Bewitched || P. Jackson

𝔻emigod dreams suck

Demigod dreams are never just dreams. They've got to be visions, omens, and all that other mystical stuff that makes your brain hurt.

Nicki dreamed she was in a dark palace at the top of a mountain. She recognised it as her home of the past year and a bit, the palace of the Titans on top of Mount Othrys, otherwise known as Mount Tamalpais, in California.

The main pavilion was open to the night, ringed with black Greek columns and statues of the Titans. Torchlight glowed against the black marble floor. In the centre of the room, an armoured giant struggled under the weight of a swirling funnel cloud—Atlas, holding up the sky.

Two other giant men stood nearby over a bronze brazier, studying images in the flames. "Quite an explosion," one said. He wore black armour studded with silver dots like a starry night. His face was covered in a war helm with a ram's horn curling on either side.

"It doesn't matter," the other said. This Titan was dressed in gold robes, with golden eyes like Kronos. His entire body glowed. He reminded Nicki of Apollo, God of the Sun, except the Titan's light was harsher, and his expression crueller. "The gods have answered the challenge. Soon they will be destroyed."

The images in the fire were hard to make out: storms, buildings crumbling, mortals screaming in terror. "I will go east to marshal our forces," the golden Titan said. "Krios, you shall remain and guard Mount Othrys."

The ram horn dude grunted. "I always get the stupid jobs. Lord of the South. Lord of Constellations. Now I get to babysit Atlas while you have all the fun."

Under the whirlwind of clouds, Atlas bellowed in agony, "Let me out, curse you! I am your greatest warrior. Take my burden so I may fight!"

"Quiet!" the golden Titan roared. "You had your chance, Atlas. You failed. Kronos likes you just where you are. As for you, Krios, do your duty."

"And if you need more warriors?" Krios asked. "Our treacherous nephew in the tuxedo will not do you much good in a fight."

The golden Titan laughed. "Don't worry about him. Besides, the gods can barely handle our first little challenge. They have no idea how many others we have in store. Mark my words, in a few days' time, Olympus will be in ruins, and we will meet here again to celebrate the dawn of the Sixth Age!" The golden Titan erupted into flames and disappeared.

"Oh, sure," Krios grumbled. "He gets to erupt into flames. I get to wear these stupid ram's horns."

The scene shifted. Now Nicki was outside the pavilion, hiding in the shadows of a Greek column. A boy stood next to her, eavesdropping on the Titans.

He had dark silky hair, pale skin, and dark clothes—her brother Nico di Angelo, the son of Hades. He looked straight at Nicki, his expression grim. "You see, Nicki?" he whispered. "You're running out of time. Do you really think Percy can beat them without my plan? You need to be careful."

His words washed over Nicki as cold as the ocean floor, and her dreams went black.

Nicki's eyes peeled open again and she was standing in her childhood bedroom.

Everything was held in place like time froze them there. A collection of birthday cards piled up on her bedside locker from her last birthday.

She had made everyone promise her they wouldn't make a big deal out of her birthday, yet they did anyway. Thalia and Ethan were both dragged out to Massachusetts by Marilyn and the 5 celebrated Nicki's birthday together.

Hermes had visited at one point. Although he didn't stay long and used delivering presents from Percy, Grover and some cookies from Sally as an excuse, it meant more to Nicki and Marilyn than the god could ever understand.