When Flames Go Dark [A Leo Valdez Fanfiction]

Chapter 8

"Percy!"

A familiar voice called out to him. After slicing through a monster, Percy turned to face Nico.

"Hey! Need anything?" Percy casually asked. Like they weren't in the middle of a battle or anything. He took down a hellhound that had tried - (very) unsuccessfully - to sneak up behind him while waiting for Nico's answer.

Nico's eyes met his. "I just saw Piper and Jason run into battle, and I'm guessing it was towards Leo. You know, what with the fire and stuff. Maybe they need help."

Percy's expression turned serious, and he nodded. "Lead the way."

~.~

Percy and Nico fought through the crowd to get to Piper and Jason, only to find the two powerful demigods lying lifeless on the floor, their torsos clawed open by monsters, smoking all over.

"They're gone. I can't feel any life coming from them." Nico said. Nico felt a dull pain in his chest. Piper had always been kind to him, and Jason had treated him like a younger brother, someone who had protected him (and his feelings).

Percy kneeled down by Jason. "Oh man..."

Nico had never seen him like this. The mighty son of Poseidon, crying and vulnerable after losing two of his best friends. Nico told him, "I'll try to go and find Leo and convince him to stop, I guess. You can stay here for a bit."

"Wait, are you su-" Percy opened his mouth to protest (talking wasn't something Nico liked to do) as he tried to grab Nico's arm. The only thing he grasped was air.

Nico was already gone.

~.~

Leo stabbed another Hunter with her arrow and flung her forcefully against a tree, knocking her out. The sky was a sea of arrows and smoke, signifying the raging battle that was going on.

Suddenly, he heard a rustle coming from the bottom of the tree. He glared at the shadows.

"I know you're there. You can't hide from me."

The boy in the black aviator jacket stumbled out of the shadows. He heaved in exhaustion, his face paler than usual. He glanced at Leo and the two of them stared at each other in silence.

Nico noticed that Leo's free hand unconsciously cupping his left ear. His left ear was also guarded by this weird looking guard that looked a lot like an earmuff.

Why?

His thoughts were interrupted by Leo who spoke first.

"What are you doing here? Do you have a death wish?"

Nico sighed. "I've come to stop you."

Leo smirked and laughed menacingly.

"Jason and Piper didn't stand a chance against me. What do you think you can do? You couldn't even shadowtravel us out of the tavern without Hazel's help that time. You're better off running away, crying to Hazel."

Nico felt like he had been stabbed through his heart at the mention of her. Struggling to maintain his composure, he plainly replied, "Hazel's dead. She killed herself. She couldn't live without Frank."

Leo's smile fell. Even though he knew his old friends were now his enemies, he couldn't imagine that Hazel, innocent and pure Hazel, would take her own life.

However, he quickly recovered and laughed instead.

"See? That's what she gets for trusting the gods. She made the wrong choice to fight for them and this is how she is repaid."