The Chosen Demigods

Chapter 10

HEY!!!!!!

Sorry it took so long. Also, I'm a idiot. 

I was baking cookies for my sister as she's at camp and coming back tomorrow, and i burned my hand on the oven rack. Like seriously! HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN!!!!

I have a ice-pack, but if I don't keep my hand on it it burns. Like a lot. I'm such a pringle. Anyway,

 I DON'T OWN HEROES OF OLYMPUS OR HARRY POTTER!!!

The beautiful J.K Rowling and Rick Riordan do. Duh. *Silence as I have a mind blank.*

ON WITH LE STORIE!!!!

.............

Hazel's POV

I smiled as I saw Piper and Will's reaction to the wall melting away. But I can't speak, 'cause I almost fainted when Nico showed me. 

Nico led he way down a cramped staircase that was faintly illuminated by torches of Greek Fire. I walked beside him. He seemed completely relaxed. I mean completely. I knew how to read people quite well. A black girl, born in the 1930's, ya kinda had to know how the whites were feeling, and act according to that. It was necessary for survival. I still can't believe how much has changed. Like, seriously. It was mind blowing. I went from being hated and isolated to a Hero Of Olympus! From bottom to top just like that.

Anyway, I'd known that music was a comfort to Nico, even at Camp Jupiter. When he was showing me around, he played a piece for me on the piano. It was like he was creating the music, soft and supple notes flowing from his pale fingers, head bowed as he presented me with a gift beyond description. He seemed so happy and at peace, a soft smile gracing his Italian features. 

His expression was almost the same now, except more eager. Like he was anxious to be in that room after so long, and honestly, I probably looked the same. 

Nico and I reached the end of the staircase, looked at each other, smiled and placed our hand on the door. 

Will's POV

The dark oak door swung open... and wow. Just wow.

We walked into a rectangular room that had navy blue and kinda black walls. There was a large cherry-red recording booth with two sections. The wall opposite us, one of the longer ones, was lined with golden old-fashioned records that had a plaque underneath telling us the name of the song. 

I walked up to it. Queen, Elvis, Michel Jackson, Elton John, Prince and all the classics were there. As you walked toward the recording booth, some familiar names came up. Beyonce, Panic! at the Disco, MCR, Fall our boy and the rest were all on the wall. A wall of music legends. 

I turned back to the wall with the door in it. In the corner, two bookcases were overflowing with what I realized was sheet music. I walked up to it. A low black glass coffee table and red couches sat in front of the bookcases, perfect for studying the music. One bookcase held more classical music. Beethoven, Mozart and others. The other bookshelf, and the slightly bigger one, had sheet music for other songs.

Panic! at the Disco, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Bebe Rexha, Sam Tsui, Lindsey Stirling and others were scattered across the shelves. I looked down at the table and saw a piece of music lying there. I reached for it and picked it up. There was a coffee stain on one corner, but I could make out the title. This is Gospel, Piano Version. I whistled. This looked simple, but I knew that whoever was learning this was not very experienced, because of the coffee stain. 

"Whoa! Will look at this!" I turned around and it took me a few seconds to locate where Piper was. She was standing in the doorway to the recording studio beckoning to me. I walked past the piano in the middle of the room, over to where Piper was and followed her through the door. 

Inside was a fully fledged professional recording studio control room. Piper immediately walked up to the controls and started fiddling. I opened the door to one of the booths. It was a decent size, with a mike and didn't seem as big as the other one. Vocals. I realized. Or smaller instruments. Defiantly couldn't fit a piano in here. 

"So, I'm guessing you guys like the room?" Nico said leaning on the door-frame of the booth smirking. We nodded soundlessly. Nico laughed. I felt myself melt. Gods, he looked beautiful when he laughed. I felt someone looking at me, so I turned and looked at Piper, who was looking between Nico and I and grinning. I blushed.

"Uh, anyway, where's Hazel?" I said my face burning. "Oh she's practicing piano. Come on!" said Nico leading the way out of the door. 

He walked us through a door to a side room, and gestured for us to be quiet. He walked up to Hazel, who was squinting at a piece of sheet music. She groaned and look at Nico. 

"How in Hades do you do this!" she yelled throwing her hands up. Nico just chuckled. "Like this." 

He sat down next to Hazel and placed his slender fingers on the keys. All was quiet for a few seconds, and then Nico started to play. 

I stared at him in disbelief. He hit every note perfectly, the vibrations blending into each other like they were made that way. His fingers flowed across the keys like a haunting dance, filling they once still air with a unforgettable melody. He smiled and his body relaxed, the music the only thing he was focusing on. His body became one with the music, and he played so passionately, my mind was completely blank for majority of the piece. It was breathtaking. 

Then one thought came to my mind. He looked.... I don't know how to explain it. You know how you look at someone, and somehow they become the only thing that matters? Like, they're everything? I dunno. I just knew that I couldn't let him go. Ever.

The piece drew to a close, and Nico let out a soft sigh, his eyes still closed. A gentle smile spread across his features, and he looked at peace. He opened his eyes and turned to Hazel smiling. 

"Like that." He said his voice breaking the silence. Hazel smiled. "That was beautiful, but it doesn't really help Nico." Nico laughed, a sweet ringing that broke through the suffocating silence. His face lit up, the sound accenting all of his features, making them seem so alive. "Okay. I get it. How about we do something else for a while? We haven't exactly showed these guys anything yet." He said waving a graceful hand toward Piper and I. 

I started. Right, what was happening again? Nico laughing again, Hazel and Piper joining him. I felt blood rushing to my head. Did I say that put loud?

"But seriously Nico, I had no idea that you could play like that!" said Piper yet again as we made our way back from dinner. We'd been grilling him about it ever since he'd played for us.

" I told you I'm not that good. You guys are over-reacting." said Nico mumbling still embarrassed. I sighed. That idiot is so blind. I walked up to Nico and stared at him. 

"Nico." I said slowly to get the words through to him. "You. Are. A. Piano. Prodigy. And gorgeous." I added as an afterthought. Nico blushed. 

"He's also amazing at violin." added Hazel smirking. "HAZEL!" yelled Nico. "Not helping!" 

"Alright death boy. You are playing for us right now." said Piper firmly. I smiled at Nico, knowing we'd backed my stupid boyfriend and his stupidly handsome face into a corner. Nico sighed. "Fine." he mumbled defeated. 

"Actually, that'll have to wait." We turned around to see a smirking Percy. "Chiron wants you guys at Rachel's cave. 'Beth's there too." He frowned. "It seemed serious. I can't come, coached new campers." He smiled. "You'd better hurry." I looked at Nico, and as soon as we locked eyes, I knew he was as worried as I was. 

I walked beside Nico on our way up to the cave. Why were we going here? I mean, sure it was private, but so was the big house. So what reason could Chiron have to meet us there? Was something wrong? Even if Rachel was unwell, Chiron could tell us about the prophecy. So, why were we heading there? And how come Percy wasn't allowed?

"Will?" I heard Nico's tentative voice, and realized we were already at Rachel's cave. Nico looked at me worried. "You okay?" I gave myself a shake and smiled. "Yeah. Come on."