Ancient Reicarnation: The First Daughter

XIII. Nico

"No," Nico said. "Like this." He swung her arm with the dagger. "Okay. We can go practice again when it's our time."

"I don't think fighting is my speed... I haven't used a weapon in a long time..." she said hesitantly.

"Well, you're gonna have to relearn unless you wanna get sliced and diced by some monster."

"True. But I'm not any good at this."

"Neither was I."

They sat down on the bench and stayed silent. Athalia broke it. "Do you ever go looking for your sister? You did say she went for rebirth."

"She'd be in the form of some other mortal or half-blood. I'd never find her."

"You don't know that," she replied.

"I do know that."

An Iris message appeared in front of them. "Nico," the voice said. Bianca's. Nico's heart starting racing.

"How-" he began.

"Speak in Italian," Bianca said.

"Athalia," Nico said. "Why don't you go practice a bit?"

"But-"

"Please?" She walked away hesitantly, often looking back.

"How are you here?" Nico questioned. "I thought-"

"Hades gave me another chance months ago."

Nico felt rage boiling up in his system. "Why didn't you tell me?" he yelled.

"I wanted to protect you. Hades said that when the time was right, I'd meet some demigods on a quest. Your friends."

Nico's jaw dropped a bit. "Y-You saw Percy?"

"And many other people," Bianca replied. "And Pandora..." She shrugged. "Hades told me she's a distant cousin, but prefers not telling her."

"So... we're related closely to Pandora?"

"Distantly. In future generations, the di Angelos broke and some of our third cousins married into the Sandera family. Fantastic clan. Both Greek and Roman demigods. Well known for the Civil War and Mexican American War. Lots of wars." She sighed. "The Greek descent started fighting the Roman descent. Split in two again. The Greek part became the Arredondo family after some person's daughter married into it, the part Pandora descended from. Her father moved to the Philippines and married her mom, but he died in a boat accident months later. Then the gods asked her mom if she was willing to have Pandora. She agreed."

"Why did she travel a lot?" Nico asked. He felt like a little kid again. His family was more interesting than he thought.

"Her mother wanted to hide her scent. If they traveled a lot, she'd be harder to track down. She does have the blood of all the gods."

Nico almost said 'Cool!' But then he said what was really on his mind. "Bianca," Nico whispered. "Why? Why didn't you come back to me?"

"Because I love you too much baby brother. And go outside more often. After all that time in the Labyrinth, you've paled. You look like a ghost."

"I almost turned into one," Nico replied.

"What?! Never mind. I'm tired. Bye. I love you. You must tell Chiron about Pandora. He's the one who needs to tell her about her family history. He should know some more." The message disappeared. Nico stood there for awhile until Athalia tapped his shoulder.

"Nico?" she said. "An bhfuil tú ceart go leor?"

"English please," Nico said.

"You're crying."

Nico touched his face to find it wet with tears. He wiped them off. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Athalia said. "Besides, I'm tired and going back to my cabin."

"Where's your cabin?" Nico asked.

"Near Hypnos, I think."

"I'll take you."

He walked her towards the cabin. "I noticed," she said. "That you haven't asked me anything about myself."

"Fine. Do you have siblings?"

"No."

"Then why would you ask me to ask you about yourself?"

"'Cause I've asked questions about you."

"Touché."

They walked in silence for the rest of the time until they got to the Harmonia cabin. "Thanks Nico," Athalia said.

He looked down on her. She was so much shorter than he was, even though they were both fifteen. "You're welcome," he replied.

Then Athalia did something Nico could only dream anyone would do. She stood on her toes to reach Nico's face and cupped her hands around his cheeks before bringing his lips to hers.

Nico's eyes widened, but he didn't recoil. He hadn't any idea that she liked him. Maybe if he had looked closer at the previous days; when she held his hand and placed her head on his shoulder. But... A daughter of Harmonia and a son of Hades? Nico couldn't see any connection there.

Athalia finally broke the kiss. "Bye Nico," she whispered.

"B-Bye," Nico stammered. She went inside, occasionally looking back, until one of her half brothers opened the door and let her in. Nico raced to the Big House to tell Chiron about Pandora.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

"Ah yes," Chiron said. He was sitting in his wheelchair. "Pandora had many relatives come stay here at camp. Infamously known for being part of Pickett's Charge during the battle of Gettysburg. Generations back, her uncle, a child of Hephaestus, embarked on a quest to save Aphrodite as well. Lovely coincidence we have there." Nico didn't think it was very lovely.

"Yes, her family was very well known indeed. Especially on the Roman side. Well, one of her cousins was infamously known for being with that praetor Michael on the trip to Alaska. Died there as well. One of her aunts became a praetor." Nico found that part interesting. "Did you know she is distantly related to you?" Chiron asked.

Nico nodded. "Bianca told me."

"Ah yes, Bianca. Hades told me."

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"To protect you." Nico scowled. "It's almost curfew. You should head back to your cabin. Goodnight Nico."

"Goodnight."

An bhfuil tú ceart go leor?
Are you alright?

Now you can go home and do your research. Pickett's Charge. Gettysburg. JK that would bore you.

Keep reading!

I will NOT be able to update Friday to Tuesday.

Okay bye!

~Erica