Something Forbidden

Chapter 26: Raili

RAILI

I wouldve slapped the goddess by now, but i kept my cool. We walked deeper into the forest, with Aphrodite leading the way.

"This better not be some sort of trick," i whisper to them,

"Its going to be fine, Raili. You'll have your boyfriend back in no time!" Piper assured me.

I nodded and then shook my head, did she mean to do charmspeak on me? I decided not ask. Minutes have past and we had arrived at an open tent the color of roses. It had a long table in the middle, chairs on either side. I breathed in, and almost choked. It had a strong smell of roses and perfume.

Aphrodite stopped and turned around, smiling.

"Welcome, have a seat."

Hesitating, we sat down on the far ends of the table. Aphrodite sat on the same chair a while ago. How it got here, I didnt know.

"Tea?" the goddess asked,

"No thanks," i said.

She kept smiling, only to be polite, but i knew she felt a little broke. Maybe her tea was good.

"So, mom, about the cure..." Piper started,

"Ah, yes! The cure for Nico's love potion. Now lets see, cure, cure cure..." Aphrodite kept saying, staring into space.

It was like she was searching the information in her brain, but i guess it wasnt in any files, because she sighed and shook her head softly.

"Im so sorry, girls. But there seems to be no cure for Nico."

I wondered if now was the best time to slap the goddess, but i didnt. I just stared at her, praying that she was only kidding, but the sadness in her expression made me believe it was true... or was it charmspeak?

"Youre joking, right?" i said in a harsh tone,

"Should i be joking? Dont you trust my word? There is no cure for him, thats the truth. The potion was much too powerful, even for Nico's love for you." the goddess says.

"No! There must be another way! There has to be-"

"Mother, please, you are our only hope to save love. True love," Piper chimed in.

I could tell Piper was trying her best, and that meant charmspeaking on her own mother, if that was even possible. But, even without charmspeak, Piper's words were powerful, and Aphrodite nodded.

"There might be. But even i do not know if it works. Raili, just try to convince Nico that you are his true love. Show him a memory that will remind him of you."

I frowned.

"A memory?"

"Yes, a memory." Danika piped in, "Show Nico something both of you shared. Like... Capture the Flag."

I thought for a moment, something we both shared? What memory could be so powerful to save him? I sighed slowly, then nodded. This could be my only hope in saving Nico.

···

After thanking Aphrodite, we walked back to the cabins and saw all of them empty. Thats when i noticed the sun shining brightly above. They were already at the Mess Hall.

"Uh oh," Piper said, "I wonder who took over."

"Oh gods, Percy's going to freak."

"Youre making me feel guilty, you guys." i said, shifting my feet.

"No need Raili, im sure Drew took care of everything... which is a bad idea, oh gods, bye!" Piper said, saying those last few words like a professional rapper.

Danika, on the other hand, didnt care.

"You better feel guilty," she said, then grinned.

"Come on," i said, rolling my eyes. "Lets go find Nico."

···

We looked everywhere for Nico, but he wasnt at the Hall with the others. I started to regret not asking for some directions from the goddess of love.

"Im hungry," Danika complained,

"You ate 30 minutes ago!" i said, pacing a bit faster up a hill.

"Im going to die of starvation!"

I ignored her and looked at the view of the camp, surely i would find a crowd or a death boy somewhere. Thats when i started having theories, bad ones.

Had Nico run away with Lourdes? Did Lourdes get over him? Breaking his poor heart?

I whimpered, which was weird, i never wimper. Danika, on the other hand, was sitting on a small log, making a tiny whirlpool from a small pond.

"What if my theories are true? What if he ran away? With Lourdes! Or maybe im just exaggerating, maybe he's at the Mess Hall- (im starving!) -and we just didnt look at all the tables. There has to be an explanation!"

I didnt want to believe in my theories, but the more i looked for Nico, the more i began to believe in my fantasies. Before i could give everything up, an unfamiliar voice shouted my name. I looked around and saw a guy run up the hill.

I could tell from his expression and his eyes that he was a Hermes kid.

"Raili, i found Nico..." the guy panted.

My eyes widened, who was this guy? And why was he helping me? But before i could answer, Danika stepped infront of me. Being all protective, which im pretty sure she got from Percy.

"Who are you? How'd you know where Nico is? How'd you know we where here?" she asked, half growling.

He backed a way, arms in the air, but he had a grin plastered on his face while he stared at her.

"Calm down, im a Hermes kid, and as his son, i know stuff. Like, for example... secrets.  " he said.

Danika's snarl faded for a second when he said that. What did he know about her that i didnt?

"Okay, back to the point! Who are you? And wheres Nico?" i asked.

"My names Justin, and your boyfriend is near the lake."

Danika stepped back and looked at me, so did Justin. It was obvious that it was up to me. I sighed heavily, tired and hungry.

"To the lake, then..."

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Author's Note

Sorry for not updating. Exams, projects and stuff. So yeah, i wasnt kidding about adding a new character named Justin. He'll be great "friends" with Raili.