~~~A Deep Dark Secret~~~

Chapter 14: Nico

---Chapter 14---

Nico's Pov

          I watched as Jasmine disappeared from view down Half-Blood Hill. I closed my eyes and thought to myself. Jasmine's gone, I thought as tears dripped down my face. What do I do? The mother of the Titans, and Jasmine, is arising again, but I promised Jasmine that I wouldn't tell anyone. But the world is in danger. What do I do? I got up slowly and headed to my cabin. I sat on the steps and looked out at the rest of the cabins. I made a decision and went to the Athena cabin. I knocked on the door and asked, "Is Annabeth there?" A girl with blond curls opened the door. 

          "Hi Nico," she smiled. "You called for me?" I nodded.

          "I need to talk to you, but not here," I said, signaling her to follow me to Fireworks Beach. We reached the beach and I began. "First, you need to promise on the River Stynx that you won't tell anyone of this conversation," I told Annabeth.

          She nodded. "I swear on the River Stynx that I won't tell anyone of this conversation."

          "Good. Now, I have a friend. Um, he left his home to help his aunt, but she's a really bad person. He knows that, but he's still going to help her. He made me swear on the River Stynx not to tell anyone, but I didn't know what else to do. Should I tell Chir- I mean, his parents? Or go after him and try to stop him myself?" I said, slurring a bit. Annabeth seemed to be in deep thought, thinking of an answer.

          "Well, here's what I would not do," Annabeth started in a gentle  voice. "I would not try to make a story similar to the one I'm trying to hide and ask a daughter of Athena for help, hoping that she wouldn't figure out that I were trying to hide a secret about Jasmine," finished Annabeth. I stared at her, dumbfounded.

          "H-how, u-um," I slurred. "How did you know?"

          "Duh, it's so obvious! Jasmine left, and yes, I saw your little scene. I heard something about her going to her mother, which I'm guessing is a goddess. I didn't hear exactly who, but you kept going on and on about not wanting her to leave and join something that evil that can destroy the world. And you need a bit of help trying to decide whether or not to tell someone," stated Annabeth.

          "But I swore on the River Stynx that I wouldn't tell anyone! But now you know-" I was cut off by Annabeth.

          "You didn't tell me, I figured it out," smiled Annabeth. I nodded and realized that I never broke her promise. Thank gods, I thought.

          "What should I do? I don't want to break my promise, but I don't want her mo-" I stopped myself. "Never mind," I mumbled. 

          Annabeth, again, looked like she was deep in thought. "Well, I'm guessing Jasmine's mom is Gaea." I stared at her,shocked.

          "Again, let me explain. She has a ring that's blue and green, and it does, now that I think of it, looks a bit like earth. Jasmine's hair is brown but changes color to either dark as dirt or light brown, still kind of like the earth. Her eyes change colors, yes, but they change into only  grass green, dirt brown, brown, blue sometimes, and even so dark that they look black. Again, a little something that has to deal with earth. But the evidence that makes me 100% sure was when you started sinking into the earth and Jasmine saved you. She told the earth 'Release him' and she controlled the ground," smirked Annabeth. "And I'm right, aren't I?"

          "Don't tell Chiron, please," I whispered. She nodded.

          "I won't. Jasmine's an awesome girl, I wouldn't try to hurt her, don't worry," she said, smiling.

          "Thank you," I said.

          "But, you will need help," Annabeth said. "I'll call the rest of the six and tell them what I have figured out, with a bit of help from you, of course. We need to stop Gaea from rising again. She wasn't suppose to come back that fast. Gaea would need something or someone very powerful to-"

          "Oh no," I groaned, cutting off Annabeth. "She's going to use Jasmine to help her fully rise. Jasmine's related to all the gods and goddesses, except Hades, and she can use all their powers. Why didn't I see it!" I said, putting my head in my hands.

          "It's okay, Nico. We'll get her back. I promise," said Annabeth, reassuringly. "If only we knew where she would arise..."

          "Yeah, that would be helpful. The only place that is truly for Titans, that I know of, is in San-" Annabeth cut me off.

          "Francisco. Mount Tam. That's where Gaea will arise! Out of the gods' reach! We need to get the other six, now," said an eager Annabeth.

          "Okay, well we could Iris-message them. Where are they?" I asked.

          Annabeth thought for a moment. "Percy's here at Camp-" Just then Percy came out of the water.

          "Hey guys," he smiled. "I overheard your little conversation. So, what can I do to help get your girlfriend back?"

          "Shut up, Seaweed Brain. I'm telling Nico where the rest of the six- I mean, five, are," said Annabeth before smacking the back of Percy's head. "Eavesdropper," she mumbled. Annabeth turned back to me. "Anyway, Piper and Jason are here at Camp, Frank and Hazel at Camp Jupiter, and Leo is at Camp Jupiter right now with Reyna."

          "Someone's a stalker," mumbled Percy under his breath.

          "I just know where they are because they all told me so shut it, Seaweed Brain," snapped Annabeth.

          "Alright, Wise Girl," said Percy, wrapping his arms around Annabeth and pulling her into his lap. I looked down at the sand sadly. I miss you, Jasmine, I thought. 

          "Seaweed Brain, cut it out! This is serious!" said Annabeth. Percy just rolled his eyes as Annabeth continued.

          "So we'll Iris-message everyone and start packing. I'll call Piper and Jason. You call Hazel and Frank. Seaweed Brain, don't mess this up, call Leo." Annabeth looked worried with the last one. Percy just smiled evilly, until Annabeth gave him a big smack on the cheek. "Kelp Head, this is not fun and games! Quit it, now!"

          "Okay, okay. Calm down, Wise Girl," said Percy, rolling his eyes, but smiling afterwards.

          "Now that we know what to do, let's get to work," Annabeth said. I nodded and got up. 

          "And we'll all meet at the top of Half-Blood Hill," I instructed. Percy and Annabeth nodded as we all went into our cabins to back a few phone-calls. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There you go!! Chapter 13!!! :D Yay!! The seven are going to be part of the group to stop Gaea, again. Just to clarify this; Jason and Piper are switching back and forth from Camp Half-Blood to Camp Jupiter every month, since they're together and they're both the head of something in each Camp. Hazel and Frank, well they're Roman so they stay at Camp Jupiter and once in a while visit Camp Half-Blood. Leo and Reyna, they're the same with Jason and Piper, but they are at the opposite Camps at opposite times :) I know, confusing, maybe a bit but that's how I thought about what had happened to the seven :D Oh yeah, and Nico did NOT break his promise, Annabeth figured it out! Just wanted to let ya know :)) Kay, so in the next chapter, we'll  see how Jasmine's doing on her way to Mount Tam 0.0 

       Comment, fan, & vote!!!

P.S. Sorry I haven't posted my new MoA!! I'm working on it!! Oh, and since it's April 5...

                H~A~P~P~Y   B~I~R~T~H~D~A~Y   A~V~E~R~Y   F~R~A~N~C~I~S~C~O   <3 

        Read his story on wattpad called 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians the Aftermath' :D