Half-Blood Hill (A Percy Jackson Fanfic)

Half-Blood Hill (O8)

"Chiron," Percy called to the centaur councilor that ran Camp Half-Blood.

He turned to us and nodded, "I take you have a quest?"

"We do," Percy confirmed.

Chiron looked deep in thought for a second. Then he looked at Pandora and eyed her. He obviously realized she was new. He ran his nonjudgemental eyes over all of us, a shabby group of three.

With a swish of his tail he had turned around and was trotting away.

"When are we leaving?" I asked.

Percy wasn't listening. Instead he turned away from me and walked away muttering, "Who's going to die this time?"

Yep. I was wondering that too. My face hardened as I watched Percy's retreating back. My eyes flitted to Pandora's shocked face. I couldn't die. I had to avenge my sister by killing as many monsters as I could. Bianca's death could not be in vain.

"Aren't you death?" Pandora asked shakily. "Can't you tell who's going to die?"

I shot her a look as I shook my head slightly, "You think it'll be better knowing who's going to die?"

"Yeah," she mustered, "because we could protect them."

"The fates are stronger than that," I hissed, "you cannot stop death."

"You're the son of Death. Shouldn't you know something? Or are you just as useless as I am?" She spat.

I stared at her. Pandora was standing up to me? She was calling me useless? I wanted to punch something. Instead I turned away, fists clenched, jaw locked.

"I didn't mean it," she said softly.

I looked up at her finally. "You cannot stop death."

&&&

"Ambrosia?"

"Check."

"Extra clothes?"

"Check."

"Umm, drachma?"

"Just in case."

"Water, food?"

"Got it."

"I think you're ready to go," Annabeth looked ashen face as she held Percy's hand in hers.

I choked back my breakfast and tried not to gag. Percy and Annabeth were pretty gross. But I"m not five so I kept a bored expression as I watched them suck face for a couple seconds.

Then I wondered who the fuck would ever want to make out with Death.

"Can we go yet?" I grumbled.

Annabeth broke away from Percy to glare at me, "Shut up Nico."

Pandora didn't seem to mind. She turned to me and gave me a smile, the first thing she'd done since calling me useless. I shrugged my shoulders and turned away. Well, this was definitely not going to be a great quest.

Percy picked up his backpack and gave Annabeth a last kiss. Then he looked at me and nodded. I nodded back and we headed for the camp entrance.

"Will anything attack us?" Pandora asked hesitantly.

"Nothing," Percy assured her.

We picked up our items and walked out the gate. We were now free picks for any monsters, since we weren't hidden by the mist anymore.

"Stay close," I said.

"Wait a sec, where's our ride?" Pandora asked, frowning.

Percy closed his eyes. A couple seconds later he opened them and looked at Pandora smugly. "Oh, he's coming," he shrugged.