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phykios · 3 years ago

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honesty and promise me, part 10 [co-written with @darkmagyk] [read on ao3]

“If you don’t talk to me, I’m not going to leave you my keys.”

Annabeth looks at Piper from behind the loom, glaring through the threads. “Then you won’t come back to ten bolts of fabric.”

In fairness, it was sort of an empty threat. Piper has all the good stuff: the surger, the embroidery machine, the industrial sewing machines, plus a million sources for fabric that aren’t Annabeth’s stress weaving. Annabeth only has her own shitty sewing machine at home that she’d gotten for Christmas when she was fourteen.

Also, Piper wouldn’t actually lock her out. She needs those fabrics.

“Why don’t you just not go?” Annabeth says. “If you stay, I promise to tell you all the gritty details.” She’s joking, but the second she says it, she’s hit with a strange wave of desperation.

She wants to tell Piper all the gritty details. How she had giggled and smoozed and looked so pretty on Luke’s arm, tattoos and undercut and everything else so carefully concealed. She never wanted to tell Thalia the gritty details. The dirty ones, sure, particularly when the dirty things didn’t involve Thalia’s beloved younger cousin. But she had spent two years, two hard painful years, hiding vast swaths of herself from Thalia.

She thought of the night of the gala, of Thalia telling her family she knew Luke from college. NYU. They’d been actors together.

Annabeth hadn’t been the only one hiding things.

It had stung, in all sorts of ways.

Piper stares, narrowing her eyes. “How dare you tempt me into giving up my creative retreat for gossip.”

Annabeth shrugs. “It’s one or the other.”

The glare at each other, stubborn as all hell.

Piper throws up her hands. “Fine. Just make my fabric and call Leo if you’re having another crisis.”

The truth is, she will tell Piper. Eventually. She knows she will. It will probably be in eight months, when she gets back, when hopefully the shame of her false life and the devastation of losing Percy has lessened, but she will tell her. But eight months is a long time. “I do have other friends, you know.”

“Then call Luke. Or Thalia.”

It takes absolutely everything Annabeth has not to wince at the names.

She would never have told Thalia. Not really. Even things like this, even if it hadn’t involved her. Thalia wasn’t… good at relationship stuff. Not like Piper. And she never knew all of Annabeth’s romantic history--not like Piper did, anyway.

And it wasn’t just romantic relationships.

Annabeth might have been able to share her pain, and share her pain with Thalia, but it had, in many ways, only been a surface level thing. Thalia saw her pain after Annabeth’s mom had rescinded her approval of her life, but she'd taken Annabeth’s silence as the end of the matter, and responded to it by acting out, and arguably drinking too much.

But they never talked about her mother. They never talked about Thalia’s, either, and if there was something Annabeth learned from Hazel’s gala beyond how unfairly handsome Percy was going to look in thirty years, it was that there was a lot going on there.

It is a little hurtful on reflection. Making her feel less close to Thalia, but also less guilty about what she never said. And less willing to accept her reactions.

Her emotions have been all over the place the last few weeks.

Piper notices, because of course Piper notices, but she is an angel, and has known her for a long time, so she doesn’t badger her too much. She also doesn’t mention that Annabeth’s measurements all seem to be off. Not even to say something about beauty at every size or her well publicized efforts for diverse bodies in fashion.

But it was still nice to spend time with her. It felt like the old days, staying up too late making the next thing in fashion, and then passing out together, surrounded by bobbins and bagels, Gossip Girl playing on TV.

It did make Piper’s impending departure that much harder, though.

Two weeks into November, she meets Piper and Leo for dinner, and then sees Piper off to JFK for her eight-month creativity retreat in Oklahoma. “You know, like how you decided you couldn’t have a doorman for creative reasons,” she’d said with a raised eyebrow when Annabeth had questioned the move. Piper likes to treat the last two years of Annabeth’s life like some sort of creative exercise. Her dad had done that too, once, when she bothered to answer his call.

Not that she’s not doing anything other than helping Piper pick stitches, and sewing hemlines Piper is too important to deal with herself. She wishes that earlier estimation had been true.

Since the gala she’s been living on Uber Eats at Piper’s, unless she gets bullied home, in which case it's the same but less varied selection with more meat, so the night out with Piper and Leo the night before Piper’s flight feels like a radical departure from the norm. Even though they just go to dinner.

Which does not stop her from feeling hungover the next morning.

“You had half a glass of wine last night,” Leo points out from the door of her bathroom.

“I remember,” she agrees when it lets up for a moment.

“If you get me sick,” he says, “I’m sending you the doctor's bill.”

“Fair,” she chokes out.

Leo doesn’t hug her goodbye, but he does tell her he hopes she gets better before heading back to Boston.

Annabeth, hugging porcelain, wishes she could go with him.

She was very seriously considering it a few days later. Magnus would take pity on her and Alex was always fun to hang out with. Plus, they’d probably think she was too pathetic to be called on her shit. She only did not make plans to go up to Boston because on Wednesday Luke texted her: Already a shit week, brunch this weekend? And she knew if she ran off to Boston, she wouldn’t leave Magnus and Alex’s guest room until they forced the issue.

But it would be nice to talk to someone in New York City who doesn’t hate her guts, she thought.

So, on Sunday morning, she throws up the wonton soup she’d ordered in for dinner the night before, gurgles some mouthwash, uses the expensive concealer to hide the dark circles, and over does the mascara in hopes that she mostly looks awake.

“You look terrible,” are the first words Luke says to her.

“You have no idea how to talk to women,” she says, slumping down across from him.

“I do,” Luke says, “I just know not to bother with you.” But he frowns at her, taking her in. She’s broken out a Chanel jacket, but she isn’t sure when she last washed these jeans. A real winning combo, her.

“But really,” Luke says, “you look miserable. Is it about what happened on Halloween?”

She shrugs. It isn’t not that. Percy’s words still circle through her head, his sad, defeated face as he bemoaned the, how did he put it? All the rich girls who fucked him to make a point. Made all the worse because she believes them. Probably not the same points as those princesses, but… probably not as different as she would like.

She wonders if Europe is full of very wealthy aristocratic women who are all secretly and shamefully still in love with Percy Jackson. And Frank Zhang.

It makes her feel hollow and nauseous all at once.

But she’s been feeling nauseous for weeks now, so at least it's not a new feeling. If it keeps up, she’s going to have to go to the doctor soon.

She hates going to the doctor. It feels like cheating when she just goes and pays and knows other people can’t. She had once lied to Thalia about getting money for a side gig, and then given her two hundred bucks for a trip to the clinic. Now that Annabeth has spent many hours in his cousin’s apartment, and has heard Nico talk about his yearly income on top of the money his dad gives him, she’s not sure how it came down to her.

“Not really,” Annabeth says, “I mean, I still feel just as terrible, but that’s mostly the problem. I feel sick.”

“It's been three weeks.” Luke looks genuinely concerned. “What’s going on?”

“I’m exhausted and nauseous all the time,” she says, groaning at the thought. She was okay right at this moment, but she knew it could come back at the drop of a hat.

Luke frowned at her. “That’s all?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“I mean…” He looked at her, his eyes gazing lower, to her body. Luke had never really come on to her in any kind of real way. But she’s not sure he’s ever looked at her with less lust than he does right at that moment.

It is calculating. She’s gained some weight, she knows. But if Luke points it out, she’s going to kick him in the nuts with her steel toed boots. Or maybe make him explain himself and his relationship with Thalia.

“Annabeth,” Luke says, his voice lower, a frown on his face, “please don’t freak out.”

She can feel her heart pick up, just a bit. “That’s a terrible place to start.”

“Have you been feeling… emotionally volatile lately? Having a lot of mood swings?”

She frowns. She’d maybe been crying a little more than normal at sentimental hulu ads, but she always has a soft touch for that kind of thing, and she’s going through some stuff. “I don’t think you should ask a woman that.”

“You are really not going to like my next question, then.” He leans close and says, “Are your… breasts tender?”

“You’re right, I don’t like that question,” Annabeth says, crossing her arms over her chest. Even though they are. “I don’t know why you thought that, and how you knew.”

Luke looks at her with such pity, she feels like she’s suddenly eighteen years old again, and crying on his couch at the end of freshman year about the greatest heartbreak of her life. (It had moved to second place. Lucky it. The boy in that bar had only been theoretical, mostly.)

Luke reaches out, grasping one of her hands, and for a second, Annabeth is sure he is going to tell her that she’s dying.

“Have you considered you might be pregnant?”

She yanks her hand away. “I can’t be pregnant,” she says. “I haven’t had sex in weeks.”

“Have you had your period since then?” Luke asks.

“Not that it's any of your business,” she says, “but I haven’t had one in years.” They do talk about sex sometimes, but periods had long been off the Luke table.

Luke grimaces. “Well, you’ve been sexually active recently…”

“It’s been more than a month!”

“When did you start getting morning sickness?” Luke asks “You were throwing up at Halloween.”

“That wasn’t in the morning,” she snaps, “and I feel fine now.”

“You know morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning,” Luke says. “And with the rest of your symptoms, well--”

She shakes her head, glaring at Luke. His judgement would have been better than his patient mansplaining. “You think I don’t use birth control?”

Luke shrugs a little. “I mean… you’re… not great at things like daily medication. That’s what happened last time. And if a condom broke or you didn’t use one…”

Last time. Oh, last time. Last time had been the worst four hours of her life, in between realizing that she hadn’t been remembering her birth control pills every day, that her period was a few days late, and that she’d definitely been having unprotected sex with that boy in Luke’s cohort who was probably too old for her. Last time had been her having a panic attack on Luke’s Cambridge apartment couch while a very reluctant Leo was sent to buy a pregnancy test or twelve, and Piper reassuring her via speaker phone that it would be ok, while Luke rubbed her back and reminded her to breathe.

“I do remember what happened last time,” she says. “That’s why I got an IUD. Which, if you don’t know, from all your girlfriends' pregnancy scares, has the same failure rate as permanent sterilization, less than one percent. So…” So it would be okay. She couldn’t be pregnant. That’s why it had been okay for Percy and Annabeth to start fucking without a condom.

“When was the last time you got a new one?”

“August.” She says, thinking back. She was almost sure. “I remember because it was before the Eta thing--Leo called me to tell me about the ceremony while I was at the gyno.”

“So you were distracted and being a bad patient when they were trying to put it in?”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

But she won’t give Luke, of all people, the satisfaction. “They are professionals. They should know what they’re doing, even if I was on the phone.”

Luke gives her his most disappointed dad face. It is worse than Annabeth’s own father. “You’re the one who always tells me I need to not make people’s jobs harder by being a bad client,” he quietly reminds her.

She fucking hates him.

But despite herself, she pulls out her phone, and begins googling misplaced IUDs and pregnancy.

They haven’t even ordered yet, but Luke is already standing up, probably based on the look on her face as she manages to fight through the dyslexia and figure out what it says. “Come on,” he says, helping her out of her chair, even though she’s not an invalid. She just might be pregnant.

She pushes that thought away as she follows Luke into a cab and then up to his apartment. He makes her some tea and hands her a banana while he goes to get her a pregnancy test, because Luke’s not quite shameless enough to have one at home. She waits for him in a living room straight out of American Psycho and reads up on IUD pregnancy complications online. Which she probably should not have done.

By the time Luke gets back, she is crying again. He’s gotten her 3 tests, which is very considerate of him, as she’s going to need them.

Walking into the bathroom, she’s shaking hard enough that she needs to brace herself on the wall. He lets her use the nice one off his bedroom, though it's not like she needs the jacuzzi tub.

When she’s done peeing, she sets a timer on her phone and sits on Luke’s bed. He tries to speak to her several times. She doesn’t respond.

It isn’t the longest ten minutes of her life, because the truth is, she knows.

She already knows.

When the alarm goes off, she shrugs off Luke’s arm and silently walks back into the bathroom.

Luke got a digital readout, because what else was he going to do. And so she looks at the little screen and just barely processes the word pregnant.

She doesn’t need to take the other tests. She doesn’t need confirmation or to be convinced.

She reaches down and pressed on her lower abdomen, lifting her shirt. She had noticed a slight change. But she’d also changed a lot of her daily routine lately, had eaten a lot more ice cream. Right now, she can’t see any kind of bump, not really, but she can see a shift. Something flat gone fuller.

Annabeth is pregnant.

Annabeth is pregnant with Percy’s baby.

Percy’s baby.

She bursts into tears all over again.

An eternity later, there is a knock on the door.

“Annabeth,” Luke calls, “can I come in?”

She manages to choke out a yes.

Luke finds her sitting on the edge of the tub. He looked at the test still sitting on the counter.

“Let me make a call,” he says, sitting next to her, resting a hand on her arm. “I know a doctor. He can get you a pill or maybe even see you if you need it. Probably today or tomorrow. We can get this all taken care of and then I’ll buy you ice cream and we can watch Legally Blonde, and you can complain about how it doesn’t accurately reflect the admissions process.”

Normally Annabeth would pre-complain, and point out that given Elle’s GPA, LSAT, and extracurricular activities, she would have been a shoe in for her program, and the movie was dismissive of her prior academic achievement. But she’s too busy parsing what Luke is saying.

He squeezes her hand in support. “It's going to be okay,” he says, sweetly.

“No.” She says. But not because it won’t be okay. “No, I’m not going to have an abortion.”

“It's okay,” Luke promises. “I would never judge you. And no one else would ever have to know. This isn’t something you have to do.”

“I know that,” Annabeth says. “I don’t have to do anything.” She detangles her hand from Luke’s and rests it on her stomach, where her uterus waits under her skin. “I want to do this.”

Luke looks at her hand. “Poseidon Olympianides’ son?” he asks. “That’s the father?”

She nods.

Blowing out a breath through his teeth, he sighs. “Well, you’ll be able to get some good child support out of him at least. That family is loaded.”

“Don’t say that,” she nearly screams, and Luke actually jerks back a little. “He doesn’t have any money. He’s his dad’s bastard kid,” she says, feeling a little bad about revealing his family history, but knowing that the word would spark something in Luke. “I don’t know if I’m even going to tell him.”

It feels like something cheap and shallow, trapping a man with a lie, then a baby.

She’s still crying and tentatively, Luke reaches out and wraps his arms around her, pulls her to him.

“Come on,” he says, pulling her up. “You still need ice cream and a movie.”

Annabeth cries. And she doesn’t fight him, but it feels so strange. Half way through her Caramel Sutra and the Legally Blonde proshot, she realizes what’s different.

For the first time since Percy walked out of her apartment without a good-bye kiss, Annabeth Chase is happy.

She’s pregnant with Percy Jackson’s baby.

She’s going to have Percy Jackson’s baby.

She’s not sure if she’s ever heard anything as wonderful in her entire life.

And if she’s going to be worthy of it, worthy of her baby, then she’s going to have to get her shit together.

#my fic #ballet au #pjo #pjo fic #percabeth #percabeth fic #darkmagyk #perseannabeth #goooooooooooooooooooood morning all!

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amiramorozova · 4 years ago

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Dual Summoner x The Darkling pt. 29

We stayed in that inn for a while keeping a low profile meaning no Grisha powers so that we didn't attract attention. We had a decent amount of money so we were there for a few days. A party was going on down the inn for one of the mornings and we all went down to get waffles. I loved the taste of them being different from what the little palace had to offer.

"Wow, these are good." Marie said

"yeah I know." I said

I saw people dancing. Among them were my parents and my grandparents that I had to enjoy that time. I was with my family but that was all this was time with them before he caught up to us. My smile faded as I finished my waffles knowing that there wouldn't be times like this if I got dragged back to the little palace. It wasn't safe for Grisha outside the little palace but these days of freedom were more than what I cared for in the little palace.

"You're upset?" Marie asked

"I'm torn between my heart and my freedom." I said

"Heart and freedom?" Nadia asked

"I do love Aleksander, but I don't think I can go back there. I won't go back willingly when we have all this we can do whatever we want." I said

We were just chatting while we were eating but when I said Aleksander's name I saw a girl look over at us. I took in her attire in seeing she didn't seem out of the ordinary as we finished as she approached our group. I was wearing gloves just to keep people from knowing about the Darkling and I.

"May I sit with you?" The woman asked

"sure." I said

She did but the moment she did I noticed Nico looked a little worried and I questioned if something was up. Then I remembered that he was easily affected by heartrenders being he was from the first army. Marie, Nadia and I became aware she was grisha but since I had taken extra cover I had to be very careful.

"Easy. I am not here to hurt any of you and if I wanted to knock out your friend here I could have done it any time." The woman said then she offered her hand to me, "Nina Zenik."

I hesitated because I didn't trust many people when it came to who I was but Adrian came over taking my arm. "Cousin come on, let's go." Adrian said

"In a minute." I said

"Do you have trust issues?" Nina asked

"No offense Nina, but I've had a rough couple of days and rough years over the last ten years." I said

"Amira, your wrist." Marie said

I looked at it seeing that it was just an outline of the letters but I knew I couldn't keep running from him forever. Nina seemed to be surprised when she heard my name and I knew it was coming. I got up and put a hand on Adrian's shoulder smiling at him knowing he was scared.

"Come on Cousin, I will walk with you." I said

I was about to lead my thirteen year old cousin away when men came in and I noticed the way they were dressed. I'd heard of such men from Aleksander during the week with the first army. I had my dagger by my side if I needed it but I knew there was a lot going on and Aleksander was too far to wait for.

I have to lead this group myself and we have to survive. I thought

"Fjerdans." Nico said

I started removing my gloves knowing I'd need to use my hands for this and not hide. My grandparents, parents and aunt started to notice as I kept my cousin behind me. I kept looking at them as they started to speak about collecting up the Grisha they referred to as witches.

"Adrian." I asid

"Yes, Amira?" Adrian said

"stay behind me unless they get close then use your fire the way I taught you." I told him

I saw him nod as everyone waited for my move but there were too many people in here so I took Adrian out the back knowing they'd follow and let my family go out the front where they met with me and we all stood facing them.

"You are ours now." Fjerdan leader said

"I don't think so." I said

We all got ready as a fight started to come out and we were able to fight one on one or two on two depending on how many were near us. We had more than they did as there were only five and we were a group of nine Grisha. I was doing the best I could in the fight using everything Botkin had taught me as I saw Marie and Nadia doing the same. Marie and Nadia used their small science to create steam and I used it to my advantage to grab my Grisha steel dagger and I lunged attacking the Fjerdan plunging the Dagger in him as he gasped. I Stood up but saw the shadow of someone behind me and I realized I had no time to get them out.

"mörd drüsje" The Fjerdan said as I heard everyone yell my name but just as I turned to try to defend from the attack I saw shadows cut through the man as he fell and split in half.

Breathing heavy I looked at everyone seeing that we all were covered in blood and I never wanted a shower more than I wanted right now. When I looked at where the shadows came from I saw him. Aleksander walked over to see everyone but I questioned just how long he'd been there as I was breathing heavily. Not a word had been said as we went back to the inn and I walked in my room to shower getting that blood out of my hair and my peasant clothes were ruined.

well he found me. I thought

I walked out in a towel figuring he'd waited but no he was right there as I blushed a bit. He seemed to be in thought but I looked, seeing he had my silk dress. I rolled my eyes a bit looking in the bag my grandma asked my back to him as he just seemed to stare at my back.

"I'm not wearing that." I said

"You would wear it back at the little palace." Aleksander said

"We're not there and I really hate to draw attention." I said, "Close your eyes, how could you just come in here without thinking?"

He seemed to work out and I found something out of the clothes we'd brought along to blend in. I was able to change quickly as I sighed a bit drying my hair knowing that it felt good not to have blood in my hair. Still, I needed to show some gratitude since I could have died.

"Thank you." I said as I walked over to him and put a hand on his cheek "you can open your eyes."

When he did I was reminded of our time alone, my heart was beating fast and I knew why as I almost forgot about the stag but then I did remember about it. Letting my hand fall I started to walk away but he grabbed my wrist and I wouldn't look at him.

"Amira, I just want to talk to you." Aleksander said

"If you want to talk about returning to the little palace, I refuse." I said

Aleksander pulled me to him and made me sit on his lap as his arms secured around me so I couldn't move. I was trying to keep my decision in my mind as I felt his lips meet mine and I kissed him back. I didn't realize how much I really wanted to be with him after everything until this moment. I was torn because I was ready to accept being his wife soon but I wanted to be out here with my family that I hadn't been around in years. When we pulled away I was breathing heavily as I looked at him.

"You said once the stag was found we would get married, was that a lie?" Aleksander asked

"No, it wasn't." I said as I looked him in the eyes, "I meant it, this time away from you has hurt me but it's also given me what I never had."

I knew I couldn't still say it to his face even with everything that had gone on between us. I took the advantage to get out of his arms and head for the door I needed to check on the others but as I opened the door he closed it. I knew we were going back and forth avoiding it, avoiding saying what we felt...him due to 400 years of losing those he cared about. Those friends who did not live as long as him. For me I was completely alone most of my time in the little palace and it was hard to open up but somehow I could be with him just not fully.

"Amira, please. You can't just leave when there is something clearly on your mind." Aleksander said

"I don't want to feel trapped and I want to know my family. If I had a choice back when I was eight I wouldn't have been dropped off at the little palace because of what I was." I said

"You hear your words you speak of, they caused most of how you feel right now. Yet you want to know these people and feel like you belong." Aleksander said, "I know what it's like to feel alone and isolated."

I closed my eyes knowing that he was right but then I looked at him as I had my back to the door. I knew I wasn't the only Dual Summoner now, that there were others like me. I knew he wanted to have them in the 2nd army.

"I deserve to know all of my family, but more importantly I want to protect the Dual summoners." I said my tone serious

I think my words caught him off guard as he didn't expect that but I knew that there were others. There was me and my cousin so the possibility of more out there was going to be what I had to work towards. For a second we stood there silent knowing that there was always the question of was there more Dual Summoners and now I knew there were somewhere.

"They won't want to be found, they'll run for now." I said, breaking the silence, "So when we get married, let me be their leader."

"You've met another Dual Summoner?" Aleksander asked

"I won't say, He should make his choice, not anyone else make it for him." I said

"He?" Aleksander asked and he seemed jealous by the words but I started to laugh which surprised him. "Don't look so threatened. He is family to me but to you he's no one." I said

There was a knock on my door and I had an idea who it was "Who is it?" I asked

"Cousin, everyone is waiting." Adrian said

"I'll be out there soon Adrian. I'm having a conversation with my fiancé." I said

I heard Adrian walk away and I looked at Aleksander knowing that Adrian was untested from others because my aunt hid him. I could only guess that my grandfather was an Inferni and my aunt was too for him to be an Inferni/Tidemaker. Aleksander seemed to be having a serious look on his face before realization dawned on him and he actually started to laugh.

"You, You found another Dual Summoner and have been training him." Aleksander said, "You are the only Dual Summoner that is Sun Summoner and Tidemaker. So what is he?"

"Tidemaker and Inferni." I said

I think Aleksander was in shock to hear about this but then he considered what my influence could do. He seemed to be questioning his decisions. I could see that clear as anyone because somehow I could read him better than any Grisha in the 2nd army.

"So what do you want?" Aleksander asked getting close to me, pinning me between him and the door. "Whatever you want, Amira, you can have it. I can assure it will happen."

"I want a location for Dual Summoners, I want to lead them. People are scared and intimidated by you so please." I said

"Let's get married and everything you ask for will happen." Aleksander said as I nod pulling him close and kissing him. When he kissed me back it felt like we were sealing our deal, our promise here of what was going to be the future.

#shadow and bone #shadow and bone fanfiction #grishaverse #darkling x reader #team darkling #darkling #the darkling #general kirigan #aleksander morovoza #fanfic

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roseraintears · 4 years ago

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headcannons about each individual member kf the seven as dark?

So I decided to split this answer into seven seperate posts because otherwise it would be too long (I'm having to much fun wit this XD)

I'll post the first one here <3

Ok, here we go <3, Hazel: People expected her to change after Franks death She had lost her boyfriend at fourteen no one expected that to be easy So none said anything when she kneeled over his grave for five whole days and nights Reyna simply brought her food and hot chocolate and mourned with her But if they all could have had a look into Hazel's mind they could have seen the slow death of the sweet kind girl she used to be Thoughts of hate begin to burn inside her She asks herself why Juno who saved Franks stick from burning up as a baby refused to do it a second time. The question makes her storm up to Olympus, her brown eyes hard with anger Her friends are with her, Of course, they want to protect each other now that one of them has fallen Juno awaits them in her usual glory, tall with a cloak around her shoulder and .. jewellery precious metals decorating her arms and neck "Why didn't? Do you save him? Was he just a weapon you did not need anymore?!, hazel shouts out her suspicion and now people, gods and demigods alike begin to worry The queen of Olympus remains silent She sees the hatred in hazels eyes and regrets not answering her grandsons screams for help when he burned in the flames Her silence is Hazel's answer and in her growing rage the necklace on Juno's neck starts chocking the goddess Hazel does not feel remorse, only satisfaction as she hears Junos choking It is Percy's hand on her shoulder that snaps her out and Juno's necklace flys into her open hand "You will never use a demigod like that again I will make sure of that. She says and then with one last glare leaves Things are not the same when shes back at camp Jupiter Everything and everyone annoys her, reminds her of what she has lost They are around her all the time like, Leo who reminds her of Sammy, Jason who made Frank Praetor, Percy who loved Frank like a brother Whenever they talk about Frank she feels the desire to yell at them One time when Jason tries to comfort her once again she snaps "You don't have to do this just because you made Frank Praetor and you feel guilty.", Hazel tells him a bit too harshly and Jason leaves her She feels guilty so she does her best to act as grateful as possible from now on The days are very hard for her That is why she loves the night She hasn't forgotten the power rush she got on Olympus and that is why keeps practising She steals weapons from the night patrols She makes the tunnels under the field of Mars change so that they all lead to dead ends When some of the new Rome's war veterans talk about having seen lost loved ones at night Hazel pretends to not listen She just thanks Jason in her thoughts for telling her so much about the ones that fell in the titan war Hazel disappears two weeks after Frank's death The remaining five of the seven are devastated They immediately go searching for her but even after five months there is no sign of her Other demigods start whispering Even Thalia who visits Reyna often is part of those whispers She doesn't know hazel and Frank well and yet what she has heard reminds her so much of the story of a friend she had once lost He had been left alone with his fate with his insane mother just like Hazel Thalia fears that now that Hazel has lost a loved one she will seek revenge just like Luke once did. Nico and Percy are Hazel's greatest defenders They deny every rumour and says that Hazel just needs time to calm down it's the only thing that keeps them from drowning in their guilt Hazell has gone to her old home in Alaska Arion took her there It hurts to be back but here she is saved from the gods who used her and her loved ones She's so sick of being their pawn The years pass and all alone in this cold country Hazel's heart turns to ice A few old men yell insult her with racist phrases She controls the metal ankers on their ships to impale them She hears screams from her neighbour's house at night and so she breaks the metal lock to get in The man who is beating his wife only has a second to look at her before her senses reach metal and they find it......in his

blood She concentrates hand stretched out and the man chokes to death She leaves without a word There is no remorse in her, if the gods let her sweet gentle boyfriend die why isn't she allowed to kill a few bad peopöe One day she decides to return as thoughts about her past cloud her mind Someone has to show the gods that they can't treat their children like this She returns after ten years but does not show herself to her friends Maybe because she worries that they notice how much she has changed Instead, she decides to try to control the labyrinth just like Pasiphae once did The mist helps her to create new tunnels that lead wherever she wants them to go One day they lead to new Rome She just wants to look at how everyone is doing but when she sneaks near the city hidden in her magic she sees something that makes her furious Her friends have moved on She sees them celebrating with other Romans and greeks They celebrate Gea‘s defeat like it wasn‘t just a terrible unnecessary war they had to suffer through She hates that they enjoy their demigod lives They should have told the gods that they want to live normally away from both camps that endanger their lives Unfortunately, that makes her think of Frank and how he has ripped away from his life, his home country just to serve the gods Hazel feels her rage burning like an active Volcano close to erupting She walks up the hill over new Rome and looks down at the glorious city She could bury it without even trying For a moment she thinks about the lives that will cost but then again what else could make the gods notice their flaws She reaches for all the metals buried under the city She hesitates for a moment but then she thinks about Frank, his sweet smile and with a scream the earth starts shaking Buildings and temples collapse People get swallowed by big cracks in the earth There are screams horns are blowing Mist is rising and People hear voices whisper that this is god's fault They have to be punished for their mistakes It‘s like a storm of fog being thickest at the hilltop Hazel‘s old friends are filled with dread as they have seen those powers before Leo decides to fly directly into the mist together with Piper and Jason Hazel sees them approaching and a soft smile appears on her lips The mist lightens All demigods gasp Leo yells in despair He already blames himself for Franks death and now he sees that Hazel the girl he once loved has gone mad Her once curly short hair now long falls around her shoulders Her once brown eyes glow sickly golden as if the riches of the earth have taken control over her It drives him insane and so he rips out a hammer from his tool belt and attempts to attack her Hazel feels deeply hurt by this and so she moves her hands Leo is thrown of Festus's toolbelt made of metal turning out to be his curse Hazel smashes him into the ground a hundred feet under him Festus claws impale Jason and Piper before they have time to react Hazel feels a sting in her heart but she oppresses it The gods and their quest would have killed them anyway Percy and Annabeth are still in the falling city trying to get as many people out of there as possible They both try to ignore the corpses falling from the sky Percy‘s mind is still refusing that the girl he sees as a sister would do this He knows that she has to be stopped but how is he supposed to do that? He still loves her like a sister despite the lives she is taking Her real brother steps up instead Hazel can feel his presence behind her It makes her lose focus The citizens of New Rome cry in relief when the metals stop resurfacing Their city is in ruins but at least it has stopped Before Hazel can react skeleton warriors jump out of the earth restrain her by grabbing her arms She is furious about Nicos interference and struggles to escape „Hazel please it‘s not worth it just surrender and we‘ll talk about this.“, Nico says while he walks up in front of her. Hazel‘s heart breaks at the tortured look in his eyes and she realizes that she is the reason for it She disappeared She came back and murdered

hundreds She did it for Frank but she suddenly asks herself if Frank would have ever wanted to get justice in this way Would he wanted her to become hateful and obsessed with revenge just for him? As she looks into Nico‘s eyes regret strikes her „I……..I‘m sorry.“, She whispers with tears in her eyes. Nico smiles sadly happy that his little sister came to her senses He stretches out his hand to gently touch her cheek Thunder rumbles and suddenly a lightning bold explodes the hilltop right where the children of the underworld Jupiter feels nothing as he watches Percy, Reyna and Annabeth falling to their knees, sobbing and holding each other Hazel Levesque is just another demigod for him, a girl that could not get over her boyfriend Percy buries Hazel next to Frank all by himself New Rome is rebuilt with the help of the greeks The time goes by and slowly Frank and Hazel‘s names are forgotten Juno would love if they had never existed in the first place Whenever demigods speak of them they do it with anger and the queen of Olympus fears that one day a rebellion will start It's not often that their names are talked about but when they are people always refer to them as „Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang. The couple that died in Storm and fire

#percy jackson #heroes of olympus #hoo #dark hazel #dark!seven #dark!Hazel #hazel levesque #frank zhang #leo valdez #jason grace #piper mclean #annabeth chase #thalia grace #frazel

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annabethisterrified · 4 years ago

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Book Review: THE TOWER OF NERO (The Trials of Apollo #5)

***No spoilers until you go under the cut!***

After months in the human form of Lester Papadopoulos, the former god Apollo is nearing the end of his trials alongside the young Meg McCaffrey. All their adventures and misfortunes have landed them back in the place it started-- New York. Meg and Apollo must defeat the final, most powerful emperor of the Triumvirate, who also happens to be Meg’s manipulative stepfather. Meanwhile, Nico, Will, and Rachel have important roles to play as the final battle looms. Even if they can defeat Nero, a more terrible enemy awaits in the form of Python, Apollo’s nemesis. Still, if they can succeed, Apollo will finally be restored to godhood. But after everything he’s been through, going back to the way things were doesn’t sound so great anymore. Apollo and his friends will have to find a new way to make all the sacrifices and pain they’ve experienced and witnessed worth it. That is, if they can survive their final trial.

As both the culmination of The Trials of Apollo series and the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, The Tower of Nero excels at bringing the complicated, moving themes of the saga into final, meaningful reckonings. Nero proves to be a chilling and impressive enemy who forces Apollo and Meg to put everything they’ve learned through their journey together to the ultimate test. New and old characters combine to see the story to its end, and long-time readers are rewarded with actualized development and a bittersweet farewell. The Tower of Nero is a fitting and robust conclusion that shines with all the heart, humor, and growth that makes this saga a worthy frontrunner in children’s literature.

SPOILER SECTIONS BELOW

Welcome!!!!!!!!! Y’all. Y’ALL. I am REELING. If you’ve been around here a while, you probably know I’ve been online here since 2012 (?????!!!!!) where I subjected by followers to weird takes and frantic excitement about the upcoming installments of Heroes of Olympus, then Trials of Apollo. Since I was ten years old, this story has been such a huge part of my life. Now I’m 22 (?????!!!!). So. How am I feeling? I’m feeling like I need to flip over every piece of furniture in my house. In a good way. Look. I gotta break this down into three parts because I’m the worst!

I. TRIALS & TRIBULATION

The Trials of Apollo, to me, felt like the inevitable conclusion to Percy Jackson and the Olympians & Heroes of Olympus. We went through two series where we intimately followed the lives of young demigods growing up through two brutal wars, dangerous quests, and personal reckonings. Gods certainly made appearances, and some were more helpful than others, but the message was always clear-- the demigods were on their own. Two wars fought, two wars won, and at what cost? For what change?

Bringing a god down to earth (both literally and metaphorically) is really the only way a story like this could be rounded out. Especially when the god in question is Apollo. He’s the son of Zeus, who punishes him by turning him mortal. This family set-up already has enormous implications in reference to the previous chain of mythological events: Zeus killed his father Kronos, Kronos killed his father Ouranos, etc.

Prophecy is also the scaffolding of this entire saga. Everything is dictated by it-- every quest relies on it, most of the demigods we meet are led by it, and the whole Greek/Roman world seems to build their lives around it. My point is, Apollo was a great character to use as the mouthpiece of this last series. He’s been present throughout the previous two series, and he’s relatively unaffected by the Greek/Roman divide. The enemy, the Triumvirate, is also an exciting antagonist-- they’ve fueled and funded the previous two wars, and their obsession with becoming “gods” is loaded with implications as Apollo races to return to his own status as a god.

Apollo himself is also a completely terrible being. From the first pages through his perspective, there’s certainly little sympathy or commiseration with our narrator. Apollo is many things: spoiled, petulant, selfish, and arrogant. He is not good, and now, he is no longer a god. Still, his voice and struggle remained compelling and engaging throughout the series.

His bond with Meg McCaffrey is, without a doubt, the emotional heart of the whole series. I think they both see aspects of themselves in each other, and it was a genius move to make her the stepdaughter of the enemy. Nero literally sent Meg to be Apollo’s controller and thought that she would easily bring him down; the fact that both these very troubled people cling to each other in the face of such manipulation and frightening circumstances-- and then repeatedly choose to fight their ways back to each other time and again-- is really what makes this series work so well.

With Meg and Apollo at the forefront, after The Hidden Oracle the series takes on something of a “tour” format. We discover new places and revisit old characters across the country, which was definitely exciting for long-time readers to see familiar faces undergo even more development. (This might just be me, but I don’t think ToA can really stand on its own without the worldbuilding/establishment of the first two series-- that’s not a knock on it, but so much of it picks up where the previous series left off, which might make it a disorienting read for someone new to the world.)

Of course, the obvious midpoint reversal of the series is the death of Jason Grace in The Burning Maze. A flip switches completely-- not just for Apollo, but for the whole cast. This is not an incident that just “happens” and is swept aside. In the final two installments, Jason is threaded throughout the story, showing how grief is never truly over. But his sacrifice saved everyone he loved, and had profound impacts on everyone he knew. As brutal as it was, I appreciated how Jason really changed everything through his choice.

By the time Apollo and Meg return to New York in The Tower of Nero, they are better, stronger versions of themselves. The things they once wanted-- godhood restored, or a father’s approval-- are no longer appealing. Their development (both individually and as friends) is utterly believable and hard-won. We see characters from The Hidden Oracle return changed, too. Losing Jason has dredged up dark feelings within Nico, Rachel is warding off the influence of Python in her mind, and Will’s healer heart is put to the test in yet another final battle. (Listen, this kid played instrumental roles in The Last Olympian, The Blood of Olympus, AND The Tower of Nero. The fate of the world really is in his capable, glow-in-the-dark hands.)

Together, Apollo and team venture into Manhattan for a very intense, exciting, and profound final reckoning with Nero. (CHAPTER 20, ANYONE????) Both Apollo and Meg, once and for all, come into their own and reclaim their power and independence. The pay-off is immaculate, and it’s jarring to remember the Apollo we once knew-- the easygoing one from The Titan’s Curse, the snobbish one from The Blood of Olympus, and the self-pitying one from The Hidden Oracle. His development throughout ToA is seamless and incredibly moving, and we’re left with a protagonist that we can truly, unequivocally root for and love.

II. HAVE YOU LEARNED?

When Nero is defeated, the real enemy still lurks. Apollo’s age-old nemesis, Python, has long haunted him. Their final reckoning is one-on-one, and after everything Apollo’s learned and been through, he goes into his last battle not necessarily caring whether he lives or dies-- he just knows Python must be defeated, no matter the cost. Don’t get me STARTED on his last conversation with Meg!!!!?????? (”Just come back to me, dummy.” I LOVE THEM)

So, yeah, I’m already crying at that point. Apollo (slowly regaining his godhood) goes into this completely by himself, assuming all risk and responsibility. He’s forced to sacrifice the Arrow of Dodona, and eventually chooses to sacrifice himself by flinging them both down to Tartarus. But we don’t stop there! Oh, no, we go all the way down to Chaos. The primordial soup of all the pantheons, all of existence. Python crumbles, and Apollo clings to the edge-- he clings to life.

This is it. This is the literal rock-bottom moment of the saga, and I’m completely unsure of how he’s getting out of this one. Who’s going to rescue him? What can he even do at this point? Genuinely, I had no idea where this was going-- and I never would have guessed that it would be the goddess Styx who shows up. She’s played an important, but also very minor, role in ToA. I was baffled at first-- I thought, what does she have to do with any of this? But then it ended up playing out in like the most breathtaking, moving way possible. It’s one of the most defining scenes of the entire 15 books to me.

She only asks him: “Have you learned?”

This is the goddess of promises and oaths. Since The Lightning Thief, we’ve seen how oaths are tossed around like confetti. Percy’s very existence (not to mention Thalia and Jason’s) is because of a broken promise. An oath to keep with a final breath is one of the revisited elements throughout the Heroes of Olympus series. Apollo makes willy-nilly promises in The Hidden Oracle, which he later regrets.

Then, at the end of everything, Styx only asks Apollo if he’s learned. All the talk of promises and oaths in this story doesn’t actually have anything to do with “keeping promises”-- certainly, so many promises are broken we can’t keep track. It all boils down to whether we learn from what we experience and use that to become better people moving forward. It’s about making sure we mean what we say and what we do. It’s about commitment and devotion to the people we love and the things we care about. Promises don’t matter. Only action does.

I can’t understate how thoroughly pleased I was that this was the final reckoning of the saga. It was an unexpected and completely profound moment, and such an important scene to use as the emotional climax of the book.

III. WHERE WE GO FROM HERE

After 15 years and 15 books, The Tower of Nero had to find a way to bring the saga to a close without nailing the coffin shut. More standalone novels are surely on the horizon (I’m looking at you, Nico and Will), but as a whole, this saga did need to come to a satisfying end.

Let’s pick up after Apollo is restored to godhood. He wakes up to his sister Artemis, and the very first thing he does? After finally returning to his true form, the thing he’s relentlessly yearned for the whole series? He just breaks down sobbing. He’s miserable. There’s no relief or joy in the realization that he’s once again an Olympian.

I’m always a sucker for the trope of “Character does everything possible to reach Goal only to realize that Goal isn’t actually what they want or need at all”, so of course, I was moved to see Apollo learn that he doesn’t actually care much about whether he’s a god or a human anymore. (In fact, he later remarks that he envies Lu’s new ability to grow old and age alongside Meg and her foster siblings.)

I was doubly-moved that Apollo’s restoration to godhood was not an action on Zeus’s part. From what little context we get (a lot happens “off screen” and even Apollo isn’t sure), it appears that Apollo either reclaimed his own godhood through sheer force of will to return from Chaos and reunite with his friends, and/or Styx aided him. But it seems obvious Zeus wasn’t involved, which has HUGE implications for the power structure of the Olympians moving forward.

A lot of us, myself included, had certain expectations for how Apollo’s inevitable reunion with Zeus and the rest of the Olympians would go. I, for one, was excited to see Apollo either tell off his father, or possibly assume a position as the new Camp Half-Blood director or New Rome’s pontifex maximus. Instead, we got a somewhat quiet, but incredibly tense interaction between all the Olympians. The closest thing to an outburst is actually between Hera and Zeus, as she tells him off for not mourning his son Jason, as Apollo did. (Dare I say....I liked Hera for a moment?) (ALSO, I’m fully on-board with the theory that Zeus did not intervene in Jason’s death as a punishment for Jason publicly calling him “unwise” in The Blood of Olympus.)

The whole scene reads as a powder keg. Already, it’s established that Apollo, Artemis, and Dionysus (and possibly even Athena and Hera) have no illusions of Zeus’s grandeur. They do not view him as family, or even as a leader. He’s simply just the one with enough power to punish the rest of them when they get “out of line”.

Apollo began naming Zeus as his abuser fairly early on in the series. Perhaps witnessing the way Meg thinks and speaks about her stepfather Nero made this clear for him. In either case, he begins to explicitly mirror the very same advice he gives Meg in dealing with her abuser: distance yourself from the abusive person/situation, and accept that tyrants do not change and it is not your responsibility to attempt to make them “see the light”. Thus, Apollo makes no appeal or argument to Zeus– he understands by then that it’d be fruitless. Instead, he’s concentrating his energy on doing everything he can do with what he has; he’s committed to being a protector and friend of demigods, and he sees that other gods are beginning to (if not already) see Zeus’s wrongness. (More on this here.)

Was it what I expected going into the book? Nope. But I have to admit that it was really exciting to see Zeus try to hide the very real fear of realizing that his son Apollo is no longer afraid of him, and is quite possibly more powerful than him, too. Apollo switches gears entirely away from Zeus, and focuses his energy back on the friends he’s made and the children he has. It’s a refreshing reminder that it’s often more productive to concentrate on helping others instead of harming those who harm us.

That being said, I would have liked a few paragraphs or pages discussing what practical differences there will be for the lives of young demigods in the wake of this change. I understand that might not have worked given the very condensed timeline post-returning-to-godhood (the story ends literally the same day or day after), but I do hope and believe that Apollo’s transformation is going to change the way demigods perceive gods-- and what they will expect of gods in the future. Just look at how Apollo is received by the campers at CHB. They’re ecstatic to see him. They think of him as a hero. Apollo is coming back just to help and spend time with his kids, his friends, and the campers, and he’s going to keep coming back. The other gods are certainly going to feel some pressure to follow suit.

Speaking of Apollo’s reunions...shall we?

I loved that we got to see all the main-players one last time. Mimicking the “tour format” of the series, we get to watch Apollo catch up with his loved ones, who helped him learn how to be a better person throughout his trials.

It was sad, but reassuring, to watch Nico come to terms with Jason’s death. I like how he outlined the differences between Hazel’s and Jason’s deaths, and why he isn’t interfering out of respect for Jason. Watching Jason appear to Apollo (ambiguously as a ghost or as a figment of Apollo’s dream-imagination) was another moving reminder of the stark differences in the ways that different demigods prioritize and think about what it is to be a hero. Jason’s idea and Percy’s idea, for instance, are super different because of the way they were raised. Percy would put anything on the line for his family and friends; so would Jason, of course, but he also has a much broader view of what’s worth sacrificing your life for...which is admirable in ways, but also painfully sad, since a lot has to change in order for Jason’s death to carry weight. Over the course of the last two books, I think it’s very safe to say Jason’s death did change just about everything for the people who knew and loved him, and even those who didn’t.

Whew. Okay, back to Camp Half-Blood. Nico and Will are clearly now very comfortable with each other, and it’s refreshing to see how they both watch out for each other and bring out the best in one another. I’m excited for their inevitable solo book, but regardless, it’s good to see Nico getting the help he needs (from his own experiences, from Dionysus, Will, etc), and for Rachel to get some distance from her terrible parents by living out her art student dreams in Paris.

Then, we drop by the Waystation. I simply cannot get over the fact that Calypso is at BAND CAMP. Anyway, it’s unsurprising to find out that she and Leo are still “complicated”, but I’m glad she’s experiencing the highs and lows of mortal life, and that Leo is working on helping out vulnerable youth (and has two mom figures in his life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Glad we get to see Thalia and Reyna both happy and healthy, too.

Next up, Camp Jupiter and New Rome. LOVE that Hazel and Frank have both reclaimed the curses that haunted them since The Son of Neptune. They really both did just...like...basically die to bring down the Big Bad and then come back better than ever. (Side note: I still obviously have issues with the fact that Hazel is SO YOUNG! There was no reason for her not to be 15/16 like the rest of the Argo 2 crew! Ugh.)

Anyway, then we say goodbye to Percy and Annabeth. Except for the annoying continuity error in terms of the timeline of them learning about Jason, I really really really loved this parting moment with them. I know some readers wanted Percy and Annabeth to stay in New York, but it always felt very natural and meaningful for me that they’d want to relocate to New Rome. That was always the Big Dream for most of Heroes of Olympus, and it makes sense to me that they’d choose to live somewhere designed for demigods to actually live and grow old and raise families. Besides, I’m quite certain they’ll frequently be visiting New York. I digress.

It was super bittersweet to see these two finally off on their own (and basically living together, as Apollo teasingly implies) going to college! Definitely a huge sigh of relief and satisfaction after following all their exploits since they were twelve. I’m so glad we get to see them (all things considered) happy and excited for their new life together. They certainly stepped back in this series, as they deserved. But they still lose Jason, and that’s something that weighs heavily on them and likely always will. Apollo calls Jason “the best of us”, and I don’t think that use of “us” is lost on Percy, Annabeth, or anyone-- Apollo’s identity and alignment is with them now, which will hopefully lead to positive change.

Then, simultaneously the saddest and happiest (?) reunion-- with Piper. This was obviously really heavy, since the last time Apollo sees her is in the wake of Jason’s death. For me, I’m very proud and excited by the fact that Piper is the only character who basically forges a whole new life (outside of the sphere of the Olympians) for herself. She’s far from other demigods and gods, and is committed to reconnecting with her mortal family and making a beautiful life. She has a new friend, too, which is absolutely awesome. (I mean, we all KNEW, right? But it’s really great to see this confirmed on-page.) When Piper told Apollo that he did right by Jason, I definitely lost it. And I also just really loved the final beat with her-- Apollo’s stammering a goodbye, but Piper’s already turned around to walk back to her new friend and her new life.

The final farewell, of course, went to Meg McCaffrey. She’s reclaimed Aeithales, and is now foster-sibling-extraordinaire by rescuing Nero’s other adopted demigods and giving them a new chance. Meg’s really matured and grown into such a kind and strong leader, but it was super bittersweet to see how much she still values Apollo. Their reunion just about broke me. They share a bond that no one else will ever understand, and they brought each other out of darkness that nearly ended them both. I literally can’t think of a better final dialogue than what they share:

You’ll come back?

Always. The sun always comes back.

I’m fine!!!

Anyway, this brings me to the closing lines of the story. Just as Percy opens The Lightning Thief by directly addressing the reader, Apollo closes The Tower of Nero by bidding farewell to us.

Call on me. I will be there for you.

On so many levels, this line works really well as the ending. For me, and I imagine for you too if you’re reading this, these 15 books are a pillar of our childhoods. We grew up alongside these characters, and found enormous excitement and identity and magic in these pages. The story may have come to a close, but it lives on within us-- it’s something we can return to time and again for enjoyment and understanding.

More than anything, this story pulled off something I didn’t really know was possible: it makes me feel genuinely and enthusiastically glad to be human, no matter how strange or hard it gets.

____________

My fifth-grade teacher assigned The Lightning Thief as mandatory reading when I was ten years old. I picked it up reluctantly, but from the first lines, I just completely fell into this story. Twelve years since that assignment, I’m now a traditionally-published author myself...writing about what else but mythology, of course. These books saw me from elementary school all the way to post-college life. It’s hard to imagine where I’d be without them-- certainly, I’d never have achieved my lifelong dream of becoming an author, nor would I have found such an incredible online community like the one I’ve found here. I consider myself extremely lucky to have grown up alongside these characters and their incredible story.

I know we’ve likely got more standalones in this world to come, but this is still the end of the saga. I’m sad to see it come to a close, but I’m so ecstatic with the send-off we got, and I’m excited to let the story settle and become a part of me-- something that will always affect how I see the world, something that reminds me of why I write, and something that’s always there to welcome me home.

#review #tower of nero #trials of apollo #the tower of nero #the trials of apollo

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raindancer2004 · 4 years ago

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Blended Family

Word Count: 3,541 Demetri x OC - Part Seven Warnings: Fluff

Demetri has a day off and decides to spend the day with Ellie “Hey buddy, I just wanted to let you know that I’m having a Daddy and Ellie day today” Nico nods “Like how Mummy and I have days where it’s just us?” “Exactly buddy. My next day off will be a Daddy and Nico day ok?” Demetri replies “Ok Daddy. Have fun” Nico replies with a smile “Be good for Daddy Ellie” Nico says softly as he kisses her cheek and she smiles back and babbles at him.

Demetri wraps Ellie up warm and takes her to the park, sitting on a swing with her on his lap, swinging back and forth gently, eliciting little giggles from her “Having fun princess?” He asks low in her ear, she turns to look at him and babbles at him smiling “Good, so I am” He replies smiling back at her, kissing her cheek. After an hour or so they return to the castle and make their way to his and Sophie’s room, grabbing a book from the bookcase he sits on the bed with Ellie on his lap and reads to her until she falls asleep in his arms “I love you Ellie” He says softly and places a kiss to the top her head.

A few days later Demetri spoke to Felix about his relationship with Sophie “How are things between you and Sophie now you’re engaged?” Felix asked “Things are great. I know I can’t give her the big white wedding but I can give her forever. I remember when I was human that marriage was important and it still is today and I wanted her to have rings to prove that I meant forever” Demetri replied “You old romantic you” Felix said and Demetri chuckled a little “I waited a very long time to find my mate…” “I still can’t believe you didn’t realise what she was to you when you met her on the plane” Felix interrupted him shaking his head smiling “I’m glad things happened the way they did because I have Nico and I wouldn’t be without him. In fact, I was looking forward to spending forever just he and I and then thanks to one afternoon in the park Sophie and Ellie entered my life again and everything changed and for the better. I have a beautiful family of my own to love and protect forever” He replied “I know you think of Ellie as yours and Sophie thinks of Nico as hers, but have you thought about having baby with Sophie?” Felix’s tone was a bit more serious now “I have thought about having a baby with Sophie and would love a third child but the time isn’t right to have that conversation with Sophie and Ellie is still so young and Nico is growing so fast I just want to enjoy them growing up for now…but never say never” He answered honestly “Who knew you’d make such a good dad?” Felix said smiling “Thanks…I think” Demetri replied.

Nico had overheard the conversation between his dad and Felix and got upset and ran to find his mum. He found her in the library curled up on the sofa reading, Jane having borrowed Ellie for the afternoon. Nico climbed onto the sofa beside Sophie and snuggled into her and she could tell something was wrong “Sweetie are you ok?” Nico shook his head “I don’t want to lose you mummy” He started crying and Sophie dropped the book and wrapped her arms around him “You aren’t going to lose to me, I promise. It was just a bad dream” She replied “It wasn’t a bad dream. I-I heard daddy talking to Uncle Felix…” “Ok…what did you overhear sweetie?” Concern clear in her voice “Felix asked daddy if he wanted to have a baby with you and daddy said that he would love to have a baby with you” Sophie then realised why Nico was so upset “I don’t want to lose you mummy, Ellie doesn’t want to lose you either. We love you so much” He added “Oh sweetie, I love you and Ellie very much and I’m not going anywhere. You and Ellie are still so young and I’m not ready to have another baby so I will talk to daddy and everything will be ok” Sophie placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed his forehead, wiping his tears away with her thumbs “Ok mummy” Sophie pulled him onto her lap and held him in her arms. She needed to talk to Demetri and they needed reassure Nico together that she wasn’t going anywhere.

Sophie spent the remainder of the afternoon with Nico in his and Ellie’s room, they coloured in some pictures in his new colouring-in books, Sophie noticed that Nico sat as close to her as possible “Having fun sweetie?” “I am mummy, are you?” Nico looked up at her smiling “I am” She leant over and kissed his head. Demetri entered the room holding Ellie “How are you two doing?” Demetri asked as he took a seat on Nico’s bed “We’re having mummy and Nico time” Nico replied before Sophie could answer, not looking up from his colouring book “Oh ok. I didn’t realise buddy. I will take Ellie across the hall into mine and mummy’s room. We’ll see you in a bit” Demetri replied looking at Sophie, an eyebrow raised “I’ll explain later” Sophie mouthed to Demetri, who nodded. “You still upset with daddy?” She asked him quietly “Maybe” Nico replied low “Ok. Remember what I said I’m not going anywhere. You are stuck with me forever” She said as she started to tickle him, Nico’s laughter filling the room “Y-you pr-promise?” He got out between giggles “I promise” She lifted him onto her lap and hugged him tight “I love you” “I love you too mummy.”

Later that night once Nico and Ellie were in bed Sophie had a talk with Demetri “We need to talk Dem” She said as she sat on the sofa “That doesn’t sound good” “It isn’t, I’m not going to lie” She replied and watched how his face suddenly showed a sad expression, his eyes showing that he was nervous about this conversation “What do you want to talk about? Have I done something wrong?” He asked unsure if he wanted to hear the answer ‘has she changed her mind about us, about being with me? What about Nico and Ellie?’ multiple questions running through his head “Yes, you have, although I know you didn’t mean to but…” “But what? What did I do?” He cut her off and reached out to hold her hands “Tell me…please” “Nico overheard your conversation with Felix this afternoon...” She paused to see if he could work out where the conversation was going, only he didn’t answer “The one you had about you and I having a baby together…” She continued, trailing off as she saw realisation wash over his face followed by shock “Santa Cazzo. Sophie, I-I didn’t…I didn’t mean now. I was thinking in the future, maybe…that is, if you want to have a baby with me” He replied “Nico doesn’t know that. He heard you say you wanted to have a baby with me and the first thing he thought of was that he was going to lose me, that Ellie was going to lose me” Demetri looked down at his and Sophie’s joined hands and felt his heart break for his son “He’s upset with you Dem, I mean he knows the woman who gave birth to him died after he was born.” “I’d never let anything happen to you mi amore. If you and I had a baby together in the future I would do whatever it took to ensure you survived” He pulled her onto his lap “I know you would, but if I’m honest I’m not ready to have another baby. We have two as it is and do you really think it’s fair to Ellie to have another sibling grow up faster than her?” She answered honestly “I’m not ready for another child yet either and all I said was that I’d love to have a baby with you but we need to talk about it” He replied “Dem, I love you so much and this is nothing against you but I’m happy with the two we have. I’m Nico’s mum as you are Ellie’s dad. Could you be happy with us not having another baby?” She asked looking into his eyes “Yes. We have two beautiful children and I love the little family we have created” He replied before kissing her “I love you Sophie” “I love you too Dem.”

The following morning Demetri sits Nico down and explains to him that he would never do anything to harm Sophie as he loves her too much to risk losing her. Nico questions this by reminding him what he told Uncle Felix “You said you wanted to have a baby with mummy, but you know what happened last time.” Nico’s voice dropped, Demetri took Nico into his arms, holding him tight “Mummy and I spoke last night and we are happy that we have you and Ellie and have agreed that we are not going to have another baby. We are not going to lose mummy; I promise you that. I promised you that I would love and protect the three of you forever and I meant it” He kissed Nico’s head and held him close “I love you buddy” “I love you too Daddy.”

Sophie spoke to Demetri about celebrating Nico and Ellie’s first birthdays as it is a milestone for them both and it’s something humans do. “Are we celebrating Ellie’s birthday first then Nico’s as they are born ten weeks apart?” Demetri asked “I think we should do a little something for them both on their birthdays, especially since Nico looks older than Ellie” Sophie replied and he nodded.

Sophie organised a little get together for Ellie’s first birthday, Demetri inviting Felix, the twins, the Kings, their wives and a few the guards he and Sophie got along with. Nico watched his parents planning the party and was excited as he got to attend a birthday party for the first time “I love that you and mummy are human” He told Ellie with a smile “I get to do lots of human things that I would have missed out on otherwise” Ellie smiled and babbled at him. Demetri heard Nico and couldn’t help smiling, for he too was happy his mate and daughter were human.

Ellie’s first birthday arrived and Demetri had spent the night before decorating the family room with a selection of pink Birthday Banners; ‘1st Birthday’, ‘Birthday Girl.’ He collected the ‘Happy 1st Birthday’ helium balloons from one the guest rooms and placed them throughout the family room. He also placed some photos of Ellie throughout her first year around the room too, including some family photos.

Once the family room was decorated, Demetri made his way back to his room and set up the castle doll house he and Sophie got Ellie for her birthday, carefully placing a large sheet of wrapping paper over it. He then placed the stack of neatly wrapped presents around the castle. He knew Sophie would tell him he went overboard; but he didn’t care this was Ellie’s first birthday and he wanted to ensure she enjoyed her ‘special day.’ He planned to spoil Nico on his first birthday too. Finally, Demetri stuck a ‘Birthday Princess’ banner diagonally across the children’s bedroom door, then took a seat on the sofa in his room and waited for his family to wake.

Once they were awake Demetri, Sophie sat on the floor near the present pile, Nico sitting beside Demetri and Ellie on Sophie’s lap. Ellie loved the castle doll house, complete with little dolls “It’s just like our castle” Nico pointed out, Demetri smiled and nodded. Nico gave Ellie a ‘my first doll’ which had a hard head and hands but the rest of the doll was soft.

Later that afternoon everyone who was invited gathered in the family room for Ellie’s birthday party and handed her their gifts. The gifts included books, toys and clothes. Demetri and Sophie got her a small pink birthday cake with a princess bear on top and everyone sang to her. Ellie spent the afternoon smiling and babbling away, enjoying the attention and cuddles she was receiving. “You’re quite the proud papa” Felix said with a smile and placing a hand on his shoulder “How could I not be Fe, I have a beautiful family” Demetri replied with a smile of his own as his eyes locked on Sophie, Nico and Ellie enjoying themselves.

Unknown to Sophie both Demetri and Nico were trying to teach Ellie to talk, although not together. Demetri had read the parenting book that it’s good to encourage your baby to talk, so that is what he did, anytime he was alone with Ellie he would teach her to talk “Hey Princess, want to cuddle with Daddy?” She smiled up at him as he lifted her up into his arms and took a seat on Nico’s bed “You know who I am?” He asks her softly and she nods “Who am I?” Ellie just babbles back at him causing him to laugh “Not quite Princess. I’m daddy. Can you say daddy?” She thinks for a moment, Demetri watching her with curiosity “D-D” The only response he gets before she babbles back at him “I think we need more practice" He says smiling at her lovingly and she snuggles into him “D-D.”

Nico heard Demetri trying to teach Ellie to talk and decided he wanted Ellie to say his name instead of daddy first. “Come on Ellie, say Nico…Ni-co” He encourages her gently but gets no response “Ni-co” She thought for a moment “D-D” Nico shook his head “Try again for me Ellie. Ni-co” “N-N...D-D” Ellie replied smiling and he chuckled “Practice makes perfect Ellie.”

Felix and Alec overheard Nico and Demetri trying to teach Ellie to talk and decided to make a bet on what her first word be “I bet you €15 that Ellie says Nico first” Alec says to Felix “I bet you €15 she says Daddy first, or some variation of the word” Felix replies “Deal” Alec says and holds his hand to Felix. “You’ll both be losers if she says Mummy first” Jane laughed at them “Want in on the bet sister?” “Why not, I think she’ll say Mummy first” Jane replies. They didn’t have wait to long to find out who won the bet as Ellie spoke her first word a few days later.

Ellie woke up from a nap, sitting up in her crib and looking around the room and couldn’t see anyone, deciding she wanted some attention “Dad-dad-dad” She said over and over a few times. Demetri was sitting his room across the hall and thought he heard a soft voice calling out and got up to see to Ellie. As he entered the room, he saw her little face light up “Daddy” She called out and he froze by the door looking confused, she continued to call out to him “Daddy. Daddy” She started to get a little impatient and tried again “Daddy” He shook his head and smiled at her “That’s right my clever little girl” He quickly picked her up and held her against his chest “Daddy” She said as she snuggled into him, holding onto his jumper. Demetri felt his heart swell at hearing her call him daddy, it definitely made his list of top ten moments; all of them involved Sophie, Nico and Ellie “I love you so much Ellie” He placed a kiss to the top of her head and set off to the kitchen to see Sophie and Nico, feeling a little sorry for Sophie that she missed Ellie’s first word.

“Hey mi amore. This clever little girl just said her first word” He said beaming with pride “Well done sweetie” Sophie smiled at Ellie and kissed her temple “What did she say daddy?” Nico asked “Dad followed by daddy” Demetri replied “Ellie. I thought we had a deal. You were supposed to say Nico first” He feigned a hurt look, Ellie smiled at him whilst Demetri and Sophie chuckled “Most babies say daddy first” Sophie told them “Really mummy?” “Yes, some say mummy first but ‘dad.’ ‘dadda,’ or ‘daddy’ is easier for them to say” She replied “Sorry Sophie” Demetri said wrapping an arm around her “Don’t be. It’s a baby thing” She replied “I’m glad her first word was daddy. I know you are too” She added, leaning up to kiss his lips.

“Pay up twinnies” Felix says holding out his hands, after Demetri tells them what Ellie’s first was “You three bet on my daughter’s first word?” Sophie asked them “Of course, especially after hearing those to encouraging her to talk” Alec replied, Demetri and Nico gave Sophie an innocent look “Like two peas in a guilty pod” She replied smiling.

Sophie organised a little get together for Nico’s first birthday as she did for Ellie, Demetri inviting Felix, the twins, the Kings, their wives and a few the guards he and Sophie got along with. Nico was excited for his own birthday party.

Nico’s first birthday arrived and Demetri had spent the night before decorating the family room with a selection of blue Birthday Banners; ‘1st Birthday’, ‘Birthday Boy.’ He collected the ‘Happy 1st Birthday’ helium balloons from one the guest rooms and placed them throughout the family room. Just as he did for Ellie, he also placed some photos of Nico throughout his first year around the room too, including some family photos. “You’re becoming quite the party planner / decorator D” Felix said as he entered the family room “Only the best for my children” He replied proudly.

Once the family room was decorated, Demetri made his way back to his room, collecting the blue and silver bike he and Sophie got Nico for his birthday from one the guest rooms. He carefully placed large sheets of wrapping paper over it. He then placed the stack of neatly wrapped presents around the bike. Despite Sophie telling him that he went a little overboard with presents for Ellie’s birthday, he did the same for Nico wanting to ensure he enjoyed his ‘special day.’ Finally, Demetri stuck a ‘Birthday Boy’ banner diagonally across the children’s bedroom door, then climbed into bed beside Sophie and waited for his family to wake.

Once they were awake Demetri, Sophie sat on the floor near the present pile, Nico sitting beside Demetri and Ellie on Sophie’s lap. Nico loved the bike, complete with stabilisers “Can you teach me how to ride it please?” Nico asked Demetri smiled “Of course, buddy. Mummy and I will teach you, but outside in the garden” Ellie gave Nico some dinosaur puzzles.

Later that afternoon everyone who was invited gathered in the family room for Nico’s birthday party and handed him their gifts. The gifts included books, games and clothes. Demetri and Sophie got him a small birthday cake with a dinosaur on top and everyone sang to him. Nico spent the afternoon smiling and playing some games with the Kings and their wives. “Proud papa does it again” Felix said with a smile as he watches Demetri, Sophie, Nico and Ellie enjoying themselves.

Ellie starts pulling herself up to stand next to the coffee table and shuffle walks around it, her little hands on the top supporting her. Nico watches her with fascination ‘clever little human’ he thought to himself, then an idea comes to mind. He climbs off the sofa and walks over to Ellie coming to stand behind her “Here, let me help you” He gently lifts her hands off the coffee table and holding on to them gently, her arms raised up a little, he walks behind her as she takes one step after another. They slowly make their way out into the corridor when Ellie sees Demetri and Sophie walking towards them “Daddy” She calls out with a smile and he looks away from Sophie to see Ellie walking with the help of Nico. He walks a little closer, coming to a stop and kneeling down with his arms held out to her “Walk to daddy” He encourages and when she is a few steps away Nico carefully lets go of her hands but stays behind her ready to catch her should she fall over. She wobbles for a moment before taking an unsteady step forward, then another and another before Demetri gently scoops her into his arms “My clever little girl” He peppers her little face with kisses and she giggles “D-Daddy” “She’s growing up so fast” Sophie says low and Nico laughs “Really mummy? I could walk and talk within a month” “Yes, but you’re a hybrid sweetie, it’s different for Ellie” She replies “Ok, so she’s growing up fast for a human?” “Yes buddy” Demetri replies smiling “I still think she’s small and pretty” Nico said looking at Ellie adoringly.

#demetri volturi #felix volturi #alec volturi #jane volturi #aro volturi #marcus volturi #caius volturi #heidi volturi #volturi #twilight

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carmichealroyals · 4 years ago

Photo

WINTERVEN PALACE, WINTERVEN CITY, BREVELL, 5:00PM

(Warning: This post contains discussions circling around themes of homophobia/lack of family acceptance. If these themes are something that makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to send me a message and I’ll go over what happened in the scene with you do you don’t miss out. Your mental health comes first!)

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Katie: Your Majesty, the Daily Post is asking for an update -- what should we tell them exactly?

Maxwell: Press the statement that was released earlier today. That is the only sort of statement we should make right now until we know more details of the situation.

Katie: And if they ask further questions?

Maxwell: We have no further comment on the issue.

Katie: Of course, sir. -curtseys, starts to leave, stops to curtsey again- Your Royal Highness. -leaves-

Keep reading under the cut!

Diana: Max, what the hell are you on about now?

Max: Diana! A pleasure. Tell me, has Ella made any more progress with that Melide prince she’s been on and off with for years? He’s returned from service, yes?

Diana: That’s not why I’m here and you know it.

Max: Forgive me, sister, but we never have been on the same page much. How am I to know what’s going through your mind?

Diana: You should know exactly what’s on my mind, Maxwell -- he’s your nephew, and you dare be so cold and unfeeling in this moment of personal crisis for him?

Max: I fail to see what is so cold. It’s an honest enough statement. If he is… what he is--

Diana: Gay. He’s gay, Max.

Max: --then his place in the line of succession and his ability to produce heirs should naturally be called into question.

Diana: He’s had his entire character called into question! His entire life!

Max: He’s still a member of the Royal Family.

Diana: In the loosest sense of the word! He’s fifteenth in line, Maxwell, he’s not exactly high priority, and he’s only going to keep getting bumped down the more children our other nieces and nephews have.

Max: It does not mean he is absolved of his duty to this family.

Diana: Duty?! He has a duty to be himself above all else! I am here to support my son, but clearly all you care about is the continued expansion of this family to make more advantageous marriages and raise yourself up by proxy!

Max: Watch your tone! I am still your King!

Diana: And I am still your sister! That should mean something! You say you know about family, that you care about family, but when push comes to shove you pull out the Crown and are blind to everything else!

Diana: Oliver is in love with this boy, Max. I recognize it as the same thing as when I met Nico. You objected to that because he was too common--

Max: Because I was worried he was taking advantage of you--

Diana: That’s a lie and we all know it. Either way, you came around. You came to your senses only when it meant possibly losing me, and if you don’t come to your senses now, you’re going to lose Oliver, too.

Max: He is a member of this family, and it his duty to provide heirs for the Crown. It is the law.

Diana: Then change the stupid law!

Max: I am not about to change the laws of the Crown just for some silly teenage fling--

Diana: You don’t get it. It’s not a teenage fling. I can tell -- a mother knows these things, Max.

Max: How are you to know? It’s possible that he might still have an interest in girls somewhere down the line and he’s experimenting. That would be fine, so long as we could cover it up somewhat, make it seem innocent--

Diana: Stop talking! For the love of all that is good, just stop talking! Do you hear yourself right now? “Cover it up”? This is his life! This is who he is! You can’t just put a blanket over it and pretend it isn’t happening!

Max: We’re all in a state of shock right now, Diana. I don’t think this is the appropriate time to have this conversation--

Diana: No, you’re in shock because he isn’t playing along with the perfect little script that you had planned out for him and the rest of our family! I’m not. I’ve known he was gay since he was ten years old, and I have loved him regardless. So has Nico. So do his siblings, and so do millions around the world now more than ever because they see themselves in us. They don’t see the Crown as something heteronormative and traditional, they see it as something that has a place for everyone, where everyone is valued and appreciated for who they are. This isn’t a conscious choice he made to be different. He just is. And all you’re concerned about is if he has any biological children?

Diana: I’ve done my best to keep my nose out of your business, to do what is best for my family and make sure that they are all happy, healthy, and secure in who they are. I’m going to stand by my son, as will the husband you objected to me having all those years ago. I chose him, and this is who Oliver is choosing.

Max: Diana, please, you’re over-reacting--

Diana: No, you are. What my son needs right now is support, and the only way that the support of our family is going to mean anything to anyone is if it comes directly from both you and the Crown. I am doing what a parent should be doing: trying to protect her son and make sure he’s happy. I’d suggest you put yourself in my shoes for two minutes. Would you do the same if William came out to you? Belle?

Max: This is not the time for hypotheticals.

Diana: Answer the question.

Max: I… I would have questions, and concerns, but--

Diana: But you would ultimately do what was best for them, right? Stand by their decisions, respect their decisions, make sure the world knew that you still loved them regardless?

Max: ...yes.

Diana: Then extend my son the same courtesy. He may not be your son, but he is still your nephew. As you so like to remind me, he is part of this family, and he deserves your respect and approval as much as anyone else.

Diana: I have to go - it’s a long drive back to Soburg, and my family needs me. Max: Diana, wait, please-- Diana: I thought you had learned from your mistakes before, but clearly I was wrong. My only hope for you now is that you learn now to avoid this in the future. Oliver likely isn’t the first one who’s had to go through this in this family, but he is the first to be open about it. He deserves better than what his ancestors would have gotten. Max: Diana… I-- Diana: You almost lost me and my family once, Max. If you’re not careful, you won’t be getting a second chance. Support him. Support us. Then, if and when he marries, we can discuss next steps with him present. I will not let you ruin my son’s life for your own personal ambitions. Max: Diana! Diana: Goodbye, Maxwell.

#carmichealroyals #sims 4 #the sims 4 #simblr #the sims legacy #the sims 4 legacy #the sims 4 royalty #the sims 4 royal family #sims 4 royal family #sims 4 royalty #TS4 #ts4 legacy #ts4 royal #ts4 royalty #ts4 royal family #ts4 royal simblr #gen1 #tw homophobia

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buoyantsaturn · 3 years ago

Text

I Feel a Little Lost in This World (5/5)

chapter title: Percy’s Birthday Party Takes a Dark Turn

word count: 2,133

read on ao3

Camp was quiet for the rest of the summer, many of them eager to return home to their families for the school year, or simply struggling to process everything they’d gone through in the span of a few days.

Nico had performed funeral rites the day after the battle, and then had to do it again and again as campers continued to succumb to their injuries.

Then, one morning, the dying stopped. Campers began to heal physically, though it was clear that the mental toll would have lasting effects on all of them.

When August finally rolled around and Percy invited the questing group back to his mom’s apartment for a birthday celebration, Nico was excited to go. He wanted to pretend to be normal, just for a few minutes.

They finally got to see that movie they’d meant to see back in June, though they watched it from the comfort of Sally Jackson-Blofis’s couch. They had cake that had been dyed blue with food coloring. They all sat in a circle on the floor in the living room when conversation turned from the lighthearted to something more serious. Nico had wanted to double-check that they’d hit every point on the prophecy - wanting to be extra cautious considering what had happened after his first quest - though none of them seemed to think they knew what the last line had meant. Before they could get too far into it, though, Percy brought up a different prophecy instead.

“You know, I don’t really think it’s fair that the two of you get to know more about the Great Prophecy than us,” Percy complained, leaning back on his hands. “I mean, it’s about a kid of the Big Three, right?”

“That’s what Bianca told me,” Nico said, hugging his knees to his chest. Talking about the prophecy made him want to give Bianca a call, but would she answer? “She said that it’ll come to pass when a child of the Big Three turns sixteen.”

Annabeth nodded. “That’s right. It’s just a matter of...well, figuring out which one of you is closer to sixteen.”

Nico and Percy shared a look. How were they possibly going to figure that out?

Percy shrugged. “Well, chronologically, I’m, like...eighteen? And Nico’s like, a hundred, so...rock, paper, scissors?”

Nico kicked him. “We celebrated your thirteenth birthday last year. So you’re fourteen now.”

Annabeth turned to Nico. “And how old are you?”

Nico blinked. “Uh…”

“He’s fourteen,” Will said quietly. He hadn’t spoken up since the conversation turned to the topic of prophecies, and Nico had almost forgotten he was there. “He was ten when he got to camp, so he’s fourteen now. Almost fifteen.”

“I guess that means I turn fifteen in January,” Nico told Annabeth.

She nodded. “Then, to me, it sounds like the prophecy is yours. You’ll turn sixteen about half a year before Percy.”

“Great,” Nico said with a huff.

Percy nudged him with an elbow. “Hey, don’t worry about it! It’s only if you live that long.”

Nico shoved him back. “I wonder if I could bribe Persephone to turn you back into a tree.”

“Maybe she can turn you into a tree,” Percy suggested, “and that way you can just sleep straight through all the bad stuff.”

“So, you’re cool with taking the prophecy, then?” Nico asked. “Because I’ll gladly let you have it.”

Percy raised his hands in surrender. “Oh, no way, never mind! I’d like to live, thanks.”

“Wow, you think I’m gonna die? Thanks for having any faith in me.”

“Can you two please stop arguing?” Annabeth cut in. “If anything, we should be making a plan so that Nico doesn’t die.”

Nico frowned. “So...you also think that I’ll die? Damn, I expected it from Percy, but it hurts coming from you.”

Will suddenly got to his feet and said, “I need some air.” For a second, he didn’t move, except to glance at Nico before quickly looking away. “Um. Nico, could you come with me? There’s something I-- I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Nico blinked. “Uh, yeah, sure.” He got to his feet, not-so-subtly kicking Percy when he gave Nico a weird look, and then he had to practically jog down the hall to catch up with Will. “Hey, wait up,” Nico said when Will ducked into Nico and Percy’s shared bedroom, and then climbed out the window onto the fire escape. “Will, what’s going on?” Nico asked when he finally joined Will outside.

Will had sat down with his back to the exterior wall of the building, and when Nico sat down beside him, he realized that they wouldn’t be seen by someone passing by the window. Will was hiding - he truly didn’t want anyone but Nico to hear what he had to say. Will reached out for Nico’s hand before he started to talk.

“That...line in the prophecy,” Will said quietly, “I think I know… Lose a love to worse than death. I asked you before if… If Charlie had died, and you said he hadn’t, but that…” Will shook his head, gazing off into the distance away from Nico and letting his head thunk back against the wall behind them. “It’s worse than death. He’s… He’s gone, but now we-- You have to take him out...for good.”

Nico squeezed Will’s hand. “I’m so sorry, Will. I never realized you and Charlie were that close.”

Will laughed humorlessly, almost sounding embarrassed. “It’s...more than that. I--” He groaned, pressing his free hand over his eyes. “How can I explain this?” He dropped his hand and shifted to face Nico, reaching out to take Nico’s other hand as well. “When I was on Calypso’s island, we had a lot of time to...talk. I… I told her about you, mostly.” Will smiled nervously at Nico before dropping his gaze to their hands, his thumbs slowly brushing across Nico’s knuckles. “She got me thinking about some stuff, and helped me process a few things, and I’m realizing now, after… After losing Charlie and...and Lee, I don’t want to risk losing anybody else. And inside, just now, talking about how you--” He choked on his words as he said, “How you might die... Nico, I need you to know how important you are to me. I--” He lifted his gaze once more to meet Nico’s eyes. “I like you, Nico.”

Nico felt his face start to heat up, and for some reason, he couldn’t look into Will’s eyes any longer. He dropped his gaze to their joined hands. “I like you, too, Will. I mean, you’re my best friend, and I--”

Will sighed. “No, I-- I mean, yes, you’re my best friend, too, but-- No, I mean that I like you.”

Nico frowned. He nodded slowly and said, “Right. And I like you, too.”

“No, you--” Will cut himself off with a groan and pulled his hands out of Nico’s, though Nico tried to grab his hands back.

“Wait, hang on a second--”

For half a second, Nico actually thought Will might hit him to try to knock some sense into him, but then he did something that surprised Nico so much more.

Will grabbed Nico’s face in his hands and kissed him.

Nico was sure it only lasted for a second, but at the same time, he wondered if Kronos had appeared and frozen time around them. Then, Will pulled away, taking the warmth of his lips and his hands with him, and all Nico could do was watch him and blink.

He watched as Will opened his eyes, and the way the crease between his eyebrows disappeared. He blinked, and suddenly Will no longer looked determined, but shocked. Another blink, and Will was afraid.

“Oh,” Nico whispered, not sure which part he was reacting to.

Will scrambled back, burying his face in his hands and suddenly rambling, saying, “I’m sorry, oh gods, I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I did that! Please don’t be mad at me, I’m so sorry.”

“Woah, hey!” Nico exclaimed, finally managing to unfreeze himself and reaching out for Will. He took him by the shoulders and tried to lean in to make Will look at him, but it wasn’t until Nico managed to pry Will’s hands away from his face that Will finally lifted his eyes. He hadn’t started crying, which Nico took as a good sign, but his hands were shaking in Nico’s hold. “I’m not mad. I promise, I could never be mad at you.”

“You…” Will blinked. “You’re not? Then...how do you feel about...this?” Nico thought he heard an unspoken question: How do you feel about me?

“I...don’t know,” Nico answered honestly. “I don’t know how to say this in a way that won’t hurt you.”

Will’s hands went weightless in Nico’s. “Oh.”

“No, wait!” Nico squeezed Will’s hands and forced Will to keep his eyes on him. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I need-- I have to process...all of this, but no matter what, I promise, you will always be my best friend. It’s just that… I mean, it’s like Percy said. I’m, like, a hundred. I know things are different now from when I was a kid, but in my head, it’s all still...jumbled up. I never even let myself think about you in that way, because I never thought it was possible for you to like me like that. So… I can’t really tell you how I feel, because I don’t know yet, but I know that I like you, and I’ll always like you, I just need to...figure out if it’s in the same way that you like me.”

Will held his gaze for another few seconds before tipping his head forward to press his forehead against Nico’s. “Okay, I get it.”

“You’re acting like this is a rejection,” Nico commented, “and it’s technically not.”

Will’s nose scrunched up. “It’s not... not a rejection.”

Nico hummed. “That’s too many negatives.”

Will laughed, and Nico felt his heart soar. He pulled back, releasing one of Will’s hands as he did so, and sat down at Will’s side again. He rested his head on Will’s shoulder, and felt Will’s head tip over onto his.

“What would you want to date me for, anyway?” Nico whispered. “I could be dead in a year.”

Will pressed his lips to the top of Nico’s head. “All the more reason to spend as much time with you as I can. Besides, if something were to happen to you, I can’t imagine that I won’t be far behind.”

Nico frowned and lifted his head. “If I die, it’s probably because I’m trying to protect you. If I die while protecting you, and you still die I’m going to be so pissed.”

Will grinned. “I meant more along the lines of how if you die, then Kronos might kill us all.”

“Oh.” Nico laid his head back down. “You don’t think Percy could take over and save the world?”

“A world without you? I don’t think I’d want him to save it.”

Nico elbowed him in the side. “Gods, have you always been this cheesy? Or do you think you have a free pass just because you confessed your feelings for me?”

“Eh, a little bit of both,” Will answered with a laugh.

They were quiet for a few moments, simply enjoying each other’s company, until Nico said, “I think I should go back to my training.”

Will paused. “Like, with your dad?”

Nico nodded. “I barely visited him at all last year while I was in school, and now that we know the prophecy is...well, probably about me, I feel like I should be training harder than ever. To make sure I’m ready for whatever happens.”

“That’s a good point,” Will replied. “Maybe I should stay back this year, too. Michael’s going to need help with the counselor stuff, and maybe Chiron can teach me more about healing, and archery, and...everything I can get better at while there’s still time.”

Nico squeezed his hand. “What about your mom? Don’t you want to spend as much time with her as you can, just in case?”

“I don’t even know if my grandparents will let me see her,” Will said quietly. “But...when it gets to that point, will you take me to Texas so I can say goodbye?”

“I’m not letting you die, Will--”

“I don’t want my last conversation with my mom to be over the phone,” Will cut in. “Please, Nico.”

Nico took a deep breath. “Yes, of course. Anything for you.”

Will shrugged his shoulder lightly, just enough to get Nico to look up at him once more. “So, I guess this means I’ll be seeing you around camp a little more often.”

Nico grinned. “Yeah, I guess you will.”

thanks for reading!

buy me a coffee

#solangelo #will solace #nico di angelo #mine #my writing #bring on the monsters

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alien-rainbow · 4 years ago

Text

The Princes Of The North and South (3/3)

Solangelo fic, Royalty AU, kinda sad ending, kinda not, Will is betrothed to Bianca

Word Count: 2,621

Will snapped his mouth shut and tore his eyes away from the boy and sated behind them at the wooden doors, he couldn't make eye contact with any of the Di Angelos or anyone in his family. Will was struggling to breathe, how could this happen? How and why is this my luck? The kid that Will developed a crush on in only a few hours was now standing directly in front of him but in the worse way possible. I wouldn't be marrying the boy, this wasn't a ball, this was a royal meeting between two kingdoms brought together in the marriage of Nico's sister and Will. Nico was going to be his brother in law, while his sister would be his wife and queen.

"You must be tired," Kalliope said plastering on another fake smile which Nico, just like his father saw though he didn't show it too much. "Would you like to join us at breakfast or rest?" The Di Angelos all shared a look and in a second had decided, their verdict was delivered by king Hades.

"Nico will go to his room and we shall join you," the king said gesturing to the rest of his family. Kalliope gave him a genuine smile and nodded her head towards a pair of guard lining the wall. then gestured for Nico to flow them. Two of the Olympus soldiers lined up at Nico's back while the two Papadopoulos guards walked in front forming a square around the Prince. One more guard joined the mix though this Olympian looked different, his armor had purple and silver medals and designs in it showing that he was of a higher rank. When the guard joined Nico in the middle of the protection square Will realized he must have been the prince's personal guard. Nico glanced back at his the look of bewilderment gone and replaced by curiosity.

Only after they had left the room did Will realize that he had been starring. He turned back to the remaining Olympians his face heating up with a blush. Kalliope then spoke and they were moving to the dining room. It looked a lot better in the day time when the sun reflected around the carful built room lighting up every corner. Will was about it sit down in his normal spot at the far side of the table away from Kalliope when she cleared her through and gestured for him to sit in the chair next to her. It made sense when he saw where the others were sitting, they wanted him to be near his fiance and her parents. King Hades sat across from Kalliope and his wife sat down next to him and Bianca next to her.

Will sat through the meal responding politely though not paying attention. Kalliope and Hades carried the conversation with Persephone budding in everyone and a while and Bianca and Will even less. Bianca kept her eyes in Will's direction almost the entire time as if assessing his worth, she had her father's piercing eyes which added to her beauty. Not a prince or princess in the room wanted to be there and it was quite obvious to their parents but they paid them no mind.

The day continued like that though after breakfast Wills siblings were released, as they walked quickly away from the hall they threw pitted glances at him. Will would have given anything to be out riding with Markus or reading with his siblings. Will would have taken a long lecture and economics over the agony of walking around the castle as Kalliope and Hades conversated and debated the two children's lives. Throughout the day Will's thoughts drifted to Nico and one night they had spent together. More thoughts bubbled by that he had thought he'd forgotten.

Will sat at the dining room his mind drifting why he heard the princess speak, "Are you excited?" Banca asked softly, she looked generally interested in what he had to say, she could also just be trying to soften out the tension between the two. They had shared only a dozen words that day and the tension kept growing.

"Are you?" Will asked kindly, he couldn't help it. He wanted to be mad at her but he also knew that this wasn't her fault. It's no ones fault for being born, Will for one knew that. Though Will couldn't see how anyone would be excited to marry someone they had never met.

"I don't know, I'm glad to finally be a leader for my people, or your people," she paused looking slightly puzzled.

"Our people," Will said smiling at the girl, he knew he would never fall in love with her but having an ally who actually cared about helping and governing people wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen to him. At Will's words, the girl visibly relaxed, at that point he could remember his mother saying that he was a calming presence and to never underestimate the magic of kindness. Bianca returned the smile though it quickly slipped from her face.

"You seem really nice so I need to say this now," she took a deep breath and stared intently at the table not meeting Will's eyes. "I'll never love you, not romanticly at least, I'm sorry." Will was surprised by her statement but was extremely grateful for her transparency.

"Honestly, me neither," Will said smiling sheepishly. It was now Biancas time to look surprised. The two sat there for a few beats then when they made eye contact both burst out laughing. Will felt the tension slip out of the air as he and Bianca began to talk. He leaner about what it was like growing up, the pain of losing her mother, what her step-mom was like, and what she wanted her wedding dress to look like.

"Are you close to your brother?" Will asked, causing the princess's face to light up.

"Yea, we do everything together, though he's really protective of me when he's two years younger," she said smiling "You didn't hear this from me but he found out that I was betrothed and would be heading up[ here alone he threatened father," she laughed at the memory. "He's a tough nut to crack but once you do he's incredibly kind." Will shouldn't have asked the question but he couldn't help it. His heart now hurt thinking of the Biancas brother, he wanted to get to know him, the him he is now. Will hadn't noticed at first but thinking back he thought of early that day. The light in his eyes was almost non-existent compared to the five-year-old Nico Will had met.

Just then the doors swung open and Will's siblings entered surrounded by guards and took their seats at the table. Once they had sat down Bianca started talking with them, they were surprised by this but after a while seemed more conferrable with the girl. Persephone sat down next not joining in the conversation but it was obvious the queen was listing. The doors swung open once again and Nico stepped into the room, Wills breath caught once again at the boy's breathtaking beauty. He walked quickly over to his sister's side and slid into the chair and began to talk quickly in a language Will didn't recognize. He pointed at Will a few times during the speech and Biancas glances at him went from confusion, to wonder, to sadness as Nico finished what he was saying.

The large doors swung open one last time as Kalliope and Hades entered and took their respective places. Dinner passed just like breakfast only this time Will was distracted by thoughts of Nico and Nico himself. When dinner was done everyone exchanged goodnights and Will stole one last glance at Nico and found the boy was staring intently at him. Will waved and smiled brightly causing the boy to turn away as a pink blush covered his cheeks.

Will paced back in forth in his room and realized he couldn't remain in his room any longer. After he had the servants help him get undressed he released them for the night saying that he would see them tomorrow. The second the door closed Will walked over to his closet and pulled out a pair of boots, a simple cotton shirt, and a pair of pants. After dressing himself he grabbed a thick fur cloak out of the wardrobe and threw it over his shoulders and fastened it. He then walked over to the window and pried out a loose stone that hid a rope with knots tied into it. He secured to rope inside his room and tossed the other end out the window then shimmed down, his boots landing in the freshly fallen snow with a satisfying crunch.

Will then started to walk to the garden where his mother's hidden grave was. He navigated through the tall shrubs to a small fountain that was covered with small musical instruments and in the spring, and summer would be surrounded by dozens of blooming daisies. Will was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the sound of two pairs of feet walking up behind him. One of the people stopped about ten feet away from where Will was standing while the other continued over to Will.

"Um, Hello," some said placing their hand on Wills's shoulder causing him to yell, jump up and trip over the edge of the fountain, and fall onto the snow-covered ground. "Oh my gods, are you okay?" the person exclaimed as they extended their hand to the prince attempting to help him up. Will brushed the snow off of his clothes then looked up to see the person who had frightened him and was now offering their hand. Will wanted to be mad but when he looked up and saw Nico's dark eyes looking back at him. All the anger evaporated and was quickly replaced with giddy happiness as heat rose to his cheeks.

"Uh, yea. I'm fine," Will said taking the younger prince's hand and pulled himself back up. Will then smiled at him and thanked him for the help.

"Um, we have met before, right?" Nico said fidgeting with a ring on his middle finger that wasn't covered by gloves. Nico looked slightly nervous and kept glancing back at the single guard that was with him, the guard kept giving Nico reassuring looks.

"Yea!" will said excitedly at fiding out that Nico remembered the night. "It was at that big ball that all the prince and princesses were invited to about ten years ago." A small smile spread across Nico's face as he listened to the blond talk about the night they had spent together. Will talked fast with wild hand gestures with Nico budding in with any details Will had forgotten. "Um, do you want to go for a walk?" Will asked realizing that it was kind of cold and standing still might not have been the best idea though Will didn't feel any of the cold.

"Yes, that would be lovely," Nico said as he started to flow Will through the grounds that were mostly covered in snow, It was then that Will realized that the rooms that they usually kept guest in had a perfect view over the garden meaning that Nico, Bianca, or the King and Queen could have seemed him. For once Will was glad he hadn't thought of that because he was now walking shoulder to shoulder with the most beautiful boy he had ever seen.

Will had gotten to the end of the night and was gushing over Nico's piano skills then slowed to a stop and glanced back at the guard that was following them. He couldn't see much of his face but a scar across his lip and bright blond hair pocking out from the edged of his helmet. He didn't want to get Nico in trouble because of the kiss. Will knew they were only kids but the feelings he felt for the pale boy were still there and maybe stronger than ever. Nico noticed where Will was looking and where he had stopped and let out a soft laugh.

"Jason already knows I trust him I have also told him the story at least a dozen times," Nico said blushing as he realized what he said. Will saw the guard turn to stare at the top of the castle witch in this part of the garden was the only part of the castle that could be seen over the tall hedges.

"You, you talk about it?" Will said bewildered, if he would have told anyone what happened that night he could have been ridiculed, shamed, and even killed.

"Yea... It was one of the happy memories that I held onto after my mama died," Nico said his voice dropping a little. Will could tell that Nico and Bianca had been incredibly close to their mother and were crushed by her death. They stod in the middle of the garden the silence was comfortable but Will couldn't stand it. He had to make some noise so he said the first thing that came to his mind.

"You're still just as beautiful as the day we met," this statement shocked both of them. Will stuttered to try and come up with an excuse for why he said that but failed. Nico just stared at him in shock his face getting even redder.

"William," Nico said softly, Will had been staring at the ground and sky and trees, just anywhere that wasn't Nico. though at his name he turned to look at the pale boy. Will couldn't have dreamed up what came next. Nico grabbed his hands and leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips then quickly pulled back gazing at Will looking for a reaction. Will could feel Nico's hot breath on his skin and the rest of the world faded away. He didn't care that Nico's guard was barely ten feet away, nor that he was a prince engaged to Nico's sister, or that it was freezing outside. His whole body felt alive and hot from the single kiss. Will was about to lean forward to get another kiss out of the ravenett when he heard voices calling out Nico's name saying that his 'walk' had taken far too long.

"You should probably get back," Will said breathlessly. Nico frowned in the direction of the voices.

"Can we even met like this again?" Nico asked though you could hear the disappointment in his voice as if he had already answered the question. Will felt his heart squees and he knew right then and there that he would never let this not leave him ever again.

"We will figure something out, I promise," Will said pressing a kiss to the boy's cheek. Nico smiled brightly at Will then engulfed him in a hug witch surprised the blond. He hadn't expected the boy to be so efficient, but he wasn't complaining.

"Thank you," Nico said with his head still buried in Will's chest, he only broke away when Jason called out telling them that they had to leave now to give Will a path back and so no one saw the two.

Will watched them walk away and he sighed, not even being able to comprehend what he had gotten himself into. Will was marrying the princess of Olympus while in love and secretly meeting up with her brother. Will took a deep breath and started back towards the castle, glancing at the windows where the guest wing was and smiled to himself. Maybe this wasn't the worst situation after all.

#solangelo #will solace #nico di angelo #apollo #bianca di angelo #fanfic #writing #writer #wrote this instead of sleeping #fic #long one shot #fluffy #fluff #bittersweet #bittersweet ending #childhood friends

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yukippe · 5 years ago

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with one glimpse

this is inspired by and for @silima bc i saw her reychel art yesterday and went oh!! ao3

reyna meets rachel at the worst possible time.

she’s losing her influence over the people that she’s done her best to hold onto at the seams for years. her sister has dealt with coups before, but there is something to be said about being a twenty two year old queen who has never had her authority truly questioned before versus a sixteen year old praetor on her second year of her term that has constantly been filled with thinly veiled insults and redirections to the opinions of her male counterparts.

she is the only one willing to see rachel elizabeth dare, oracle of camp halfblood and her companion grover underwood, the apparent new lord of the wild. she does it because she knows that something is wrong. the greeks may have attacked camp jupiter, but it never felt right.

reyna meets rachel at the worst possible time. rachel leaves an impression, of course, she is a legitimate oracle and all reyna has known when it comes to fate and prophecy is whatever octavian does with the teddy bears he cuts up. and, well. rachel is also someone that likely leaves an impression everywhere she goes. her bright red hair and paint stained jeans and nails with chipped, multicoloured polish make a clear picture in reyna’s head. if things had been different rachel wouldn’t have been able to leave reyna’s thoughts.

but, it is a war and reyna is trying desperately to hold everything together when all the legion seems to want to do is follow the words of a power hungry augur who has never won a sparring match. and then the message rachel dare and grover underwood came to deliver sends reyna all the way to greece.

after everything, reyna knows no lost love for eros or venus, both deities having wreaked pain for her and nico. nico, however, reyna thinks is better than a godsend.

seven months after the end of the giant war nico visits camp jupiter with the promise of setting her up on a blind date.

at first reyna is skeptical. nico is a fourteen year old boy who spends every other weekend in the underworld and the rest of the time avoiding reyna’s questions about whether or not he’s going to high school. but, nico does have a very nice boyfriend and he claims that will has “an infinite supply” of lesbian friends her age. so reyna agrees to one blind date, on the condition that nico tours the campus of the high schools in new rome with her. percy likes to cut it on their iris messages to say things about how annabeth is going to have a high school set up in no time, but reyna always reminds him that not even new rome was built in a day.

the two of them are getting hot chocolate in reyna’s favourite cafe by the park with cherry trees that reyna likes to watch and keep track of the blooming patterns. nico is texting will under the table while reyna pretends to be interested in people watching the passerby on the other side of the window they’re seated by. a little girl spies reyna’s purple shirt and the golden laurel in her hair and waves, reyna winks at her.

“ha, you spying new recruits?” nico asks, evidently finished making fun of whatever will sent him.

reyna raises an eyebrow at him, “you were at the senate meeting where frank and i raised the age of voluntary service to sixteen. if she is interested in the legion, i will likely be long retired by the time she’s old enough to join.”

nico makes a face at her. reyna sticks her tongue out in return. most of the time she behaves better, but nico’s company makes her act like a child. could be the shared trauma, or the fact that they were both gay. nico’s phone buzzes again and saves reyna from embarrassing herself further in public. she looks over at the display of pastries at the front of the cafe and considers them carefully. hm. she walks over and orders a chocolate croissant for herself and an oatmeal raisin cookie for nico. his tastebuds are strange, but reyna’s learned better than to try and help him in months of their friendship.

when she returns to their table she plucks his phone out of his hands and pockets it. she ignores his protests and grabby hands, “so. this blind date.”

nico retracts his hands and grins, she doesn’t trust it at all. “she’s going to be holding a blue hairbrush,” he pauses to snicker for no apparent reason. “and she’ll meet you at the library. she told me she’s going to pick a really weird statue to stand next to so you’ll have to make conversation while it’s staring down at you.”

reyna blinks at that. all the statues near the library are odd, so that won’t help very much. but the blue hairbrush should be enough to identify her.

“what’s she like?” reyna asks. nico shrugs at her, so she pulls out the cookie she hid under a napkin and waves it at him.

“she likes art and loud noise,” nico tells her as he reaches over the table and grabs the cookie from her hand. reyna lets him because she doesn’t feel like fighting him in the cafe for it. besides, by nico’s cagey standards that’s a decent amount of information.

she asks him if any of the friends he’s made at camp half blood would be interested in joining them on the tour they’re taking of high schools in new rome in a few weeks and he shoves his cookie into his mouth to avoid answering her. reyna lets him avoid her questions as she tries her croissant.

weeks later after a successful tour of colosseum high school with ten of camp half bloods young and at risk to monster attack teenagers, nico hands her a library book he forgot to return that she’s supposed to use for the girl he’s setting her up with to recognize her with.

“you’re going to get your library card revoked,” she tells him. “do you know how long it took me to get you one? you don’t even live in new rome yet.”

“i don’t like the sound of ‘yet’,” nico says. reyna bares her teeth as she smiles at him, but then she leaves him with his friends and a map to wander new rome for the rest of the day and makes her way over to the library.

reyna has only been on a date that mattered once before. before the unsettling conversation she had with venus, she had tried to feel things for the boys who she knew she should like. no demigod will heal your heart. she is not thankful for venus, the goddess had been cruel and cruelty is not what reyna had needed when the goddess of love had pulled her away after reyna had risked everything on hope and her faith in her ability to survive.

after the war, though, venus’s words had haunted her. reyna has never had time to think about attraction in depth, but piper’s reassurances that she might love a mortal or a god did not seem to be what venus had been alluding to. reyna has no interest in letting someone else heal her heart, and even less interest in any immortal figure. and. reyna had pieced it together with the help of her inability to tear her gaze away from piper’s beautiful brown eyes that fundamentally she couldn’t love a boy.

she’d gone to lunch with a centurion who had a pretty singing voice and liked card games. it had been fun, but the other girl hadn’t really been able to separate reyna as herself and reyna as praetor.

nico’s friend is from camp half blood and reyna has found since the giant war that she is very fond of the looseness of the greeks. she doesn’t like to jinx things, but reyna thinks today will be at least a day of fun.

rachel elizabeth dare, oracle of camp half blood, is sitting at the feet of a particularly ugly statue of emperor constantine holding a blue hairbrush. reyna pauses in her tracks. a memory of the shape of rachel’s mouth as she said reyna’s full name the first time they met, months ago, plays in the back of reyna’s head.

reyna met rachel at the worst possible time. nico’s given her a second chance.

rachel is tormenting the pigeons near her when reyna walks up to her. rachel’s hair is cropped shorter than it was the last time reyna saw her. her nails are less chipped, and it looks like they’re painted in a rainbow pattern.

“hello,” reyna says. she feels awkward, but she wants to try her best to be charming. everything about rachel is breathtaking.

rachel looks up from the pigeons she was making faces at and sways. reyna reaches out to steady her. “are you okay?” reyna asks, concerned.

“uh,” rachel laughs lightly and reyna wants to hear that sound many, many more times. “yeah! i’m find. nico didn’t seem to think to tell me it was you.”

reyna doesn’t quite understand why that made rachel swoon but she smiles at her, because she really wants to smile at rachel and it seems like it fits. “i tried to get nico to tell me who you were going to be, but he can be a bother when he wants to. i have to return a library book of his, but i’ll be right back.”

rachel grins back at her, “sounds good. hey, do you know who this unfortunate statue if of?” rachel points up at constantine and mimes a sick face.

reyna can’t help but laugh, “yeah. emperor constantine.”

“wonder what he did to piss off the artist,” rachel muses. reyna laughs again and does her best to rush to return nico’s book without looking like she’s running to get back to rachel.

when she returns she and rachel decide to walk though the park nearby and then go for something sweet after. rachel tells her she’s vegan and reyna plots a path in her head that will lead them to a gelato place.

“so,” reyna says. “nico said you like art and loud noise?”

rachel blushes, it’s a little splotchy and it hides some of her freckles. reyna wants a picture of it. “uh yeah, i paint a lot and i think i’m going to apply to scad and some other more realistic schools.” she gestures to her denim shorts and reyna looks closer to see paint stains similar to the ones rachel wore when they first met.

“what do you like to paint?” reyna asks her. she wants to know everything rachel wants to tell her.

rachel smiles at her and reyna can tell she asked the right question. as they walk rachel tells her about how they realized she was meant to be the oracle of delphi because she started to paint the future. now, rachel paints things to send a message or make people smile. reyna gets rachel to show her an oil painting she did of annabeth and thalia that percy commissioned her for for annabeth’s birthday. “he’s paying me in baked goods,” rachel tells her. “his mom’s blue chocolate chip cookies are better than ambrosia.”

reyna pauses her at that, “can you eat ambrosia?”

rachel winks at her, “no!”

rachel proceeds to ask her about her dogs, and reyna loves to talk about aurum and argentum. she’s telling rachel about how they like to steal her food even though they’re made of metal when rachel plucks a blue flower and tucks it into her braid. reyna trails off as she watches reyna, and her breath catches when rachel’s hand brushes against her jaw.

rachel’s hand drops to her side and she meets reyna’s eyes. “reyna,” rachel asks, her eyes sparkling and her mouth quirking at the side. “this is a first date and all, but can i kiss you?”

reyna remembers how to breathe, somehow and nods. “yes,” reyna says, smiling. “i’d like that. i like you.”

rachel blushes again, and she places one hand gently on reyna’s cheek, and the other on rachel’s shoulder. reyna puts her hands on rachel’s waist and hooks a finger into one of rachel’s belt loops, she pulls rachel closer and she thinks rachel must be able to hear her heartbeat.

gently, rachel presses her lips against hers and reyna sinks into the touch. reyna can’t think of anything else other than rachel.

they break apart and reyna can feel a giant grin fill her face, it grows even more when she realizes rachel’s smile is just as big. rachel’s hands drop down and reyna lets go of rachel’s waist so she can hold rachel’s hand.

“what’s your favourite flavour sorbet?” reyna asks her.

rachel blinks, “hm?”

“we’re headed to a gelato place,” reyna says. she pulls rachel along the path. rachel laughs as they go and they talk about rachel’s strange taste in music and reyna’s guilty pleasure of badly made action movies. rachel’s hand is soft and reyna thinks the feeling of it against her skin is maybe the best thing ever.

#pjo #hoo #reychel #rachel elizabeth dare #reyna avila ramirez arellano #rey's writering

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lamentsof-bee · 5 years ago

Text

one ghost king to rule them all

ALRIGHT SO - i finished my self indulgent character analysis of our little gay lord and savior, nico di angelo.

and let me tell you. THE PAIN really just makes him more gothy and i’m here for it.

under the cut if y’all wanna read it. your choice. except wendy, she has to read it bc i said so.

Summary:

There were many boys at one point. Boys with flames on their skin. Salt water in their hair. Lightning in their veins. And they all mattered…

The one with the animal heart and the one with a halo made of sun.

Each and every single one mattered.

But not like the boy born of shadows.

Never like him.

[Nico di Angelo would never walk a straight and narrow path, Hestia promised him that much. His would always be a journey marred by sadness, distrust and destruction. But sometimes, beauty can be born of hate. And acceptance can be found in even the darkest of nights.]

[An in-depth look at Nico's journey from the cliff of Bar Harbour to the Battle of Gaea]

Read it on AO3.

There were many boys at one point. Boys with flames on their skin. Salt water in their hair. Lightning in their veins. And they all mattered…

The one with the animal heart and the one with a halo made of sun.

Each and every single one mattered.

But not like the boy born of shadows.

Never like him.

Nico di Angelo remembers the death of his mother.

He was young but still, there is an imprint of the year 1941 on his brain, and the crash that came with Zeus destroying the ceiling.

The faint glow of his father’s power still wakes him at night. A black force field that could only be described as suffocating. The warmth that the Lord of the Underworld could create was never quite inviting though. It licked at you, like hot flames whose only goal was to singe. He had shielded Nico and Bianca from the physical harm, they had survived, but he left them torn.

River Lethe was strong, strong enough to wipe even a Titan’s memories Nico would later find out, but no power was stronger than a mother’s love. The memories of vows of vengeance that Hades swore had faded, the white marble of the Washington D.C. hotel had withered. But Maria di Angelo’s red lips and olive skin will never leave Nico’s mind. Nor will the first moment his father chose to protect him.

For a long time Nico would think it was the last. If only he knew back then how wrong he’d be.

They travelled some with a dark haired lawyer that asked but never listened. And they ended up in the Lotus Hotel.

Nico, even at his young age, heard whispers of The Child of the Eldest Gods and a prophecy to end all prophecies. It was drowned out by the lights of Las Vegas and the inviting doors of the Lotus Hotel.

A month passed for Nico and he and Bianca were swept away by a new lawyer with the same habit of questioning and ignoring. The world outside had changed. Washington D.C. had new subway stations, motorized vehicles had more efficient and ugly, everyone seemed to have something called a ‘cell-phone’.

They were taken to Westover Hall, a military academy in Bar Harbour. Things had changed, Bianca wore a hat and learned everything about this new, modern world that she could. Nico picked up Mythomagic and found himself loving something for the first time since his mother died.

There was so much heartbreak since then.

So many deaths. So many losses.

Nico swore he wouldn’t lose anyone else. Not after his mother had gone so suddenly. So he made Percy Jackson promise to keep Bianca safe.

Percy could do it! Nico insisted to himself. Percy was strong and experienced and he’d been on a quest before. His hair was dark and his eyes sparkled, Nico liked that a lot. Nico knew Mythomagic, he knew what kind of points the monsters would have that his sister would be facing. And she needed someone to watch her six. Someone who knew how.

Percy could do that.

He tried his best to keep his spirits up after the group’s departure.

It was still cool, that Camp Half-Blood was like Mythomagic brought to life. The lava climbing wall and real life land mines made for an interesting stay.

But still…he felt quite lonely.

He’d never been without Bianca before…

He’d never been alone…

On his first lone night, Nico stood apart from the campers gathered around the fire. They sang together off-key and toasted marshmallows as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Everyone seemed happy, everyone seemed at home.

Except Nico.

And that one young girl in a mousy brown dress with eyes like fire.

She stared into the blazes, her gaze softening as it grew with the intensity of the love around the hearth. She seemed so ordinary. Without thinking Nico drew towards her wanting to get a better look at her face. When he did, he noticed it was all together unremarkable. Freckles on the bridge of her nose, brown hair to match her dress but she had flames in her eyes.

She looked at him and said nothing. Still, there seemed to be an invitation in the air.

He took a seat next to her and stared in the blazes.

‘Your hearth,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s so small.’ Sorrow clouded her voice.

Nico felt vulnerable and naked. His hearth was practically empty. His father would feed him to the dogs, his mother had passed before he could grow old enough to remember her and his sister had left him behind. The coals of his hearth were barely glowing. He felt as if there was only one left and its ember was extinguishing.

‘A small hearth is still a home.’ His voice was as quiet as hers. His eyes never leaving the fire.

‘And home you will always return.’

The smile she gave him was small and the wisdom in her eyes seemed far beyond her years. She looked of Nico’s age but her demeanour betrayed her.

‘You have far to travel, Nico di Angelo.’ Her tone sounded sombre again. ‘You have much to face. But for your kindness you will be rewarded. You shall always find a place at my hearth.’

He wanted to ask her how he knew his name and what exactly she was talking about but a warmth filled his stomach. A sense of calm and serenity washed over him and suddenly it didn’t matter so much that his hearth was small or he had been left behind. This fire was warm enough and a hearth could be rebuilt with time.

His life had been touched by a goddess.

Since his time at Camp Half-Blood, Nico’s powers had grown. He felt the souls passing on, meeting the ferryman at the River Styx. He felt the marble shake with his father’s anger and watched as the flowers wilted when he walked.

But nothing quite made him feel like the Son of Death than when Percy came back without Bianca and only a Mythomagic figurine to make up for it.

Nico had wondered before why his father had such rage built up inside him. Why he couldn’t just accept the life his siblings chose for him? But in that moment, Nico understood.

With every step Bianca took towards her hearing, Nico felt the pang echo in his chest. As if he were standing there with her, he could see the gold masks leering down at him. He felt the ringing in his ears.

The rage exploded inside him like a volcano and sizzled the pity Percy tried to shovel on him. The hero he had in his mind, the greatness Percy Jackson encompassed, had disappeared. The fluttering in his stomach, the butterflies that took flight when he looked at Percy, they withered and died as Bianca was sentenced.

The amorous feelings, as amorous as a ten year old kid could feel, he had towards Percy were marred with darkness and stained with hate. Still… when the skeleton warriors pounced Nico couldn’t help it.

He saw Percy get disarmed. The ringing in his ears increased. He brought his hands to his head, trying to shake away the sound. The darkness grew inside of him, like a ball of energy ready to combust until he couldn’t take it anymore.

‘No! Go away!’

The ground split open and the skeletons were swallowed by flames and earth. One crunch later and not a single bone was left to be found.

Panting, Nico’s eyes moved from the fissure in the ground to Percy. He looked back at the kid, wide-eyed and awestruck. Bianca may have died but Darkness has just risen.

One step forward was all it took for Nico to shout a curse at Percy and run into the shadows of the woods. With this he would leave behind any feelings that Percy Jackson awoke in him.

The road to Daedalus is dark and messy. Minos whispers in his ears with a voice as smooth as silk and provided both comfort and education. The things Nico learned with Minos he will never forget. Shadow travel, raising of spirits, conferring with the dead. It took some practice but eventually Nico made it back from his accidental trips to China and succeeded in summoning a soul.

Theseus’ words were muddled and unhelpful. His gaze drawn constantly to Nico’s ghostly guide, unsettling the young boy. He senses your power. That was what Theseus had said but he hadn’t said who. Darkness closed in again and Nico was alone, no one but Minos and an empty pit.

When he faces Percy next, Nico is disappointed to find that his heart still skips a beat. He likened it to a minor heart attack first and thought perhaps he’d be able to find Bianca that way but when the sensation passed with Percy’s eyes still on him, Nico only looked back coldly.

Your soul is worth nothing to me! He wanted to shout at Percy. How dare he think his soul could be exchanged for Bianca’s? Bianca’s soul was worth thousands of Percy’s. No amount of good looks and boyish charm could save him from that.

‘Let’s ask Bianca.’

That was what Percy had said. As if her appearance would rectify the wrong he had caused her. As if she would appear in front of Nico simply because Percy willed it.

If it were true, if Bianca showed this time, Nico would wring Percy’s neck.

He poured the root beer into the pit and let the words come from the deepest part of him. The chant brought about a mist and spirits followed it to kneel by the depth.

The chanting became forced and as Minos lowered himself and drank.

‘Be gone, Minos!’ He ordered.

The ghost flickered, hesitated and tried to stay. Nico’s voice strained as his power fluctuated and the ghost obeyed, albeit reluctantly.

The figure that followed formed into the glowing spirit of Bianca di Angelo. Silver snowboard jacket, olive skin and sad eyes.

She gazed at Percy and rejected his apology. ‘I made my own choice. I don’t regret it.’

Watching her raised, the words spilled out of Nico. ‘Why didn’t you answer me sooner? I’ve been trying for months!’

His heart breaks when she says, ‘I was hoping you would give up.’

‘Give up?! I’m trying to save you!’

Her hand stretches towards her little brother. He’d grown since they’d seen each other last. His eyes were colder, surrounded by dark rings. He’d become taller too. ‘Don’t do this.’ She said quietly. ‘Percy is right.’

‘You must listen to me,’ she implored, ‘holding a grudge is dangerous for a child of Hades.’ Her hand evaporated as it got close to his face. ‘It is our fatal flaw.’

She cocked her head, asking him for understanding.

‘You have to forgive. You have to promise me this.’

He shook his head like a child refusing to let their parent leave before they fell asleep.

‘You are close to the truth now,’ she told him. ‘It is not Percy you’re mad at, Nico. It’s me.’

The wound he had been trying to cover broke open. The scab felt raw and wet. He felt the hurt leak from his heart through his body until even his toes were drowned in sorrow.

‘You must overcome your anger. Or else it will be your doom.’ She insisted. Don’t do this her soul begged.

‘No! I am the son of Hades. I can.’

For the second time, a dead demigod spoke of Nico’s power before disappearing. It hurt all that much more because it was Bianca. When the mist cleared there was nothing left in the pit but a leftover smell of root beer and bad barbeque.

It rattled him to his core. The strength he felt surge inside of him. The orb of darkness that pulsed, sometimes so strongly that it forcefully pushed out of him and dark tendrils followed him when he walked. Souls cowered where he went, even nature couldn’t seem to thrive in his presence. Maybe he was destined for a life in the labyrinth. A life filled with darkness and solitude.

He yearned for laughter and peace. He wished he could imagine a life happiness. He thought, if he could picture it, which he can’t but if he could, maybe Percy would be there. Maybe he’d hold out his hand towards Nico and all would be forgiven. Maybe he would know that Bianca would give him her blessing and he would finally rest knowing that he was okay. That he was not deviant. That he was only human…

But he wasn’t.

He felt the darkness move inside of him like a pool of ink staining a white shirt. Noticeable and inevitable. When the dracanae captured him, his only thought was that he hadn’t found Percy yet. Minos betrayed him – not that Nico was surprised. He’d played enough Mythomagic to know who King Minos had been and his power over Darkness was strong enough to know who Minos had become.

The battle started and Nico was pushed to the ground. The iron on his chains bit into his wrists but as he watched the people he knew – his friends? – fight, he felt helpless. Annabeth duelled with her knife, Percy sparring with his sword. They weren’t holding their own. The emotion rammed into his chest and made the Darkness surge. Like iron against fire, the chains melted into smoke as they left Nico’s wrists. This is not how he would go down.

Percy would not die before he had atoned for his sins, not before Nico could understand why his heart still skipped a beat when the dark haired boy looked at him. Minos would not rise again to call himself the ghost king. Luke would pay for his treachery.

He starred at his ghostly former companion.

‘You do not control me, young fool.’ Minos sneered. ‘All this time, I have been controlling you. A soul for a soul, yes. But it was not your sister who will return from the dead. It is I!’

Spirits shimmered around Minos as his body solidified. The whirling energy inside Nico forced his entire body to awaken. His gaze hardened, his look one of ice.

You dare speak to Son of the Dead that way?

‘No.’ Nico insisted. ‘I am the son of Hades. Be gone!’

If looks could kill, Minos would have returned to the grave again.

‘You have no power over me. I am the lord of the spirits! The ghost king!’

A crazed look fell into Nico’s eyes as his dead tilted. He drew his stygian sword with intention and stared Minos in the face.

‘No.’ He held up his sword. ‘I am.’

He plunged the sword into the floor and ran through it like butter. He called to all the spirits that clawed at his feet and his mind. He ordered them to take back Minos and put back where he belonged, under the rule of Hades. The windows cracked and the ground boomed and suddenly the spirits around Minos veered towards him. When the fissure opened in the ground, much like the one that had appeared in Camp Half-Blood, Minos could not struggle against the souls holding him down. He could do nothing but disappear into the depths of the Underworld where he would forever walk with Nico’s shadow over his head. Spending an eternity knowing he had challenged the wrong Darkness.

The energy he needed to banish Minos sucked more out of Nico than he’d like to admit. His olive complexion turned pale, his sword hand could barely lift the weight of his blade. Still, he followed Percy, Annabeth and a strange red-haired girl called Rachel when they fastened him into make-shift wings.

They stopped at a gift shop, attempting to find a way back into the maze.

‘Daedaulus isn’t dead.’ Nico told them when they wondered if the labyrinth was even still alive. ‘That I know for sure.’

Percy thanked him as Annabeth and Rachel walked ahead. For a second it felt like pure adrenaline running through Nico’s body. He pushed the feeling away and muttered something about being even for the fight on the ranch and raising Bianca.

‘Minos was right.’ Percy looked at him confused. They walked in silence for a while. ‘Daedalus should die. To cheat death for so long. It’s not natural.’

‘So you were going to trade Daedalus’ soul for Bianca’s?’ Percy voice doesn’t sound accusing, more like the pieces are finally falling into place and he can see the big picture.

Nico walks in silence wondering if he should bare his soul. He looks at Percy and sees a glimmer of the boy he admired. The one that makes his blood pump faster than usual. He figures, now is as good a time as any – since he’s not coming back.

‘It’s not easy, you know. Having only the dead for company.’ His words are quiet and his eyes downcast. ‘Knowing I’ll never be accepted by the living due to my heritage. Having only the dead respect me, if only out of fear.’

‘You could be accepted.’ Percy answered. And there it was, that naïve optimism that made Percy so attractive. His blind desire to help and save and foster. But good intentions not a good life make.

Look at what happened to Luke.

Kronos strode towards them, shimmering gold eyes, Luke’s short cropped blonde hair and scythe in his hand �� ready to take whatever path he deemed worthy.

Nico knew the only escape would be to venture back into the labyrinth but Kronos’ domineering voice giving orders shook him to his core.

As it always did when he was afraid, the Darkness within him pulsed.

‘NO!’ Nico yelled as Kronos ordered his cronies to target them. He clapped his hands together and pushed his energy outward. If it would have been visible, people would have seen a shadow fall over the fortress. A spire of black rock erupted and tore the building to pieces. Kronos and his servants were left under piles of debris.

And Nico had outed himself. Well, not outed as… he couldn’t even think that. But outed as one of the Big Three.

When Percy had said as much, all Nico could do was shrug. ‘Big deal.’

What was one more person on his tail.

They find their way back into the maze and into the cave of the Nature God, Pan. Nico’s life had been touched by the Gods before but this time, this time it was different. The shimmering form of Pan sat before them, glistening off the ruby and sapphire walls.

His pull so strong that even Nico fell to his knees in respect. Yet, there was something eery about the whole thing. Like Nico could feel the energy being sucked out of the cave and towards nothingness. As if it were only a fragment of a life, a well-kept memory of something already passed…

Only once did the god acknowledge his presence.

‘Dear Grover,’ Pan said, ‘you must accept the truth.’ His gaze moved towards Nico’s bowed head. ‘Your companion, Nico, he understands.’

Nico nodded slowly, looking up at the god. His answer hesitant. ‘He’s dying.’ Grover made a strangled sound. ‘He should have long ago. This…this is more like a memory…’ As Nico said the words, the world seemed to make sense again.

The god had held on long enough for his disciple to find him but still, the years had waned his strength and he was but a collection of hope left over. Fading was a god’s punishment for not staying relevant in the modern world. And the modern world had no place for nature the way it had in the past. The times of forest foraging and daylight dwelling was over, it was replaced with technology and skyscrapers and time running out.

Nico could feel the sand in Pan’s hourglass running out. It was about to let the last granule drop.

He gave each of Nico’s companions a message, a gift of wisdom. Only Nico was ignored. What could Pan teach Nico about nature that he didn’t already know. His power was the most natural of all – to watch life end and return to its birthing place.

Still the god’s words struck a chord with Nico.

The only salvation you must make for yourself. Each of you must.

Some souls have escaped the claws of death but that day, one long over due returned. When the lights faded, the cave was dark and the moss on the walls had receded. As had the holy presence that lured them there.

Nico felt the essence of the god disappear, until not even a whisper of it remained in the undead realm.

There was no time for rest or mourning. Though it seemed Grover would take time for the latter eventually. It took only one uncomfortable pegasus ride for Nico to fall back into his thoughts about Percy. The sea demigod was always protecting him, always bargaining with him, trying to make sure that Nico was safe. It was a selfless act, stupid, but still selfless. And for that Nico had to give him credit. The way Percy had chastised him for revealing his powers to Kronos made him aware of the fact that Percy had kept his secret. He hadn’t told anyone about Nico’s birth right or his heritage. And he had done it to try to save him.

The battle wasn’t over though. Luke’s plan, Kronos’ plan – whatever, had succeeded. They had infiltrated camp and were running rampage on the grounds.

It was quite a sight to see – all the demigods coming together to fight for their lives. A dozen dracaenae were heading towards the cabins when Percy alerted Nico of the threat.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his hands, straining as if an invisible force was resisting their pull upwards. ‘Serve me!’

The earth trembled and parted in the midst of the dracenae. Undead warriors, all answering to Nico, rose from the depths and engaged the enemies. He pushed as much of his power as he could into the corpses, daring them to oppose his will.

He sunk to his knees as the soldiers drew more and more of his energy to stay aboveground.

He gave and he gave and he gave. He watched the lady dragons get pulverized until his vision started to fade and blackness surrounded him.

When he woke, a figure was standing above him with a canteen of nectar. The people in his vision slowly started reforming from their three-fold selves and his sight cleared. Percy was hovering over him with more people fanned out.

His eyes landed on Daedalus.

‘I came to correct my mistake.’ The words struck Nico. The labyrinth could not continue, that much was clear. The only thing left to do was offer up one last sacrifice, a last trade to compensate for the damage the old inventor had caused.

Annabeth protested. ‘You won’t get a fair trial! The spirit of Minos sits in judgement –’

The inventor smiled at her ruefully. ‘I will take what comes.’ He turned to Nico. ‘And trust in the justice of the Underworld, such as it is. That is all we can do, isn’t it?’

Nico’s dark look didn’t waver Daedalus’ spirits. The boy nodded in agreement.

‘Will you take my soul for ransom, then? And use it to reclaim your sister?’

Nico’s eyes lowered and for a second he wished he could act like the boy that he was. But he knew he could not. Instead, he had to act like the son he was born to be.

‘No,’ His answer was firm. ‘I will help release your spirit. But Bianca has passed. She must stay where she is.’ Thus is law of nature.

Daedalus looked at him with reverence. ‘You are becoming wise, son of Hades.’ There was a pause. ‘I am ready to see my son…and Perdix. I must tell them how sorry I am.’

Getting to his feet, with much effort, Nico turned to the old inventor with his sword. He raised a hand towards the forehead of the old man and whispered ‘Your time is long since come. Be released and rest.’

The inventor smiled with relief and released as sigh so deep it seemed to have been held for eons. Slowly his skin became transparent until the gears behind it became visible. The machinery halted its whirling and the old man turned to ash and blew away with the wind.

Nico shared the relief the inventor had felt. Releasing a soul so long overdue and feeling it return to the depths of the earth had granted him some freedom. The souls bound to the mortal plane that evaded the clutches of Thanatos weighed him down more than he had realized.

Post-battle Nico spent a short time in the Apollo cabin’s med-bay where the head councillor prodded his bruises and poked his scratches with very little comment. The councillor seemed wary of him.

Nico felt the vitality in the cabin. There were plenty of campers running around and plenty of patients to be treated. Nico felt the life of each being in the room. There was a plump blonde boy at the back of the room. There was a small gathering around him, a kid maybe slightly older than Nico stood with his head bowed. The kid in the bed was dead. Nico felt his life extinguish on the battle field, still the medics tried to breathe life back into lungs and jump-start his heart with compressions.

It was no use.

Nothing good was going to come of the Son of Death hanging around in a place meant for healing.

Nico got to his feet, using his knees to push himself upwards. He spared a glance at Castor, the fallen demigod, a son of Dionysus if he remembered correctly. He had liked Mythomagic and had a twin. In another life, if Castor had lived and Nico weren’t shunned for his heritage, perhaps they could have been friends.

A sigh escaped Nico’s lips as he turned. He briefly caught the eye of the small boy standing at Castor’s bedside. A mop of blonde hair almost covered his blue eyes but still, they looked into Nico’s, wide eyed and wondering. As if to ask why are you leaving?

The implication of the question stopped Nico short.

He shook the blue eyes out of his mind and turned.

Nico had a lot of work to do. On himself. On discovering who he really was, where he came from and what his purpose was. Camp Half-Blood couldn’t help with that. There was a reason why Hades didn’t have a cabin on the grounds. It was best to keep death as far away from a haven as possible. And Camp Half-Blood was a sanctuary if Nico ever did see one.

He left camp with a short goodbye to Hestia. The goddess didn’t bless his travel or his journey but she did give him some advice.

Wisdom will come to you when you least expect it. And someday you must face your own shadow. Beware, Son of Hades, the path you walk will never be straight but it will lead you home.

He didn’t know what to make of her words but he chose to guard them closely and maybe soon they would become clearer.

He travelled the underworld and began to feel more at home amongst the souls that transcended through the realm. Sometimes Ms O’Leary joined him, more often than not though, he travelled alone. Daedalus’ hearing took place and although Minos pushed for a malice filled punishment, the Lord of the Underworld had other ideas. It was the first time Nico saw his father enact any type of power within his realm. Minos stewed quietly behind his golden mask and obeyed his master. He visited his father at court and found nothing but malevolence boiling below the surface of their relationship. Questions about his mother and the life he led before the Lotus Hotel remained a mystery.

Time passed quickly and before he knew it, days had turned into months.

He became familiar with the happenings of the Underworld and the created a map inside his mind. He placed all the rivers in his model and added in Asphodel and the Fields of Punishment. It was only when he got to the River Styx that he discovered something that may change the way his wind blew.

A plan formed in his mind.

A bargain made with his father.

And then, he went off to return to the one person that scared him the most.

He watched Percy from the bottom of the fire escape . The demigod gently placed a sprig into a small planter box and sprinkled it with nectar. The look on Percy’s face was almost melancholic, it pulled at Nico’s heartstrings. He took a breath and stepped into the shadows, and tried to leave any feelings for Percy at the bottom of the stairs.

‘Nice plant.’ He said, stepping out of the shadows.

Watching Percy Jackson jump was one of the few pleasures Nico had left in life.

‘Sorry.’ He said, not meaning it. ‘Didn’t mean to startle you.’

Percy’s eyes looked greener in the moonlight, the sprig that had grown in the plant box and the way he had handled it made Nico wonder if he’d ever be able to treat something with so much care.

For a mere moment, he wondered if he might, someday, be able to treat Percy with such care.

A compliment was on the tip of his tongue. Instead he said ‘I want to make you an offer.’

All business, all the time.

Over blue cake and soda, Nico explained to Percy what he was proposing. How Percy could save the world, how the tide of the upcoming war could be changed. It was risky and really, really stupid, still Nico was convincing.

But Percy was scared.

For that, Nico could not blame him. Still, he had to push.

He decided what Percy needed was time. And what he needed was answers. So he left Percy in New York to stew over his plan with the intention to return within the month.

It took him much longer than that. Almost a year passed before Nico next contacted Percy to set their plan into motion.

It brought him back to his time in the Underworld. Back when he thought there was no place a son of Hades couldn’t see. He should have stayed home, even if home was a ghastly castle made of black marble that provided a highway for souls to transcend their mortal lives.

There had been some comfort there though.

There had been Bob…

The most gentle of giants, the friendliest Titan in the world.

‘Time passes quickly.’ Bob had said to Nico as he cleaned the stairs of the palace. Though how that was possible for an immortal Titan, Nico did not know.

Nico sat on the marble staircase and watched the giant.

‘Never quickly enough…’ Nico had muttered under his breath. He had meant not quickly enough to forgo the suffering he was enduring but Bob had misunderstood.

‘You’ll see your friends soon.’ His tone was light.

‘Friends…’ Nico hesitated.

‘Bob would like to have friends.’ The Titan’s expression was thoughtful, melancholy even.

‘You’d need a friend like Percy.’ The worlds rolled out of Nico before he could stop them.

‘Percy…’ Bob looked at Nico curiously.

‘Yeah, you know…’ He swallowed his pride. ‘Someone who looks out for you when you’re in trouble. Who comforts you when you’re down and tells you no matter what it’s gonna be alright.’

‘Your Percy… he does this?’

Your Percy.

It shouldn’t have struck a chord with Nico but it did.

‘Yeah.’ He swallowed hard. ‘He does.’

He took the breadcrumbs his father gave him about his mother’s birth and followed them to Olympus. While he was in the area, he headed to Mount Othrys. Any chance to eavesdrop on a Titan was a good chance to take. While he was there he sent a dream vision to Percy, this was the time to push. Time was running out and he was running out of leads.

‘You see Percy?’ His voice barely a whisper. ‘You’re running out of time.’

A change in the air told him to return to his father’s realm. A shift was about to take place.

He followed his impulse back to Styx where he went to speak with Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld. Before he could greet the Spirit of Boundaries a presence drew his eye. Between a small group of people he found the head of tall dark familiar person. Beckendorf looks at him with recognition and regret.

Nico walks up feeling a little numb.

Beckendorf had been the best of them. Always the first to take the lead, the first to sacrifice, the first to comfort. He was in the wrong place. And yet, Nico knew that Beckendorf’s mortal life was over.

‘Hey.’ Beckendorf’s low voice was still comforting.

‘Hey.’

‘Nice place you got here.’ Beckendorf raises an eyebrow in jest.

Nico snorts. ‘Thanks.’

He sobers and turns to his tall companion. ‘Follow me. You don’t have to wait in line.’

Beckendorf walks behind Nico, who leads him to Charon and passes the ferryman with a nod.

They speak little on their journey to the hearing. Beckendorf asks if Percy survived the fall from the Princess Andromeda and for one awful second Nico needs to go searching for his soul and hope to Gods that he doesn’t find it. He breathes a sigh of relief. Percy’s soul has not passed on. He survived the explosion.

He tells Beckendorf as much and mentions that for his heroic sacrifice he will be granted admission to Elysium. Nico brings up rebirth but Beckendorf only smiles and shakes his head.

‘I’m waiting for someone.’

His stance is resolute. His eyes are clear.

‘If you see Percy…’ Beckendorf smiles ruefully. He will never see Percy again. ‘Tell him it wasn’t his fault. That he shouldn’t beat himself up over this. I’m good here. I’ve got something worth waiting for.’

Watching Beckendorf pass through the gates towards the court of judgement made Nico feel dizzy. He had seen demigods fall before, he had felt souls pass on a-plenty but this was different. Beckendorf had been the most competent soldier amongst their legion. And still, he had fallen. It hit close to home.

He needed to protect what little he had left.

He needed to protect Percy.

And he would.

After he found out about his mother.

The plan wasn’t thought through. He doesn’t know why he trusted his father and betrayed Percy. Tricking a guy into an audience with your undead Lord of the Dead father is the best way to get someone to fall in love with you – not. Still, there were some things that took precedent. And the di Angelo history was one of them. One of the few. Okay, the only thing.

The look of betrayal on Percy’s face had Nico looking away in shame.

The throat pin in the cell was definitely deserved.

‘I swear on the River Styx, I didn’t know what he was planning.’ Nico heard the rush of water in his ears as the oath was sworn.

‘You know what your dad is like!’

The anger was real and justified. Nico hadn’t given Percy any reason to trust him in the past and he may have just marred any chance he had of getting Percy to trust him in the future.

But Percy bathed anyway.

Even when Achilles told him to turn back.

It will make you powerful. But it will also make you weak.

Nico watched Percy stare in Achilles’ face and say no. If Luke had bathed, then Percy must too. It is the only way he would stand a chance.

Let the gods witness I tried.

The boys shivered as the wisdom of the greatest mortal hero to ever live rolled down their backs. Achilles disappeared and the river kept churning.

The minutes Nico spent on shore seemed endless. He counted the pebbles at his feet and tried to ignore the river that had swallowed his friend. A son of Poseidon couldn’t drown…right?

This was the only way. This was the right choice.

Nico repeated the words in his mind like a mantra. This will save him. This will set him free.

There was no doubt in Nico’s mind that Percy was the hero of the prophecy. That knowledge both hurt and healed him. He knew the object of his affection was going to be a great hero, was an honourable half blood but the same hero’s hubris may come at too high a cost. Nico would never be the child of the prophecy. It had nothing to do with his father’s taunts of Your sister would have done a better job. And more to do with the fact that Percy was just cut from hero cloth. He inspired loyalty and trust…and love.

And if he took this dip. If Percy came out of the river alive then he would be able to survive the prophecy and he would be saved!

Then we would thank Nico!

Then maybe…

Maybe they could start over.

After that night the trust was broken between Nico and Percy and maybe that was for the best. He stayed in the Underworld and attempted to persuade Hades to join the fight.

It was futile.

Their relationship, what was left of it, was strained and strenuous at best. Nico tried to implore his father but to no avail. He couldn’t understand why Hades would rather watch the world burn and him with it than protect what he loved by serving the greater good.

Only when he dug up Persephone’s flower beds and called upon his mother did he begin to understand the god he called his father.

‘Why? What is he hiding?’ Nico had asked Bianca when she took her mother’s place.

‘Pain. Hatred. This knowledge will only hurt you. Remember what I said.’

He clawed his way through her image, it was replaced by a series of scenes like something out of a movie.

He watched his own mother’s death and the destruction of life as he knew it. He felt he couldn’t take it all in until a girl entered the picture and Hades began to chant.

His eyes fully black, Hades looked possessed by an otherworldly creature. ‘I swear as long as my children remain outcasts, as long as I labour under the curse of your Great Prophecy, the Oracle of Delphi will never have another mortal host. You will never rest in peace. No other will take your place. Your body will wither and die, and still the Oracle’s spirit will be locked inside you. You will speak your bitter prophecies until you crumble to nothing. The Oracle will die with you!’

The screams of the girl would make Nico wake up in cold sweat for many years to come. So chilling was it, watching his father enact his rage on an innocent bystander.

Now Nico knew why Bianca had warned him. Grudges were fatal to the children of Hades because they had been fatal to their father. A curse born of hatred had caused the world to fall into chaos and it was their duty, no, only Nico’s duty now, to atone for the sins his father had committed.

It must have been a miracle that Hades decided to join the war, that Luke woke up at Annabeth’s injury, that Olympus didn’t fall at the hands of Kronos that day.

Hades was welcomed into the throne room with pats on the back and words of welcome. And Nico sat at the foot of his make-shift throne feeling like he might finally be worthy of his father’s attention. The Curse of the Oracle had been broken. Or so it seemed…

The next few weeks are something out of a dream. Nico is welcomed the same way his father was and for a while things seem to be looking up. He built his cabin with style. Obsidian walls and green fire torches. No cabin would compare.

He spent a little time in the med-bay again. This time his wounds were minor but his health had deteriorated due to his shadow travel. He would need to get stronger to shadow travel more often. The head counsellor was nowhere to be seen. The kid he had seen at Castor’s bedside treated his wounds instead. His bright eyes and sunny disposition were jarring. Still there was something calming about the guy.

‘Solace. Will Solace.’

After the blonde, Will, had covered Nico’s wounds in nectar and band aids, he held out his hand.

‘Right uh, Nico. di Angelo.’

He hesitantly grabbed Will’s hand, standing up. To his surprise, Will didn’t shiver or back away from Nico. He grasped Nico’s hand softly and gave it a shake.

‘Nice fighting and all that.’

‘Oh uh thanks.’ Nico, who had never really interacted much with people, became aware that it might be normal to compliment Will as well. ‘Nice… um.. healing and stuff.’

If Will thought his reaction was strange, he didn’t show it. He simply flashed Nico a blinding smile and threw up a peace sign.

‘Thanks.’ He gave Nico a wink. ‘See you round.’

With that he turned and exited.

The people he met – Annabeth, Grover, Rachel … Percy… they all became his friends. They became his reason for continuing his journey. Maybe the curse of Hades really had been broken. Nico finally felt like he had something worth returning to.

There were so many experiences that led Nico to becoming the person he was destined to be. Meeting Percy at Camp Jupiter had shaken him but he had remained strong. His father’s will would undoubtedly win. And his word’s rang true. Go to them. It is important you make this connection. The path was never going to be easy. Hestia had all but promised him that much. Whether Tartarus had always been part of that destiny, though, was unclear. But Nico knew if he could give it back – he would.

The pull of the pit had been too strong. It sucked him in like a black hole and left him feeling naked, empty and helpless. Still, he followed it. He knew he would find the Doors at the end of the burning road. Nevertheless, he drank the fire water and faced the Goddess of Misery, Akhlys. She had congratulated him on his sorrow and whined ‘Child of Hades, what more could I do to you? You are so perfect. So much sorrow, so much pain.’

He could add it to the things that kept him up at night. Her blood streaked face, his distress mirrored in her tears on the shield of Hercules. He would never forget the true face of misery and how it had welcomed him home.

In a way it seemed right for him to be overwhelmed in Tartarus. Overrun by Gaea’s minions. In a way, he had seen it coming. He had prepared for the worst.

The pomegranate seeds he ate had been a last resort. As the air in the bronze jar thinned and his pomegranate supply dwindled, he wondered if this was all he had been meant for.

To be a puppet in another god’s game.

He had been so close. He had found the Doors of Death. He almost saved them.

He had only just gotten Hazel back and now he would be the one that needed finding in the Fields of Asphodel.

He thought suffocating under Rome in a bronze jar would be the worst thing to happen to him since losing Bianca.

And then…

And then he watched Percy and Annabeth fall to their doom.

Lead them there! Percy had begged him. Promise me!

He saw them fall into blackness and almost jumped after them. He clawed at the rocks and bellowed and cried. Not again. Nico screamed until his lungs gave out. Bring them back! Bring them back! Bring them back! He was inconsolable.

Not again!

None of it seemed to matter anymore. He knew Percy could survive Tartarus, especially if Annabeth was with him. Nico just didn’t know who Percy would come out as at the other side.

Gaea didn’t want to give him time to dwell on it but he did so anyway.

He’d stay up late at night and watch the shadows dance against the walls as Coach Hedge walked up and down the hallway making sure everyone was in their own cabin. Not that Nico had anywhere else to go.

The last battle ran through his head like a movie. Some parts were marred by dizziness and fog because he hadn’t completely recovered from the asphyxiation in that moment but still, the outlines of the figures were clear. Percy was standing over him again. Percy was saving him again.

And all Nico could do was lay there trying to catch his breath.

The Death Trance had taken plenty out of him. The black clothes he wore seemed to slowly become one with him as he faded in and out of the shadows. It took his upmost control to not sink through the lumpy mattress he was sitting on in that moment.

He needed to be stronger.

He always needed to be stronger.

Bu there was no time. Every minute Percy (and Annabeth, he reminded himself) stayed in Tartarus was a minute longer they stood in hell. They needed a way out and Nico had to make it to the Doors of Death when they found it.

Nico would make sure that Percy and Annabeth survived their walk through the abyss. But it would be a whole lot easier with an army by his side…

Chasing the Sceptre of Diocletian brought Nico face to face with a demigod he thought he’d never see again. Jason Grace.

He looked different than Nico remembered.

His close cut hair had grown slightly, the glasses on his face (also new) seemed to be permanently askew. His strength hadn’t waned though. Jason still emanated an intense aura. Like that of a lightning storm coming to pass. Close, suffocating and inevitable. Still, he didn’t look so Roman anymore.

Nico had extended a challenge. Go with me to Diocletian’s Palace if you dare. And the son of Jupiter was never one to back down from a fight.

Maybe Jason had become a little more Greek than he’d like to admit.

‘I just can’t imagine how weird that must be, coming from another time.’

It almost made a shiver run down Nico’s spine. You have no idea.

‘No, you can’t.’ He wanted to end the conversation there but sometimes you have to take one for the team. Jason wasn’t trying to be hostile or interrogative.

‘I don’t like talking about it… Honestly, I think Hazel has it worse. Me…’ a beat. Not just him. ‘Me and Bianca, we were stuck in the Lotus Hotel. Time passed so quickly. In a weird way, that made the transition easier.’

‘Percy told me about that place. Seventy years but it only felt like a month?’

A hitch in Nico’s stride and a darkness that seemed to fall over them.

‘Yeah. I’m sure Percy told you all about me.’

If Nico had known who he would meet in the Palace, he would have never entered in the first place. Let alone taken Jason with him.

What Favonius said wasn’t cruel but it may as well have been because it felt like a sword sharper than his stygian iron one was being pushed through Nico’s heart.

‘I knew eventually you would return to look upon my master’s face.’

What little blood Nico had left in his cheeks drained.

‘The one you care for most … plunged into Tartarus. Still, you will not allow the truth?’

Panic rose in Nico until he felt the gall all the way at the top of his throat. His heart rate quickened and the grip on his sword loosened as his hands became sweaty.

No.

‘We’ve come for Diocletian’s sceptre.’ He struggled to keep his voice level.

The words Hestia spoke to him years ago came back to haunt him.

‘Your trials will be much more difficult.’ Favonius looked amused. ‘If you want the sceptre, you must face the god of love.’

Favonius almost ripped Nico apart by taking him to see Eros. But the grass that wilted at his feet and the blackness of his shadow that snaked out wasn’t only due to unforeseen air travel.

‘I don’t blame you for being nervous, Nico di Angelo. Do you know how I ended up serving Cupid?’

A knot tightened in Nico’s stomach, for a second he regained his stature and stood. ‘I don’t serve anyone. Especially not Cupid.’

What came next was anyone’s guess. Nico would have never thought that the god of love and the god of death were so intimately connected. But Cupid had been right, sometimes Death was kinder.

Blood ran down Nico’s sword arm, the red arrow lying at his feet dissolved with his wound. Nico’s fear was replaced by frustration.

He watched Jason get thrown around. First hitting the columns, then almost swallowed by a crumbling wall.

‘Stop it! It’s me you want. Leave him alone!’ He stretched out his arms as if standing in front of Jason and covering him would stop the god from attacking his friend.

Still, the taunting continued.

‘And you – what have you risked in my name?’

Anger burned in his stomach.

‘I have been to Tartarus and back,’ Nico snarled, his eyes icy. ‘You. Don’t. Scare. Me.’

For a second it seemed like Nico had found his fight again. ‘Give us Diocletian’s sceptre, we don’t have time for games.’

An invisible hand rapped against Nico’s cheek. He went flying into a granite pedestal. Head cloudy and throbbing, Nico tried to sit up.

‘Tell him, Nico di Angelo. Tell him you are a coward, afraid of yourself and your feelings. Tell him the real reason you ran away from Camp Half-Blood and are always alone.’

Something inside Nico broke. His eyes were shaking and he lost control. He let loose a terrifying scream as he realized that there was nowhere left to hide. Nowhere that Cupid wouldn’t find him. The ground split open and bodies of passed soldiers clawed their way to the surface until they surrounded Nico.

The darkness rolled off of Nico in waves so powerful Jason almost couldn’t withstand it. Every pulse of energy that Nico released, seemingly unintentional, brought with it a wave of hatred, shame and fear.

The images his power brought to the surface were ones he tried his best to supress. Percy’s smile, the clap on the shoulder he received after the Battle of New York, the way his stomach flipped when they were together.

To his horror, he realized Jason saw all the same things.

He looked over at the blonde in horror and urged his soldiers forward.

They grappled with the invisible god until he released a cruel, low laugh.

‘I wasn’t in love with Annabeth.’ Nico’s confession is hollow, his eyes downcast. He looks as if he has lost all his strength. The fight, the denial, it all left his body at once.

Nico crumbled to the ground with his soldiers and the darkness around him subsided. All that was left was a boy drowning in his own shame and misunderstanding.

Jason couldn’t believe how young Nico looked in that moment.

‘I hated myself.’ Nico confessed quietly. ‘I hated Percy Jackson.’ Because I loved him.

Cupid’s shape became clear, the white wings and black hair that belonged to the god were startlingly magnificent yet Jason couldn’t help but hate him. Love was cruel and Cupid was a monster.

‘Happy now?’ Nico demanded.

Cupid’s gaze changed, for a moment he seemed to almost pity Nico. ‘I wouldn’t say Love always makes you happy. But at least you’ve faced it now. That is the only way to conquer me.’

With the next gust of wind, the god dissolved and in his place was the sceptre of Diocletian.

It suddenly dawned on Jason that Nico’s story was not an ordinary one. He finally understood why Nico’s past weighed on him so much. To be born in the 1940s, during a time of war, a time where feelings such as Nico’s would have been shunned. It’s no wonder Nico battled so heavily with his secret.

The modern world that he lived in now, where acceptance was more wide spread than before, was not his home. Nico had always felt out of place. And the acceptance that the queer community got nowadays did not feel inclusive to the kid from World War II.

‘Nico,’ Jason said gently, ‘I’ve seen a lot of brave things. But what you just did… that was maybe the bravest.’

Jason was unsure if Nico’s battle with Cupid had changed anything within the son of Hades but over the next days he saw Nico firm up. His once starved body became taut with muscles though his skin stayed as pale as ever.

And waiting in front of northern coast of Africa was making everyone antsy. Especially Nico.

‘Any word from the king?’

‘Every day, he calls for me later and later.’ Jason sounded frustrated.

‘We need to leave,’ Nico insisted. ‘Soon. Percy is close to the Doors.’

Jason had his doubts. The king of the South Wind was uncooperative, the ship was no where near ready and now with Leo gone…

‘I promised I’d lead you to the House of Hades,’ Nico said, his voice hard as if sensing Jason’s uncertainty. ‘One way or another, I will.’

‘You can’t shadow-travel with all of us.’ Jason had already considered that idea but it was worthless if Nico wouldn’t survive the trip.

Bringing up Nico’s inability somehow made the orb on the sceptre glow. Hanging on Nico’s belt it somehow seemed to throb.

‘Then you’ve got to convince the king of the South Wind to help.’ Nico sounded angry. ‘I didn’t come all this, suffer so many humiliations…’ He trailed off but his intention was clear.

I did not suffer all these trials and forcefully out myself to you for you to NOT make it.

The dark energy that swirled around Nico and blackened the floor was unsettling. For the first time in his life, Jason thought this may be a foe he couldn’t defeat in battle. And he didn’t want to find out, if he was truly honest.

Jason wanted to be Nico’s friend but he wasn’t exactly making it easy.

The conversation shifted, for an uncertain amount of time it was always going to be about Nico’s coming out. Until he accepted his own feelings, that is.

‘It’s not like you’ve got a choice. It’s just who you are…’ Jason’s sympathetic voice sounded accusing to Nico.

‘Just who I am... What would you know about who I am? I didn’t choose any of this.’ He lashed out with his hands, swiping through the wind. ‘My father, my feelings.’

There was a pulse of energy.

But for some reason Jason began feeling just as frustrated as Nico.

‘I get it, what do I know. But Nico, you choose how to live your life. You want to trust somebody? Take the risk. Find out if I’m really your friend and if I’ll accept you. At least that’s better than hiding.’

The floor cracked, Nico’s eyes were cold and his aura seemed to be sucking in all the shadows from around him.

‘Hiding?’ It was barely a whisper.

Jason’s instincts told him to run, to grab his sword, to fight this threat. But he stood his ground.

‘Yes, hiding. You’ve run away from bot camps. You’re so afraid they’d reject you that you won’t even try!’ He pushed just a little further. ‘Maybe it’s time you came out of the shadows.’

Hestia’s words echoed in his mind.

And someday you must face your shadow. Beware, son of Hades.

For one unbearable moment, Jason felt like his bones were being pulled towards the Underworld and then it passed. Nico dropped his eyes and the fissure in the floor closed. The ghostly light around the son of Hades faded.

‘I’ll honour my promise,’ Nico’s voice was barely a whisper. ‘I’ll take you to Epirus. I’ll help you close the Doors of Death. Then that’s it. I’m leaving.’

For a second Nico wonders if he and Jason were always mean to butt heads. After all, it was Zeus who had smited Maria di Angelo. How could Nico be sure that Jason was any different than his father? This olive branch was nothing but rotten.

The journey to the House of Hades was nothing but unsettling, even for the children of the Underworld. Nico marvelled briefly at Hazel’s ability to crumble a house sized boulder into nothing before they continued their journey.

They reached the chalice filled with dark green liquid. Nico felt he was at a crossroads. Hecate was watching. Nico drank and offered it to Jason.

‘You asked me about trust. Well, here you go, son of Jupiter. How much do you trust me?’

Jason’s eyes glinted but he didn’t hesitate grabbing the cup from Nico. Jason drank never breaking eye contact as if to dare him. Next question. He all but threw the goblet at the others.

Nico hid his shock. An olive branch if he ever did see one.

The group continued downward.

A shudder made his way through Nico’s heart. He kept walking. It happened again. He saw Hazel pause too, ever so briefly. He briefly recounted the time. Twelve minutes. The Doors of Death were opening every twelve minutes.

Then Frank saw a ghost and the plan Nico had in his head went down the drain.

They were surrounded. On all sides.

‘Nico, the sceptre!’

He raised it and the dead with it. Not that it was much use though, Jason couldn’t command them and neither could Frank.

‘My rank,’ Frank realized. ‘I’m only a centurion.’

Nico carved through a gryphon with his stygian sword.

‘Well, then promote him!’ He shouted at Jason as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Jason didn’t hesitate.

‘Frank Zhang! I, Jason Grace, praetor of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata, give you my final order: I resign my post and give you emergency field promotion to praetor, with the full powers of that rank. Take command of this legion.’

Then, the battle changed and Nico couldn’t help but smile.

Watching Frank take control of the legion of undead soldiers had Nico thinking: maybe this guy wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe he could trust Frank with Hazel.

They won. Nico could barely believe it but they won.

A glimmer of hope ran through him.

Until, he staggered. His heart panged and he knew something changed.

‘The Doors,’ Nico said. ‘Something’s happening. We need to go now.’

Hazel and Leo were in full battle mode when they arrived. And Clytius was a terrible foe, even Nico had to admit. They attacked as a group. Even Annabeth and Percy had their weapons raised. Every time the giant attempted to tackle them with his dark smoke, Nico stood guard and absorbed the dark energy. For the first time in his life, he understood what it felt like to inhale and feel true air in his lungs. The substance Clytius released did nothing but agitate Nico’s hunger for darkness more.

Still, watching the giant burn to death had been awful but nevertheless, Nico felt a sick sense of relief.

There was hesitation in his step. Being so close to Percy after almost losing him. He couldn’t help but feel slightly paralyzed. He managed a ‘I’m glad you’re okay,’ and kissed Hazel’s forehead. ‘The ghosts were right,’ he said. ‘Only one of us made it to the Doors of Death. It was you, it was always supposed to be you. You would have made dad proud.’

She noticed his eyes were bloodshot and his face was wet with dried tears. Something had broken inside her brother recently and it was all flooding to the surface now. She wished so badly she could give him some peace of mind and some comfort. But she didn’t understand what was going on. And he wouldn’t tell her.

He got goose bumps as he realized Percy was standing behind him holding up Annabeth. Hazel suggested shadow-travel and Nico winced. ‘Hazel, I can barely manage that with only myself. With seven more people –’ I would die. He thinks.

I don’t want to die.

It’s an afterthought, the first time he had ever thought such a thing, but still it rang true.

‘I’ll help you.’ She’s insistent. And so he believes her.

The pain in Nico’s chest intensified as they sat in a circle and traded war stories. He watched Percy lace his fingers through Annabeth’s and felt like the loneliest person in the world.

Jason caught his eye, his gaze sympathetic. Nico couldn’t do anything but turn away in shame.

Later, when the commotion had passed and Nico was rigging up the statue, Percy found him.

‘Thank you.’

Nico stops. ‘What for?’

‘You promised to lead the others to the House of Hades, you kept your promise.’

Nico’s words are curt and guarded. They have Percy hesitating and rubbing the back of his head in discomfort.

‘Also…’ Percy said, ‘you visited Bob…You convinced Bob that I could be trusted, even though I never visited him. I never gave him a second thought. You probably saved our lives.’

Nico’s face darkens. ‘Yeah, well, not giving people a second thought. That can be danger.’

Confusion joins Percy’s discomfort. ‘Dude, I’m trying to say thank you.’

Nico’s laugh is humourless, there is something icy in his gaze. ‘I’m trying to say you don’t need to.’ You’ll never need to.

He made the one decision that made the most sense. The Athena Parthenos needs to go west, so he will take it there. Along with Reyna and Coach Hedge.

The trip was hard.

Not as hard as surviving Tartarus but still, by all means, hard.

There was no comfort to be found on their journey. His gang slept in their tent on the outskirts of a road that seemed endless.

Maybe he would have felt warmed by the fact that Jason prayed to his dad every time he burned an offering. And that Hazel begged for his safe return. He plagued the thoughts of the Seven.

Reyna lent him her power in their moment of need which was good because he barely had any left. With every jump, he felt the darkness spread. It wasn’t like the darkness he had felt with Clytius, that darkness had strengthened him. This one tried to consume him. Until he was nothing left but shadow.

‘It’s not mind-reading,’ Reyna had said about her gift. ‘Not even an empathy link… just a temporary wave of exhaustion. Your pain washes over me.’ Hesitance. ‘I take some of your burden.

Shame and embarrassment washed over him.

‘You should rest,’ was the only thing she told him.

There was a lot of time spend unconscious for him. A lot of time for him to mull over the last few months. Sometimes he saw Akhylis, the Goddess of Misery, other times a vague picture of his father floated around his mind. Most often though, he was tethered down the thoughts of the Seven. He waned past all the usual painful memories and always landed back on his friends. Hazel’s face, Jason’s intense eyes, Frank’s look of determination.

He had plenty of grief during his waking hours too though. He wished he could find some peace in his sleep.

The most peace he got was when Clovis dragged him off course and into Hypnos’s dreamscape. The detour was annoying but nonetheless helpful. He watched Will Solace, the lanky boy from the med-bay, diffuse a row between Clarisse and Rachel. The combat medic had something of Jason in him. Brave, loyal but the eyes were different. The eyes… bore right into your soul. Even in the dreamscape, Nico had to look away.

When he awoke he had no choice but to follow the burning man into his father’s chapel.

He felt his father’s presence before he saw him. Like a cold shadow that falls over you.

Nodding at the skull lined walls he asks his father dryly ‘Getting some redecorating ideas?’

‘I can never tell when you’re joking.’

‘Why are you here, Father?’

A pulse of embarrassment rushes through him as Hades mentions the sceptre of Diocletian and it’s… exploded state. It had been enough to rouse the god from his confused state. Still, that was not why he had come.

‘So tell me, Father. What do you want?’

‘Can you entertain the notion that I might be here to help you? Not simply because I want something?’

Nico suppresses a snort. ‘I can entertain the notion that you might be here for multiple reasons.’

It turns out Hades can be useful. He tells of Orion, the fallen archer who gave in to bitterness and anger after being scorned by love. ‘You can understand that.’ Hades had said to Nico.

What do you know about what I understand?

‘Still there is more,’ Hades said, ‘Your sister.’ He falters. ‘Your other sister. Hazel. She has discovered one of the Seven will die.’ Nico’s heart stops. It couldn’t be… ‘She may try to prevent this. In doing so, she may lose sight of her priorities.

Would Hazel be safe? Would Jason?

Nico barely notices that now, Percy is an afterthought.

‘Who will die?’

Hades’ eyes face the floor. ‘Even if I were certain, I could not say. I tell you this because you are my son. You know that some deaths cannot be prevented. Some deaths should not be prevented. When the time comes, you may need to act.’

Great, more responsibility.

A softness enters Hades’ face and his tone. ‘My son,’ he said, ‘whatever happens, you have earned my respect.’ Nico swallows hard. ‘You brought honour to our house when we stood together against Kronos in Manhattan. You risked my wrath and guided that Jackson boy to the River Styx.’ For a second Hades reverts back to his old self. ‘Never before have I been so harassed by one of my sons. Percy this and Percy that. I nearly blasted you to cinders.’

There’s a hollowness in Nico’s chest. That feels like a lifetime ago.

‘I didn’t do it for him,’ he insists. ‘I did it because the whole world was in danger.’

Hades allows his son this lie and gifts him the faintest of smiles. ‘I can entertain that you acted for multiple reasons.’

Nico can’t stop his eyes filling with tears. There was something under the surface there, something close to acceptance.

‘You and I rose to the aid of Olympus because you convinced me to let go of my anger,’ Hades reminded him. ‘I would encourage you to do the same.’ Sadness twinges his voice. ‘My children are so rarely happy. I… I would like to see you be an exception.’

‘My son, what you are attempting – shadow-travel across the world, carrying the statue of Athena – it may well destroy you.’ Nico thought he imagined the pain in his father’s voice. But there was nothing to be done about that.

‘I will see you again,’ Hades promised. ‘I will prepare a room for you at the palace. Perhaps your chambers would look good decorated with skulls of monks.’

‘Now I can’t tell if you’re joking.’

Hades’ eyes shimmered. ‘Then perhaps we are alike in some important ways.’

Lycaon followed just as Hades had said he would. And Orion did too. Their escape led them to Old San Juan. It led Nico to realize that maybe Reyna was as lost and bitter as he was. The only memory left of that part of their trip was a Hawaiian shirt and the glowing figures of Reyna’s past.

‘I can’t,’ she pleaded, as if asking the spectres for forgiveness. ‘Please, I can’t.’

Nico raised his hand and stood in front of her. The ghosts dissipated but they both knew they would never truly be gone. He would shield her from this.

‘I don’t want to talk about San Juan.’ She said when they arrived at their next destination.

For the first time, Nico found himself giving out advice. ‘You should,’ he said, ‘That’s the thing about ghosts – most of them have lost their voices.’ He turns to her and shrugs. ‘In Asphodel, millions of them wander around aimlessly, trying to remember who they were. You know why they end up like that?’ She gave no answer. ‘Because in life they never took a stand one way or another. They never spoke out, so they were never heard.’

She takes in his words. And he does as well.

‘Your voice is your identity,’ he continues, ‘without it… you’re halfway to Asphodel already.’

Damn, he needed to take his own advice.

‘I don’t like talking about it either,’ he said, looking into her eyes, ‘but sometimes, you have to.’

What Nico learned about Reyna that night thoroughly changed his opinion of the praetor. She was strong and resilient and came from such a broken home. Nico listened attentively, rarely commenting, only taking in.

In the end, the PTSD got to Reyna’s father and he became ‘a mania…’ Nico speculated. ‘I’ve seen it before. A human withering away until he’s not human anymore.’

It didn’t help. Tears filled Reyna’s eyes as she confessed her sins to Nico.

‘I killed my own father.’

He shook his head.

‘No. Reyna, no.’ Nico’s words were firm. ‘That wasn’t him. That was a ghost, a mania. What you did, you did out of self-defence. You were protecting your sister.’ And he would never blame her for that.

‘You don’t understand.’ But he did, she just didn’t know it. ‘Patricide is the worst crime a Roman can commit. It’s unforgivable.’

‘You didn’t kill your father.’ Nico insisted. ‘That man was already dead. All you did was dispel a ghost.’

Her tears awoke something in Nico. A protective instinct that usually only flared up around Hazel, and more recently Jason, came to the surface. He knew a little something about pretending to be strong and putting on a face for everyone around you. And then secretly crumbling away inside like a rock slowly being eroded.

If there were ever a moment when Nico would have imprinted on someone like a duckling, it would have been that moment.

And then, Bryce Lawrence decided to threaten his duckling.

‘I am a descendant of Orcus, the god of broken vows and eternal punishment. I’ve heard the screams of the Fields of Punishment first-hand.’ He stared at Nico crazed. ‘And they’re music to my ears.’

Nico was paralyzed as undead soldiers clawed their way up from a grave that he had thought previously was empty. It was the first time someone had used their own power of the Underworld against him.

The skeletons grabbed Reyna and only then did Nico regain his senses.

‘Nico, take the statue and go!’

He looked down at his hands. They were transparent and smoky. Had Bryce been right? Was he losing his grip, literally?

His energy was waning. Even standing in direct sunlight couldn’t hold his molecules together anymore.

His eyes met Reyna’s and a warmth spread through him.

She shared with him her strength and her drive.

Bryce laughed as if he were invincible. ‘I hope they’ll execute you in the ancient way.’ He nods at Reyna. ‘I’ve always wanted to see that. I can’t wait until your little secret comes out.’ He flicked his pilum across Reyna’s face. A trail of blood poured down.

A beat. Silence.

And then Nico exploded.

The air dropped to freezing temperatures and the grass on which they stood withered and died. With a single, glass-shattering cry the darkness poured out of him leaving every living creature to experience exactly what pain and anger were.

Bryce had challenged Nico. And Nico would teach him.

You want secrets? HERE.

Bryce’s soldiers disintegrated into dust until all that was left was a shivering Roman falling over his own feet. Tortures of Tartarus and Akhlys, a suffocating bronze jar and modern world that didn’t make sense transmuted through the air.

Nico ripped the probation tablet from about Bryce’s neck. ‘You. Are not. Worthy of this.’

It took all his self-control not to hit Bryce across the face with it. Nico’s eyes were black and he didn’t blink as the rocks split and Bryce sank down to his waist.

‘You took an oath to the legion. You broke its rules. You inflicted pain. You killed you own centurion.’

They weren’t accusations. There was no defence. This was not going to be a fair trial.

‘You should have died for your crimes. That was the punishment.’ Nico cocked his head. ‘Instead, you got exile.’ The crazed look Bryce had carried was now mirrored on Nico’s face. ‘You should have stayed away. Your father may not approve of broken vows but I know another god who does not favour escaped punishment.’

The Underworld had no mercy. It only had justice.

‘Please!’ Bryce whimpered. But his beg fell on deaf ears.

‘You’re already dead.’

Bryce’s eyes widened in horror.

‘You’re a ghost with no tongue, no memory. You won’t share anyone’s secrets anymore.’

‘No!’ Bryce sunk deeper into the ground. ‘No! I’m Bryce Lawrence! I’m alive!’ He recounted it as if it were a mantra but his body turned dark and his skin became translucent.

Nico’s cold eyes gazed down at him.

‘Who are you?’

And Bryce couldn’t answer. Bryce was no longer alive. He would forever be a spirit with no voice. Just a nameless spectre amongst millions of others.

Nico swiped his hand through the ghost’s body. ‘Begone.’

And with that, he collapsed.

Three days.

That’s how much time they lost with Nico unconscious and his body barely a shadow.

He had been in a shadow coma. And it scared him.

Am I dying?

He expected them to recoil. To feel threatened and paralyzed by him after the show he had put on. He wanted to feel angry towards them for knowing they were judging him. But his anger wouldn’t materialize. He just felt… tired.

‘Why didn’t you leave me? You knew I couldn’t help you anymore. You wasted three days watching over me. Why?’

Reyna looked at him sympathetically. ‘I trust you, Nico. You lifted some of my burden. Your not the only one who lets out the darkness every once in a while. You shared your painful experiences; how could we not support you?’ Her face opened up. ‘We’re friends.’

‘Two days. The Romans will attack Camp Half-Blood in two days.’ Nico shook his head. ‘We have to hurry. I have to get ready.’ Even if it kills me. He realized.

But Coach Hedge relieved him of his burden.

Instead, they took to the sky with pegasi. And then they took a ride with Jules-Albert, Nico’s undead chauffeur.

He bid Reyna farewell with a grip on the arm.

‘It’s been an honour questing with you, son of Hades.’

‘You’re the most courageous demigod I’ve ever met, Reyna.’ The look in her eyes was almost too much. ‘I won’t let you down.’

Nico made it to the battle with two legionnaires and Jules-Albert at the wheel.

‘Leila, Dakota, Jules-Albert will drive you to the legion lines. Get out, talk to your troops, convince them to follow your lead. I need a distraction.’

‘I’m not hurting any of my fellow legionnaires.’

Nico supressed a growl. ‘No one is asking you. But if we don’t stop this war the entire legion will be wiped out.’ He looked at them, his orders clear. ‘I’m counting on you.’

They nodded at him.

‘I’m going dark,’ Nico said and faded into the shadows.

The second he jumped the shadows he began to dissolve. It wasn’t setting a great precedent for the battle. The voices called out to him Help us. Remember us. Join us.

He did his best to keep them at way and as he faced the sunlight, he answered. No! I am the son of Hades. I control the shadows. They do not control me. He rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

A brief look at Octavian’s tent had Nico wondering if maybe an assassination might solve their current problem. He didn’t have time to test his theory though. Will Solace tapped him on the shoulder instead. Nico jumped and almost took his head off.

The son of Apollo muttered through clenched teeth. ‘Nico, what are you doing here?’

‘Me? What are you doing here? Getting yourselves killed?’

He surveyed Will and his two companions, dressed in black with matching face paint.

‘You’re dressed in black with the sun coming up. You painted your face but didn’t cover that mop of blonde hair. You may as well be waving a yellow flag.’ He scolded. Will’s ears turned red.

Nico inquired about Coach Hedge making it in time for his baby’s birth. The group nodded.

Will grabbed Nico’s hand unexpectedly ‘My hands are still shaking. See? But I delivered it. A very cute little satyr boy.’

Nico pulled his hands away, ignoring the electric current that ran through his body.

He was going to go back to his assassination plan until Will spouted some nonsense.

‘No more shadow-traveling. Doctor’s orders.’

Nico wanted to make a comment about how Will’s ‘doctor’s orders’ didn’t really mean much since he went into the OP with his a scrub shirt, khakis and flipflops but it didn’t seem like the right moment.

Not worth it.

‘Whatever. You follow my lead.’

Nico revised his impression of Will on their way to manipulating onagers. Talented, yes. Cool-headed, yes. Stubborn, double yes. Aggravating, unbelievably so.

In the next minutes Nico learned he could add reckless to that list too. Will, with the intention of creating a diversion, sprinted off and engaged six Romans at once. He needed an assist.

‘Six at once, not bad.’ Will punched him in the shoulder.

‘Not bad?’ Nico asked blandly. ‘Next time I’ll just let them run you down, Solace.’

‘Ah, they’d never catch me.’ He shoots Nico a blinding smile.

They were moving towards to last onager when they were spotted.

‘Do we run?’ asked Lou Ellen quietly.

‘No,’ Nico said. ‘Let’s give them what they want.’

He raised his hands and called upon five skeletons. Watching the look on the Roman’s faces was almost worth his falling back and being caught by Will.

‘Idiot.’ Will held him up. ‘I told you no more.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘Shut up. You’re not.’

The spat with Will caused him to miss the entrance of the entire First Cohort. Octavian at the helm. His purple robes shone in the sun, jewellery glittering around his neck. On his head he wore a crown of laurels.

He watched Will let out a piercing taxicab whistle and suddenly Octavian didn’t seem so high and mighty anymore.

‘My – my elite guard!’ Octavian spluttered helplessly like a complaining child. The dog-men crumbled at his feet. ‘Did you see what he did to my elite guard?’

Regaining his posture, Octavian marched right up to Nico and to his credit he didn’t seem the slightest bit scared. Nico felt Will tighten his grip, staring Octavian down over Nico’s shoulder.

Up close Octavian looked sickly and bare. A descendant of Apollo but only evident in the shade of his hair. The arrogance and lust for power, that wasn’t a child of Apollo. Octavian was nothing but a watered down copy of Will Solace. Whatever it was that made a child of Apollo special, that made them glow the way Will did, Octavian didn’t have it.

‘Tell me son of Pluto,’ hissed the augur, ‘why are you helping them? What have they ever done for you?’

Nico’s hand itched to reach for his sword. He could do it now. Assassinate Octavian. He could probably even manage before the First Cohort intervened… it would be worth it.

Still, he hesitated.

If he committed this act of murder and died – he wouldn’t mind so much. For the good of the world and all that. But Will, Cecil and Lou Ellen… they would become casualties of his plan.

It wasn’t right.

Octavian intervened in Will and Nico’s quarrel. ‘What do you mean you’re leaving camp?!’ If they lived long enough, they would be able to hash out whether Nico should stay at camp or not.

‘I see ruthlessness in you,’ Octavian encouraged. He looked greedy. ‘And I appreciate that. Step aside and allow the Romans to win.’

‘Don’t do this, Octavian.’ Will shook his head. ‘Don’t force your people to choose. This is your last chance.’

There was sympathy in Will’s eyes. As if the gift of prophecy had been granted to him again, as if Apollo’s head had finally cleared.

The clearer Will’s eyes got, the more crazed Octavian’s seemed in comparison.

‘I will SAVE ROME!’ He explained. ‘Now, Romans, follow my orders! Destroy these Graecus scum!’

‘Don’t be stupid!’ Will yelled, his voice almost as loud as the second taxicab whistle he’d let ring to stop the Greek armies from waging against the Romans.

He pointed to the sky. Nico couldn’t believe his eyes.

Reyna was flying on Guido with six pegasi hauling the Athena Parthenos behind her.

Reyna’s voice boomed. ‘Greek demigods, Behold your most sacred statue. I return it to you now as a gesture of peace.’

An intense energy emanated from the statue all across the Greek camp. Everyone stood dazed. The statue seemed to be speaking out to each of them individually.

Nico felt his throat close as the voice whispered. ‘You are not alone. You are part of the Olympian family. The gods have not abandoned you.’

Reyna asked for the help of the demigods. Unite, please, so that we can all thrive.

‘Listen to her!’ Nico insisted, marching forward. ‘Reyna risked her life for all of you! We brought this statue half way across the world, Roman and Greek working together. We must join forces –’

And then Gaea woke.

When the battle started, it didn’t seem to end.

Nico found the Seven or well… Six (Leo was no where in sight) on the hill. Nico hadn’t felt his soul pass… still, there were too many casualties to be sure.

‘He’ll be fine.’ He met Jason’s eyes.

‘Sure.’ Jason sounded unconvinced.

‘But…just in case… For Leo.’

Jason nodded. ‘For Leo.’

Fighting with Jason was almost like a dance. It seems although they were made from separate cloth, their threads were very much intwined. They fought in harmony like they had been doing it all their lives.

And then Will Solace ran up to Nico. He said one word into Nico’s ear.

‘Octavian.’

On their way to the augur they felt the Earth shake. Festus snatched up Gaea and soared away with her. Stunned only for a moment, they continued on their way.

As they got closer, Nico saw Octavian furiously messing with an onager’s levers. He kept glancing up at Festus. It seemed his intention was to shoot the bronze dragon out of the sky.

‘Octavian!’ Nico yelled.

With a start, the augur turned, not noticing his flowing purple robe getting caught on the trigger. He looked crazed, hungry.

Will walked forward with his hands raised. ‘Octavian, get away from there. It isn’t safe.’ He spoke in calm, quiet words. As if psst-ing at a frightened kitten.

Nico nudged Will and looked at Jason soaring toward Festus with Piper in his arms.

‘If you fire the onager, you’ll kill Jason and Piper and –’

‘Good!’ Gods, it was hard to reason with him. ‘They’re traitors. All traitors!’

Will tried again. ‘Listen to me. This is not what Apollo would want. Besides, your robes –’

When Mike Kahl showed up, a bruised bump on his head, Nico thought he’d have to draw his sword. The soldier only surveyed the scene and looked at the Centurion.

‘Are you certain, Octavian?’

‘Yes!’

‘Are you absolutely certain?’

‘Octavian, don’t.’ Will pleaded.

He stepped forward only to be stopped by Nico’s hand. ‘Will, we can’t stop him.’

He saw the dread in Will’s eyes, the pain of causing another human being harm. But Hades had been right, some deaths cannot be prevented. And some…should not be prevented.

Octavian cut the release and disappeared into the sky. The flaming fireball landed in the middle of the storm and exploded.

He had achieved his goal. He had saved Rome.

The only sound that Nico registered was Will’s shark inhale.

Nico felt a new soul join the ranks of the Underworld and it wasn’t Octavian.

No.

There was no time for rest and recovery. At least not for Nico.

He watched over the dead and honoured them with the proper funeral proceedings. So many casualties…

Many would be remembered as heroes. Even Octavian would have his place in the stories. But Leo was going to be the hero that no one forgot. The greatest sacrifice.

An oath to keep with a final breath.

Nico wondered who Leo had sworn to and if it was worth it.

They recounted the tales of bravery. Nico never thought he would see the day that Greeks and Romans sat around the campfire singing together. Even if it was a song of mourning.

Reyna stepped up and looked at the faces in front of her and thanked them. For their bravery, for their loyalty, for their loss.

‘We could have chosen hatred and war. Instead, we found acceptance and friendship.’

She turned to Nico with the warmest look he had ever seen and pulled him towards the flames of campfire.

‘We had one home,’ she said. ‘Now we have two.’

Nico didn’t notice but if he had, he would have seen Will’s approving gaze on the two of them. And even a little ways behind him stood Hestia. Disguised as a teenager, she looked out from under her headwrap and nodded. Your path has led you home, don’t you see?

Maybe staying wouldn’t be so bad after all…

At midnight, still awake, Nico saw a blonde tiptoe. His heart jumped but settled when a framed face came into view.

‘Jason.’ Nico greeted.

Nico knew he came to ask about Leo. There was no comfort Nico could give him. They hung their heads together. Jason wanted to convince him to stay. The more he blabbered on, the more endearing he became. ‘I probably can’t change your mind about leaving but I have to try –’

Nico’s ‘I’m staying,’ had Jason blinking so hard that he had to shake his head to clear it.

The joy was so prevalent in his face that Nico even granted him a hug. Soon, Jason was off talking a mile a minute about sharing a table and teaming up and, and, and. The fact that it was midnight didn’t seem to wear on Jason’s enthusiasm.

There was a tiny sense of peace that settled in Nico’s heart.

A true friend.

So that’s what it felt like.

Lucky.

That’s what Nico thought when Will ordered him to the Apollo cabin to rest.

Someone to look out for you. That’s what it seemed like.

In the midnight moon, Will’s hair seemed to shine brighter than usual.

‘I told you, no more Underworldly stuff, doctor’s orders. You owe me at least three days of rest in the infirmary.’

Will held up three fingers with an insistent look on his face.

Nico agreed self-consciously. Still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Will had asked where he had been. That he had been looking for him, that he had wanted to see Nico…

‘I hope you got over all that nonsense about leaving camp.’

Nico looks up with a start. ‘I – yeah. I did. I mean,’ he shrugs, ‘I’m staying.’

‘Good. So you may be dense but you’re not a complete idiot.’

Nico wants to threaten Will or say something back but he doesn’t get the chance.

‘You make yourself an outcast.’ Will told him. His tone would have been accusing if his demeanour hadn’t changed. He looked tired now, worn. Like someone that had seen hardship and wished it away. ‘How will people ever accept you if you don’t let them know you?’ It was the first time Nico had ever seen something resembling anger on Will’s face. His eyes were hard and his ears red.

A bout of confusion hit Nico. ‘Who would want to ever be around me?’ His voice is quiet, as if he were truly asking himself that question because he couldn’t comprehend it.

‘Me.’ This time Will’s eyes look open and honest. And a little hurt.

Nico felt reprimanded.

‘I don’t understand.’ Nico whispered, looking confused.

‘Then learn.’ Will insisted.

‘…okay.’

Will huffed as if a weight had been taken from his shoulders. ‘Okay.’

#pjo #lit #percy jackson #nico di angelo #heroes of olympus #blood of olympus #fic #ff #solangelo #vaguely #beewrites #bee writes

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