The Beginning Of Solangelo

After my eyes readjusted to the darkness, I saw that Python was just as confused as I was. I looked down at my palms. They light still poured out, shrouding Python and me in yellow glow. I was just able to move my hands enough so that I could focus the light around the forest. It took me a couple seconds, but I was finally able to locate the source of the darkness. Or, should I say, the creator or darkness and the human embodiment of darkness itself.
Nico.
I smiled despite my current situation. Nico was standing in the middle of the small clearing in front of the little cave with the Oracle in it. He was standing in an offensive position, one of the ones I had tried to learn, but had failed to, at camp. Dark shadows seemed to emanate from Nico’s body and encase him in an endless darkness. The blackness made me feel angry, sad, mad, glum, lonely, regretful, and remorseful. All at the same time. The blackness seemed to take away all happiness and joy in the world at the same time. Yet, oddly enough, I still felt completely happy. Happy that Nico was with me.
Nico had a cold, powerful look on his face. He had that glare in his eyes that he had used on me so many times before. But this time it looked as if he actually meant the death glare, whereas when he was staring at me with it, I could sense a glimmer of joking behind all the death.
He had his Stygian Iron sword hanging at his side, almost cast away as if he wouldn’t need it, which I doubted that he would because of the darkness surrounding him and his other powers that he had, naturally, because he was a son of Hades.
My healer instincts completely despised the fact that Nico was using his Underworldly powers, but to my hormonal teenage self, it was strangely appealing. I pushed that thought out of my head.
Nico caught my eye and sent me a worried glance. I nodded, notifying him that I was okay. He replied with a small smile, but frowned once again, turning his attention toward Python. Nico flicked his wrist and a column of darkness shot out from around him. It went spiraling in the direction of Python and hit him on the tail, right next to one of the burn marks that I had administered. Nico grimaced, like he was in pain, as the patch of scales on Python’s tail turned grayish. Almost like it was a spectral ghost. The patch shimmered and swirled like smoke.
I used Python’s distress and distraction to my advantage. I slowly wriggled my arms around until I could place my hands, which were still lit up like headlights, on Python. He hisses loudly and uncoiled from around me and the tree. Nico then used this new distraction to his advantage. He unsheathed his sword and swung it around in his hand a few times.
Gods, that was appealing, too. What is wrong with me?!? We’re in the middle of a dangerous situation and all I can think about is how attractive Nico is! Why?!?
The light in my hands went out, plunging the forest into an endless darkness. I fumbled around for a minute before I was able to somewhat make out my surroundings.
I kicked Python, well-placed, on the side of his head. He hissed again, this time turning to face me. I swung out with my arm, but Python ducked to the side, and my fist barely missed. Python lunged at me, and I averted my head and put my hands up in front of my face.
From behind Python, I heard Nico cry out, not in pain, but in worry. I braced myself for Python’s bite or whatever other painful thing he would use to kill me. But, it never came. I pried my eyes open and hesitantly glanced at Python. Between me and the snake was a wall of darkness. Python was stupidly trying to force his way through the shadows and was turning ghostly wherever the shadows touched him.
Quickly, Python lost his interest in trying to get to me and turned on Nico. Python’s tail flicked around his body and hit Nico, sending him tumbling to the ground. A groan escaped his lips and the dark wall that was surrounding me fell to the ground. I rushed to Nico’s side, the healer in me, having recently quieted the hormonal teenage part of me that could only focus on Nico’s attractiveness, came out and took over. I knelt down and assessed Nico’s injuries. He didn’t seem to be too hurt, but he was paler than usual and had a nasty cut on his forehead.
Just then, Python slithered closer to us, a shimmer of a smirk on his face, if it was possible that a snake could smirk.
“It’sss over now,” he hissed. Yeah, Python was definitely smirking. I retrieved Nico’s sword from where it had fallen when Nico had hit the ground. I found that it was much, much heavier than any celestial bronze sword that I had attempted to wield back at camp.
I promised myself that I would practice fighting more when I got back to camp. If I got back to camp. I shook my head, wringing the high probability of my death, and eventually, Nico’s death, out of my head. I willed myself to stand my ground in front of Python. I will not let Nico down. I can’t let Nico die.
I waited until Python slithered close enough and then I swung Nico’s sword. It connected just at the base of Python’s head, which went tumbling to the ground, severed from the rest of his body. On the soil, Python sent me one last look before his entire body exploded into golden dust.
I wasted no time running back over to Nico’s side. I shook his shoulders, trying to wake him up after I checked his pulse, which was slow, but still steady.
After a minute or two, Nico’s eyelids fluttered a little bit. His hand tightened around mine.
After another minute or so, Nico was up and walking around.
“It’s the only way, Will,” he said, angrily throwing his hands in the air.
“I don’t care. There has to be another way! For crying out loud, you were unconscious a moment ago! There is no way I am going to let you Shadow Travel two people so far,” I said. My voice dropped to a whisper. “I can’t let you do that.”

Notes

Hey!! Thank you for reading and sticking with me!

I hoped you all liked this chapter:)

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