The Violin That Started it Again

Part 4) Chapter Twenty-Five

I probably felt as happy as Percy was in the beginning of this chapter now that I'm home and away from all of those pesky cockroaches and mosquitos living insde my grandma's house. Bugs are literally my biggest fear...

Well, now that I'm home sweet home and I don't know what else to do to settle my satisfaction, here's a new chapter. School is coming around for me, and even though it doesn't make sense, I'll most likely be updating more now!

After I fill in the plot holes from the first book and Nico's and Percy's relationship stabilizes, this story will be officially over. Tears... Tears...

...

Percy Jackson

You had no idea how happy I felt.

I felt as if everyone around me was now nonexistent except for the beautiful, dark angel that I held in my arms. I felt as if I were flying through the night with the city lights shimmering underneath me as the cool breeze ran through my hair and clothes, blowing every kind of worry that existed away.

Gods, I had never felt better. Even getting an A on a test for an unintelligent being like me was nothing compared to the ecstacy I felt now.

Someone cleared their throat and my temporary, happiness-filled fantasy shattered and I was suddenly brought back to the real world. Right, other people existed. Unnecessary people that is.

Nico and I immediately broke apart at the sound of the third party. We both whipped out heads toward the voice, and, like I said, it was an unnecessary person.

"So, you're Nico di Angelo?" My dad hummed curiously.

Nico narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him and nodded slowly. "How do you know that?"

My dad smiled knowingly. It kind of freaked me out.

"I happen to know your father very well," he answered, the freaky smile staying intact.

Nico's expression darkened considerably. "Oh really?" He scoffed.

My dad nodded. "It seems that you've already had quite the developing relationship with my son, hm?"

My face heated up instantly, and I didn't even want to bother looking at Nico's. It would probably just embarrass me more.

"Why do you care?" Nico snapped, finally irritated by my dad's sudden interrogation. "Who are you anyway? Are you Percy's father or something?"

My dad grinned. "I am. Good guess." He cleared his throat. "I'll just get straight to the point then. After I treat you to someplace of course." His gaze flickered over to Tyson. "Where do you want to eat?"

Tyson was currently cowering in fear behind Nico. He probably missed him this whole time so he went to go see Nico first before anything.

"A-Anywhere is fine," Tyson stuttered from the nervousness that came from everyone's eyes on him.

Nico turned toward Tyson--he didn't even have to bend down to be eye level with him, and I couldn't tell if it was because Nico was short or Tyson was just talk--and smiled sincerely. "Where do you want to go Tyson? Your father's willing to take you anyway, so take that advantage instead of letting someone else ruin your chance and pick something you don't want, okay?" He said in a soft tone.

When the fuck did Nico get so good with children? Was it because he just got along with Tyson or something?

Tyson nodded slowly, pondering the offer for a little while, before finally parting his lips and speaking in a quiet voice: "Can we get pretzels?"

I don't know how exactly my dad heard him, but he nodded. "Alright, Tyson, let's go." He turned on his heels and marched off without even bothering to check if we were trailing behind him.

I grasped Nico's hand tightly, squeezing it comfortingly. "What do you think he's going to talk about?"

Nico shrugged, not taking his eyes off the back of Poseidon. "I don't know. He brought up my father, so maybe he'll talk about him?"

I only shrugged back in response. "Lets go before we lose him."

I pulled lightly on Nico's hand to direct him, and Tyson followed right behind us. That was, until Nico suddenly paused in his tracks. I stopped abruptly as well, staring at him with a curious expression across my face.

"What is it?" I questioned him.

Nico turned around, tugging on my hand. "I left Annabeth and Silena back there."

I smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

As if it were on cue in some movie or something, Annabeth and Silena exited the coffee shop. Annabeth waved her hand with a smile, indicating that it was okay to go without them. Silena smiled apologetically while mouthing, "Sorry."

I only smiled and nodded in return. I wasn't exactly mad at Silena anymore. I mean, if I hadn't caught her kissing Nico--never thinking of that ever again; it only fueled my jealousy and anger--then I would've never talked to Nico. In fact, if the anger-fueling event never happened, I probably would've tried to avoid Nico at all costs. I just really wanted to ask Silena when in the world did she start to like Nico.

Nico sighed in relief. He glanced at me and squeezed my hand, and I took that as a sign that he was ready to go and followed after my dad.

"Alright. Let's go then," I stated, walking in the direction my dad went in along with Nico and Tyson.

...

Nico almost choked on his soda. I think the soda fell out of my mouth since my mouth was wide open. Tyson was just chewing on his pretzel, looking as perplexed as ever. I was guessing he had no idea as to what was even happening.

My eyes were at the maximum wideness as I stuttered, "W-What?"

I patted Nico's back until he stopped coughing up soda. He muttered a quick thank you before regaining his composure as best as he could. Considering the news that Poseidon just threw at us once we got our pretzels and beverages, Nico couldn't quite regain his composure very well. I couldn't blame him though; neither could I.

"You're kidding," Nico accused breathlessly. "That... That's impossible. The guys that came to Percy's house said--"

"I had hired them to hide the truth from you," my dad replied calmly as if the news he shared with us wasn't as alarming as it should be.

"Why?!" Nico suddenly yelled, surprising us. "He may have been the worst father in the entire universe, but I deserve to know what happened to him! A fucking car crash?" He scoffed, leaning back into the chair. "What bullshit," he muttered more to himself than the rest of us at the table. Nico's shoulders were tensed as he crossed his arms across his chest, and from the excess amount of curse words in front of my little brother and from his tone of voice, Nico was pissed.

Poseidon sighed quietly, hoping Nico didn't notice. "Nico, I had truly thought--"

"That you had good intentions for me," Nico finished with disbelief lacing his voice. "Well that's shit."

"I just thought you would have handled it better if you knew he passed away during a car crash," my dad put in quickly before Nico could say anymore.

"My mother and sister died in a car accident. What makes you fucking think I'd handle that better?!" Nico growled. He took deep breaths to calm himself. "I mean, I know I wasn't sad over my father's death after everything he did to me after my mother and sister. I found it ironic that he died in a car accident as well." Nico shut his eyes. "Why did I even believe you? My father never left the house after the accident. How would the asshole even die in a motherfucking crash of he doesn't leave the god damn house?" Nico gritted his teeth in aggravation. "How could I be any more stupid?"

It was silent at our table for quite awhile. The tension was pratically suffocating me. I decided to put an arm around Nico's shoulders to ease the tension in them, and he glanced at me and put a small smile on his lips. I could tell he was thinking of other things in his mind though.

Like how my dad just told us that Nico's dad didn't die in a fucking car crash.

My dad beat him to death.