Empty promises

Chapter 5

                          Nico pov

I walk through the barrier. It's around sunset.I did have some trouble getting around that oversized lizard but, i managed. Hazel had been uncharacteristically quite, I decided to talk to her, but I didn't want Annabeth to worry. Gods know she has enough going on without hazel's emotional state. I fell a few steps behind Annabeth, and grabbed hazel's hand to make sure she stayed at my pace, with Annabeth about 3 feet ahead, I wasn't sure she could hear us, but just in case I decided to resort to my native tongue. "Haze, che cosa c'é?"(what's up)I asked. Hazel tried to learn Italian for me. I told her it wasn't necessary. Sometimes my dear sister is too nice for her own good. She took a minute to process what I said, and responded "um, Niente perchè?"(nothing why?).  " Sei stato davvero tranquillo ultimamente, cosa ne hai in mente?" (you've been really quite lately, what's on your mind?) she sighed out of frustration. "Can we just talk in English? Italian is hard!". "Sì." I grinned. She shot me an irritated glare. "You're mean!" She whined. I smiled. "Hazel, really, whats the matter?" She scrunched up her face and started fidgeting with her hair. "I don't know. I don't think I shoulda left frank. Being Praetor is really stressing him out and now he has to worry about me on this quest? I don't know..." she worried. I moved a stray golden lock from her face. "Hey hey hey," I soothed. "Frank's a big boy, he'll be fine." I ran my hand down her hair and rested it on her shoulder, and gave it a light squeeze. "We'll be fine. Kk?" She smiled sadly. "Kk." I coughed lightly and then grinned. We caught up to Annabeth, which wasn't hard it took like 5 steps. She turned to me. "Ya know, I've been thinking, Pluto isn't a planet, which is ironic, because neither Pluto or Hades is an Olympian god. My and Hazel looked at each other, looked back at Annabeth, and said in unison "Viva la Pluto, fuck you." there was a dead silence, then the sounds of laughter echoed through the dusk.

Annabeth was kneeling in the middle of a clearing, trying to start a fire, me and hazel were trying to find sticks or branches to make a makeshift tent in, so we would have cover if it rained. Annabeth got a spark, and scurried to put paper and dead leaves in its path to the ground. There was a small fire. She kept trying to make it grow. I walked over, and commented "you know, I have a match box, right?" She looked at me dumbfounded. "You couldn't have told me this 10 minutes ago?" She replied indignantly. I shrugged "you didn't ask." And tossed her a match. She struck it on a nearby stone and threw it in ghetto fire pit. She stood and dusted off her knees. "Did you guys find the branches?" She asked. I answered "Yeah, but you need to put them together. We tried and we broke one and Haze got a splinter." Hazel was sucking on the finger point which had the splinter in it, and nodded. Annabeth sighed and shook her head. She continued to build the best tent that could be made with 3 old tree branches and a broken one. It was barley enough for all 3 of us to fit, but (un)luckily for (me) us,  Hazel had no problem with physical contact. And, curled up to me so Annabeth would have more room. Normally, I wouldn't care. But it's already a summer night in August. I don't need my sister's hair in my face while I'm trying to breathe in the already hot air. I flipped on my side making hazel throw her arm around my waist. "Great" I whispered to myself. My last thought wandered to that promise I made Percy. And how it rang, some sort of bell. Whatever it was, it's probably buried deep by my mind in order to escape painful memories, I wasn't one to dig. So I left it alone. But I couldn't help but feel something.

I woke up with a sister tangled around me and a blonde jabbing me in the ribs telling me to rise from the dead. "Ngh," I moaned. I swatted at her. "Goway" I slurred. And turned over. I herd a huff from Annabeth. Suddenly I was being lifted off the ground by two strong hands. "How the hades can you even pick me up?" I cursed. "I lifted the sky. You're a skinny emo kid." She joked. I frowned and woke hazel. She was much more of a morning person then I was, so it was rather easy. The first thing out of her mouth was "Holy Juno I'm starved!" She tilted her head. "Whas' for breakfast?" She asked. I looked at Annabeth expectedly. Annabeth sighed.  "Well, we have a box of granola bars and there is grass." She said, annoyed. I tapped my chin. "I'm not a big fan of grass," I turned to hazel, "are you?" I asked. She shook her head. I turned back to Annabeth. "Looks like we're having granola bars, spider breath." She looked more offended that necessary. She shook her head. "Whatever you say Jack Skellington." I put my hand on my heart. "Wow. That's just mean." Hazel giggled and Annabeth ripped open the box of granola.

Crunch.
"We need to move."
Annabeth's eyes were cautious. I tried to stand nut Annabeth pulled me down." Ok you understand whatever is out there already knows we are here." I said. "I know that." Hissed Annabeth. "But we don't need to let them know exactly where we are." Hazel jabbed up both in the ribs. "How about we leave instead of sitting here arguing like idiots." She scorned. Annabeth nodded and we slowly stalked off toward the surrounding tree line. Once we managed to get through the thicket we stood. We were covered well by the foliage of the forest. But I had this feeling of being watched. Without warning, it was on us. It was a cyclops. "Of course" i hissed. Annabeth drew her dagger as the cyclops made a grab at her. She slashed at the creature and successfully cut off a Finger. The cyclops bellowed in pain and it closed it's 4 fingered fist. Hazel had been sneaking up behind it and I was already about to stab it in the side. It knocked me aside and grabbed hazel by the leg and lifted her off the ground. Annabeth ran low to the ground and stabbed up, stabbing the creature in the stomach. It disintegrated into dust and hazel, who's leg was twisted at a weird angle, lay in the ground. I ran to her. "You just had to sprain your knee." She scolded. Hazel looked indignantly at Annabeth. "Well, I'm sorry for battle wounds. I mean you got stabbed for Percy once." She mumbled childishly. Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Annabeth, you should keep watch, and give me the ambrosia, she needs it." I commanded. Annabeth scrunched her face and stood in a huff. She gave me the ambrosia and stalked off. Hazel turned her head to me. "She seems different lately." She observed. My eyes darkened and I could feel my heart sink. Hazel realized her mistake and pressed her lips together. No one spoke, the only sound was leaves being blown in the wind. I gingerly fed hazel ambrosia. I took a blanket out of my backpack, and I put it under her head. She tried to protest but I instigated she sleep. She was out in a few seconds. I kissed her forehead. I shuffled over to Annabeth's side. We looked at the wood and the stars. "What was it like for you?" She said, not looking at me. "Mortals see the world with the most. But the world without it is worse, right? More deadly." I asked. Annabeth slowly nodded her head. "Now imagine you saw Tartarus with it's own version of the mist. And imagine you went alone." I murmured. Annabeth shivered. She put her hand on my shoulder. I looked up at the stars. And had one thought. "How many stars up there used to be people?"