Dedicated to Amerald for the funny comment: ' *dramatic but hopeful music playing in the background* ;) Love it! ' Thank you for lighting up my day with that hun! x)

Song For This Chapter: Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwrigh (don't ask why... I just love this song)

Ch. 13 - The Worst Pep Talk Ever

    "Dionysus." I felt my heart thud a little in my chest - I had been taken off guard by the fact someone had been waiting on the beach. Mr. D rose a wicked brow, sending me a sharp glare. I looked around the beach for the source of the voice, because I knew it was not Mr. D's.     

    Clearing his throat, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Just because my Father changed your status doesn't mean we are on first name basis, Oliviae."

     Rolling my eyes, I mimicked him, crossing my arms over my chest. "Sorry... Mr. D, then." Turning slightly, my eyes rested on the electrifying ones of Thalia Grace. "You."

     "You." She smirked, a bag over her shoulder. "Came to see me off? Or are you coming with?" She hopped from foot to foot, obviously anxious to find Annabeth. "The Hunters are preparing to leave back at the camp."

     "Leave? You have received instructions already?" I rose a brow. I knew that Percy was upset over not being allowed to tag along, but he hadn't told me the prophecy - only Penny's prophecy. "I had... I can't." I snapped roughly, my back straightening a little. "What was the prophecy?"

     Thalia furrowed her brow and sent an unsure look in Mr. D's direction, questioning whether it was alright to say it or not. "Uh - Well, it said this: Five shall go west to the goddess in chains, One shall be lost in the land without rain, A goddesses presence appears without fail, The bane of Olympus shows the trail, Campers and Hunters combined shall prevail, The Titan's curse must one withstand, And one shall perish by a parent's hand. And since you just showed up... 'without fail' I figure... You're the goddess."

     Swallowing a lump in my throat, I took a shaky breath and felt the freezing lake water lap at my toes, the cold inter air nip at my exposed arms, Olympus had been much warmer. "I figure you are right-"

     Thalia grinned and cracked her knuckles. "Great - let's get on it then, who knows what they could be doing to Artemis-"

     I cleared my throat and glared down at my sandals buried in the icy sand. "I figure you are right... But I can't go with you just yet - there are somethings I need to take care of before hand." I looked up at the daughter of Zeus, she didn't look happy. She gave me an astonished look.

     "Are, are you serious? If you aren't coming because of Percy - that's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard!" She begun to grow more animated, and I almost could swear her skin was crackling with electricity - if she merely were to poke me with her finger a thousand volts would no doubt shoot through me.

     I shot her a silencing glare. "Don't question my motives, Thalia." I turned towards Mr. D with a sigh, then cast Thalia an apologetic frown. "Look, I'm sorry - I will be coming for my Mother - but I have a few things that need to be taken care of before I can follow you on your quest. It is best if you all leave and I catch up." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Please don't think I don't love my Mother - but there are more family matters that need to be done before hand..." In case I don't get a second chance to do it after the quest.

     Thalia bowed her head with a frown. "Sorry... I understand. We are leaving at first light tomorrow morning - I'm sure that with your Mother being Artemis, you will have no trouble tracking us down." She smirked at me and nodded, which I returned, before leaving permanently.

     Mr. D cleared his throat. "You know, ditching the gods for your boyfriend isn't the best example to show when trying to prove your loyalty, missy." He sneered a little, glaring at me slightly.

     "I'm not ditching my Mother for a boy. Trust me, this is necessary - I will be on my way as soon as I can. There is some other business I must take care of, however." I cleared my throat as Mr. D glared at me, trying to decipher my head. "Where is the diAngelo boy? Nico."

     "Oh gods, not that kid." He growled, shaking his head in displeasure. "He is usually hanging out with the Jackson boy - not many friends, but that's mostly because he is a pain in the ass." 

     The left side of my mouth turned down in distaste. Hopefully I would be able to find Nico quickly - the sooner I left to find my Mother, the quicker I'd be able to prove myself worthy to Hera and Zeus. They needed the reassurance more than any of the other gods in Olympus. "Thanks, D." I smirked at him and walked towards the camp, not really caring that I was dressed like a cliché goddess - but really caring about how freezing I was in the costume.

     The sun was shining weakly through the afternoon, winter haze. And, as I walked through came, I could feel my aura glowing - showing the small group of demigods that I was not normal. Whispers spread as I walked past the little groups of children, all eyes on me. 

     It was unnerving really how few there was in number - despite the fact that it was during the school period, I had almost believed no one really went home after the holidays. The empty camp almost screamed the fact that something bigger was going on.

     In the corner of my eyes, I could see people watching me, following me slightly to find out where I was going. "Isn't that....?" I heard a girl whisper to a friend. "That's that one girl who died right? Is she a ghost?!" 

     I rolled my eyes, rubbing my arms that were now dimpled in goosebumps, the cold was getting to me. "Look, Percy!" I heard a boy yell from a few hundred or so feet away, if I was a normal person and not the daughter of Artemis, I would most likely not have heard it. "Isn't that cool?!" He yelled happily. 

     I turned east, in the direction of Nico's voice and strode towards them quickly, as quickly as the free flowing dress would allow. Keeping my dignity, I forced my self to keep walking - not to run. If I ran, it would display my desperation to reach the kid, and would probably freak him out a little.

     Nico turned, swinging on the balcony of the nearest building, and saw me. Once his black eyes met mine, he let go, tumbling roughly down to the ground with a small 'oomph'. "Olive!" He cheered, then turned to Percy who was looking at something in his hands, totally ignoring the kid. "Percy - look, Olive's here."

     To that, Percy's head snapped up towards me, watching me glide over to the both of them. "Olive, what are you doing here?" He forced a smile onto his face, still disappointed that he had been forbidden to go on the quest. 

     "I need to talk with you, Nico." I stated, eyes locked onto Percy's but talking to Nico. Nico lifted his eyes, sifting them between the both of us; a little unsure of what to say, Nico turned towards me and grinned. 

         "About what, Oli?"

     I opened my mouth to say something, then quickly shut it again at my old nickname coming from his mouth. "W-What?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "Uhm, want to walk with me for a second; I'm freezing just standing here." 

     Percy shrugged off his hoodie, leaving himself in a long sleeved thermal. "Here, you must be dying in that." My eyes zeroed in on the jacket, on one hand I really wanted to wear it, yet on the other - if I took the jacket, I would have to find him once again to return it. Percy rose a brow at my hesitation. "It's just a jacket, Olive - it's not going to bite." 

     Smiling a little, I felt my heart melt. "Thanks, Seaweed Brain." I murmured, feeling slightly wrong for using that term when Annabeth was in peril. "I'll return it." Percy only smiled tightly, eyes traveling over what I was wearing, no doubt thinking about how much of an Olympian I looked. I wonder if he blamed himself - he was the one to ship me off to the gods anyway, not that I blamed him. 

    Nico led the way, walking in a crooked line, he would constantly swerve from place to place, his ADHD causing him to jump from one subject to another, talking like a jack rabbit moves. "So!" He finally settled down as I pulled Percy's hoodie over myself, no doubt making me look silly. One does not simply wear a fancy dress with a hoodie. "What's up?"

     Sighing, I rubbed at my face sorely. "Nico - you remember your prophecy, yeah?" I searched his face as he twiddled his fingers, glaring down at his shoes. "Please tell me you do?"

     Nico frowned a little and looked up at me. "Well... yeah. But, I'm afraid I'll forget it."

     "Trust me, Nico - it's very hard to forget the spirits voice, but if you feel doubtful, maybe you could write it down and memorize it. That would make you feel more secure." And make myself more secure in trusting you. "I don't want to freak you out, but that prophecy is really important."

     Nico sighed a little, looking some what wise for an eleven year old. "Yeah, I know. I just don't know how I could possibly be any help to the person I am supposed to find." Neither do I. I shook my head, ashamed of my own thoughts. He was still young - he could be a great warrior yet, I shouldn't give up.

     Grinning a little, I pat his shoulder and he looked up at me. "I'm not giving up on you, so don't give up on yourself. Besides, it's not like you have a choice in the matter. This is your fate - whether you want it or not."

     Nico's eyes widened a little and he frowned. "You're not very good with these kind of things huh?"

     "Does it show?" I sighed, giving him a small smile. I'd actually thought I was doing pretty well for once. Nico chuckled and shook his head, rubbing an olive-toned hand across his nose. 

     "Well... It started off nice. Then it kinda went down hill from there."

     "The main thing you need to do is train - train hard, and you will be a warrior with practice - then you will be able to save the distressing damsel." I rolled my eyes and shoved him slightly, causing him to giggle. "Oh come on, it wasn't that bad." I frowned.  

     "The worst pep talk ever." He grinned devilishly, teasing me.

     I stuck my tongue out at the kid. "Yeah what ever you jerk. You're a mean little boy!" 

     Nico groaned and shook his head with a small pout. "I'm not a little boy, you old lady. How old are you, thirty?" His face was completely stone-faced and serious, but I could tell, by the way his eyes shone manically, that he knew what he was saying.

     "Ha ha. No - I'm actually..." I froze. Furrowing my brow, I debated how old I really was. While technically I had been on the earth for over seventeen years, I had been changed into a goddess right after my sixteenth birthday. "I'm sixteen."

     "How long have you been sixteen?" Nico grinned, wiggling a brow. "A while." I retorted, giving him the same exact challenging look he was giving me. 

     "You know what kid?" I smirked a little, looking down at him as we continued to walk down the Camp paths. Nico glared at the 'kid' bit, but let me go on. "I approve of you."

     "Approve of me?" Nico rose a brow, not understanding my referencing. "What does that mean?"

     Chuckling, I shook my head - he was too young. Penny was fifteen by now - there was no way they would be actually a thing. He was a little boy, and she was a lot older. But, as I thought about all the things the gods had told me about Penny, she was frozen - did that mean she would not age? How long would it be until Nico actually found her? How many years would pass?

     "Nothing, nothing." I smiled down at him as he scrunched up his face in the displeasure of not knowing what I was talking about. "Let's get back to Percy - he is probably freezing without his jacket." It was a warm hoodie. It smelt like pine and sea salt, an interesting aroma that totally made me think of Percy, it was weird how it described him. 

     Nico turned to me as we walked in the opposite direction we had been heading. "So, why does it matter to you?" He explained himself before I could question what he meant. "The prophecy, I mean."

     "Do you really want to know the truth?" I frowned, stopping my walking and causing him to stop as well. Nico nodded his head quickly, grinning excitedly. "You need to promise me that you will not tell any one what I am about to say, Nico."

     Nico frowned and rubbed his hands. "Not even Bianca?"

         "No."

     "Not even Percy?" He frowned, looking into my eyes a little nervously. I realized right then that he would spill the beans some how, and no matter how badly I wanted to tell him, he would no doubt not be able to control himself. 

     Sighing, I leaned down to look into his eyes, resting my palms on his shoulders and digging my gaze deeply into his. "Listen to me, Nico diAngelo." I felt the familiar pull of my persuasion latch out and grab onto Nico's mind. "You must not tell any one what I am about to tell you - not even Percy. You must keep this to yourself until you actually leave to go on the quest. No sooner, do you understand?"

     On a normal occasion, I wouldn't have persisted in telling him - persuasion wasn't something I liked to use, it gave me migraines - but Nico deserved to know. it was his fate, and I should tell him, no matter how pissed off Apollo no doubt is right now.

     Nico's glazed eyes twitched a little as he nodded to my words. "I.. I understand."

         "Now promise me, yes?"

     Nico smiled a little; a hazy, sad smile. "Yes, I promise... promise not to tell any one... not even Percy." He nodded again, mimicking my motions I was making. It was a little sad how easy he was to manipulate.

     "You're going to find my sister. Penelope Smith. She's very important to me."

 Percy's PoV:

     Was Olive mad at me? I wasn't sure. She didn't say hello to me, nor directly talk to me except for taking my hoodie then taking off with Nico. Which, wasn't exactly a bad thing. Nico was starting to get on my nerves, but if Olivia was pissed at me I had no idea why.

     Maybe she blamed me for her turning into a goddess. It was my fault. She'd risked her life for me, she's jumped in front of Luke's dagger - how did one repay someone for that kind of sacrifice? There was no paying her back.

     Sighing, I shivered in the cold and decided to walk down to my Cabin, maybe my mom had some girl advise for me, plus - I really need to talk with her. She didn't know so many things. Once I reached the inside of Poseidon's cabin, I felt my eyes straying towards Tyson's bunk, he was busy working for our Father, but I still missed him. 

     Grabbing a drachma, I tossed it into the fountain my Father had installed for me, and prayed to Iris - asking for her to connect me with my Mother. Channeling through to her, I realized she was with company. Her company was an attractive younger guy. The man stood up, muttering about going to the restroom then disappeared.

     "Mom!" I called out, catching her attention. Swirling around, my Mother's eyes went wide, seeing my face in the middle of her dining room.

     "Percy. what are you doing?"

     I rose a brow, looking towards the man who'd left the room a mere few seconds ago. "I could ask you the same thing." She rolled her eyes a murmured that he was only a friend. Sighing, I told her about my dilemma with Annabeth and the cold shoulder Olive had given me earlier.

     "Well honey, about Olive - she's probably stressed out. You, or I, can't possibly imagine how harshly the gods are treating her right now. I think the best thing you can do, i be there for her. Treat her right, babe. As for Annabeth, I know you care for your friend - and I want you to come home as soon as possible, but I also think you should do anything in your power to help her out. As much as she will most likely not say it, Olive needs you too, she will need your help on the quest, and Annabeth would do the same for you."

         "You're... you are telling me to go?"

     My mother pursed her lips and gave me a small, sad smile. "I'm telling you that... you're getting too old for me to tell you what to do. I'm telling you that I support you - even when you decide to do something dangerous." There was the sound of a toliet flushing and my mom turned back to me. "Look, I trust you Percy - follow your heart. And, I'm sure Olive will come around - I need to go. I love you no matter what, sweetie." And with that, she was gone. 

     The sun was already beginning to set, and despite the fact that I hadn't eaten since lunch, I found I wasn't hungry. Instead, I rested on my bed and fell asleep. Perhaps I would see Olive off in the morning. 

     That night, I had another night terror. It was in the same, dank, dirty cave like place it was before. Annabeth on her knees, being crushed by the heavy gravity she was holding. She looked as if she was going to pass out any time now. 

     Suddenly, Artemis was shoved out into view and her bonds were cut. Artemis looked at Annabeth and quickly yanked the burden away from her, holding it up roughly and pushing Annabeth out of the way of impact. 

     Annabeth sunk down to the ground, unconscious and exhausted. 

 Olive's PoV:

     I'd left Nico at Hermes's cabin after dinner, not being able to find Percy to dump the hectic kid on. No doubt Percy was in his cabin, but something told me when he didn't show up for dinner that he wanted to be alone, maybe he was stressed over Annabeth. I was feeling terrible too.

      Artemis's cabin was like a second moon in the night, glowing like my skin does. There was no moon out tonight for the second night in a row. it made me nervous to think about how messed up the currents must be on Earth right now with Artemis's absence. Hopefully Zeus had everything under control - no doubt the Roman gods were picking up the slack.

     Walking inside, I realized that I was not alone. Packs and hunting knives were set on beds, clothes lay out under the widow. The Hunters were in the house. Listening for any one, I realized that they were currently out, but would no doubt be back soon.

     I claimed a isolated bed with a frown, being sure it was no where near the others and crawled into it -  Percy's hoodie and my dress still on. There was only the sound of crickets and the occasional night owl to lull me to sleep. I couldn't help but think that the last time I was here, I would have been falling asleep to the low pants of Orion as well. Time changes everything.

     The Hunters woke me early in the morning, gathering their things and chatting solemnly. I could distinctly hear Zoë yell at the girls to stop being so loud so I could sleep. I felt it a little ironic. Once they left and the room was quiet once more, I found that I couldn't sleep any more. 

     Yawning, I crawled out of the bed and slipped on the gladiator sandals, I was kind of out of luck when it came to my clothing options. Maybe I still had some clothes in Athena's cabin - or Poseidon's, I would have to check with Percy. Walking into the freezing morning, I walked aimlessly around, not entirely sure of what to do. Helplessly, I decided to make finding real clothes my main goal. 

     "I can't... but you can!" I heard Nico whisper loudly. Raising a brow, I looked around for the little guy and found him hiding behind a pillar, talking with Percy. "You can turn invisible." Smirking a little, I hid behind a sturdy - and convenient - tree to listen in on their conversation.

     Percy furrowed his brow, green eyes flickering around nervously - he didn't want a Hunter to pick up on the conversation they were having. "No, Nico - they don't like boys. If I get caught -"

     "-Then don't get caught!" Nico grinned ecstatically as if his answer solved the whole problem. "Please, for my sister. You need to protect her."

     Percy pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Nico-"

     "-You are planning on going any way?" Nico replied quickly, which slightly took me by surprise. Nico wasn't stupid, he was very self aware for an ADHD little boy. 

     "Well yeah..." Percy sighed in response. "I have to help, I can't just sit around and do nothing about the situation." Nico nodded firmly. "Okay, good. Then - I won't tell on you. But you have to promise to keep Bianca safe."

     My heart dropped into my stomach and I felt myself shaking my head, thinking to myself in hushed tones. Don't promise, Percy. Don't you dare promise that boy. 

     Percy sighed and put a hand on Nico's shoulder with a small frown. "I promise to do the best I can for your sister, Nico."

     Nico grinned and clapped Percy on the shoulder. "Then get going! Go! I'll make something up to Chiron, I'm good at that." Percy smirked a little and turned to the little kid, thankful. "Alright, I'll see you later!" He called then took off down the hill.

     My heart thudded in my chest - it was my turn to leave as well. Hiking up my skirt, I raced towards Nico and wrapped him in a small hug, messing up his hair playfully. "See you around, kid!" Then let him go, taking off after Percy.

         "I'm not a kid!"

 ~~~~~~~~~~

I am so tired I stayed up until *clecks clock* 1:36 am just to finish this for you guys. I hope you like it. Vote and Comment for the insomnia you cause me? It's appreciated...

Love you guys xxJess