Sun-kissed Angel (a Solangelo fanfiction)

Chapter 24: My Choice

Nico

This is a dream, I thought as my senses scattered. A rush of pain hit me. I groaned. 

No, this is real, I realized. I have such rotten luck.

I opened my eyes. All I could see was white. Plain, ugly, white walls. Groaning, I pushed myself up. My stick arms felt like noodles (thinking of noodles now. It just shows how hungry I am that moment).

What happened?

I looked down at myself. I'm a wreck. Bruises decorated my limbs like second skin (which isn't a surprise, even the bags under my eyes look bruised). The surprising part was the claw marks. Deep claw marks that sliced my limbs to the bone (no kidding. I could see the bone under the shredded skin and blood).

What  happened?

My head felt like my skull was splitting into two. I cradled it with my hands. Something was sitting on my head

What in Tartarus is going on?

My hands felt the thing blindly. I couldn't look up. Even the slightest movement could create a scream out of me.

A crown?

Indeed it was a crown, sitting on top of my head. How I ended like this-lying on the tiles, with concrete evidence of abuse and a crown sitting on top of my head- I didn't know.

The crown pulsed, raw power radiating into me in waves. I gasped.

I'm drowning, I thought as I gasped for reprieve.

"E...Enough," I croaked, clawing at the crown.

It wouldn't budge. I clutched at my hair and tugged so hard. Pain. I welcomed it. Pain, I knew. Pain is better than this power flowing through me. Someone was screaming. My vision tunneled. I could see everything in focus. The grooves in the stark paint on the walls that was once unnoticed was already zoomed in. It was like watching from the eyes of the predator.

At the mention of a predator, the memory came rushing back to me.

I opened my mouth to scream, but it came out hoarse. I didn't realize the one screaming was me.

Somebody pounded on the door.

"Nico!" Carter's muffled voice called. "Are you alright?"

That is such a stupid question, I wanted to say. Nothing went right in my life.

"H-help," I croaked.

The crown responded to Carter's presence. It pulsed and radiated angry waves, sending its impulse on me.

Prey, it said. Feed me. Show me your first kill.

"Open the door! Let me help you! Please!" Carter pleaded, rapping the door insistently.

I unclenched my fisted hands. Tufts of hair fell to the floor. I couldn't care less. My enhanced hearing (the ears of a predator is a nasty thing) could hear two sets of feet running to my door.

"What's up?" It was Sadie.

There was silence from the other side of the door. They must be doing that odd thing they do (staring at each other and understanding what the other wanted to say-- like magic), the way we- Bianca and I- do in our time at Westminster Hall.

"Hold up!" Carter shouted. "Sadie wait--"

"Ha-di!" Sadie boomed.

The door glowed gold, with the Egyptian symbol for destroy. (Sadie's magic have always been stronger than Carter's) Then exploded. I wish you could see what an explosion looked like at the eyes of a predator. You could hear the crackle of magic before the explosion.You could see the first crack, then bang!

I didn't bat an eyelash.

The predator does not fear, the voice whispered.

The debris bounced off a force field- a force field that I created myself. I created a force field and deflected the splinters as easy as swatting a fly.

This is power, I thought. So much power in my hands.

Yes, the voice whispered. This power is yours. You are untouchable now. You won't be a pawn of the gods- ever again.

Yes, I thought, I'm tired of being pawn.

Yes, it urged, Hades couldn't touch you anymore.

Yes... I paused.. Wait...

Persephone couldn't step on you now. Athena couldn't use you now..

I just sat on the floor, while the Kane siblings fussed all over me.

"Bloody hell! Who did this?" Sadie asked and reached out to touch me. As soon as her hands laid on me, she shouted in agony.

Carter pulled him back- away from me- and was staring at a spot above my head. He was staring at the crown, I presumed.

"Sadie, wait," he said.

The girl looked at where he was staring. A series of profanities flowed out of her mouth (just your regular, smooth, Sadie).

Walt came rushing in. As soon as he saw me, his face changed till he was Anubis again. The ends of my mouth curved. It was like looking at the distant future-- he looks like a cooler, stronger and much more handsome version of me (well, he's a god).

"Get back!" Anubis warned.

Sadie ignored him. "Don't be ridiculous... He's Nico."

My face contorted into a feral grin. "You should do what he says you should godling. It's not a wise act to disobey a god."

They looked at me like I have grown two heads. I might as well should, for I intended not to say anything, but that voice was surely mine, yet. . .yet. . . .

Carter was slowly inching away from me. "Nico, what are you talking about?"

"I am dangerous," I said.

Sadie was making greater progress from inching away from me than Carter did.

"Where did you get the crown Nico?"

I smiled, my dry cracked lips splitting. "I think this is mine in the first place." Then I turned to the god. "Isn't that right?"

His face was made of stone.

The voice inside my head was cackling now.

Don't fight me, he said.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!" I screamed. Raw shots of power pushed them to the wall. Anubis was able to soften the blow, using his own magic to parry with mine.

I took deep breaths.. I am Nico di Angelo. I will not be defeated like this.

The power stopped flowing. My eyesight dimmed. The sudden strength I had was being sucked away. It took the rest of my strength to look up at them.

"H-help..."

Then the world went black.

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Hello readers!

I'm sorry, it's been too long since I've posted an update. The last years has been tough for me (and is still tough on me now).

I'm at the start of my teaching career. . .and I think my writing's now kind of rusty. And I think I'm not as good as I used to be.

Feel free to comment and share your views!

xoxo- godly_Thomas