The Next Generation

Chapter 12 - Zara

They must have been fighting before I came, because the look on C.J. 's face was of a smug smile, like he did something that he was scolded for. I arched my neck to see Ethan and Kas walking in the back. His face glowed red in the darkness, kind of like a human torch. Kas was whispering something in his ear. He smiled and giggled. Kas was cracking up next to him, holding her stomach. I frowned.

A weird swelling thing in my chest was nagging me. I didn't like how they were standing so close or laughing and smiling together... wait, were they together? Did Ethan decide to give up on me, knowing that I would never say yes, and I wouldn't. Right? I wasn't jealous. No, no. I was just, I don't know, irritated about how they were smiling so hard at each other, both blushing fire-engine red at whatever Kas said to him. It was just.... Wow. What had happened that he now liked her? Liked her more than me? I wanted to be happy for him, but I think I wanted more to be happy with him. To shove Kas out of the picture. But, that wasn't jealousy. Right?

I kept staring at them, but they somehow didn't notice. Probably because I was behind me. Still laughing, Kas shyly leant over, and in the dim light, she kissed him. On the cheek. But still. My blood boiled as they blushed profusely and spoke in a language I didn't understand.French? Italian? "Ottimo lavoro laggiù" Ethan said, "Non ho mai avuto nessuno che lo facesse."

She blushed, and returned with, "va bene Рыбка, è divertente parlare con un altro," He looked confused, and she laughed, "Рыбка significa pesce per bambini,"

He raised an eyebrow. "pesce bambino? io sono forte!," He lifted an arm and flexed an, not very impressive, muscle. She blushed again. I scoffed. She probably hadn't been that close to a guy's bicep ever! I was furious at them. Were they calling each other pet names now? Declaring their undenying love to each other? Well I was DONE. DONE!

I stormed over to them, just able to hear Ethan say, "Senza offesa, Kas, non mi piaci in quel modo, mi piaci davvero Zara," She looked shocked, and laughed.

"Non preoccuparti, non ho una cotta per te. È stato un bacio totalmente da sorella," He smirked and bumped her side,

"Che mi dici di Sammy? Conosco te e lui-" I imagine that conversation went like, Ethan: Kas I like you. I used to have a crush on Zara but I see that you're prettier now. Kas: Yea I like u too. Ethan: Oh I thought you liked Sammy. But I walked into them, jostling Kas from Ethan's side.

"You good?" He asked, helping her up. She glanced at me, her face paling.

"Um. Hi," She squeaked. She quickly let go of Ethan's hand and took a step backwards. I just couldn't stand it any longer. Closing my eyes, I took a few steps back into the shadows. I willed them to bend at my command, and they absorbed me like a sponge. My head was spinning like crazy. I didn't even care where the shadows took me. Just... somewhere that's not here. I took heavy breaths as the air got cold and damp. The sound of moaning souls and the River Styx were in the distance. My feet touching the ground woke me up from my trance. I was in a cage? No, the Underworld prison.

I had walked through these prisons multiple times (mostly when my dad doesn't want me in his sight). The moist ground made you feel like you wanted to collapse. Or was it because of how tired I was from shadow traveling? I could sense that this prison was one of the ones deeper in the Underworld, almost to Tartarus. I heard heavy breathing behind me. At first I thought it was just one of those old souls that mingled down here, but it sounded more human. Almost like...like...a woman's voice? Taking a chance, I took a few steps into the darkness. I saw five dark figures. One larger and the rest pretty small.

"Hello?" I call to them. One grunts and a fire starts on his hand, like a candle. I yelp and step back. My vision clears. The man holding the flames had curly dark hair and bags under his eyes. Next to him sat a woman with cinnamon colored hair. She wore a sad expression. My head turned to the larger figure. A Chinese man with short hair. He was holding the woman's small hand tightly. The blond man next to him whispered something into the darkest shadow's ear. The shadow nodded and held onto the whisperers shoulders for support to stand up. His knees buckled and he fell again. This time closer to the light so I could see his face. I gasp and run to him.

His cold hands grasped for me. Before I knew it, tears were rolling down my face. He kissed my cheeks and forehead while I squeezed him tight.

"Nico-" I croaked. "What happened?"

"Our dad, he...he," Nico took a deep breath before finishing, "Drained our power. I can't open up the prison doors for us to escape."

"Where are the others? Percy Jackson, Jason Grace-"

"Yes, and Annabeth and Piper should be fine. Hades put them in a stronger room because they are the more...powerful."

"You practically live here!" I laugh-cry. If you don't know what a laugh-cry is, then think about it, because it is pretty self explanatory.

"Yep. But-" We heard feet stomping down stairs close by.

"Ahh, my half-bloods," Said an echoey voice coming from the stomping.

"Go," Nico whispered. I nodded and before I willed the shadows to bend, Nico stuffs a dirty napkin into my hand. He gave me a shrug. I thought about where I had been before: the forest in Camp Half-blood, and I was whisked back to the darkened night.

The eight half-bloods I was with before were sitting down on a log. Ethan's head was buried in his hands. Charlie was whacking him on the back like he was choking, only, he wasn't. Everyone was laughing around them except for Kas, and Sammy. Kas had Charlie by the shoulders, prying her away from Ethan. Kas was screaming, but Charlie was much stronger and was just shaking her off over and over again. Although, Ethan didn't even flinch when she hit him. I slowly walked over and willed an undead to rise. The skeleton grabbed Charlie's wrist and flung her over its shoulder. I felt slightly dizzy, but I just cleared my head, and walked to them. I nodded to the skeleton and it sat down, right where Charlie was sitting. Kas giggled, knowing my strength, but the other's faces paled.

Around me, the grass froze, and then died where I stepped. I walked right in front of them and picked the seat on the other side of Ethan. I put my hand on his knee and he slowly sat up. I gave him a side smile, and he gasped. For the next few minutes, Ethan sat, holding me to his chest. And at that moment, I forgave Kas. Whatever they were talking about, I didn't care. The worry in Ethan's eyes gave it away. He didn't really like Kas, He liked...liked me. I looked behind me at Kas. She was grinning from ear to ear, enjoying the moment almost as much as we were.

WC: 1269