Through the Burning Fires of Hell // A Nico Di Angelo Fanfiction (On Hold)

Chapter 6

Nico

There was a cave. That, Nico had been expecting. What he wasn't expecting were the plants and trees that sprouted out from the seemingly dead soil. 

Nightshade, oleander, foxglove, wisteria, lilies, daffodils, hydrangeas, and azalea blossomed along the rocky cliff and, from what he could see in the dark cave, also lined the cave walls. Cedar, ash, pine, and silver birches also littered the cliff, leading into a dense canopy beside the cave entrance. 

A freaking forest was growing here, on the top of a cliff, in Tartarus. 

Granted, all the flowers were highly poisonous, but it still amazed him that such life could exist here in Tartarus. 

"How did you. . . " Nico's voice trailed off. 

Raven smiled a true, genuine smile that lit up her face. "I have some power over the earth." She wiggled her fingers and the rock beneath her feet rose a foot. "And..." she hesitated before saying, "someone told me that I need more life in my life."

Oh? Nico stared at her. She'd met another person? Nico was about to inquire after the bone she'd tossed her way when he looked at her face. It was as emotionless as ever, but that was pain and agony, the dying, aching kind, swimming in her beautiful golden eyes.

"So, is it just, like, a cave?" Nico asked, changing the topic. He walked down the rocky path that led to the cave entrance.

"No. I mean, yes, but no," Raven replied quietly, following him. 

Nico stepped into the cave. "Are there lights or something?"

Raven laughed. "Of course. Not everyone can see in the dark." She flicked her fingers and lights ignited along the cave walls in lamps. 

"That's-what is that?" Nico asked, peering at the lamps.

Raven smiled grimly. "Pure energy."

Nico gaped at her. Pure energy? How in Hades was that even possible? Her mother and father are both primordial gods, he reminded himself. 

"It's a cave system," Raven called, her voice echoing through the stone. "I created it. There's the central room- the one you're in now- a library, two bedrooms, and another chamber for eating and stuff."

A library, huh. Trapped in Tartarus, yet she has a library. This girl needs to meet Annabeth, he thought to himself, shaking his head. Immediately, his thoughts sprung to him. Nico shoved it back down. 

"How did you get all this?" he asked, joining Raven in the mess room. 

"Uh," she started. "Borrowing?"

Nico sighed. Of course. Borrowing. Then again, he couldn't imagine Nyx giving her daughter an allowance. 

Raven raised her arm and a section of the wall disappeared, revealing a black and purplish box. "Don't," Raven warned as Nico examined it. "It's colder than Khione's coldest ice."

Gods, that was cold. Nico drew back. "Is that a fridge?"

Raven sighed. "If that's what you want to call it." She reached into the fridge and drew out a chunk of ice. Upon closer inspection, Nico realized that it was a frozen meal on an even more frozen plate.  

Raven held a hand over it and the strange purple-black fire formed at her fingertips, melting away the colder-than-Khione's ice, which was drawn into her other hand. 

"Here's your food," Raven announced. "A sandwich. You're not vegetarian, are you?"

Nico shook his head. "Thanks."