Wizarding Royalty

Chapter 29: The Plan

It's official Nico hated demigod dreams. He was hoping for a peaceful night. At least he was pulled from what could have turned into a very bad nightmare. 

Circe stood facing a bald man with snake-like eyes, but despite his appearance, it was clear that she held the power. A thoughtful look was on her face as she contemplated something. 

"You have agents within the Ministry, no?" she asked. 

"I do, my lady," Voldemort replied (At least that's how Percy had described him so that's who Nico assumed he was). 

"Good. It would be a shame if something happened to the Minister and one of your agents took up the position." 

"Perhaps we don't have to go that far. An Imperius Curse combined with your magic should hold him under our command." 

"But it's been so long since I had a pet. I'm sure he would make a fine one. He's certainly pig-headed enough." A smirk crossed Circe's lips as she played with a strand of magic, that gleamed dangerously in the dim light of the room. "Plus, it's more permanent than that attempt at mind control. Eidolons do it so much better. Charmspeak is the only known way to kick them out of a host. That curse you talk about, if I remember right, can be beaten off by simply a strong will." 

Nico did not like the look that crossed the goddess's face or the implications of Circe's words. As a silence fell over the room for a minute Nico took the chance to look around. It was a sparsely furnished room the only light coming from a blazing fire that cast both light and shadows. The floor was made of deep brown wood with a dark emerald green carpet laid over it. On top of it was a simple armchair with a table. Circe and Voldemort stood parallel to the chair but just in front of the fire. 

"But with your contribution, it would be stronger than ever. You are a strong and powerful sorceress, my lady. It would take much more than a simple strong will to break through it. Perhaps something that not even Dumbledore would be able to break," Voldemort said eventually, choosing his words carefully. 

Circe considered what he said. "Fine. It would be less noticeable. Prepare the spell. I will contribute to the spell when the time comes. You better be telling the truth that it will not be as easily broken..." The threat was left unsaid, but clearly there. 

Nico was back in his bed as the dream drew to a close and buried his face in his pillow trying not to dwell on what was happening soon. Even though the government was clearly corrupt and Nico knew that from Harry's hearing. Where he had been accused despite the circumstances around both the first and second instances. Honesty, who doesn't look deep enough to realize that the second instance was performed under life-or-death circumstances? 

~~~

Percy was pulled from a nightmare. 

Annabeth's pleas as he controlled the poison around Akhlys and almost killed her with her poison. The arai as curse upon curse was laid on him as more were struck down. He watched Bob and Damesan sacrifice themselves for Percy and Annabeth so they could escape. He felt the guilt that came with Annabeth's pleas and Bob and Damesan's deaths. He felt fear and helplessness as they tried to survive but killing the arai before the monsters killed them only made it harder due to the curses. 

Percy was pulled from his nightmare into another dream. This was different and arguably better than his previous dream (though not by much). 

The room was lavishly decorated, looking to be more of a living area than anything else. Green and silver were dotted around the room. On one wall was a Slytherin banner. In the middle of the room, people were sitting around a table, one man older than the rest had his feet propped up on a velvet pouffe. He held a glass of wine in one hand as he rummaged through a box with the other.