Hey y'all. Okay guys, I totally understand if after this chapter y'all decide to stop reading this. I had this crazy idea that refused to go away so I wrote it out. I was inspired by an anime named Owari no Seraph. So be warned. This chapter is crazy & probably better explained as the story progresses. Thanks for listening. Enjoy!
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|Nico|
Nico groaned, feeling sore and tired all over.
"So you're finally awake." "Well awake in your mind is better said."
The boy snapped up at the feminine voice, wary. A taunting laugh filled his ears instead; it had a tint of exhausted cheer, and disguised bitterness.
"Boo."
"Nnnnggghhh!"
Stumbling back, Nico eyed the... monster?... in front of him.
She was laughing hysterically now; "she" had mocking blood red eyes and full lips curled back to reveal a fanged sneer.
Flushing in embarrassment, Nico quickly tried to feel for his sword but found that it was gone; The brown eyed Demi-God grimaced. He would have to fend off this vampire like creature with bare hands. Nico stood up from the white ground.
Wait... White ground? The son of Hades noticed that he and the vampire (?) were stuck in a picture of pure white.
Unarmed and stuck in an unknown territory. Welp, wasn't he damed.
The monster's bubbly giggles died down. At the silence, Nico snapped his head back at the creature, ready for anything unexpected.
The female crossed her arms which were covered up to her elbows in black fingerless gloves, smirking. "Lookie here kiddo, we're going to do this either the easy way or the hard way." She paused, her devilish eyes burning into his. "Don't be sacred. Heh. Heh."
Nico instantly disliked her personality.
"Who are you?" Nico hissed.
"Does it really matter Nico-boy?"
"Tsk."
She shook her head and wagged her finger at him, her dark lilac hair bouncing in waves. "Adittude."
This monster was dancing on his nerves– she was playing with fire and Nico couldn't wait to see her burned. She was the perfect example of why Nico generally disliked people. People always played around and choked up his style and person; they always tried to change everything to their view of "acceptable" and to fit in their "society".
"Who are you?" He repeated.
"If you really must know," She handed him a coy grin that was anything but innocent. "I'm Lau Mori: Your personal demon, ready to posses you at minutes notice."
Nico blinked once.
Nico blinked twice.
...
She was still there, hugging her sides in amusement.
Why wasn't she fading? This obviously had to be part of his imagination. Nothing like this could happen in real life- this was the sort of things story tellers crafted in their books. How could she... Nico felt dread fill him. The irony.
Demigods weren't supposed to exist either; they were the thing of myths. Yet here Nico was, alive and breathing.
There had to be a rational explanation for this: maybe he was going insane after all. Nico took his fingers to pinch himself. Maybe he really was messed up in the mind like everyone whispered behind his back- maybe he really was the crazy monster here. Who was he kidding? Of course he was.
"Hey!" "Don't do that! You'll wake up and- ugh- I'm not done yet!" Lau Mori lunged forward, whinny, and Nico dodged her while frowning.
"Not done what? Making me doubt the little sanity I have left!"
Lau Mori stopped, a Cheshire like grin on her lips. "I knew I picked well~"
Nico bristled, tense. "What do you want?"
Lau Mori snorted, giving him a look that screamed "are you serious right now?".
"Uhhh, lemme think. Maybe, considering I'm a demon, to posses you and take over your body and soul." Lau Mori sighed, frustrated.
The lilac haired demon lunged forward again but Nico didn't move this time. He couldn't move. Something was restraining him and making it impossible to move. Well, if the shock hadn't immobilized him already. He didn't even know what was going on anymore.
Lau Mori wasn't smiling anymore as she placed a small hand on his chest, right over his heart. "I don't get it." Her face was dark, angry.
Nico swore this demon was bipolar.
Nico scowled even more– he was not expecting this when Will and him were sent to London. Of course the gods had so conveniently overlooked this small detail. He didn't even understand this detail at all.
He tried to move his arms again, wanting to push off this pest. Nico held back a sudden gasp, his body felt like it was on flames and dipped in icy water at the same time. The fire lapped at him hungrily, scorching its way through the flesh. The ice nawed at his veins, sending spasms of raw, new pain skittering through him.
Nico thought that had been the worst of it. The physical pain and confusion.
Of course, when it came to Nico, no matter how bad, anything could find a way to get worse.
He heard it again. The truths he had burned into his mind long ago. Nico felt pathetic all over again.
"What a freak."
"Ugh, son of Hades."
"Creep."
"Who would want to be friends with him."
"You don't belong anywhere."
"I'm so sorry Nico, but Bianca..."
"It should have been you, not Bianca."
"I have a crush on Percy Jackson."
Nico felt his heart break over and over again. All he could see was black. It hurt, he grimaced, it hurt more than any stab. Nico hated himself. Hated himself so much. He was worthless, he could now remember. How could he have forgotten he wasn't wanted anywhere? That he was the revolting, creepy son of Hades? How could have he had allowed himself to think he had a place in Camp Half-Blood? How stupid...
"See~" Lau Mori was all over now. Her sickly sweet scent, her sinister voice, her frozen hands, her beautifully ugly smile and her cackling auburn eyes. "All that suffering. It should be disgustingly easy to posses you–"
She stopped, frowning.
"Then why is it so hard?"
"What's stopping you from giving up?"
Then it stopped. Like it was all a dream.
Pure silence and Nico could see white. It was oddly calming and blissful.
Lau Mori was right. Why didn't he just give up? Die. Die here and now.
But then it all came rushing back, clear as day.
Hazel's golden eyes sparkling as her lips read "I love you"
Bianca hugging him and her angelic voice
Annabeth's sincere smile after he had confessed having had a crush on Percy
Jason's constant thoughtful gestures and his friendliness.
Reyna's fierce eyes and the warmth of her support.
And finally, Will's beautiful blue eyes as he sheepishly smiled at Nico from across the infirmary.
All the fond memories cradled him and pure peace kissed his hurt away. It rubbed soothing circles on his back and it hugged him with joyful warmth.
Nico smiled. This world could be lovely too, he realized.
Then nothing but white.
°°°
Nico thought there wasn't anything more stressing and horrible than a demon throwing a hissy fit like a spoiled 5 year old.
No, correction, he didn't think, he knew.
Ugh, all Nico wanted to do was wake up and go back to Will and his lovely smiles.
Wait... HUH?!
Nico blushed red, covering his mouth with his hand. Oh no. Oh hell no. That sounded so forward and gushy in his head. No no no! Nico did not have a crush on the son of Apollo! How could he? How could he think of Will... Nico gulped, eyes darting all over the place as he grew jittery, lost in embarrassing thoughts of cute Will Solaces.
Well... maybe he had a small crush. Maybe.
A certain longing entered Nico and his heart filled with raw determination. Sheer will power.
What was he doing just sitting here? Listening to a petty demon throw a tantrum over not being able to posses him?
Nico wanted to go back. He wanted to go back so badly. Nico wanted to go back to Will and pretend he didn't like his pointless fussing. He wanted to get this dumb quest over with and get back home to Hazel and Reyna.
Home...
Determined, Nico stood up and tore his gaze away from the crying Lau Mori.
As if she had sensed his movement, Lau Mori turned her head towards him, scowling.
"What are you doing?" She narrowed her eyes, sniffling.
"Waking up and finishing this quest."
Nico raised his fingers to pinch his fore arm before a pair of words halted him.
"Stop pretending."
What?
"Look I know, I know I told Chiron and that wine guy that you'd lose your memory but we both know that's not true."
A chill passed Nico as his trembling hands only brushed his arm. Nico felt blind; immobilized.He was in the dark and Lau Mori held the only light.
Nico felt like calling out for help–
For the first time, Nico wanted someone at his side.
For the first time, Nico didn't want to be alone. He didn't want to be alone with this demon.
More specifically, he wanted Will.
So very much.
Nico looked away, "What do you mean?"
Lau Mori scoffed, "You even act with me." "Alright then Nico, play that game with me. Go wake up and complete your oh so noble quest."
The demon was bitter yet her eyes softened. "But I'll tell you one thing Nico."
"Those gods of yours— they're worse than mine. They push all their troubles to their children and then if you fail, they still punish you." She shook her head. "Look Nico. I'm not like those gods and I won't be, no matter what my family is like."
Lau Mori pointed at finger at Nico, smiling with cruelty. "I will posses you Nico! I don't care when, I don't care how, but I will! I won't hurt you or kill you–"
She paused, her sick smile growing more wild.
"Atleast not physically."
She laughed, twirling on her toes.
"So watch out Nico di'Angelo! While your busy running away from life, I'll make sure to reel you back into my arms!"
"After all, what use is a dead demigod to me."