There was a
knock on Percy’s door.
“Come in!”
Percy said.
Leo opened
the door. He was covered in grease stains. “I fixed the lever…”
“It’s about
time.”
“Am I in
trouble?” Leo asked with a nervous look. Percy usually delivered harsh
punishments for that sort of thing.
Percy
sighed. “No. Just be a little quicker next time.”
Leo exhaled
in relief. “Yes sir.” he said with a smile as he walked back out the door.
Percy
shakily got up from his chair. “Come on. I gotta go check on Asa.” he said
walking toward the door.
Annabeth
followed him. “That poor kid…”
“Tell me
about it… His father died a few years ago… He was a demigod.”
“I can’t
imagine…”
“Yeah… I
feel bad for the kid. He’s never really had a real family. Kyle took him in,
but he doesn’t care. I doubt he even knows he’s gone…”
“Or even
worse, he does care. That’s dangerous
Percy. What if he comes back for him?”
Percy shook
his head. “He won’t come back… My friend Grover used to be his best friend. One
day they attacked our ship and Grover got knocked overboard. He can’t swim
because he’s a satyr. Kyle ran back to his ship with the rest of his crew and
they took off. He looked right at Grover, but didn’t bat an eye at his drowning
‘friend’. Grover would’ve died if I
hadn’t saved him…”
“Oh would
you two shut up? I can hear you over there, I’m not deaf!” Asa shouted from
across the deck wiggling against his bonds.
“I’m not
lying about him Asa.”” Percy said. “You shouldn’t trust Kyle.”
“He took me
in when my dad died and he will come
back for me!”
Percy sighed.
Annabeth
looked to the sky. “It’s getting late Percy. He should eat something…”
Percy nodded
and ran to his room. He grabbed an apple from the mini-fridge and ran back. He
held the apple close to Asa. “Here. This’ll at least hold you over until Frank’s
done making dinner.”
Asa scowled
and moved his head away.
“Come on,
you have to eat kid.”
“Not if you
continue treating me like a prisoner!”
“Asa, we
both know I can’t untie you until I can trust you. The last time you snuck onto
my ship the toilet wouldn’t flush for two weeks!”
Asa
chuckled. “That was good…”
Percy rolled
his eyes. “That was disgusting…” He held the apple closer. “Just eat the apple
please?”
Asa spit at
his boots and Percy backed up. “Get away from me!” Asa shouted. “Exorcizamus
te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis
adversarii, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica. Ergo, draco maledicte.
Ecclesiam tuam securi tibi facias liberate servire, te rogamus, audi nos.”
Percy made a
confused face. “Um…”
“Is that an
exorcism?!” Annabeth exclaimed.
Asa scowled
at Percy and repeated the chant.
“Dude, quit
it! All I did was try to give you a freaking apple! I don’t want you to starve
to death!” Percy shouted.
Asa scowled.
Annabeth
sighed. “Just leave him Percy.”
Percy rolled
his eyes and tossed the apple overboard. “Fine, but he’d better not whine when
he’s hungry later…”
_
It had been
about a week now since they had brought Asa onto the ship. Percy, Jason, Frank,
and Leo had all tried to get him to eat something, but he wouldn’t take food
from anyone. Leo and Percy stood over Asa who was sound asleep. “We might have
to force-feed him Leo. He hasn’t eaten anything
all week! I’m worried about him…” Percy said.
“This is
ridiculous! I can’t stop myself from eating every hour, how can he go a full
week?” Leo said in awe.
“I have no
idea… but he’s gotta eat something or he’ll starve to death. He’s gotta be
hungry, I don’t understand why he won’t just eat something…”
Leo
shrugged.
Percy
crouched down and shook Asa a little. “Asa wake up!”
Asa’s eyes
shot open. “What?!”
Leo crouched
with Percy.
“Dude, you
gotta eat something. You’ll die if you don’t…” Percy said holding out a burger.
Asa turned
his head. “No. Go away. I don’t want you to waste your time on a stupid prisoner.”
he said bitterly.
Percy
frowned.
Nico walked
over to them. “Mind if I try something?” he asked.
Percy turned
toward Nico and shrugged. “Be my guest…”
Nico
crouched next to Asa and started untying him.
“Woah, what
are you doing?!” Percy exclaimed.
Asa rubbed
his stick thin wrists. “Thank you…”
Percy, Leo,
and Nico stood.
Nico nodded
at Asa and turned to Percy and Leo. “It’s obvious that he doesn’t want you guys
feeding him. It’s humiliating enough being captured and tied to a mast, but
then being fed by the people who put you there? That’s just mortifying… I
should know.”
Leo looked
to the floor. “Oh…”
Asa stared
up at Nico with a look of admiration.
Percy took a
skeptical look at Asa then looked back to Nico. “Alright… You can let him eat
in the kitchen. I don’t want him going anywhere alone though.”
Nico nodded
and looked down at Asa. “Come on.”
Asa
struggled to his feet and followed Nico.
“Percy, are
you sure about this?” Leo asked.
“Turn on the
alarms just in case.” Percy replied.
Nico paused
and turned back to Percy. “I won’t need them.” he said a little angrily.
“Nico, it’s
just a precaution-“
“He’s ten Percy! And you’ve had him tied up
for over a week!”
Percy put
his hands up. “Okay, calm down! We’ll leave the alarms off! But you know where
to find me if you need to.”
Nico
scowled. “Whatever…”
Percy
started walking away, but he turned. “Oh, and Nico… would you be alright with
keeping him in your room? I don’t like leaving him out here alone.”
“I would be honored.” Nico said defensively.
Percy nodded
and walked back to his room.
Leo ran to
his as well.
“Let’s go.”
Nico said to Asa as he started walking toward the kitchen.
Asa ran
after him with a limp.
Nico turned
and raised an eyebrow. “You okay?”
“Yeah… It’s
just… No one tended to my wounds. My leg hurts a bit… They didn’t care obviously…” Asa replied.
Nico shook
his head. “Percy’s a nice guy… he’s just an idiot. He probably just forgot to
check. Want me to check it out now or after you eat?”
“Whichever…”
“Well, that
depends. How badly does it hurt?”
“I can’t
feel it at all.”
“Then we
should probably get that fixed before you eat.” Asa nodded and Nico lead him
into the infirmary. He patted a chair. “Take a seat.” Asa sat down and Nico
grabbed a first-aid kit from the cabinet. He crouched next to Asa and pressed a
little bit behind his knee. “Can ou feel that?”
“No.”
Nico presses
a spot on his shin. “How about that?”
“Nothing…
Not a normal nothing though, I mean nothing.”
Nico nodded.
He felt around for a moment and pressed hard slightly above the knee.
Asa didn’t
even flinch.
Nico sighed.
“Okay, can you show me how high up you can’t feel anything?”
Asa started
feeling up his leg and stopped mid-thigh. “It just feels stiff. I can put
weight on it, but not much.”
Nico felt
the spot and pressed hard. “You have a broken leg.”
“Wouldn’t I
feel that?”
Nico
shrugged. He took Asa’s hand and moved it to the spot. “Feel there. Can you
feel the sharp point?”
Asa pressed
lightly. “Ew…”
“You need a
cast to keep the bone in place so it can repair itself. If it moves around too
much it’ll get worse.”
“Oh…”
Nico got up
and grabbed two small planks of wood and a roll of bandages. He crouched next
to Asa again. “Hold still while I set the bone. It’s gonna hurt.”
“It will?”
Asa said with a nervous tone.
Nico nodded.
“Yeah… Just squeeze my hand when I count to three and don’t scream.”
Asa
nervously took hold of his hand.
“One… Two…
Three!” Asa squeezed Nico’s hand as he pushed hard on his leg. There was a
sickening crack as the bone snapped
into place.
“F*CK!” Asa
shouted.
Annabeth
watched them from the doorway. “That’s some vulgar language for a little kid.”
Nico glanced
at her. “What are you doing here?” he said as he held the wood to Asa’s leg and
wrapped the bandages around it.
“I just need
a band aid.”
Asa held his
leg and winced. “Ow…”
Nico got up
and handed him an ice pack. “Well, tell that idiot Percy that Asa’s got a
broken leg. I just set the bone, but he couldn’t feel it at all.”
Asa held the
ice pack to his leg and Annabeth’s mouth dropped. “What?”
“His leg is
broken. Percy forgot to check his wounds after the fight. He couldn’t feel it
at all.”
“I can feel
it now.”
“It was
probably a white pain.” Annabeth said.
“What’s
that?” Asa asked.
“Like when
your hand is so cold that it feels hot. It’s when it hurts so much that it’s
numb.” She turned to Nico. “And don’t worry. I’ll tell Percy and he’ll get a
personal a** whooping from me personally.”
Nico
smirked. “Good. We’re going to get something to eat then go to bed.”
“Okay.”
Annabeth walked out of the room. “PERCY!”
Nico and Asa
chuckled. Nico grabbed a piece of metal from the corner and handed it to Asa.
“Here. You can use this as a crutch.”
Asa nodded.
“Thank you…”
Nico nodded
with a small smile. “Come on buddy, you gotta eat something. You’re a twig.”
“I know… I’ll
be fine.”
“You haven’t
eaten in a week and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“My mother
is a goddess and my father was a demigod. I have more immortal blood than you.
I don’t have to eat as much.”
“It’s still
not good for you. If you don’t keep your strength up you could wind up with
more than a broken leg. The more immortal blood, the more vulnerable you are.
Only the gods are immortal. Any less can result in death if you get cocky.”
Asa remained
silent.
“Just trust
me on this one. I once went almost three weeks without eating or sleeping and
when I tried to shadow travel I almost killed myself.”
Asa looked
to the floor then glanced up at Nico. “I am hungry…”
Nico nodded
and helped him get up from his chair. He led him to the kitchen. “I think
there’s leftovers and stuff in the fridge… There’s also stuff in the cabinet.
Help yourself I guess…”
Asa looked
around for about five minutes and he sighed. “I don’t know…”
“…Want me to
ah… make you something?”
“Yeah,
anything.”
“Okay. What
do you like?”
“I’m not
picky.”
Nico looked
in the fridge and pulled out a package of uncooked burgers. “Cheeseburger?”
“Sure.”
Nico turned
on the grill and made a burger in five minutes. “I’m not the best cook, but… here.” he said handing
it to Asa.
Asa took a
bite and quickly scarfed down the whole thing.
Nico
chuckled. “Want another one?”
“Yes
please.”
Nico cooked
up a few more burgers and set them down on Asa’s plate. “Eat a little slower.
You’ll give yourself a stomach ache.”
Asa nodded,
but he only slowed down when he started his third burger.
“And he said
he wasn’t hungry…” Nico mumbled.
Asa gave a
muffled retort with his mouth full.
“What was
that?”
Asa
swallowed. “I said you’re a butt face.”
Nico held up
his bandaged hand. “So are you.”
Asa smiled
and looked at his burger. “You like me though.” he said playing with the bun.
“Well I’m
the one who tacked you and held you down. It’s kinda my fault you’re here.”
Asa
shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“… I know
how it feels… being treated like a prisoner…”
“It’s
annoying is what it is.”
“Yeah… Me
and my friends were prisoners you know.”
Asa looked
up at Nico with curiosity. “Really?”
“Yeah. Percy
actually kidnapped us…”
“…Why don’t
you escape? Why are you fighting for him?”
“Well… he
was a real jerk at first, but since we visited his mom he’s been a lot better…
I think it was something Annabeth said to him.”
“Oh…”
“He stopped
tying us up a few weeks ago. He still locks all of the bedroom doors at night
though.”
Asa pouted.
“Butt face…”
“Hey, at
least he trusts me enough to watch you right? It’s the first time he’s left any
one of us alone with another captive…”
“That’s
nice… He’s still a butt face though.”
Nico
chuckled. “Yeah, a huge butt face.”
They both laughed. Nico stood. “We should get to bed now. It’s late.”
Asa nodded.
“Okay.”
Nico walked
Asa to his room and tried the door. He groaned. “It’s locked.”
“Great…”
“Take my
hand.”
Asa gave
Nico a confused look and held his hand. “Why?”
Nico shadow
traveled them inside the room. “That’s why.”
“Woah…”
“My father
is Hades.”
“Wow…”
“Mmh… You can
take the bed if you want.”
Asa sat down
on the bed. “Thanks.”
“Uh huh.”
Nico said. He sat down in the corner on the opposite side of the room.
Asa tossed
him one of the pillows. “I only need one.” He lay down on the bed. “You can
even sleep here if you want. It’s big enough.” he said scooting over so there
was enough room.
Nico smiled.
“I’m fine over here. Thanks though.”
“Okay…”
Nico shut
off the light. “Night.”
“Night.” Asa
rolled over and fell asleep.
_
“RISE AND
SHINE!” Leo shouted as he kicked open Nico’s door wearing nothing, but a towel
around his waist.
Nico woke
with a start and sat bolt upright drawing his sword. “WHAT HAPPENED?”
“It’s
laundry day.” Leo said holding out the laundry basket. “Annabeth’s orders.”
“I am not taking my clothes off.”
Annabeth walked
in wearing a long towel to cover herself. “Yes you are Nico. Everyone smells
like cheese and dirty socks.”
“Can I at least keep my underwear?!”
“No. Don’t
you have an extra pair?”
“Not really!
Percy didn’t exactly give us time to pack extra clothes. It’s not like I keep
an extra pair in my pocket!”
Annabeth
rolled her eyes. “Just take off your clothes and put on a towel.”
Nico groaned
and started changing.
Annabeth
shook Asa lightly. “Asa…”
Asa groaned
and sat up rubbing his eyes. He looked around. “How come no one’s wearing
clothes?”
“Because
Annabeth’s bossy…” Nico said throwing his clothes in the basket. “Can you hurry
up? This is disturbing and uncomfortable!”
Annabeth
threw a towel at Nico and placed one in Asa’s lap. “It’s laundry day.”
Nico wrapped
the towel around his waist as Asa changed under the covers. Asa handed Annabeth
his clothes and shivered under the covers. Nico rubbed his arms. “Can we at least turn on the heat? It’s freezing in
here!” he said.
Leo pressed
a button on the wall and hot air started to pump through the vents. He and
Annabeth walked out of the room.
_
“Percy!”
Annabeth shouted as she walked into his room.
“What?! I’m
already half-naked in my room, what else do you want?!” Percy replied.
She held up
a pair of Frank’s jeans from the laundry basket. The jeans were tattered and
full of holes. “Seriously, how long has it been?!”
“Since
what?”
“Since you
guys have had new clothes!”
Percy
thought for a moment. “…Uh…”
“Exactly.
You are going to stay here while I buy new clothes for everyone. It’s not okay
to have your crew running around naked or in rags.”
“But-“
“Multiple
outfits. So we can have a regular laundry day.”
“But…”
Annabeth
crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
Percy
sighed. “Leo! Can you set course for the nearest clothing store?”
Leo sighed.
“Aye aye captain.”
Percy
reached in his desk drawer and pulled out a wallet. He handed it to Annabeth.
“Here. There should be enough in there for… whatever you want to buy.”
Annabeth
kissed Percy’s cheek. “Thank you!” she said running toward the door.
Percy
grabbed her shoulder. “Wait!”
Annabeth
turned. “What?”
Percy
glanced down. “I think you’re forgetting something.”
Annabeth
looked down at her towel and blushed. “Oh…”
Percy
chuckled. “I have some clothes that might fit you.” He reached in his drawer
and pulled out a slightly smaller outfit similar to the one in the laundry. He
handed it to Annabeth. “These don’t fit me anymore. They should fit you though.
Sorry they’re a little…”
Annabeth
smiled and took it. She kissed him. “It’s fine Percy. Thank you.”
He smiled
and turned away as she pulled on the clothes.
“I’ll be
back in a little bit.” she said running out the door, off the ship, and into
the store.
_
Asa was
lying on the bed while Nico sat in the corner in silence.
“… I’m
BORED!” Asa said.
“That’s very sad.” Nico replied.
Asa hung off
the bed. “Do something with me.”
“What do you
want to do?”
“Stuff.”
“What do you
want me to do? Summon a skeleton army?”
Asa rolled
his eyes. “What about a puppy?”
“Yeah. Like
I can summon a puppy.”
“I was being
sarcastic, dummy.”
Nico sighed.
“…What about you? Do you have any powers?”
Asa paused
for a moment. “…Other than starving myself, no.”
Nico raised
an eyebrow at Asa. “Really? Your mother’s a goddess and your father’s a demigod
and you don’t have any powers?”
“None.”
“…I think
you do, but you just don’t wanna show me.” Nico said skeptically.
“I don’t okay?”
“Are you
just afraid to show me?”
“I’m not
afraid! I don’t have anything to show
you! Stop asking me!”
Nico sighed.
“Fine…” He stood up and opened the drawer in the desk. He pulled out a hacky
sack. “How about this?”
Asa sat up
and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Sure.”
Nico tossed
the hacky sack to Asa and he hit it back with his elbow. Nico punched it back
to him and Asa caught it. “You lose.”
Nico sighed.
“Whatever…” he said leaning against the wall.
“You’re not
supposed to touch it with hands or feet.”
“I’ve never
played before.”
“Try again.”
Asa said. He threw the sack in the air and hit it to Nico with his knee.
Nico hit it
back with his forehead. “Ow!”
“Wimp.” Asa
said shouldering it back.
“Don’t call
me a wimp.” Nico said hitting it back with his shin.
“Wimp!” Asa
retorted smacking it back with his forehead.
“Oh, it’s on
now!” Nico shouted smacking it back with his elbow.
Asa
shouldered it back again.
The hacky
sack flew at Nico and he accidentally hit it back with his neck. He coughed.
“Ow!”
“How’d you
do that?” Asa said hitting it back with his elbow.
“Accident.”
Nico replied kneeing it back.
“Okay.” Asa
hit it back with his head. “Owww.” he complained in a mocking tone.
“You’re a
punk. You know that?” Nico said shouldering it back.
“I know.”
Asa replied hitting it back with the top of his leg.
Nico rolled
his eyes and hit it back with his foot. “F*ck!”
Asa hit it
with his elbow and caught it in midair. “HA!” he shouted jumping to his feet
and doing a victory dance.
Nico rolled
his eyes and clapped slowly. “Congratulations.”
he said sarcastically.
Asa looked down
at his leg and sat down. “What…?”
Nico raised
an eyebrow. “What?”
“How did…?”
Asa replied moving his broken leg.
“What the…?”
Nico kneeled down and pressed on Asa’s leg where it was broken. “That’s…
impossible…”
Asa poked
his leg and his eyes widened.
“I- your leg
is healed… Did you-how…?!” Nico said with a slightly worried tone.
“I don’t
know.” Asa replied. His tone sounded worried.
Nico gently
took the cast off of his leg. “Can you stand on it?”
“I’m
scared…”
Nico put on
his best confident look. “It’ll be okay…”
Asa shakily
got to his feet. “I’m fine…”
“I don’t
understand… Did you eat some ambrosia or something?”
Asa gave
Nico a confused look. “What’s that?”
“Never mind…
It’s just something that speeds up healing for demigods in small portions.”
“I don’t
know…”
“It has to
be some kind of magic or something…”
There was a
knock at the door and Nico opened it. Annabeth handed him a pile of new neatly
folded clothes.
“Thanks.
I’ve had enough of sitting around in a towel.” He shut the door and handed Asa
some clothes and they both got dressed.
_
“WE HAVE AN
ISSUE PERCY!” Leo screamed as he ran to the deck.
Percy ran
out of his room. “WHAT’S WRONG?”
“I see
another ship!” Leo replied tossing Percy his telescope.
Percy looked
through the telescope. “It’s Kyle! Ready the cannons! Jason, get the lever!”
“On it!”
Jason yelled as he ran to the engine room and flipped the switch preventing
shadow travel.
Percy ran to
the cannons and took aim on the other ship.
“Not the
welcome I was waiting for.” Kyle said from behind.
Percy turned
and drew his sword. “Get off my ship Kyle.” he said threateningly.
“Not without
Asa.”
Asa ran out
of Nico’s room. “NICO, I TOLD YOU HE’D COME BACK!” he yelled.
“Asa, wait!”
Nico shouted running after him.
Asa ran onto
the deck and toward Kyle. “KYLE!”
“Hey buddy…”
Kyle said with a smile hugging him.
Percy
gritted his teeth.
Annabeth ran
out to the deck next to Percy. “What’s he doing here?!”
“He says he came back for Asa…” Percy said.
“What are
you talking about?” Kyle said with a confident smile.
“You don’t
care about him. You don’t care about anyone. The only one you care about is
yourself.” Percy said.
“Leave him
alone…” Asa mumbled.
“You called
Grover your best friend and you left him to die!” Percy shouted.
“He was in
better hands.” Kyle replied.
Asa stepped
forward a little. “I said leave him
alone.” He said in a threatening tone.
“You used to
be my friend Kyle… You betrayed me.” Percy said.
“Enough.” Asa ordered.
“That was
years ago!” Kyle shouted.
“WHY DON’T
YOU TELL HIM KYLE?!” Percy said gesturing to Asa. “TELL HIM HOW YOU BETRAYED
ME!”
Kyle scowled
at Percy. “I COULDN’T-“
“ENOUGH!”
Asa screamed. He waved his arms and every solid object lifted off of the deck
and into the air.
Everyone
took a step back and stared at the floating objects with shocked looks. Except
for Kyle who observed with a crazy grin.
“Leave him
alone!” Asa screamed angrily.
“Atta boy!”
Kyle shouted in approval.
Percy put
his hands out in front of him. “Asa, calm down. We just want to help you…”
“NO!” Asa
screamed. “Now tell me! What did Kyle do that was so terrible?!”
Percy
frowned. “…He was my best friend. He used to be part of my crew. One day… one day he got tired of my orders and tried to
kill my mom.”
Asa scowled.
“You’re lying…”
Percy shook
his head. “Asa, I swear on the River Styx I am not lying to you.”
Asa gave
Kyle an unsure look. “Kyle… you didn’t…”
Kyle
shrugged. “I’m a pirate. What do you expect? I’ve never hurt you. I’ve been nothing, but good to
you.”
Nico
frowned. “Don’t listen to him Asa…”
Asa turned
with a look of fury in his eyes. “He took me in for years! All you did was tie me to a mast and starve me!”
Kyle pulled
out his sword. “You did what?”
Percy took a
small step forward. “Asa-“
Nico stepped
in front of Percy. “Maybe you won’t listen to Percy, but listen to me! He’s
using you Asa. You’re like a pawn to him. Once he’s done with you he’ll throw
you away like garbage. You have to trust me…”
Asa stepped
forward. “YOU DON’T KNOW THAT…!”
“Come on
Asa.” Kyle said. “You’re better than this. So much more powerful…”
“Please Asa!
You have to trust us! At least trust me… I helped you.” Nico said.
“They’re
trying to trick you Asa…” Kyle said. “Don’t listen to them.”
“I know!”
Asa shouted. He waved his hand and a barrel flew into Percy knocking him into
the mast.
“Percy!”
Annabeth shouted running to his side.
“Asa stop!”
Nico shouted.
“NO!” Asa
screamed.
Percy sat up
shakily and mumbled “His dad…”
Asa raised
an eyebrow. “What?”
“Percy, what
are you talking about…?” Annabeth asked helping Percy to his feet.
“Asa’s dad…
Kyle poisoned him…” Percy said.
Asa turned
to Kyle. “What?”
“I don’t
know what he’s talking about Asa.” Kyle said. “He’s lying.”
“He is…” Asa
said, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anything.
“I’m not
lying Asa.” Percy said. “Kyle poisoned your father. He slipped it into his
drink and watched him die.”
“HE’S
LYING!” Kyle shouted defensively.
“Y-you’re
lying…” Asa said. “How would he even know my father? He found me on the
streets…”
“He heard of
your powers Asa.” Percy said. “He needed a way to get to you.”
“I would
never do a thing like that buddy.” Kyle said. “If anyone killed Henry, it was
him. He’s lying to you.”
“Kyle trained
me himself…” Asa said. “He taught me how to use my powers fo- wait…” He turned
to Kyle. “I don’t remember telling you my father’s name…”
“Um…Sure you
did. Remember?” Kyle said nervously.
Nico looked
to Asa. “Don’t listen to him…”
“SHUT UP!”
Asa screamed.
“Asa, listen
to me! He killed your father! Grover was there when he put the poison in his
drink!” Percy shouted.
“They’re
trying to deceive you Asa. Listen to me. They’re trying to turn you against
me.” Kyle said.
“He’s lying
to you Asa!” Nico yelled.
Everyone
continued shouting different things all at once trying to get through to Asa.
He balled
his fists at his sides and the entire ship started to rumble. “BE QUIET!” he
screamed.
Everyone
fell silent.
“You’re all
so stupid… Kyle lies to me, and you all treat me like I killed someone…” Asa
shook his head. “All of you just want to use me…”
“Asa, that’s
not true.” Nico said in a calm tone. “We want to help you. Please come with
us…”
Kyle
scowled. “Asa, don’t go with them.” he said in a threatening tone.
Asa pointed
at Kyle. “YOU KILLED MY FATHER!” he screamed. He waved his hand throwing Kyle
overboard.
“Asa!”
Annabeth shouted.
Kyle flew
back towards Asa. “Okay… I’m done playing Mr. Nice Guy…” He flew at Asa and
grabbed his wrist lifting him high into the air.
“Asa!” Nico
shouted.
“Let go of
me!” Asa shouted as he struggled against Kyle’s grasp.
Nico quickly
turned and ran into the engine room.
“You had a
choice kid!” Kyle shouted. “You chose wrong!”
Asa swung at
Kyle. “How could you?!” he screamed
as tears started to flow down his cheeks.
Kyle
squeezed his wrist tighter. “Like I said! I’m a pirate! Nobody said I have to
be nice! You’re coming with me whether you like it or not!”
In the
engine room, Nico pushed the shadow travel lever into the ‘off’ position and
transported himself to the crow’s nest. He jumped at Kyle. “LET HIM GO!” he
screamed as he landed and clung to his leg.
‘WHAT ARE
YOU DOING? LET GO OF ME!” Kyle screamed.
Asa’s wrist
slipped free of Kyle’s hand and he plummeted toward the water. “HELP!” he
screamed.
“ASA!” Nico
yelled. He let go of Kyle’s leg and fell toward Asa. He grabbed him and shadow
traveled down to the ship breaking their fall on some crates filled with sand.
He took a shaky breath as he stood up. “You alright Asa?”
“N-no…” Asa
replied weakly.
Nico
crouched next to him and there was a loud ‘pow!’ Nico screamed and fell to the
floor.
Kyle slowly
floated down to the deck with a smirk on his face and a gun in his hand.
Asa waved
his hand and Kyle went flying into the water. He held him down until the
splashing and bubbles stopped. Then Asa fell to his knees and sobbed.
Percy and
Annabeth ran to him. Percy checked Nico’s pulse. “…He’s still alive.”
“I’ll take
him to the infirmary…” Annabeth said. She got Leo and together they lifted Nico
and carried him away.
Percy looked
to Asa. “You should come too so we can patch you up.”
“No, I’ll be
fine.” Asa replied.
Percy
touched his leg and showed Asa the blood on his fingers. “I beg to differ. Come
on.”
Asa shoved
Percy. “I’M FINE!”
“…Okay. Are you
gonna be okay?”
“WHY WOULD I
BE?” Asa screamed shoving Percy away again.
“Okay. I’ll
leave you alone.” Percy said calmly. He looked over his shoulder and saw Kyle’s
ship sailing away. “You’re welcome to stay here with us if you want…”
“Do I have
much choice?”
“I know… I
just want you to know you’re welcome here. You’re not a prisoner.” Percy said
as he limped away toward the infirmary.
_
About forty
five minutes later, Nico came back to the deck and sat down next to Asa.
“…I’m
sorry.” Asa said.
“What are
you sorry for?” Nico asked.
“For
doubting you…”
“Asa, you
had every right to doubt me. Kyle’s been there for you for a long time. He was
like an older brother. There’s no reason you should be sorry. I’m not mad.”
“I should
have known…”
“There’s no
way you could’ve known… I know how it feels.”
Asa shook
his head and turned away with a frown.
Nico put a
hand on his shoulder. “I really do. I lost my sister a few months ago…”
“Sorry…”
“Yeah…” Nico
reached into his pocket and pulled out a small square of ambrosia. He held it
out to Asa. “Eat this.”
Asa took it
and looked at it with a confused expression. “What’s this?”
“It’s
ambrosia. You’ll need it to heal your wounds.”
Asa took a
bite. “Weird…”
“Feel
better?”
“A bit… It’s
warm.”
“That’s
fine. Just don’t eat any more than that.” Nico looked up at the moon starting
to rise. “It’s getting late. We should get to bed.”
“Yeah…”
Nico stood
and offered his hand.
Asa took it
and stood up.
They walked
to Nico’s room and opened the door. Inside was a new bunk bed. “What the…?”
Nico said.
Asa
shrugged.
Nico
shrugged as well. “Whatever… Probably Percy.” He climbed to the top bunk.
“Night.”
“Night.” Asa
replied climbing in the bottom bunk falling asleep as soon as his head hit the
pillow.
