The Father of Monsters has Risen

Chapter Fourteen - Christmas Part 2

"This is amazing." Fred and George said in unison. 

"Yeah," Will agreed, he planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Are you sure? Does it need something? It's not missing anything?" I was frantically looking around for spices that I might have missed.

"No, it's perfect," Will replied the twins agreed. 

"Let me try," I said. I took a small bite and spit it out. "What are you talking about?! This needs spices. Salt, papaya, some saffron, and Timo." Fred and George laughed at me while I scrambled around the kitchen.  "Anyone got money. Muggle money? Pounds?"

"I have some," Will said pulling out his wallet, I grabbed it before he could react. 

"Wait, they use Euros in Italy," I replied. Fred and George handed me a pouch of coins, I'm not sure these will work. "I'll be back." I ran into the shadows before Will could pull me back. I concentrated on making it to Italy. The only place I knew were the ruins of the Hotel Zeus killed my mother in. The Di Angelo family was memorialized in the history museum.

I repeated the spices I needed under my breath, I made my way to the nearest market. There was one surprisingly close.

"Vuoi compare qualcosa? Un Regalo per il tuo amante? Do you want to buy anything? A gift for your lover?" The townspeople asked, in both choppy English and Italian

"Sto cercando le spezie. Sai dov'è." (I'm looking for the spices. Do you know where it is)

"Al piano di sotto a sinistra. Accanto alla food court." (Downstairs to the left. Next to the food court)

"Grazie." (Thank you.) I run to the spices and I try and look for everything I need. I found what I needed and I said my thanks. I was about to leave when I saw a yellow guitar with black specks on it. "Quanto?" (How much?) I asked. 

"21.93 Euros. Per favore." 

"tutto apposto" (Alright.) "Puoi incidere qualcosa su di esso."(Can you engrave anything on it?)

"sì, questo cambierà il tuo prezzo a 24,56 euro."(yes, that'll change your price to 24.56 Euros )
I nodded and paid. I got what I wanted to be engraved and shadow traveled first to my room and hid Will's gift under my bed and then shadow traveled outside the kitchen and walked in. They were gone. "Boo! " They yelled behind me.

I pulled out my dagger and the shadows grew around me. The dagger was pressed against the persons throat. 

"It's me Nico." someone croaked. I let the shadows draw away and saw Will.

"Gods, Will. Don't ever do that. Your lucky I didn't shadow travel to Alaska." 

Will gave me a guilty look. He then smiled and asked, "Did you get the spices?"

"Yes, I did."

"Where did you go?"

"Italy. I needed spices from Italy, not so-called Italian spices."

"Oh... do you need help?" 

"No, I'm good." 

"When will it be ready? You did so well the first time. I liked it."

I frowned. "It doesn't matter what the peasant thinks. It matters what the Chef does thou, and I think that it needs spices. Now," I said. 

I grabbed my spices out of the bag I had and walked over to my pot. Thankfully it was still warm. I took a pinch of everything and placed it in the bin. I stirred and tried a bit. Too salty. I added some paprika and Timo and tried again. Perfect.

"Now, Now it's good."

"Really? Can I try?" He asked hopefully.

"Nope," I said popping the P. I smiled and walked away. I summoned a skeleton to protect my food. 

"Come on Nico," Will whined. 

"Nope," I smirked and walked away. 

"Nico...." He kept whining I walked to the living room where everyone was sitting. "Nico!!" I heard Will yell as he jumped on me. 

"Fanculo Will. Che cazzo? Piccola merda." (Fuck Will. What the Fuck? Little shit.)He just laughed. "Perché hai appena saltato su di me?" (Why did you just jump on me?)

"I want food!!"

"Wait for Lunch you asshat." I retorted. "Get the Hades off me!" 

"Noo!!"

"William Solace. You have until five." I threatened. 

"One." "Two." He got off me. "Three." he ran. "Four." He's looking for a hiding spot. "five! Imma gets you now Solace." 

I ran after him leaving everyone in the room confused. "Willy," I said looking in our room. "Where are you?" No answer. "You know, I met this nice boy in Italy. His name was Francis. I'm gonna go meet him now." I messed with him. I made it cold in the room and pretended to shadow travel. I did but I willed myself to hide in a dark corner. I heard some rustling in the closet. "ThAt LiTTle ShIT LeFT." His voice cracked. He paced the room and when he walked by my corner I pounced on him. 

"Gotcha!" I laughed as I tackled him to the ground. 

"Fuck Nico." He laughed. "I deserved that."

"Yes, you did."

"Will you let me up now?"

"Hmmn, no. You're warm."

"Nap time?"

"Yes, Nap TiME."

"But you have to get up Nico." He laughed still on the ground.

"Never. I like it here. You're warm. Besides, you're the one on the ground." I stated.

"But Nico... I'm uncomfortable."

"Feels bad." 

"Yes, yes it does."

I laughed and got up. I jumped on the couch and laid face up. Will laid next to me. "Nico, I'm in need of medical attention."

"You're the doctor, fix yourself."

"But Nico, It's my lips that need medical attention." He whined. 

"Fine. One kiss won't do anything. Then I have to meet Francis." I teased 

"Oh no, you don't. You're mine. And only MINE." He growled.
"Alright." I nodded my head. I gave him a quick kiss and snuggled into his chest. My legs tangled in between his. I fell into a blissful sleep.

My blissful sleep lasted nearly half an hour before the nightmares came. I was back down in tarturus, I saw Bianca speak to me. She was grinning wickedly, she walked around with a limp. "It's your fault you know. I could be alive and in the mortal world but I'm dead because you wanted that stupid little toy. Now, the only quest I'm on is how to kill you. You-"

"Shut up," I cut her off, "You wouldn't be with me at all if you were alive. You left me first, you left me before you died." My voice cracked, "You decided that joining the Hunters is better than spending the rest of your life with your only living family."

"You were too annoying. You always needed something, a hassle." she sneered.

"I tried to revive you, I summoned you to offer a new life. You left me."

"I got a new life, without an annoying little brother dragging me along everywhere." she spat at me, I refused to let my tears fall from my eyes. "You should leave the mortal world. No one wants you there, everyone will leave you eventually. Just like I did."

"No, you're wrong," I replied. "I have people."

She opened her mouth but it wasn't her voice that came out. "Wake up! Nico! Wake Up!!"