The Ghosts of Millennia

Bianca the Bathroom Hog

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Hermione's suspicious of Cho. Nico, Lou Ellen, and Thalia search for the Artifacts of Thanatos. Percy, Will, Blaise, and Hestia are captured by Persephone.

BEGINNING NOTES

Chapter Rating: General Audiences
Content Warning: Cursing, Graphic Depictions of Violence
Word Count: 4364

And all the characters are owned by J.K. Rowling, or Rick Riordan.

Credits at the end.

____________________NICO____________________

The Lotus terrified Nico.

There were moments when he felt blissful, at peace. He knew it was the Lotus's doing, but he couldn't help it. This was a part of his past, one of the few good parts of his past. That was the thing about addictions. No matter how bad the consequences, a part of you always remembers the high fondly. He should know--his self-harm wasn't all that different than turning to drugs or drink. Same dependence, and almost impossible to stop.

But when those good moments passed, fear settled in again. What if Hestia's blessing didn't work, and he walked outside to find the world in ruins, and another seventy years had gone by? What if he lost his parents again, his sister again, his brother? Or, what if he gave into the hotel and stayed forever? He'd never make Alabaster's death mean something, nor tell his father how sorry he was. He'd never see Will or any of his friends ever again, but he wouldn't even care.

He stood in that elevator where "Andrew Devin" wished him farewell, and rode to the fiftieth floor. Lou and Thalia followed him to room 5020. Nico rested his hand on the doorknob, filled with trepidation.

You can do this.

He took a deep breath and opened the door.

The room was the size of his villa's library back home. It had two king-sized beds separated by a nightstand still piled high with Nico's comic books. A large door to Nico's left led to his/her bathrooms and closets. To his right was a plasma TV filled with console video games, a lounge area, and a fridge and pantry filled with snacks. Another door led to the balcony and hot tub.

Just for a second, when Nico's eyes grazed the bookshelf filled to the brim with Bianca's mystery novels, he saw his sister in a 1940's dress thumbing through the Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes. Bianca looked up at him and laughed; the pleasant noise echoed through the room.

Nico closed his eyes tight and rubbed his temples. When he opened his eyes, his sister was gone.

Nico dashed into the closet before Lou or Thalia could ask any questions. His shoulder wound was too healed to reopen without his sword (which he'd accidentally left in the main room), so Nico dug his nails into his arm as he cried. He didn't bleed, but he did bruise, which was enough to dull the pain. Guilt washed over him. That was the third time he'd given in after months without cutting. What was happening to him?

He threw on a new black shirt and black jeans, put his aviator's jacket and sword belt back on, and rejoined Lou and Thalia. "Let's go," he said, more confident than he felt.

Nico made sure to grab his sword on his way out.

"Where are we going?" Thalia asked as Nico led them down the hallway.

"Basement," Nico said, "we weren't allowed down there, which means that's probably the Lotus Eaters' base of operations. If I were Persephone, I'd put it in the heart of the hotel with those monsters to protect it."