young god • percy jackson

05: No Prophecy For Me!

xx

RACHEL ELIZABETH DARE was...interesting.

I was impatient. Percy took his time explaining what had happened. Why we were there. All of it. I glared at him the whole time.

"It's nice to meet you Phoenix," Rachel held out her hand.

"I've seen you before. I was there when you hit Kronos with that hair brush," I said, crossing my arms.

"You were there?" Percy asked. "I don't remember—"

"I can manipulate the Mist. You saw what I wanted you to see," I said, still looking at Rachel. "Pretty ballsy, by the way. Hitting Kronos with a hair brush."

"Thank you," she said quietly, sitting down at the table she had in her cave.

Percy sat down, but I stood against the far wall.

"I've had a few dreams about Persephone," Rachel admitted after a moment. "Nothing specific. But..."

I nodded. "So how does this prophecy shit work?"

xx

Nothing. Rachel gave my nothing.

I sat at the waters edge again, staring out at nothingness. I didn't light up the world around me with magic. I felt defeated and was too scared to sleep and dream. So I did the smart thing and didn't.

I closed my eyes. I had to go find Persephone. My mom told me to. It was my duty. But I had no quest, no prophecy even.

When I opened my eyes again my mom was sitting next to me. Hecate was very pretty. She had jet black hair, purple eyes that were so frightening yet...you couldn't look away. She was stern though. Her beauty masked by her cold expression.

My eyes weren't purple unless I was spell casting...and besides the dark hair, which I would have had anyway (according to her), I looked nothing like her.

"Mom?" I asked, heart skipping a beat.

She smiled sadly at me. "Nix...I don't have long. Zeus does not fully trust me, still. Does not trust you. Hades suspects I hid away his Queen. They suspect Demeter is behind it...That I helped her envoke Hades wrath. This is a chance to prove yourself and me. We can be free of what we did in the war."

I pulled my knees to my chest, shaking my head. "We'll never be free of that. I killed people, Mom. The campers try and be nice but I know they're scared. Even Nico does not trust me."

"Hades son? Has Hades acted through him yet? Against you?" I shook my head. "Good. Hades may kill you if he can get his hands on you. It would not upset the gods to see you dead for your deeds. They planned to kill you after the last war. I could only keep you hidden for so long though..."

I looked up at her. "Persephone...She's really missing?"

Mother nodded. She looked over her shoulder. "The boy comes to help you. Leave before sunrise, son. And...I think you may find some answers by learning more about Hades' enemies. Best to take Nico with you as well." she shrugged. "Good luck, Son."

She kissed the top of my head and I woke up with a gasp on the sandy shore. I heard steps behind me and lit up my hand with a purple flame. It was the easiest to conjure.

Percy Jackson stood in front of me in a blue hoodie and sweatpants. He stared at the fire nervously.

"Relax, it won't hurt you unless I want it to," I said.

He didn't seem to relax with that information. "I can't sleep. I'm sorry Rachel couldn't help us."

"My mom...she said we need to know more about Hades. That means--"

"Why in Hades' name did Hecate make me come here in the middle of the night," Nico asked, emerging from the trees.

I told them about what my mom said.

"The gods haven't forgiven her," Percy asked.

"No. They're honoring your promise. They don't like her. She...my moms not bad. She just wants respect. And a good life for me. She can only do that by obeying...I have to do this."

"I only know of one person who wanted to take Persephone from Hades," Nico said after a moment of silence.