Chapter 10: The Battle

Nico almost caught Ciaran by surprise. But, at the last minute, the guy raised his sword, deflecting it. They pushed against each other, trying to keep the swords away from their skin. Imperial gold was deadly to a demigod. Celestial bronze could kill monsters and demigods. But Stygian Iron? It could harm and kill monsters, mortals, demigods, and even immortals. So, maybe, just maybe, his blade was stronger than Ciarans. "You know what I am mostly called?" Nico pushed his sword forward, only achieving in getting the other boy to back up a step. "The Dark Prince!" As if on cue, a pair of wings grew from the males back, and once they stopped, Nico made a connection. His wings were made of darkness, just like Nyx's. So that meant Eris was a child of Nyx. And Ciaran was Nyx's grandson. In other words, yes, he would be almost impossible to beat, depending on the powers he had inherited. "They call me The Dark Prince because I can manuplitate shadows, like you." Nico smirked. He knew one rule of battle: Never tell your enemy your strength. They could twist it and use it as an advantage. He kicked the guy in the crotch, a move from Megs handbook, and was about to knock him out when Mrs. O'leary came back from who knows where, causing the ground to shake as she ran, setting him off balance. And he barely had time to move his sword so that it blocked Ciarans, an inch from his face. "One cut, Nico, is all it'll take. Surrender now or I'll have to let my friend take care of you." He grunted from the strain and effort. If he could just concentrate, he could get out of this mess, and confuse his opponent. But he needed time. And a shadow, which the two of them were under. He concentrated as much as he could, but it was hard with a deadly sword poised so close to your face, that you could feel the smoke curling off the blade. A few more seconds and it would be over. He imagined standing behind Ciaran, his sword raised, and ready to kill. And, before he could blink, there he stood. Behind the other boy. His sword raised. "Nice try. Didn't I say I know everything about you, Nico di Angelo?" His eyes widned slowly, and he was about to move on to the second part of his plan, when a storm rolled through, shaking the ground. "You see? No matter which God your descended from, I will always be stronger. Surrender, Nico di Angelo, or die." He knew this wasn't the right time for it, but he laughed. He found it funny that someone was challenging a child of Hades, God of the Underworld and death, to die. "What? You think this is a game?" At this point, he couldn't even tell anymore. "No." He said, after gaining control of himself. "I find it funny that you would challenge a child of death to die. But nevermind that. I need to continue without anymore....destractions." Now, the second part was complete. One more and he would be free to go as he pleased. Before he could slam his sword into the ground, and call a few hundred of the dead to fight, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Someone else was watching him. The strange thing was that he seemed to know who it was. And it wasn't an enemy. "Stop right there!" Five more demigods came out from behind the tree. Hazel, Frank, Leo, Percy, and Will. So, the dreams had worn off. But wait....there was a sixth person somewhere. Hiding. Possibly waiting for the right moment to strike. The Dark Prince gave a half-hearted chuckle. "Why should I, William Andrew Solace, son of Apollo? I have my orders to take him. Plus, I haven't even scratched my new toy yet." Nico could tell from one look that Will didn't like the sound of that. Nor did anyone, judging from their scowls, and the way they reached for their weapons. Quickly, but not quick enough. The ground shook a little more violently. Not enough to make anyone fall over yet. But that wasn't the goal anyway. "Now, let's make this a little more...interesting." Nico scowled, masking his panic. "Don't separate no matter what happens! You'll be dead on your own." The darkness had been spreading as he talked, and now, his blade only cast a circle of light around him, barely enough to see an inch in front of him. Why does everything have to go wrong at the last second?