We're basically pawns
"What did he say?" Angelos scratched her chin. "Oh yeah, he said I've got a break in the case! Tell Nico to get his ass over here cause uh hold on I forgot. Oh! Yeah, he said, cause I think we can survive this prophecy after all. Also, tell him to bring more snacks cause I'm hungry."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"No." she grinned, "I wasn't paying attention to the elf."
I sighed, "Alright, well, what about the girls fighting?"
"Mmn, I think it was over a guy. Or makeup problems... I'm not sure what classifies as girl troubles these days."
"Yeah, I don't either. Do you think it was over a guy? Maybe..."
"Depends were they hot?"
"I don't know! Ask someone else, I wasn't there."
"Oh right," she laughed, "I forgot."
I turned away and began making my way to the courtyard, just to make sure the girls were no longer fighting.
They were.
I could make out little of what they said.
"Di Angelo's mine!"
"No, he's mine!"
I am- disgusted.
"No! He's the hottest teacher we've had!"
"No, what about Solace?" girl b reasoned.
"No, Di Angelo is king." Girl A followed.
I cleared my throat. "ahh... I think Di Angelo is behind you." Girl B said to Girl A.
"Yes, I am. And as flattered as I am, I am not. So uh, do this elsewhere."
"Yes Professor!" they cried before scurrying away.
"Woah, that was a sight to see," Angelos smirked.
"Shut up."
"No need to be so salty." She rolled her eyes.
"Angelos, are you okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not acting like your usual self. You're meaner and sassier. All I'm saying is that maybe you need to take a couple of days to find yourself again? Or am I seeing too much into things?"
"No, you're right. It's just the gods basically have their own angel radio and they've been saying things."
"Angel radio?"
"I've been into supernatural lately, anyway- I told you about this already! It's basically like a frequency where gods can communicate with each other." she rubbed her eyes, "something about loopholes."
"What kind of loopholes?"
"There is a way to stop this Volewart person."
"Voldemort but go on."
"In exchange to send the titan to Tartarus, there must be a sacrifice. Someone has to keep his power locked away, and only a god can do that."
"That's amazing! Do you know what this means!? We have a chance!"
"Nico! Listen to me, they're sending me. They want me to take the blow and absorb the power."
"Okay... what are you saying?"
"You can't absorb that much power, Nico. Taking too much of something..."
"Death," I mumbled. I looked up at her, trying to hold back the tears in my eyes, "Don't tell me you're gonna do it. Angelos please."
"Nico, I don't have a choice."
"Of course you have a choice! Screw that! We'll find another way."
"There is no other way!"
"Yes, there is," My voice went quiet. "There always is."
"Nico-"
"That's enough of this. We aren't speaking of it again. You aren't gonna die. Not on my watch you hear me?"
She laughed, "Sure, but- if you can't come up with a solid plan by the time the prophecy comes true then I'm afraid that'll be our last meeting."
"Angelos," I warned.
"Hey, I'm just saying, you can't get mad at me for that."
"Whatever, I have to go see if Leo needs anything."
"You go on ahead, I'll be here."
"Okay." I left her behind before I turned around, " Hey Angelos!"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful, okay?"
"Okay." she smiled.
With that reassurance, I turned into a shadow and into the Shrieking Shack. It was all renovated, cleaner, and neater like a cabin. It was state of the art too, Leo went all out for this. It was more like he was moving in than making it into a hideout.
"Hey, Leo!" I yelled.
"Jeezus's mother of mary. Shit balls you scared me." he cursed before a series of loud banging was heard.
"Um yeah, okay. So where are you on the serum?"
"Okay, so it's sort of like the physician's cure right?"
"Right."
"But there's a catch."
"What is it Leo, don't beat around the bush."
"Okay, so before you needed Magnus and yourself to save the soul of whoever was dying with this serum. It's not tested- obviously- but you, just you, should be able to pluck the soul out and save the person who's taking it."
"Okay, but how does it work?"
"So, you take the lid off and the person dying drinks it. This sends the person into a nearly dead state. That way, the prophecy takes into account that they were dead but they were basically in some sort of animated suspension, they're dead but not all the way."
"So what your saying is that the person will die but this brings them back between the three-minute time zone, making them still alive?"
"Yes, that's the simple way to put it I guess. But you need to be the one to perform the ritual."
"What ritual?"
"A ritual is needed for this. You have to basically call forth their soul, force it back into their body, and breath life into them."
"Ew, I have to put my mouth on theirs?"
"Damn it, Nico, that's not the idea, the idea is, you can save them. Isn't Annabeth gonna die? And Bianca?"
And Angelos.
"Can this serum bring a god back from their death?"
"I'm not sure, is there something you need?"
"Make one that also supports a god-like life form and another to contain titan essence."
"Nico, what are you planning?"
"I'm not sure but I'm not taking any chances."
"Does Will know?"
"Know what?"
"It seems like, you're planning on sacrificing yourself."
"I will let him know of my plans when the time is right. Until then..."
"Until then-"
"I put my faith in you, Leo, I believe in you."
He grinned his elfish grin, "Yes sir."