Angels called? Mamma said that there are ten." "Well there is me, your mother Maria, Luna, Stella, Dawn, Dusk, Silver, Gold, Hope and Halo. Halo is the Elder Angel." Crimson said. "That means that she protects us all with her magic and keeps us linked. As Angels, we are all very close. Everyone is friends with everyone else." I smiled. "That must be nice, knowing that you have nine other friends to watch your back." I said. "And soon everyone will have ten friends." a voice behind me said. Crimson grabbed my arm before I could draw my sword. "It probably wouldn't be a good idea to accidentally decapitate Halo." I turned to see Halo smiling.
Halo had flowing blonde hair that reached her back. Her sparkling green eyes complimented her darkly tanned skin and shiny white teeth. Her tall, lanky body was accented by a stunning gold cloak. The Angel's big brown wings reached her knees. I bowed to her, as I would to the Gods, and she laughed, the sound musical and magical. "There is no need to bow Nico." "I apologise, lady Halo. I merely felt that to refrain from doing so would appear disrespectful." "Oh Nico, you don't need to apologise or talk so formally. We are all friends here." she said, giggling. I blushed and she giggled again. "So I hear you are Maria's son. Who is your father? Surely not a mortal." "No lady... Sorry! Halo. Halo. Umm, well my father is Hades, God of the Underworld." I said. "So the Gods are real!" Halo asked, immediately excited. "And Olympus? What about Tartarus?" I flinched at the mention of that awful pit. "Yeah. I have been to both." She gasped and drew me into a hug. "It is okay Nico. Don't feel pressured to talk about Tar... I mean the Pit. There are legends of its horror." She pulled away and grabbed my arm. "Nico, can you show me everything that you can do, power-wise?" Halo asked as she led me to the giant courtyard. I noticed that the other nine Angels had assembled there. "Um, Halo? Are the other Angels going to watch me?" I asked, my voice lined with apprehension. She nodded and ushered me towards the centre of the courtyard. I gulped.
I stood in the centre of the courtyard, teeth gritted. I stretched out my arms, palms forward, and summoned an army of skeletons and zombies. I sucked the shadows towards me, making them curl and dance around the army behind me. I felt power surge through my veins and grinned, letting all of it out. I knew Halo would prevent anyone being hurt. Orbs of dark energy and shards of shadow swirled around my head. Black lightning struck the ground. Random objects began dissolving and vegetation wilted and died. A thick, tar like liquid oozed out of cracks in the ground. Black fog covered the sun. I shadow travelled to various parts of the courtyard, lighting towering obsidian pillars with scarlet coloured hell fire. Hellhounds, dragons and various monsters burst out of the ground. I glared at them and they crumpled. I turned invisible and re-entered the visible spectrum with venom coated fangs and claws like knives. Horns sprouted from my forehead and my back felt as if it had been shredded. I screamed as blinding streams of light shot out of my hands, mouth and eyes. I began glowing as the beams cut through all that I had summoned. Huge chunks of rock and precious gems popped out of the ground. My body began flickering, all aspects of my appearance changing, other than the colour of my eyes. I began floating as streams of fire and shadow twirled in between the beams of light. Huge coal black wings burst out of my back. They reached my heels, feathers dragging on the ground. My horns crumbled and my fangs and claws retracted. My pasty skin turned pale gold and black patterns were swirled all over my body. My hair turned an even darker, deeper black and I had metallic gold streaks (I knew because it grew, obscuring my vision). Light enveloped me and I felt all my energy deplete. I collapsed, passing out on the cold stone of the courtyard.
